Delhi Maximum Temperature At 35.2 Degree Celsius, Air Quality "Moderate"

Delhi on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The minimum temperature in the city was 21.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average, it said.

The humidity oscillated between 64 per cent and 39 per cent.

The weather office has forecast a partly cloudy sky with gusty winds on Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 35 and 20 degrees Celsius, it said.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded in the "moderate" category with a reading of 182 at 6 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between zero 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".

Delhi recorded its warmest day this year on Wednesday, with a maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.

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Canada's Mild Winter Disrupts Key Ice Road To Remote Arctic Diamond Mines

An unusually warm winter in Canada this year has delayed the opening of a 400-kilometer (250-mile) ice road that is rebuilt every year as the main conduit for Rio Tinto, Burgundy Mines , and De Beers to access their diamond mines in the remote Arctic region.

The Winter Road, which serves the region accessible only by air for 10 months of the year, opened with a two-week delay in the middle of February, disrupting movement of goods along the ice road built over 64 frozen lakes.

Earlier this week, the Tlicho government in Northwest Territories (NWT) restricted movement of commercial trucks for few days in one of the winter roads due to anticipated warmer weather across the North Slave Region.

While diamond production remains unaffected, the delay underscores the challenges that companies face as the mines that make Canada the world's third largest diamond producer come to the end of their productive life.

It also highlights the infrastructure hurdle for the NWT and Nunavut that are positioning themselves as the next frontiers in the exploration of critical metals, such as rare earth, cobalt and lithium, in the transition to a greener future.

The delays in building the Winter Road, which first became operational in 1982, have happened in the past, but this year's is the longest delay in recent years, according to Tom Hoefer, senior advisor to the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines.

"We did start the road a bit later as a result," he said.

Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, coupled with the emergence of the natural El Nino climate pattern, pushed the world into record heat territory in 2023.

The impact of El Nino this year resulted in Yellowknife, the capital of the NWT, recording a maximum temperature of zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in December and minus 8.7 degrees Celsius (17.6 F) in February, making it the warmest winter days in a decade, according to data from Environment Canada.

The Winter Road opens between late January and early April and requires minimum of 29 inches (74 cm) of ice for vehicles that can carry 26,000 kilograms (57,320 lbs) of gross vehicle weight, to transport diesel and dynamite required to operate the mines.

On warmer days, the engineers have found ways to trick nature by creating artificial ice using giant sprinklers to spray water high up in the air so that they cool and form thick layer of ice when they fall.

Paul Gruner, CEO of the Indigenous corporation Tlicho Investment Corp & Group of Companies said this year the warm winter at the start and if there is a warmer end of the season or an early spring, it could risk an early closure.

"So when you're nibbling away on both sides of that, you start to create a very short season," Gruner said.

The Winter Road is jointly operated by Burgundy Diamond Mines, Rio Tinto and De Beers of Anglo American group which run the Ekati, Diavik and Gahcho Kue diamond mines respectively.

De Beers and Burgundy Diamonds said operations at their mines have not been affected by the mild winter. Rio Tinto declined comment.

The Winter Road costs C$25 million ($18.54 million) to operate for two months, which is shared by the three companies based on goods transported on the road and distance traveled.

However, the mines have a operational life of around 20 years and as they reach the end of life, they need to be shut down.

Rio Tinto has said it will close the Diavik mine in 2026 and De Beers plans to shut Snap Lake end of this year, while seeking to extend the life of Gahcho Kue.

Chicken and Egg

Canada's remote Arctic region, home to around 86,000 people, is facing the complete closure of all the diamond mines by 2030 and is looking for ways to keep mining alive.

The lack of infrastructure is a challenge and the shortened seasonal use of the ice road could hurt investments needed to mine critical minerals.

"If you're in the exploration phase ... and looking at using the winter road as part of your core business model, the risks start to come into ... your decision making whether or not to advance a project," Tlicho Investment's Gruner said.

Hoefer of NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines said the two Northern territories, which are as big as Europe, have the highest infrastructure deficits in Canada - one of the reasons for the very high costs of living and doing business in the North.

"It is a chicken-and-egg situation, the mining companies probably won't come unless there is some infrastructure, it's just too expensive," said Heather Exner-Pirot, director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment program at Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

It costs C$3 million a kilometer to build gravel roads, Pirot said.

Mining groups are pushing for a mega infrastructure project that connects NWT to Nunavut that runs through the diamond mines could help unlock the mineral riches in the region. At least 23 of the 31 critical minerals listed by the Canadian government is found in the NWT.

"When the project comes up, it would replace the roads that have served mining for 40 years, but until that happens, the ice roads are required," Hoefer said.

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"Want To Fill Shortcomings Of Teachers With Technology": PM Modi To Bill Gates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he wants to bring the best education for children in the country and fill any gaps created by shortcomings of teachers with technology.

In an interaction with philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, PM Modi said that visual content is being developed to cater to children's interests.

"I want to bring the best education to our children. The shortcomings of teachers, I want to fill with technology. If a child's interest lies in visuals, in storytelling, we are developing content in that direction. I have conducted some surveys, I have seen, children are really enjoying it," he said.

In the candid, free-wheeling chat, PM Modi spoke at length on how India has democratised technology for the benefit of its citizens, embracing the power of digital for improving lives, and exuded confidence that the country will take remarkable strides in the fourth industrial revolution, that has digital at its core.

PM Modi also cautioned that a powerful technology like AI in unskilled, untrained hands holds significant risk of misuse, as he advocated the need for clear 'dos and don'ts' and use of watermarks on AI-generated content to curb misinformation and deepfake-related harms in the society.

The prime minister said he used to hear about digital divide in the world and had decided that he will not allow this to happen in India.

"When I used to hear about the digital divide in the world, I used to say, I will not let this happen in my country, that there be a digital divide. And digital public infrastructure is itself a big requirement. Today, I want to bring the digital facilities to villages," he said.

Lauding the "digital government", Bill Gates said India is not just adapting technology but is actually leading the way and some of the digital systems create efficiency by getting rid of the middlemen, which is super beneficial.

"I sometimes say that I want to run such a government, as far as the middle class is concerned, the government should move out of their life, there shouldn't be any need for the government in their life. Where there is a poor person, where the government is needed, there the government should be fully there. But where there is no need, without reason the government keeps doing - bring this, bring that, do this, do that. So, that will stop," PM Modi said in response. 

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CBI Closes Probe In Air India Aircraft Leasing Case Over Lack Of Evidence

The CBI has filed a closure report in its probe into the alleged irregularities in the leasing of aircraft by NACIL, a company formed by the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines during the UPA era, as there was no "evidence of any wrongdoing," officials said Thursday.

The CBI, which had taken up the investigation in 2017 on the orders of the Supreme Court, filed the closure report before a special court recently.

The officials said other cases related to alleged irregularities in Air India, including the seat-sharing arrangement with private international airlines, are continuing.

The special court will decide whether to accept the report or direct the agency to probe further on the points the court may raise.

