"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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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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"Discrimination In Sacrifice An Insult": Rahul Gandhi Slams Agnipath Scheme

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pointed out differences in the terms of benefits given to the families of Agniveers and those of regular jawans killed in the line of duty and said, "Discrimination in the sacrifice of martyrs is an insult to them."

Rahul Gandhi, who has been critical of the Agnipath scheme, shared a chart on X showing lesser benefits for the families of Agniveers compared to those of regular soldiers after their death in the line of duty.

"Discrimination in the sacrifice of martyrs is an insult to them," Rahul Gandhi said.

"The blood of every martyr should have the same value," he asserted.

Earlier this week, Mr Gandhi alleged that the Agnipath scheme was devised to "insult" India's soldiers as no pension or other benefits are given to the families of Agniveers after their death in the line of duty. The BJP refuted the charge.

The Congress leader shared a picture of Agniveer Gavate Akshay Laxman and said the news of his death in Siachen was saddening.

"My deepest condolences to his family. A young man was martyred for the country - no gratuity, no other military facilities for his service, and no pension to his family in martyrdom.

"Agniveer is a plan to insult the heroes of India," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

Agniveer Gavate Akshay Laxman died in the line of duty in Siachen in the early hours of last Saturday.

The Agnipath scheme was introduced in 2022 for short-term contractual recruitment, extending to a maximum of four years, of soldiers in the tri-services - the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

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"Sold Country's Security For A Few Bucks?" BJP MP's Jab At Mahua Moitra

In a strong claim against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is facing a Lok Sabha Ethics Committee investigation on the cash-for-query allegations, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has said that she violated an agreement every Member of Parliament has with the National Informatics Centre by allegedly sharing the e-mail ID and password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani. 

The BJP MP also wondered whether Ms Moitra had read the agreement or had sold the country's security for a few bucks. 

Mr Dubey had sent the complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker alleging that Ms Moitra "took bribes to ask questions" in parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His complaint was referred to the Ethics Committee.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, Mr Dubey wrote in Hindi, "When any MP gets the Parliament mail ID or member portal, we make an agreement with NIC, the very first point of which is that this mail ID and password will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone. I signed this agreement after thinking carefully. Did the degree holder study or not or did she sell the country's security for a few bucks?"

Ms Moitra has, in the past, alleged that Mr Dubey holds fake degrees.

जब संसद का mail id या member portal किसी सांसद को मिलता है तो हम NIC के साथ एक करार करते हैं,जिसका पहला ही बिंदु यह है कि इस mail id,password को गोपनीय रखा जाएगा किसी के साथ साझा नहीं किया जाएगा । मैंने तो सोच समझकर इस करार पर हस्ताक्षर किया । डिग्री वाली ने पढ़ा कि नहीं या चंद…

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) October 27, 2023

The Ethics Committee has written to the Union Information Technology Ministry and the Ministry for Home Affairs for details of the Trinamool MP's logins and locations to verify allegations that she allowed Mr Hiranandani to access her parliamentary login.

Earlier in the day, the Trinamool MP posted a letter on X stating that she will not appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on October 31 because she has prior commitments. 

Ms Moitra also pointed out that few details were available on the gifts Mr Hiranandani had allegedly given her and said she should be allowed to cross-examine him. 

"His affidavit, available in the public domain, is extremely scant on detail and provides no actual inventory of what he has allegedly given me. Given the seriousness of the allegations and in keeping with the principles of natural justice, it is imperative that I am allowed to exercise my right to cross-examine Shri Hiranandani," she said.

In an affidavit, Mr Hiranandani had claimed that Ms Moitra had given him her parliament login ID to frame questions on the Adani Group, which she felt was the "only way" to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also claimed that she had made demands for "various favours" and he had gifted her expensive luxury items. 

After the first hearing on Thursday, sources had told NDTV that the Ethics Committee had agreed that the allegations against Ms Moitra were "very serious".

The Trinamool MP has denied the allegations. 

