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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Opinion: The Long, Agonising Adoption Process In India

There are three crore orphaned children in India, but only 3,500 to 4,000 children are available for adoption in a year and some 30,000 prospective parents have to wait for three years to bring home a child.

Taking note of this discrepancy, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud observed recently: "Why are they (Central Adoption Resource Authority) stalling adoptions? Why is CARA not doing it? Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption in the hope of a better life." The remarks were made when the Supreme Court was hearing two petitions flagging gaps that were delaying adoptions and making the entire process a sham. The practical difficulties of adoption were also highlighted in the court, with one of the judges bringing out the humane and human aspect and cost to the society.

CARA, a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, functions as the central body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA primarily deals with the adoption of "orphan, abandoned and surrendered" children through its associated and recognised adoption agencies.

Due to red tape and lack of transparency, several thousand children are being deprived of home and the love of parents. With each month's delay, the children grow and age, and their chances of adoptability and adaptability diminishes. The prospective parents, too, lose their precious years doing cumbersome and complicated paperwork. Their financial condition suffers as they scout and wait their turn and are made to visit different adoption centres in the country.

The conditions of the shelter homes where these children are placed are also not hygienic, with funds and staff both short.

Deepak Sharma, Trustee, Udayan Care, an NGO for Child Rights, says there is no dearth of funds for his organisation but some shelters in India face financial challenges due to their location and the resources available. "Funding comes from a combination of sources. There is government funding in Mission Vatsalya for funding institutions, mostly funds come from donations from individuals, corporations, and other charitable entities or even from international organisations and foundations or corporate social responsibility," Mr Sharma explains.

In India, adoptions are governed by two laws - the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015. Both laws have their separate eligibility criteria for adoptive parents. Those applying under the Juvenile Justice Act need to register on CARA's portal, after which a specialised adoption agency carries out a home study report. When it finds the candidate eligible for adoption, a child declared legally free for adoption is referred to the applicant.

Under HAMA, a court order, 'dattaka hom' ceremony or an adoption deed is sufficient to obtain irrevocable adoption rights. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are legalised to adopt kids under HAMA.

CARA carries out the tedious process to safeguard adoptive children from abuse at the hands of adoptive parents.

The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) 2021, in order to amend the JJ Act, 2015. The crucial changes include authorising District Magistrates (DMs) and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word 'court'. These changes were carried out "in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability," per the government statement.

However, the very purpose of these amendments has not been met as no time limit has been set up for the transfer of all pending adoption cases before the courts to the District Magistrates, which may end up in longer delays. Moreover, prospective parents are also not clear about the legality of an executive order on the adopted child's entitlements on succession and inheritance rights.

In August 2022, a parliamentary standing committee had expressed serious concerns over the decline in the number of children coming to adoption agencies over the years, saying it pointed to trafficking or a thriving illegal child adoption market. It's a fact that many unregistered adoption agencies are flourishing in the country; illegal and unregulated adoptions are being carried out. Some are involved in child trafficking or exploiting vulnerable children and their biological and adoptive parents.

Typically, there is a shorter queue for older children, children with special needs, or sometimes, even children from some regions. CARA has even introduced a new category of "Children for Immediate Placement" where the wait time may be considerably less.

Mr Sharma says generally, there is a demand for newborn and younger children, particularly infants and toddlers, in the adoption process. "Many adoptive parents prefer younger children as they desire to experience the early stages of a child's development and form strong bonds from the start. But now CARA is advocating for adoption of older children also," he adds.

A young single woman (name withheld) in Bengaluru has been in the queue for adoption for three years. She has completed all the paperwork, but her wait has been stretched by the adoption agency, where she is registered. She thinks that her adoption agency is giving preference to candidates who are better off than her financially. "My waiting time has been constantly increased without any reason. The counsellors are also of little help. Except for guiding us about the papers and forms to be filled, they have hardly been of any assistance in understanding the process or how it works," she says.

