Video: Elon Musk Grooves To YMCA As He Celebrates Thanksgiving With Donald Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have been nearly inseparable since the elections earlier this month and their bonhomie was once again at display, during a Thanksgiving dinner in Florida.

A viral video of the event shows Mr Musk sitting at a table with Mr Trump, incoming First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron. As Mr Trump taps on Mr Musk's shoulder, the X boss raises his hand and grooves to the 'YMCA' song that can be heard in the background.

Trump then shifts his focus to Barron, encouraging him to join in. Barron, however, simply smiles but remains seated. The event was held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

"Hope you had a great Thanksgiving," Mr Musk wrote on X.

Mr Musk, who owns X and rocket company SpaceX, and is chief executive of the electric car company Tesla Inc, also spent time with American actor Sylvester Stallone at the event.

"I was telling @TheSlyStallone that I just watched Demolition Man again and how well it predicted the crazy woke future 30 years ago!" Mr Musk wrote on X, referring to the movie that stars Stallone.

Mr Musk has been using his social media platform X to endorse Mr Trump's cabinet picks and promote his own-preferred candidates.

Mr Musk, who has over 206 million followers on X, posted or reposted about Mr Trump's cabinet picks more than 70 times between November 7 and November 20, a Reuters review found.

In between his constant postings of memes of himself and Trump, the X boss has even embraced a title suggested for his role: "First Buddy".



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Indian Diplomats In Canada Under Surveillance, Centre Tells Parliament

Consular officials at the Indian consulate in Vancouver were recently informed by the Canadian authorities that they have been and continue to be under "audio and video surveillance" and that their "private communications" have also been "intercepted", the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response in Rajya Sabha also said "respect for each other's concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty are essential for a stable bilateral relationship".

Mr Singh was asked whether there are any instances of cyber surveillance or other forms of surveillance targeting Indian diplomats in Canada.

"Yes. Recently, consular officials at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver were informed by the Canadian authorities that they have been, and continue to be under audio and video surveillance and that their private communications have also been intercepted."

"Government of India lodged a strong protest with the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on this issue vide its note verbale dated November 2, 2024 as these actions were a flagrant violation of all diplomatic provisions," Mr Singh said in his response.

The minister in his response also quoted a response of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson in his weekly briefing to the media recently here.

"By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence."

"This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices," the spokesperson had said.

Mr Singh was also asked the details and the steps taken to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats.

"On the question of safety and security of Indian diplomats in Canada, the Government of India remains continuously engaged with the Canadian side to ensure that adequate protection is offered at all times to our diplomatic personnel and properties," he said.

The minister also said the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, in its biennial National Cyber Threat Assessment (NCTA) report for 2025-2026 released on October 30, "placed India under 'Section 1 - Cyber threat from state adversaries'".

The MEA had responded to the report on November 2, stating that it was yet another example of Canada's "negative" approach to ties with India. As on other occasions, imputations have been made about India "without any evidence", the minister said, quoting MEA's response.

In a separate written response, Mr Singh also replied to queries on the steps taken for resolving issues with Canada and whether it is a fact that the Government of Canada has "expressed its inability" to provide minimum security to our embassy, consulates and diplomats.

"The two governments are in touch regarding the state of their bilateral ties. Respect for each other's concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty are essential for a stable bilateral relationship.

"In this regard, Government of India has repeatedly urged the Canadian Government to take prompt and effective action against anti-India elements operating from its soil. This includes preventing secessionist and extremist elements from glorifying the assassination of our leaders issuing threats to our current political leadership and diplomats disrespecting and vandalising places of worship and espousing for the balkanisation of India by holding so-called 'referendums'," he added.

Mr Singh further said while the Canadian authorities have been able to provide "security protection to our diplomats and diplomatic properties", they have recently "expressed their inability to provide security cover to our consular camps from the violent acts of secessionist and extremist elements".

With nearly 1.8 million Indo-Canadians (accounting for about 4.7 per cent of Canada's population) and another 1 million comprising non-resident Indians including approximately 4,27,000 Indian students, Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas abroad, he said.

"As such, the welfare, safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada is of utmost importance to Government of India," the Union minister said.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada is giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity. 



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"Not Born Perverted": Lawyer Of Husband In Gisele Pelicot Mass Rape Case

A lawyer for the chief defendant in a French mass rape trial on Wednesday urged the court to recall his good side after prosecutors demanded lengthy jail terms for the dozens of suspects.

The main defendant, Dominique Pelicot, has admitted enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his then-wife while she was drugged and unconscious.

Prosecutors have called for a maximum 20-year jail term for the 72-year-old, who has been on trial in the southern city of Avignon since September with 49 other men for organising the repeated rape and sexual abuse of Gisele Pelicot.

Prosecutors also sought jail terms of between 10 and 18 years for most of the co-defendants, with a four-year punishment requested in only one case.

"With your verdict you will make clear that there is no such thing as ordinary rape," lead prosecutor, Laure Chabaud, told the court Wednesday.

"You will deliver a message of hope to the victims of sexual violence" and "return a part of humanity to Gisele Pelicot that she was robbed of", she said.

Kicking off closing arguments by some 30 defence lawyers -- scheduled to last until December 13 -- was Beatrice Zavarro, the lawyer for Dominique Pelicot.

He has been described as the "conductor" behind the sexual abuse of his former wife, the details of which have shocked France.

'Accepted and admitted'

Beginning by addressing her "deep respect" for Gisele Pelicot, her ex-husband's lawyer spent around an hour recalling that Dominique had been a "good husband, father and grandfather" according to all who knew him.

Zavarro plunged back into his traumatic childhood -- which he claims included sexual abuse -- and shaky mental state to explain his "perversity".

"People aren't born perverted, they become it," she said, repeating her client's own words from his first courtroom questioning.

"Dominique Pelicot has accepted and admitted the harm of which he is accused," Zavarro said.

But she insisted that he was not the "conductor" many of the other defendants painted him as, some claiming they were under his domination or even themselves drugged.

"What comes next is of course the sentence you will issue, perhaps distancing yourselves a little from the strongest requested by prosecutors," she told judges.

"He has been hoping to apologise 1,000 times, I don't know if you will listen to him, Madame, but he's saying it again," Zavarro added to Gisele Pelicot.

"Keep in mind the first Dominique, the one you cherished, hugged and loved deeply," she told Gisele and her children, who are co-plaintiffs in the case.

Earlier in the hearings, the court had heard how Gisele Pelicot told police her then-husband was a "super guy" before learning of the abuse.

'Devil's advocate'

Dominique Pelicot's decade-long abuse was only uncovered after he was arrested for filming up women's skirts in public.

The probe led investigators to his meticulously-kept records of the visitors to the family home in the town of Mazan.

Their trial has made Gisele Pelicot, who insisted the hearings be held in public, a feminist icon in women's fight against sexual abuse.

Pelicot is the only one of the 50 men to have fully confessed to the the crimes he is accused of.

Observers say his lawyer Zavarro has an impossible task on her hands.

If convicted, her client would be considered one of France's worst-ever sex offenders.

But Zavarro has refused to describe her client as a "monster", insisting instead that she represents a man who has committed "monstrous" crimes.

"I have become the devil's advocate against my will... as I have often told you, it's the two of us against the whole world," she told her client in court.

Lawyers for Pelicot's co-defendants are to lay out their closing arguments starting Thursday.

Most are expected to argue that their clients were manipulated by Dominique Pelicot to sexually abuse his wife.

Some have already argued that they assumed Pelicot had his wife's consent, and that they were playing a part in a libertine sex game.

The verdicts in the case are expected by December 20.



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Centre Approves India's Own Space Station, Venus Orbiting Mission: ISRO

The Union government has given the green light to Shukrayaan-1 -- part of India's Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) --, and setting up Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) -- India's own space station, Nilesh M Desai from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said.

"The Indian government has recently given a nod to our Venus Orbiting Satellite -- Shukrayaan. It will be launched in 2028," said Mr Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO Ahmedabad, while speaking to the media.