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MAMI Film Festival 2023: Sonam Kapoor Grabs Eyeballs With Her Black Outfit

Sonam Kapoor, the true-blue fashionista of Bollywood, amped up the glamour quotient of the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023 with her black structured outfit. Sonam completed her look with ruby lips, pearl accessories. Sonam's black outfit had an elaborate pearl decoration at the bottom which added an edge to her look. Sonam Kapoor kept her hair tied in a bun. The actor greeted the paparazzi with her bright smile on the red carpet. Sonam Kapoor is the brand ambassador for the options market 'Word To Screen' at the festival, reported ANI. Take a look at the pictures here:

Sonam Kapoor recently shifted to a new house in Mumbai. She shared a bunch of images from her new abode. "We moved into our new house this week," wrote Sonam Kapoor. She added, "Our hearts are filled with joy and hope and we can't wait to make new memories here." In the comments section of Sonam's post, Esha Gupta wrote, "Stunning you.. Congratulation." Karisma Kapoor commented, "Congratulations darling." Sonam's dad and veteran actor Anil Kapoor dropped heart emojis. Sonam's brother-in-law Karan Boolani also dropped heart emojis. Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja also have a house in Delhi and in London's Notting Hill. Take a look at the post here:

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Sonam Kapoor married entrepreneur Anand Ahuja in May 2018 in Mumbai. Anand Ahuja runs the fashion label Bhane and the sneaker boutique VegNonVeg. The couple welcomed a son in August last year and they named him Vayu. Here are some photos from Vayu's first birthday celebrations at Sonam and Anand's Delhi home. Take a look:

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In terms of work, Sonam Kapoor was last seen in Shome Makhija's film Blind earlier this year.

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

In a rather bizarre incident, Amazon allowed a user on its e-commerce site to sell bottles of its drivers' urine that were marketed as an energy drink, according to a Channel 4 documentary. In the documentary, titled "The Great Amazon Heist", filmmaker and past prankster Oobah Butler claimed that he collected discarded bottles of Amazon drivers' urine to sell on the e-commerce platform and titled it 'Release'. He stated that the drink emerged as the top-selling in the "Bitter Lemon" category of Amazon, and revealed that the product was made from bottles or urine that he found discarded near Amazon fulfillment centers.

In his documentary, which aired on Thursday, Mr Butler said that he collected the discarded bottles of urine from the Amazon delivery drivers, and then repackaged them and marketed them as a yellow-coloured drink, the Telegraph reported. Separately, speaking to WIRED, he said that it was "surprisingly easy" to get the product listed on the site. He even claimed that Amazon's algorithm moved the bizarre product into its drinks category on the site after he had put it in the "Refillable Pump Dispense" category. 

Mr Butler got some of his friends to purchase the product and felt "initially really excited and found it very funny". However, he added that when real people started trying to buy the product, he felt a bit "scared". Mr Butler reportedly claimed that he never sold the item to any real customers. 

Also read | NASA Unable To Remove Remaining Asteroid Sample From Container, Working On New Ways

Mr Butler said that he decided to make the documentary and list the bottles on Amazon to help shed some light on the company's impact on society, which includes its workers who stated that they were forced to urinate in bottles so that they could meet strict deadlines. He even spoke to some workers who said that they would be urinating in bottles to meet delivery deadlines on the e-commerce site. 

However, reacting to the story of "Release" being sold on the e-commerce site, Amazon said that a distorted picture of their process has been shown to the world. According to Vice, an Amazon spokesperson said that it was a "crude stunt" and that the company has "industry-leading tools to prevent genuinely unsafe products being listed". No "genuine customer" brought the product, they added. 

"Safety is a top priority for Amazon and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations," stated the spokesperson.

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A Video Of Parineeti Chopra Dancing With Priyanka's Mom Madhu Chopra Is Now Viral. Watch

Actor Parineeti Chopra and AAP leader Raghav Chadha had an intimate destination wedding in the presence of close friends and family members in Udaipur, Rajasthan last month. They also hosted a reception for them there. The couple hosted their haldi, sangeet and mehendi ceremony there as well. Speaking of a Sufi night ceremony hosted in Delhi before the wedding, a video of Parineeti Chopra dancing with her aunt (and cousin Priyanka Chopra's mother) Madhu Chopra is going viral on the Internet. The video has been shared by several fan pages dedicated to Parineeti.