The case pertained to the allegations regarding irregularities in leasing a large number of aircraft by Air India which resulted in huge losses to the national carrier while private persons made pecuniary gains.

This leasing was done by the public servants of Ministry of Civil Aviation under minister Praful Patel and National Aviation Corporation of India Ltd. (NACIL) despite the airlines running with very low load because of large scale aircraft acquisition and several flights, especially overseas ones, running almost empty at a huge loss, the FIR had alleged.

The National Aviation Corporation of India Ltd. was formed after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines.

The agency has alleged that the decision was made "dishonestly," and the aircraft were leased even while an acquisition program was going on.

The leasing decision was taken "in conspiracy with other unknown persons on extraneous considerations" that resulted in "pecuniary benefit" to private companies and consequent "loss to government exchequer," the FIR had alleged.

The aircraft leasing decision in 2006 was taken despite overseas flights running almost empty at a huge loss, it had alleged.

"Air India, to benefit private parties, dry leased four Boeing 777s for a period of five years in 2006, whereas it was to get the delivery of its own aircraft from July, 2007 onwards. As a result, five Boeing 777s and five Boeing 737s were kept idle on the ground at an estimated loss of Rs 840 crores during the period of 2007-09," the FIR had alleged. 

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"Public Places Often Reflect Pre Existing Social Inequalities": Chief Justice

Asserting that public spaces often reflect pre-existing social inequalities in society, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Wednesday said creation of new infrastructure is not only good for lawyers and judges, but it is also intended to reach out to the broader cross-section of our society.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in his address after laying the foundation stone for new Telangana High Court building in Hyderabad, also said creation of infrastructure plays a significant role in the mainstreaming of communities and groups in society who have been traditionally excluded from the judicial process.

"We must all remember that public spaces often reflect pre-existing social inequalities in our society. Our infrastructure sometimes reflects subtle signs of exclusion, such as lack of washrooms for women, which I referred to earlier, ramps for the disabled or differently- abled, creches and lactating rooms for young mothers," he said.

The CJI said though India is a fast growing economy and market, today there is an internet-divide in the country even now as not everyone has access to the internet and not every lawyer has access to a smartphone and not every citizen has a laptop.

He said conspicuous absence of disabled-friendly parking spots convey that courts are not meant for persons with disabilities or they must overcome additional hurdles to gain access to justice. 

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Lok Sabha Polls 2024: 40 Candidates Filed Nominations For Rajasthan So Far, Officials Say

Forty candidates have filed nominations for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan so far, officials said on Tuesday.

BJP candidates Jyoti Mirdha and Sumedhanand Saraswati filed nominations from Nagaur and Sikar Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively on Tuesday. INDIA bloc constituent the CPI(M)'s candidate Amraram filed his nomination from Sikar on the same day.

Mirdha, a former Congress MP from Nagaur who joined the BJP ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, is pitted against Rashtriya Loktantrik Party convener Hanuman Beniwal who is contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress.

Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Nagaur and Sikar are among the 12 parliamentary constituencies where polling will be held in the first phase on April 19.

The last date for filing nomination papers for the first phase is March 27. Scrutiny will be held on March 28 and the last date of withdrawal of nomination is March 30.

Addressing a public meeting in Sikar after incumbent MP Sumedhanand Saraswati filed his nomination, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics and said that the BJP always works keeping in mind the welfare of the people and the country.

"The Congress has made making false promises a habit. Whatever they promised in the last five years was never fulfilled," he said.

"The Congress government meant corruption, appeasement, and terrorism. Until Narendra Modi came to power (at the Centre), anyone could bomb any city in our country. But, it's only PM Modi who ensured a secure and developing India that also made a place for itself on the global stage," Sharma said.

In Sikar, CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat, while addressing a rally after the party's candidate Amraram filed his nominations, said, "The BJP has sent our constitution to the ICU. The upcoming general election is not a fight for the chair, but for saving our democracy and constitutional rights." "PM Modi might be dreaming of crossing 400 seats but the people who have faced torture under his rule in the last 10 years will not let it happen," she said.

Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday targeted the BJP government at the Centre, claiming that "democracy is in danger" and the country is being ruled through federal agencies such as the ED and the CBI.

In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur on April 19.

The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. 

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Supreme Court Appoints Committee To Look Into Preservation Of Great Indian Bustard

The Supreme Court has recently appointed an expert committee to look into the preservation of the Great Indian Bustard which is "non-negotiable" and "need for sustainable development in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy".

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the order observing while dealing with a matter relating to protecting the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

The court has sought a report from the committee by July and listed the matter for the second week of August 2024.

"We are of the view that it will be appropriate if an expert committee is appointed so as to balance both the need for the preservation of the GIB, which is non-negotiable and the need for sustainable development, more particularly, in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy," the court in its March 21 order stated.

During the course of the hearing, the Court has underscored the importance of taking proactive measures to protect the GIB.

"There is no dispute in regard to the fact that the GIB is seriously endangered as a species. At the same time, it has emerged in the course of the hearing that there is no adequate basis to impose a general prohibition in regard to the installation of transmission lines in an area as wide as over 88,000 square kilometres," the court order read.

The committee includes the Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; Hari Shankar Singh, Member, the National Board for Wildlife; Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forest; B Majumdar, former Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Maharashtra; and Devesh Gadhavi, Deputy Director, The Corbett Foundation, among others.

The committee will determine the scope, feasibility and extent of overhead and underground electric lines in the area identified as priority area in the reports of the Wild Life Institute of India in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The committee will also look into the need for adopting conservation and protection measures for the GIB, as well as other fauna specific to the topography and desert features and identify the measures to be adopted in the priority areas to ensure the long-term survival of the GIB.

It will also look into the identification of suitable alternatives in the context of sustainable development in the matter of laying long future power lines, which should balance the protection of conservation and the protection of the Great Indian Bustard together with the arrangement of power lines in a manner that would facilitate the fulfilment of the international commitments made by India for developing renewable sources of energy.

"The injunction which has been imposed in the order dated April 19, 2021, in respect of the area described as the potential area shall accordingly stand relaxed subject to the condition that the Expert Committee appointed by this Court may lay down suitable parameters covering both the priority and potential areas," the court said.

The Committee shall be at liberty to impose any additional measures, both in regard to the priority and potential areas, if it considers it appropriate, including considering the efficacy and suitability of installing bird diverters on existing and future power lines, the court clarified.

Earlier, a three-judge bench had directed the concerned authorities to convert the overhead cables into underground powerlines.

The court's order had come on a plea seeking to protect two species of birds, including the Great Indian Bustard.

According to the petition, the existence of overhead power lines is stated to have become a hazard due to which the said species of birds in collision are getting killed.

According to the petitioners, overhead power lines are the biggest threat to the survival of the GIBs.

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Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Union Minister Ashwani Choubey Among 3 Sitting MPs Dropped By BJP In Bihar

The BJP on Sunday announced its candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, dropping three sitting MPs, including Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.

According to the list released by the party in New Delhi, Mr Choubey, who was elected from Buxar for the second consecutive term in 2019, was replaced by Mithilesh Tiwari, a senior BJP leader and a former MLA.

