Enforcement Directorate Will Arrest Arvind Kejriwal On November 2: Atishi

The Aam Aadmi Party claimed today that there are apprehensions that the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, will arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 2 after questioning him in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Delhi's ruling party also alleged that the BJP is trying to finish it off by jailing its top leaders.

Arvind Kejriwal has been issued the summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and according to sources, the ED will record his statement once he deposes at the probe agency's Delhi office at 11 am on November 2.

This is the first time that Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED. He was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case in April.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Minister Atishi claimed the BJP is using these tactics to target the AAP as the party knows that it cannot defeat Arvind Kejriwal in the elections.

"According to various sources, the ED will arrest Arvind Kejriwal and put him in jail on November 2. Today, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi want to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party. This is why, one after another, AAP leaders are being arrested in false cases and sent to jail," she said.

Atishi said Mr Kejriwal will be arrested not because there is a case or any evidence against him but because he has spoken out against the BJP.

"He will be arrested only because Prime Minister Modi is afraid of him. They know that if there is one leader in this country who openly speaks against the BJP and fights against the party, it is Arvind Kejriwal. Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, he has been most troubled by one person and that is Arvind Kejriwal," she said.

In 2015, the BJP had been winning one state election after another but Arvind Kejriwal managed to confine the BJP to just three seats in Delhi, while the AAP won 67 of the 70 seats, she said.

In 2020 again, Atishi said, the BJP put all its efforts into the Delhi elections, fielding its leaders and creating a charged atmosphere across the country.

"However, the people of Delhi showed their love for their son Arvind Kejriwal, and made him the chief minister of Delhi once more.

"When the MCD elections came, the BJP knew that the people of Delhi would elect Arvind Kejriwal and throw the BJP out of the MCD. They delayed the MCD elections, imposed restrictions, and conducted elections along with the Gujarat elections. However, despite all this, the people of Delhi still elected Arvind Kejriwal in the MCD elections," she said.

Referring to the arrest of the AAP's top leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendar Jain, Atishi claimed it only means that the BJP wants to "finish off the AAP".

Mr Jain has been granted interim bail in a money laundering case.

"After Arvind Kejriwal is arrested, the BJP will target other leaders of the INDIA bloc and its Chief Ministers using the CBI and the ED.

"Next they will target Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren since they have been unable to defeat him. Then they will target Tejashwi Yadav since they have not been able to break the alliance in Bihar. Then Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will be targeted," Atishi claimed.

"I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party are not afraid of going to jail nor are they afraid of false cases. They will fight till the last breath to protect the Constitution of this country," she said.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed Atishi's views and asserted the party has only grown stronger in the face of opposition.

"The BJP fears Mr Kejriwal's popularity and honesty. Every time an attempt is made to end the AAP, it emerges stronger with double force.

"In the history of Independent India, the AAP has been the most-preyed-upon party by the Centre. Approximately, 170 fabricated cases have been registered against the AAP and its leaders. Forty-eight of these fabricated cases are registered against Sanjay Singh alone by the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP's other governments. Dozens of cases have also been registered against Mr Kejriwal," he claimed.

Addressing a press conference, the AAP's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said the AAP will keep working for the common man.

"Liquor policy is just an excuse. The BJP's goal is to eliminate the AAP. If it were only about the liquor policy, there wouldn't have been CBI raids at Chief Minister's office before and the Shunglu Committee wouldn't have scrutinised every single file. In the liquor policy case, even the CBI had called Arvind Kejriwal and he answered all their questions," he added.

Gopal Rai also said the BJP's ouster is certain in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"I want to tell the people of Delhi that we will confront their tyranny head-on and continue development work in Delhi," he said.

AAP MLA Dilip Pandey said they are disciples of Bhagat Singh and are ready to sacrifice their lives but will not bow before the BJP.

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"Will Free Some Foreign Hostages In Next Few Days": Hamas

Hamas's armed wing said Tuesday it would release in the coming days some of the foreign hostages in its captivity, as it vowed to turn Gaza into a graveyard for Israel's military.

"We have informed intermediaries that we will release a certain number of foreigners in the next few days," Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a televised address.

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

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"Election Funding A Complicated Issue": Supreme Court On Electoral Bonds

The "opaque" electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties will "destroy democracy" as it promotes corruption and does not allow a level playing field between the ruling and opposition parties, the petitioners challenging the validity of the scheme told the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday observed election funding was a "complicated issue".

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), told a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the electoral bonds scheme defeats the citizen's right to be informed about the sources of funding of political parties which is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Commencing the arguments on a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the scheme, Mr Bhushan said this "opaque" and "anonymous instrument" promotes corruption in the country and there is a good reason to believe that these bonds are being given by way of kickbacks to parties in power.

"...that it (electoral bonds) disturbs and indeed destroys democracy in this country because it does not allow a level playing field between political parties which are ruling and political parties which are in opposition or between political parties and independent candidates," he told the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Mr Bhushan referred to a chart and said as per the party-wise donations received through electoral bonds until 2021-2022 declared in the audit report, the BJP received Rs 5,271 crore, while the Congress got Rs 952 crore.

He also gave figures about the donations received by other political parties through electoral bonds during the period until 2021-2022, which included Rs 767 crore to the TMC, Rs 63 crore that went to the NCP's kitty and Rs 48 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party.

"The only significant contributions are all to the ruling parties either at the Centre or the states," he said, adding there were no significant contributions to parties which are not in power.

"This will destroy democracy. Already our democracy was almost a money game. It has become a money game," Mr Bhushan said.

Arguing that money power or unequal use of money power erodes the concept of free and fair elections, Mr Bhushan said almost all electoral bonds have been received only by parties in power.

He said over 50 per cent of all such donations has been received by the ruling party at the Centre and the rest have gone to the ruling parties in states.

