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Showing posts from December, 2023

Water Storage Breach At Vedanta Alumina Unit In Odisha Impacts Farm Land

A water storage facility breach at miner Vedanta Aluminium's unit in Odisha has impacted agricultural land, the company said on Monday. The incident, which happened at Vedanta's Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha on Sunday, has alarmed environment experts who pointed out it was a serious matter as the toxic byproduct 'red mud' was involved. The pumped water level, or PWL, has causticity in water, meaning it can corrode organic tissue by damaging skin, eyes and mucus membranes. The water overflowed due to heavy rain, Vedanta Aluminium said. Visuals of the industrial incident show process water lake downstream of a pond that appeared to have been formed by 'red mud'. A large volume of muddy red water was also seen flowing into open areas. The water covered the ground where some trees stood, and ran over other forms of vegetation. 'Red mud' is the waste generated in production of alumina from bauxite. It is also known as 'bauxite residue'.

"Have To Go To Jail For Paths We Have Chosen": Arvind Kejriwal To Workers

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said his party has gained popularity for its "work-centric politics" and asserted the party workers should be ready "to go to jail for the paths we have chosen for the public good". Chairing the National Executive and 12th National Council meetings of the party, held virtually on Sunday, he said, "The Aam Aadmi Party has risen to the third place among 1,350 political parties in these 10 years." "If we were not successful and did not do anything good, then none of our party leaders would have gone to jail and today everyone would have been happy with their families," he said. Mr Kejriwal's remarks assume significance since the Enforcement Directorate has asked him to appear before it on January 3 in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. The Delhi CM said that two major parties have ruled this country for 75 years and said "these people will not

"Royal Crisis, Climate Disaster, New Pope": Nostradamus' 2024 Predictions

All eyes are waiting for the clock to strike midnight, as we welcome 2024 with loads of anticipation. Along with the new year, comes a bunch of predictions from astrologers and mystics.  Nostradamus, the 16th-century French astrologer, is believed to have made predictions for the future, including the year 2024. Citing his 1555 text “Les Propheties” (“The Prophecies”), a New York Post report said that Nostradamus predicted that 2024 will witness severe weather events and global strife.   Let's take a detailed look at his predictions for 2024: A naval battle Nostradamus had predicted a “naval battle” and said that a “red adversary will become pale with fear, putting the great Ocean in dread.”  The New York Post said that by “red adversary” Nostradamus could be referring to China and the nation's red flag. It went on to claim that the “naval battle” could be hinting at China's tensions with the island of Taiwan.  Royal turmoil As per IFLScience , one passage by Nostra

US Strikes Kill 10 Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels In Red Sea: Report

At least 10 Houthi rebels were killed Sunday when US forces struck their boats in the Red Sea, two sources at Yemen's Hodeida port said. The US military earlier said it had destroyed several small boats operated by the Iran-backed Houthis after the rebels had attacked and tried to board a container ship. One source at the rebel-controlled port said the wounded were rescued following the strike. The other source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were four other survivors. "Ten Houthis were killed and two were wounded in the US strike on Houthi boats that tried to stop a vessel in the sea off Hodeida," the first source said. The second source said that "four survivors have arrived in Hodeida with two wounded who were taken to hospital". The US Navy had responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container ship that reported coming under attack for a second time in 24 hours while tra

Happy New Year 2024: Wishes, Messages, And WhatsApp Status

New Year 2024 Wishes: It is time to say goodbye to the year that has taught us new things. Whether you've planned resolutions or are embracing the year with a free spirit, it is important to share warm wishes with loved ones. Here is a list of heartfelt messages to make your friends and relatives feel special this New Year: To new beginnings, exciting adventures, and creating beautiful memories in the unfolding chapters of 2024. Wishing you a new year full of fresh opportunities, new friendships, and the courage to chase your dreams. As 2023 concludes, embrace the lessons it brought, and may 2024 be a blank canvas for new achievements and joys. Here's to leaving behind the old, embracing the new, and stepping into 2024 with open hearts and open minds. May the dawn of January 1 bring with it a renewed sense of purpose, boundless joy, and endless possibilities. As the clock strikes midnight, may you leave behind any regrets and welcome the promise of a fulfilling 2024. M

