Tuesday 31 October 2023

"Received A Clip Where...": TV Anchor's Confession On Babar-WhatsApp Leak

The Babar Azam WhatsApp chat leak controversy has shaken the cricket world, with several Pakistan cricketers slamming those behind the saga. As speculations over the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf not answering his calls went rife, the WhatsApp message suggested that Babar never even tried to get in touch with Ashraf. It has now been revealed by the news anchor, who displayed the WhatsApp message on live TV, that it was the PCB chief himself who asked him to display the WhatsApp message during the show.

In a confession on Twitter, the news host Waseem Badami, said that about 7 minutes before the show was to start, the channel received a clip in which Ashraf asked them to show the message.

"About five to seven minutes before the show, we received a clip where Zaka Ashraf said: 'I am giving you this screenshot and I am asking you to show it live on screen'. Ashraf also gave us permission to share that. He was taking responsibility on TV; we thought we could share it. But it wasn't the ideal decision. We conveniently forgot that Babar Azam's consent was also important," Badami said in a video he shared on X (formerly Twitter). 

"I'm saying this on behalf of my team and the management. I am not proud of it, we are not proud of it. When something like this happens, you learn from it and try not to repeat the same in future," he added, confession what happened was wrong.

As for the WhatsApp message, the screenshot quoted Babar and a certain 'Salman' in a conversation about the allegations of the PCB chief not answering his calls.

Salman: "Babar, there's also been news circulating on TV and social media that you have been calling the Chairman and he's not answering. Have you called him recently?" read the message allegedly sent by the PCB COO.

Babar: "Salam (greetings) Salman bhai. Maine to sir ko koi call nai ke [I haven't called sir]." 

The authenticity of the WhatsApp message screenshot hasn't been established yet.



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Family Of 9 Shot Dead In Their House In Russia-Occupied Ukrainian Town

A family of nine, including two young children, were brutally killed in their house in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha. The horrifying event has sent shockwaves in Ukraine. The incident has triggered investigations by both nations. 

Ukrainian officials are blaming Russian soldiers for the gruesome killings of the family. According to BBC reports, the whole of the Kapkanets family were killed on October 27 for refusing to give the Russian soldiers their house. 

The Russian investigators have held two male suspects and said that they were Russian soldiers from the Far East. 

Pictures from the murder scene were uploaded by the Ukrainian Donetsk Region Prosecutor's Office. The images show multiple family members shot while in their beds, still tucked in each other's arms, with blood spatters visible on the walls. 

The caption of the post read, "Shot a sleeping family - an investigation into the murder in occupied Volnovas of 9 civilians, including two children."

The office further said that armed men in military uniform demanded that the family living there vacate the house to accommodate a Russian army unit. 

When the owner of the house refused, "the attackers threatened his family members with physical violence and left."

The office informed that days later the armed men returned and "shot all nine members of the family, who were already asleep at that time."

"A pre-trial investigation was initiated in criminal proceedings over violation of the laws and customs of war," the Ukrainian prosecutor's office said.

"The suspects have been detained and transported to the investigative department, where investigative and procedural actions are being carried out to ascertain all the circumstances of the incident and gather evidence," the committee added.

This month, Ukrainian forces have managed to resist a renewed Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, even as Moscow's forces continue to target residential areas. In response to the escalating conflict, Ukraine has ordered the mandatory evacuation of civilians, with a particular focus on safeguarding children in regions close to the front lines in the east and south, CNN reported.



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Pakistan To Expel Over A Million Illegal Migrants After Nov 1. Here's Why

Pakistan has asked all undocumented immigrants, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, to voluntarily leave the country by November 1 or face deportations. Pakistan is determined to remove all illegal immigrants from the country, said Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday amid claims by Islamabad that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. According to the minister, there will be no deadline extension. He also stated that action would be taken against anyone involved in helping or hiding the immigrants. 

"All the illegal immigrants have been identified. The state has complete data," said Mr Bugti, as per DW. "I want to appeal one more time that all the illegal immigrants should leave voluntarily by the deadline," he added. 

Who Are These "Illegal Immigrants"?

Notably, according to Reuters, Pakistan is home to over 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees. Out of these, about 1.7 million are undocumented. Afghans make up the largest portion of migrants - many came after the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, but a large number have been present since the 1979 Soviet invasion, the news agency reported. 

Now, as cash-strapped Pakistan is navigating record inflation and a tough International Monetary Fund bailout program, the officials in the country have accused the undocumented migrants of draining the resources for decades. Islamabad has also claimed that the many bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. 

"There are no two opinions that we are attacked from within Afghanistan and Afghan nationals are involved in attacks on us," Mr Bugti said in a news conference. "We have evidence," he added. "If they do not go, ... then all the law enforcement agencies in the provinces or federal government will be utilised to deport them," Mr Bugti said.

According to officials, illegal immigrants who are willing to voluntarily leave the country will be helped by the nation. But authorities also warned that anyone found in the country illegally after Wednesday would be arrested. 

Pakistan also stated that the 1.4 million Afghans who are registered refugees need not worry. It denied targeting Afghan nationals and said that the focus is only on people who are in the country illegally, regardless of their nationality. 

Deportation centres 

According to DW, three deportation centres have been set up in southwestern Baluchistan. Another three centres have also been set in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. More than 60,000 Afghans have returned home since the crackdown was announced, Azam Khan, the caretaker chief minister for the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said. 

Pakistan's crackdown condemned 

A number of diplomats and representatives have condemned Pakistan's crackdown on immigrants. Afghanistan has called Pakistan's move "harassment". The Afghan embassy in Islamabad in a statement on X, said more than 1,000 Afghans have been detained in the past two weeks - half of them despite having a legal right to be in Pakistan. "Despite the repeated promises of the Pakistan authorities, the arrest and harassment of Afghan refugees by the police in Pakistan continues," it said.

Separately, a group of former US diplomats and representatives of resettlement organisations also urged Pakistan not to deport Afghans awaiting US visas under a program that resettled vulnerable refugees fleeing Taliban rule. 

According to DW, the United Nations also made a similar appeal, saying that the crackdown could lead to human rights violations, including the separation of families. 