"Election funding is a major issue. It is not something very simple. It is a complicated issue," Justice Khanna observed during the day-long hearing.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for one of the petitioners, said capital and influence go hand in hand, and the electoral process must be such that it provides a level playing field to all participants.

"Free and fair election is the basic structure of the Constitution," Mr Sibal said, adding the moment one allows the corporate sector to donate, whether with or without transparency, it is inconsistent with the concept of a corporate sector which is in the business of doing business.

The CJI observed that the Supreme Court is not on the challenge to the legality of a law providing for corporate donations per se as that wider issue is not before it in this matter.

Mr Sibal said the Indian Constitution is "citizen-centric" and every scheme must have a legitimate object which is constitutional and the scheme must be proportionate to the object sought to be achieved.

Mr Sibal said it is dangerous if the voice of people is drowned by the voice of the corporate sector.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which is one of the petitioners in the case, said they are the political party which has taken a conscious decision not to accept any electoral bonds.

"The architecture and effect of electoral bonds scheme is not to reduce black money funding of political parties but to re-route the non-anonymous banking channel funding to anonymous electoral bonds," he said, adding the "informational black hole" which the scheme creates goes against the concept of informed electorate under Article 19(1)(a) read with Article 326 of the Constitution.

Article 326 of the Constitution deals with elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and to the legislative assemblies of states.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, who appeared for one of the petitioners, said the electoral bonds scheme is manifestly arbitrary.

He asked if the security of the State is impacted if a foreign entity invests in the manufacturing sector in India, is it not impacted if Chinese investment is coming into a political party?

"It is a matter of policy. You are saying that a company in China, since China shares a land border, they cannot bid for a contract but your case here is that they may have invested in electoral bonds," the CJI observed.

The hearing remained inconclusive and will continue on Wednesday.

The scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring in transparency in political funding.

According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.

Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last election to the Lok Sabha or a state legislative assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.

According to the notification, electoral bonds shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through an account with an authorised bank.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, in a statement filed before the top court in the matter, has said citizens do not have the right to seek information under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution about the source of the funds.

Holding that the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties contributes to clean money, the top law officer has said there can be no general right to know "anything and everything", without being subjected to reasonable restrictions.

The Supreme Court had, on October 10, taken note of Mr Bhushan's submission that the matter needed adjudication before the electoral bonds scheme opens for the 2024 general election to the Lok Sabha.

On January 20, 2020, the court had refused to grant an interim stay on the scheme and sought the responses of the Centre and the Election Commission to an interim application filed by the NGO seeking a stay on it.

The Supreme Court had, in April 2019, also declined to stay the electoral bonds scheme and said it will accord an in-depth hearing on the pleas as the Centre and the EC had raised "weighty issues" that had "tremendous bearing on the sanctity of the electoral process in the country".

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

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

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

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

Who Are These "Illegal Immigrants"?

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

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

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

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

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

Deportation centres 

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

Pakistan's crackdown condemned 

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

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

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

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"We're Paying For Defaults": Sundar Pichai In US Antitrust Trial

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, on Monday acknowledged the importance of being the default search engine in keeping users glued to the company's products -- a key point in a once-in-a generation antitrust fight with the US government focused on the billions of dollars Google paid to be the default on laptops and smartphones.

Sundar Pichai, who was called by Google, testified in a trial that will determine whether Google acted illegally to maintain its dominance of online search and parts of search advertising. If the government wins, the company may be forced to scrap some business practices that have helped it stay on top.

In testimony Monday morning, Sundar Pichai was shown instances where Google pressed Apple, wireless companies and smartphone makers which use Google's Android operating system to be made the default for their devices in exchange for billions of dollars in payments.

"We're paying for defaults. That's correct. We pay for preload exclusivity on a device-by-device basis," Sundar Pichai said under questioning from the Justice Department.

A lawyer for the Justice Department asked Sundar Pichai about a 2007 discussion of Google executives, which included Sundar Pichai before he became chief executive, about an Apple request to let users choose their search engine on a new version of its browser Safari.

A document at the time noted that 75% of people do not change defaults, and noted: "Defaults have strong impact."

Also Monday, Sundar Pichai took a couple of swipes at its tech rival Microsoft browser, maker of Internet Explorer.

Before Google launched its Chrome browser, which competes with the Microsoft product, Sundar Pichai said, "The browser market at the time had kind of stagnated.

"They (Microsoft) were not that incented to improve the browser," he added, calling Chrome a "pretty dramatic improvement" when it was launched in 2008.

The clout in search makes Google a heavy hitter in the lucrative advertising market, its biggest revenue source.

Google has also argued that if people are dissatisfied with default search engines, they can, and do, switch to another search provider. It has also argued the revenue share agreements are legal and that it has invested heavily to keep its search and advertising businesses competitive.

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Woman Arrested With Norwegian Passport In Manipur Is Myanmar Insurgent: Sources

A woman who was released on bail after her arrest in Manipur in August last year over her expired Norwegian passport and Indian e-visa is allegedly a top member of a Myanmar-based insurgent group, people with direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV.

The insurgent group is fighting the junta in Myanmar's Chin State, just across the border from Mizoram and Manipur, sources said.

Mya Kyay Mon, 52, was found walking "suspiciously" at a market in Manipur's capital Imphal on October 23, sources said, adding how she continued to stay on with expired documents and what she was doing in violence-hit Manipur are under investigation.

With Imphal on high alert amid the ethnic tensions between the Meiteis and the Kuki tribes following months-long violence, the police questioned Ms Mon after they found her at the market. She showed her travel papers that turned out to be expired, sources said.

