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Saturday, August 31, 2024

Gujarat Man Beaten, Driven Around Tied To Car For Stealing, Cops File Case

A shocking video showing a youth being beaten up and then tied to the bonnet of a car and being driven around in Godhra's Kanku Thambhala area prompted police action after the clip went viral on social media.

The incident has led to the registration of cases against both the accused who carried out the assault and the youth who was tied to the car.

The video, which was circulated widely online, shows the young man tied to the bonnet of a car and being driven around after allegedly being caught attempting to steal pesticides and food from a local shop.

Enraged by the attempted theft, the shopkeeper, along with his associates, reportedly beat the youth before tying him to the car's bonnet.

Bystanders filmed the incident, and one of the videos eventually reached the police.

Godhra Taluka Police have taken cognisance of the matter, and cases have been registered against all parties involved.

Deputy Superintendent of Police NV Patel confirmed the incident, stating, "This incident happened on August 29 when a youth tried to steal things from a shopping centre in the Kanku Thambhala area. A video of the youth being beaten, tied to a car's bonnet and being driven around went viral on social media. On the basis of that video, police have registered a case against the youth who tried committing the theft and those who tied him to the bonnet and beat him."

The police investigation into the incident is currently underway, and further actions will be determined based on the findings.

This incident has sparked debate over vigilantism and the appropriate handling of petty crimes in society as more and more incidents emerge in different parts of the nation where people have resorted to taking the law into their own hands and resorting to cruel tactics instead of handing criminals over to the police.

--IANS

sd/rad

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



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Friday, August 30, 2024

Vistara Bookings To Stop From September 3. Air India Merger From November 12

TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name of Vistara announced its merger with Air India on Friday.

The company said in a statement that customers will not be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after November 12.

"Starting 03 September 2024, customers will, progressively, no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after 12 November 2024," the company said.

However, Vistara will continue to take bookings and operate flights as usual till 11 November 2024. All Vistara aircraft will be operated by Air India and bookings for the routes operated by these aircraft will be redirected to Air India's website, the company informed.

During this transition period, both Vistara and Air India will ensure necessary support, consistent communication, and convenience to all customers, every step of the way.

Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, "We are immensely grateful to all our customers for their support and patronage over the last 10 years. As we progress further in our growth journey, we want to emphasize that this merger is about offering them more choice with a larger fleet and a wider network, while elevating the overall travel experience. Vistara and Air India are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and hassle-free. We are excited about this new phase in our journey and look forward to welcoming our customers again soon - as Air India."

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said, "Cross-functional teams from Air India and Vistara have been working together for many months to make the transition of aircraft, flying crew, ground-based colleagues and, most importantly, our valued customers, into the new Air India as seamless as possible. The joint team looks forward to offering our guests an expanded network, additional flight options, an enhanced frequent flyer program and the best of both antecedent airlines and are grateful for the support of our loyal customers through this next phase of building a world class, world scale, global airline with an Indian heart."

On August 10, Both companies secured the CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) 145 approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to integrate their aircraft line maintenance operations, as per an official release.

(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 Man Executed For Killing College Student, Raping His Sister In 1995

A man convicted of murdering a college student and raping his sister while the siblings were on a camping trip was executed in the southern US state of Florida on Thursday, prison officials said.

Loran Cole, 57, was put to death by lethal injection at 6:15 pm (2215 GMT) at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, the Florida Department of Corrections said in a statement.

Cole was sentenced to death in December 1995 for the February 1994 murder of an 18-year-old Florida State University student, who was on a camping trip with his sister in the Ocala National Forest.

Cole was also convicted of sexually assaulting the murder victim's elder sister, who was tied to a tree but managed to escape the next day.

An accomplice, William Paul, was sentenced to life in prison.

The US Supreme Court denied Thursday afternoon -- without comment -- Cole's appeal to stay his execution on the grounds he had Parkinson's disease and the lethal injection would "very likely cause him needless pain and suffering."

There have been 13 executions in the United States this year.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 US states, while six others -- Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee -- have moratoriums in place.

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



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Motorola Edge 50 Neo With MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, Sony LYT-700C Camera Launched: Price, Specifications

Motorola Edge 50 Neo was launched in European markets as the latest entrant in the company's Edge 50 series. New Edge 50 Neo model by the Lenovo-owned brand runs on MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset and boasts a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA camera. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo has a 6.4-inch OLED LTPO display and the screen is claimed to deliver up to 3,000 nits of brightness....

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Thursday, August 29, 2024

Bengaluru Woman Choked To Death At Home, Cops Suspect Husband

A 25-year-old woman was choked to death, allegedly by her husband, at her home in Bengaluru late on Tuesday night. Police said Navyashree's husband Kiran has been taken into custody and is being questioned about the incident.

A police statement says the complaint in the matter was filed by Navyashree's friend Aishwarya who stayed over at her place that night. Aishwarya has told police that Navyashree called her Tuesday morning and said she was upset over her marriage. She then asked her to come over.

Accordingly, Aishwarya reached Navyashree's home at Kengeri in SMV layout around 4.30 pm Tuesday. Soon after, Anil, another friend of Navyashree, joined them and the three discussed her troubled marriage over dinner. Anil told Navyashree to file a police complaint against her husband.

Navyashree and Aishwarya later dropped Anil home. On returning to their place, they went to sleep around 11.30 am. When Aishwarya woke up at 6 am next morning, she found Navyashree had been strangled to death. She called the police and reported the incident.

Police suspect that Kiran, who was suspicious of Navyashree, may have entered the house at night using his key and choked her to death. He has been detained and police are questioning him to get to the bottom of the matter.



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Motorola S50 Spotted on Geekbench; May Get MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC

Motorola S50 is expected to launch in China soon. Details about the purported handset have surfaced online over the past few weeks. Earlier reports claimed the phone was listed on relevant certification sites which suggested some key expected features. The listings hinted at the design of the rumoured model as well. Now, the smartphone has been spotted on a popular be...

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Bengaluru Professor Resigns After Salary Hike Request Goes Unanswered

A 37-year-old Assistant Professor recently opened up about his unfair work experience at an engineering college in Bengaluru. Taking to LinkedIn, the professor claimed that despite dedicating 10 years to the institution and receiving positive feedback from his students, his request for a salary hike was never approved. "I did everything and I never said no any job assigned," he wrote. Disheartened by this lack of support, the 37-year-old said that he resigned from the job but was also surprised when no one from the college attempted to stop him. 

"Hi 37M from Bengaluru. I was working as an Assistant Professor in one of the engineering colleges in East Bangalore. I was here from past 10 years. Everything was normal untill 2019. The new principal who joined in 2019 closed 3 branches in our college. I did everything and I never said no any job assigned, but my request to increase salary was never approved," the professor wrote. 

"Students were happy with my teaching. I received consistently excellent feedback from my students. I was helping students with hackathons and competitions. Many a times I paid entry fee from my pocket for many competitions. During NBA and NAAC accreditation, I use to stay till 8-9 PM in the evening. We worked on Sundays too," he added. 

Resigned from my job.
byu/SquashImmediate6693 inbangalore

The 37-year-old said that despite his best efforts, his request for a salary hike was never approved by the new principal. He also claimed that junior teachers were getting paid more than him. "I was clueless. I couldn't understand what mistake I was doing. Entire college knew what I was doing but our principal was not ready to acknowledge it," he wrote. 

The professor further said that he met the college's principal to discuss before resigning, however, he "was not ready to discuss anything" with him in the absence of the head of the department (HOD). "This HOD always supported 3-4 faculty and he was delegating difficult tasks to rest of us. I was fed up with this system and resigned recently. Nobody asked why I was resigning and nobody asked me to stay!" he wrote. 

At the end of the post, the professor alleged that he was not paid any EPF (employee provident fund) after the salary structure changed suddenly. "DA was reduced from 115% to 30% and the remaining 85% was added to other allowances. This reduces my gratuity by at least 50%!", he said.

Also Read | US Influencer Slammed For Baking Bread On Flight: "That's An Airplane, Not A Bakery"

The Assistant Professor shared this post jus a day back. Since then, it has accumulated more than 1,000 upvotes.

Reacting to the post, one user wrote, "Not paying EPF is illegal. Please find a way to sue them through proper channels. Ask in the Legal India sub about your options."

"Teachers in all levels of the education sector are overworked with little to no compensation. The fact is we are replaceable, institutions do not care about your quality of teaching. They know they can replace you with a cheaper option," said another. 

"This is injustice. I thought educational institutions were safe and free from this kind of practices. This world is becoming Cruel and evil everyday. No value for good people," commented a third. 



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Tuesday, August 27, 2024

3 Dead Amid Heavy Rain In Gujarat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad Flooded

Parts of Gujarat including Vadodara have witnessed severe waterlogging on Tuesday after incessant rain for several days. Three people have died in the last 24 hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) from Monday to Tuesday, various parts of Gujarat received significant rain.