Venus, often called Earth's twin, is the closest planet to our planet and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth.

The VOM probe will help scientists understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently. It will also help search how Venus -- believed to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth -- transformed.

The mission would also enable India for future planetary missions with larger payloads, and optimal orbit insertion approaches.

Further, Mr Desai noted that "the government has also approved to construct India's own space station".

While the International Space Station has 16 pressurised modules, "BAS will have five", he said, adding that the first module will be launched in 2028.

"India's space station will be ready by 2035. As a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to land on the Moon by 2040, our space station will function as a transit facility en route," Mr Desai said.

Mr Desai also informed that the government has "proposed the idea of Chandrayaan 4 as a follow up of Chandrayaan 3". He noted that with Chandrayaan 4, India "will not only land on the Moon but also bring back soil and rock samples".

He further noted that India plans to collaborate with Japan for the Chandrayaan 4 mission, which "will go to the tip of the Moon's south pole at 90 degrees south". Chandrayaan 3 reached 69.3 degrees south on the lunar surface.

"Chandrayaan 4 will be a precise landing. The rover as a part of the mission will weigh 350 kg, which is 12 times heavier than the previous rover," Mr Desai said.

Although "ISRO is yet to get the government's nod for this mission, Mr Desai said, the space agency aims to "execute the mission by 2030".



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NATO Vows Ukraine Backing After Russian Missile 'Intimidation'

NATO pledged support for Ukraine at talks in Brussels Tuesday after Russia's attempt to "intimidate" Kyiv's backers by firing an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile last week. 

Russia on Thursday carried out a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro which President Vladimir Putin said was a test of its new Oreshnik missile.

Putin said the missile attack was in response to Ukraine firing weapons supplied by the United States and Britain into Russia.

The Kremlin leader warned that Moscow felt "entitled" to hit military facilities in countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia. 

"During the meeting, NATO allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine," the alliance said in a statement after the talks.  

"The attack, which targeted Dnipro, is seen as another attempt by Russia to terrorise the civilian population in Ukraine and intimidate those who support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggression."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called the strike "the latest bout of Russian madness" and appealed for updated air-defence systems to meet the new threat.

Kyiv called for "concrete and meaningful outcomes" after calling the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. 

A NATO official said Ukraine identified air defence systems that it needs to try to counter the new missile threat from Moscow ahead of a gathering of alliance foreign ministers in Brussels next week. 

Some allies hinted that they could make announcements at the meeting next week on fresh air defences for Kyiv, the official said. 

The escalating tensions over Ukraine come as questions hang over the future of Western support following the re-election of Donald Trump in main NATO power the United States. 

Moscow on Tuesday pledged "retaliatory actions" to fresh Ukrainian air attacks inside Russia using US-supplied ATACMS missiles. 

In a rare admission, Russia said the fresh strikes had caused damage to military hardware and wounded some of its personnel on the ground in the Kursk region.

Trump has cast doubt on maintaining Washington's vast military aid for Kyiv and pledged a quick deal to end the war.  

On the battlefield, Ukraine's fatigued troops are struggling to halt advances by Russian forces in the east of the country. 

NATO and Ukraine established the joint council in 2023 that allows Kyiv to call meetings with the alliance when it sees fit.
 



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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Meets PM Modi, Invites Him For Swearing-In Ceremony

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and extended a formal invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of his government, which is scheduled to take place in Ranchi on November 28.

Hemant Soren was accompanied by his wife Kalpana Soren, the newly elected MLA from the Gandey constituency.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Hemant and Kalpana Soren on their electoral success and shared pictures of the meeting on X.

Earlier, Hemant Soren also met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party President Mallikarjun Kharge, inviting them to the ceremony.

The swearing-in ceremony is set to take place at Morabadi Ground, Ranchi, on November 28 at 4 p.m. Along with the Chief Minister, several other ministers are expected to take the oath. Hemant Soren was unanimously elected as the leader of the INDIA bloc in the state on Sunday.

A JMM spokesperson said that invitations have been sent to various prominent political figures, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal, CPI-ML leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, and the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Jammu and Kashmir.

The results of the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly elections, announced on November 23, gave the Hemant Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD alliance a resounding victory with 56 seats. The JMM won 34, the Congress 16, the RJD 4, and the CPI-ML 2 seats. This marks the first time a government in Jharkhand has secured a two-thirds majority.

Hemant Soren will make history as the first leader to be sworn in as Jharkhand's Chief Minister four times. He first took oath on July 13, 2013, leading a Congress-RJD-supported government until December 2014.

He returned as CM on December 29, 2019, but had to resign after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31, 2024. After his release on bail, he was sworn in for the third time on July 4, 2024.

Earlier, his father Shibu Soren, and BJP's Arjun Munda have each served three terms as Jharkhand Chief Minister.



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Behind Udaipur Royal Family Feud, A Will By Maharana That Dates Back To 1984

The royal family clash that erupted at the Udaipur Palace on Monday evening follows a long dispute over the management of palaces and temples by the city royals, who are the descendants of the legendary warrior Maharana Pratap. Palace entry was refused to Vishvraj Singh, the new Maharana of Mewar, by the palace trust which is run by his uncle Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar and cousin Dr Lakshya Raj Singh. This sparked the clash that left three injured and a massive security arrangement by the district administration.

The Royal Feud

The Udaipur Palace trust issued two notices on Monday morning stating that unauthorised entry into its palaces and trusts won't be allowed. The public notices also gave a glimpse of how the royal properties were managed by members of the family.

Read: After Udaipur Royal Clash, Massive Security, Maharana Awaits Temple Visit

Shri Eklingji Trust was formed in 1955 to manage the palaces, temples, and forts of the Mewar family. Bhagwat Singh, the 75th Maharana and grandfather of Vishvraj Singh, had two sons - Mahendra Singh and Arvind Singh. Before his death, he had given the trust's control to his younger son, Arvind Singh, and kept Mahendra Singh, father of Vishvraj Singh, out of it.

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When Bhagwat Singh was alive, Mahendra Singh even filed court cases against his own father, the notice read. This led to Bhagwat Singh "banning" (or excluding) his eldest son from the family in his last will dated May 15, 1984, and appointing his younger son as its executor. Arvind Singh became the trust's chairman after his father's death in November that year.

Read: Clashes At Udaipur Palace Gates Over New Maharana's Face-Off With Cousin

After the eldest son, Mahendra Singh's death this year, his son Vishraj Singh, BJP MLA from Rajasmand, was anointed the 77th Maharana of Mewar at a traditional coronation ceremony in the historic Chittorgarh Fort - involving centuries-old traditions like raj-tilak being done by blood.

The palace trust's notice, however, pointed out Vishvraj Singh is neither a trustee nor does he hold any legal title in the trust.

What Happened On Monday

After his symbolic coronation, Vishvraj Singh decided to seek the blessings of his family deity. He wanted to visit the Dhuni Mata temple in the palace complex and the Ekling Shiv Temple about 50 km from Udaipur, both managed by the trust run by his uncle.

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The palace, however, shut its gates on the day Mr Singh was to visit the temple. The notice refusing unauthorised entry to the properties was published in newspapers on Monday morning and when Vishvraj Singh reached the palace gates, he was turned away. This angered his supporters, who tried breaking down the barricades erected by the administration. Visuals showed stones landing from both sides as cops tried to control the mob.

The notice said that Vishvraj Singh was trying to commit "criminal trespass" in the palace with a rally to fulfil their personal interests. Mr Singh, it said, has a malicious intent and wants to disrupt peace. But the new Maharana asserted that property disputes should be kept away from royal traditions and that he just wanted a darshan of the deity.

The state government has passed an order appointing a receiver who will take possession of the route leading to the Dhooni Mata temple. Vishwaraj Singh is now hopeful that the administration, through this order, will get the temple gates opened for him.