She was taken to the foreigners detention centre and is kept there since then, following an order by the Manipur government to the state police chief and the jail superintendent. NDTV has seen a verified copy of the Home Commissioner T Ranjit Singh's letter to the police chief and the jail superintendent.

"It is claimed she came to Imphal to appear in a legal case concerning expired documents. But we are exploring all angles, including the allegation that she's a top member of a Myanmar-based insurgent group and has links with some armed elements in the hill district Churachandpur," a senior police officer who has direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV, requesting anonymity.

Some 25 hill-based Kuki insurgent groups have signed the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the centre and the state government. These insurgent groups along with some civil society organisations in valley-majority Imphal have come under intense scrutiny over alleged participation in the ethnic violence that has killed over 180 and left thousands internally displaced.

The Manipur ethnic violence has claimed the lives of over 180 people (File)

Ms Mon was first detained by the Assam Rifles during routine checking in August last year on the highway connecting Imphal with the border trading town Moreh. The Assam Rifles in a statement had said they found an expired Norwegian passport and an Indian e-visa, and she came to India in May 2019.

Subsequently, the Manipur Police took her into custody and kept her in Imphal's central jail, until she got bail in February this year, after which an Imphal-based human rights organisation run by local activist Babloo Loitongbam helped her find a women's shelter home to stay.

"The case of Ms Mya Kyay Mon, a Norwegian citizen of Myanmar origin, was brought to the attention of HRA (Human Rights Alert) by the Myanmar language instructor of the Centre for Myanmar Studies of Manipur University... HRA took up her case as a 'woman in distress case' and informed the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Delhi. Thereafter, she was issued a fresh Norwegian passport as her old one had expired," HRA executive director Mr Loitongbam said in a statement in response to local media reports on the matter.

"... In the wake of the ethnic unrest in Manipur and when the NGO (shelter home) expressed their discomfort in keeping her, we organised an air ticket for her to get out of the state. We have been informed she was summoned by the court to appear in her pending trial in Manipur," Mr Loitongbam said in the statement, adding they did not know Ms Mon before and after her arrest in August last year, until the moment they met her in the Imphal jail.

The activist, who is also a fierce critic of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and whose house was vandalised by a mob earlier this month over his comments on two Meitei organisations, said HRA only gave "legal and humanitarian services" when requested by a woman in distress "as per our mandate as an organisation defending the human rights for all."

A statement purportedly given by Ms Mon to the media said she left Manipur in May when ethnic violence broke out and lived in Delhi for two months. She then went to Punjab for four weeks and returned to Delhi. She went to Rajasthan next, from where in October she came to Kolkata and proceeded on to Dimapur. Finally, she came to Imphal to meet members of the Manipur Human Rights Commission on October 11, the statement said. But she couldn't meet them and left Imphal, only to return on October 23, the day she went to the market in Imphal from where she was detained by the police. NDTV could not independently verify this statement.

Though the Manipur ethnic violence between the Kuki tribes and the Meiteis is said to be over the Meities' demand for inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category, many leaders including Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar have said entry of illegal immigrants is one of the main factors behind the unrest in the northeast state, which is ruled by the BJP.

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

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Halloween 2023: Know History, Significance Of This Spooky Festival

Halloween 2023: Halloween Day is dedicated to remembering the dead. The festival that is celebrated widely in America and parts of Europe has its origins in ancient Celtic traditions. Over the decades, the festival has gained prominence not just as an important holiday in the West but has also made a special place for itself in pop culture across the world. People put their best foot forward by putting on spooky make-up and clothes for these parties. 

Even closer home in India, the Halloween traditions of dressing up in costumes and visiting friends with gifts, screening horror movies, and Halloween-themed games have become popular in several cities.

History of Halloween Day

In addition to its close relation to All Saints Day, Halloween is also believed to have its origins in a 2000-year-old Celtic festival. The Celtic communities celebrated their New Year on 1 November, with Halloween being celebrated on 31 October as New Year's Eve. In Ireland, Halloween was called Samhain which literally translates to the end of summer. Not just in Ireland, but also in other parts of Europe -- especially in the northern latitudes -- Halloween marked the end of summer.

The practice of lighting bonfires to ward off evil spirits during Halloween in the Celtic tradition was related to the onset of a damp and dark winter, which usually brought with it a host of diseases.

The holiday came to America with the wave of Irish immigrants during the potato famine of the 1840s.

They brought along several of their holiday customs with them including bobbing for apples and playing tricks on neighbours like removing dates from the front of houses.

But where does the concept of spooky dresses come from? Well to avoid being recognised by evil spirits on All Hallows Eve, the Celtics would wear spooky masks when they left their home at night, so the ghosts would not mistake them for fellow spirits.

Trick and treating however originated in the second half of the 1930s. Americans took from Irish and English traditions and went door to door, asking for food or money, while dressed in costumes.

The term ''trick or treat'' is thought to have come from the idea that families could prevent tricks from being played on them by treating kids with candies.

Another famous part of Halloween is the ''jack-o-lanterns'', which people in modern times use on pumpkins. But, do you know pumpkins came long after the original jack-o-lanterns, which Celtics carved on turnips or potatoes? They did that to light the way to their home, for good spirits to enter.

Later, when the Irish immigrants entered America, they discovered the pumpkins to be the new face of Halloween.

Significance of Halloween Day

Over the years, Halloween has gone on to become one of the most important festivals in the United States of America and several European countries. Over the centuries, the ancient rituals were replaced by contemporary versions of the same, such as the "trick or treat" custom carried out by children.

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US Man Missing For 2 Weeks At Sea Found Alive, Ate Salmon To Survive

In an astonishing turn of events, a fisherman who was missing for two weeks has been found alive floating in a life raft about 110 km off the west coast of the US. 

The US Coast Guard said the search for the missing fishermen was suspended a day earlier, the Morning News reported. The rescuers said the man survived by eating salmon throughout these days. 