There is an urgent need to streamline the adoption process, simplify paperwork, transparency, and reduce the time limit, to the benefit of both the child and the adoptive parents. Loopholes, doubts, and ambiguities in current legislation must be plugged. Unless this happens, thousands of children will languish in shelter homes bereft of love, care and education.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The researchers enjoyed an unobstructed view of the star.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Opinion: What Higher Voter Turnout Could Mean For Rajasthan

The marginally high voter turnout in the Rajasthan assembly election is being claimed as a victory by both the BJP and the ruling Congress. While the BJP believes it's a sign of change, the Congress considers it popular support for its welfare schemes. The final voting percentage for 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan stood at 75.45 per cent (including postal ballots). The highest polling was recorded at Jaisalmer's Pokhran with an 88.23 per cent turnout and the lowest in the Ahore assembly seat at 61.24 per cent. More women (74.72 per cent) voted than men (74.53 per cent) this time. Rajasthan voted on November 25. The results on December 3 will decide whether the Congress retains power, defying the state's tradition of voting out the incumbent, or the BJP topples the Ashok Gehlot government. 

In the last assembly election in 2018, Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 74.72 per cent (including postal ballots). This year's voting is 0.73 per cent more than the last time. This trend of increasing voter turnout in assembly elections was also witnessed in other states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram, where elections were held at the same time.

In Rajasthan, the main fight is between the BJP and the ruling Congress. The BJP contested on all seats while the Congress left one seat - Bharatpur - for its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). In 2018 too, the Congress had set aside this seat for the RLD. Other parties in the contest are the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), CPI (M), Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and AlMIM. These parties may manage to win a few seats.

K Subrahmanya, a political analyst and journalist who has reported on Rajasthan elections in the past, cautions against reading too much into the higher turnout. "This largely static turnout figure may be suggestive of a kind of competitive mobilisation by rival contenders for power. The polling figure neither suggests a decisive anti-incumbency vote nor a pro-incumbent vote. Probably, it signals a much closer fight. The gap between the winner and the loser could be relatively narrow," says Mr Subrahmanya.

The election campaign revolved around appeasement politics, corruption, welfare schemes of the state and Centre, women's safety, and the demand for a caste census. Both the Congress and the BJP were plagued by rebels even though most sitting MLAs were renominated. In about 31 seats, rebels from both parties were instrumental in turning the contest into a triangular one.

What does it mean for political parties?

The Congress is relying on the support of its traditional social base - the minority, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Mali, and the Meena communities - and the party sees the higher turnout as proof of support from these communities. Both the BJP and the Congress claim the support of the Mali community, which voted for the Congress in 2018.

For the Congress, there may not be any anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but it is a different story for its sitting MLAs. The party has fielded as many as 97 sitting MLAs, which may backfire.

People came in large numbers to vote in districts of northern Rajasthan like Jhunjhunu and Churu, Sikar, and Nagaur, which are Jat-dominated areas.

The Congress claims its share of Jat votes, based on farmer welfare measures like loan waivers and electricity subsidies by the Gehlot government.

Akhil Chaudhary, a Rajasthan-based lawyer and a member of the Congress, attributes the higher voter turnout to the popularity of pro-social security schemes of the government. "Rajasthan was the first state to bring a separate budget for the farming community. The seven guarantees promised in the manifesto have appealed to voters. One of the guarantees was a pension scheme of Rs 10,000 to the woman head in the family. This time too, like 2018, female voters were more than male voters," says Mr Chaudhary.

In the absence of any chief ministerial face, the BJP chose to fight the elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party leadership seemed to tell the voters to trust the symbol and allow the party's democratic process to identify the chief ministerial candidate. During the last days of campaigning, veteran leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was seen in meetings because the party's top brass realised she was still a force to reckon with. But the message is clear. The party is seeking new leadership and Ms Raje is out of favour.

There are many chief ministerial aspirants, including Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, who is fighting from Vallabhnagar in Jaipur district. Alwar MP Mahant Balaknath Yogi - the 'Adityanath Yogi' of Rajasthan - was asked to contest from Tijara. Some union ministers from Rajasthan are also in the race for the top job if the BJP comes to power. Not naming a presumptive chief minister could go either way for the BJP.

A higher turnout of voters has been reported in eastern Rajasthan, which has a considerable presence of the Gurjar community. The community may have voted for the BJP in large numbers as they were upset with the Congress over the perceived diminished status of their leader Sachin Pilot. The Gurjar and Meena belt of eastern Rajasthan had voted for the Congress in 2018.

"On the ground closer to the polling were three factors - a high degree of the consolidation of their respective social/caste coalitions behind the Congress and the BJP; unpopularity of quite a significant number of sitting Congress MLAs who are in the race; and enthusiasm amongst sections of the voters for Gehlot's poll-oriented freebies to the voters," says Mr Subrahmanya.