Indian-Origin Man Arrested For Theft, Break-Ins At Hindu Temples In Canada

A 41-year-old Indo-Canadian man has been arrested for multiple break-ins and thefts at Hindu temples in Canada's Durham Region and Greater Toronto Area, police said. However, the offences do not appear to be hate crimes or motivated by hate, Durham Regional Police said in a press release on Thursday. The police identified the man as Jagdish Pandher from Brampton city. According to the press release, in the early hours of October 8, police responded to a break-and-enter at a Hindu temple in the area of Bayly Street and Krosno Boulevard in Pickering. Pandher was seen on security surveillance breaking into the temple and taking a large quantity of cash from the donation boxes. He fled the area before police arrival, it said. He was "seen on surveillance footage later that morning committing additional break-and-enters at Hindu temples in Pickering and Ajax," the release said. Police say the suspect has been linked to numerous other break-and-enters at Hindu temples thr

151 Myanmar Soldiers Flee To Mizoram Amid Conflict With Armed Ethnic Group

At least 151 Myanmarese soldiers fled to Mizoram's Lawngtlai district after their camps in the neighbouring country were overrun by an armed ethnic group, an Assam Rifles officer said on Saturday. The Myanmarese army personnel, also known as the 'Tatmadaw,' fled with their arms and approached the Assam Rifles at Tuisentlang in Lawngtlai district on Friday after their camps near the international border were overrun by the Arakan Army fighters, he said. The officer said that there had been intense gunfights between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army fighters for the past few days in areas close to the Indian border. He said that some of the Myanmarese Army personnel, who entered Mizoram on Friday, were critically injured and first aids were administered to them by the Assam Rifles. The Myanmar army soldiers are now in the safe custody of Assam Rifles at Parva in Lawngtlai district near the Myanmar border, he said. The Myanmar soldiers will be sent back to their countr

Explained: Can Trump Run For 2024 US Presidential Elections Despite Bans?

With multiple US states hearing challenges to Donald Trump's right to run in the 2024 election, his supporters claim his enemies are tearing up democracy to prevent his return to the White House. Rulings in Colorado and Maine banning the ex-president from their primary nominating contests under the Constitution's "insurrection clause" set off a political earthquake that could upend the campaign. But do they pose a genuine threat to Trump's presidential ambitions? Why Trump might be ineligible  The US House of Representatives impeached the Republican tycoon for inciting insurrection after he called on his supporters to march on the US Capitol ahead of a deadly riot that delayed the certification of the 2020 election. A large, bipartisan majority of the Senate agreed with the lower chamber's finding, but the tally fell short of the two-thirds of members required for a conviction, which would have barred Trump from seeking office again. Federal prosecutors

"Mili-Juli Sarkar" vs BJP, People's Choice For 2024 Is Clear: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the choice of people is the BJP and there is a consensus among them that the country does not need a " mili-juli sarkar " as an era of such governments resulted in loss of optimism and gave a bad image to India. Exuding confidence about the 2024 general election, PM Modi in an interview to India Today magazine said there is a consensus among the people, experts, opinion makers and friends from the media that "our country doesn't need a mili-juli sarkar ". "We have lost 30 years due to instability resulting from mili-juli sarkar . People have seen the lack of governance, appeasement politics, corruption in the era of mili-juli sarkar . This resulted in loss of optimism and confidence among the people and gave a bad image to India in the world. So, naturally the choice of the people is the BJP," PM Modi said. His comments assume significance, coming ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in which the opposition INDIA blo

Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit Alleging 'Incognito' Mode Tracks Users

Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. The object of the lawsuit was the "incognito" mode on Google's Chrome browser that the plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm. But internal Google emails brought forward in the lawsuit demonstrated that users using incognito mode were being followed by the search and advertising behemoth for measuring web traffic and selling ads. In a court filing, the judge confirmed that lawyers for Google reached a preliminary agreement to settle the class action lawsuit -- originally filed in 2020 -- which claimed that "millions of individuals" had likely been affected. Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked by the firm's Google An