Check out the video here:

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A post shared by ParineetiDestiny (@parineetidestiny)

Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra wished Parineeti Chopra on her birthday, on Sunday, by posting this image and she wrote, "Happiest birthday Tisha. Hope you are surrounded by so much love and joy today and always."

Parineeti Chopra's wedding gift for husband Raghav Chadha was a special song called O Piya that she had sung and recorded for him. Sharing the video, Parineeti wrote, "To my husband...The most important song I've ever sung...walking towards you, hiding from the baraat, singing these words... what do I even say .. O piya, chal chalein aa. So grateful for everyone who helped make this song come alive."

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After the wedding, Parineeti Chopra shared an extensive thank you note. It read "Raghav and I wanted to take a moment to say Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. We are bursting with gratitude for the outpour of love and warm wishes. While we may not have had the chance to respond to each and every message personally (life's been a whirlwind, as you can imagine). Please know that we've been reading everything with joy in our hearts. As we embark on this beautiful journey together, it means the world to us knowing that you're all standing by our side. Your love and blessings are truly priceless and we couldn't have been more thankful. Love, Parineeti and Raghav."

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Displaying An Egg, DMK Launches Signature Campaign To Abolish NEET

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Saturday launched a campaign to obtain 50 lakh signatures in 50 days seeking to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Chief Minister MK Stalin was the first to endorse the campaign, taken up by the party's youth, students, and medical wings, with his signature and casting a postal ballot.

His son and Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who launched the initiative at Kalaivanar Arangam here, said the DMK has been striving to abolish the screening test, which has been claiming the lives of innocent students.

Displaying an egg (muttai) that in local parlance refers to zero with the letters NEET inscribed on it, Udhayanidhi ridiculed the Centre for reducing the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG to zero.

"This showed that those who don't qualify for the NEET-PG can secure admission by paying money," he alleged.

He called upon the political parties, especially the opposition AIADMK to put up a joint crusade against NEET.

Responding sharply to the invite, AIADMK Organising Secretary D Jayakumar lashed out at the DMK for deceiving the people on the issue.

"Now, finally the DMK has let out its secret on how to abolish the NEET in the country," he said and added that so long as people remained gullible, the tricksters would take advantage of them.

He quoted a song from late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran's film, which means how long will these people cheat.

"The Chief Minister had said that he would abolish NEET by a single signature. Now the people, particularly the students, are wondering if the Chief Minister and his son have forgotten to put one signature to ban NEET," Mr Jayakumar said, ridiculing the signature campaign.

At least now the DMK should stop enacting political drama on the issue and apologise to the people for its inability, he said in a statement here. It should also give up playing with the lives of the students, the former state minister said.

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Why Was Ex-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif In Self-Imposed Exile For 4 Years

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Islamabad on Saturday, ending his four-year self-imposed exile. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was living away in the UK following his conviction in corruption cases in 2017. The three-time Prime Minister returns home after being granted protective bail in the graft cases and the suspension of his arrest warrant by the accountability court.

The conviction in corruption cases had also led to his lifetime disqualification from politics. After serving less than a year of a seven-year sentence, he was allowed to seek medical treatment in the UK. He ignored subsequent court orders to return during former Prime Minister Imran Khan's rule.

Much like in the past, his political fortunes changed when his brother Shehbaz Sharif came to power. The new Pakistan government made amendments to the law, reducing the disqualification of lawmakers from contesting elections to five years.

Mr Sharif was in Dubai and left for Pakistan on a chartered flight with journalists. After his touchdown in Islamabad, Mr Sharif will make his way to Lahore, where his supporters are planning a welcome home rally for him.  

#WATCH | Supporters of Former PM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif gather at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore ahead of his arrival here.

Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after four years. pic.twitter.com/RwlDJUVIjN

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023

Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan's political turf just three months before the General Elections. Former PM Imran Khan is also barred from elections due to a graft conviction, which he's appealing.