The party also dropped its incumbent MPs Chedi Pawasan and Ajay Kumar Nishad from Sasaram and Muzaffarpur constituencies respectively.

The BJP fielded former MLA Shivesh Ram for Sasaram, while Raj Bhushan Nishad, a greenhorn in the Lok Sabha polls, will contest the Muzaffarpur seat on a party ticket.

Vivek Thakur, a Rajya Sabha member, was fielded from Nawada, where the BJP would be contesting this time, instead of its ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

All the remaining 14 candidates are sitting MPs, who will seek re-election from their respective seats.

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AAP Seeks Urgent Appointment With Poll Panel For "Level Playing Field"

The Aam Aadmi Party has sought an urgent appointment with the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Minister Atishi said on Saturday.

Ms Atishi claimed that despite the representation made to the Election Commission (EC) by the INDIA bloc leaders on Friday, the Income Tax department conducted a raid on an AAP MLA and that the party office had been sealed in the national capital.

In a post on X, Ms Atishi said, "The Aam Aadmi Party has sought an urgent appointment with the Election Commission, to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections. Despite the representation made yesterday. Today, the Aam Aadmi Party office was sealed. Lok Sabha candidates and party leaders could not come to the party office for campaign meetings. There was an IT Dept raid on the home of one of our MLAs. It is the responsibility given by the Indian Constitution to the @ECISVEEP to ensure a level playing field."

.@AamAadmiParty has sought an urgent appointment with the Election Commission, to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections.

Despite the representation made yesterday, today @AamAadmiParty office was sealed. Lok Sabha candidates and party leaders could not come to… pic.twitter.com/cqb6V8QTSM

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 23, 2024

The Income Tax Department (IT) conducted searches at the premises of Delhi AAP MLA Gulab Singh Yadav on Saturday. Mr Yadav, who represents Delhi's Matiala seat, is a two-time MLA.

Following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the INDIA bloc on Friday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India urging its intervention in the "targeting of opposition leaders" by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party through the "misuse of central agencies".

The representation to the EC was made by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Abhishek Singhvi, NCP (SCP) leader Jitendra Awhad, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, TMC MP Derek O Brien and several other leaders.

The INDIA bloc in its memorandum, has urged the poll body to ensure that any further raids, investigations, and arrests are first vetted and approved by the Commission or a committee set up under it.

It also urged the EC to take immediate action, including the launch of investigations against all those individuals and officers who have misused their offices to harass the leaders of the opposition.

"Take any other steps necessary to ensure the constitutional mandate of a level playing field and to prevent political parties in power from misusing the State machinery against the leaders and political parties contesting elections in a democratic setup," the memorandum submitted to the poll body read.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal was arrested by the central agency after he skipped multiple summons by the investigation agency, nine in total, calling them "illegal". He has been remanded to ED custody till March 28.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was later scrapped.

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Brazilian Woman, 81, Dies After Surgery To Remove Dead Foetus She Carried For 56 Years

An 81-year-old woman in Brazil died after undergoing surgery to remove a 56-year-old foetus from her abdomen, Metro reported. The woman, identified as Daniela Vera, unknowingly had an ectopic pregnancy when she was younger and complained to doctors numerous times about pain and a bulge in her belly. She had been feeling unwell with stomach discomforts for several weeks before her doctor's appointment. Sadly, the doctors didn't spot the calcified baby inside her during the first appointment. Instead, they treated her for a water infection, before sending her to another hospital to get 3D scans. 

Despite having seven children, Ms Vera's condition went unnoticed until she received the 3D scans. This revealed lithopedion, a rare condition that happens when a baby dies during pregnancy and isn't absorbed by the body, Metro reported. 

The 81-year-old then went into surgery, following which she was moved into the intensive care unit (ICU). Sadly, she died the next day, on March 15 after suffering an infection. 

Dr Patrick Dezir, the head of the Ponta Pora Hospital health department, explained, "When pregnancy occurs, it must be inside the uterus, but in some situations, pregnancy can occur outside". 

"That baby was not clinical, the patient did not have acute pain and did not have major bleeding and this diagnosis goes unnoticed and time will take care of that foreign body that was left inside the woman's abdomen," Dr Dezir added. 

Also Read | Mexican Model Elena Larrea, 31, Dies From Blood Clot After Liposuction Procedure

Ms Vera's daughter, Rosely Almedia, said, "She was old and we are indigenous, she didn't like going to the doctor, she was afraid of the equipment to take exams. She said that it looked like a baby was moving inside her belly and sometimes she felt sick, but we never suspected that it was that". 

Notably, Ms Vera had complained of abdominal pain since her first pregnancy when she was a teenager, her daughter said, as per the outlet. 

Ectopic pregnancy is a type of pregnancy where the fertilised egg is conceived outside the womb, where it is not able to survive. Due to the lack of development, the foetus becomes calcified and in such a situation, there is neither severe pain nor bleeding in the body. There are also no visible symptoms until an X-ray is done.

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India Begins Operation Indravati To Evacuate Citizens From Violence-Hit Haiti

India has launched 'Operation Indravati' to evacuate its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated in a post on social media platform X.

As part of the ongoing operation, 12 Indians were evacuated on Thursday.

Taking to his official X handle, Mr Jaishankar posted, "12 Indians evacuated today. Fully committed to the security and well-being of our nationals abroad."

India begins Operation Indravati to evacuate its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.

12 Indians evacuated today. Fully committed to the security and well-being of our nationals abroad.

Thank the Government of the Dominican Republic for their support. pic.twitter.com/AC3VM63EmJ

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 21, 2024

"Thank the Government of the Dominican Republic for their support," he added.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, in a weekly press briefing on March 15, said India was ready to evacuate its citizens from Haiti if need be.

"As you know, there is a crisis in Haiti. And if required, we will evacuate. We are ready to evacuate. And if required, we will do that," Jaiswal stated.

Amid violence and looting in the impoverished Caribbean nation, a control room and an emergency helpline number were opened to evacuate distressed Indian nationals from Haiti.

"We have established a control room here in the Ministry of External Affairs. We have emergency helpline numbers," Mr Jaiswal added in the press briefing.

On concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in Haiti, Jaiswal said the embassy in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, which holds accreditation for Haiti, was monitoring the situation.

"Our embassy in Santo Domingo is monitoring the situation and the ministry also is fully monitoring the situation," Mr Jaiswal added at the presser.

Haiti has been under a state of emergency after some armed groups attacked the country's largest prison in Port-au-Prince earlier this month, killing and injuring police and prison staff and enabling some 3,500 inmates to escape, according to CNN.

A leader of one of these armed groups, Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, took credit for the prison break, saying it was part of a plan to overthrow acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry's government.

The armed groups now control 80 per cent of Haiti's capital, according to United Nations estimates, while continuing to fight for the rest. While Henry was out of the country, gangs laid siege to the country's main airport to prevent his return.

The ongoing chaos has forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, adding to the more than 300,000 already displaced by gang violence.