"Received India's Extradition Request, But...": Pak On Hafiz Saeed

Pakistan has received India's request for extradition of 26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Friday. But she said that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between India and Pakistan. In a statement, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, "Pakistan has received a request from the Indian authorities, seeking extradition of Hafiz Saeed in a so-called money laundering case." "It is pertinent to note that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India," she added. Earlier in the day, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has conveyed a request to the Pakistan government regarding the extradition of Hafiz Saeed to India for facing trial in a particular case. Addressing the weekly briefing, Mr Bagchi said, "The person in question (Hafiz Saeed) is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this reg

"I Had 2 Options - Power Or Struggle": Supriya Sule On Party Split

Nationalist Congress Party working president and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule on Thursday said she had two choices in front of her, power and struggle, and she chose the latter. "I had two options, power or struggle. On the side of struggle, there was my father and on the side of power was (Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader) Amit Shah. I had to choose between power and struggle. I chose struggle," she said at a public meeting in Indapur. "Do not forget the person who has given you birth. Someone has to say the truth. If we all get scared, there will be no democracy in the country. Today, we were sabotaged. Tomorrow you will meet the same fate," she said in an apparent reference to the split in the NCP on July 2 this year. Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government, while Ms Sule and several others chose to remain with party founder Sharad Pawar. Ms Sule said she had informed her family that she would be staying in Baramati for th

After Saying 2024 Could Be His Last Polls, Shashi Tharoor Drops Big Hint

Congress Working Committee member and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor spoke on Thursday about providing opportunities for younger people to contest polls, indicating that his upcoming fight from Thiruvananthapuram in the general elections may be his last in the constituency. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Congress programme in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Tharoor, however, said there was no finality about it since it is politics. "I do believe that at some point, the time comes to make room for younger people. And that's my thinking," he said. In the same breath, he said, "In politics, there is another slogan which is 'never say never'". He was responding to a query on his remarks in a recent TV show in which he repeatedly said the 2024 Lok Sabha elections may mark his final contest from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. "I didn't say never, I said I think it will be my last election," the 67-year-old MP clarified. The Congress le

Mamata Banerjee May Skip Temple Inauguration, What Her Party Said...

In a rare instance of agreement with the Left parties, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also likely to skip the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. While there is no official confirmation yet, Trinamool Congress leaders have indicated that Ms Banerjee does not want to help the BJP further its political narrative on the issue ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.  Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that the party's stand on the issue is clear - it is against what it terms the BJP's attempt to "misuse Lord Ram's name".  "Mamata Banerjee will soon make her stand clear herself. The Trinamool Congress' stand is that we respect all religions and Lord Ram. We offer prayers to him, but the BJP is misusing Lord Ram's name, and we oppose that," he said. The spokesperson claimed, "The BJP is trying to divert attention from the main economic issues of the common people. We oppo

"Permanent Husband": Case Against RSS Leader For Triple Talaq Remarks

A case has been filed against an RSS leader in Karnataka for his alleged remark that while Muslim men are unhappy with the BJP government at the Centre for passing a bill declaring triple talaq illegal, Muslim women are happy because they now have a "permanent husband".  In a speech during an event in Karnataka's Srirangapatna on Sunday, RSS Leader Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka had said, "Until recently, the practice of divorce through triple talaq was legal, but it has been done away with since the Modi government came to power. Muslim men must be very unhappy about this." "But the Muslim women must be very happy with this move as they used to have a new husband every day because they used to say talaq, talaq, talaq and leave. They couldn't say they have a life-long husband. It's the Modi government that has given you a permanent husband," Mr Kalladka said. The event, called the Sankeerna Yatra, was organised by a right-wing outfit, the Hindu Jag