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Here's How to Get iPhone 14 Under Rs. 50,000 During Flipkart Big Diwali Sale

Flipkart is offering lucrative discounts on mobile phones during the festive season sale. During its upcoming Big Diwali Sale, which kicks off on November 2, the e-commerce website is claiming to offer the lowest prices of the year on iPhone models. As part of the sale, the base iPhone 14 could be available for as low as Rs. 49,999. Bear in mind that this offer price includes bank offers and other discounts. The iPhone 14 series launched last year at Apple's 'Far Out' event, with the base 128GB model starting at Rs. 79,900 in India.

iPhone 14 price in India during Flipkart's Big Diwali Sale

According to a teaser page for the upcoming Diwali sale, the base iPhone 14 with 128GB storage could be available under Rs. 50,000. The sale preview lists iPhone 14's base deal price as Rs. 54,999. Flipkart also promises an additional bank offer discount of Rs. 4,000 to customers using SBI credit card and Flipkart Axis Bank card. Further, the listing also includes an extra price cut of Rs. 1,000 on exchange, thus bringing the final sale pricing, including all offers, to Rs. 49,999.

Alternatively, customers can also pay a down payment amount of Rs. 19,999 at the time of purchase, and the remaining balance of Rs. 35,000 via no-cost EMI options. The sale price will go live when the Big Diwali Sale begins on November 2. The festive season sale will go on till November 11.

iPhone 14 specifications

The iPhone 14 launched last year in September, sporting a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1200nits peak brightness and support for Dolby Vision.

The base model iPhone 14 runs on Apple's A15 Bionic SoC. The handset features a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and a second 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens with 120-degree field-of-view on the back. The front shooter is a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera. The iPhone 14 also gets a flat-edge aerospace-grade aluminium frame, with Ceramic Shield material on the front panel, and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating.


Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company's latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Monday 30 October 2023

Ballon d'Or 2023 Live Streaming: When And Where To Follow Live Telecast?

The prestigious global football event, Ballon d'Or ceremony is all set to take place on Monday (Tuesday IST) in Paris. This highly acclaimed award show is known for acknowledging the world's greatest football players. Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the eighth Ballon d'Or of his remarkable career while Spain's World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati is tipped to take the women's prize. The prestigious award has been dominated over the last 15 years by Messi and his old adversary Cristiano Ronaldo, who have won it 12 times between them.Only two other players have won the Ballon d'Or since Ronaldo claimed his first in 2008 -- Luka Modric won it in 2018 and Karim Benzema was crowned last year following a brilliant season with Real Madrid.

When will the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony be held?

The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will take place on Monday, October 30 (Tuesday, October 31 IST).

Where will the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony be held?

The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

What time will the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony start?

The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will start at 12 AM IST (6:30 PM GMT).

Where to follow the live broadcast of the Ballon d'Or 2023c eremony?

The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will be aired on the Sony Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony?

The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will be streamed live on Sony Liv App and Website. 

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)



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"No Beds", Former BJP MP's Son Dies At Lucknow Hospital, Doctor Suspended

A former BJP MP has lost his son in Lucknow's SGPGI Hospital due to shortage of beds at the Emergency Ward. The grieving father sat on a protest at the ward with his son's dead body, till the government suspended the doctor in question and promised further action.  

Bhairon Prasad Mishra's son, 41-year-old Prakash Mishra, was suffering from a kidney ailment and was taken to the SGPGI's Emergency ward around 11 PM yesterday.  Mr Mishra claims no bed was available and the Emergency medical officer did nothing to help. His son died shortly after, the former MP has claimed.

Later, Mr Mishra -- who represented Banda in parliament -- sat on a protest outside the Emergency ward with his son's body.   

"I have lost my son, but I sat there so these guys fall in line. After me, some 20-25 people got the treatment... When I was sitting on protest everybody was complaining about him. He should be punished," he told reporters.

The hospital authorities have promised strict action and formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter.  

"The doctor said to him to take him to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).  But there were no beds available. Don't know why it was said... We have formed a committee. Strict action will be taken... The doctor has been suspended as of now," said Dr RK Dhiman, the hospital chief.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the state's BJP government over the incident. "It is not the hospital's fault. But it is the fault of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Why no budgets are being given to hospital?" he said.  

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has promised strict action and visited the leader at his home. "This is an unfortunate incident. A three-member committee has been formed and the matter will be investigated thoroughly," he said.



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Sunday 29 October 2023

Is It Noah's Ark? Experts Find 5000-Year-Old Boat-Shaped Mound In Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered what they believe to be ruins of a Noah's Ark-like vessel after excavating a geological site, the New York Post reported. The Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Research Team is comprised of three Turkish and American universities, and their project began in 2021.

The team extracted aged rock and soil samples from a geological formation in Turkey, which they believe contained the ruins of the vessel. Their findings also determined that ''clayey materials, marine materials, and seafood'' were present in the area between 5500 and 3000 BC, according to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.

The Durupinar formation lies in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı, located less than two miles from the Iran-Turkey border. It is a 538-foot geographic feature made of limonite, believed by some locals to be the remnants of Noah's Ark.

According to legend, Noah loaded two of every animal onto a 150-meter-long ark to save them from apocalyptic flooding that drowned the Earth. In the Book of Genesis, it was the mountains of Ararat in what is now eastern Turkey where Noah's Ark came to rest after the flood.

The mountain stands at 16,500 feet and is carved out like an ark.

AICU Vice Rector Professor Faruk Kaya said, ''According to the first findings obtained from the studies, there have been human activities in the region since the Chalcolithic period between the years 5500 and 3000 BC. It is known that the flood of Prophet Noah went back 5,000 years ago. In terms of dating, it is stated that there was life in this region as well.

This was revealed in the laboratory results. It is not possible to say that the ship is here with the dating. We need to work for a long time to reveal this.''

While dozens of researchers and individuals have claimed to have located the ark, no one has ever been able to produce definitive evidence. The holy texts of three religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, have all made references to Noah's Ark.


 



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Flying In Martian Sky, A NASA Chopper Made By An Indian

US space agency NASA is flying an aircraft -- a helicopter capable of flying in alien atmosphere -- in Mars. The 1.8 kg chopper, called Ingenuity, nicknamed "Ginny", is part of NASA's Perseverance rover which was launched in 2020 and is still active on Mars.  

The man who designed the aircraft is Dr J Bob Balaram – an Indian citizen currently working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory or JPL. "It was a challenge making the Ingenuity helicopter as none believed in it," said Dr Balaram, who studied Mechanical Engineering at IIT, Madras.

Ingenuity is a marvel of technology, weighing merely 1.8 kg, It is made of ultra-light weight carbon fibre and is just half a meter tall. The density of air on Mars in about one-hundredth of Earth's at sea level, or the density of air at 27,000 meters above earth, an altitude never reached by existing helicopters.

To fly Ingenuity the blades rotate at 2400 and 2900 rpm, or about 10 times faster than any helicopter on Earth.