Experts also say smaller parties like Rashtriya Loktantrik Party of Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, Mayawati's BSP, Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Jannayak Janata Party and Azad Samaj Party of Chandrashekhar Azad may influence the voting pattern in at least 30 constituencies.

In this closely fought election in Rajasthan, predicting a clear winner is tricky as both the Congress and the BJP are evenly positioned and the smaller parties may end up playing a larger role in the government formation.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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Box Office: Keeping Up With Salman Khan's Tiger 3

Tiger 3 minted ₹ 2.60 crore (all languages) on day 16 at the domestic box office, as per a Sacnilk report. The total collection of the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif film stands at ₹ 273.8 crore. Tiger 3, directed by Maneesh Sharma, witnessed a jump in its collection figures for day 15. The film made ₹ 6.75 crore, the report added. The third instalment of the Tiger franchise opened to theatres on November 12 (Diwali day). In the spy-thriller, Salman and Katrina reprise their roles as Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger and Zoya. Emraan Hashmi is also part of the project. 
 

Tiger 3 has become “the highest-grossing Diwali release in the history of the Indian cinemas.” The film has collected ₹ 447 crore (worldwide). The makers, Yash Raj Films, have announced the super hit news on Instagram. Along with the poster, the makers wrote, “Catch the high-octane action unfolding in cinemas now. Watch Tiger 3 at your nearest big screen in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu. Book your tickets.”

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After Tiger 3's worldwide success, Katrina Kaif expressed her gratitude towards fans. In a conversation with news agency ANI, the actress said, “The Tiger franchise has only given me love since 2012! So, it is an amazing feeling to have received so much warmth for over a decade now. Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and now Tiger 3 are films that have been a part of my cinematic journey and growth as an artist and it's something that I cherish greatly.”

Katrina added that each instalment of the Tiger franchise has challenged her “physically and mentally.”

Tiger 3 also saw Shah Rukh Khan aka Pathaan. The actor featured in a cameo appearance. Speaking about the experience, Salman Khan said, “Our off-screen chemistry is better than our on-screen chemistry. When the on-screen chemistry is so good, you can understand the off-screen chemistry.”

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"Exceeded Expectation": Rescue Op Chief On Uttarakhand "Rat Miners"

The rat miners who made the breakthrough in Uttarakhand, digging the last 12-metre stretch in less than 24 hours, had "beaten expectations," said Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority).

"I thought they would progress at the rate of two to three meters in 18/20 hours. But they managed to do 10 meters in less than 18 hours," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The workers, he said, took impediments in stride and managed to deliver fast, working under conditions that were "extremely cramped".

"Rat miners" -- labourers used to drilling narrow shafts as part of a primitive and currently illegal method of coal extraction -- had to manually dig the rocks over a 12-metre last stretch that proved too tough for an American Augur drill and several other devices.

Showering praise on the workers, the Lt General pointed to their "nonchalance", which, he said, stemmed from "years of experience" and compared them to battle-hardened soldiers.

"The confidence that was being exuded by them. Yesterday on television they were speaking, showing a nonchalant kind of attitude as if this hardly mattered. They were willing to go in with anything. No special tools as such," he said.

Asked how the rat miners were roped in for the job, the officer said the suggestion probably came from an open source and "someone took it seriously".

The 41 labourers had been trapped in the tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway since a landslide early in the morning of November 12. Multiple efforts to rescue them drew a blank. Lastly the authorities resorted to manual digging from two sides and blasting a hole in the tunnel from its other end.

The 4.5-km tunnel will join Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi and is part of the Chardham project. Once finished, it is expected to cut down the distance between the two spots by 26 km.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rishi Sunak Refers To His Punjabi Heritage In Gurpurab Message For Sikhs

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday referenced his Punjabi Indian heritage in a message from 10 Downing Street on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.

The 43-year-old leader was born in the UK to a Hindu Punjabi family who had migrated from East Africa, with his grandparents' roots tracing back to Ludhiana and pre-Partition Gujranwala, in modern-day Pakistan. In his greetings, he also hailed the immense contribution made by British Sikhs to the UK as a "source of pride and inspiration".

"It gives me great pleasure to wish Sikhs across the UK, in India and across the world, a Happy Gurpurab," said Rishi Sunak.

"Today we celebrate the 554th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion. As somebody of Punjabi Indian heritage, this day is especially dear to me," he said.

"This joyous occasion is an opportunity to once again recognise the immense contribution of the Sikh community to our country. You are a source of pride and inspiration to us all. Waheguru Ji Ki Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh," he added.