The man who was not identified, had left Grays Harbor in Washington state on October 12 on the ship.

King-TV in Seattle has identified the rescuers as Ryan Planes and his uncle John from Sooke, a town on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

"I saw what looked like a life raft in the distance and ran inside and put the binoculars on him and then he shot off a flare," Ryan told the network.

"We pulled him on board. He gave me a big hug and it was emotional," John continued.

The man told the rescuers that he had been alone on the raft for 13 days and he ate salmon to survive. 

"We made him breakfast. He drank three bottles of water," he continued. "He was pretty hungry, poor guy."

Officials said that he was transported back to shore by the Canadian Coast Guard and another Canadian rescue agency.

King-TV reported that the man was taken to a hospital in Tofino, British Columbia, for further treatment. 

The officials said that the man was meant to return on October 15. 

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Watch: Israel Embassy In Delhi Flies 229 Balloons, 1 For Each Hostage

Two hundred and twenty-mine balloons, one for every Israeli being held hostage by Hamas, were released into the skies in major cities across the world. The latest to join the "Balloons of Hope: Bring the Hostages Home" campaign was the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.

As many as 229 white and blue balloons -- the colours of the Israeli flag -- were released into the sky. “In New Delhi and across the globe, 229 balloons soared into the skies, each representing a man, woman, or child held hostage by Hamas terrorists. We stand united and will not rest until our loved ones are safely returned. Every balloon carries symbolises a cry for freedom,” read a post shared by the Israeli embassy on X, formerly Twitter.

In New Delhi and across the globe, 229 balloons soared into the skies, each representing a man, woman, or child held hostage by #HamasTerrorists.

We stand united and will not rest until our loved ones are safely returned.

Every balloon carries symbolises a cry for… pic.twitter.com/wT2wPSJIAf

— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) October 28, 2023

The ‘Balloons of Hope' initiative has seen the involvement of over 15 countries, signifying international solidarity. This joint effort underscores the common human values connecting people across the world, highlighting that the issue was a violation of universal human rights and not bound by geographical boundaries.

On Saturday, India abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

As Israeli airstrikes intensified, internet and phone services in the Gaza Strip experienced a near-complete disruption, effectively isolating the 2.3 million residents from any communication with the world. This development coincided with Israel's military announcement of the "expansion" of its ground operations in the besieged territory, a significant step toward a potential full-scale invasion of Gaza.

Israel's stated objective is to dismantle the ruling Hamas group, following their recent incursion into southern Israel, which has heightened tensions in the region.

The latest episode of what's now a full-blown Israeli operation in Gaza started after Hamas launched an on-ground and air attack on Israel on October 7, killing at least 262 people at a music concert. Since then, Israel has retaliated, bombarding the 362 square kilometre Gaza Strip.

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

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

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

Take a look below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tiger Kills Caretaker In Rajasthan's Abheda Biological Park

A caretaker of a tiger's enclosure at Abheda Biological Park here died after he was attacked by the big cat on Friday evening, officials said.

The tiger was undergoing treatment for an injury. The incident took place when the caretaker, Ramdayal Nagar, was leaving after spraying medicine on its injury, they said.

Deputy Conservator of Forest, Kota, Bijo Joy said the caretaker was critically injured in the tiger attack and was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

He said he was on his way to Kota from Jaipur and would visit the hospital where Ramdayal Nagar's body has been kept.

An employee of Abheda Biological Park, who did not wish to be named, said Ramdayal Nagar's neck was dislocated in the attack.

"The gate of the enclosure was most likely left open or was loosely bolted after the caretaker sprayed the medicine on the tiger. When he was leaving, the tiger, which was uneasy due to the medicine, attacked him. The caretaker's neck was dislocated in the incident," the employee said.

As people raised an alarm, the tiger went back to its cage. Ramdayal Nagar was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead, he added.

Abheda Biological Park incharge Sunil Gupta said the tiger has been undergoing treatment for an injury.

The caretaker sprayed medicine every day on the tiger's injury, he said.

The caretaker's body has been kept in the mortuary for post-mortem examination, the officials said. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The state has 119 assembly constituencies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Iran Court Orders US To Pay Damages For 1980 Hostage Rescue Bid

An Iranian court ordered the US government Thursday to pay $420 million in compensation to victims of an abortive 1980 operation to free hostages held at the US embassy, the judiciary said.

Shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the Western-backed shah, Iranian students entered the US embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 Americans hostage for 444 days.

The students called for the extradition of the deposed shah, who was being treated in the United States.

In April 1980, Washington attempted to free the hostages in the top-secret Operation Eagle Claw, which ended in disaster after running into sandstorms and mechanical problems.

As the rescue force withdrew, two US aircraft collided, killing eight servicemen.

In its Thursday report, the judiciary's Mizan Online news agency said that during the operation US forces had "attacked" a bus carrying Iranian passengers. It did not elaborate.

"Following the complaint filed by families of the victims of US Operation Eagle Claw, a court ordered the US government to pay $420 million," Mizan said, without specifying the number of the victims.

Iranian media have reported that a local commander of the Revolutionary Gaurds was accidentally shot and killed by Iranian forces while standing guard over US military equipment abandoned during the operation.

Five months after the hostage crisis, Washington severed diplomatic relations and imposed an embargo on Tehran.

The hostages were released in January 1981.

An Iranian court ordered the US government Thursday to pay $420 million in compensation to victims of an abortive 1980 operation to free hostages held at the US embassy, the judiciary said.

Shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the Western-backed shah, Iranian students entered the US embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 Americans hostage for 444 days.

The students called for the extradition of the deposed shah, who was being treated in the United States.