Vadodara received 26 cm of rainfall on Monday, IMD said. Apart from Vadodara, Rajkot received 19 cm, Ahmedabad 12 cm, Bhuj and Naliya received 8 cm, Okha and Dwarka received 7 cm while Porbandar received 5 cm of rainfall.

"A significant amount of rainfall observed from 0830 hrs IST of 26.08.2024 to 0530 hrs IST of 27.08.2024 (in cm): Gujarat Region: Baroda-28, Ahemdabad-12, Surat-4; Saurashtra & Kutch: Rajkot-19, Bhuj-8, Naliya-8, Okha & Dwarka -7each, Porbandar-5," IMD wrote in a post on X.

The Vishwamitri river that flows through Vadodara has been overflowing leading to residential areas experiencing severe waterlogging. People were seen wading through knee-deep waters and the waterlogging led to traffic snarls.

Due to the heavy rainfall, water from Ajwa Reservoir and Pratappura Reservoir was released into Vishwamitri River, leading to waterlogging on Tuesday.

A resident said that severe waterlogging had been experienced since Monday evening.

"Water has entered houses since Monday evening in low-lying areas. People are shifting to other safe locations. There is a shortage of food. People are facing a lot of difficulty," he told news agency ANI.

Resident said that they had never seen a flood-like situation like this in the past.

The Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Temple complex in Vadodara was submerged due to heavy rainfall and the temple premises were shut on Tuesday. People said that they had never seen this much rain in the last 30 years.

In Gandhinagar number plates of vehicles were found scattered at Mahatma Mandir Underbridge, Sector-13 after the water receded. The area faced severe waterlogging due to incessant rain.

"Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has held a meeting today with all the district officials through videoconference and directed us regarding human life. He directed us that people shouldn't face electricity shortages, medicinal shortages and other needful things. In the coming 2-3 days, rain is expected as forecasted by the IMD, leaves of all the district collectors and concerned officials have been cancelled and they are expected to join the relief and rescue work," Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said.

"Water should also be arranged wherever there is a power cut. 1,653 people were rescued and 17800 people were shifted. There have been 99 deaths during the entire monsoon. 3 deaths have occurred in 24 hours, 1 in Dahod and 2 in Gandhinagar district," he added.



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Xiaomi Plans to Unveil First Buttonless Flagship Smartphone Next Year: Report

Xiaomi is reportedly working on a buttonless smartphone. While the Chinese tech brand remains tight-lipped about its development, a new leak gives us more information about the device. The rumoured buttonless handset is said to be in the early stages of development and is expected to hit the market next year. It is tipped to come with an under-display selfie camera an...

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Monday, August 26, 2024

"Mountain-Like Challenges": Muhammad Yunus Asks Bangladesh For "Patience"

Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Sunday appealed to the people to have "patience" as it is difficult to address the "mountain-like challenges" overnight while promising them a free, fair and participatory election after implementing key reforms in different sectors.

In a televised address to the nation, his second since assuming charge on August 8 after the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina on August 5, Yunus urged the people to refrain from storming institutions, putting pressure to accept cases and the tendency to do some kind of trial in advance by attacking people while taking them to the courts.

"I'll just say, you have to be patient. It is difficult to overcome mountain-like challenges overnight," he said, referring to the demands coming from various sections to punish those responsible for the deaths of many people during the recent anti-government protests.

These incidents will fade the glory of the successful struggle to build a new Bangladesh, the 84-year-old Nobel laureate, said.

"We will maintain friendly relations with all countries," he said.Mutual trust and cooperation will be the base of our foreign policy. We are respectful of all international laws, including human rights. We have taken steps to become signatory to the international convention on enforced disappearances," he was quoted as saying by the official BSS news agency.

Yunus said the timing of the election is a political decision and people will decide how long this interim government will remain in power.

He assured the nation that his interim government will hold free, fair and inclusive elections in the country after undertaking reforms in various sectors.

"After completion of required reforms in administration, judiciary, election commission and electoral system, law and order and information flow systems -- a free, fair and inclusive election will be held to give the student-people mass protests a successful consequence," Yunus said.

A committee, he said, has already been formed to prepare a white paper on corruption, money laundering, anti-people agreements and looting that took place in the last 15 years.

Yunus, who now serves as the Chief Adviser - a position equivalent to the prime minister, said his interim government would strengthen the local government institutions and ensure decentralisation to consolidate democracy.

"The goal will be to introduce an accountable political system,” Yunus, who assumed charge following the ouster of Prime Minister Hasina amid a massive students' movement that also forced her to flee to India.     Yunus did not give any deadline for the tenure of his interim government but acknowledged that “everyone is interested to know when our government will leave”.

“The answer lies with you when you will give us the farewell. None of us (council of advisers) are the ones to rule the country. We are happy with our professions. We took charge, responding to the students' call during a national crisis,” he said.

Yunus said that his government would “put in all our efforts” to discharge the duty he has been entrusted with as all sections of people had welcomed his government.

The chief adviser slammed Hasina's "fascist autocratic regime”, saying they destroyed every institution of the country, crippled the economy and education system, and gauged people's voices through intimidation and torture.

Yunus said his government believed in “national unity" and for that reason, he has appointed a special assistant with the status of an adviser with the responsibility of developing national solidarity.

Yunus said the main aim of the election is to introduce an accountable political system against corruption, looting and mass killing.

Local government institutions, he said, must be strengthened and decentralisation of power should be ensured to consolidate democracy.

Claiming that the government has taken a strong stance against corruption, the Chief Adviser said all the advisers to the interim government will disclose their wealth statements within the quickest possible time.

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



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Vivo T3 Ultra Allegedly Spotted on Bluetooth SIG, BIS Certification Sites, May Launch in India Soon

Vivo now seems to be gearing up to unveil a new T series handset — Vivo T3 Ultra. Ahead of the official announcement, the handset has surfaced on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) certification website and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

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Sunday, August 25, 2024

Who Was Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah Commander Whose Death Sparked Today's Conflict

Lebanon- based militant group Hezbollah fired a large number of missiles at Israel on Sunday, retaliating for the assassination of their senior commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month. 

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since October 7, while avoiding a major escalation. While both sides had avoided a major escalation, tensions rose significantly after a missile strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 people. While Hezbollah denied involvement in that attack, Israel responded with targeted airstrikes, assassinating Fuad Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. 

On Sunday, the Iranian-backed movement said the attack was a response to Israel's actions and announced that they had completed the "first phase" of its retaliation against the Jewish State, reported Reuters.

Who was Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr?

Fuad Shukr, also known by the alias "Al-Hajj Mohsin", was a senior commander in Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon, widely regarded as a terrorist organisation by several countries, including the United States and Israel. Shukr was among the founding members of Hezbollah during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. He was part of the generation of Lebanese Shi'ites who aligned with Iran's Revolutionary Guards to establish the group. 

He was a close associate of Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah's former military commander who was assassinated in Damascus in 2008. Shukr's prominence in the group grew after Mughniyeh's death. 

The US accused Shukr of playing a central role in the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 US military personnel. This attack is one of the deadliest against American forces in the Middle East. The US government had placed a bounty of up to $5 million on Shukr's head through its Rewards for Justice program.

Fuad Shukr served as a senior military commander in Hezbollah's forces in southern Lebanon and was a member of the group's highest military body, the Jihad Council. He played a key role in Hezbollah's military operations in Syria, particularly in supporting President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Hezbollah's involvement in Syria was crucial to Assad's survival during the conflict's early years. 

Fuad Shukr was also a special adviser to Hezbollah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and was a member of the Shura Council, a key decision-making body within the organisation.

On July 30, Fuad Shukr was targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Following the airstrike, Lebanese security sources reported that Shukr was critically injured. His death was later confirmed by Israeli broadcast reports.



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Saturday, August 24, 2024

Blog: From Bhang Chutney To Olan, Indian Food Was Never Inherently Unhealthy

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

While having a bout of the stomach flu, I sat last weekend in my bed waiting for my piping hot khichdi for lunch. As I took my first bite, I realised what an absolutely brilliant dish it is. Rice and legumes cooked together to make a healthy, satiating meal that your gut loves. There's a reason every Indian doctor prescribes it with your dose of antibiotics when your stomach is upset.

I've realised that Indian food, at its heart, and contrary to popular perception, is extremely healthy and delicious. It's not all oil and spices, as today's most popular Indian fare would like you to believe. So while I nursed my bad stomach, I decided to do some research and call up a few friends from around India asking them about their favourite comfort foods that are also considered extremely healthy in their regions.

