Six More Hostages Released By Hamas, Confirms Israel

Six Israeli hostages released in the Gaza Strip returned to Israel late Thursday, the Israeli prime minister's office said, hours before a truce extension was due to expire.

The release of the six -- four adults, a 17-old girl and an 18-year-old man -- who mediator Qatar said included Uruguayan, Mexican and Russian dual nationals, came after two women, including a French-Israeli dual national, were released earlier in the day.

That brought the total freed on Thursday to eight, while the truce agreement stipulates that a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages should be released alive each day.

The discrepancy came as mediators pursued discussions to extend the truce, which was due to expire at 0500 GMT on Friday.

A source close to Hamas told AFP that it considered two Russian-Israeli women released on Wednesday in addition to the required 10 as part of the seventh group freed, so that "as a result, the number of (hostages) in the seventh group is 10".

Mediator Qatar appeared to back the calculation.

The agreement requires Israel to release three Palestinian prisoners for every hostage freed, and Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said 30 Palestinians would be released from Israeli prisons, in exchange for a total of 10 hostages, a tally which included "two Russian citizens who were released yesterday".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/HJ4Ymty

BJP, Congress Brush Off Exit Poll Results, Forward 'Winning' Arguments

Exit polls that predicted a primacy of Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and that of the BJP in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, have been hotly contested by both camps in states they were predicted to lose. While exit polls are known to get it wrong many a time, their predictions proved a touchy topic in this round of elections, seen as the semi-finals before next year's Lok Sabha polls.

While the BJP doubled down on claims that they will win Madhya Pradesh, where many exit polls predicted a close fight, the Congress scoffed at the suggestion that they might not have a re-run of the 2018 victory. The party's government had collapsed two years later as its senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the BJP with 20-plus MLAs.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is helming the state Congress in Madhya Pradesh, declared that the country is run by "vision, not television".

"Exit poll results are very diverse. We cannot say anything about it. I can assure you that the Congress will get more than 130 seats in Madhya Pradesh," said his party colleague Digvijaya Singh. "People want transformation. People are fed up with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan," he added.

NDTV poll of Polls, an aggregate of nine exit polls, indicates that the BJP may wind up with 124 of the state's 230 seats, where the majority mark is 116. The Congress may get 102 seats.

A similar script played out in neighbouring Chhattisgarh – only in the BJP camp -- after almost all exit polls gave the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel an edge. NDTV Poll of Polls – an aggregate of nine exit polls -- indicated that 49 of the state's 90 seats can go to the Congress and 38 to the BJP.

"Exit polls have a limited size. The sample size of the BJP is huge," state BJP chief Arun Sao was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"I have been roaming in Chhattisgarh for the past 1.5 years. I have gone to each Vidhan Sabha constituency and had conversations with people. On that basis, I can say that on December 3, the BJP will come to power with a clear majority," he added.

"Everyone can have their way with exit polls. The BJP will form the government. The reason for this is that people want change," said the BJP's Prem Prakash Pandey.

The claims and counterclaims were also strong in Rajasthan, where exit polls predicted the state will remain faithful to its revolving-door tradition and vote out the ruling Congress.

"Exit polls indicate that 'raaj nahi rivaz' (trend, not rule) is set to change in Rajasthan as the Congress is going to win a majority," said Gourav Vallabh, spokesperson of the Congress which is hoping to buck the trend.

Banking on a marginally higher polling figure, the BJP, meanwhile, insisted that the people of Rajasthan want to end the Congress rule.

"The people of Rajasthan want freedom from the Congress, given their record of corruption. The BJP is going to form the government with a majority in Rajasthan as well as Madhya Pradesh," said BJP MP Baba Balaknath, who is the party candidate from the Tijara assembly constituency.

NDTV Poll of Polls indicated that the BJP can get 104 of the state's 200 seats, the Congress 85.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/fjYreRU

Kapil Sharma Slams IndiGo Over Delayed Flight, Calls Them "Shameless"

Actor and television host Kapil Sharma was not happy with his recent IndiGo flight experience. The comedian took to social media to express his frustration with the airline, highlighting a considerable delay and a surprising excuse that the pilot was stuck in traffic.He voiced his discontent with the delayed departure and expressed concern about the airline's reliability.

Mr Sharma wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Dear IndiGo, first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minutes, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic. What? Really ? We were supposed to take off by 8 pm and it's 9:20. Still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly in Indigo again? Never #indigo 6E 5149 #shameless."

Dear @IndiGo6E first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minz, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic, what ? Really ? we supposed to take off by 8 pm n it's 9:20, still there is no pilot in cockpit, do you think these 180 passengers will fly in indigo again ? Never…

— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) November 29, 2023

Mr Sharma later shared a video of passengers deboarding the plane, revealing that they were informed about a change of aircraft, necessitating a return to the terminal for security checks.

"Now they are deboarding all the passengers and saying we will send you on another aircraft, but again, we have to go back to the terminal for a security check," he wrote.

Now they r de boarding all the passengers n saying we will send you in another aircraft but again we have to go back to terminal for security check 👏👏👏👏👏 #indigo👎 pic.twitter.com/NdqbG0xByt

— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) November 29, 2023

He additionally posted another video where numerous passengers were seen inquiring about the flight delay, expressing their desire to witness some remedial action. However, all of them appeared visibly upset and frustrated over the prolonged delay.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/TNo697g

41 Workers, 400 Hours: Twists, Turns, Heroes Of The Himalayan Rescue

The 17-day ordeal and a humongous operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in the Uttarkashi tunnel ended in smiles and celebrations as all the trapped workers came out of the tunnel. This is the story of the triumph of human grit over immense odds. Here we document the Himalayan rescue, all the twists and turns, and the heroes who made it possible.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/43VzMyF

The 'RCB Factor' In Hardik Pandya's Return To Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians secured Hardik Pandya through an all-cash deal with Gujarat Titans. It is one of the biggest trades in the history of the Indian Premier League as Hardik has a price tag of INR 15 crore, an amount that was paid by GT when they bought the player for their first-ever IPL season in 2022. Mumbai Indians must be a happy side after the recent trade but it would not have been possible had there not been a 'Royal Challengers Bangalore factor' in it.

After announcing the list of the players retained, MI on Sunday had INR 15.25 crore of the remaining purse with 8 vacant spots in the squad. Had Mumbai roped in Hardik from GT, they would have been left with a mere sum of INR 25 lakh going into the IPL 2023 auction.