Ingenuity is an experiment of sorts to test powered, controlled flight on another world for the first time.

Perched on the Perseverance rover, the chopper reached the surface of Mars like stowaway on February 18, 2021. The Ingenuity helicopter was deployed to the surface on April 3, 2021.

Once the rover reached a suitable "airfield" location, it released Ingenuity to the surface so it could perform a series of test flights over a 30-Martian-day experimental window – similar to the India's Chandrayaan rover Pragyan.

India's historic moon mission received an emphatic thumbs-up from Dr Balaram. "Vikram landing gave one goose bumps, ISRO should pursue its own goals," he said.  

His helicopter has completed its technology demonstration after three successful flights.  

For its first flight on April 19, 2021, Ingenuity took off, climbed to about 3 meters above the ground, hovered in the air briefly, completed a turn, and landed.  

It was a major milestone having a powered, controlled flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars. It was also the first flight in the world beyond Earth.

After that, the chopper successfully performed additional experimental flights of incrementally farther distance and greater altitude. So far, it has made 64 flights in the thin Martian atmosphere. Flying Ingenuity was truly the 'Wright Brothers moment' on another planet, he said.

Early next year, an Earth imaging satellite named NISAR – made jointly by India and the US --will be flown from Sriharikota. It would be part of the increasingly strong joint space initiative of the two countries.

The soft-spoken Dr Balaram says he is shortly retiring from NASA. Now he wants to help Indian students get attracted to the wonders of space and hopes to contribute more towards outreach in India.

He said his hands-on training at IIT Madras was instrumental in the success of flying Ingenuity. There are literally hundreds of students like him who can blossom and make India proud, he said.



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Woman, 2 Daughters Run Over By Vande Bharat In UP

A 40-year-old woman and her two daughters died on Sunday evening when they were run over by the Vande Bharat Express at a manned level crossing in this district while they were crossing it, police said.

Superintendent of Police (city) Piyush Kumar Singh said the accident took place when the gates of the Kasampur manned level crossing were closed.

He added that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

Describing the sequence of events, police said Kankarkhera resident Naresh was pulling a 'rherha' (a type of hand-driven cart), while his wife Mona (40) and their daughters Manisha (14) and Charu (7) were seated at the back side of the 'rehra'.

At the Kasampur manned railway crossing, Naresh moved under the railway gate, and was crossing the railway track, when the semi-high speed train hit the rear of the cart, running over Mona, and her two daughters, who died on the spot.

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



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Saturday 28 October 2023

NASA Shares Pic Of Galaxy Trio Located 500 Million Light-Years From Earth

US space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) often delights space enthusiasts with updates on the latest discoveries related to galaxies, stars, and planets within our solar system. It also shares captivating images captured by its spacecraft. Now, in its most recent post, the space agency dropped a mesmerising photograph of an interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661. Located roughly 500 million light-years from Earth, the image was captured using NASA and the European Space Agency's Hubble Space Telescope. 

"A galactic tango! This striking #HubbleFriday image captures the gravitationally-interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661," NASA wrote in the caption. 

Take a look below: 

The two galaxies are in the process of merging, according to a statement from the European Space Agency. One galaxy is known as NGC 7733 - the smaller galaxy seen in the lower right - and the other is NGC 7734 - the larger galaxy in the upper left. However, hidden in the star-studded spiral arm of the smaller galaxy is yet another galaxy, referred to as NGC 7733N. 

"The third galaxy is currently referred to as NGC 7733N, and can actually be spotted in this picture if you look carefully at the upper arm of NGC 7733, where there is a visually notable knot-like structure, glowing with a different colour to the arm and obscured by dark dust," the ESA wrote in its blog.

"This could easily pass as part of NGC 7733, but analysis of the velocities (speed, but also considering direction) involved in the galaxy shows that this knot has a considerable additional redshift, meaning that it is very likely its own entity and not part of NGC 7733," it added. 

Also Read | Mysterious Force Suppressing Growth of Cosmic Structures, Study Finds

Further, according to the European Space Agency, the three galaxies lie relatively close to each other in the constellation Tucana and are interacting gravitationally with one another. In fact, some science literature refers to them as a 'merging group,' which means they will ultimately become a single entity, ESA said. 

Meanwhile, since being posted, the picture has collected nearly 7 lakh likes on Instagram. 



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US Mass Shooter Was "Hearing Voices, Suffering From Paranoia": Police

Police in Maine said Saturday that the man who gunned down 18 people at a bar and a bowling alley and later committed suicide, suffered serious mental health issues, but was able to buy weapons legally because he had never been forcibly committed to treatment.

The body of Robert Card, a 40-year-old army reservist, was discovered Friday night inside a tractor trailer near a recycling center where he used to work, said Maine public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck. Card had shot himself.

Investigators are still struggling to determine Card's motive for carrying out Wednesday's massacre in the town of Lewiston.

However, Mike Sauschuck said that Card had reportedly been hearing voices and suffering from paranoia.

"Clearly there's a mental health component to this," Mr Sauschuck told reporters.

Investigators found a "paper-style" note that Card had left to a loved one which contained a password to his phone and bank account information, Mr Sauschuck said, adding that the note had the tone of a suicide letter.

Card was found in possession of three weapons, one of them a long gun, all purchased legally because he had never been forcibly committed to a mental institution.

Despite the apparently clear mental health issues and a reportedly recent psychiatric evaluation undergone by Card, "a background check is not going to ping that this individual was prohibited," Mr Sauschuck added.

A 'coward's way out'

The discovery of Card's body ended a massive two-day manhunt, which had this quiet city of 38,000 people on lockdown with businesses and schools closed and residents terrified.

Sauschuck acknowledged the help Card's family provided to the investigation, saying among the first people to call the police and identify the suspect were his family members. "This family has been incredibly cooperative with us," he said.

Lewiston finally breathed a sigh of relief with businesses beginning to open and people appearing on the streets Saturday.

Guadalupe Hursch, 49, a stay-at-home mother said she was happy that the ordeal was over. "Relieved. Relieved," Hursch told AFP, adding that she also felt sorry for Card's parents.

A local resident by the name of Danica who was buying coffee at a drive-in said she was "very afraid" in the aftermath of the shooting and was now happy Card was dead, but at the same time wished he had first been brought to justice.

"I think he took the coward's way out of doing it by suicide," Danica, who declined to give her last name, told AFP. "I think he should be held accountable for his crimes."

She added: "It's a very terrible thing and it's going to take a long time to get back up to be where we were before."

In a statement issued shortly after Card's body was discovered Friday night, President Joe Biden vowed to renew efforts to curb gun violence in the United States.