Thalipeeth From Maharashtra

A savoury multigrain flatbread made of sorghum (jowar), wheat, pearl millet (bajra) and rice, along with roasted legumes (bengal gram and split black lentils). To this are added fresh onions and coriander, along with cumin seeds. A deliciously healthy low-fat bread that's also great for gut health.

Shakkariya No Shiro From Gujarat

A sweet potato halwa made during navratris or any auspicious day of fasting, ‘shakkariya no shiro' is perhaps one of the healthiest halwas you'll find. Due to the natural sweetness of sweet potato, the added sugar is negligible when compared to any other halwa.

Amita Khar From Assam

‘Khar' is an ancient ingredient from Assam mentioned in ancient texts like Yogini Tantra, and is hailed for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is made differently across Assam. While some use the ashes of papaya tree bark or stems, others use the ash of banana peels. Typically though, the dish requires banana peels that are sun-dried and then burnt to ashes. After that, water is filtered through these ashes overnight, and the astringent, alkaline dark brown liquid is then cooked with raw papaya and pulses, along with a protein of choice — if one wishes.

Bhaang Ki Chutney From Uttarakhand

Made from hemp seeds, this chutney made with green chillies, coriander and a splash of lemon is a power punch of health. Hemp seeds are known for their nutritional value as they have over nine types of amino acids that aid in the release of happy hormones in the body. Eaten in every household and added to other dishes, this main staple of Uttarakhand is a delicious and healthy relish.

Olan From Kerala

Made of ash gourd, this mild sweet curry is simmered to perfection with cowpeas, coconut milk, ginger and curry leaves.

Nadir Yakhin From Kashmir

Made with lotus stems in a yoghourt-based curry, this quintessential Kashmiri dish is the star of vegetarian food. It is a sour curry that is good for the gut and light on the stomach, with just fennel powder, dried mint and cumin used for flavouring.

Singhare Ki Kachri From Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh

Craving a tangy street-style snack that does not have anything “deep fried”? Singhare ki Kachri is made from pressure-cooked and mashed water chestnuts flavoured with cumin powder, black salt, red chilli powder and lemon. It is super tasty and packed with healthy nutrients.

Bhutte Ka Kees From Madhya Pradesh

A simple yet scrumptious dish of corn slowly simmered in skimmed milk along with spices, mustard seeds and green chillies.

Rugra From Jharkhand

Rugra is an edible mushroom indigenous to Jharkhand. Rich in protein and essential micronutrients, Rugra is found growing under ‘Sal' trees during early monsoons. Cooked with minimal spices, this dish is one of the most sought-after among locals, especially since the growth of rugra has been impacted by climate change.

Shukhto From West Bengal

Although Sukhto needs no introduction, this palette cleanser is used by Bengalis to commence any feast. It's a stew made with an assortment of vegetables. In fact, a renowned Bengali melody mentions this dish, whose lyrics go: “the Rani lacks culinary expertise; she mistakenly adds chilli to Shuktoni/Shukto”, suggesting how chillies are a big no-no in this dish.

Chakhwi From Tripura

Chakhwi is a traditional tribal dish made by slowly braising pork or chicken with bamboo shoots, jackfruit, drumstick leaf, fresh lemon leaves and green papaya. There's a burst of flavour in every bite.

Ole Chutney From Bihar

Made from yams in Bihar households, this chutney is slowly disappearing from public memory. Why? Because yams are hard to handle, and often cause itching. Nevertheless, this mustard-flavoured chutney made just with mustard oil, mustard seeds, limes, green chillies, red chilli powder and turmeric powder, is packed with antioxidants and is good for the gut.

India is a treasure trove of hidden gems when it comes to food. We just need to dig a little deeper into our heritage. 

(Zainab Sikander is a political analyst and columnist covering Indian politics since the last decade. She's an avid traveller and a bona-fide foodie.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author



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Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Surfaces on US FCC Website Hinting at Imminent Launch: Report

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has been spotted on the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Korean Testing Certification Institute (KTC) websites, giving us some insight into the device's connectivity and battery specifcations, ahead of its anticipated debut.

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Vivo Y18i With Unisoc T612 SoC, 13-Megapixel Rear Camera Launched in India: Price, Specifications

Vivo Y18i has been launched in India as the company's newest affordable smartphone. It is available in Gem Green and Space Black colour options in a single 4GB+64GB colourway. The Vivo Y18i is powered by an octa core Unisoc T612 chipset and packs a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 15W.

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"No One Hit Me During Captivity": Israeli Woman Held Captive By Hamas

Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman who was abducted by Hamas on October 7, has dismissed reports suggesting she was beaten and her hair was cut in captivity. She also added that she was injured in a wall collapse incident caused by an Israeli airstrike.

Earlier this week, Ms Argamani narrated her ordeal during a meeting with diplomats from Israel and G7 countries in Tokyo. However, she later clarified that her words were taken out of context.

"I cannot ignore what the Israeli media has done to me over the past 24 hours, taking my words out of context," she wrote in her Instagram stories. 

“Al Qassam Brigades' members did not hit me while I was in captivity, nor did they cut my hair; I was injured by the collapse of a wall caused by an Israeli airstrike," she added.

Ms Argamani underlined that "no one hit me during captivity, but I was injured all over my body after the airstrike."

Add image caption here

Add image caption here

The 26-year-old was among the hundreds of people kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attacks.

She was freed by the Israeli special forces in a raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on June 8. Besides her, three others -- Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 -- were freed, AFP reported.

On a visit to Japan with her father, Ms Argamani recalled the time she was held captive by the Hamas militants. "Every night I was falling asleep and thinking, this may be the last night of my life," she said.

Till the time she was rescued by the Israeli authorities, Ms Argamani "just did not believe that I'm still surviving".

"It's a miracle because I survived October 7, and I survived this bombing, and I also survived the rescue," AFP quoted her as saying.

Earlier, a video showing Ms Argamani on the back of a motorcycle screaming, "Don't kill me", went viral. The video also showed her boyfriend -- Avinatan Or, an engineer -- being taken away separately. However, she has clarified that she had no idea about it until she was freed.

"Avinatan, my boyfriend, is still there, and we need to bring them back before it's going to be too late," she said.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had retrieved the bodies of six hostages from various tunnels in the southern region of Gaza.

Around 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 last year. Of these, 105, including 34 dead, are still inside Gaza, according to the Israeli army.

Nearly 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, were killed in the October 7 attack. Over the last ten months, Israel has continuously bombed Gaza, killing over 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

In Gaza, the Israeli airstrikes have flattened townships, neighbourhoods, hospitals and schools, internally displacing a vast majority of the narrow strip's 2.1 million people.



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Friday, August 23, 2024

Anil Ambani, 24 Others Banned From Securities Market By SEBI For 5 Years

Markets regulator SEBI has barred industrialist Anil Ambani, 24 other entities, including former key officials of Reliance Home Finance from the securities market for five years for diversion of funds from the company.

SEBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 25 crore on Anil Ambani and restrained him from being associated with the securities market including as a director or Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) in any listed company, or any intermediary registered with the market regulator, for a period of 5 years.

Also, the regulator barred Reliance Home Finance from the securities market for six months and slapped a fine of Rs 6 lakh on it.

In its 222-page final order, SEBI found that Anil Ambani, with the help of RHFL's key managerial personnel, had orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to siphon-off funds from RHFL by disguising them as loans to entities linked to him.

Although the Board of Directors of RHFL had issued strong directives to stop such lending practices and reviewed corporate loans regularly, the company's management ignored these orders.

This suggests a significant failure of governance, driven by certain key managerial personnel under the influence of Anil Ambani.

Given these circumstances, the company RHFL itself should not be held equally responsible as the individuals involved in the fraud.

Further, the remaining entities have played the role of being either recipients of illegally obtained loans or conduits to enable illegal diversion of monies from RHFL, the regulator noted.

SEBI said its findings have established the "existence of a fraudulent scheme, orchestrated by Noticee No. 2 (Anil Ambani) and administered by the KMPs of RHFL, to siphon off funds from the public listed company (RHFL) by structuring them as 'loans' to credit unworthy conduit borrowers, and in turn, to onward borrowers, all of whom have been found to be 'promoter linked entities' i.e. entities associated/ linked with Noticee 2 (Anil Ambani)".

Anil Ambani used his position as 'chairperson of the ADA group' and his significant indirect shareholding in the holding company of RHFL to orchestrate the fraud.

SEBI, in its order on Thursday, noted the cavalier approach of the company's management and promoter in approving loans worth hundreds of crores to companies that had little to no assets, cash flow, net worth, or revenue.

This suggests a sinister objective behind the 'loans'. The situation becomes even more suspicious when considering that many of these borrowers were closely linked to the promoters of RHFL.

Eventually, most of these borrowers failed to repay their loans, causing RHFL to default on its own debt obligations. This led to the company's resolution under the RBI Framework, leaving its public shareholders in a difficult position.