However, RCB bought Cameron Green from MI in an all-cash deal, providing Mumbai the cushion for the Hardik trade.

The transfer of Green gave a huge boost to Mumbai's purse due to which the franchise still has a total of INR 17.75 crore to its credit despite securing Hardik.

Mumbai Indians currently have 17 players -- one less than the minimum bar set by IPL -- in their squad and they can fill a maximum of 8 more players. Out of the available 8 slots, MI can buy a maximum of 2 overseas players.

It is worth noting that Hardik had made his IPL debut way back in 2015 with Mumbai Indians.

Hardik played 92 matches for MI from 2015-2021, scoring 1,476 runs at an average of 27.33 at a strike rate of over 153, with four half-centuries and best score of 91. He also took 42 wickets for the team, with the best bowling figures of 3/20.

(With ANI Inputs)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/KdVgU6E

In A First, Newborn Star's Spinning Disk Seen In Another Galaxy

Our sun and other stars form when a dense clump of interstellar gas and dust collapses under its own gravitational pull. Once a star is born at the centre of such a cloud, leftover material forms a swirling disk around it that feeds stellar growth and often gives rise to planets.

Newborn stars with these circumstellar disks had been observed by astronomers only in our Milky Way galaxy - until now. Researchers said on Wednesday they have spotted such a disk around a star larger and more luminous than the sun residing in one of our nearest neighbouring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The star, growing and accreting material from the surrounding disk, is about 10 to 20 times more massive than the sun and perhaps 10,000 times more luminous.

As material is drawn by gravity toward a forming star, it flattens into a spinning disk. The newly observed disk has a diameter of about 12,000 times the distance of the Earth to the sun, or roughly 10 times larger than the one that encircled the sun when it formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

The star, which also is unleashing a large jet of material into space, is around 160,000 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

"This is very exciting," said astronomer Anna McLeod of Durham University in England, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

"While we know of many stars like this one being formed in the Large Magellanic Cloud and other galaxies, we have never before observed a circumstellar accretions disk outside of the Milky Way, mainly due to lacking technology. Observing these disks in other galaxies is very important because it tells us about how stars form in environments different from that of the Milky Way," McLeod added.

The detection was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert. Until now, circumstellar disks had been detected only within about 6,500 light years of Earth.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is considered a satellite galaxy of the sprawling Milky Way, as is another galaxy called the Small Magellanic Cloud. Both are smaller than our galaxy and offer different galactic conditions. The Large Magellanic Cloud has less dust than the Milky Way and a smaller content of what astronomers call metallic elements - those other than hydrogen and helium.

The researchers enjoyed an unobstructed view of the star.

"The star is visible at optical wavelengths, whereas all of the known stars in the Milky Way that are like this one - in terms of stellar mass and having an accretion disk - are hidden from optical telescopes because they are still very enshrouded by the gas and dust they are forming from," McLeod said.

"We suggest that the star being visible in the optical is due to the different properties of the galactic environment the star is in when compared to the Milky Way."

Massive stars form more rapidly and have shorter lives than less massive stars like the sun.

"The formation of high-mass stars has been puzzling astronomers for decades, and so building a picture of how this happens under different physical conditions is both an important step and super exciting," said astronomer and study co-author Jonathan Henshaw of Liverpool John Moores University.

The disk appears to be quite stable, not fragmenting as could happen with such structures.

"We do not know if the disk will ever form planets, but it is unlikely given that these would have to form in the hostile environment of a star with strong radiation," McLeod said.

McLeod expressed hope for detecting other circumstellar disks in the Large Magellanic Cloud and perhaps the further Small Magellanic Cloud.

"With each one, we will be able to learn more about star formation in different galaxies and conditions," McLeod said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/RPwJlYX

PM Modi Speaks To Workers Rescued From Uttarakhand Tunnel Over Phone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to workers, who were rescued from the collapsed tunnel after 17 days, over the phone after the operation was declared a success. All the workers were present in a room and spoke to the Prime Minister over the telephone.

The Prime Minister earlier appreciated the efforts of the rescue team to successfully and safely take the workers out. 

"The success of the rescue operation of our brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health," the Prime Minister posted on X.

उत्तरकाशी में हमारे श्रमिक भाइयों के रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन की सफलता हर किसी को भावुक कर देने वाली है।

टनल में जो साथी फंसे हुए थे, उनसे मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि आपका साहस और धैर्य हर किसी को प्रेरित कर रहा है। मैं आप सभी की कुशलता और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य की कामना करता हूं।

यह अत्यंत…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2023

"It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough," the Prime Minister added.

The construction of the tunnel which is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, collapsed on November 12.

The Final Op

The workers saw 'light at the end of the tunnel' following a massive operation by central and state rescue teams to safely evacuate them. 

The success came after experts in role-hole mining were roped in after high-tech drilling machines failed to clear the last few metres. 

The rat miners made the breakthrough in Uttarakhand, digging the last 12-metre stretch in less than 24 hours.

The operation to pull the workers out began around 8 pm today and all the workers were taken out on stretchers in approximately an hour. 

The extraction process took some time to allow each worker to re-acclimatise to surface conditions, where the temperature is around 14 degrees Celsius at this time.

The workers were brought out on specially modified stretchers; these were lowered manually down a two-metre-wide pipe inserted into holes drilled into the hillside. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was at the spot, hugging the workers as they came out.

As soon as the first workers came out of the tunnel, the rescue personnel and those at the site welcomed them with garlands, sweets, and cheers. Families of the trapped workers rejoiced after meeting their loved ones for the first time in 17 days.

The ambulances - 41 of them, one for each worker - moved out in batches from the tunnel site with the rescued workers for the emergency medical facilities set up in Chinyalisaur, around 30 km away.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/PGOisfu

Ex-WWE Star Tammy 'Sunny' Sytch Jailed For 17 Years Over Fatal Car Crash

Former professional wrestler Tammy Sytch, also known by her ring name Sunny, has been sentenced to over 17 years in prison for causing a car accident that resulted in the death of a 75-year-old man. Sytch pleaded no contest to the charges stemming from the March 2022 crash that killed Julian Lasseter.

According to police reports, Sytch was driving a Mercedes-Benz when she collided with a Kia that was stopped at a traffic light.

Her driver's license has been permanently revoked as well.

According to TMZ, Sytch broke down in tears during her speech and apologized for her actions. At one point, the 50-year-old also turned to the victim's family and said, "I know my words are not enough, but please know that I think about you every day."