"Americans should not have to live like this," Joe Biden said. "I will continue to do everything in my power to end this gun violence epidemic."

President Biden said the shooting brought "a tragic two days -- not just for Lewiston, Maine, but for our entire country."

Authorities on Friday identified the victims, ranging from a husband and wife in their 70s, to a 14-year-old boy killed alongside his father.

This latest shooting is one of the deadliest in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people

Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance.

The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.

Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms.

The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings.

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



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US Model Found Dead Inside Fridge Had Cocaine, Alcohol In Blood: Autopsy

The body of a Los Angeles model was found in her downtown apartment last month stuffed in a refrigerator, with her wrists and ankles tied and mouth gagged, according to the latest autopsy report obtained by the New York Post. 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney was found dead in her luxury apartment on September 12. The LA County Medical Examiner's Office had ruled her death "homicidal violence" earlier this month, but the grizzly details of how her remains were discovered in her apartment were released on Friday in an autopsy report obtained by The Post. 

According to the outlet, Ms Mooney had been beaten and bound before being stuffed into her own refrigerator. The autopsy also revealed blunt force trauma to parts of her body and her toxicology tests showed traces of cocaine and alcohol in her system. 

"The blunt force traumatic injuries observed at autopsy are generally not considered acutely life-threatening on their own," the medical examiner wrote in the autopsy report. "However, based on the circumstances of how Ms. Mooney was found, these injuries suggest she was likely involved in a violent physical altercation prior to her death. Given this, the role that drugs and/or alcohol may have played in Ms. Mooney's death, if any, is uncertain," the report added. 

No arrests have been made in the case, PEOPLE reported. 

Also Read | 25-Year-Old Brazilian Makeup Influencer Dies After Mystery Disappearance Online

The 31-year-old was found dead in her apartment last month after her mother called cops to perform a "welfare check" on the model. When officers entered the apartment, they found a pool of blood beneath her body, which was "wedged in the refrigerator," the outlet reported. 

Based on the blunt force injuries found all over her body and the condition she was found in, the officials deemed the manner of her death a homicide. There also is evidence that the model was strangled, the officials said. 

Ms Mooney's sister, Pauline, told PEOPLE that her sister was two months pregnant when she died and had always wanted to be a mom. "She was super excited and I know she really wanted a kid, and it's something that she has always talked about," she told the outlet. She also said her late sister's boyfriend was "heartbroken" about the incident. 

Meanwhile, Ms Mooney's death spurred fear in local residents, especially after another model in the downtown LA area was found dead in her apartment. But despite similarities in the two cases, police have said that the two incidents are not related. 

Nichole Coats' family members feared their 32-year-old daughter also was murdered, but an autopsy report released on Tuesday showed she had died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and alcohol.



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Friday 27 October 2023

Priyanka's Look For The MAMI Event Prompts This Reaction From Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra, who landed early this morning in Mumbai to attend the opening ceremony of the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023, revealed her look for the night. Priyanka Chopra is the chairperson for this year's edition. The former Miss World chose a white bodycon gown for the occasion. Needless to say, she looked stunning as ever. Priyanka shared a few images on Instagram in which she can be seen posing against a piano. Priyanka Chopra opted for a halter neck gown and minimal accessory look. She kept her hair tied in a top bun. She also completed her look with an embellished coat. Priyanka's gown was from the shelves of designer Tony Ward. Priyanka wrote in the caption, "Opening night. Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival @mumbaifilmfestival." Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas was absolutely bowled over by her look. He commented, "Damn" and dropped a few fire emojis. The Internet was also impressed by Priyanka's sartorial choice. A user commented, "So pretty." Another user wrote, "Omggg The Diva." Take a look at Priyanka Chopra's pictures here:

This is how Priyanka owned the red carpet. Take a look:

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In the morning, Priyanka was seen in a crop top and shrug. The actress greeted the paparazzi stationed at the Mumbai airport with a bright smile and folded hands. Speaking of the MAMI Film Festival, it will be held at the Jio World Centre  in the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. See Priyanka Chopra's photos from the Mumbai airport here:

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Priyanka Chopra was spotted attending husband Nick Jonas' many of the concerts in the US in the last couple of months. Priyanka also took daughter Malti Marie to a recent concert. An Instagram fan page shared several clips, showing Nick holding Malti Maries's hands from the stage while the toddler was seated on Priyanka's lap. All this was during Nick's performance on stage. The viral clip also showed Malti Marie grooving and clapping with her father, while the actress was smiling her heart out after watching it all. Take a look:

Priyanka Chopra was last seen in Love Again. The actress shared screen space with Celine Dion and Sam Heughan. She will next be seen in Heads Of State, alongside John Cena and Idris Elba.



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World Cup Points Table: What Loss Against SA Means For Under-Fire Pakistan

The Pakistan cricket team's disappointing show at the Cricket World Cup 2023 continued on Friday as they were defeated by South Africa in a thriller at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Babar Azam-led side came agonisingly close to victory but were ultimately defeated by just one wicket. As a result, Pakistan are sixth in the points table and with just four points from six matches, they will find it extremely difficult to book their berth in the knockout stages. On the other hand, South Africa claimed the top spot as they leapfrogged the unbeaten Indian cricket team. While both sides have 10 points in the competition, South Africa have the better Net Run Rate (NRR). New Zealand are third at the moment while Australia and Sri Lanka are fourth and fifth respectively.

Here is the updated Cricket World Cup 2023 points table:

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South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket in a tense finish to push their Asian rivals to the brink of elimination from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Friday.

South Africa bowled out Pakistan for 270 and then returned to overhaul the target, scoring 271 for 9 in 47.2 overs with Aiden Markram top-scoring with a 93-ball 91.

Earlier, opting to bat, skipper Babar Azam made a 65-ball 50, while Saud Shakeel scored a run-a-ball 52. Shadab Khan also chipped in with a 36-ball 43.

However, Pakistan couldn't build partnerships as South Africa managed to take wickets with Tabraiz Shamsi (4/60) emerging as the most successful bowler.

Marco Jansen (3/43), Gerald Coetzee (2/42) and Lungi Ngidi (1/45) shared six wickets among them.

(With PTI inputs)



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"Concocted Story": Temple Priest On Priyanka Gandhi's 'PM Envelope' Claim

The priest of Bhilwara's Devnarayan temple on Friday accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of concocting a story about an envelope of donation dropped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi containing only Rs 21 and denied giving any statement about it.

The Election Commission on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Congress general secretary over her "envelope" remarks related to the Prime Minister's temple visit. The action came a day after the BJP filed a complaint against her.