For example, in March 2018, RHFL's share price was around Rs 59.60. By March 2020, as the extent of the fraud became clear and the company was drained of its resources, the share price had plummeted to just Rs 0.75.

Even now, over 9 lakh shareholders remain invested in RHFL, facing significant losses.

The 24 restrained entities include former key officials of Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) -- Amit Bapna, Ravindra Sudhalkar and Pinkesh R Shah -- and SEBI has imposed fine on them for their role in the case.

Also, the regulator levied a fine of Rs 25 crore on Ambani, Rs 27 crore on Bapna, Rs 26 crore on Sudhalkar and Rs 21 crore on Shah.

Additionally, the remaining entities including Reliance Unicorn Enterprises, Reliance Exchange next Lt, Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, Reliance Cleangen Ltd, Reliance Business Broadcast News Holdings Ltd and Reliance Big Entertainment Private Ltd have been imposed a penalty of Rs 25 crore each.

These fines have been levied on them for either receiving the illegally obtained loans or acted as intermediaries to facilitate the illegal diversion of funds from RHFL.

In February 2022, markets watchdog SEBI had passed an interim order and restrained Reliance Home Finance Ltd, industrialist Anil Ambani and three other individuals (Amit Bapna, Ravindra Sudhakar and Pinkesh R Shah) from the securities market till further orders for allegedly siphoning off funds from the company.
 

(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, August 22, 2024

Bengaluru Man Dies After Angry Driver Chases, Rams Bike. Incident On CCTV

A biker was killed after a car that allegedly chased him on the streets of Bengaluru, rammed his motorcycle from the back on Wednesday night. Police say the incident occurred after an argument between the two escalated into road rage.

CCTV footage shows the car on the tail of the motorcycle zooming through a city street.

Police say the two vehicles collided in the city's Vidyaranyapura area. The biker was severely injured and died from his injuries.

The police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) and arrested two people in the case. Further investigation is on.

Road rage on the rise in Bengaluru

This comes days after another incident of road rage when a biker attacked a couple's car, shattering their car's windscreen even as they screamed they had a baby with them.

A video showing the man screaming at the couple attacking their car in the middle of a Bengaluru road has gone viral on social media. 

The biker was reportedly furious after the car took a left turn without any indication.

The furious biker tries to open the driver's door and then goes around the car to pick up a large stone, presumably to hurl it at the car. An onlooker snatches it from his hand.

Unsuccessful in opening the door, the biker shouts at the driver to open it. As he tries to drive away, the biker throws himself on the bonnet of the car and breaks off a windscreen wiper. 

Even as people try to stop him, he hits the windscreen with the wiper, shattering the glass. The couple scream and a baby can be heard crying inside the car.

The Bengaluru City police responded to the post saying that police have taken the biker into custody and are investigating the case.

"The Bengaluru City police have arrested the culprit and taken him to police station. Waiting for more updates on the case! Thanks for the quick response," the Citizens Movement's X account said in an update.



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Tecno Spark Go 1 With 5,000mAh Battery, IP54 Rating Unveiled: Specifications

Tecno Spark Go 1 was launched as the latest entrant in the company's Spark series. The new smartphone by the Transsion Holdings-owned company comes in two colourways and runs on Unisoc T615 SoC along with up to 8GB of RAM. The Tecno Spark Go 1 boasts a 6.67-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate. It has an IP54-rated build and packs a 5,000 mAh battery, which supports 1...

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Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 With On-Device Generative AI, 20 Percent Improved CPU Performance Launched

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 has been launched as Qualcomm's latest midrange smartphone processor. The new Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 supports on-device generative AI features and Gen AI models including Baichuan-7B and Llama 2 and 1B parameters. Here's everything you need to know about the newly announced Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor from Qualcomm.

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Jay Shah To Be Named ICC Chairman, Will Replace Greg Barclay

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is all set to replace the incumbent Greg Barclay as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), sources have confirmed to NDTV. Barclay told ICC directors, including Cricket Australia's chair Mike Baird, that he has no intention of running for the post, for the third tirm during a video conference. His decision comes after being informed of Jay Shah's intentions to replace him in November. Shah has the backing of cricket boards from England and Australia, and hence, has the numbers to do be crowned the as the chief of the ICC.

Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997 to 200) and Sharad Pawar (2010-2012) are the only two Indians who have held the position of ICC's chief in the past. Shah, who is also the son of India's home minister Amit Shah, will become the third to do so when he officially replaces Barclay in November.

"ICC chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the independent ICC chair in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022," an ICC spokesperson told The Age.

"Current directors are now required to put forward nominations for the next chair by 27 August 2024 and if there is more than one candidate, an election will be held with the term of the new chair commencing on 1 December 2024."

As per ICC rules, the chairman's election comprises of 16 votes and now a simple majority of nine votes is required (51%) for the winner. Earlier, to become the chairman, the incumbent needed to have two-third majority.

He enjoys a lot of goodwill with most of the 16 voting members. Currently, Shah has another one year left as the BCCI secretary before going on a mandatory cooling off period of three years from October, 2025.

As per the BCCI constitution approved by the Supreme Court, an office bearer can stay for six before he needs to go for a cooling off of three years. In all, a person can stay in office for a cumulative period of 18 years, -- nine in state association and nine in BCCI.

If Shah decides to move to ICC with a year of his secretaryship still left, he will have four years left in the BCCI.

At 35, he will become the youngest chairman in the history of ICC.

With PTI Inputs



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Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G, Redmi Pad SE 8.7 With 6,650mAh Battery Launched: Price, Specifications

Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G and Redmi Pad SE 8.7 were launched in select global markets as the latest tablet from the Chinese brand. Both new models are equipped with MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and have up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of inbuilt storage. They feature an 8.7-inch LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and pack a 6,650mAh battery with support for 18W charging over a US...

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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Australia Great, In Custody For Choking A Woman, Makes Desperate Plea

Australia cricket great Michael Slater, who has been in custody since April for domestic violence charges, has made a despareate bail plea. The television commentator and former batter is accused of assaulting and choking a woman during an alleged violent tirade. Slater also allegedly sent her multiple abusive messages. Slater played 74 Test matches from 1993-2001, chalking up more than 5,000 runs for Australia including 14 centuries. He also played 42 One-Day Internationals before retiring from all cricket in 2004.  

In a fresh bail on Tuesday, Slater's legal team told court that he secured a spot in a residential rehabilitation clinic in NSW.

Barrister Greg McGuire also said his client Slater would 'leave the state completely' to seek treatment in case of a bail. They are also ready for restrictions on alcohol and orders not to contact the complainant.

"There is a very real danger he (Slater) will have spent too much time in custody by the time the matter is disposed of," Mr McGuire said. 

"The proposed conditions are he go to the Sydney clinic until such time as they are satisfied with his ability to leave. He's now faced the consequences of his behaviour....spending 4.5 months in custody."

Earlier, Slater reportedly collapsed in an Australian court in April after being refused bail on more than a dozen charges. The 54-year-old had to be helped to his feet by court staff after falling to the floor when a Queensland magistrate turned down his bail application, local media reported.

Earlier, bail was refused by Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn, who said Slater had a history of domestic violence. "The offences alleged are supported by some evidence, and are sustained and persistence," he had said then. "The risk of further or continued offending cannot be ignored."

Justice Freeburn said Slater had a long history of mental health conditions and had been diagnosed with ADHD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, alcohol use disorder and borderline personality disorder.

With AFP inputs 



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Honor Magic 7 Pro Design Render Surfaces Online; Camera Details Tipped

Honor recently introduced the Magic 6 Pro 5G in India. Meanwhile, rumours surrounding the Honor Magic 7 lineup have started surfacing online. It will likely include a base and Pro variant, similar to the existing series. A tipster has now shared a render of the purported Honor Magic 7 Pro handset, based on leaks over the past few weeks. The render suggests the possib...

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Monday, August 19, 2024

NDTV's Weekly Quiz #7: Play Now

Get ready for a dive into NDTV's Weekly Quiz. In this week's quiz, test your knowledge of topics like cars, cricket, movies and global affairs. Discover the latest headlines shaping India's news landscape. Are you up for the challenge? Take the quiz now!



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Samsung Galaxy A06 With 6.7-Inch Display, 50-Megapixel Camera Launched: Price, Specifications

Samsung Galaxy A06 was launched in Vietnam on August 16. The smartphone sports a similar rear panel design to the preceding Samsung Galaxy A05, with a vertical pinstriped finish. However, unlike the older model, the Galaxy A06 comes with a Key Island bump on the right edge, holding the volume rocker and power button.

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Sunday, August 18, 2024

Punjab Girl Gang-Raped In Public Bus In Dehradun, Roadways Staff Detained

A minor girl from Punjab was allegedly gang raped on a public bus in Dehradun late Tuesday evening. The incident occurred at the city's inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) on her arrival from Moradabad.