"Every second of every day, and I will do whatever I can to make the changes I need to make sure this never happens again. No one should have to go through this, and please know that every single second of every day since the crash, I wish I could change places with him."

When the judge ultimately sentenced her to 17 years in prison, Sytch appeared stoic before she was taken out of the courtroom by officials.

According to the New York Post, she faced multiple charges, including DUI (driving under the influence) causing death, causing death while operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license, four counts of DUI causing injury, and three counts of DUI causing property damage.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/FL0diIu

Madhya Pradesh Teen Raped In Car By Man She Befriended On Social Media

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth who had befriended her on social media and his three friends in a car in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, police said on Monday.

Police have invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act since the victim is a Dalit, an official said, adding that nobody has been arrested so far.

The incident occurred on November 21 but a complaint was lodged four days later as the girl kept mum because she was threatened by the accused against disclosing the incident, an official said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Niranjan Sharma said the girl and her family lodged a complaint.

"The girl became friends with a youth on Facebook last year. On November 21, her male friend took her to a deserted forest area in a car where he and his three friends raped her and also threatened to kill her," he said.

A case was registered under sections 376 (Punishment for rape), and 377 (unnatural act) among others, along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to sources in police, the victim has claimed that one of the accused is a close relative of a politician.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/lUW7Qpg

Alia And Manushi's Contrasting Style In Black And White Are Chic As Ever

Award nights are often a starry affair that serve the best of style and glamour. The latest edition of Filmfare OTT Awards were proof enough. An array of A-listers walked the red carpet looking their stylish best but it was some fail-safe picks that truly stole the show. The prominent hue of black never fails to make a case for showstopping style. Among many celebrities were Alia Bhatt and Manushi Chhillar, whose contrasting style was truly on point. Of late, Alia Bhatt's style has been high on monochrome magic. From her wine-red Gucci straight-cut mini dress to her latest Yves Saint Laurent black number, Alia's style has been stunning. For Filmfare OTT Awards 2023, Alia picked a monotone black dress from the French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. The one-shoulder cape style was brilliantly complemented by the turtleneck pattern. We couldn't help but take notes.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt In A Red Velvet Raji Ramniq Salwar Suit Makes Light Festive Wear Look Good

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka Kapadia Badani (@priyankarkapadia)

While Alia opted for a classic maxi look, Manushi gave us a chic fashion moment in a mini dress. She ditched her princess dresses to make a statement in a white and black look. With a perfect blend of feminine and edgy, Manushi looked chic in a mini dress. She tucked a white shirt underneath her strapless black dress. Her black tie added a formal element to her style and the black ankle boots were too good to be missed. She kept it super simple with her minimal glam and tied tresses.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt's Twisted French Bun With Gangubai-Approved White Roses Matched Her Sabyasachi Wedding Saree

With black and white contrast, Alia and Manushi raised the fashion bar higher.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/AfM5Xgl

Gill To Lead Gujarat Titans After Hardik's Move To Mumbai Indians: Sources

Indian cricket team batter Shubman Gill will lead Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after all-rounder Hardik Pandya completed his move to Mumbai Indians on Sunday, according to sources. 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/9hH2fVS

Bengal Man Slits Wife's Throat. He Didn't Like Her Having "Online Friends"

Frequent arguments over her social media activity and the friends she had made online led to a man slitting his wife's throat with a vegetable cutter in West Bengal on Friday, police said. The man fled after the murder and the couple's minor son returned home to find his mother lying in a pool of blood.

Speaking in front of their house in Harinarayanpur in South 24 Parganas district's Joynagar, the boy told reporters that his parents, Parimal and Aparna Baidya, used to fight frequently and his father had threatened to cut his mother into pieces on several occasions. "I came home to find her body lying there," he said, adding that he alerted the neighbours after that.

A neighbour said Parimal picked up a boti (an instrument used to cut vegetables and meat) and attacked his wife, who died from the injuries.

Police sources said the couple fought frequently over Aparna's social media activity and some friends she had made through social media platforms. "We suspect the husband killed her because she did not approve of her social media activity. Aparna was 32 years old," said an official.

Parimal is missing and a team has been formed to locate him. The post-mortem of Aparna's body has been conducted and the murder weapon has been recovered.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/Dj4lXLb

Dravid, BCCI In Discussion But Board Inclined Towards New Coach, Who Is...

Rahul Dravid and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) top brass engaged in an in-depth talk about the possibilities surrounding his role as head coach with the board inclined to hand over the reins of the team to a new person keeping the T20 World Cup 2024 in mind. The person that board has in mind is VVS Laxman, the NCA Director. Dravid's two-year contract as India's head coach ended with the recent World Cup final in which Rohit Sharma's band suffered a heart-breaking six-wicket defeat to Australia.

Since then, Dravid's future as the back-room helmsman of the Indian cricket team has been constantly debated.

"Rahul and the BCCI had a talk about where things stand now. We will respect the decision taken by him. The general feeling is that with the T20 World Cup about 7-8 months away, there is time for a new coach to come in and build a team and set a process. He (Dravid) is quite aware of that," a BCCI official close to the development told PTI on condition of anonymity.

However, the official said a decision will be reached only after thoroughly thinking about all angles.

"We are also talking about whether continuity (current coach/captain combination) is needed for the (T20) WC. We are hoping to reach a decision soon so that path forward is clear," he added.

It is also understood that the board is quite happy with the way Dravid has managed the team along with captain Rohit over the last two years despite not landing any global trophies The pair has guided India to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and finals of the World Test Championship 2023 in England and the 50-over World Cup at home.

However, India won the Asia Cup beating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Colombo in September under their regime.

The official hinted that all the stakeholders involved including Rohit, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and a few other higher BCCI office-bearers will sit together soon to arrive at a final call.

VVS Laxman, the current NCA chief, is tipped to succeed Dravid as India head coach, and the official said they have kept their options open.

"Options are open (for head coach). He (Laxman) is familiar with the team, players and the methods. He also has experience working with the national team," he explained.

Laxman is currently with the Indian team as head coach for the five-match T20I series against Australia, and the former Indian batter has often stepped in for Dravid in the past whenever the latter was given a rest.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/dJpWVI8

Case Against TV Journalist For Filming, Harassing Women Leaving Bar

The Chennai Police have filed a case against a TV journalist of News Tamil 24x7 and others for their alleged involvement in the sexual harassment of women at a bar in the early hours of Monday.