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Study Of "Twin" Stars Finds Evidence Of Planetary Ingestion

The planetary system that includes Earth and its sibling planets orbiting the sun has been remarkably stable during its roughly 4.5 billion years of existence. But not all planetary systems are so lucky, as shown in a new study involving "twin" stars.

An examination of 91 pairs of stars with matching sizes and chemical compositions showed that a surprising number exhibited signs of having ingested a planet, scientists said on Wednesday, likely after the planet was sent hurtling out of a stable orbit for any number of reasons.

The study looked at pairs of stars that formed within the same interstellar cloud of gas and dust - so-called co-natal stars - giving them the same chemical makeup, and were of roughly equal mass and age. These are the "twins." While the pairs are moving together in the same direction within our Milky Way galaxy, they are not binary systems of two stars gravitationally bound to each other.

A star's chemical composition changes when it engulfs a planet because it incorporates the elements that made up the doomed world. The researchers looked for stars that differed from their twin because they had higher amounts of tell-tale elements like iron, nickel or titanium indicating remnants of a rocky planet, relative to certain other elements.

"It's the elemental abundance differences between two stars in a co-natal system," said astronomer Fan Liu of Monash University in Australia, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

In seven of the pairs, one of the two stars bore evidence of planetary ingestion.

Possible reasons for a planet making a death plunge into its host star include an orbital disturbance caused by a larger planet, or another star passing uncomfortably close, destabilizing the planetary system, the researchers said.

"This really puts into perspective our fortuitous position in the universe," said astrophysicist and study co-author Yuan-Sen Ting of the Australian National University and Ohio State University. "The stability of a planetary system like the solar system is not a given."

The researchers used the European Space Agency's Gaia space observatory to identify the twins and used telescopes in Chile and Hawaii to determine their composition. The stars were as close as 70 light years from our solar system and as far as 960 light years away. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

The researchers said while it is most likely that their observations signaled whole planets being ingested, it was possible it was planetary building blocks consumed during the system's period of planet formation.

In their death throes, our sun and other stars like it dramatically puff up, ingesting any planets with close orbits, before collapsing into a dense, burned-out cinder called a white dwarf.

"We know that all stars like the sun will eventually become giant stars. The envelope of the sun will expand and eventually swallow Earth," Ting said.

But the stars in this study all were in the prime of their life, not nearing the end.

Instability in planetary systems may be more common than previously known, considering that about 8% of the stellar pairs studied had one star that apparently devoured a planet.

Most planetary systems should be stable because, as in our solar system, the planets are under the influence mainly of their host star, not their sibling planets, Ting said.

"But for other planetary systems with different initial conditions and configurations, this might break down, leading to very chaotic dynamics," Ting added.

The study indicates that, Ting said, "a non-negligible fraction of planetary systems are indeed unstable, meaning there are always planets being ejected in or out."

Given that only a small fraction of these wayward planets might actually be gulped by their host star rather than simply wandering the cosmos, there may be more of these planetary exiles than previously suspected.

"Understanding which planetary systems are stable or not is a long-time goal of planetary dynamics theorists," said Ting.

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World Oral Health Day 2024: Know Theme, Significance And Best Oral Care Tips

World Oral Health Day is observed on March 20 every year. It is a global event that aims to help reduce the burden of oral diseases, which affect individuals as well as the health systems and economies. This day is used as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health. Oral diseases are often neglected but are one of the major health concerns in several parts of the world. However, most dental issues can be prevented and treated with the right medical assistance. World Oral Health Day targets individuals, schools, educational institutions, youth and policymakers to promote good oral health for all.

World Oral Health Day 2024: Theme

The theme for Oral Health Day 2024 is 'A happy mouth is a happy body.' This day was first celebrated in 2007.

Significance

According to the World Health Organisation, "Globally, oral diseases affect an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide. Between 1990 and 2019, estimated case numbers of oral diseases increased by more than 1 billion, which translates to a 50% increase, higher than the population increase of about 45% in the same period."

It is important to note that most risk factors for oral diseases are modifiable including excess sugar consumption, tobacco consumption, poor oral hygiene, alcohol use and more. Therefore, encouraging individuals to take care of their oral health can make a huge difference.

Best oral care tips to follow:

• Brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque buildup. Also, use a fluoride toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes each time, reaching all surfaces of your teeth.
• Regular dental check-ups can help prevent serious dental issues. This simple practice can also help ensure regular clean-ups.
• Flossing is as important as brushing. Flossing helps remove food particles from between teeth where the toothbrush bristles may not reach.
• Use a mouthwash regularly for better oral health. A mouthwash can help remove germs, freshen breath and prevent cavities.
• For a healthy mouth, it is important to clean the tongue too as plaque can build up on your tongue too.

Follow these simple steps and say hello to healthy teeth.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Medical Student Raped By Senior On Hospital Roof In Gujarat: Cops

A senior medical student was arrested for allegedly raping a junior at Vadodara Gotri Hospital, police said.

A final-year medical student took a second-year student to the roof of the hospital and allegedly raped her, said police.

Both the student and the accused came to know each other while doing an internship at the same medical college. They later both became friends with each other. After some time, a rift happened between both of them, according to the police.

The accused was threatening the victim, telling her that he had the recording of her phone calls. The victim called on the pretext of deleting the recording, and the accused took her to the roof of the hospital, where she was raped, said the police.

The student went to the police the next day and lodged a complaint.

The police have arrested the accused.

More details on the matter are awaited. Further investigation is underway.

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This Public Library In US Is Forgiving Fees For Cat Photos

Calling all cat lovers! The Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts has a purrfect solution for folks with overdue or lost library items. Until the end of March, simply bring in a picture (photograph, drawing, or even a magazine clipping) of a feline friend, and they'll reactivate your library card!

Dubbed "March Meowness," this program is their way to give the community a chance to make amends for misplaced books or damaged items without the fear of late fees keeping them away. The initiative has already been a roaring success, with hundreds of returned items, a flurry of cat photos on their Facebook page, and a growing "cat wall" showcasing adorable kitty art in the main library.

Worcester Public Library also said it would accept 'honorary cats' as well: "You may show us a picture or drawing of a dog, raccoon, orca, capybara, or any other animal."

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Speaking about why they set up the scheme WPL Executive Director Jason Homer told BBC, "We found that many of our patrons may have items that were misplaced during the pandemic as schools shuttered and we entered quarantine,"

"We wanted to get everyone back in the library, and using our resources, and also wanted to create a really low barrier to get these fees forgiven," he said.

However, there are a few rules for people returning books. The returned books must be from a Worcester Public Library and not another library, and must have been lost or damaged for at least two months. 

Meanwhile, the library's managers will review whether or not they'll accept the cat picture if the person has failed to return five or more books in the past, the media outlet reported. 

Some of the other cat-themed activities the library is running include aa screening of the 2019 movie Cats, a cat-eye make-up tutorial, a "de-stressing" hour of playing with shelter cats, DIY cat crafts, a scavenger hunt and more!

 

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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 5 Points On Ex Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP Candidate From Haveri

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is going to contest from the Haveri seat in the Lok Sabha polls. A close aide of BJP's Karnataka strongman BS Yediyurappa, he belongs to the politically influential Lingayat community.