In April 1980, Washington attempted to free the hostages in the top-secret Operation Eagle Claw, which ended in disaster after running into sandstorms and mechanical problems.

As the rescue force withdrew, two US aircraft collided, killing eight servicemen.

In its Thursday report, the judiciary's Mizan Online news agency said that during the operation US forces had "attacked" a bus carrying Iranian passengers. It did not elaborate.

"Following the complaint filed by families of the victims of US Operation Eagle Claw, a court ordered the US government to pay $420 million," Mizan said, without specifying the number of the victims.

Iranian media have reported that a local commander of the Revolutionary Gaurds was accidentally shot and killed by Iranian forces while standing guard over US military equipment abandoned during the operation.

Five months after the hostage crisis, Washington severed diplomatic relations and imposed an embargo on Tehran.

The hostages were released in January 1981.

In August, a Tehran court ordered the US government to pay $330 million in damages for "planning a coup" in 1980 against the fledgling Islamic republic.

The suits filed against Washington in Iranian courts following a series of multi-billion dollar compensation awards against Tehran by US courts.

In 2016, the US Supreme Court ordered that Iranian assets frozen in the United States should be paid to victims of attacks Washington has blamed on Tehran, including the 1983 bombing of a US Marine barracks in Beirut and a 1996 blast in Saudi Arabia.

In March this year, the International Court of Justice ruled that Washington's freezing of funds belonging to several Iranian individuals and companies was "manifestly unreasonable".

But it ruled it had no jurisdiction to unblock nearly $2 billion in Iranian central bank assets frozen by the United States.

Tehran, which denies all responsibility for the attacks blamed on it by Washington, has said that US court judgments have awarded victims a total of $56 billion in damages.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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No Trash Burning, Water Fogging: How Mumbai Plans To Curb Air Pollution

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday issued the Guidelines for Air Pollution Mitigation which banned open-air burning of trash or any other material across Mumbai.

The guidelines, signed by municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, came amid the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) in India's financial capital. "There shall be a complete ban on open burning anywhere in the geographical area under BMC, especially at garbage dumping grounds and possible sites of trash burning," an official release said.

Last week, after holding a joint meeting with all concerned authorities, Chahal had announced that the guidelines would be issued by Monday, but they were released two days late.

Builders in the city must engage only the vehicles fitted with a tracking system for the transportation of construction materials, the guidelines said.

CCTV cameras must be installed along the periphery of all construction sites "to ensure that vehicles are plying after cleaning tyres and not overloaded".

All projects with a more than 70-metre height shall have at least a 35-feet high wall of tin sheets around the site, the BMC said.

All under-construction and "under-demolition" buildings shall be covered by green cloth, jute sheets or tarpaulin from all sides.

"There shall be continuous sprinkling / spraying of water during the process of demolishing a structure," read a guideline.

Water fogging should be done during loading and unloading of materials at construction sites, while water should be sprinkled on debris and earth materials prone to generating dust, the BMC said.

All vehicles carrying construction materials shall be fully covered and not overloaded to avoid any spillage on the road.

The guidelines also asked for the deployment of sensor-based air pollution monitors at work sites. Action should be taken immediately when pollution levels exceed prescribed limits, the guidelines said.

Works like grinding, cutting, drilling, sawing and trimming should be carried out in enclosed areas with continuous water sprinkling or fogging, they said.

The guidelines also made the erection of 25-foot walls mandatory around all BMC worksites like under-construction bridges and flyovers, and also the above-ground metro works.

Ward officers shall deploy squads comprising two engineers, a policeman and a marshal for air pollution mitigation enforcement, the BMC said.

"The enforcement squads shall visit the premises and videograph the worksite. If the worksite is not adhering to above-stated provisions, stringent action, such as issue of a stop-work notice and the sealing of worksite, shall be taken immediately," the guidelines read.

The civic body gave 15 days and 30 days for the installation of sprinklers and fog guns, respectively, at construction and other work sites.

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10-Month-Old Baby In UK Seriously Injured In Attack By Family Dog

A 10-month-old baby in the United Kingdom has been seriously injured after being attacked by a normally "loving and affectionate" family dog. According to the BBC, the incident took place on Tuesday in South Yorkshire. Police said that the animal, a Cane Corso X, savaged the baby at a property in Hoyland, Barnsley, after he started to cry. The 10-month-old remains in the hospital in a stable but serious condition, officials added.

"We were called at 7.42am this morning to a property in Hoyland, following a young child being attacked and bitten by a family dog," Dog Legislation Officer PC Paul Jameson said, as per the outlet. Mr Jameson added that the attack was out of character for the dog, who has no previous history of aggression. 

"Our early enquiries with the family highlighted that the dog was not previously reported to be of an aggressive nature, and this was a family who took precautions and are responsible owners," he said. 

Separately, according to The Independent, the baby's family said that their dog had never shown any signs of aggression before the horrifying incident. According to them, the animal is normally "pleasant" and "affectionate" with children. However, the family added that the dog may have become stressed by fireworks being set off in the local area. 

"An incident like this is a stark reminder that regardless of a dog's nature, or previous interactions with children, other dogs and people, they are animals and their innate instinct to protect themselves which can result in serious injuries and sometimes fatality," Mr Jameson said.

Also read | Man Sells "Energy Drink" Made From Urine On Amazon, Company Calls It "Crude Stunt"

The official further urged owners to watch out for changes in their dog's behaviour at this time of the year and provide them with a space they feel safe, away from children and people. "If you know your dog does not accept people knocking at the door, put up a sign ahead of Halloween to stop people knocking," PC Jameson continued.

"If your dog becomes unsettled when fireworks are set off, walk your dog in daylight hours, close the windows and draw your curtains to help muffle the sound and put the radio or TV on. Leave toys in the area your dog associates with feeling calm and safe. If you're hosting a celebration, follow the tips on our leaflet to keep everyone in your home safe," he added.