Besides political upheaval, Pakistan is also facing with a severe economic crisis, which worsened in the last year or so.

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Cyclone Tej To Transform Into Severe Cyclonic Storm By Tomorrow

Cyclone 'Tej' has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to transform into a severe cyclonic storm by October 22, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The storm over the Arabian Sea is likely to cross between Al Ghaidah (Yemen) and Salalah (Oman) around the early morning of October 25.

"SCS TEJ over SW Arabian Sea about 550 km E-SE of Socotra (Yemen).To intensify into VSCS during the next 24 hours. To cross Yemen Oman coasts between Al Ghaidah (Yemen) & Salalah (Oman) around the early morning of 25 October," posted IMD on X.

Anticipated landfall between Al Ghaidah (Yemen) & Salalah (Oman) around early morning on 25th October. Stay informed and stay safe! #CycloneTEJ #WeatherUpdate #StaySafe @moesgoi@DDNewslive@ndmaindia@airnewsalerts

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 21, 2023

The Met Department on Friday that the depression over the Southwest Arabian Sea has intensified into a deep depression (DD), further noting that it can intensify into a cyclonic storm (CS) over the Southwest Arabian Sea during the next 12 hours.

It further said that the cyclonic storm can further intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) during October 22 evening.

Taking to 'X', IMD said, "The Depression over SW Arabian Sea intensified into DD about 880 km E-SE of Socotra (Yemen). To intensify into a CS over SW Arabian Sea during the next 12 hours and further intensify into a SCS in the evening of 22nd Oct. To cross Oman-Yemen coasts bet Salalah (Oman) & Al Ghaidah (Yemen)."

Earlier, the weather department said that a low-pressure area over the southeast and the adjoining southwest Arabian Sea has developed into a depression. This is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 21.

It is also likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 22 and would continue moving north-north-westwards towards South Oman and adjoining Yemen coasts, it said.

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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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Navya Naveli Nanda's Throwback Video Of Brother Agastya Has An "Archie" Connection. Zoya Akhtar Reacts

Looks like Agastya Nanda was a born performer and her sister Navya Naveli Nanda can surely vouch for it. The first song from Agastya Nanda's upcoming debut film The Archies was released on Thursday. In the song titled Sunoh, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, who plays Archie in the film, can be seen playing a guitar and singing in a band. Hours after the video hit the Internet, Agastya's elder sibling Navya Naveli Nanda, while performing her sister duties, treated her fans to a throwback video of little Agastya singing, dancing and having a gala time with a guitar in his hand. Navya's post is too adorable to miss. She captioned the post , "Been Rockin' and Rollin' for a while Archie."

Navya's post received big love from her mom Shweta Bachchan as she commented, "Ahahahahahaha. I remember this, adorable." Agastya's co-star Suhana Khan wrote, "OMG," while his director Zoya Akhtar wrote, "Meant to be."

Take a look at the adorable post below:

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A post shared by Navya Naveli Nanda (@navyananda)

The song Sunoh gave us a glimpse of the characters from Riverdale. In the song, Agastya Nanda (Archie) can be seen playing a guitar and sings, "This is my story, Sunoh!" Khushi Kapoor aka Betty Cooper is seen riding a bicycle around Riverdale with a basket full of flowers. Suhana Khan's Veronica is seen roller skating. Sunoh has been composed by Ankur Tewari and The Islanders. The lyrics were written by Zoya's father, Javed Akhtar, and Dot, who is also part of the film. Take a look at the video here:

On Thursday, the cast of The Archies attended a press conference in Mumbai. Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda,  Aditi Saigal, Mihir Ahuja, Yuvraj Menda and Vedang Raina were present at the conference. Director Zoya Akhtar and her active collaborator Reema Kagti were also seen at the press conference. For the event, Suhana Khan chose a black ensemble and she nailed the look. Agastya Nanda, who plays the titular character in the film, turned up in a blue shirt.

Take a look at the pictures from the event:

The Archies is a Hindi adaptation of the iconic Archie Comics. The Netflix film marks debuts of Amitabh Bachchan's grandson Agastya Nanda, Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana Khan, and Sridevi's daughter Khushi Kapoor. Under their production houses Tiger Baby and Graphic India, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Sharad Devarajan have co-produced The Archies. The film will premiere on Netflix on December 7.