Here are five facts about Basavaraj Bommai:

1. Basavaraj Somappa Bommai was born on January 28, 1960, in Hubli to former Karnataka chief minister SR Bommai and his wife, Gangamma Bommai. Basavaraj Bommai studied mechanical engineering and worked with Tata Motors before joining politics. 

2. Basavaraj Bommai became the chief minister of Karnataka in July 2021, following the resignation of BS Yediyurappa. He was sworn in as the 23rd chief minister of the state and held office till May 2023.

3. The former chief minister began his political career with the Janata Dal in 1992. He worked closely with senior leaders like HD Deve Gowda and Ramakrishna Hegde. He also served as a political secretary to former chief minister JH Patel.

4. In 1994, Mr Bommai contested in the Karnataka assembly elections from Hubli Rural but lost to BJP's Jagadish Shettar. He became a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council in 1998 and was re-elected in 2004, both times representing the Janata Dal.

5. In 2008, he left Janata Dal and joined the BJP. He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Shiggaon constituency the same year. Mr Bommai served as the minister for water resources from 2008 to 2013. He was also the minister of state for home affairs, law and parliamentary affairs in the BS Yediyurappa government.

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"You're Stuck On 2029, I Am Planning For 2047": PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he is already planning for the year 2047 adding that he has never worked for headlines but has always ensured to complete his work within deadlines.

When asked at the India Today Conclave whether Prime Minister Modi is already preparing for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister said, "Find out what Modi is. You are stuck on 2029 but I am planning for 2047."

PM Modi further mentioned that today the mood of the nation is about making India a "Viksit Bharat".

"Today the process of celebrating the biggest democratic festival has started. At a time when the whole world is facing uncertainties, one thing is sure India will keep developing at a fast pace. Today the mood of the nation is about India's efforts towards becoming the third biggest economy in the world. The mood of the nation is about making India a Viksit Bharat. Whenever I come at such conclave all you have expectations that I give many headlines but I don't work for headlines, but for deadlines," he said.

Prime Minister further said that the Northeast region of the country was neglected by the government before 2014 but became a priority under his government.

"Before 2014, the northeast region was always at the bottom of the list of priorities. After 2014, we decided that our ministers and senior officials would tour not only the district headquarters but also the interior parts of the region," he said.

Highlighting the efforts made in the Northeast region by the BJP-led Centre in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said that a change in mentality took place under his tenure towards its outlook for the villages in the region.

"Our Central ministers have visited the Northeast region 680 times. I alone went more to the Northeast region, which is more than the combined trips previous Prime Ministers took. We changed the mentality. Those which were called the last villages of India we changed that and started calling them the first villages. 17 of my cabinet ministers visited there and stayed all night," he said.

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Vladimir Putin Casts His Vote Online In Russian Presidential Elections

President Vladimir Putin cast his vote online Friday in Russia's presidential elections being held in occupied regions of Ukraine. 

Images distributed by the Kremlin showed the long-time Russian leader voting at a computer in his office and waving to the camera.

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Debt-Ridden Man Murders Wife, Son, Tries To Kill Self In Ghaziabad: Cops

A debt-ridden 42-year-old man allegedly tried to commit suicide after killing his wife and son in the Mahindra enclave area here on Thursday, police said.

The incident was reported from the Kavinagar police station area.

The bodies of Amar Deep Sharma's wife Sonu Sharma (36) and son Vinayak (11) were found in his house, police said and added that they had been killed with a sharp-edged weapon, which is yet to be recovered.

In preliminary investigations, it was found that he was debt ridden due to which he was depressed, they said.

Police said a note was found at the spot, and in it, he had apologised for killing his wife and son. He has confessed to his crime before police officials, they said.

Amar Deep got injured while trying to kill himself. He is undergoing treatment at a hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police (City Zone) Gyananjay Singh said.

Police are trying to find the weapon used in the crime, he said and added that a probe in underway.

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58-Year-Old Man Dies By Suicide After Killing Wife, Son In Maharashtra: Cops

A man allegedly hanged himself after killing his wife and son in the district on Thursday, police said.

The incident took place at Shanti Nagar village in Aroli police station limits, 70 km from here, said an official.

Shrinivas Vyankat Edupungati (58) allegedly killed his wife Sripadmalata (54) and son Chandrashekhar (29) in the early hours while they were asleep at home.

Between 4 and 5 am, CCTV footage showed Shrinivas moving about the house. The wife was strangling with a piece of rope while the son was smothered with a pillow before Shrinivas hanged himself from the ceiling fan.

Chandrashekhar's wife found her husband in an unconscious state around 6.30 am and alerted police.

Superintendent of Police Harssh Poddar visited the crime scene while a case of murder was registered at Aroli police station.

As per the preliminary probe, Shrinivas, who owned a rice mill, was facing financial difficulties and had defaulted on bank loan installments last month, SP Poddar said, adding that further probe was on.

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Pregnant US Teacher Collapses In Classroom And Dies Weeks Before Baby Was Due

Tragedy struck a rural New York school community.  Pregnant teacher Courtney Fannon, 29, died
unexpectedly just weeks before welcoming her first child. Mrs Fannon, a beloved special education teacher at Kendal Central School, was found unresponsive in her classroom, shortly after sending her husband a quick text on Friday, USA Today reported. 

Mrs Fannon proceeded through that day much like any other after the final bell at Kendall Central School, collecting her thoughts and belongings before departing for home. Shortly after she sent a message to her husband, she was found unconscious in her classroom, as reported by Matthew Smith, a dear friend of the couple, on GoFundMe.

Mrs Fannon, expecting her first daughter, Hadley Jaye, was taken to a nearby hospital, where life-saving efforts began for both mother and daughter. Tragically, they died later that evening.

“The world lost 2 beautiful souls, Courtney Fannon and Hadley Jaye Fannon, long before we were ready to live in a world without them. They were called to eternal rest the night of March 8th, after a very tragic and unexpected turn of events,” according to the GoFundMe post. 

The GoFundMe campaign has garnered approximately $47,623 as of Wednesday. These funds will be allocated to cover various final expenses, such as medical bills, and funeral service costs, and to provide short-term financial support for Mrs Fannon's husband, Kurtis.

The media outlet reported that Mrs Fannon had taught special education in the district since 2018. 

“Courtney was a special education teacher who served her students with passion and joy each day,” Schools Superintendent Nicholas Picardo said in a message, USA Today reported.

“When she wasn't in her classroom sharing her love and gift for teaching with her students, she could be found walking our halls with a smile and a friendly hello,” he added.

Mr Smith in his lengthy post on GoFundMe wrote that Mr Kurtis is living the “worst nightmare of having to return to a home, filled with baby toys, bottles, furniture and a finished nursery, that will no longer be filled with the cooing sounds and shuffling of a newborn.”

Mrs Fannon was due to give birth “in just 4 short weeks,” he wrote.

“For those who did not have the wonderful opportunity to meet or get to know Courtney, there is an endless amount of positive and good things that can only be said about her,” Smith continued.