Notably, a Cane Corso is a breed of mastiff descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome.

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Veteran Actor Gautami Tadimalla Quits BJP: 5 Facts About Her

Actor Gautami Tadimalla, a longstanding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made headlines by announcing that she has resigned from the party. 

In a letter dated October 23, Ms Tadimalla cited her disappointment with what she perceived as a lack of support from the party's leadership during a challenging personal crisis as the reason for her decision. “I am at the point where my daughter and I should have been settled, safe and secure, and yet I found to my horror that Mr. C Alagappan has swindled me of my money, property and documents,” Ms Tadimalla said.

A journey of 25 yrs comes to a conclusion today. My resignation letter. @JPNadda @annamalai_k @BJP4India @BJP4TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/NzHCkIzEfD

— Gautami Tadimalla (@gautamitads) October 23, 2023

Here are some facts about the former BJP leader:

– Gautami Tadimalla, born on July 2, 1969, is known for her work in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada films. Her father, Dr T R Seshagiri Raom was a radiation oncologist and her mother  Dr Vasundhara was a pathologist.

–  Gautami Tadimalla attended Bishop Cotton Girls' School. Some of her favourite subjects were — Physics and English.

– Ms Tadimalla was in a relationship with Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan. After dating for 13 years, the two decided to part ways. In a blog, shared in November 2016, she said, “It is heartbreaking for me to have to say today that I and Mr. Haasan are no longer together. After almost 13 years together, it has been one of the most devastating decisions that I have ever had to make in my life. It is never easy for anyone in a committed relationship to realise that their paths have irreversibly diverged and that the only choices in front of them are to either compromise with their dreams for life or to accept the truth of their solitude and move ahead. “

– Gautami Tadimalla also has an honorary doctorate from Malaysia's Asia Metropolitan University. She received it for her outstanding work in the fields of Wellness and Community Service. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gautami Tadimalla (@gautamitads)

- Ms Tadimalla was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 35 years old. Gautami Tadimalla also founded the Life Again Foundation (LAF) to help cancer patients. LAF has organised over 360 motivational camps, cancer awareness campaigns, and food drives. They also offer yoga and alternative therapy programs, conduct health check-up camps, operate two mobile hospitals, and sponsor underprivileged students for higher education.

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Web Summit CEO "Apologises", Resigns After Comments On Israel-Hamas War

Web Summit Chief Executive and founder Paddy Cosgrave resigned on Saturday after comments he made on the Israel-Hamas war prompted some technology companies and investors to withdraw plans to attend its conference in Portugal next month.

"Unfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend," Paddy Cosgrave said in a statement.

"I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused."

Web Summit, which organises one of the world's largest tech conferences every year, will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible, a spokesperson for the company said in an emailed statement, adding that Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon will go ahead as planned.

According to a Bloomberg report on Friday, Google and Meta Platforms Inc, as well as several other tech companies including Intel Corp and Siemens AG have decided not to participate in the event.

The summit is scheduled to take place from November 13-16.

Paddy Cosgrave drew criticism after a post on social media platform X on October 13, referring to Israel's response in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7.

"War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are," the post read. Days later on Tuesday, he apologised for his comments.

Paddy Cosgrave remains the majority shareholder in Web Summit.

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

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Is Congress' Opposition To Adani A Form Of Extortion, Asks BJP MP

Alleging that Congress MLAs in his constituency are taking money from, and promoting, Adani Group companies, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday wondered whether the party's opposition to the group was a form of extortion or a pressure tactic. 

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Dubey posted photos of plaques in Hindi from various projects which state that they had been carried out courtesy Adani Power and on the recommendation of Deepika Pandey Singh, the Congress MLA from Mahagama in Jharkhand. Mr Dubey is the Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand's Godda. 

Mr Dubey also took the name of Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav from the Poraiyahat constituency stating that he does the same thing. Both the Mahagama and Poraiyahat assembly constituencies come under the Godda Lok Sabha seat.

In a Hindi post, addressed to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Mr Dubey said, "Rahul Gandhi ji, could it be that the Congress' opposition to Adani is a form of extortion or a pressure tactic? Congress MLAs Deepika Pandey Singh and Pradeep Yadav from my constituency have, in several places, taken money from Adani and are promoting it. This is like speaking with a forked tongue. Have some shame, Congress!"

राहुल गांधी @RahulGandhi जी@INCIndia का अडानी विरोध कहीं Extortion या दबाव डालना तो नहीं है,मेरे लोकसभा में कॉंग्रेस के विधायक दीपिका जी,प्रदीप यादव जी जगह जगह अडानी से पैसे लेकर उनका प्रचार कर रहे हैं ।मुँह में राम बग़ल में छुरी,कॉंग्रेस शर्म करो pic.twitter.com/38oCw0n1je

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) October 21, 2023

The three photos with the post show projects related to a pool and two temples and all three have plaques with the names of Adani Power and MLA Singh.

This is not the first time that the BJP has brought up Adani Group projects in Congress-ruled areas. Earlier this week, after Rahul Gandhi cited a Financial Times report and blamed the Adani Group for the rise in electricity prices, the BJP's National Information Department In-Charge Amit Malviya had dared him to walk the talk on the conglomerate's projects in Congress-ruled states.

"Adani has power projects in Congress-ruled Karnataka, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh among others. Now that Rahul Gandhi has figured out the reason why they have to give 'subsidies' in these states, he should ensure that Congress governments act against Adani and not protect him. Let him walk the talk," he had posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"After doing an entire press conference, Rahul Gandhi still thinks it is just an 'interesting' idea to initiate probe into what he claimed was over-invoicing, leading to rise in power tariff. You need to be either daft or delusional to think that people are fools and can't see through such gimmicks," he had added.