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5,500 kg Meth On Myanmar Boat: What Led To Biggest Drug Haul By Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard today caught a Myanmarese fishing boat in the Andaman Sea, which was carrying 5,500 kg of Methamphetamine and a satellite phone, making it the biggest-ever drug haul by the Coast Guard in the maritime domain.

The Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft detected the boat 'Soe Wai Yan Htoo' during a reconnaissance sortie. The reconnaissance party found the boat's operations suspicious and informed the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), which deployed a Fast Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali, to intercept the boat.

The vessel did not match the characteristics of a local Indian boat, and it carried the Myanmar flag. The Indian Coast Guard shadowed the vessel until the early morning of Sunday. 

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Coast Guard's Aruna Asaf Ali boarded the suspicious boat for investigation at 0630 hrs on 24 Nov 24 when it was eight nautical miles off Barren Island in the Indian Territorial waters. The six boat crew onboard the boat were identified as Myanmarese nationals. 

During the boat's rummaging, 5,500 kg of white crystalline compound onboard along with one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone were found. The white crystalline compound was anticipated to be contraband, and hence, the boat was apprehended. 

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Subsequently, the boat was brought to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' capital, Sri Vijaya Puram, for further investigation. 

The seizure is the largest-ever drug haul by the Indian Coast Guard in maritime history. In the recent past, there has been a rise in the detection/sighting of Rohingya boats/ Myanmarese poachers in the Andaman seas. 

The seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs revealed during the joint interrogation of an apprehended poacher. 



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Eknath Shinde Elected As Leader Of Shiv Sena Legislature Party

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was on Sunday night elected as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party.

The resolution to this effect was unanimously passed by all 57 MLA-designates at a meeting held at a suburban hotel.

Three more resolutions, including hailing Eknath Shinde for leading the party to a spectacular victory, thanking PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support and the people of Maharashtra for reposing their faith in the Mahayuti alliance, were also passed.

The Mahayuti of Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP clinched a stellar victory, winning 233 out of 288 seats in the state assembly polls, leaving opposition MVA with a tally of 46 seats.



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How Indian Students Abroad Can Balance Studies with Part-Time Jobs

For Indian students studying abroad, part-time jobs offer more than just financial support-they also provide valuable work experience. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), 55% of students were engaged in part-time jobs in 2023. However, balancing work with studies requires careful planning.

Here are effective tips to help manage both effectively:

Time Management

Effective time management is essential for balancing studies and a part-time job. Create a detailed schedule that includes class timings, study hours, work shifts, and personal activities. Ensure the schedule allocates sufficient hours for studying and attending classes while meeting job responsibilities. Set reminders for important deadlines and shifts to stay organised.

Set Achievable Goals

Set realistic and attainable goals to stay motivated while working. Define financial, skill-based, or career-oriented objectives before taking up a job. Determine how much you need to earn monthly to cover expenses and identify the skills you aim to develop through the job.

Opt for Flexible Jobs

Choose part-time jobs that offer flexibility and do not interfere with your class schedule. Jobs in the evenings or on weekends are ideal for students. Remote or freelance roles can also provide the flexibility needed to manage both work and studies effectively.

On-Campus Opportunities

Many universities worldwide offer part-time job opportunities on campus. These roles are often more flexible, allowing students to focus on their studies. Check with the university's career centre or student employment office for on-campus roles such as library assistant, research assistant, or campus tour guide.

Maintain Clear Communication with Employers

Honest communication with employers is crucial to balancing work and studies. Inform your employer about your academic commitments and unavailability during exams or assignment deadlines. Being upfront can help in securing flexible shifts that accommodate your study schedule.



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IFFI 2024: Ranbir Kapoor On Portrayal Of Violence In His Blockbuster Animal: "This Is Our Responsibility To Bring Movies..."

Ranbir Kapoor's Animal, which was vehemently slammed by a large section of the audience for its portrayal of violence and toxic masculinity, once again became a talking point as the lead actor addressed the issue at the ongoing 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. When asked about responsible storytelling, Ranbir Kapoor said, "I completely agree with your opinion. As actors, this is our responsibility to bring movies that make a positive impact on society." At the same time, Ranbir emphasized the importance of experimenting with different genres and exercising creative freedom. "As actors, it's important for me to dabble in different genres and characters, and play varied roles," said the actor.

Celebrities like Javed Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma also expressed their thoughts on the film and they didn't approve of the content of the film. However, filmmakers like Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap applauded the film for its style of making without delving much into the moral fabric of the film. At the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2024, Karan Johar said, "I didn't go deep into the moral communication of the film - I was so swept by the narrative and the way the filmmaker told the story of it through sound design, screenplay, dialogue, character development, that as a filmmaker, I loved it."

Anurag Kashyap, who earlier shared an appreciation post for Sandeep Reddy Vanga on his social media, defended his liking for the film on daughter Aaliyah Kashyap's podcast show Young, Dumb & Anxious. He said on the show, "This man (Sandeep Reddy Vanga) is, what you see is what he is. People may like Animal, they may not like Animal, but Animal is a major tectonic shift in the way films will be made. People will realise its impact in 5-10 years from now."

Despite receiving criticism, Animal minted a whopping amount of money at the box office. Animal also won five Filmfare Awards this year including Ranbir Kapoor's trophy in the Best Actor (Popular) category.



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Madhya Pradesh Minister Ramniwas Rawat Loses Vijaypur Bypoll

In a blow to the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, minister Ramniwas Rawat lost to the Congress' Mukesh Malhotra by a margin of 7,364 votes in the Vijaypur assembly bypoll.

Rawat had won the seat on a Congress ticket in the 2023 assembly polls but then switched over to the BJP, which made him forest minister in the Mohan Yadav government.

Rawat had won from Vijaypur in Sheopur district as a Congress candidate in 1990, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2023.

The BJP lost Vijaypur even after distributing Rs 50 crore to lure voters, MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari alleged.

"Vijaypur's victory is the victory of Congress workers, who faced all kinds of torture. They endured police cane-charge and lawsuits, still they stood firm," Patwari said in a post on X.

The entire system, including the collector, SP and other officials, along with BJP-supported goons, dacoits and mafia were against the Congress, he alleged.

"The police and administration did the work of BJP workers. False cases were filed against Congress people, innocent people were sent to jail without any reason. More than 50 crore rupees were distributed to lure voters. Even after that, the lion-like workers have put this victory in the bag of Congress," Patwari asserted.

This is the victory of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution and party workers, the Congress leader said.



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UK's Serious Fraud Office Launches Probe On French Defence Giant Thales

Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said Thursday it had launched a joint investigation with its French counterparts into "suspected bribery and corruption" at the France-based multinational defence giant Thales.

"Investigators from the SFO and French authority Parquet National Financier (PNF) have informed the company of the investigation," it said, noting the two agencies were probing "in their respective jurisdictions".

Thales has its headquarters in Paris. Thales UK is a subsidiary and one of the British government's key defence contractors, employing over 7,000 staff at 16 sites across the country.

It built hundreds of lightweight missiles which the UK sent to Ukraine in September.

A Thales spokesperson confirmed that the SFO and the PNF had "commenced an investigation in relation to four of its entities in France and the UK".

"Thales is co-operating with the PNF in France and the SFO in the UK. The group complies with all national and international regulations.

"As the investigation is ongoing, Thales will not comment further."

The SFO announcement follows police in France, the Netherlands and Spain searching the multinational's offices in June, over suspicions of corruption linked to arms sales, according to reports.

SFO director Nick Ephgrave said he hoped the joint probe would reinforce the SFO's and PNF's "long-standing relationship, built on mutual cooperation and shared success".

"We will together rigorously pursue every avenue in our investigation into these serious allegations," he added in a statement, which did not provide any further details about the accusations.

The SFO is a specialist prosecuting authority tackling top level serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Thales specialises in defence electronics, and built the 650 so-called Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) that the UK announced it would supply to Ukraine in September, costing 162 million Pounds ($204 million).