“She was loving, genuine and organized in a way that always placed her students ahead of herself, ultimately changing the lives of her students and caregivers, always for the positive,” he wrote.

Smith also addressed the unborn girl in his tribute.

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PM Modi Holds Talks With Bhutanese Counterpart On Ways To Strengthen Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held extensive talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay focusing on ways to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The talks took place hours after Mr Tobgay began a five-day visit to India, his first foreign trip after assuming the charge of the top office in January.

Mr Tobgay was received at the airport in the national capital by Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

"The visit of @PMBhutan is in keeping with the exemplary ties of friendship between India & Bhutan," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on extending cooperation in the field of energy efficiency.

The Cabinet also cleared the signing of an agreement between Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for cooperation in the area of food safety.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said Mr Tobgay's visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review the progress in the "unique partnership" and to discuss ways to expand the "enduring" ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan.

Mr Tobgay's visit to India came against the backdrop of China and Bhutan looking at an expeditious resolution of their festering boundary row that could have implications for India's security interests.

Around five months back, Bhutan's then Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

A Chinese readout on the talks said Bhutan firmly abides by the one-China principle and stands ready to work with China for an early settlement of the boundary issue and advance the political process of establishing diplomatic relations.

New Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for New Delhi's security interests, especially in the Doklam tri-junction.

In August last year, China and Bhutan agreed to expedite and take simultaneous steps to implement a "three-step roadmap to resolve their festering boundary dispute.

In October 2021, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on the "three-step roadmap" to expedite negotiations to resolve their boundary dispute.

The signing of the pact came four years after the Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau in 2017 even triggered fears of larger conflict between the two neighbours. Bhutan had said the area belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim.

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6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Papua New Guinea early Thursday, about 65 kilometres southeast of the town of Kimbe, the United States Geological Survey said.

The quake had a depth of approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles), and struck outside Kimbe, in the West New Britain region, at about 1:13 am (1513 GMT Wednesday), the USGS said.

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Salman Khan Reviews Laapataa Ladies, Accidentally Calls It Kiran Rao's Directorial Debut

Salman Khan was the latest Bollywood celebrity to heap praises on Aamir khan and Kiran Rao's film Laapataa Ladies. The actor, who shares a close bond with Aamir Khan, wrote his review of the film on X (previously known as Twitter) on Wednesday evening. He however accidentally called the film Kiran Rao's directorial debut. For the unversed, Kiran Rao is the producer of Laapataa Ladies and her directorial debut was the 2010 film Dhobi Ghat. Salman Khan in his post wrote, "Just saw Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies. Wah wah (wow) Kiran. I really enjoyed it and so did my father. Congrats on your debut as a director, superb job. Kab kaam karogi mere saath (When will you work with me)." As soon as the post was up, Internet users were quick to correct him that it's not Kiran's directorial debut. One wrote, "Kiran Rao debuted in 2010 for your Information," while another user wrote, "Debut Kiran Rao ka DHOBI GHAT thi, sir."

Take a look at Salman Khan's post below:

Just saw Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies. Wah wah Kiran. I really enjoyed it n so did my father. Congrats on your debut as a director, superb job. Kab kaam karogi mere saath ?

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) March 13, 2024

A few days back, veteran actress Shabana Azmi also heaped praised on the film and its cast. The Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani actress on Sunday wrote an elaborate post, praising Kiran Rao for creating a "delightful" film such as Laapataa Ladies. Heaping praises on the entire cast and cast, Shabana Azmi wrote, "What a delightful film # Kiran Rao's#Lapata Ladies is.so well written with authentic atmosphere and lovely performances by the cast with #Ravi Kishen topping them all. The audience was laughing and clapping. Kudos to Kiran Rao. Please go and watch the film Now .Such little gems must be patronised by audiences."

Take a look at her full post below:

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A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18)

The film features Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastava in lead roles. Additionally, Chhaya Kadam, Durgesh Kumar, Satendra Soni, and Hemant Soni also play significant roles in Laapataa Ladies. The movie has been jointly backed by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Jyoti Deshpande.

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Google Restricts Gemini AI From Answering Questions On Global Elections

Google is restricting AI chatbot Gemini from answering questions about the global elections set to happen this year, the Alphabet-owned firm said on Tuesday, as it looks to avoid potential missteps in the deployment of the technology.

The update comes at a time when advancements in generative AI, including image and video generation, have fanned concerns of misinformation and fake news among the public, prompting governments to regulate the technology.

When asked about elections such as the upcoming U.S. presidential match-up between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Gemini responds with "I'm still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search".

Google had announced restrictions within the U.S. in December, saying they would come into effect ahead of the election.

"In preparation for the many elections happening around the world in 2024 and out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting the types of election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses," a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Aside from the United States, national elections are set to be held in several large countries including South Africa and India, the world's largest democracy.

India has asked tech firms to seek government approval before the public release of AI tools that are "unreliable" or under trial, and to label them for the potential to return wrong answers.

Google's AI products are under the scanner after inaccuracies in some historical depictions of people created by Gemini forced it to pause the chatbot's image-generation feature late last month.

CEO Sundar Pichai had said the company was working to fix those issues and called the chatbot's responses "biased" and "completely unacceptable".

Facebook-parent Meta Platforms said last month it will set up a team to tackle disinformation and the abuse of generative AI in the run-up to European Parliament elections in June.

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French State Services Hit By Cyberattacks Of "Unprecedented Intensity"

Several French state bodies have been hit with cyberattacks of "unprecedented intensity", Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's office said Monday while insisting the government had been able to contain the impact.

"Many ministerial services were targeted" from Sunday "using familiar technical means but of unprecedented intensity," Attal's office said, without providing further details of the targets.

A security source told AFP that the attacks "are not currently attributable to Russia," an obvious suspect for many given Paris' support for Kyiv since the invasion of Ukraine.

The PM's staff added that a "crisis cell has been activated to deploy countermeasures", meaning "the impact of these attacks has been reduced for most services and access to state websites restored."

Specialist services including information security agency ANSSI were "implementing filtering measures until the attacks are over".

A group calling itself Anonymous Sudan claimed responsibility for what it said was a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on French government network infrastructure.

"We have conducted a massive cyberattack... the damage will be widespread," the group, which posts with an avatar of a hooded Guy Fawkes mask in front of a desert scene with pyramids, said in a Telegram post.

"A lot of different digital government sectors have been affected, including very important websites, with their respective subdomains."

Anonymous Sudan is a known outfit that has carried out attacks in the past year against websites in countries including Sweden, Denmark and Israel.

Purportedly based in Sudan, it says it targets what it deems to be an anti-Muslim activity with some signs that it is sympathetic to Russia.

A DDoS attack involves using a computer or network of computers to make a massive number of requests of a target system, overwhelming its ability to respond to legitimate users.

According to US cybersecurity firm Cloudflare, Anonymous Sudan is one of many groups employing DDoS attacks and organisations can protect themselves against its methods.