Reports said the women leaving the bar were not only filmed without consent but also subjected to abuse and obscene comments. The footage, telecast by several TV channels, sparked outrage on social media.

The charges include sexual harassment, explicit sexual behaviour, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, singing obscene songs, and intent to insult a woman's modesty.

The police said they are investigating the matter.

The incident highlighted the need for strict action against any form of harassment and the responsible use of media platforms.

Investigators said trouble started when five members who were denied entry at a private bar after the bar timing ended created a ruckus. Many customers were reportedly watching the world cup cricket final match and the subsequent programmes since Sunday night.

On hearing about this, the accused Sudharsan and the others came.

"While taking video, a few unknown people used abusive, denigrating and obscene remarks against the women coming out of the bar, which were telecast later in various channels," the police said in a statement.

Neither News Tamil 24x7 nor the journalist Sudharshan has responded to the allegations or the police charges.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/dGZKBg3

Pickled Ear: UK Street Fighter's Bizarre Souvenir From Bare-Knuckle Brawl

In a shocking display of aggression, a recent bare-knuckle brawl in the UK echoed the infamous 1997 Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield incident. The Tyson-Holyfield bout ended abruptly when a frustrated Tyson, on the losing end, resorted to biting off a chunk of Holyfield's right ear. Similarly, the recent UK bare-knuckle fight witnessed a fighter resorting to ear-biting.

According to the Daily Star, a bare-knuckle fighter kept his ripped ear in a jar following a bloody encounter in a "no rules" brawl. The dodgy fights are sweeping the UK, with hundreds getting involved, including Alex Etherington, 32, who now keeps his ripped-off ear in a jar. The UK-based "fight club"-like experience has attracted some tough and mad nuts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alex Etherington (@alex__.365)

Etherington, hailing from County Durham, emerged victorious in the fight but suffered the loss of his ear. He has since shared his experiences in the world of underground fighting rings.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alex Etherington (@alex__.365)

In the documentary UNTOLD: The Secret World of Fight Clubs, Alex Etherington recounts his harrowing experience of losing his ear in a brawl. The documentary delves into the world of underground fighting, highlighting the dangers and prevalence of these unregulated, no-holds-barred matches.

Etherington said, "I felt lucky to get on King Of The Streets. It's quite sought-after. I only got on it because my friend vouched for me. It got half a million views on YouTube, and I got around 7,000 followers on Instagram overnight. That was heavy for me."

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/wMLRpQf

Rahul Gandhi Is "Fighter", Will Give...: Supriya Sule On Poll Body Notice

 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a "fighter" and will give a "dignified and honest" reply to the Election Commission's notice over his "Jaibkatra" (pickpocket) and "Pannauti" remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election rally.

"Rahul Gandhi is a strong and honest leader. I am confident that he will give a dignified and honest answer. He is a fighter. He can afford to be fearless because he is honest," Ms Sule said on Thursday.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said, "We have so many examples of BJP talking about his family. So, now if he speaks something, why is there a need to feel bad? They (BJP) had even talked about his great grandfather."

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a show cause notice to the Congress MP on the BJP's complaint to the ECI that Rahul Gandhi has allegedly made derogatory remarks in his poll rallies against PM Modi.

"Whereas, a complaint has been received from the BJP (copy enclosed) alleging that you, on November 22, 2023, in a public meeting at Bayatu, District Barmer, Rajasthan made wild allegations and spoke in a derisive and obnoxious manner about the Prime Minister. It is alleged that comparing a PM to a "Jaibkatra" (pickpocket) and using the word "Pannauti" is unbecoming of a very senior leader of a National Political Party. Further, the allegation of grant of waivers of Rs 14,00,000 crores for the past 9 years, is asserted by the BJP, as not borne out on facts," the ECI letter to Rahul Gandhi said.

"Furthermore, they are allegedly in violation of Section 123 (4) of the R.P. Act, Section 171G, 504, 505 (2), and 499 of the IPC, and provisions of the Model Code of Conduct," it added.

Earlier Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Barmer claimed that PM Modi's presence in the Narendra Modi stadium was the reason behind India's World Cup final loss on Sunday.

"Our guys were playing well, they would have won the world cup. But 'Pannauti' made us lose. The TV guys won't tell you this but people know," Rahul Gandhi said while campaigning at Rajasthan's Barmer on Monday.

The ECI further asked Rahul Gandhi to explain why the action should not be taken against him in the matter.

"Accordingly, you are requested to provide your explanation, on the allegation made and to show causes as to why action as deemed fit for alleged violation of MCC and relevant penal provisions is not initiated by the Commission. Your reply, if any, be reached by 18.00 hrs. of November 25, 2023. If no reply is received by then action deemed fit will be taken by the Commission," the letter said.

The BJP in its complaint asked the ECI to take appropriate action against the Congress leader. "It will spoil the electoral environment, where abusing, usage of objectionable and offensive language to defame respectable individuals and spreading false news will become inevitable," the party said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/4BfzJ8M

"Hamas Took My Daughter": Father Pleads For Return Of Kidnapped Daughter

A father is pleading for the return of his 9-year-old daughter. Emily Hand was kidnapped by Hamas in its attack on Israel on October 7. She is believed to be one of over 240 hostages currently held by Hamas. The father, Thomas Hand is pleading for Emily's return after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for a four-day truce. The deal calls for 50 civilian hostages held by Hamas to be released and for Palestinians in Israeli prisons to be released. 

"That'd be very great for everyone concerned on both sides," Thomas Hand, 63 told The Guardian. "It gives me hope, but until I see her, until I'm holding her I won't believe anything. Until I see it, I won't believe it."

Mr Hand during a press conference in London described his life as a nightmare. "I know the Israeli government and the army will do everything in their capabilities to get them back." 

Emily was initially believed to be among the 1,200 Israelis killed during the surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Now, she is counted among the 240 hostages in Gaza.

"My sole purpose in life now is to do everything I can to get my little daughter Emily back," said Hand, who after living in Be'eri kibbutz for 20 years working in a printing house, now lives in a hotel near the Dead Sea. "Nothing else concerns me."

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also shared a video on its Facebook page and wrote, "This beautiful 8-year-old girl Emily Hand was believed to have been murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. We now know she is being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Please share this and help us bring Emily home."

Under the Israel-Hamas deal, the two sides agreed to a four-day truce so that 50 women and children under the age of 19 taken hostage could be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and teenagers in Israeli detention, Reuters reported. 

The four-day truce will start at 7 am local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday and the first 13 civilian captives will be released at about 4 pm (14:00 GMT), the Qatari foreign ministry says.