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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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Congress Releases 1,290-Point Manifesto For Madhya Pradesh

The Congress released its Vachan Patra – the 106-page manifesto for Madhya Pradesh. The 1,290 promises of the party include filling up 2 lakh vacant posts, creating 1 lakh new posts in villages and turning the state into an industrial hub.

The promises include bringing the procurement price for paddy to Rs 2,500 per quintal and wheat at Rs 2,600 per quintal with a mission to ensure Rs 3,000 per quintal to farmers.  

Under the Nandini Gau Dhan Yojana, cowdung will be procured for Rs 2 per kg.  

Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 will be given monthly to young unemployed people under Yuva Swabhiman Yojana.  

The party has also earmarked Rs 1.01 lakh for daughters under the Beti Vivah Yojana and benefits to the tune of Rs 2.51 lakh will be provided to the girl child under Meri Beti Ladli Yojana.

Social security pension will be raised to Rs 1,200 a month.   

Promotion and a big pay hike has been promised to government employees.

Efforts will be made for Madhya Pradesh to have its own IPL team. To promote sports, the Padak Lao schemes will be launched.

The Congress has promised nine rights to the people of Madhya Pradesh. including "Right to Water, Health, Electricity, Education, Housing, Minimum Income, Employment Guarantee and Social Justice".  

Rs 25 lakh health insurance and Rs 10 lakh accident insurance cover for each family have also been promised.

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Opinion: Daily Despatch: The Day War Almost Broke Out On Israel's Northern Border

From the frontlines of the Israel-Palestine war, NDTV brings you daily despatches by journalist Allan Sorensen, Middle East Correspondent for Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad, giving insights and gripping first-hand accounts from the war-torn region.

One anti-tank missile after the other was fired from Lebanon into Israel on Sunday. In at least six such attacks two Israeli soldiers were killed, and several others wounded. On Sunday afternoon it seemed as if an all-out war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah was more likely than an Israeli land invasion of Gaza. Helicopters, drones, and fighter jets patrolled the clouded skies above the northern border of Israel, while the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of all villages within two kilometers of the Lebanese border. 

The headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in the coastal town of Naqoura was hit by a rocket during the exchange of fire and escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. None were hurt in the attack and till now it has not been established where the rocket was fired from. The UN mission, known as UNIFIL, was created in 2006 after a long summer war between Israel and Hezbollah. 

In an attempt to de-escalate the tension on the border, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sent a clear message to Hezbollah. 

"We have no interest in a war in the north, we don't want to escalate the situation. If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price. But if it restrains itself, we'll respect the situation and keep things the way they are, despite shooting from both sides," he said in a video message.

At the same time, while Israel was still preparing for a land invasion of Gaza, the local Palestinian population was still struggling to flee from northern Gaza. It is estimated that at least one million Palestinians inside Gaza have been internally displaced. Some 6,00,000 are believed to have left the northern areas following an Israeli request.

UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, stated Sunday that Gaza "is being strangled" while the number of people seeking shelter at their schools and facilities in the south of Gaza is steadily growing. 

The Israeli army stated that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north. According to Israeli media, the request to the population in Gaza has two different aims. One is to clear the northern areas ahead of an expected ground invasion. The second is to maximize the pressure on Hamas by creating a situation that is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel hopes that Hamas will release some of the 199 kidnapped Israelis inside Gaza in exchange for immediate humanitarian assistance. 

Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within a few days, according to the UN, putting at immediate risk the lives of a large number of patients. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the Biden administration does not support the mass relocation of Palestinians outside of Gaza. 

"I've heard directly from the Palestinian Authority President [Mahmoud] Abbas and from virtually every other leader that I've talked to in the region, that that idea is a non-starter, and so we do not support it," Blinken said in an interview with Al Arabiya from Cairo.