Southampton-born Rishi Sunak, Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage, has often spoken of his familial roots in the Indian subcontinent. His father, general practitioner Yashvir, was born in Kenya and his pharmacist mother was born in Tanzania before their families migrated to the UK.

"Sixty years after my Naniji boarded a plane in East Africa, on a warm sunny evening in October, her great-granddaughters, my kids, played in the street outside our home, painted rangoli on the doorstep, lit sparklers and diyas; had fun like so many other families on Diwali. Except the street was Downing Street, and the door was the door to No. 11," said Mr Sunak, with reference to being the UK's first Indian-origin Chancellor at No. 11 Downing Street back in 2020.

More recently, Rishi Sunak and his Indian wife, Akshata Murty, hosted a special Diwali reception last month and Downing Street was again lit up and decorated for the festival of lights - at No. 10, the prime ministerial residence-office.

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

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Mumbai Indians Squad: List Of Players Retained, Released And Traded

Mumbai Indians announced their list of retained and released players on Sunday. While Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David and Jasprit Bumrah were among the star players that were retained by the side, the likes of Jofra Archer, Tristan Stubbs and Chris Jordan were released by them. It is interesting to note that Mumbai traded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore while they roped in Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans.

Mumbai Indians had earlier traded West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd from Lucknow Super Giants. IPL had released a media advisory to announce Shepherd's trade for a fee of Rs 50 lakh which read, "Romario Shepherd has been traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window ahead of the IPL 2024. Shepherd, who has played 4 IPL matches, representing LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad, was traded to MI for his existing fee of INR 50 Lakh."

It is worth noting that Mumbai Indians during mid-November officially appointed former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga as their bowling coach, promptly filling the void left by the departure of Shane Bond. The 40-year-old Malinga, who played for the five-time champions in his prime, will join the coaching team led by Mark Boucher and his former teammate Kieron Pollard ahead of the upcoming season.

Mumbai Indians' Retained Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd (traded from LSG), Hardik Pandya (traded from GT).

Players Released By Mumbai Indians: Mohd. Arshad Khan, Ramandeep Singh, Hrithik Shokeen, Raghav Goyal, Jofra Archer, Tristan Stubbs, Duan Jansen, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Chris Jordan, Sandeep Warrier, Cameron Green (traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"You Have Violated...": Poll Body Issues Notice To Telangana Minister KTR

The Election Commission on Saturday issued a notice to ruling BRS working president and IT Minister K T Rama Rao for allegedly visiting a government institution here and using the platform for political activities and sought a reply from him by Sunday afternoon.

The EC in its notice said it had received a complaint from Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, wherein it was alleged that Rama Rao, a star campaigner for BRS visited the office of 'T-works' and interacted with a large number of youth employed in the office on November 20.

The Commission obtained a factual report on the matter from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Referring to the provisions of MCC that the ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel, the Commission in its notice observed that, Rama Rao, is not only a contesting candidate in the upcoming assembly election but also a start campaigner of the BRS.

"Whereas, the Commission is, prima facie, held that that by visiting to a Government Institution and using the platform of T-works for political activities and combining your official visit with political/private visit, you have violated the instruction of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)," the Commission said in its notice.

The Commission asked Rama Rao to explain his stand in respect of the visit and use of a Government Institute for political purposes by 3 PM on November 26.

In the event of no response from Rama Rao's side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that he had nothing to say in the matter and that the EC will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Indian Medicines For 4 Rare Diseases Cut Treatment Cost By Nearly 100 Times

Aided by government agencies, Indian drug companies have, in just one year, managed to develop medicines for four rare diseases that cut down their cost of treatment by as much as 100 times. Most of these diseases are genetic and many of the patients are children. 

The treatment for Tyrosinemia type 1, for instance, which used to require an annual expenditure of Rs 2.2 crore to Rs 6.5 crore, now costs Rs 2.5 lakh for the same duration. If untreated, a child dies of the disease by the age of 10. The drug for treating the disease is called Nitisinone.

The three other rare diseases are Gaucher's Disease, which results in liver or spleen enlargement, bone pain and fatigue; Wilson's Disease, which causes a copper deposit in the liver and psychiatric symptoms; and Dravet/ Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, which causes complex seizure syndromes.