The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire.

Those involved in the deal have described the break in hostilities as "a humanitarian pause". The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement.

The hostages are expected to be transported through Egypt, the only country apart from Israel to share a border with Gaza.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/orI8VqM

UK Museum Recognises Roman Emperor As Trans Woman

A UK museum has embraced inclusivity but sparked controversy by relabeling the third-century Roman emperor Elagabalus with female pronouns, based on historical accounts. North Hertfordshire Museum will now refer to emperor Elagabalus with female pronouns of she and her, BBC reported. 

The museum said the decision was prompted by classical texts that allege the emperor once said, "Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady." The words were written by Cassius Dio, a well-known Roman historian and administrator. 

The spokesperson for the museum said, "only polite and respectful to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past".

The museum owns a silver denarius minted in the reign of Elagabalus, who ruled Rome from 218AD until his assassination, aged 18, in 222AD, and the coin has been used in LGBT-themed displays, Telegraph reported. In displays featuring the coin, information about it and Elagabalus, the ruler will be referred to as she.

Elagabalus became a controversial figure over his short reign, developing a reputation for sexual promiscuity. 

He was married five times- four times to women, and once to Hiercoles, a former slave and chariot driver. 

Cassius Dio, a senator and contemporary of Elagabalus, writes in his historical chronicles mentioned that the emperor "was bestowed in marriage and was termed wife, mistress and queen".

Keith Hoskins, Liberal Democrat councillor and executive member for arts at the Lib Dem and Labour coalition-run North Herts Council, told the Telegraph, "Elagabalus most definitely preferred she pronoun, and as such this is something we reflect when discussing her in contemporary times.

"We try to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past, as we are for people in the present. It is only polite and respectful. We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing."

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/BJt9SCf

Shraddha Kapoor Explains Her Instagram Bio, Says 'I Want To Reach For The Stars...'

Speaking about her Bio, Shraddha said, "My dream—that I am unfolding every day—is to continue maximizing my fullest potential as a human being. My dream has actually been consistent since I was a little girl—I want to reach for the stars with my feet on the ground." 

from Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/cKorYAx

Another Pandemic? Mystery Pneumonia Sweeps Through Chinese Schools

China, still reeling from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, now faces a new threat: a mysterious pneumonia outbreak sweeping through schools. This alarming situation, reminiscent of the early days of the COVID crisis, has led to a surge in hospitalizations, casting an ominous shadow over the country's healthcare system.

Hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning, 500 miles northeast, are struggling to cope with an influx of sick children, straining their resources to the breaking point. Local media reports suggest that school closures are imminent due to the outbreak. The affected children present with unusual symptoms, including lung inflammation and high fever, but noticeably lack the typical cough and other signs associated with flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses.

⚠️UNDIAGNOSED PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK—An emerging large outbreak of pneumonia in China, with pediatric hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning overwhelmed with sick children, & many schools suspended. Beijing Children's Hospital overflowing. 🧵on what we know so far:pic.twitter.com/hmgsQO4NEZ

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 22, 2023

ProMed, an open-access surveillance platform that tracks worldwide disease outbreaks in humans and animals, issued an alert on Tuesday evening regarding an emerging epidemic of "undiagnosed pneumonia" particularly affecting children. 

A ProMed alert issued in late December 2019 served as a critical early warning about a novel virus, subsequently identified as SARS-CoV-2, alerting a wide range of medical professionals and scientists, including high-ranking officials at the World Health Organization.

Watching this one closely...

Link: https://t.co/gxRuLe4y50 pic.twitter.com/WSm4W2wV1q

— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) November 22, 2023

In an editor's note, ProMed said: "This report suggests a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness... It is not at all clear when this outbreak started, as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly. The report does not say that any adults were affected, suggesting some exposure at the schools."

It is too early to project whether this could be another pandemic, but as a wise influenza virologist once said to me, "The pandemic clock is ticking; we just do not know what time it is."

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/cWbZuvF

Exclusive: Will AI Become Sentient? What 'Father Of Internet' Told NDTV

Artificial intelligence should not be conflated with real human intelligence and it should not be depended on for crucial things like "retirement finance planning" and "medical diagnosis", Dr Vint Cerf, the father of Internet, has told NDTV in an exclusive interview. The reason is that such systems currently are far from perfect, indicated Dr Cerf, who is currently the Chief Internet Evangelist of Google.

Artificial intelligence, he said, is a manifestation of a "more general form of machine learning" and it can reflect only what it has learnt.

Giving an example of what could be a real-life situation, he said a voice-activated AI could do "what you do not want it to do". For example, it could open the door to a visitor but without checking who the visitor is, it could be a matter of concern.

There could be "large language models possibly doing you do not want it to do," he said. "There are a bunch of edge cases and nuances that programmers should look into. These are the kind of things that worry me and others," he added.

Asked if we are getting to a point where AI systems can become self-aware, Dr Cerf said, "I hope the answer is no". Programmers, he said, need more time to understand the peculiarities of these systems. Giving an example, he said the larger AI models are often referred to as "hallucinating models" since they "conflate factual information and produce counter-factual output".

Asked about the effect of deepfakes in the coming days, he said it could be what the entertainment industry is waiting for as it could help older actors do the kind of movies they would have been considered for otherwise. But apart from that, deep fakes could be a "potential hazard" so it needs to be regulated and a mechanism should be prepared to make people creating them accountable.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/7WtbATY

Pre-Wedding Skincare: 10 Beauty Secrets Every Bride-To-Be Should Know Before The Big Day

Unveil your best skin on your special day with these pre-wedding skincare secrets and rituals.

from Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/u3psHEF

"Absolutely Inhuman": Manipur MLA On Highway Blockade In Crisis-Hit State

The killing of two men in Manipur's Kangpokpi district yesterday by suspected insurgents had led to a shutdown call, including the blocking of National Highway 2, by an organisation of the Kuki tribes.

Valley-based civil society groups have, however, criticised the move to block the highway as punishing an entire population over the action of armed miscreants.

Manipur's lifelines that pass through hill areas are the first casualty whenever local tensions arise; they are immediately blocked - sometimes for months - by any group to use as a leverage for their demand.