The police registered a case late last night, prompting an investigation into the matter.

A roadways employee has been taken into custody, police said.

Latest crime data suggests over 31,000 rape cases were reported across the country in 2021.

The Dehradun incident comes amid a nationwide uproar over women's safety after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The medic was found dead at a medical college in Kolkata on August 9. Her autopsy later revealed she was raped before being murdered while on duty.

The incident has nationwide protests and strikes by doctors, who are demanding justice for the medic and a central law that ensures their safety.



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Opinion: Imane Khelif, And The Scourge Of 'Transvestigators'

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

The kind of bullying and abuse Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has been subjected to makes one thing crystal clear: in the age of social media, misinformation is easiest to amplify when it's rooted in misogyny, transphobia and racism, and amplified by verified, blue-ticked accounts on X. It has also made it clear that trans-hate will eventually come to haunt all women who do not fit traditional, conservative definitions of femininity.

Now that Imane Khelif has refused to take the online abuse in silence and is suing the key amplifiers - J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk - let's revisit the brutal online hate campaign unleashed against the Olympic gold medallist, all for being a 'non-feminine' woman of colour. 

The Prime Purveyors Of Hate

On August 1, after facing Khelif for a whopping 45-second battle, Italian boxer Angela Carini forfeited the match. Later, she would tell the press, "I have never been punched so hard" and shed tears in front of the camera, as anyone would have in her position. However, seeing a white woman cry on television was, of course, too much to bear for champions of women's rights like author J. K. Rowling, who has had a history of making transphobic comments. Rowling cried foul on X about a "man" punching a woman and about men's rights activism having gone too far. Even the owner of X, Elon Musk, could not resist chiming in. It's another story that Musk's own views about transgender persons are worth some scrutiny and may be best described by his estranged daughter who he refuses to acknowledge.

The Imane Khelif case underlines a hard but unsurprising truth: we are not as progressive in 2024 as we would like to believe. Sure, there are more people today who are accepting of queer rights, gender equality, and just human rights in general, but in the country called the internet, this population is sparse.

Trans Hate Is Misogyny

When two people with a combined following of over 200 million people put out such derogatory posts against a woman, their legions of followers are bound to spew out the same misinformation, often with vile language. But Rowling and Musk's comments also fanned the fire of deep-rooted transphobia and misogyny that still burns in all stratas of human classes, races, and nationalities. 

Trans hate is just another catalyst for overall misogyny. Groups abound on Reddit and Facebook where people aligned with the Rowling ideology simply attack any female celebrity they don't think is "woman enough" and must therefore, be a transsexual or transgender; there is a word for this group too, "transvestigators".  For example, if you like to lift weights and be muscular, then you are not feminine, and hence make for a perfect target for these 'tranvestigators'. Like sports? Big cars? Not dainty, petite, blonde, and light-eyed enough? Wear too much makeup as if to hide male appearance? Wear too little makeup because you are a man trying to pass off as a 'sporty woman'? Well, women who exhibit such traits "aren't women", according to tranvestigators. 

Coming back to the hate campaign against Khelif. Soon after her win in Paris and its fallout, conservative-leaning media outlets and social media handles started talking about her 2023 disqualification by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing a 'gender eligibility test'. No matter the fact that the IBA itself was questioned by the Olympics for their 'methods' and that there have been accusations of corruption as well. The International Olympic Association (IOC) banned the IBA last year over its governance and finance issues, with the Olympic body allowing the boxing competition to be held in Paris. But alas, this grain of truth was buried deep under the rubble of misinformation that flooded the internet. 

A number of questions have been raised amid this storm. "How can 'he' be a woman?", "IBA must have banned 'him' for a reason!", "XY is a man! Only men have Testosterone!", "He clearly looks like a man. He is built like a man." 

Let's try to answer them. 

Man, Woman, Other?

Khelif's story is very Dangal-like. Indian audiences, if they read her full interview with UNICEF, may relate to the story of a young girl joining a sport that's dominated by men. But unlike Dangal, she did not have a father ready to fight the world. She fought mostly alone in her childhood, while her family battled poverty to feed their children and sustain the family.

There's also the fact that Algeria is a deeply religious Islamic country, where being trans may invite a host of legal challenges. If any of the 'tranvestigators' like Rowling or Musk followers had bothered to do a simple Google search, they would know Algeria would probably never send a 'trans' person to represent their country in the Olympics.  

XX or XY?

Doesn't matter, honestly. Anyone who has studied genetics and chromosomes can answer this: the set of chromosomes that define sex (not gender) are named so based on their shape. Zoya Fatima, a teacher at Jamia Senior Secondary School, explains that women have two chromosomes shaped like 'X', while in men, one of them is shaped like a 'Y'. "Genetic mutation can cause a foetus with XX to have a Y-shaped chromosome," she explains, "They can have all female genitalia, even uterus in some cases, but ovaries in almost all cases are non-functional. But they can be mothers via IVF and have normal pregnancies. So it is incorrect to say that all XY automatically classify as male and man."

If we were to go by the definitions recommended by conservative social media, then millions of women would immediately lose their right to be called a woman for having elevated testosterone levels. While testosterone is considered the 'male hormone', women produce it too - many with hormonal disorders, such as PCOS, tend to produce too much of it. Will these conditions void a woman's right to be called a 'woman'? 

If we consider science for our definitions, the majority of women with XY or XXY or XXYY chromosomal structures have one common denominator: a non-functional ovary. So that begs the question, is a perfectly functional ovary fundamental for being classified as a 'woman'? If yes, what about a few thousand women who have ovarian insufficiency? Will they cease to be known as women? 

The Question Of Race

Women of colour who don't fit conservative definitions of femininity have always had it worse. Barely a day before her match, Khelif's Hungarian opponent, Luca Hamori, posted an incendiary picture on Instagram that showed Khelif as a 'beast'. For centuries now, Black women have been mocked for their 'masculinity'. Not too far in India itself, sprinter Duttee Chand had been on the receiving end of primitive gender tests. "In 2014, I challenged the IOC's rule that a person with a higher testosterone level should not participate in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. It was noted that hormonal levels cannot increase athletic performance. I suffered a lot at that time. I faced a lot of controversy regarding my gender," Chand told PTI after the Imane Khelif controversy erupted.

The abuse and attacks Imane Khelif has faced online will be remembered for years to come. The key takeaway is this: misinformation driven by racist, misogynist ideologies often travels much, much faster than the truth. 

(Anwiti Singh is Assistant Producer, NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author



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Saturday, August 17, 2024

IMF's Gita Gopinath Goes Bullish On India's Economic Growth

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day address to the nation, said the country is on its way to become the third-largest economy with big reforms across sectors, Gita Gopinath, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has stated that the country is likely to achieve this feat by 2027.

India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world, and is set to be among the top three global economic powers soon.

According to Ms Gopinath, India's growth did much better than expected during the last fiscal year (FY24) as private consumption growth recovered across sectors, especially in the rural economy.

From two-wheeler sales to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), the overall consumption is surging. "With better monsoons come better harvests and agricultural incomes go up," she was quoted as saying in media reports.

According to latest data by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the total production of passenger vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers and quadricycle reached 24,37,138 units in July. Two-wheeler segment posted a decent growth of 12.5 per cent in July compared to the same month last year.

On the other hand, the FMCG market in India remains resilient despite challenges. According to marketing research firm Kantar Worldpanel, the FMCG sector is expected to register 6.1 per cent yearly growth in FY 2024-25 in the rural market, which was 4.4 per cent last year.

According to the report, volumes in rural market could equal those in the urban market, which is higher at present. The rural FMCG market is more valuable to the industry than before and is generating almost half the volume and value for the sector.

Ms Gopinath also mentioned that the country needs to create millions of additional jobs in the next 5-6 years.

The IMF has raised its economic growth forecast for the country for FY25 to 7 per cent from 6.8 per cent projected in April. According to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, if the average growth India recorded over the three years is seen, the average comes to 8.3 per cent. In the current year, they have given a projection of 7.2 per cent growth.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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Friday, August 16, 2024

"Matter Of Great Pride": What PM Modi Said On Vinesh's Paris Olympics Feat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise on wrestler Vinesh Phogat for her scintillating show at the Paris Olympics and becoming the first Indian woman grappler to reach the final. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and greeted the Indian athletes and medal winners of the recently concluded Paris Olympics at his residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital on Independence Day. While interacting with Indian contingent from the Paris Olympics, PM Modi noted Vinesh's achievement and said, "Vinesh became the first Indian (women) to reach the finals in wrestling, which is a matter of great pride for all of us."

Vinesh's historic feat suffered a nosedive as she was disqualified from the women's 50 kg gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics after being weighed "few grams over" the permissible limits on morning of the final match.