12 Of The Best New Restaurants In Chennai You Must Visit In 2023

Was 2023 the most vibrant year for Chennai's booming F&B scene? It certainly presented a diverse array of dining experiences. Local flavours took centre stage, and so did national brands like Mustard and Farzi Café expanding their footprint to include Chennai. Comfort food held its own - everyone loves a good pizza - while seasoned Chennai brands like Cake Walk successfully reinvented themselves. The evolved café scene in Chennai welcomed a couple of intriguing additions, and Asian cuisine continued to be a popular choice among the city's well-heeled. Although it's impossible to capture all of Chennai's stellar restaurant debuts in 2023 in one list, we certainly made an attempt:  Also Read:   7 Of Chennai's Best Whisky Bars You Must Visit Photo Credit: Bask By Coffee Here Are 12 Of The Best New Restaurants You Must Visit In Chennai:  1. Lazy Leopard We've witnessed the pizza scene in Chennai come of age in the 2020s. Lazy Leopard, named after the

Iran Says Israeli Strike Kills Senior General In Syria

A senior general with Iran's Revolutionary Guards was killed Monday by an Israeli strike in Syria, the military force said, with Tehran vowing to make Israel "pay for this crime". Iranian state media also reported the death of Razi Moussavi, describing him as "one of the most experienced advisors" of Quds Force, the foreign arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has repeatedly said it will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence in Syria. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed condolences for Moussavi's death, saying Israel "will certainly pay for this crime". The general "was killed during an attack by the Zionist regime a few hours ago in Zeinabiyah district in the suburbs of Damascus," official news agency IRNA reported, using a different name for Sayyida Zeinab south of the Syrian capital. Moussavi was "active in the field of providing logistical sup

Harsh Goenka Shares Intriguing Video On How Phones Impact Relationships

Industrialist Harsh Goenka often shares motivational and interesting posts to keep his social media fans entertained. On Friday, the tech-savvy businessman shared a thought-provoking video about an issue that is significantly relevant to our lives. The video talks about smartphone addiction and how it impacts our relationships. While phones keep us connected and help maintain relationships, in some ways, they drive a wedge between us, too.  Mr Goenka shared the video of inspirational speaker Simon Sinek wherein he explains how even holding a phone in our hands while talking to someone else gives them the impression that they are not the top priority. ''Imagine I'm here talking to you, holding my phone. It's not buzzing, not beeping, and no one's calling me, I'm just holding it. Do you feel as if you're the most important thing to me right now? No, you don't. That's the association'' Mr Sinek said in the video.  ''Step away from the

Watch: Sound On! Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma In Nets Is A Sight To behold

India's veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sweated it out in companionable silence in the nets during team's practice session on Sunday. India will be aiming for their maiden Test series win in South Africa when they take on the Proteas in a two-match series, starting December 26. There's a 31-year jinx in Indian cricket having missed out on a Test series win in the 'Rainbow Nation' and in the twilight zone of their careers, both Rohit and Kohli would want to achieve which no other Indian teams could. While Kohli, who came back from London after a short break with family, joined the training after half an hour, Rohit did look a bit more relaxed after shutting himself off for three weeks. The two batted in different nets and centre practice strip, and also faced throwdowns for more than an hour. There was hardly any conversation between them even when they took short breaks in between. Unlike the World Cup nets when there was a mix of both focus and la

Box Office Report: Ranbir Kapoor's Animal Is Still Going Strong

After the release of Shah Rukh Khan's  Dunki  and Prabhas'  Salaar: Part 1- Ceasefire , the box office numbers of  Animal  are slowly declining. On day 22, the film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, collected Rs 1.15 crore (for all languages), as per a  Sacnilk  report. In total, the film depicting a complex father-son relationship and power-packed action has garnered Rs 532.44 crore domestically. In addition to Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna's chemistry, fans have equally showered love on the antagonist Bobby Deol, who played Abrar Haque, and Triptii Dimri, who was seen as Zoya. Despite the significant success of  Animal  at the box office, a portion of the audience expressed dissatisfaction with a particular sequence in the film, questioning the mindset of Ranbir Kapoor's character, who had an extra-marital affair with Zoya. The director,  Sandeep Reddy Vanga , has recently addressed the concerns raised about a specific scene where Ranvijay asks his wife Geetanj