One of the two men, Henminlen Vaiphei, who was killed on Monday, served in the Indian Reserve Battalion. Unidentified armed assailants ambushed them while they were travelling in a Maruti Gypsy on Monday, the Manipur Police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On 20.11.2023, at Khonsakhul-L. Munlai Junction, Kangpokpi, two individuals, including one police personnel of 6th IRB namely Henminlen Vaiphei, lost their lives in an ambush by unidentified armed assailants while traveling in a Maruti Gypsy. Security forces immediately launched...

— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) November 20, 2023

After the incident, the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) in a statement announced the "emergency shutdown" in the district where one of the lifelines of Manipur passes through.

"... We are no longer safe under the partisan government... The meeting calls for an early materialisation of the demand for separation from Manipur... Political separation is the only option left now," the Kangpokpi group that represents the hill-majority Kuki tribes, similar to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), said in the statement.

Kangpokpi is 45 km from the state capital Imphal, the valley area where a majority of the Meiteis live. Both communities have been engaged in ethnic clashes since May.

Manipur's independent MLA Nishikant Singh Sapam, condemning the sudden highway blockade, told NDTV only two highways connect the state with the rest of the country, and "imposing a blockade on these lifelines by anyone is similar to choking a person by the neck and threatening their survival".

"This is absolutely inhuman, totally unlawful. Essential items reach in trickles with great difficulty, leading to price rise, making survival a lot more difficult to the already difficult situation in Manipur. This practice (of blocking highways) must stop. It's cruelty to an extreme level," said Mr Sapam, who is based in Imphal.

Highway blockades in Manipur add more burden to transporters and eventually the consumers due to daylight extortion that operates as an open secret. NDTV on September 15 reported that the cost of illegal highway 'tax' extorted from truck drivers in Manipur is passed on to consumers in the ethnic violence-hit state.

The prices of essentials and other goods have risen between 10 per cent and 30 per cent, depending on the item. Fruit and fish cost 50 per cent more in Manipur, compared to other states.

The ethnic unrest in Manipur began on May 3 following a protest by the Kuki tribes against the Meiteis' demand for inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Though the immediate cause of the ethnic clashes is said to be over the Meities' demand for ST tag, many leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar have said entry of illegal immigrants is one of the main factors behind the unrest in the northeast state, which is ruled by the BJP.

India's anti-terror body the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said it is looking into an alleged transnational conspiracy involving terror groups hiding in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur to exploit the ethnic violence in the northeast state.

The centre last week extended by five years the ban on nine Meitei extremist groups and their associate organisations, which mostly operate in Manipur, for anti-national activities and launching attacks on security forces.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/0z1RCPL

Finding Love In 2024? Dating Trends For A Year Of Self-Discovery And Prioritization, Survey Reveals

The dating landscape is now a dynamic weave of red, green, and even white flags, and here is an interesting survey which explains the dating trends in the upcoming year.  

from Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/im7tqAs

Sam Altman To Steve Jobs, 5 CEOs Who Were Fired From Their Own Company

Sam Altman, who had been leading OpenAI as CEO since 2019, was sacked by the company's board on Saturday after it claimed it  "lost confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI". Mr Altman is set to join Microsoft. Meanwhile, Twitch co-founder Emmett Shear was appointed as interim CEO of the AI firm.   

However, Mr Altman is not the only CEO who has been fired from the company. Here is a list of high-profile founders ousted from their own companies. 

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the World of Statistics posted a list of founders who were fired from their companies in the past. The caption read, "Founders who were fired from their own businesses: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Steve Jobs, Apple, Jack Dorsey, Twitter, Noah Glass, Twitter, Travis Kalanick, Uber..."

See the post here:

Founders who were fired from their own businesses:

🇺🇸 Sam Altman, OpenAI
🇺🇸 Steve Jobs, Apple
🇺🇸 Jack Dorsey, Twitter
🇺🇸 Noah Glass, Twitter
🇺🇸 Travis Kalanick, Uber
🇺🇸 Andrew Mason, Groupon
🇺🇸 Jerry Yang, Yahoo
🇺🇸 David Neeleman, JetBlue
🇺🇸 Rob Kalin, Etsy
🇺🇸 Dov Charney,…

— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) November 18, 2023

Steve Jobs

In 1985, Steve Jobs, one of the co-founders of the tech giant Apple, was fired from the company following a clash with the board of directors. The grounds for his ousting were attributed to Jobs' confrontational management style and perceived deficiencies in interpersonal skills.

Nevertheless, Steve Jobs made a triumphant return to Apple in 1997, assuming the role of CEO. During his second tenure, he propelled Apple to new heights, leading as the chief executive for the subsequent 14 years before eventually passing the leadership torch to Tim Cook.

Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey, one of the co-founders of Twitter, was ousted from his position as CEO in 2008. The company's board of directors deemed him unsuitable to lead the company due to several factors, including his inability to resolve a recurring outage issue that caused frequent service disruptions, the absence of a backup system for the entire Twitter network, and his penchant for leaving work early to pursue interests in fashion design and yoga.

However, Mr Dorsey was reinstated as CEO in 2015 and held the position for six years before resigning in 2021. Parag Agrawal took over as CEO following Mr Dorsey's departure.

Travis Kalanick

Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick, stepped down from his position in 2017. His resignation came just a week after he had taken an indefinite leave of absence. The company was embroiled in a major crisis in February when a former employee published a blog post alleging widespread gender discrimination and sexual harassment within the organization.

Jerry Yang

Yahoo Inc co-founder Jerry Yang stepped down in 2012, appeasing shareholders who had blasted the Internet pioneer for pursuing an ineffective personal vision and impeding investment deals that could have transformed the struggling company, Reuters reported.

Mr Yang's abrupt departure comes two weeks after Yahoo appointed Scott Thompson as its new CEO, with a mandate to return the once-leading Internet portal to the heights it enjoyed in the 1990s.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/BAPD5Xz

Watch: Rohit, Siraj In Tears After India's Heartbreaking Loss In WC Final

A scintillating century by Travis Head proved to be the point of difference as Australia beat India by seven wickets to clinch their sixth ICC Cricket World Cup title at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Australia have officially won a World Cup title in the decades of 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. For India, their decade-long wait for a major ICC Trophy continues as after overcoming the semifinal hurdle, they have lost in the final. In the chase of 241, Men in Blue started off with an expensive over by Jasprit Bumrah as he was smashed for 15 runs, including three fours. Also, a catch was missed on the first ball itself. But Virat Kohli, who had missed the catch in the first over, made up for his error as Mohammed Shami struck in his first over, removing David Warner for just seven. India was 16/1 in 1.1 overs.