Priyanka Gandhi, the BJP noted in its submission, told a public meeting in Dausa on October 20 that she saw on TV that when an envelope of donation made by PM Modi at a temple was opened, it carried only Rs 21. She added that she had seen the news and was not aware whether the claim was true or not, the BJP's complaint read.

The priest, Hemraj Poswal, issued a statement on Friday saying he never gave any statement about any envelope dropped by Prime Minister Modi.

Mr Poswal alleged that some local leaders "planted" the news in the local media in order to tarnish the image of 'Sanatana Dharma', the temple and Prime Minister Modi.

"Recently, in rallies in Dausa and Jhunjhunu, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi presented a concocted story and mentioned an envelope, hurting the religious sentiments of the followers of 'Sanatana Dharma' and those of Lord Devnarayan," he said.

The priest said there were thousands of Devnarayan temples in the country and asked whether Priyanka Gandhi or any member of the Gandhi family ever visited one. He also asked how much the Gandhi family has donated during visits to temples.

Praising former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, he said that during her tenure, a panorama of Lord Devnarayan was made by spending Rs 4.25 crore.

Religious sentiments should not be hurt for political gain, he added.

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



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Ex Cricketer Azharuddin In Congress' 2nd List Of Candidates For Telangana

Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin, late folk singer Gaddar's daughter GV Vennela and ex-MPs Madhu Yashki Goud, Ponnam Prabhakar and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy were among the prominent names in the second list of 45 candidates announced by the Congress on Friday for the November 30 Telangana assembly polls.

Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, who quit the BJP on Wednesday and rejoined the Congress today has been fielded from Munugode which he had represented earlier.

Mr Reddy's resignation from Congress to join the BJP led to a bypoll in Munugode last year which he had lost.

Mr Azharuddin, who had represented Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh in Lok Sabha earlier, will contest from the posh Jubilee Hills constituency in Hyderabad.

Former MPs Madhu Yaskhi Goud and Ponnam Prabhakar would be contesting from LB Nagar in Hyderabad and Husnabad in Siddipet district respectively, while Gaddar's daughter Vennela would be making her electoral debut in Secunderabad Cantt-SC constituency.

Former minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, who had recently quit the ruling BRS and joined the Congress, will contest from Khammam.

Former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who had also resigned from BRS and joined the Congress, has been fielded from Palair.

With this, the party has so far declared 100 candidates for the Telangana assembly polls.

The state has 119 assembly constituencies.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leadership deliberated upon the names of candidates for the Telangana assembly polls at a crucial meeting of the party's Central Election Committee in Delhi.

Chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the meeting was attended by former party chief Sonia Gandhi, besides members of the committee and Telangana leaders, including PCC chief A Revanth Reddy. The Congress had also held a meeting of the CEC for Telangana on Wednesday.

The Congress is seeking to replace the BRS government in the state.

In the earlier list, the party fielded Pradesh Congress chief Anumula Revanth Reddy from Kodangal assembly seat while CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu from Madhira-SC seat.

Revanth Reddy is currently the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency.

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



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Thursday 26 October 2023

"Manipur Crisis Not Religious Conflict": Indian-American In Congressional Hearing

The Manipur crisis is a complex web of internecine conflict marked by violence, mistrust, socio-political tensions and a deadly trifecta of insurgency, narcotics and illegal infiltration, which pose significant threats to India's national security, but is not a religious conflict between two communities, an Indian-American scholar told a US Congressional hearing.

Rajshree Keisham, an Indian-American scholar, said the projection of the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clash as a religious conflict by some sections "not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions."

"... Efforts have been made to portray this communal conflict in reductionist terms, projected to the world as the Hindu majority prosecuting the Christian minorities. This oversimplification not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions," Ms Rajshree said in the Congressional hearing, adding the attempts to project the Manipur ethnic violence as a religious one is a "classic case of Hinduphobia".

"The majority-minority debate should be examined in terms of the intersectionality of time, space, and context. For example, Christians are a minority in India, but they are a majority in the northeastern region," said the Indian-American scholar, who holds a PhD in Sociology specialising in Gender Studies and Socio Anthropology.

Over 180 people have died and thousands internally displaced after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following a protest by the Kuki tribes over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the affirmative action Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

Ms Rajshree said Manipur's diversity is its strength, as within the Hindu community in the state, there are other ethnicities including people from Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Nepal and more. Similarly, the Christian community includes Nagas, Kuki and also Meiteis. "This diversity is not a source of division, but a testament to the harmonious coexistence that has characterised Manipur for generations," she said.

She pointed out some social activists and religious leaders of the Christian community have strongly denied the Manipur violence was based on religious lines.

"Mizoram activist Alinery Lian-Luwang told the UN that 'the narratives peddled by international media that the Manipur conflict is of religious nature, holds no ground'," Ms Rajshree said, referring to the speech by the activist at a general debate at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"... The Archbishop of Mumbai categorically mentioned, and I quote, 'It is given a religious twist, but it is not a religious conflict between two religions, it's between two tribes, and we must now not do anything that will worsen the situation'," Ms Rajshree said at the Congressional hearing organised by HinduACTion, and Namaste Shalom Multi-Faith Alliance to address rising antisemitism and Hinduphobia in both the US and Canada.

"In recent times, there has been an alarming surge in attempts to exploit the Manipur conflict as a platform for propagating Hindu hate. This disturbing trend has found traction among certain factions... in the United States, who have strategically exploited religious sentiments to further their divisive agenda. What is even more concerning is the convergence of some radical Islamist groups in the United States, who have appropriated and aligned themselves with this cause. They perceive this situation as a prime opportunity to tarnish the image of Hindus on a global scale," Ms Rajshree said.

In August, three months after the Manipur violence began, a speech by the leader of a Canada-based Kuki-Zo tribes group from Manipur over the ethnic violence back home had sparked a massive controversy. The event was held at the same gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, whose chief and Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified people in June.

Lien Gangte, the Canada chapter chief of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), in his address condemned what he called "attacks on minorities in India" and asked Canada for "all possible help".

NAMTA had posted a video of the event on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on August 7. It deleted the videos much later when the row between India and Canada surfaced following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar.

India's anti-terror body the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 30 said it is investigating a transnational conspiracy case involving terrorist leaders in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The NIA statement came after a terror accused, Seiminlun Gangte, was arrested and charged with conspiring with Myanmar- and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against India by exploiting the ethnic unrest in Manipur.