The latest cyberattack to hit France follows a warning from Attal's defence adviser last week that the Paris Olympics and European Parliament elections this summer could be "significant targets".

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said last month that protection against "sabotage and cyberattack" by Russia should be stepped up, in an internal note seen by AFP that said his ministry was top of Moscow's target list.

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"PM Modi Has Delivered On Another Commitment": Amit Shah On CAA Rules

The Centre on Monday implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, notifying the rules four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.

With the unveiling of the rules that came days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the Modi government will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from the three countries. The rules come into force with immediate effect, according to a Gazette notification.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of the Constitution.

Official sources said CAA-2019 is a law to give citizenship and will not take away citizenship of any Indian irrespective of their religion, adding it is only for those who have suffered persecution for years and have no other shelter in the world except India.

Many misconceptions have been spread regarding the CAA, they said.

The CAA secured Parliament's approval in December 2019 and subsequently got the President's assent but there were protests in several parts of the country against it, with many opposition parties speaking out against the law calling it "discriminatory". Over 100 people lost their lives during the anti-CAA protests or police action.

"These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation.

"With this notification, PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of our Constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries," Minister Shah said on X.

The Modi government today notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation.

With this notification PM Shri @narendramodi Ji has…

— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) March 11, 2024

A Home Ministry spokesperson said the applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided. The law could not come into effect as rules had not been notified till now.

While the Congress and other opposition parties slammed the government's step, alleging the new law is designed to polarise the coming Lok Sabha elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called it historic and a "humanitarian decision".

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the announcement is yet another attempt to "manage the headlines" after the Supreme Court's strictures on Monday on the electoral bonds issue.

"After seeking nine extensions for the notification of the rules, the timing right before the elections is evidently designed to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam," he said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinaray Vijayan described the CAA as a communally divisive law and asserted that it will not be implemented in the southern state.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Centre's move is against the country and that it was "dirty politics" of the BJP to make poor people from neighbouring countries its vote bank in India.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would fiercely oppose the CAA if she found it to be discriminatory against groups of people living in India and if it curtailed their existing citizenship rights in any manner.

The Trinamool Congress supremo was talking to reporters just minutes before the CAA rules were officially notified by the Centre, West Bengal's Matua community celebrated the implementation of the citizenship law at the headquarters of the sect at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district, claiming it to be their "second independence day".

Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are a weaker section of Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh.

The community, with an estimated population of three million in the state, can tilt the scales in favour of a political party in more than 30 assembly seats in Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas districts bordering Bangladesh.

Pakistani Hindu refugees, who have been living a life of uncertainty, welcomed the government's step.

Some of the refugees residing in Delhi said they were elated and that they "will finally be called Indian citizens".

Celebrations also erupted in the Majnu ka Tilla area where they mostly live.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 30 indigenous organisations burnt copies of the CAA in different parts of Assam, including Guwahati, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh and Tezpur.

The 16-party United Opposition Forum, Assam, (UOFA) announced a statewide hartal on Tuesday, besides taking up other agitational programmes in a phased manner.

"We will continue with our non-violent, peaceful, democratic movement against CAA. Alongside, we will also continue our legal fight," AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya told PTI.

Bhattacharjya asserted that the indigenous people of Assam and North-East will never accept CAA.

According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, the rules for any legislation should be framed within six months of presidential assent or the government has to seek an extension from the Committees on Subordinate Legislation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Since 2020, the Home Ministry has been taking extensions at regular intervals from the parliamentary committee for framing the rules.

No document will be sought from the applicants, an official said.

Security was stepped up in Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Nagar and other areas of the national capital as well as in various states which had earlier witnessed anti-CAA protests.

Under the notified rules, the Applicants for Indian citizenship will have to continuously spend at least 12 months in India preceding the date of the application.

The rules also said that during the eight years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, the applicants will have to spend at least a total of six years in India to be eligible to get Indian citizenship.

The applicants will also have to give a declaration that they "irrevocably" renounce the existing citizenship and that they want to make "India a permanent home", it said.

They will have to declare that they will not lay claim on the renounced citizenship in future, it added.

All cleared applicants will have to take an oath of allegiance affirming that they will "bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India" as by law established and that they would "faithfully observe the laws of India" and "fulfil" their duties as a citizen of India, it said. 

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"Unfortunate": BJP On Himachal Chief Minister's 'Black Snakes' Jibe For Rebel MLAs

The Himachal Pradesh unit of BJP on Monday said it was "unfortunate" that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has resorted to "harassing" MLAs and calling them "black snakes", and added that such words should not be used for elected representatives.

Addressing media persons here, BJP spokesman Balbir Verma and former minister Chowdhary Sukhram said the chief minister was in panic and was wreaking vengeance by using intemperate language.

He said that 32 senior Congress leaders, including Lal Chand Kataria, Rajendra Yadav, Richhpal Mirdha and Vijaypal Mirdha joined BJP in Rajasthan and leaders like Gulam Nabi Azad, Rita Bahuguna, Jyotiraje Scindhia and Milan Devara left the Congress but no leader made such remarks against them.

During recent public meetings, Mr Sukhu referred to the six rebel Congress MLAs, who had voted in favour of the BJP's nominee in the recently held Rajya Sabha polls, as "six black snakes ('kala nag')".

The chief minister said the rebel leaders "sold their souls" to "destabilise" the government. He has also compared them to shepherds being moved from one place to another.

Speaking to media persons on Monday, BJP leaders Verma and Sukhram said that the Congress government did not have a majority in the assembly and has "no right to remain in power".

"Development works were already moving at slow pace and now it has come to a standstill as the chief minister was busy saving his chair," the BJP leaders said.

Six Congress rebels -- Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto -- who cross-voted in favour of the BJP were disqualified for defying a whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the government during the cut motion and budget.

The six Congress rebels and three Independent MLAs who had voted for the BJP candidate in the recent Rajya Sabha polls, in a joint statement, accused the government of getting false cases registered against them and their relatives to build pressure.

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Results For Sainik Schools Entrance Exam To Be Out Soon

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the results for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) 2024. Students who appeared in the exam will be able to check their results on the official website by entering their login details. 

Candidates will be required to enter their application number (or DOB) and password for downloading their scorecards.

The AISSEE 2024 examination was held on January 28, 2024, at various centres across the country. The paper for admission to Class 6 was held from 2pm to 4.30pm, and for Class 9, from 2pm to 5pm.

According to the official bulletin, the results will be announced six weeks after the examination. 

AISSEE 2024 conducted for admission to classes 6 and 9, enabling students to join English medium residential schools affiliated with CBSE that prepare cadets for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla (Pune), Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, and other Training Academies for officers. Currently, there are a total of 33 Sainik Schools across the country.

Students seeking admission to Class 6 at Sainik schools must fall within the age range of 10 to 12 years as of March 31, 2023. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted approval for the establishment of 35 new Sainik Schools, which will operate in collaboration with NGOs, private schools, and state governments. Admission for girls is open for Class 6, subject to the availability of vacancies.  The age criteria for female students are the same as those for boys. For admission to Class 9, candidates' age should be between 13 and 15 years as of March 31, 2024, and should have passed Class 8 from a recognised school.