In June, Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil had said that the state was open to investments by the Adani Group and would "give time" to the conglomerate to "come up with proposals".

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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Video: Waterfalls Form At Madrid Metro Station As Storm Aline Hits Spain

Storm Aline brought strong winds and heavy rains to much of Spain on Thursday, causing flooding, fallen trees, and traffic disruptions in multiple cities. The downpours also swept through Spain's capital city Madrid, flooding streets and numerous Metro stations. The heavy rainfall caused the closure of several metro lines for hours while regional trains and high-velocity lines suffered delays, news agency Reuters reported. 

Banco de Espana metro station in Madrid was also hit by flooding on Thursday that caused waterfalls to form, with water seen cascading down staircases. Roads across the central region were also seen in other clips totally submerged in muddy water.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), a user shared the video which showed the stairs leading down to Metro stations gushing with rainwater making it impossible for commuters to enter. 

Watch the videos below: 

@metro_madrid @ComunidadMadrid @SocialDrive_es ahora mismo en el centro de Madrid (Cibeles). Boca de metro Banco de España L2 pic.twitter.com/K9ZqMy6hdi

— Liliangel™️ (@Petete_13) October 19, 2023

According to Reuters, Madrid metro lines 1, 5, and 7 remained closed for hours while regional trains and high-velocity lines suffered delays. Retiro Park was also closed due to strong winds, and record rain levels were recorded in 24 hours in the area. 

The news agency reported that the north of Spain on Friday was still on Orange alert, the second highest, due to strong gusts of wind. 

Separately, according to Spanish media outlet The Olive Press, Madrid and Galicia are among the worst-affected areas so far. Additionally, several residents in other regions were warned of potential flash flooding on Thursday. 

Also Read | Greta Thunberg's "Stand With Gaza" Post Draws Social Media Backlash

According to Euro Weekly News, the effects of Strom Aline even resulted in significant disruption at Malaga Airport. The majority of flights scheduled to land were postponed, and nearly 40 were rerouted. Some pilots even had to abort their landings while others didn't even attempt the procedure.

"You have to be very patient," air traffic controllers posted via their official X account, highlighting the challenging conditions at Malaga Airport. Diversions included airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, and Jerez de la Frontera, the outlet reported.
 

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Delhi Records Minimum Temperature Of 16.1 Degrees Celsius

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius on Friday, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The national capital's minimum temperature settled at 16.1 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the IMD said.

The relative humidity oscillated between 89 per cent and 45 per cent.

The IMD has predicted mainly clear skies for Saturday. The maximum and minimum temperatures in the city are likely to settle at 32 and 16 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 190 around 7 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. 

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Released 2 American Hostages On "Humanitarian Grounds": Hamas

Gaza's ruler Hamas said Friday its armed wing has released two American hostages, from around 200 captives abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7.

"In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons," Hamas said in a statement posted on Telegram.

The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released.

The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive.

"The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken... to the Gaza Strip," an army statement said.

The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60.

There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added.

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the country's 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.

Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 4,137 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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

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Anand Mahindra Shares US Salesperson's Reaction To India-Made iPhone 15

After Apple and Samsung, Google also announced its plan to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India with the latest model to be rolled out next year. Reacting to this news, industrialist Anand Mahindra shared an interesting story about his made-in-India iPhone. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the business tycoon expressed pride and excitement in owning a smartphone manufactured in our country. He also talked about the reaction of a salesman in the United States when he informed that his iPhone 15 was made in India. 

It all started with a post on X by a page called Indian Tech and Infra. "Google to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India, beginning with the latest model which will be rolled out in 2024," the caption of the post read. Mr Mahindra re-shared this post along with his story. 

"I recently was in a Verizon store in the U.S to get a local sim and proudly informed the salesperson that my iPhone 15 was made in India. It was a particular pleasure to see his raised eyebrows!" he wrote, adding, "I also have a Google Pixel. I will switch to the India-made version when it's out. So I'll be able to tell them my Pixel is made in India too... But there probably won't be any raised eyebrows at that time because by then, India will have been globally acknowledged as a manufacturing powerhouse". 

I recently was in a Verizon store in the U.S to get a local sim and proudly informed the salesperson that my iPhone 15 was made in India. It was a particular pleasure to see his raised eyebrows! I also have a Google Pixel. I will switch to the India-made version when it's out. So… https://t.co/QouFIOSu1M

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 20, 2023

The post was shared by Mr Mahindra just a few hours ago and since then it has accumulated more than 1.3 million views and over 21,000 likes. Internet users were quick to react. While some found Mr Mahindra's emotions relatable, others were simply impressed by Google's recent announcement. 

"That's an impressive moment to share! It's exciting to witness the rise of India as a manufacturing powerhouse, and the choice to support locally-made products is commendable," wrote one user. "That's a great story Sir! It's interesting how the origin of your phone can spark conversations and highlight the growing reputation of India in the global manufacturing industry. It's indeed impressive to see India's rise in this regard! said another. 

Also Read | Two WhatsApp Accounts on One Phone: Meta's New Solution for Users

"That's great to hear about your India-made iPhone and your future plans with the Google Pixel! India's growing role in global manufacturing is indeed impressive," commented a third user. "love this story! It's so exciting to see India becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, and I'm proud to know that Google is playing a role in that. I can't wait to switch to an India-made Pixel when it's out in 2024," added another. 

Meanwhile, Google on Thursday announced its plans to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India. This announcement makes Google the latest smartphone brand to start manufacturing its handsets in India. Rivals Samsung and Apple also assemble some of their smartphones in the country. 

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US Issues Global Caution Alert For Americans Amid Israel-Hamas War

The State Department on Thursday issued a rare "worldwide caution" advisory for US citizens everywhere, citing terrorism and potential for anti-American demonstrations.