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"Whatever My Boys Could Do, Daughter Could Too": Nita Ambani On Succession

For girls to learn that they are equal to boys, they have to see that at their homes, says Nita Ambani, wife of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, on how they never differentiated among their three children who in the succession planning have got equal share of the Reliance empire.

Mukesh and Nita Ambani have three children -- twins Isha and Akash, 32, and Anant, 28.

The three have recently been inducted on the board of India's most valuable company and are being groomed to take over its three almost equal verticals.

Isha, who is married to Anand Piramal, son of Piramal Group's Ajay and Swati Piramal, is being groomed for retail, Akash for digital/telecom and Anant for new energy business.

In an interview with CNBC International, Nita Ambani spoke about her family life, including the relationship with husband Mukesh.

"We have learnt so much from each other. Mukesh, as I say, has the floodlights in life... he thinks far ahead of his times. While I get into the meticulous details, he calls it the spotlights," she said.

Stating that she always tells her children that the single-most important decision is choosing the right life partner, she said, "I am so blessed to have Mukesh, who's my best friend and my life partner." "And, you know, we've enjoyed the journey of life, raising our children and our grandchildren," she said.

She says the couple still loves doing the same thing that they used to when they were young.

"So he takes me for a drive, we love listening to Hindi music, eating street food, I love my 'bhel' on the road and he loves his 'dosa idli'.

"So, we still love doing what we used to love doing. So these are the values that we kind of really live every day of loving our family, respecting our elders, being honest, humble, I think not much has changed," she said.

On children, she said Isha, who too is a mother of twins, was hands on for the launch of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) -- a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space in the sphere of arts in Mumbai.

"And now she's leading our retail (business)," she said.

"But I think for girls to learn that they are equal, they have to see that (at) their homes they have mentors who know that they're not anything less than boys. I have never differentiated between Isha and Akash and Anant. Whatever my boys could do, my daughter could do too." And this has been reflected in the succession at Reliance. Though Isha is married into Parimals, she is getting an equal share in the business as her brothers.

"Akash, Isha and Anant and a whole lot of the young generation is going to be the next leadership for Reliance and for India.

"In all three of them, I see different qualities. In Anant, my youngest, I see a compassionate young man who believes in conservation, in making the world a better place," she said.

"Akash is leading the digital revolution through Jio. Isha is leading retail besides taking active interest in Reliance Foundation. All three of them are very, very committed to working in Reliance. They have their own strengths," she said.

She tells her children to concentrate on their strengths and make them stronger. "Nobody's born perfect or nobody can be perfect. And it is okay to make mistakes. You learn much more from your mistakes than you do from your successes. Be humble, Be compassionate. Treat people with respect. And I'm very happy for the new young generation that is growing at Reliance," she added.

A Bharatnatyam dancer, Nita said the inspiration to set up NMACC came when she visited Australia for the Cricket World Cup and saw the Sydney Opera House.

"At that time, I thought, why can't India have something like this of its own? So the idea really sparked off at that time in Australia. And it's taken us now a decade to bring this to life." Nita, who is a member of the International Olympics Committee, said India is absolutely ready to host the Olympics. "Just like we would love to have the Olympics in India, the Olympics also cannot ignore the 1.4 billion people of India." She also heads Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd.

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



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US Teacher Arrested For Sending Nude Pics, Videos To 16-Year-Old Student

A 25-year-old teacher from Missouri is facing six felony charges for allegedly exchanging nudes with a 16-year-old student. Rikki Lynn Laughlin of St. James, Missouri allegedly asked for nudes from her victim via Snapchat and sent him her naked videos and pictures. 

As per Newsweek, Laughlin has been charged with one count each of attempted statutory rape, possession of child pornography, tampering with a witness, tampering with physical evidence, promoting obscenity in the first degree, and furnishing pornographic materials to a minor, authorities said.

The teacher pursued the relationship with a student and the 16-year-old did not want to engage with her.

According to KSDK, The Maries County Sheriff's received a tip from a Phelps County detective last week about an alleged inappropriate relationship involving Laughlin. 

As per the probable cause statement, a detective interviewed a teenage boy, and he revealed that Laughlin had sent him nude photos and videos of herself. He also shared that he also exchanged nudes of himself with the teacher. 

The authorities further revealed that Laughlin had asked the teen to delete her videos and photos because other people at school were talking about them and she feared that she could go to jail for it. 

The detective interviewed Laughlin the same day and she admitted that she was talking with the student over Snapchat. The teacher said she did not know that the victim was a minor until the day before the interview. The age of consent in Missouri is 17 years old.

According to court documents, her bond was set at $100,000. 

School district Superintendent Tim Webster without naming Laughlin confirmed the news. "The District takes these matters seriously and reported allegations to appropriate outside agencies, including law enforcement,” Webster told KSDK in a statement.

“Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our students, and we do not tolerate any policy or law violations within our educational community,” he added.



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Wednesday 25 October 2023

Israel Finds Itself Increasingly Alone As Anger Grows Over Gaza

Jordan's Queen Rania Al Abdullah was offered a chance to express horror at the Oct. 7 Hamas killing and abduction of Israelis.

How did she feel, she was asked in a CNN interview, "as an Arab, as a Palestinian, a human being, a mother?"

The monarch launched into an impassioned denunciation of Israel's subsequent bombing of Gaza and the West's "double standard," juxtaposing what happened in southern Israel with what is occurring in Gaza. "Are we being told it is wrong to kill an entire family at gunpoint but it's OK to shell them to death?"

The interview, greeted with fury in Israel, is part of a growing disconnect between how the Jewish state views the conflict, and how it is seen by the rest of the Middle East and many further afield.

Inside Israel, a powerful sense of foreboding was evidenced by a new poll showing 64% of Israelis now fear for their physical safety. Hamas continues to fire rockets and missiles into the country every day while militants try to sneak in via land or sea. Security officials believe some of those who entered on Oct. 7 may be in hiding in preparation for a second attack. 

Outside of Israel, many see things differently. On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said of the Hamas killings that they "did not happen in a vacuum," adding, "The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation."

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, was so outraged at the notion that Hamas' violence needed this context that he called on Guterres to resign. The sentiment wasn't limited to those on the right of Israeli politics. "Dark are the days when the United Nations Secretary General condones terror," opposition leader Benny Gantz posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Germany, which has been quick to show its support to Israel in the days since the Oct. 7 attacks, made a point of rejecting its ally's demand. "The UN secretary general has of course the trust of the German government," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin.

Israelis don't deny that the events of Oct. 7 - when 1,400 were killed and another 200 people abducted - require context. But for them, that context is not the mistreatment of Palestinians. They see the attack by Hamas as an extension of anti-Semitic assaults through the centuries.