The firm also won a 1.8-billion Pound UK defence contract in February, which will see it maintain the Royal Navy's fleet of ships and submarines for the next 15 years.
 



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Indian Professor Shot Dead In US, Family In UP Blames Business Rivalry

The killing of an Indian academic who had been living in the US for close to four decades has stunned the natives of Tulsipur Majha village, his birthplace.

Dr Shriram Singh, 58, a native of Gonda was gunned down in Georgia capital Atlanta on Wednesday.

He was going to attend a programme in Atlanta by car when some unknown people fired at his car indiscriminately, Tulsipur Majha village head Lalji Singh said.

The news of his killing was borne by his son Amit Singh.

Lalji Singh said Dr Singh joined as a professor at Atlanta Agricultural University in the US in 1990.

He had started some business recently in the country which was his home for 37 years.

Dr Singh's younger brother Shivaji Singh, who lives in the village, said his brother had done his postgraduate from Acharya Narendra Dev Agricultural University Kumarganj in Ayodhya before leaving for the US.

After completing his doctorate there, he joined as a professor at Atlanta Agricultural University and since then, he had been living in the US with his family, he said.

His elder son Amit Singh is an engineer in the FBI, while the younger son Ankur Singh is a cancer specialist in the US, his brother said.

According to Shivaji Singh, Dr Singh had made a deep inroad in the US with his social skills.

"Two years ago, he left his job and turned to business in partnership. His business was expanding rapidly in a short time. Along with a shopping mall, he ventured into the business of petrol pumps and hotels. He started many works in partnership with businessmen of Punjab and Gujarat origin," he said.

"Some time ago, some businessmen of Pakistani origin also joined him. In a short time, the scope of his business spread all over the US. Due to this, some rivals started getting annoyed with him," he said.

Lalji Singh said Dr Singh was very social and used to meet all the villagers whenever he would come here.

He had last come to the village about two years ago and was scheduled to visit again in March next year.

"The people of the village are saddened by his murder. They have demanded security for his family and strict punishment for the culprits by investigating the murder," he said. 



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Pics: Liam Payne Given Final Farewell By Family, Bandmates In Private Funeral

Friends, family and former bandmates of One Direction star Liam Payne came together on Wednesday to pay the final tribute to the British singer at his funeral in Buckinghamshire, England. Mr Payne died at age 31 last month after falling from a hotel room in  Argentina's Buenos Aires. 

Among the mourners at the private service at St Mary's Church in Amersham, just outside London, were Payne's former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.

Former One Direction band members Harry Styles at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

Former One Direction band member Harry Styles at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

The late singer's girlfriend Kate Cassidy also attended the service, as did his former partner, the Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy, with whom he shares 7-year-old son Bear.

Kate Cassidy (2L) and model Damian Hurley (2R) at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

Kate Cassidy (2L) and model Damian Hurley (2R) at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

Payne's coffin arrived in a white horse-drawn hearse topped with floral tributes spelling the words "Son" and "Daddy" followed by his parents, while several dozen fans and onlookers lined a quaint street. The members of the public stood silently as they observed the arriving guests. 

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Liam Payne, ahead of his funeral service (AFP)

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Liam Payne, ahead of his funeral service (AFP)

Guests were seen hugging each other before walking past floral tributes into the 12th-century church to pay their final respects to the singer. 

Flowers are carried into the church ahead of the funeral service of Payne (AFP)

Flowers are carried into the church ahead of the funeral service of Payne (AFP)

Payne was found dead on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentinian capital. He died from "multiple traumas" and "internal and external haemorrhaging", a post-mortem examination found. Investigators have said he was alone at the time of his death and appeared to have been "going through an episode of substance abuse".

Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik (L) at funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik (L) at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

The singer's death prompted an outpouring of grief from family, former bandmates and fans across global, with thousands gathering in cities around the world to offer condolences.

In a short statement following his death, Payne's family said: "We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."

Former One Direction band member Niall Horan at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP Photo)

Former One Direction band member Niall Horan at the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP Photo)

One Direction said they had been "completely devastated" by his death.

Payne was born and raised in Wolverhampton, in central England. He is survived by his parents, two sisters and a son with Cheryl Tweedy. He shot to stardom as a teenager alongside Mr Styles, Mr Horan, Mr Tomlinson and Mr Malik after they formed the band 'One Direction' on the hit UK talent show "The X Factor" 14 years ago. 

A mourner carries an order of service as they leave after attending the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

A mourner carries an order of service as they leave after attending the funeral service of Liam Payne (AFP)

After forming in 2010, the band went on to release an album of radio-ready songs each year in time for the holiday shopping season and became one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world. In 2016, after Mr Malik left, the group said it was on an indefinite hiatus but not splitting up.

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Payne's first solo single "Strip That Down" peaked at number three on the UK charts and number 10 on the US Billboard top songs list. His last solo work, a single called "Teardrops", was released in March, with a second album promised at the time.

In recent years he had spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse and coping with fame from an early age.



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PM Modi To Inaugurate Kashmir To Delhi Vande Bharat Express In January

Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in January.

According to officials, the Vande Bharat Express train will directly connect the national capital to the valley starting in January 2025. The train will pass through the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge.

With the expected commissioning of the train service in phases, the Railways have completed 255 kilometres out of the 272 kilometres of the USBRL project, leaving a small stretch out of just 17 kilometres between Katra and Reasi to be completed by December.

"In January, as per the Prime Minister's schedule, the inauguration will take place. According to railway officials, this project is expected to be completed by December this year," Singh told reporters.

He further stated that the safety of people is paramount.

"Every single aspect needs to be checked, and all these things are being thoroughly inspected on a large scale. Officers and technical teams are repeatedly visiting to ensure everything is up to standard. A lot of hard work has been put into this project, which is a massive undertaking. Once every aspect is verified, only then the date for its inauguration be decided," he said.

Singh, who visited various sections of the project, including the Chenab Rail Bridge on Tuesday, said "We expect to start the train service to Kashmir in January next year. There is a huge load of trucks and vehicles on the highway, which gets closed during winter. This project will provide relief to the people of the valley, increase tourism and boost business. It is a gift to the people of Kashmir from the NDA government and the Prime Minister." He said that while the project was previously halted, work had been expedited over the past eight years and is now on track to be completed by December.

The minister also acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of workers and officers involved in the project. "I will also discuss the project during the parliamentary session beginning December 25." "We will take people from Delhi to Kashmir for just Rs 1,500 to Rs 2100. En route, we will stop in Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi. This project has enormous tourism potential and will bring a tourism boom to the region," Singh added.

He further mentioned that fresh fruits, flowers, and vegetables from this region will reach Delhi faster, giving a significant boost to local businesses. This achievement will gain recognition worldwide.

In a post on X, Singh said "Had the incredible opportunity to visit the iconic Anji Khad Bridge in Reasi, J-K, a testament to Bharat's engineering brilliance and determination. This architectural masterpiece, suspended over the breathtaking Anji River, is the first cable-stayed bridge on the Indian Railways network, connecting not just two mountains but also dreams with reality".

He praised the role of engineers and said the project has been spearheaded under the guidance of Chief Administrative Officer Sandeep Gupta, whose leadership has been pivotal in overcoming the challenges of this ambitious endeavour.

Singh further said the combined efforts of IRCON International Limited, responsible for the construction, and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) for its technical expertise, have turned this engineering dream into reality.

The Delhi to Kashmir Vande Bharat Express will have 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches, and one First AC coach.

The USBRL project, almost complete, will link Kashmir with the rest of the country. Of the total 272 kilometres, 161 kilometres were earlier commissioned in phases -- the 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section in October 2009, the 18-km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013, and the 25-km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014.

The 48.1-km Banihal-Sangaldan stretch, part of the USBRL project, was dedicated to the public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2020.

In June and July this year, several inspections were conducted on the track and railway stations. Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) D C Deshwal inspected the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section, which includes the world's highest steel arch rail bridge over the Chenab and several major tunnels.