The alert said US citizens should be aware of "increased tensions in various locations around the world."

This includes "potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests."

The war between Hamas in Gaza and US ally Israel has sent tensions surging in the Middle East.

The State Department urged Americans to "stay alert in locations frequented by tourists" and to enroll in a program known as STEP, which allows citizens to be located more quickly in case of emergency.

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

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Bengaluru Tenant Claims To Have Found A Flat In A Day, Internet Stunned

House hunting in metro cities can be a challenging task due to issues like soaring rent, broker negotiations, and extremely high-security deposit requests from landlords. Not only that, dealing with landlords and keeping up with their questions and demands is another headache for tenants. These days, landlords are putting extra pressure on tenants to share unnecessary details like LinkedIn profiles and school and college marks. Several Bengaluru residents are now taking to social media to share their rental problems in the IT hub.

However, in a welcome twist, a tenant claimed that he found an apartment in Bengaluru in just a day. According to a post originally posted on Grapevine, the tenant landed in the city on Thursday, roamed around with a broker in Koramangala on Friday, fixed the place on Saturday, and shifted to the new place on Sunday.

Grapevine founder Saumil Tripathi took to X and shared a screenshot of the post that has gone viral. ''Anti-@peakbengaluru moment,'' read the caption of the post.

See the tweet here:

Anti- @peakbengaluru moment 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/KBExJQnZM1

— Saumil (@OnTheGrapevine) October 18, 2023

Many were left pleasantly surprised, while some couldn't believe the claim. The post soon went viral and collected several comments. One user wrote, ''That's actually an anti-human moment Either okay with paying a lot of money or compromise for what's there.''

Another blamed layoffs for the empty flats and wrote, ''Due to layoffs many folks have gone home thus reducing demand for rent homes. In my previous occupancy alone, 6 people left in last 4 weeks.''

A third added, ''Aren't these symptoms of recession? (due to layoffs so many people are vacating the houses).''

A fourth said, ''Kamaal hai, when did this start happening in Bengaluru.''

One person on Grapevine wrote, ''Weird flex, but ok.'' 

Meanwhile, another peak Bengaluru moment went viral recently. Last week, a listing on No Broker baffled the internet where the owner demanded ₹ 12,000 for a cramped space that could fit just a single bed.

The capital of Karnataka is home to over 1.5 million workers, including those for global firms like Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Amazon.com Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and Accenture Inc. However, consecutive layoff drives by tech companies are stumbling the job market.

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Man Kidnapped By First Wife's Brother, 6 Others Near Delhi: Cops

A man was allegedly abducted by his first wife's brother and six others from his house here, police said Wednesday.

Vinay, Harsh, Rahul, Mahesh, Dharmendra, Narveer and Yogesh alias Yogi have been arrested in the case. Three vehicles, a licensed pistol of 32 bore, 19 live cartridges and a 315-bore country-made pistol were recovered from them, they said.

On October 11, Rajkumar's second wife lodged a complaint alleging that her husband was forcefully taken away by some goons in a car, police said.

During the investigation, three people were arrested from Punjab's Mohali and Rajkumar was rescued. Following this, four more accused were also arrested, they said.

Police spokesperson Sube Singh said the main accused Vinay revealed that her sister was married to Rajkumar and had two children.

Rajkumar's 4-acre land was acquired by the government and he got a lot of money for it and bought 8 acres of land and 2 plots with that money. Later, he moved out of his house and started living with another woman after having a court marriage with her, he said.

"Rajkumar also filed a protection petition against his first wife's family with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. To ensure that he does not get protection, Vinay along with associates, kidnapped Rajkumar," Sube Singh said. 

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Watch: Women Perform Unique Form Of 'Garba' On Bikes And Jeeps

As the nine-day Navratri festival has already begun, a video of women performing a unique form of 'garba' in Gujarat's Rajkot city has captured the attention of social media users. In the clip, several women are seen in traditional 'chaniya choli' attires, performing 'Talwar Ras' or sword-wielding on bikes, scooters, and jeeps. The unique garba event is said to have taken place on Tuesday, the third day of Navaratri, as per news agency ANI. 

The event was organised at the Rajvi Palace in Rajkot. Women entered the venue wielding swords and waving them in the air as they rode on Royal Enfield Bike and Land Rover. This was also followed by a couple of women riding Honda Activa scooters while their pillion riders stood on their seats, wielding swords. 

Watch the video below: 

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All the vehicles were decorated with garlands. At the end of the video, six more women were also seen on the Land Rover, wielding swords while the woman driver kept taking rounds on the ground. 

The video was initially shared by ANI on X (formerly Twitter). It has collectively accumulated more than 300,000 views. In the comments section, internet users praised the women for their performance. 

"This is women empowerment," wrote one user. "Absolutely love the bullet aspect of the video," said another. 

"Incredible & impressive," commented a third user. "Thats not just a motorcycle but god damn bullet 350 cc. Hats off," added another. 

Also Read | "Cinematic Experience": Breathtaking Pics Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium Stun Internet

Notably, Navratri is celebrated to welcome the arrival of Goddess Durga. Devotees, during the auspicious occasion, worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga and seek blessings for the well-being of their families. One of the main highlights of Navratri celebrations in the country is the traditional dance form 'Garba' which is a symbol of devotion and worship. 

Garba originated in Gujarat, and to celebrate the festival, people wear rich, traditional, and colourful attire. Women wear 'Chaniya choli', a colourful three-piece dress, which consists of a blouse, skirt, and dupatta. They also wear heavy jewellery -earrings, bangles, necklaces etc. Men wear kafni pyjamas with a Ghagra - a short round kurta - above the knees and a pagadi on the head.

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