Following the major heartbreak at the grand sporting arena, Vinesh took to social media to announce her decision to retire from wrestling.

The wrestler from Haryana has three Commonwealth Games golds, two World Championships bronze medals and one Asian Games gold medal to her name. She was also crowned Asian champion in 2021.

However, she appealed against her Olympic disqualification with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and demanded a joint silver medal in the 50kg weight category.

But, the Ad-Hoc Division of the CAS dismissed the Vinesh's petition against her disqualification, shattering her dream of clinching her maiden Olympic medal.

A total of 117 Indian athletes participated across 16 sports at the Paris Games: archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, and tennis.

India clinched six medals at the Paris Olympics, one silver and five bronze. Although hopes were high for a historic performance, the country fell just short of surpassing its previous best at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when they secured seven medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze) and ranked 48th.

(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, August 15, 2024

NDTV Impact: Probe Team Ordered Over Minister's Role In Disappearance

The Supreme Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious disappearance of Mansingh Patel, a case that garnered significant attention following an exclusive interview on NDTV. The interview featured Sitaram Patel, the son of the missing person, who made serious allegations against then Madhya Pradesh's Revenue and Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput, accusing him of involvement in his father's disappearance and illegal acquisition of their ancestral land.

In January last year, in an exclusive interview with NDTV, Sitaram Patel claimed that his father, Mansingh Patel, went missing in August 2016 after filing complaints against Mr Rajput. The complaints were related to the illegal occupation and construction on their ancestral land in Sagar district, allegedly by the minister and his associates.

Mansingh Patel

Mansingh Patel

Sitaram Patel further alleged that his father's disappearance was likely a result of a conspiracy to silence him and seize the valuable property. Despite multiple complaints to local authorities and the CM Helpline, no substantial police action has been taken to trace Mansingh Patel.

In response to a writ petition filed by the OBC Mahasabha, the Supreme Court took cognizance of the case, acknowledging the gravity of the allegations and the involvement of politically influential individuals. The petitioners sought a writ of Habeas Corpus to produce Mansingh Patel before the court, alleging illegal detention and potential criminality by the respondents, including Mr Rajput.

The Supreme Court, during the hearing, expressed concern over the lack of progress in the investigation by the local police and directed the Superintendent of Police of Sagar district, to submit a detailed affidavit outlining the chronological developments in the case. The court noted that despite the serious nature of the allegations, the local police had failed to conduct a fair, independent, and thorough investigation, further criticizing the composition of the initial SIT, which was seen as inadequate.

The Supreme Court directed the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, to constitute a new SIT comprising senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from outside the state. 

The SIT is mandated to re-investigate the disappearance of Mansingh Patel, with the following key directives:

The court ordered that the Missing Person Complaint be immediately registered as an FIR, initially against unknown persons, to ensure the investigation is conducted with due seriousness.
   
The SIT was instructed to provide protection to witnesses and ensure that their statements are recorded in a conducive environment, with video documentation and, where necessary, under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C.
   
The investigation must also include a thorough examination of revenue records related to the disputed land, identifying the actions that led to the disappearance of Mansingh Patel.

The SIT is required to complete the investigation within four months, after which further legal actions will follow based on the findings.

Earlier, the police stated that between September 2017 to September 2019, it visited various places to locate the missing person, but in vain. The top court rejected the contentions of the state against the plea's maintainability.

"We are, however, not impressed by the objection. The reporting of the commission of a cognizable offence is a statutory obligation on one and all. Where such reporting has been discarded by the police, deliberately or otherwise, the vigilant section of society or social help groups are expected to espouse such cause for securing justice to the voiceless victims and/or those who have been silenced under mysterious circumstances," it said. 

Owing to the serious nature of allegations against the influential, the composition of the existing SIT by the State is a mere eye-wash, the Supreme Court said. "It won't be possible at all for that SIT to take the investigation to a logical conclusion which can inspire the confidence of the family, near and dear ones of the victim or the public in general." 



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Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Meth Found In Sweets Handed Out To Children By New Zealand Charity

Pineapple sweets dished out by a New Zealand charity have tested positive for potentially lethal amounts of methamphetamine, police said Wednesday, sparking an urgent race to remove them from the streets.

Anti-poverty charity the Auckland City Mission raised the alarm after discovering a batch of the sweets was contaminated with the highly addictive and illegal narcotic, police said.

"An investigation is underway and police are treating the matter as a priority given the risk to the public."

The New Zealand Drug Foundation said a test sample of an innocuous-looking piece of white candy in a bright yellow wrapper indicated it contained methamphetamine.

Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Helm said the tested sweet contained approximately three grams of meth -- hundreds of times greater than the common dose taken by users.

"Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death."

Helm urged people who had received confectionaries from the Auckland charity not to consume them.

"We don't know how widespread it is."

The candy was donated anonymously by a member of the public, the charity said, in a sealed branded package. The sweets were then distributed into food parcels.

"There is a potential for New Zealand that there is a lethal substance dressed up as a lolly (sweet)," Helen Robinson from Auckland City Mission told reporters.

"We have to work on the assumption that this was a kind of batch."

The charity believes up to 400 people could have received the affected sweets in a food package.

Robinson said so far eight separate families had been affected, but no one had yet been hospitalised.

She knew of an instance where a parent gave one of the candies to her child, who immediately spat it out.

Robinson said she had been told the potent contaminated sweets tasted "acrid and revolting".

"You could have only a very small touch or lick of the substance and still be deeply affected," she warned.

A contaminated sweet was taken for testing when a person felt strange after starting to eat it and noticed a bitter taste.

Methamphetamine can cause chest pain, racing heart, seizures, delirium and loss of consciousness, the drug foundation warned.

Helm told Radio New Zealand it is common for drug smugglers to hide illegal narcotics in food form.

"We suspect somebody hasn't intentionally sought to poison children. It will be up to police to determine," she added in the interview.

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



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Google Pixel 8a Will Be the Latest ‘Made in India’ Smartphone After Pixel 8 Production Commences

Pixel 8a will become the latest smartphone from Google to be assembled in India, the company confirmed on Tuesday. The handset debuted in India on May 7 as a successor to the Pixel 7a, joining the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in Google’s latest smartphone portfolio. It is unclear if this would result in a price drop of the handset.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Call To Kolkata Doctor's Family Said She Died By Suicide. Police Probe Why

The father of the 31-year-old doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, got a phone call Friday morning. The caller said his daughter had died by suicide. When he rushed to the hospital, he learnt that his daughter's body was found in the seminar hall, half-clothed and with bruises. The investigation later revealed that the doctor had been raped and murdered.

"The Assistant Superintendent of chest medicine department called and said, 'your daughter died by suicide'. And then we saw the reality when we reached the hospital," the woman's father told the media, adding that the official did not name himself during the call.

The father's remarks have triggered allegations that the college administration attempted a cover-up after the woman doctor's body was found. According to the probe, she had dinner on Thursday night with four other colleagues on night duty. Police are also speaking to them, among others, to get to the bottom of the matter.

Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested and police said if more culprits are involved, they would be taken into custody over the next four-five days.

Top Doctors Summoned

The Assistant Superintendent and Head of Department of the Chest Medicine wing of the state-run hospital have been summoned to find out why the woman's family were told she died by suicide.

The woman's mother has told the media that even after they reached the hospital, they were not allowed to see the body. "I fell at their feet, begging them to let me see my daughter. But they did not. No one understands what I went through. They let us see her at 2 pm."

The family members have told the media that the victim called her mother that night and told her to have dinner. "We were planning her wedding next year," a relative said.

The family said they won't get their daughter back, but want her to get justice. "She went to serve the people and ended up sacrificing herself. We just want justice, we don't want anything else."

Principal Quits, Gets New Role

Authorities of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have come under the scanner for their initial response to the chilling incident. Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh resigned yesterday, saying that he can't take the humiliation and criticism on social media over comments he claimed had been falsely attributed to him.

Subsequently, in a development that drew strong criticism, Dr Ghosh was named principal in another medical college in Kolkata. Students of the Calcutta National Medical College in the city have opposed this move, questioning how the Principal who failed to ensure safety on one campus can succeed in another. The students have also locked up the doors of the Principal's office, saying they won't let him join work.

The BJP has, meanwhile, accused the state government of attempting a cover-up. "Mamata Banerjee has replaced Sandip Ghosh, the controversial Principal of RG Kar MCH, and replaced him with Dr Suhrita Paul, currently the OSD at Swasthya Bhawan. This is another attempt to plant a TMC apologist, with a checkered past, to the sensitive position, with the sole objective of influencing probe and eliminating all evidences," party leader Amit Malviya has said. 

'Insider' Involved?

The woman's family has alleged someone in the chest medicine department could be involved in the horrifying crime. "We want a probe against the whole chest department. We think someone on the inside is involved," they have told the media. "What is the guarantee that it was a supari murder?" Asked if his daughter had enmity with anyone in the department. "No, but anyone can be jealous."