"We believe that people should be able to stay in Gaza, their home. But we also want to make sure that they're out of harm's way and that they're getting the assistance they need."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday met with the relatives of hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu made a promise to declare the release of the hostages a clear aim of the current war against Hamas. The decision was received with relief by the relatives of the hostages. According to Israeli media reports, negotiations for the release of children, women, and elderly from Gaza is ongoing with Qatar as a mediator. No details have been published about the negotiations.

The overall death count on the Israeli side stands at more than 1,300, while the number of dead in Gaza climbed to at least 2,670 on Sunday. 

According to the US State Department, the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas rose to 30 on Sunday. 

"At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 US citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement. 

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, warned that the Middle East is "on the verge of the abyss".

Het urged Hamas to release hostages and pledged that Israel would allow humanitarian aid into besieged Gaza.

"Each one of these two objectives is valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips," the UN chief said in a statement.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he would seek to assemble a "generous" package of wartime aid for Israel with the help of the Senate. 

"America will stand with its ally Israel. I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack," he said at a news conference in Israel.  

In an interview with 60 Minutes, US President Joe Biden stated that he believes Hamas must be eliminated. He also said it would be a mistake for Israel to reoccupy parts of Gaza. 

Up until 2005, some 8,000 Israeli Jews lived in settlements inside Gaza. 

Sunday also marked the day when several incidents against Jews were reported in Europe and the US. 

FBI officials said they had noticed an increase in threatening rhetoric against Jewish and Muslim communities in the week since the brutal Hamas attacks in Israel. In Germany, the Jewish symbol, the Star of David, was painted on the doors of several Jewish families in the city of Berlin.

(Allan Sorensen is the Middle East correspondent for the Danish daily newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.

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Former Election Body Chief And Congress Leader MS Gill Dies At 86

Former chief election commissioner Manohar Singh Gill died at a south Delhi hospital on Sunday after a brief illness, according to people close to him. He was 86.

MS Gill will be cremated in New Delhi on Monday, they said.

A former bureaucrat, Gill served under Parkash Singh Badal as a young officer when the Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch was the Punjab chief minister.

He served as the chief election commissioner (CEC) between December 1996 and June 2001.

Gill and GVG Krishnamurty were made members of the Election Commission when TN Seshan was heading the poll panel. It was then that the poll panel became a multi-member body, a former government functionary said.

He is perhaps the first former CEC to have joined politics. Gill entered the Rajya Sabha as a Congress member and was made the Union sports minister in 2008.

Gill is survived by his wife and three daughters.

In a statement, the Election Commission said it deeply mourns the demise of Gill, its 11th chief election commissioner, describing him as a "brilliant officer of the 1958 batch of the Indian Administrative Services, Punjab cadre".

"During his tenure as CEC, the ECI successfully conducted the general elections to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and 13th Lok Sabha in 1999; 11th presidential elections and vice-presidential elections in 1997, and general elections to legislative assemblies in more than 20 states," the poll panel said.

"His leadership and commitment to the electoral process will continue to inspire us at the Election Commission of India. Shri Gill was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the year 2000 for his exceptional and distinguished services as a civil servant. We pray for the noble departed soul and convey our profound condolences," it added.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge condoled Gill's demise and lauded his contribution to the development of the nation.

"Extremely saddened at the passing away of former Union minister, Padma Vibhushan, Shri Manohar Singh Gill ji," Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.

Extremely saddened at the passing away of Former Union Minister, Padma Vibhushan, Shri Manohar Singh Gill Ji.

As a valued colleague in the UPA Govt and earlier as a civil servant, his contributions to development of the nation in varied fields like sports, electoral processes… pic.twitter.com/i2L5GCpS3B

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 15, 2023

"As a valued colleague in the UPA govt and earlier as a civil servant, his contributions to the development of the nation in varied fields like sports, electoral processes and agriculture were long lasting," he added.

Kharge also extended his "deepest condolences" to the family, friends and followers of the former Union minister.

"I pray to the Almighty for his eternal peace," he added.

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also expressed his sadness at Gill's passing.

"Saddened to hear about the passing away of former CEC and Union Minister Dr Manohar Singh Gill. My heartfelt condolences are with his family and I pray to Waheguru ji to grant eternal peace to the departed soul," he said in a post.