The USBRL project, declared a "National Project" in 2002, spans 272 kilometres. The world's highest railway bridge, located 359 meters above the Chenab riverbed, stands 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. Spanning over 1.3 kilometres, it forms a critical part of the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, a segment of the Kashmir Railway project. The Railway Ministry sanctioned the construction of the railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla via Srinagar in phases -- 25 km from Udhampur to Katra in 1994, 118 km from Qazigund to Baramulla and 129 km from Katra to Qazigund in 1999.

The world's highest railway bridge, located 359 meters above the Chenab riverbed, stands 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Spanning over 1.3 kilometres, it forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project, officials said.



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Manipur Government Sets Up Committee To Probe Recent Jiribam Violence

The Manipur government on Monday said it has constituted a two-member inquiry committee to look into the causes that led to a firing in the Jiribam district, which left one person dead and another injured.

A protester was killed and another was injured in firing during a clash between security forces and a mob that was vandalising properties in the Babupara areas of Jiribam on Sunday night. Police could not confirm who opened fire, while eyewitnesses claimed the firing came from the direction of the security forces.

The committee will be led by IGP (Intelligence) K Kabib as the Chairman with Ningsen Worngam DIG (Range III) as the member, according to a notice issued by the home department.

The panel will inquire into the cause and circumstances leading to the incident and find out if there was any foul play on the part of any person including public authority, it said.

The committee was asked to submit its findings within 30 days.



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Meta Fined $25.4 Million By India, WhatsApp Data Sharing Blocked For 5 Years

India's competition watchdog directed WhatsApp to refrain from sharing user data for advertising purposes with other applications owned by Meta for a period of five years and fined the U.S. tech giant $25.4 million on Monday over antitrust violations related to the messaging application's 2021 privacy policy.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash.

"Sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies... for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp service shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp Service in India," the CCI said.

Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Tech giants, including Apple, Google and Meta face new regulatory challenges with India's proposed EU-like antitrust law.

The Indian government is currently examining a February report from a panel established by the corporate affairs ministry. The report proposed a new "Digital Competition Bill" to complement existing antitrust laws.

The U.S.-India Business Council, a key U.S. lobby group has already opposed the move, fearing its business impact.



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Chaos Erupts As Massive Crowd Gathers At 'Pushpa 2' Promotions In Patna

Chaos erupted in Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan on Sunday, where a massive crowd turned up to catch a glimpse of actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandana who were in the city for the promotion of their upcoming film Pushpa 2.

A section of the people who gathered at the venue crossed barricades and hurled shoes and sleepers when they were prevented from going close to the stars.

The event will continue till late night.

Rajeev Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Patna, denied that the police resorted to lathi charge to control the situation as claimed by a section of the media.

"Only a group of people who had come to watch the event and tried to cross the barricade were removed.

An adequate number of security personnel have been deployed at Gandhi Maidan," Mishra said.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI that everything is under control.

Pushpa 2 is scheduled to be released worldwide on December 5.



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1 Killed, 20 Injured As Bus With Devotees Overturns In Jharkhand

At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured after a bus with tribal devotees on board overturned in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district on Saturday, police said.

The accident occurred on the Gola-Muri road near Harubera village under the Barlanga police station area, an officer said.

The bus was on its way to Potka in Jamshedpur from Luguburu hills, one of the significant religious sites of the Santhali tribe, in Bokaro district, when the accident occurred, Barlanga police station in-charge Anant Singh said.

A woman was killed and 20 others were injured after the bus overturned, he added.



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"Benefits Outweighed By Negatives": News Outlets Quit Musk's X

News outlets have begun quitting X, formerly Twitter, once a favourite of global media but now accused of enabling the spread of disinformation under its owner, president-elect Donald Trump ally Elon Musk.

Citing a "harsh and extreme" climate, Sweden's newspaper of reference, the left-liberal Dagens Nyheter (DN), on Friday became third major media outlet to stop publishing its articles on the social media platform.

"Since Elon Musk took over, the platform has increasingly merged with his and Donald Trump's political ambitions," said editor-in-chief Peter Wolodarski.

Already on Wednesday, Britain's centre-left daily The Guardian had announced it would no longer post content from its official accounts on X, which it called "toxic".

A day later, Spain's Vanguardia did the same, saying it would rather lose subscribers than remain on a "disinformation network".

Several users had already wondered back in 2022 whether they should remain on Twitter when Musk -- a businessman best known for running car company Tesla and space company SpaceX -- bought the platform and drastically reduced content moderation in the name of free speech.

The question has flared up again since Trump won this month's presidential election, actively supported by Musk.

'Disturbing content'

"I would expect more publishers to part ways with X," said Stephen Barnard, a specialist on media manipulation at Butler University in the US.

"How many do so will likely depend on what actions X, Musk, and the Trump administration take with regard to media and journalism," he said.

Musk, who is the world's richest man, has been tapped by Trump's team to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.

The Guardian has nearly 11 million followers on the platform, but it said "the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives".

It said "often disturbing content" was promoted or found on the platform, singling out "far-right conspiracy theories and racism".

This falling-out stands in stark contrast to the enthusiasm sparked by Twitter in 2008 and 2009.

Back then, media felt they had to be present there to establish direct contact with their audiences as well as with experts and decision-makers.

They found grew "audiences, built brands, developed new reporting practices, formed community, strengthened public engagement", said Barnard.

At the same time, they boosted Twitter's influence.

'Reaping what they sowed'

This increasingly symbiotic relationship may have become detrimental to the media, suggested Mathew Ingram, former chief digital writer for the Columbia Journalism Review.

"Many publishers gave up on reader comments and other forms of interaction and essentially outsourced all of that to social media like Twitter," he said.

"To that extent they are reaping what they sowed."

Criticism of Twitter predates its takeover by Musk and was centred on the network's architecture that was seen favouring polemical debate and instantaneous indignation.

It was also said to give an unbalanced reflection of society, tilting mostly towards higher-income people, and activist users.

The precise impact of the decision by newspapers, already in economic crisis, to leave X is not yet clear, but they already expect readerships to dwindle.

"We will probably lose subscriptions because some readers subscribe after seeing a news story on the social network," Jordi Juan, director of La Vanguardia, told AFP.

But Barnard said any such loss would be limited because, said, "X generates relatively little traffic to news sites compared to other platforms".

In October 2023, six months after American public radio NPR left Twitter, a report from the Nieman Foundation for Journalism deemed the effects of this departure "negligible" in terms of traffic.

One beneficiary of disenchantment with X appears to be Bluesky, a decentralised social media service offering many of the same functions as X.

On Friday, it said it had added one million subscribers within 24 hours. But its 16 million subscribers are still dwarfed by those of X, estimated at several hundreds of millions.

"Strictly speaking, there are no alternatives to what X offers today," Vincent Berthier, head of the technology department at RSF (Reporters Without Borders) told AFP.

"But we may need to invent them."

Berthier called departures from X "a symptom of the failure of democracies to regulate platforms" across the board.

Musk may represent "the radical face of this informational nightmare", said Berthier. "But the problem goes much deeper."



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Reliance, Walt Disney Close $8.5 Billion Merger Of Indian Media Assets

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney on Thursday completed the $8.5 billion merger of their Indian media assets, which have been split into three divisions, with each unit having its own CEO. The companies said the newly formed divisions are entertainment, which houses Reliance's Colours TV channels and Disney's Star; digital, home to online streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar, and sports.

Former Google executive Kiran Mani, who leads JioCinema, will take charge of the digital organisation.

Reuters reported last month that Disney Hotstar's CEO Sajith Sivanandan resigned from the role as business integration gathered pace for the merger. The entertainment division will be led by Kevin Vaz, who is currently the top boss at Reliance's Viacom 18 Media.

Sanjog Gupta, who heads sports at Disney's Indian media operations, will take charge of the merged company's sports division.

The completion of the merger comes after the companies won key approval from the country's antitrust regulator in August after assuaging regulatory worries about their grip on broadcasting rights for cricket, India's favourite sport.