Mitchell Marsh was the next batter up. He displayed some attacking intent with some big shots, but Jasprit Bumrah removed him for 15 after he was caught behind by wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. Australia was 41/2 in 4.3 overs.

Siraj full of tears#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND#AUSvsIND #INDvAUSFinal #INDvsAUSfinalpic.twitter.com/NGQzSDGgQ1

— Dank jetha (@Dank_jetha) November 19, 2023

Steve Smith, Australia's premier batter, was trapped leg-before wicket for four. Australia was 47/3 in seven overs.

At the end of the first ten overs of the powerplay, Australia was 60/3.

Australia reached the 100-run mark in 19.1 overs.

Nothing is more painful than watching tears in Rohit Sharma eyes again after 2019 CWC!

#INDvsAUS #RohitSharma #INDvsAUSFinal pic.twitter.com/shA95pQG46

— Saurabh Singh (@100rabhsingh781) November 19, 2023

Travis reached his half-century in 58 balls, with six fours and a six. Marnus Labuschagne also maintained the strike rotation and supported Head from the other end.

Australia kept marching towards victory and reached the 150-run mark in 27.1 overs.

Travis proved himself as a player for big stages yet again, bringing up his century in 95 balls, with 14 fours and three sixes.

India simply had no answers to Australia's brilliance as the five-time champions reached the 200-run mark in 36.3 overs.

Labuschagne reached his fifty, his third of the tournament, in 99 balls, with three fours.

Head was about to go for the winning runs, but was caught by Gill for 137 off 120 balls, with 15 fours and four sixes. Australia was 239/4 in 42.5 overs.

Australia clinched their sixth World Cup title, with Glenn Maxwell hitting the winning runs with seven overs and six wickets in hand.

Bumrah took two wickets while Shami took a wicket. Siraj took a wicket as well.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul's gritty half-centuries powered India to 240 against Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Australia put on a stunning display of tight and belligerent bowling to bundle out India for 240 after pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins broke the back of the hosts' batting line-ups early in the innings.

Rahul scored the most for India with 66 runs off 107 deliveries, while Kohli played a fine knock of 54 runs after Rohit Sharma's 47-run knock set a solid platform for his team.

Put to bat first, Rohit got off to a fast start, hitting a four and a six in the first over and a six and four in the fourth. Even when Josh Hazlewood was under pressure, Mitchell Starc struck in the fifth over as he removed Shubman Gill for four runs. A mistimed front foot pull brought the end of Gill's stay at the crease.

The flood of runs continued as Virat Kohli set his sights early on Starc and blasted a hat-trick of fours. However, India's aggressive streak was cut short again near the end of the first powerplay. Travis Head sprinted back from the covers and held on to an incredible stunner off Rohit's mistimed ball towards the off-side.

Soon after the first Powerplay, the aggressive Shreyas Iyer was dismissed, nicking one behind the wicket. Even as India attempted to re-establish itself following the initial blows, the limits dried up.

Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and Kohli continued to restructure India's batting order. Pat Cummins kept changing bowlers in an attempt to get a breakthrough, but India made it reach the mid-innings mark without losing another wicket. India appeared to be gaining momentum after Kohli's sixth consecutive fifty in the ongoing World Cup.

Cummins struck again for Australia, this time with a short ball against the well-set batter Kohli. The 36-year-old ended his ODI World Cup 2023 journey with the most runs by a batter in a single edition of the prestigious tournament with a total of 765 runs.

This loss drove India back into defensive mode. Ravindra Jadeja, who sent in at no. 6 ahead of Suryakumar Yadav to get the left-right combo going, was pleased to whack the ball around the ground along with Rahul. The wicketkeeper-batter Rahul reached his fifty in the 35th over mark.

As the ball started to reverse swing, Australia's pacers found greater help from the wicket. Josh Hazlewood struck in the 37th over, getting Jadeja to nick one behind the wicket. India reached their 200 in the 41st over.

However, wickets continued to fall, as Jasprit Bumrah was the next to go, caught in front by Adam Zampa, who finished with 1/44 from ten overs.

And the audience fell silent when Hazlewood bowled Suryakumar Yadav in the 47th over.

India lost the wickets of Rahul (66), Mohammed Shami (6), Jasprit Bumrah (1) and Suryakumar Yadav (18) in quick succession and eventually bowled out for 240 in 50 overs.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/LBcDnJU

"Nayi Soch Nayi Kahani": Minister Smriti Irani Turns Radio Jockey

Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has taken up a unique initiative - a weekly radio show to tell stories. Ms Irani, who has been part of media and entertainment industry, told NDTV that "Mann Ki Baat", PM Modi's show, has set standards.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/5R1qHMk

Tiger 3 Box Office Collection: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif's Spy-Thriller Enters Rs 300 Crore Club

Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, 'Tiger 3' has entered the Rs 300 crore club at the global box office.

from Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/VdYBPrj

Congress Vows 75% Quota In Telangana Private Jobs, Court Junks Haryana Act

In its manifesto for the Telangana assembly polls released on Friday, the Congress has promised 75% reservation for residents of the state in private-sector jobs. Hours later, however, the Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down a Haryana law implementing the same promise.

Reservation based on domicile in private-sector jobs has always been a sticky subject and several industry associations have spoken against it in the past, arguing that it is against the principles of justice and equality guaranteed by the Constitution. They have insisted that eligibility for such jobs should be based on merit and not where the person resides. 

When NDTV raised these issues with two Congress leaders in Telangana, they said the idea is feasible and will be implemented after holding discussions with stakeholders. They emphasised that Telangana has a wealth of human capital and companies will not be deterred by the plan as long as they get skilled workers. 

Congress leader and head of the party's manifesto committee D Sridhar Babu said, "It is definitely feasible. We will put it into action after we sit across and try to talk to various stakeholders who contribute to our economy. We will convince them and then implement our manifesto promise. Any industry requires a skilled force and that is what our youth in Telangana are. Industry will welcome them," he said.

Echoing Mr Babu's comments, Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP Ajoy Kumar said it is important for local residents to get jobs. 

"There are lots of competent people in Telangana, let's first identify them. Our view is simple, entry-level jobs, engineers, Java programmers, anything else, why isn't it local? There are so many engineering colleges, so many talented people. If you do a quick dipstick in Tamil Nadu... they employ local people and it's one of the manufacturing hubs of this country. So, all this is a myth. No capital gets scared, industries go where they can make money," Mr Kumar asserted.

Polling for Telangana's 119 Assembly seats will be held in a single phase on November 30 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. 