The Holocaust memorial centre in Jerusalem, known as Yad Vashem, issued a statement in response to Guterres, saying Oct. 7 was different from the Holocaust only "because Jews have today a state and an army. We are not defenseless and at the mercy of others. However, it puts to test the sincerity of world leaders, intellectuals and influencers who come to Yad Vashem and pledge 'Never Again.'" 

There has been a parade of Western leaders through Tel Aviv offering solidarity and support. This follows a visit by President Joe Biden who came offering billions in military aid and referred to painful Jewish history. 

After that visit, Israelis felt understood. They believed that their plan to destroy Hamas would gain world sympathy as they publicized gruesome videos the killers themselves took of slaughter and abuse.

As Israeli fighter jets took to the skies over Gaza and bombarded it, killing thousands, that sympathy has come with qualifications they did not expect. 

Rescuers search the site of collapsed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza

Rescuers search the site of collapsed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday canceled a visit to Israel that was meant to take place later this year and added, "Hamas isn't a terror organization but is instead a group of liberators and mujahideen defending their land and people. We will never allow for the killing of children." Turkey also paused plans for energy cooperation with Israel.

Elsewhere in the Muslim world, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that no Muslim leader expects the events in Gaza to be resolved easily. Why? "Israel has become too arrogant with the support of the US and Europe," he said. "It is the level of insanity to allow people to be butchered, babies to be killed, hospitals to be bombed, and schools to be destroyed. It is the height of barbarism in this world."

Israel refers to Hamas as the new ISIS, and has vowed to destroy the militant group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. 

"Saying that Hamas is the new ISIS is not only analytically inaccurate but also carries the risk of making all residents of Gaza vulnerable targets," said Lina Khatib, the Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute in London. "Arabs and Muslims are widely rejecting this simplistic and dangerous characterization."

Many world leaders are calling for a ceasefire that would allow for more aid to get into Gaza, although some describe it as a "humanitarian pause." On Tuesday, eight trucks got in, followed by another 17 on Wednesday, according to Israeli officials, who said every truck was checked by their officers to make sure nothing was going in to help Hamas. 

The aid that's arrived so far is "a drop in the ocean," said Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson for The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, earlier this week.

In Israel, as concerns grow that Hezbollah may enter the war from Lebanon to its north, some speak of leaving for the US or Europe, at least for a period. But others say the anti-Israeli demonstrations across Western cities make them feel even less safe abroad than at home. 

This is a fight, many say, for the Jewish homeland, a second war of independence. But what that will create internally remains unclear. Gun license applications, officials report, are poised to triple. 

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was taken captive by Hamas at a music festival, spoke at the UN and asked why there wasn't more agitation over the abducted. "Where is the world?" she said in anguish. "Where are you?"

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



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Gaza Crisis May Force Rethink Of Security Strategy In Kashmir

The Gaza crisis has raised the possibility of street protests making a comeback in Jammu and Kashmir. That, coupled with an increase in foreign terrorists, has prompted security agencies to conduct a review of security measures and strategise on new ones. 

A meeting of top officials of Jammu and Kashmir and security agencies was held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps in Srinagar on Wednesday. "A new security matrix was discussed and the focus was on how to curb street protests, if any,  that take place in the coming days," a senior official told NDTV, adding that the meeting was aimed at increasing coordination. 

He said people in Kashmir are keeping a close eye on what is unfolding in Gaza. "So far, we fear that some street protests may take place, resulting in a law-and-order situation. So, a new security matrix was discussed to keep things in check," he explains.

Street protests have come down significantly since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and security agencies feel that it was a result of coordinated efforts. 

Another aspect which was discussed in this high-profile meeting was the role that foreign terrorists may play. "The number of foreign terrorists has gone up again as local recruitments have gone down drastically," said another officer. 

Out of 46 militants killed in the UT this year, 37 were Pakistanis and only nine were locals, official figures reveal. This is the first time in the 33 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir that the number of foreign terrorists killed is four times as high as local terrorists. 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs,  about 130 terrorists are operating in the Valley currently, of which half are foreign terrorists. "Pakistan wants to keep the pot boiling and that's why they are pushing more and more terrorists into Kashmir. The fear is that those who are hiding in the upper reaches may also come down to the Valley," said a senior official in New Delhi. 

The meeting held in Srinagar was chaired by RR Bhatnagar, advisor to the Jammu And Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, and Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander, Northern Command. The J&K Director General of Police, the Chinar Corps Commander and other senior officials from the military, state administration and security agencies also attended the meeting.

"The nuances of security in the region related to the onset of the winter season also came up for discussion," said an official.



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Congress Complains To Poll Body Against Amit Shah, Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Congress on Wednesday lodged complaints against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the Election Commission, alleging that their remarks during the Chhattisgarh assembly poll campaign violated the model code of conduct.

A delegation of Congress leaders met the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners and presented to them eight different memorandums of poll code violations in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

The delegation comprised AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, party leader Salman Khurshid, AICC state in-charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakre, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Revanth Reddy, former TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and CLP leader (Telangana assembly) Bhatti Vikramarka.

In its complaint against Mr Shah, the Congress told the EC that the home minister claimed in a speech in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon on October 16 that "...Bhupesh Baghel's government, for appeasement politics and vote bank politics, lynched Chhattisgarh's son Bhuneshwar Sahoo and got him killed..." Mr Shah further said that the BJP had pledged to bring Sahoo's killers to justice and "in his honour, we are fielding his father Ishwar Sahoo as a candidate in the elections", the complaint stated.

The opposition party alleged that these statements and claims are in blatant violation of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Congress' complaint against Assam Chief Minister Sarma pertained to a speech he delivered in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha on October 18 while campaigning against Congress candidate Mohd Akbar.

In his speech, the Congress alleged, Mr Sarma said, "If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled." 

The complaint stated that Mr Sarma subsequently levelled allegations against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, saying, "Today, the tribals of Chhattisgarh, who are dear to us, are being encouraged to convert their religion on a daily basis. And when someone raises their voice against it, Bhupesh Baghel ji says 'we are secular'. Is beating up Hindus your secularism? This country is a country of Hindus and will belong to Hindus. Do not teach us secularism, we do not need to learn secularism from you." Congress leaders claimed that these statements and claims highlight a clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another.

In another complaint, the Congress alleged the central government issued orders directing civil servants and Indian Army soldiers to promote achievements of the BJP dispensation.

"These acts of politicising the conduct of civil servants and Army soldiers violate the model code of conduct and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964," the party said.

The Congress also submitted a complaint against Govind Singh Rajput, the BJP candidate from Surkhi, Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh.