The merger will create India's biggest entertainment player, with 120 TV channels and two streaming services, and will compete with Sony, Netflix and Amazon.



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Explained: How Musk's US Government Efficiency Panel Might Work

Donald Trump has tasked Elon Musk with setting up a panel to streamline the US government. Although the president-elect has said little about how this group would operate, Musk has previously set an ambitious goal of cutting $2 trillion of spending.

Here is how this new panel, which will be headed up by Musk, the world's richest person, and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, might work.

WHAT DOES MUSK WANT TO CUT?

Musk said at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October that the federal budget could be reduced by "at least" $2 trillion. Discretionary spending, including defense spending, is estimated to total $1.9 trillion out of $6.75 trillion in total federal outlays for fiscal 2024, according to the Congressional Budget Office, suggesting Musk's target would be very difficult to meet.

Musk, whose companies include the electric vehicle maker Tesla and commercial space company SpaceX, has a deep knowledge of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Pentagon, agencies he has extensive contracts with for rockets, satellites and other space operations.

He has also tussled with regulators within the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration, which has a say in his company's rocket launches, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating autonomous driving functions in his cars.

Ramaswamy, who founded pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences, has worked with the Food and Drug Administration, an agency he has previously called "corrupt". On social media site X in 2023 he added that "Countless FDA regulations and actions are hypocritical, harmful & unconstitutional."

WHAT HAVE MUSK AND TRUMP SAID ABOUT THE PANEL?

Trump in a statement on Tuesday said the panel would "provide advice and guidance from outside of government," on slimming down the government, cutting regulations, reducing spending and restructuring federal agencies.

Trump wants to abolish the Department of Education, and leave states in control of schooling, and decimate what he terms the "deep state" - career federal employees he says are clandestinely pursuing their own agendas.

Trump and Musk have suggested the panel will be able to make dramatic cuts, but generally speaking large budgetary actions are the remit of Congress. They can take advice from outside panels like the proposed efficiency panel, or disregard it.

In an effort to be transparent, Musk said the panel will post its "actions" for public comment.

"Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!" he said on X.

He also mentioned a list of "dumb" spending, which he noted would be "extremely entertaining".

WHAT IS THE PRECEDENT FOR THE EFFICIENCY PANEL?

Former President Ronald Reagan announced in February 1982 that he would form a group of private sector experts to recommend ways to eliminate inefficiency and waste. That June, he issued an executive order forming the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control in the Federal Government, which became known as the Grace Commission for its chairman J. Peter Grace, the former CEO of W.R. Grace and Co.

Grace raised money to fund the effort through a foundation. About 150 business leaders volunteered their time on an executive committee that oversaw 36 Grace Commission task forces, which reviewed agencies or functions.

The Commission issued a report in January 1984 with some 2,500 recommendations, and the various task forces came out with reports as well.

"Most of the recommendations, especially those requiring legislation from Congress, were never implemented," the Reagan Library said.

In March 2017, Trump signed an executive order that aimed to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of federal agencies and to "eliminate or reorganize unnecessary federal agencies." It directed each federal agency to submit a proposed plan to reorganize. He also signed a separate executive order to place "regulatory reform" task forces and officers within federal agencies.

Trump also tried to kill at least 19 agencies but was unsuccessful during his first term. He called for eliminating the Overseas Private Investment Corporation that helps spur private investment in foreign development projects and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He also tried to cut funding for Amtrak, subsidies for rural airline service and the Special Olympics.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DOES MUSK HAVE WITH COST CUTTING?

After Musk bought the social media app Twitter, he laid off roughly 3,700 employees, or half its workforce, as advertisers pulled spending. Hundreds more employees subsequently resigned. He later renamed the social media site "X", but its valuation has shrunk dramatically under Musk's ownership.

Musk has had much greater success in space. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket slashed launch costs with its reusability, sprouting new satellite markets and giving rise to the company's fast-growing Starlink constellation, which has disrupted the established satellite communications industry and helped shape modern military strategies and turned SpaceX into a major defense contractor.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR A PANEL LIKE THIS?

The committee would likely operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a 1972 law ensuring panels provide advice that is prompt, objective and open to the public. It also mandates cost controls and record keeping requirements that apply to the roughly 1,000 committees with some 60,000 members advising the President and the executive branch at any given time.



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UP Police Constable 2024 Written Exam Result To Be Announced Soon, Check Steps To Apply

UP Police Constable Exam 2024: The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) is expected to release the results of the UP Police Constable 2024 exam shortly. Once announced, candidates who appeared for the exam can download their results by visiting the official website of UPPRPB, uppbpb.gov.in. Applicants will need to enter their login credentials to access the results.

The Board has already released the final answer key.


UP Police Constable Exam: Steps To Check Results 

Step 1. Visit the official website, uppbpb.gov.in  
Step 2. On the homepage, locate and click on the link for the "UP Police Constable Exam 2024"  
Step 3. Enter your login credentials 
Step 4. A new page will appear on your screen  
Step 5. Check the result in the PDF format and download it 
Step 6. Take a printout of the result for future reference 

Selection Process

The selection process involves multiple stages:  

Written Exam
  
Physical Test
  
Document Verification
  
Medical Examination 


The written examination consisted of 150 questions, carrying a total of 300 marks, and was divided into the following sections:

General Knowledge
  
General Hindi
  
Numerical and Mental Ability

  
Mental Aptitude, IQ, and Logical Reasoning 

The exam duration was 3 hours (180 minutes).  

The written exam was held on August 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31, 2024, at 1,174 centers across 67 districts under strict security measures, including biometric verification. Earlier, the exam was conducted on February 17 and 18, but it was canceled due to paper leaks.  



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Insight: These Countries Offer 'Assisted Dying' Or Are Considering It. How It's Done

  1. SWITZERLAND - Switzerland legalised assisted dying in 1942 on the condition the motive is not selfish, making it the first country in the world to permit the practice. Doctors can prescribe drugs and administer them or had them over for self-administration. A number of Swiss organisations such as Dignitas offer their services to foreign nationals.
  2. UNITED STATES - Medical aid in dying, also known as physician assisted dying is legal in 10 states: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, plus the District of Columbia. Oregon was the first state to legalise it under a law which came into effect in 1997. It allows mentally competent patients who are terminally ill and with less than six months to live to ask for life-ending medication. People from outside Oregon may travel to the state to take advantage of the law.
  3. NETHERLANDS - The "Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act" came into effect in 2002. A doctor is immune from punishment for euthanasia and assisted suicide where patients are experiencing "unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement". Minors can request euthanasia from the age of 12 but require parental permission before the age of 16.
  4. BELGIUM - Belgium legalised medically assisted dying in 2002 for the terminally ill and for people experiencing unbearable suffering, which includes patients with psychiatric conditions. Since 2014, those under the age of 18 who are terminally ill are covered by the law as long as they have parental permission.
  5. CANADA - Canada introduced "Medical Assistance in Dying" in 2016 for those whose death was deemed to be "reasonably foreseeable". Five years later, the law was extended to permit people with a "grievous and irremediable" medical condition to request assisted dying. The country has delayed until 2027 a plan to extend medical assistance in dying to include those with a mental illness.
  6. AUSTRALIA - Voluntary assisted dying for the terminally ill or those with a condition that is causing intolerable suffering is legal in most Australian states, after being introduced first in Victoria in 2019. Doctors can prescribe medication for self-administration or administer them where required.
  7. SPAIN - Spain approved a law in 2021 which allows euthanasia and medically assisted suicide for people with incurable or debilitating diseases who want to end their life.
  8. GERMANY - Assisted dying had been legal in Germany until 2015 when the country outlawed its provision on an organised or commercial basis, effectively banning it in many cases. Five years later the country's top court ruled in favour of groups providing terminally ill adults with assisted suicide services, but lawmakers are yet to finalise new rules.
  9. FRANCE - Doctors in France have since 2016 been allowed to put a person who is close to death and in great pain into deep sedation, but not to administer life-ending medication. President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year backed new legislation which would allow assisted dying for those with incurable conditions and a bill was introduced in April, but elections in June and July interrupted the proposed law's progress.
  10. BRITAIN - A bill to allow terminally ill adults with six months or less left to live the right to end their lives was introduced to parliament earlier in October and will be debated on Nov. 29.
  11. IRELAND - A cross-party Irish parliamentary committee recommended this year that the government should legalise assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances. A majority of lawmakers in October voted in favour of "noting" the committee's findings. With a national election due on Nov. 29, it will be up to the next government to decide whether to consider proposing a new law.