The family has also raised this suspicion when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited them.

"There were nurses and security, I am still unable to understand how this incident took place. Police have informed me that there was someone inside," Ms Banerjee said yesterday.

The state government has given the city police time till Sunday to complete the investigation, failing which it will recommend a CBI probe into the matter.



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OnePlus Buds Pro 3 to Launch in India and Other Global Markets on August 20

OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are confirmed to debut on August 20 in India and other global markets. The true wireless (TWS) earphones will arrive as a successor to last year's OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 earbuds are expected to come with IP55 rated build and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. They are likely to retain the dual drivers and Dynaudio branding of the predec...

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Monday, August 12, 2024

Rohit, Virat Likely To Play Duleep Trophy, Only Player Exempted Is...

After a disappointing ODI series against Sri Lanka, the Indian men's cricket team gears up for a grueling Test schedule, also the start of Gautam Gambhir's stint as head coach in red-ball cricket. Gambhir has profoundly expressed the importance of domestic red-ball cricket and he is keen to implement the same for Indian national team players ahead of the start of the Test season. A report has claimed that Gambhir is keen to see the likes of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, as well as seniors like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli participate in the Duleep Trophy.

A report in Indian Express suggested that India's star players like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Surykumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav have all been asked to play in the Duleep Trophy. The only man who has been given an exception is ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. He has been given a long break from cricketing assignments, as part of workload management.

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) picks the Duleep Trophy squads, the report has stated that Kohli and Rohit are also set to be named in the roster. Ishan Kishan is also likely to be picked for the Duleep Trophy. But, veteran stars like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are unlikely to get the nod.

India's next Test assignment against Bangladesh starts September 19. The Duleep Trophy campaign is to begin on September 05. The selectors are reportedly undecided on the inclusion of Bumrah to India's Test squad for the first two matches against Bangladesh too as India are scheduled to play 10 Test matches in the next 4 months, with 5 of them to be against Australia.

The selectors could decide to give Bumrah a rest but Mohammed Shami is expected to find a spot in the team, having been out of action since the conclusion of the ODI World Cup last year. Duleep Trophy format:

The Ajit Agarkar's panel is to pick the four squads - India A, India B, India C and India D - for the tournament. The old zonal format has been done away with. The matches will be played in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The BCCI is also reportedly planning to keep one round at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The Duleep Trophy schedule, however, will also have some overlap with the Bangladesh series, as the domestic tournament is scheduled to conclude on September 24. India's first Test against Bangladesh begins on September 19.

The board is also planning a short camp before the start of the Test series in Chennai.



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Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Alleged Renders Suggest Triple Rear Cameras, Five Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is expected to go official in October. As we wait for the official launch date announcement from Samsung, purported marketing images of the device have surfaced online. The leaked renders suggest a similar design language to its predecessor. It seems to have triple rear cameras and a hole punch display design. It is shown in five distinct colourw...

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Sunday, August 11, 2024

Neeraj's Golden Verdict On Mother's "Like My Son" Remark For Arshad Nadeem

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra hoped to compete with other prominent international names in India sooner than later following his silver medal-winning effort in the Paris Olympics. Chopra bagged the silver at the Paris showpiece with a throw of 89.45m behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who hurled the javelin to 92.97m, an Olympic record. Anderson Peters of Grenada came third with a throw of 88.54m among the field that included some high-profile javelin throwers like Julian Webber, Jakub Vadlejch and Julius Yego.

"It's a dream of mine to compete with other international stars in India. Hopefully, there will be an international competition soon in India and I can do that," Chopra said during an interactive session with fans organised by the Olympics.com But before that, Chopra, whose silver was his second successive Olympics medal after the gold in Tokyo, said he wanted to work on certain areas of his game.

"I am entering a new season now. So, I don't have that much time to change training methods or technique. But I hope to improve upon a couple of areas, especially the line of the javelin.

"You know, the correct angle of throwing so that I get more power in my throw. I will certainly work on it," he said.

Chopra said he wanted to give it all in the Paris Games final despite being below his best physically.

"The body conditions (of his) were tough. But when Arshad made that throw...I was able to hit my season's best because the thought was set in my mind that I had to give the best throw because the competition had already become very tough."

Mothers of Chopra and Nadeem had taken the social media by storm as they showered affection on each other's son.

Chopra said his mother always spoke from her heart as she to date remained a simple rural soul.

"My mother…she always stayed in a village before and after her marriage. She is not familiar with social media and things like that. She often speaks from her heart. But she understands what families of athletes, even from different countries, feel towards them."

Praise for Sreejesh, Manu

Chopra lauded shooter Manu Bhaker for showing perseverance to grab two bronze medals in the Paris Games after experiencing utter disappointment in the Tokyo edition.

"The way Manu Bhaker prepared her mind and came from her Tokyo setback is impressive. Her mindset appeared to be very strong this time while taking part in back-to-back competitions. I think it's just a start for her because I saw even people over 50 (age) were participating in shooting.

"I hope Manu will play in a lot more competitions, bring a lot more medals for the country and change the colour of the medal too," he said.

The 26-year-old also hailed Indian hockey team's goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired from top-level competition with a bronze at Paris.

"Sreejesh is a very relaxed and funny person. He motivates younger players a lot. Sreejesh bhai had said that he would retire after the Olympics. The players, I think, also felt that they should win it for Sreejesh bhai after doing so many great things for the team." Chopra said Sreejesh offers a fine example in tackling pressure situations.

"He has so many years of experience and he knows how to tackle the pressure situations. He seemed to be in his zone when I met him before the bronze medal match," 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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Sent Money To Wrong UPI ID? Here's How You Can Recover It

A ransomware attack on C-Edge Technologies, a key tech service provider for small banks in India, has brought attention to the importance of double-checking UPI IDs before making transactions. The attack which occurred a week ago, temporarily halted payment systems across nearly 300 local banks.

Many may find themselves in a situation where they have accidentally sent money to a wrong unified payment interface (UPI) ID. This can occur when a phone number linked to a UPI ID is reassigned to a new individual, causing unintended recipients to receive funds. 

How to recover money sent to wrong UPI ID:

  1. Reach out to the payment system used (Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm) and lodge a complaint.
  2. Visit the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) website and fill out the online form under the ‘Dispute Redressal Mechanism' section. Provide required details, including transaction ID, virtual payment address, amount transferred, date of transaction, email ID and mobile number. Upload your bank statement showing the deduction.
  3. Choose ‘Incorrectly transferred to another account' as the reason for your complaint.
  4. If the complaint remains unresolved, escalate the issue in the following order – first, to the TPAP (Third-Party Application Provider); then, to the PSP Bank (Payment Service Provider Bank); followed by the bank where the end-user customer maintains their account; and finally, to the NPCI.
  5. If the issue remains unresolved after one month or you're dissatisfied with the response, approach the RBI independent official (Ombudsman) for Digital Transactions.
  6. File complaints in the jurisdiction where the system participant's branch or office is located, or where the customer's address is registered for centralised operations. 

To retrieve money transferred to an unintended individual, you must prove that the funds were sent unintentionally. Once proven, the bank is responsible for reversing the transaction.

According to Abhay Chattopadhyay, Partner at Economic Laws Practice, “In the event transfer of funds being made to a wrong recipient, sufficient proof is required to be furnished by the affected user before the bank that a transaction was done incorrectly / inadvertently.”

Mr Chattopadhyay also stated that if the bank fails to ensure the reversal of the transaction, you can file a complaint with the Ombudsman under Regulation 8 of the RBI's Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019, as per Economics Times.



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Saturday, August 10, 2024

PM Modi Carries Out Aerial Survey Of Landslide-Hit Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday carried out an aerial survey of disaster-hit areas of this north Kerala district where landslides claimed hundreds of lives.

PM Modi conducted aerial survey of the landslide-ravaged Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom hamlets aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter, on which he departed to Wayanad from Kannur Airport around 11.15 am.

He was accompanied by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.

After the aerial survey, he will land at the SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta here from where PM Modi will proceed to certain landslides-hit areas by road.

His visit comes at a time when the Kerala government has sought Rs 2,000 crore in assistance for rehabilitation and relief work in the disaster-stricken region.

At least 226 people died and many remain unaccounted for after landslides hit the region on July 30 in what is seen as one of the biggest natural disasters to have impacted the southern state. 

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



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Out On Bail, Manish Sisodia Visits Hanuman Temple, Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial

AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat memorial, a day after he was released from jail in the Delhi liquor policy case.

He reached the memorial after offering prayers at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place.

Mr Sisodia was accompanied by several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh and ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.

The Supreme Court on Friday gave Mr Sisodia bail in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged liquor policy "scam" and said his long incarceration of 17 months without trial had deprived him of the right to speedy justice.