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2 Israeli Women Security Officers Of Indian-Origin Killed In Hamas Attack

At least two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the unprecedented attack carried out by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas earlier this month, official sources and people from the community confirmed on Sunday.

Lieutenant Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod and Inspector Kim Dokraker, a Border Police officer in the police's Central District, were killed in the attack on October 7, officials confirmed.

Both of them are said to have died on duty in combat.

According to officials, so far 286 army soldiers and 51 police officers have been killed in the conflict.

There could be more victims as Israel continues to confirm the identity of the dead and search for those missing or possibly kidnapped, several community members told PTI.

One young woman from the community, Shahaf Talker, who managed to survive the attack with her friend shared a testimony of what she went through that day with PTI through her grandfather.

Still in shock and unable to speak because of the mental agony, the 24-year-old woman thought that putting it out in writing would ease some of her stress, said her grandfather Yaacov Talker who migrated from Mumbai at the age of 11 in 1963.

"Early today Shahaf went to the funeral of some of her friends who were killed in the massacre that happened at the rave music party where about 270 youngsters were killed in mass killings carried out by Hamas after infiltrating Israeli territory," said Mr Talker who now lives in Petah Tikva, a town in northern Israel.

According to Shahaf's testimony, on October 7, she and her friend Yanir, who was at the party, saw the rockets flying over their heads.

"What is that?" I asked him. "Missiles," he answered. "We started running to the car, and I fell on the floor crying and Yanir picked me up, grabbed my hand and told me "Everything is fine, let's fly away, we have to get home"," she said.

"We got into the car and started driving, we drove fast. The police said to turn right but this was not the road to Tel Aviv, so we turned back and turned to the other side, the mistake of our lives or we were saved, only God knows, in the direction of Tel Aviv. They were waiting for us, blocking the road, three vans, about 8 terrorists," she said.

"Yanir quickly realised that they were aiming guns at us and turned the car around as fast as he could. One bullet hit the front windshield, passed right between me and Yanir... the whole car was sprayed with bullets, and all the windows were broken," Shahaf said.

She said the terrorists were firing at them without hesitation. "We drove to the other side; they were waiting for us there as well. We met a couple of friends who told us there were terrorists on the other side as well, we all got out of the car and ran. We tried to hide ourselves in the bush," she said.

"Until it was quiet, not exactly quiet, just fewer bullets flying overhead, we checked what was happening and decided to return to the vehicles," she said.

Shahaf said they drove until they saw a gas station. "Yanir decided to head there and he found 18 people from the same party inside the gas station," she recalled.

"I can't believe we survived this... we were left with one security guard with a gun. For three hours, we were dying of fear, calling everyone possible to save us," she said.

"The army arrived, (they said) 'run to the vehicles, as many people as possible in each vehicle, save yourselves, just drive'," she recalled.

"We succeeded, Moshav Teluma's security personnel waved at us from the fence and led us to the most perfect family in the world, who took care of us," she added.

She felt sorry for the victims of the attack by Hamas terrorist.

"This story is sad, I was saved but piles of my friends are lying in piles of corpses, may your memory be blessed, they abandoned us in the field, I'm sorry. Sharing it so that everyone knows the horrors!!!" she added.

Her grandfather, Mr Talker, told PTI that it has been very difficult the past week to deal with the trauma she went through.

"She is still in shock. It will take her a lot of time to come out of it," he said.

Sheeja Anand, a caregiver from Kerala who was injured in the attack, is now stable, sources said. The caregiver suffered injuries in her hands and leg in the rocket attack on October 7 in the northern Israeli city of Ashkelon. She was immediately provided treatment at a nearby hospital.

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Explained: Why Congress Is Protesting In Puri And History Of Jagannath Temple

The globally renowned Jagannatha Temple in Puri is once again in the spotlight, with the Congress party pushing for the reopening of all four temple gates. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced a rally on October 16 in Puri. The primary purpose of this rally is to advocate for the reopening of all four gates of the Jagannath Temple, allowing devotees to access the sacred site. OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak emphasised the temple's significance as a destination for devotees from all over India and beyond.