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Man Dies By Suicide As Wife Leaves Home After Fight In Nagpur: Police

A 35-year-old man allegedly committed suicide after his wife walked out of their home in Geeta Nagar in Nagpur following an argument, a police official said on Sunday.

The man hanged himself using a saree on Saturday, the Hudkeshwar police station official said.

"He had called his wife to return home. When she refused, he ended his life. An accidental death case has been registered," the official added. 

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Lok Sabha Polls: BJP To Finalise Remaining Candidates In 3 States Tonight

The Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a late night meeting to finalise the remaining seats in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, sources said on Saturday.

According to the sources, a meeting of BJP's core group leaders from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana will be held with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah tonight.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its list of candidates for the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar MLC elections.

The BJP has announced its candidates for 3 seats in Bihar for now, which include Mangal Pandey, Dr Lal Mohan Gupta, and Anamika Singh for the MLC election 2024.

There are a total of 11 seats up for contest in Bihar.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP fielded Vijay Bahadur Pathak, Mahendra Kumar Singh, Mohit Beniwal, Ashok Katariya, Dharmendra Singh, Ramtirath Singhal, and Santosh Singh.

In UP, candidates will contest 13 MLC seats, with the BJP announcing its candidates for 7 seats.

The MLC election in Bihar and UP is scheduled for March 21, and the last date for filing the nomination is March 11.

In a big jolt to the Congress party, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri joined the BJP in Bhopal on Saturday.

Former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri on Saturday pointed to some decisions, both 'political and religious', as ones that prompted his exit from the party.

Speaking to ANI after being formally inducted into the BJP, Pachouri said, "I entered politics to serve society and the country. Congress has always worked towards establishing a classless society. However, the idea stands rejected today. Some of the decision-making by the Congress high command, especially on religious and political matters, drove me closer to the edge and eventually exit the party."

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"Myanmar Nationals Who Entered India Illegally Deported Today": Manipur Chief Minister

The Manipur government on Friday began deporting Myanmar nationals who had fled a recent surge in fighting between the ruling junta and pro-democracy insurgents in the border region, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today," Mr Singh said, without providing specific numbers.

"Although India is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter and aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach," Mr Singh said.

Thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in Myanmar, crossing into ethnic violence-hit Manipur and neighbouring Mizoram.

Mr Singh posted a video showing the Myanmar nationals, mostly women and children, being sent away from the airport in the state capital Imphal.

First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today.

Although India is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach. pic.twitter.com/zgte8RfmGl

— N.Biren Singh (Modi Ka Parivar) (@NBirenSingh) March 8, 2024

The deportation comes a month after the Centre called for an immediate end to a free movement border agreement with Myanmar that allowed residents living in border zones to venture a short distance into their neighbouring nation's territory without a visa.

India is also erecting a 1,643-km-long fence along the porous border with Myanmar through remote jungles and snow-capped peaks towards Arunachal Pradesh.

The Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur and Mizoram share ethnic and familial ties with the Chin people in Myanmar. Many of those who have fled to India from Myanmar share ethnic ties with the Kuki-Zo tribes.

Over 200 people have been killed since last May in clashes between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis over serious disagreements on sharing land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies.

Parts of Myanmar near the border with India have seen frequent clashes since the Arakan Army insurgents attacked junta forces in November, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since a 2021 military coup.

Hundreds of soldiers were among those who had fled Myanmar and crossed over to India to escape the fighting.

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AAP vs BJP Over Order To Demolish Pak Hindu Refugee Camps In Delhi

After the Aam Aadmi Party's allegation that the Central Government is trying to bulldoze the houses of Pakistani Hindu refugees in the National Capital, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Thursday said that it is regrettable to see AAP leaders including Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj indulging in "dirty politics".

"In an order, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered long ago removal of encroachments on the river bank south of Gurdwara Majnu ka Tila but with a humanitarian approach, the concerned wing of DDA delayed it. When removal became inevitable the DDA issued a notice of removal but in the notice, it offered Pakistan refugees temporary alternate accommodation," he said.

"The local BJP unit of Chandni Chowk has been offering support to these Pakistan refugees in their hour of need. In the Covid phase, BJP workers organised regular food, clothes medicines etc., for these Hindu refugees from Pakistan even the the local Aam Aadmi Party MLA went missing," Virendra Sachdeva added.

The BJP Delhi president also asserted that as soon as refugee leaders apprised BJP leaders about the eviction notice late last night we immediately took up the matter with the Lt. Governor and stalled the eviction scheduled for today.

"It's regrettable that despite being in Delhi Government, the AAP leaders have never in last nine years visited the Hindu Refugees from Pakistan and even today choose to do press conferences instead of offering them proper accommodation. Lt. Governor has assured us that the Hindu Refugees will not be evicted without being allowed alternative accommodation," he said.

Aam Aadmi Party, today, in a post said ever since the new LG came, the houses of lakhs of people in Delhi have been demolished by the agencies of the Central Government (BJP).

"Hindu refugees who came from Pakistan 13 years ago were living with their small children near Majnu Ka Tila. Now the central government agency DDA has given them a notice that their houses will be demolished by DDA's bulldozers on 7-8th," the AAP alleged.

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Tamannaah, Ankita Lokhande Lead Celeb Roll Call At An Award Show

It was a star-studded night on Thursday as stars across film and television fraternity assembled under one roof to attend an award show in Mumbai. From Bigg Boss 17 former contestant Ankita Lokhande, Lust Stories 2 actress Tamannaah to Kartik Aaryan, it was a full house at the award show. Ankita Lokhande went full desi in a gorgeous orange saree. Her plus one at the event was her mom Vandana Lokhande. Tamannaah, who recently completed 16 years in the film industry, showed up at the event in a stunning white saree.

Take some pictures from the night:

Other celebs marking their presence at the event were Kartik Aaryan, Veteran actresses Padmini Kolhapure, Bhagyashree, Saiyami Kher, Sonali Kulkarni and others. Kartik Aaryan, who is gearing up for his upcoming film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 turned up at the event in a black kurta. Padmini Kolhapuri, Bhagyashree, Saiyami Kher, Sonali Kulkarni were spotted in their festive best.

Take a look at some pictures of the night:

On the work front, Ankita Lokhande is on a roll. She will next be seen in Randeep Hooda's Swatantrya Veer Savarkar as Yamunabai. Yamunabai was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's wife. When asked about the difference between Jhalkaribai (Manikarnika) and Yamunabai, Ankita Lokhande told Pinkvilla, "It's not right to compare the characters as both are completely different. Jhalkaribai fought battles being on the front foot, while Yamunabai was on the back foot. Her battle was different than Jhalkarbai. But yes, both the characters are very powerful in their own ways." FYI, Ankita Lokhande made her debut in films with Manikarnika. Ankita as Jhalkarbai played the role of a commander in Rani Laxmibai's army.

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tamannaah-ankita-lokhande-lead-celeb-roll-call-at-an-award-show-5196048#publisher=newsstand