The cost for Gaucher's disease, with Eliglustat capsules, has been brought down from Rs 1.8-3.6 crore per year to Rs 3.6 lakh, for Wilson's Disease, with Trientine capsules, from Rs 2.2 crore to Rs 2.2 lakh per year, and for Dravet, with Cannabidiol oral solution, from Rs 7-34 lakh per year to Rs 1-5 lakh.

India has between 8.4 crore and 10 crore patients who suffer from rare diseases. Nearly 80% of these diseases are genetic, which means that symptoms are seen, and require treatment, at an early age. 

A year ago, the companies, which include Biophore India Pvt. Ltd. (Zenara Pharma), Laurus Labs Ltd, MSN Pharmaceuticals and Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, began working on medicines for 13 types of rare diseases. Medicines for the four diseases have been developed and those for the others are expected soon, said an official, adding that there is a plan to deliver medicines to Jan Aushadhi Centres as well. 

Some of the other diseases for which cheaper medicines are being developed are Phenylketonuria and Hyperammonemia. 

Work is also on to reduce the cost of the one-time treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the injection for which costs Rs 16 crore. 

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Twice In 2 Days: Drilling Stops In Tunnel After Machine Hits Metal Object

In the second such setback in two days, drilling at the Uttarakhand tunnel where 41 labourers are trapped had to be stopped on Friday evening after the auger machine encountered a metallic object. The blades of the machine had hit a pipe on Thursday evening and drilling had resumed after 24 hours, only to be stopped again.

Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, senior officials had said only 10-12 metres of drilling was left for the rescuers to reach the trapped construction workers and that ground penetrating radar had revealed that there were likely to be no major metal obstacles for the next five metres.

"They (a team of ground penetrating experts) could not say this with 100% accuracy but what they are expecting is that there is no continuous metal object, like girders, pipes and metal plates, in the next 5.4 metres. They have pointed out some other hurdles, but this is good news," Uttarakhand Secretary Neeraj Khairwal, who is the nodal officer for the rescue operation, had said.

Officials said that, with the drill stopped, efforts are being made to manually inch closer to the trapped workers but the rescue is unlikely on Friday night.

"The auger machine has encountered some difficulty again and that's why it's being dismantled. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to get to the trapped workers manually. We are analysing the debris and trying to figure this out," said an official.

'Workers Okay'

Officials said the workers are mentally stable and physically fit despite being trapped for 13 days.

"They are adequately clothed and when we speak to them, they say they will walk out on their own. That's the kind of mental strength they have," an official. He added that the labourers are also speaking to their families and one of the workers, who has been in such a situation before, has been helping his colleagues keep their morale high.

"The labourers are being given cut fruits, hot chapatis, daal and sabzi. These are being pushed through pipes in bottles," the official said.

The under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, a national infrastructure initiative to enhance connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The labourers got trapped when a portion of the tunnel had collapsed on November 12.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Why Was Rinku Singh's Last-Ball Six vs Australia Not Counted - Explained

India started the T20I series against Australia in some style as they notched a two-wicket win on Thursday. There was no shortage of thrill in the match. Courtesy Josh Inglis' 110, Australia notched a huge total of 208/3 in 20 overs. In reply, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan hit half-centuries as India cruised towards the target. However, both got out and it was left to Rinku Singh to take India over the line as India needed seven runs off six balls. 

More drama ensued as India lost the wickets of Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the last over by Sean Abbott to go eight down. With India needing one off one ball, Rinku Singh hit a huge six to take India to win. However, the six was not counted and there was confusion over India's final score. The umpires then adjudged the delivery as no-ball. Since it was a no-ball, and India had got the required one run and had already won by its courtesy. Hence, the six was not counted. India ended on 209/8 in 19.5 overs.

Half-centuries by Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan helped India secure a two-wicket win over Australia in the first T20I of a five-match series at Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

This is India's highest T20I run-chase, outdoing chase of 208 against West Indies back in 2019.

India is 1-0 up in the series.

In the chase of 209, India started off well with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a four and six in the first over, but a miscommunication with Ruturaj Gaikwad ran out the latter for zero. India was 11/1 in 0.5 overs.

Jaiswal looked to up the attack in the next over, but Matthew Short got his first T20I wicket, removing Jaiswal for 21 off 8 balls, with two fours and two sixes. India was 22/2 in 2.3 overs.

Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper were the fresh pair. After a brief lull, they both started hitting shots. Pacer Sean Abbott went for 20 runs in the fifth over and was hit for a four and two sixes.