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Menstrual Hygiene Policy For School Students Approved: Supreme Court Told

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court of framing the "Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going Girls" approved by the Union Health Ministry.

The Centre referred to a top court order of April 10, 2023, and said the Union Ministry of the Health and Family Welfare framed the policy over menstrual hygiene of female school children which was approved by the minister concerned on November 2, 2024.

The top court was hearing a PIL filed by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur seeking directions to the Centre and states to provide free sanitary pads to female students between Classes 6 and 12 and ensure separate female toilet facilities in all government, government-aided and residential schools.

"This policy aims to mainstream menstrual hygiene within the school system of the government to bolster change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, among schoolgirls, overcoming the barriers of low awareness that often restrict their freedom, mobility and participation in daily activities," the affidavit, filed in the pending matter, stated.

It said the policy enables coverage, needing assessment through appropriate levels of survey mechanisms that can be undertaken by states and union territories followed by gap filling, so that students in government and aided schools had regular access to menstrual hygiene products.

The Centre said the policy aimed at dissipating harmful social norms and promote safe menstrual hygiene practices, besides enabling environment-friendly management of menstrual waste.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal, is scheduled to hear the PIL on October 12.

The Centre previously informed the apex court that over 97.5 per cent schools in the country, including government, state-aided and private ones, provided separate toilets facilities for female students.

States and union territories, such as Delhi, Goa and Puducherry, achieved 100 per cent targets and complied with the previous court orders, it added.

It also informed the court that 16 lakh toilets for boys and 17.5 lakh toilets for girls were constructed in over 10 lakh government schools apart from 2.5 lakh toilets for boys and 2.9 lakh toilets for girls in government-aided schools.

The Centre pointed out that in West Bengal, separate toilet facilities were provided for female students in 99.9 per cent schools and in Uttar Pradesh, 98.8 per cent schools had such separate facilities.

According to the Centre, the figures stood at 99.7 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 99.6 per cent in Kerala, 99.5 per cent in Sikkim, Gujarat, Punjab, 99.6 per cent in Chhattisgarh, 98.7 per cent in Karnataka, 98.6 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 97.8 per cent in Maharashtra, 98 per cent in Rajasthan, 98.5 per cent in Bihar and 96.1 per cent in Odisha.

The northeastern states lag behind the national average of 98 per cent, the Centre said, adding even Jammu and Kashmir provided separate toilet facilities for female students in 89.2 per cent schools.

On July 8, the Centre said a national policy on the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to adolescent female students was at an advanced stage of formulation.

The PIL plea moved by Thakur, through advocate Varun Thakur, highlighted the difficulties faced by adolescent female students from underprivileged backgrounds in schools.

The Centre previously informed the court that it was in the process of collating all necessary material to form a national policy on the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to female school students in terms of the court's orders dated April 10, 2023 and November 6, 2023.

The top court directed the Centre to frame a national model for building toilets commensurate with the number of female students in all government-aided and residential schools in the country.

While emphasising a uniform procedure, it also asked the Centre about the national policy it formulated for the distribution of sanitary napkins to female school students.

On April 10, the court appointed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the nodal officer to coordinate with the states and union territories, and collect relevant data for formulating a national policy.



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As Campaigning Ends For Jharkhand Phase 1 Polls, Kalpana Soren Targets BJP

Campaigning for the first phase of elections in Jharkhand came to an end today amid Kalpana Soren's claim that the BJP is not allowing her to campaign. Kalpana Murmu Soren, wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is making her debut contest from the Gandey seat, which she had won in a by-poll held earlier this year.

In a video posted on Instagram, Kalpana Soren alleged that she is being prevented from campaigning. 

In the video she recounted the campaigns she had planned - Ghatshila, Jagannathpur, Latehar and Torpa - "But if you see, even in this election environment, the central government is carrying out its unethical policies and we are not being given permission to hold meetings in the elections so we can go to Jagannathpur, Latehar and Torpa and hold our programmes". 

Now the elections that are happening in Jharkhand, "they are conducting the elections before time and conducting the five-phase elections in two phases," she said.

"Today, when it is the last day of the first phase, they are disrupting our future programs. I want to tell you people that this time no injustice will continue in Jharkhand and the people of Jharkhand will answer the work you have done to influence our elections," she added, expressing confidence that the ruling Grand Alliance government will come back to power again.

"No one can stop the Mahagathbandhan government from coming here. Whatever conspiracy you people have done, whether it is putting Hemant Soren in jail or not giving permission to our election rally, the people of Jharkhand will give their full blessings to the Mahagathbandhan," she said. 

Election for 43 assembly seats of Jharkhand will be held on Wednesday. 

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has promised 27 per cent quota for Backward Castes, 28 per cent and 27 per cent for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and 12 per cent for Dalits. It has also promised an assured income of Rs 1 lakh for poor families. The party is contesting in alliance with the Congress and Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal.

As campaigning ended for the first phase of election, BJP's Amit Shah pitched for a 'Committee' against infiltrators and a legislation to ban land transfer.



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Indian Navy Releases New Exam Date For INCET 2024, Check Complete Schedule

The Indian Navy has released the revised exam schedule for the Indian Navy Civilian Entrance Test (INCET) 01/2024. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will now be held in the last week of November 2024, following its postponement from the original September date due to technical and administrative issues. A fresh admit card will be issued soon.

"Dear Candidates, INCET-01/2024 has been tentatively scheduled for the last week of November 2024. Fresh admit cards will be issued shortly," the official notice on the recruitment website states.

The exam is a crucial step for those wishing to join the Indian Navy in various civilian roles.

Candidates registered for the exam are advised to regularly check the official Indian Navy recruitment website for updates, as admit cards will be released soon. The recruitment drive aims to fill various civilian positions, including Fireman, Tradesman Mate, Fire Engine Driver, Pest Control Worker, Chargeman (Mechanic), Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Chargeman (Factory), Cook, Scientific Assistant, and Chargeman (Ammunition Workshop).

Vacancy Details

  • Fireman: 444
  • Tradesman Mate: 161
  • Fire Engine Driver: 58
  • Pest Control Worker: 18
  • Chargeman (Mechanic): 18
  • Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS): 16
  • Chargeman (Factory): 10
  • Cook: 9
  • Scientific Assistant: 4
  • Chargeman (Ammunition Workshop): 1

Indian Navy Recruitment 2024: Steps To Download Admit Card

  • Go to the official website, incet.cbt-exam.in
  • Click on the 'INCET 2024' link on the homepage.
  • Click on the 'Download Admit Card' link when the new window opens.
  • Enter your required details and submit.
  • Your hall ticket will be displayed on the screen.

CBT Exam Pattern

The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will consist of 100 questions, divided into four sections, each worth 25 marks.

The sections are:

  • General Intelligence
  • General Awareness
  • English Language
  • Quantitative Aptitude

Candidates should focus on these subjects for thorough preparation. Following the CBT, a Physical Standard Test (PST) and Skill Test will be held for certain positions. In the final stage of the recruitment process, document verification and a medical check-up will be conducted.



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Conman Who Pretended To Be Official From PM's Office Charged By Probe Agency

The Enforcement Directorate's Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint against conman Kiran Patel who availed of security from the Jammu and Kashmir administration by passing himself off as a Prime Minister's Office functionary and also duped several Gujarat-based businessmen by promising them opportunities in the Kashmir Valley, an official statement said on Saturday.