"The number of devotees will increase during the holy Odia month of Kartik, which begins on October 29. Respecting the demands of Jagannath lovers, all four gates of the temple should be reopened for public immediately," he demanded.

The party will submit a memorandum to the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in this regard, he said.

In a statement in the state assembly during the recently concluded monsoon session, Law Minister Jagannath Saraka said entry of devotees to the temple through the four gates has been closed since March 20, 2020, due to COVID restrictions.

"As the Srimandir Parikrama project is still underway, three gates cannot be opened for devotees," he had said.

Apart from the Singhadwar (Lions Gate), the government has opened the Paschim Dwar (west gate) only for Puri residents to perform daily rituals.

With the temple administration in the news once again, it's worth exploring the significant cultural, religious, and historical importance it holds for the people of Odisha and India. This revered temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a prominent incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, and it plays a central role in the religious and cultural heritage of the region and the nation.

It is one of the fourpilgrimage sites (Char Dham) and is visited by millions of devotees each year. The main deity in the temple is a wooden idol of Jagannath, which is said to be over 1,000 years old. The idol is flanked by the idols of his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra.

The present-day structure of the Jagannath Temple is believed to have been built in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva.

Rath Yatra:

The Jagannath Temple is known for its unique Rath Yatra festival, which is held every year. During the Rath Yatra, the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are placed on three giant chariots and pulled through the streets of Puri by millions of devotees. The Rath Yatra is one of the largest religious festivals in the world.

The Jagannath Temple is a place of great religious and cultural significance. It is a place where people from all walks of life come together to worship and celebrate their faith. It is also a place where people can learn about Hindu culture and tradition.

The temple architecture:

According to the official website, the temple of Lord Shree Jagannatha is about 214 feet and 8 inches high from the road level. The entire temple premises are enclosed by two big concentric walls. The outer wall is known as 'Meghanada Prachira' (665 ft. x 640 ft.), and the inner wall is known as 'Kurma Prachira' (420 ft. x 315 ft.). The height of the outer walls varies from 20 feet to 24 feet. There are four gates in the outer enclosure. The eastern entrance is known as Singha Dwara', or the Lion's Gate.

The entrances on the southern, western, and northern sides of the outer enclosure are known as Aswadwara (South Gate). "Vyaghra Dwara' (West Gate) and Hastidwara (North Gate), respectively, have hundreds of subsidiary shrines and Mandapas (elevated platforms) inside the temple premises. Two gardens, namely 'Koili Baikuntha' and 'Nilachala Upabana", seven wells, Ananda Bazara, the kitchen, and the holy banyan tree (Kalpabata), are also inside the temple premises.

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"More Is Coming": Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Meets Troops On Gaza Border

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops near the Gaza border Saturday "more is coming" in Israel's response to Hamas's shock attack last week, according to a video released by his office.

"Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming," Netanyahu, wearing a flak jacket, can be heard telling several soldiers in the video the premier's office said was filmed earlier Saturday.

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"We Will Fight For Women's Quota Bill Implementation": Sonia Gandhi

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asserted the INDIA alliance would fight for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill passed recently by the Parliament.

Addressing the ruling DMK's Women's rights conference, she said Rajiv Gandhi brought the historic 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati raj, the local self-governments which spurred an entirely new phenomenon of women leadership at the grassroots level.

It was a vital stepping stone towards the reservation on a similar one thirds of seats in the legislative bodies which the Congress pioneered in Parliament and outside.

Now the Women's Reservation Bill has finally been passed due to "our relentless persistence and efforts; of all of us, not just the Congress." However, "as we all know it is still a long way to come." She recalled the interventions made in the Parliament by opposition MPs on the actual implementation of the Bill, whether it would be in one year, two or three years.

"We have no idea," she said and added though some men are happy, "we are not, we women are not." She asserted "we are going to fight," for the implementation of Women's Reservation Act.

The Women's Reservation Bill introduced by the UPA-II was passed by the Rajya Sabha but a lack of consesus prevented it from being passed in the Lok Sabha.

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