India reached the 50-run mark in 4.5 overs.

At the end of the powerplay, India was 63/2, with Suryakumar (26*) and Ishan (14*) unbeaten.

The ninth over pulled India back in the game big time, with young spinner Tanveer Sangha hit for two sixes and a four by Ishan. India reached the 100-run mark in 9.1 overs.

Halfway through the innings, India was 106/2, with Suryakumar (39*) and Suryakumar (40*) unbeaten.

Ishan reached his half-century, his fourth in T20Is in just 37 balls, with two fours and four sixes. The left-hander attempted to punish Sangha with a four and six. However, a third attempt to clear the ropes was caught by Short. Ishan walked back for 58 off 39 balls, with two fours and five sixes. India was 134/3 in 12.3 overs.

India reached the 150-run mark in 14.2 overs.

Tilak played some good shots but lost his wicket to Sangha after being caught by Stoinis at extra cover for 12. India was 154/4 in 14.5 overs.

A knuckle ball was delivered by Jason Behrendorff and Suryakumar skied it, got caught by Aaron Hardie. Surya went back for 80 off 42 balls, with nine fours and four sixes. India was 194/5 in 17.4 overs.

India reached the 200-run mark in 18.5 overs with the help of a four from Rinku Singh.

With ANI inputs

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UK Museum Recognises Roman Emperor As Trans Woman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Another Pandemic? Mystery Pneumonia Sweeps Through Chinese Schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watching this one closely...

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

— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) November 22, 2023

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

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

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Another Pandemic? Mystery Pneumonia Sweeps Through Chinese Schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watching this one closely...

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

— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) November 22, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hamas Could Free 50 Hostages In 4-5 Days In Deal With Israel: Report

The Israeli Cabinet will meet at 8 pm (Israeli local time) on Tuesday to approve a deal for the release of dozens of hostages from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Some 50 children, mothers, and other women are reported to be freed by Hamas over 4-5 days, the report stated.

Further, according to Israeli media, the agreement is focused on Israeli hostages, mainly women and children, with talks on releasing foreign hostages not currently on the table.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated in a release, "In light of developments on the issue of the release of our hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will, this evening, convene the War Cabinet at 18:00, the Security Cabinet at 19:00, and the Government at 20:00."

Hamas and other terror factions in Gaza abducted some 240 people from Israel during the October 7 attacks, including about 40 children, elderly people and dozens of Thai and Nepali nationals.

The hostage deal will include the release of some 150 to 300 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, among them female and minor prisoners, The Times of Israel reported citing Channel 12.

Channel 12 stated further that the hostage releases could begin on Thursday or Friday. The report says the ceasefire could be extended to allow the release of more hostages following the initial 50 or so.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his country will need to make "difficult decisions" with regard to the hostages held by the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip.

"We are moving step by step towards the total defeat of Hamas and getting closer to bringing the hostages home," Gallant said following an assessment with military officials at the Gaza Division base in southern Israel.

"I think we will all have to make difficult, important decisions in the coming days," he says. "There is not a moment throughout this campaign--45 days--that I don't think about the hostages," Gallant added.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Tuesday morning posted a video on X, depicting the reasons behind Hamas supposedly using the Shifa Hospital as a place to hold hostages.

Along with the shared video was a text that read, "This is WHY Hamas brought hostages to the Shifa Hospital after the October 7 massacre. Why is Hamas still holding over 200 civilians hostage 44 days later?"
The military wing of the state of Israel declared, "This is the question the world should be asking."

On October 7, Hamas conducted an offensive operation into Israel, reportedly rebelling against the Israeli regime. In the process, the group took over 200 people hostage, transporting them into the Gaza Strip.

In the video, the IDF stated, "Thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, amidst their massacre, they abducted over 200 innocent people and brought them into Gaza by brute force."

On World Children's Day, Israel shared pictures of children held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, stressing that there are more than 30 children, including babies and toddlers.

They further urged the international community to take action to bring them home.

"While your children are at school, there are currently more than 30 Israeli babies, toddlers and children being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. On #WorldChildrensDay we demand action from the international community. BRING OUR CHILDREN HOME!," Israel shared the post on X.

In another post, they shared the images of these children and emphasised that these children should be with their families and not in a dark room in Gaza.

"Look at each and every one of their faces. These are the babies, toddlers and children being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. They should be with their families. Not in a dark room somewhere in Gaza. BRING THEM HOME!" the post read.

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

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