The complaint, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was filed before the special PMLA court, Srinagar, on October 28 and the court has issued notice to Patel, a resident of Ahmedabad, to appear before it on November 27.

The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by Nishat Police Station, Srinagar, against Patel and others for the offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The financial probe agency's investigation revealed that Patel sought to pass himself as Additional Director, Strategy and Campaigns, PMO and fraudulently created/printed fake visiting cards to fake his identity to fulfil his ulterior motives to dupe people and generate proceeds of crime.

"By using the said fake visiting cards and impersonation, not only did he illicitly avail the security from the administration of the UT of J&K government which has caused a loss of resources and monetary loss to the state exchequer but also, he duped gullible Gujarat-based businessmen and secured/got undue advantages by making a false promise to provide business opportunities in the Valley of Kashmir," the statement said.

The ED had conducted search operations under the PMLA on May 19, 2023, at various premises linked with Patel and others resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents/records & electronic devices.

Further investigations are in progress, it said.

Patel was granted bail by a Srinagar court on August 29, 2023, on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh with 2 sureties.

J&K Police had arrested him on March 3, 2023, for allegedly impersonating a PMO functionary.

The authorities said that Patel got facilities normally given to officials from the PMO including a bulletproof car, security personnel and official accommodation at a five-star hotel during his visits to Jammu and Kashmir.

The conman, who faces over half a dozen cheating cases in Gujarat, was arrested in the state in August 2023 on charges of cheating a Morbi-based businessman of Rs 48 lakh.



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US Business School Tops Global Rankings For Research Impact On Management

Chicago's Booth School of Business has been ranked the top institution globally for producing research with the greatest influence on management, according to an assessment by the Financial Times. It is followed by other leading US institutions, including Stanford, Columbia, MIT, and Harvard, which produce research that extends beyond academic circles to influence real-world policy and societal objectives.

INSEAD, located in France and Singapore, and London Business School in the UK, are the leading institutions outside the US, securing positions just below elite American schools like Northwestern, Wharton, Berkeley Haas, and NYU.

The Financial Times' assessment goes beyond traditional criteria focused solely on academic publication metrics. Instead, it takes into account faculty contributions to research that influences policy and practice, responding to increasing demands from students, educators, and organisations for greater accountability and a stronger societal impact.

Booth's Dean, Madhav Rajan, emphasised the importance of supporting impactful work over mere publication counts. "Many universities only focus on the number of publications. That's crazy: it's a system you can game. We actually read the papers. We want impact, to ensure it's work we want to support," the Financial Times quoted him as saying.

Professor Andrew Hoffman of Michigan's Ross School of Business voiced concerns that academic research often lacks practical relevance. "We ask questions that are theoretically driven and of little to no interest to business people," Hoffman remarked, highlighting the disconnect between academic publications and industry needs.

Key considerations in the rankings include the inclusion of research published in top journals from the FT50 list, the frequency of citations across various academic and policy documents, and the societal relevance of content aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to research impact, the evaluation also considers teaching contributions, including books and articles widely assigned at other universities and the development of popular teaching case studies. The FT analysis seeks to offer a comprehensive view of faculty 



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Congress Has Lost Its Moorings, No Debate About That: Jyotiraditya Scindia

The Congress party has lost its moorings because of leadership's disconnect with the public and the vision for India, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, adding the opposition party is in a very steady state of decline.

Mr Scindia, who quit the Congress in 2020 to join the BJP, said his former party has lost its connection in terms of leadership.

"I think the Congress Party has lost its moorings. There's no debate about that, it has lost its moorings," he said in a text and video interview with PTI.

He was asked if the Congress party had lost the momentum after better-than-expected performance in the April-May general elections.

"To be very candid with you, I have no assessment of the Congress party. I believe that the Congress Party is in a very steady state of decline, and I think that's because of three things. I think the Congress Party has lost its connection in terms of leadership.

"It has lost its connection in terms of the public, and I believe that the Congress Party has also lost its connection to a vision of India. And when you lose all those three attributes, then you've lost the trust of the people of India, and that's the state of the Congress Party today," Mr Scindia said.

He however did not make a direct comment on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying he cannot "sit in judgment over any single individual".

"I think each one of us has to carve our destiny and our niche, and I think it's important to be able to concentrate on the positivity of what you want to do in life, and I would like to do that in my life as well," said Scindia, who is the Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region in the Modi government.

He went on to add that human resource assessment is one of the most important decision-making factors that decides the success of any entity.

"It (Congress) has lost its ability to separate qualities of leadership from those that do not necessarily have it," he said. "Assessment of human resource is one of the most important decision-making factors in the success of any enterprise, be it a multinational corporation, be it a company in India, be it a political party. Because at the end of the day, it is not your bottom line or your net profit line that talks about what you're able to do."

When Mr Scindia quit the Congress in March 2020, it was said that he was pained by the party reneging on its promise to the people of Madhya Pradesh as per its manifesto, which made him face flak from youth and farmers. Also being snubbed for a leadership role in the state was cited as one of the reasons.

"It's about the quality of people that you have that are part of your enterprise, that result in that bottom line, eventually," he said in the interview.

He predicted a win for the BJP in Maharashtra assembly elections just like in the just concluded polls in Haryana.

"As far as Maharashtra is concerned, it is a state to which I'm extremely emotionally attached, because I originally come from that state, I've spent a lot of time in that state, and I'm very, very, very confident that the BJP, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, will certainly win its place among the hearts of the people once again, in this elections, the results of which both you and I will be sitting and discussing on the 23rd this month," he said.

Mr Scindia entered into politics after he lost his father and nine-term Lok Sabha MP Madhavrao J Scindia in an aeroplane crash in 2001.

When asked about his political ambition, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Mr Scindia said that both his father and grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia, have taught him at a very early age that their goal should not be politics but it should be public service and politics should only be a medium to accomplish the goal.

"If you define it in that rubric, then it doesn't matter where you're sitting or where you're not. What matters is, are you serving people? Are you working for their good? And if that is your passion, then that comes in any form. I have my grandmother in her life, my father in his life, and I in my life have never hankered after any post," he said.

Before entry into politics, Mr Scindia, who is a Harvard Graduate and MBA alumnus of Stanford University, was working as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley.

Talking about his transition to politics, Mr Scindia said there is no comparison between his earlier life and public service.

"There is just no comparison. In the field of public service, if you can touch a single person's life, the satisfaction that you get inside your soul, you cannot compare with any tangible material thing," he said.

When asked if he would like his son Mahanaryaman Scindia to follow his legacy, Mr Scindia said that he does not believe he has the right to determine his child's destiny.

"I believe your destiny is what you make of it. I do not believe that, because you are a parent, you have a right to determine what your child's destiny is. Every human being has to do their karma (deeds) and has to have to define their path. We as parents can only do the things that we have been entrusted by God, which is to make sure that we instil good values in children. We make them compassionate, and empathetic. We educate them, and the rest is for them to define," Scindia said.

The minister also said that he has been influenced by both his grandmother and father in different ways.

"They both have in different ways and my grandmother for her fierce determination and fierce resolve and belief in what she believed in and for that going to any end. I took some degree of inspiration from that when I made a very big move because she was faced with that same, to a certain degree of humiliation in her life under the DP (Dwarka Prasad) Mishra government.

"My father for just the human being that he was and his capability to touch people's lives, and that's not something that you can inculcate or develop. It has to be ingrained in you," he said.

Mr Scindia said that politics has become much more comparative and demanding and "which he thinks is good, it's good".

"Having seen it from the 80s till today, for the last 23 years, to a certain degree the purpose that politics had, was not Rajneeti, but it was more Janseva. It's become more of Rajniti now. I think to that end, the Prime Minister is setting a completely new trend of a paradigm shift of what it means to be a Janasevak, Pradhan Sevak and Pradhan Rakshak. And I think those are the values that we need to take our country back to even in politics," he said.

The minister said politics mostly can be the art of the possible, but sometimes can also be the art of the impossible. 



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