Striking down the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, the Punjab and Haryana High Court termed it unconstitutional. The Act, which underwent several changes after it was passed in 2020, provided for 75% of private-sector jobs with a monthly salary or wages of less than Rs 30,000 being reserved for people with a resident or domicile certificate. The domicile requirement had also been brought down from 15 years to five. 

The petitioners had argued that the sons-of-the-soil concept behind the law was an infringement of the constitutional rights of employers. They had also said that the Act was against the principles of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution. 

Another concern was the impact the Act would have on the development of industry in Gurugram, which is one of the biggest Information Technology hubs in India. 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/qpaNSJO

"Will Go To Supreme Court": Haryana Deputy Chief Minister On Quota Order

Hours after the Haryana law mandating 75 per cent reservation for residents of the state in private-sector jobs was struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala told NDTV that the government will approach the Supreme Court.

"We are waiting for the order to be put online. We will take the legal remedy and move to Supreme Court to put a stay on this order," Mr Chautala, whose JJP (Jannayak Janta Party) is a junior partner in the BJP-led alliance, told NDTV in a telephonic interview.

The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, which was passed by the Haryana Assembly in November 2020 and had received the governor's assent in March 2021, was seen as the brainchild of the Jannayak Janata Party.

Providing 75 per cent reservation in private sector jobs for state domiciled candidate was a key poll promise of the Jannayak Janta Party at the time of 2019 assembly polls.

The Deputy Chief Minister drew attention to the fact that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the Act in February 2022 but the order had been set aside by the Supreme Court days later following an appeal by the state government.

"We wanted to generate employment at the local level. It would have benefited the industry on two levels. First, they would not have had to pay transportation and accommodation cost, and second, local skilled labor would have been available. We have seen how industries are ruined when skilled workers go back to their cities," said Mr Chautala, underscoring the need for such a law.

Mr Chautala added that the industry was consulted, and their views were incorporated.

"Technical jobs were dropped. The Act was for non-technical jobs," he said adding workers were to be paid a monthly salary or wages of less than Rs 30,000.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/cSMzqvt

At Event Honouring Them, Tribals Sit On Floor, Officials Occupy Chairs

An event where the guests of honour were sitting on the floor while the officials honouring them were occupying most of the chairs has sparked a controversy in Puducherry.

The Tribal Day Function organised by the Puducherry government on the occasion of tribal icon Birsa Munda's birth anniversary on Wednesday was attended by the Union Territory's Lieutenant Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Speaker Embalam R Selvam and several senior officials.

Videos showed a section of tribal men and women sitting on the floor along the aisle. Some people were also seen walking out in protest. One man was heard saying, "They spent Rs 3 lakh on this function. They could have built three houses for tribal families instead."

Another tribal man said, "You brought us here saying we will be given awards and this is how you treat us? This is humiliating."

After videos of people sitting on the floor went viral, the Tribal Welfare Department, which organised the event, was slammed for insulting tribals. Several people on social media criticised what they called a "lack of social justice".

Ms Soundararajan said she had asked for chairs to be arranged as soon she found out. She has also issued a notice to the concerned officials.

"Soon after I learnt about it, I asked officials to arrange chairs for the people sitting on the floor. Officials say they had made proper arrangements. I believe it is not right even if one person was disrespected. I regret this. How can this happen in my administration when I had arranged chairs even for children at earlier events? This shouldn't have happened," the lieutenant governor said.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/ZRObJjm

How Dog Stolen From Upscale Delhi Locality Was Reunited With Owners

In an upscale locality of Delhi, a dog was stolen from a house last month. The undeterred pet owner even announced a reward of Rs 1,00,000 to anyone who would provide any clue related to the dog's whereabouts.

The search for the beagle named Roxy was stolen outside a house in E block of Greater Kailash - 1 in Delhi around 6 am on October 25. The owners registered a police complaint and search began to find the pet. 

Posters describing the dog were circulated and a reward of Rs 1,00,000 was set to help find Roxy. The female dog with a small patch on her leg and pink harness was found almost after a month several kilometers away in Haryana's Faridabad. 

Surveillance footage helped the police track down the accused, Himanshu, who had stolen the dog from the house last month.

Himanshu, dealing with the death of his brother, reportedly felt a sense of loneliness and took a liking to the dog when he first saw her. 

The accused has been arrested and the beagle was returned to the relieved owners. 
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/zPO1Vq3

Watch: Anushka Can't Keep Calm, Blows Flying Kisses As Kohli Hits 50th Ton

Virat Kohli created history by slamming his 50th ODI century during the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Kohli surpassed legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar to claim the world record of scoring the highest number of centuries in ODI cricket. Celebrations erupted all around the ground as Kohli reached the milestone and wife Anushka Sharma's reaction has gone viral. Anushka could not control her excitement and was seen blowing flying kisses towards Kohli. Sachin was also in attendance and he, along with legendary footballer David Beckham, was seen applauding the huge feat.

Kohli, 35, reached his century -- his third of the tournament -- with a two off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, having faced 106 balls, hitting eight fours and a six, to break the record of 49 ODI hundreds he had shared with Sachin Tendulkar.

He did so on his former India team-mate's home ground, with Tendulkar among those applauding at the Wankhede Stadium as Kohli bowed towards his childhood hero and fellow 2011 World Cup-winner.

"It feels like a dream. Too good to be true," said Kohli at the innings break after India piled up 397-4.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

This was Kohli's 279th ODI innings, with the former India captain having also scored a further 71 fifties in addition to his 50 hundreds.

Dropped on 107, Kohli was eventually out for 117 when he pulled Tim Southee low to Devon Conway at deep square leg.

"For me the most important thing is to make my team win. I've been given a role this tournament and I'm trying to dig deep," added Kohli.

"That's the key to consistency - play according to the situation and play for the team."

Tendulkar, whose previous record of 49 had been equalled by Kohli 10 days ago in the group stage win over South Africa, hailed his compatriot's "passion and skill".

"The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn't stop laughing that day," Tendulkar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I couldn't be happier that an Indian broke my record. 

"And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake."

Kohli said he was over-joyed to achieve the record in front of his wife, Anushka Sharma, and Tendulkar 

"Sachin was there in the stands, my hero. My life partner and all these fans at the Wankhede," said Kohli.

India, bidding to win a third World Cup title and second on home soil, were also boosted by Shreyas Iyer's 105 and 80 from Shubman Gill.

(With AFP inputs)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/RL9BuWg