The party sought his disqualification, alleging that he had publicly stated that he would pay Rs 25 lakh to incharges of booths where the maximum number of votes would be cast for the BJP.

The Congress also submitted a complaint against "unlawful" transfer and posting of police officers in Telangana. It claimed these officers were transferred before the completion of two-and-a-half years of their tenure, as mandated by the EC.

It also complained against election duties being assigned to officers in Telangana who publicly support a specific political party.

"The Indian National Congress has consistently highlighted, exposed and documented electoral malpractices and brought them to the attention of the ECI for action and redressal.

"Through this process, the INC has ensured the deletion of lakhs of bogus voters across states, ensured the registration of FIRs against political actors engaging in electoral malpractices, ensured the transfer of officials acting in violation of the law and also secured campaign bans against repeated offenders who flout the law," the Congress said in its memorandum to the poll panel.

Mr Khurshid said as the electoral process begins, "the mudding of the waters by people from other political parties must be immediately curtailed and immediately put to an end".

The Union home minister, the chief minister of Assam and other leaders travelling to different states have taken up "divisive and hurtful" issues that would inevitably divert people's attention from the issues that should be considered important for an election, and cause division and polarisation amongst the voters, he said.

"To have a level playing field and for people to be able to decide fairly and objectively... we hope genuinely that the Election Commission will be able to do something about this," the former union minister said.

Former TPCC chief Reddy said the Congress brought to the EC's notice that elections "have probably become the most corrupt in the state of Telangana from the time this BRS party has come to power".

"We have requested the Election Commission of India to intervene strongly to ensure free and fair elections," he said.

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



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Tuesday 24 October 2023

Sarfaraz, Shaheen, Rizwan Among Candidates To Replace Skipper Babar

Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are being discussed as potential candidates who could replace Babar Azam as captain when the national team returns home from the World Cup in India. Pakistan are scheduled to tour Australia immediately after the World Cup. The team also needs to plan for the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

There is a clear consensus developing in the Pakistan Cricket Board that Babar has had his chance to prove himself and he has failed to deliver as captain.

Pakistan have four more league games left in the World Cup, having lost their last three including against Afghanistan on Monday. They can still qualify for the semifinals.

"Only if Pakistan can stage a miracle and win all their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals of this World Cup does Babar stand any chance of surviving as captain and even then he might be relegated to skipper in just the red ball format," one reliable source close to the developments said.

The source said that the knives were out for Babar and he might as well announce his resignation as captain if the team returns home without playing in the World Cup semifinals.

"It is over for Babar because he has been given unbridled power and authority as captain and more importantly he has always had players of his choice in the team.

"There has never been any attempt to reduce his authority and so he is now being held solely responsible for the Asia Cup and World Cup defeats," the source added.

He noted that even for the Asia Cup and World Cup, despite advice from former captains Misbah ul Haq and Muhammad Hafeez to make some changes for the event in India, Babar had got all the 18 players he asked for and chief selector, Inzamam ul Haq had also supported him completely.

"The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf ignored the advice of Misbah and Hafeez and some other former players whom he consulted as Babar was adamant he didn't want changes in the team for the World Cup," the source said.

Misbah also confirmed on a television channel that he had advised Babar to include mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the World Cup but Babar refused and only agreed to take him as a travelling reserve to India.

The interesting part is that lobbies for the possible candidates including Sarfaraz, Shaheen, Rizwan and Shan Masood have started their work to get their candidate selected as captain with the board now likely to name different captains for the red and white ball formats.

"Sarfaraz might win the nod to captain the Test and ODI sides again while Shaheen may get a chance to be the T20 captain," the source added. Sarfaraz is currently not part of the World Cup squad.

The source also disclosed that the support staff of Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, Mornie Merkel, Andrew Puttick and manager Rehan ul Haq are also under the scanner and will be asked to step down after the World Cup.

"They are very bright chances that Pakistan will have a new coaching staff and captain when they embark on the Test tour of Australia and for the white ball series in New Zealand after the WC," the source said.

The source said that the board was also not happy with reports leaking out of some differences and disputes in the dressing room, something that PCB rubbished on Monday.

Babar was initially named T20 captain in late 2019 but by 2021 he had taken over captaincy of all three formats.



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Monday 23 October 2023

Two Planes Nearly Collide Mid-Air Amid Storm Above Portland Airport

Two airplanes had a terrifying near miss after almost colliding with each other in the stormy skies above Portland International Airport last week. The close call came when an Alaska Airlines flight tried landing on a runway next to where a SkyWest plane was taking off on Monday, The Independent reported. A YouTube video by the channel VASAAviation caught the terrifying moment and shared a visual simulation of the Alaska flight heading towards the SkyWest plane over the Portland airport during a storm. 

The two planes allegedly came within approximately 250 vertical feet of each other, the outlet reported. Notably, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a near-midair collision occurs when planes are less than 500 feet from each other. 

The FAA, which is now investigating the incident, said that the pilot of the Alaska Airlines plane was going to land, but initiated a go-around when it almost collided with the Skywest flight. 

"While attempting to land at Portland International Airport, the pilot of Alaska Airlines Flight 1299 initiated a go-around due to wind and turned towards SkyWest Airlines Flight 3978, which had just departed," the FAA said in a statement, adding, "An air traffic controller instructed the Alaska Airlines pilot to turn away from the SkyWest aircraft."

In the clip released by the YouTube channel, the audio from the person in air traffic control became panicked as it tried to warn the Alaksa flight to change direction when it became dangerously close to the other plane mid-air. 

The controller told the Alaska flight to follow the "runway heading" path, while the Skywest flight was told to turn right as it left the runway. The seemingly confused pilot on the Alaska flight then repeated the instructions meant for the other flight and started to turn right into the path of the plane that had just taken off.

At this point, the air traffic controller appeared to grow flustered and give increasingly frantic directions. He even misidentified the Alaskan flight as "1298". Ultimately, the Alaska flight was reportedly rerouted to an airport 150 miles away and wasn't able to land in Portland. 

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Both airlines released statements downplaying the incident. According to The New York Post, Alaska Airlines believes a safe level of separation was maintained. "The crew of Flight 1299 followed cockpit indications and reacted immediately to increase separation from the other aircraft," an Alaska spokesperson said, adding, "The aircraft maintained a safe amount of lateral separation throughout the entire event". 

Separately, SkyWest also stated that "at no point was the safety of the flight compromised". 

It is not known how many people were aboard the two aircraft. The FAA has said they are still investigating how close in proximity the two airplanes had got to each other.



from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/BJiMohW