After visiting the temple, Mr Sisodia said, "May Lord Hanuman bless all the people of Delhi".

He hoped that with the blessing of Lord Hanuman, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in the case, will also be released soon.

Mr Sisodia will visit the AAP headquarters on the DDU Marg around 12 noon to address party workers and leaders.

After walking out of the Tihar jail on Friday evening, Mr Sisodia said he got bail due to the power of the Constitution, and asserted that the same power will ensure the release of Kejriwal.

Mr Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 last year for purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy 2021-22. 

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



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Friday, August 9, 2024

Donald Trump Agrees To Debate Kamala Harris: What Latest Polls Suggest

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has agreed to debate his Democratic counterpart Kamala Harris on September 10. The showdown is set to be hosted by ABC, with additional debates proposed for September 4 and September 25 on Fox and NBC, respectively.

This will be the first face-off between the two rivals, with polls indicating a closely contested race. 

Trump vs Harris: What polls predict

Ipsos poll

A recent Ipsos poll published on August 9, shows Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump 42 per cent to 37 per cent for the November 5 elections. This shows growth in her popularity since a July 22-23 Reuters/Ipsos survey, which found her up 37 per cent to 34 per cent over Trump.

In a separate poll, Ipsos found Harris leading Trump 42 per cent to 40 per cent in the seven states where the election was closest in 2020 - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

YouGov poll

A CBS/YouGov poll released on August 4 shows Kamala Harris levelling up with Donald Trump. She has erased Trump's growing lead since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid. The poll indicates Harris has a 1 per cent advantage over Trump nationwide, compared to Trump's previous five-point edge over Biden. In swing states, Harris and Trump are equal. 

Moreover, the poll shows only 51 per cent of respondents thought Trump was mentally capable of the presidency, compared to 64 per cent for Harris.

Marist poll

An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows Harris has a 51-48 per cent edge over Trump among key demographics such as Black voters, white women with college degrees and women who identify as political independents. Independent women voters are crucial swing voters. Harris has made significant inroads with this group, leading Trump by 9 points (53-44 per cent).

The poll also states that Harris has made significant gains in suburban areas and among white voters overall, which has helped her improve her standing compared to earlier polls. 

However, Trump still maintains an advantage on economic issues, leading Harris by 3 points (51-48 per cent). Trump also leads Harris on handling immigration, with a 52-46 per cent advantage. 

Meanwhile, on the issue of abortion, Harris has a clear advantage, leading Trump by 15 points. 

Kamala Harris, who entered the presidential race on July 21 after receiving President Joe Biden's endorsement, has selected Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate. This move comes after Biden folded his campaign and exited the race following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27.

Harris and Walz debuted their joint campaign at a rally in Philadelphia, marking the beginning of their bid to take on Republican Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, in the upcoming presidential election.



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Xiaomi Said to Be Developing a 7,500mAh Battery With 100W Charging Support

Xiaomi sub-brand unveiled the Redmi K70 Extreme Edition with a 5,500mAh battery and support for 120W fast charging last month. Now, the Chinese smartphone giant seems to be gearing up to build bigger batteries for its future phones. Xiaomi is said to be working on a technology to equip a 7,000mAh battery with 120W charging or a 7,500mAh battery with 100W charging in a...

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

OnePlus Smartphones to Get Monthly Updates With New Software Series: Eligible Devices

OnePlus is rolling out a new software series for its smartphones in India and other countries, the company announced on Wednesday. Following its introduction, eligible handsets will receive new monthly software updates in addition to periodic updates and security patches. It is also said to bring OnePlus’ self-developed apps and new features to the smartphones.

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Opinion: Britain On The Boil: What's Behind The Street Riots Sweeping Through UK?

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has had a baptism by fire. Just a month ago, his Labour Party came to power after a long 14-year hiatus. But already, Starmer is staring at a Britain caught in turmoil. Major towns and cities across the UK are seeing mass outbreaks of anti-immigration and Islamophobic violence. 

Criticism is mounting that Starmer was slow to act in the first few days when the tensions erupted. So far, nearly 400 rioters have been arrested. And unsurprisingly, given his legal background, Starmer is threatening to take legal action against those stoking violence online and on the streets.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk further stirred the situation by suggesting online that a civil war in Britain looked inevitable - a comment condemned heavily by the Labour government for being "irresponsible" and inciting violence. 

What Led To The Protests

More than a week ago, three girls under the age of 10 were brutally stabbed to death while attending a dance event in the peaceful coastal town of Stockport, near Liverpool. Ten others were wounded in the attack. A 17-year-old boy, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, was arrested and charged with murder. His identity was initially withheld due to legal reasons (under British law, suspects under 18 cannot be named) until a court in Liverpool allowed the media to disclose it.

By then, however, violent protests had already spread across several towns, fuelled by social media rumours that the boy was Muslim and came to England "by boat" in 2023 - an implication that he was an illegal immigrant or an asylum seeker. No matter the fact that in reality, the boy is not Muslim and was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents.

Violence has now spread to more than a dozen towns and cities in Britain. Except for Belfast, all the affected cities are in England, mostly in the economically weaker north, where unemployment is higher than in the south.

Who Are the Rioters?

Several prominent far-right figures have been actively posting messages on social media. Tommy Robinson (aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), a well-known far-right and anti-Muslim activist who founded the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL) in 2009, has posted several videos online that have amassed hundreds of thousands of views and have been shared by right-wing outlets worldwide. A common anti-Muslim narrative with comments like "innocent English people being hunted down" and "our women are not halal meat" marks Robinson's online posts.

A few days after the Southport attack, Robinson posted a video asking his followers to stay calm, asserting that he condemned the violence. But a few far-right popular figures had by then already started baying for violence, with tweets like "it's war" and "for decades British girls have been raped by immigrant barbarians". These posts got over three million views in total.

The police said a vigil in Stockport was hijacked by right-wing extremists. They believe the protesters coordinated on WhatsApp and Telegram to organise protests in various towns and targeted mosques, shops, and hotels housing asylum seekers, especially in Rotherham and Tamworth. Starmer himself has termed the riots "far-right thuggery". 

Far-Right Grievances

The ongoing violence cannot be attributed solely to far-right inflammatory comments on social media. There is deep-rooted resentment in the country against immigration, particularly illegal immigration. The Stockport stabbings may have triggered these pent-up frustrations.

Far-right groups argue that the UK is experiencing uncontrolled immigration, which has overwhelmed public services, the housing infrastructure, and the welfare system. Nearly every day, small boats full of migrants cross the channel and enter the UK. The Tory government was unable to control this. According to the Home Office website, more than 570 migrants have arrived in the UK on 11 small boats since the protests erupted following the Stockport stabbings. These migrants seek asylum and are housed in hotels across the country. 

Not all protesters have links to far-right groups. Many resent that asylum seekers are given four-star hotels and money for their daily needs, while local youth struggle and live in poverty. Far-right activists often assert that immigrants take jobs from native Britons and undercut British workers, leading to unemployment and wage stagnation.

Musk Jibe Against the UK

Musk is not alone in criticising Britain. Donald Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, went so far as to say that Britain would become an Islamist country. He stated, "... and I was talking about, you know, what is the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon, and we were like, maybe it's Iran, you know, maybe Pakistan already kind of counts, and then we finally decided maybe it's actually the UK, since Labour just took over."

Vance echoed the fears of far-right people in the UK, who believe Muslims in the country want to establish Sharia law. They loathe the perceived failure of immigrants, particularly Muslims, to integrate into British society. Far-right activists argue that this leads to the formation of isolated communities with different cultural norms, undermining British values and social cohesion. They fear that Britain is becoming an Islamic country, claiming that increasing Muslim populations threaten the traditional British way of life.

Far-right groups link immigration, especially illegal immigration, to increased crime and terrorism, suggesting that more immigrants from Muslim-majority countries increase the risk of terrorist attacks and crime rates. To support their claims, they cite examples like the 2005 London terror attacks and British Muslim men and women joining jihadist movements in Iraq and Syria. These narratives are amplified through social media and far-right media outlets, which use inflammatory language to rally support and provoke strong emotional reactions.

Far-right activists also accuse the police of "two-tier policing" and the media of "two-tier coverage", believing they are treated more harshly than other protesters, such as the recent pro-Gaza protesters.
The Starmer government has not yet organised meetings between various groups or talked to the protesters. For example, during the Hindu-Muslim riots in Leicester two years ago, all-faith meetings were organised to stem the violence and instil confidence among communities.

As street violence continues, Keir Starmer's new government's honeymoon period is well and truly over. His month-old Prime Ministership will be judged on how he handles the ongoing crisis.

(Syed Zubair Ahmed is a London-based senior Indian journalist with three decades of experience with the Western media)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author



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