Cocaine Worth Rs 25 Crore Seized At Mumbai Airport, 2 Arrested

 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2.58 kg of cocaine worth Rs 25 crore concealed in soap bars from a passenger after he landed at the Mumbai international airport from Ethiopia, an official said on Tuesday.

The DRI had specific information that the narcotic substance was being smuggled by a passenger travelling to Mumbai from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the official said.

A team of DRI officials intercepted the passenger on Monday and found 2.58 kg of cocaine concealed in 12 soap bars in his trolley bag, he said.

The value of the seized contraband in the international market is more than Rs 25 crore, the official said.

In a swift follow-up action, the officials arrested the recipient of the contraband, he said, adding that both the accused were remanded to DRI custody.

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Row Over Certain Verse In Ramcharitmanas "5,000 Years Old": Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said he is not against Ramcharitmanas but asserted that the controversy over a certain verse of the Hindu epic is "5,000 years old".

During the budget discussion in Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mr Yadav said, "We are not against Ramcharitmanas. Why do you do 'prachar'. God is for all and not for anyone (person). You take donations (for the construction of Ram temple) so has God become yours. But whatever is wrong is wrong." Mentioning the word 'tadan' in one of the verses of Ramcharitmanas, he said, "If you make one person stand to know what is the meaning of 'tadan', then we can also make 10 stand about this. Will you make anyone stand up and explain the meaning of 'tadan'? You tell what the situation is in UP."

While reciting a poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on the issue, Mr Yadav said, "This fight is not of today. This fight is 5,000 years old."

"I did not ask about Ramcharitmanas. I had said that the Leader of the House should tell what is a 'Shudra'. If this 'Shudra' does not become your shield, then you could not have come to power."

Mr Yadav was mentioning a verse "Dhol, ganwar, shudra, pashu, naari, sakal tadan ke adhikari" on which a controversy erupted last month after SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya alleged that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas "insult" a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be "banned".

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accused Samajwadi Party of humiliating 100 crore Hindus by burning a copy of Ramcharitmanas.

CM Adityanath, explaining the verse, which was described as objectionable by SP leader Maurya, had said that 'tadan' meant 'dekhbhal' (caring).

Reacting on an alleged comment by Mr Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav said, "if a person speaks about someone's father, then the other can also do so. But I will not do so as 'Netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav) has not given such values to me." Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem in Awadhi language, is based on the Ramayana and has been composed by 16th-century Bhakti poet Tulsidas.

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Bail Plea Of Hemant Soren's Aide Rejected In Jharkhand Illegal Mining Case

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Pankaj Mishra, the former political representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in a money laundering case related to illegal mining.

Mr Mishra was arrested in July last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary dismissed Mr Mishra's bail application after hearing arguments in the case.

The ED had filed a charge sheet against Mr Mishra and his two aides -- Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash -- on September 16 last year before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi.

"PMLA investigation revealed that Pankaj Mishra, who enjoys political clout, being the representative of the Chief Minister, MLA from Barhait, Sahibganj, Jharkhand controls the illegal mining businesses as well as inland ferry services in Sahibganj and its adjoining areas through his accomplices," the ED had alleged in a statement earlier.

"He exercises considerable control over the mining of stone chips and boulders as well as installation and operations of several crushers, set up across various mining sites in Sahibganj," the statement had claimed.

It had said proceeds of crime amounting to about Rs 42 crore "acquired" by Mr Mishra have been identified.

The agency had also claimed that it has "identified" proceeds of crimes, relating to illegal mining in the state, to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore.

The ED filed a case under the PMLA against Mr Mishra in March last year, alleging that he "illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour".

It took cognisance of a state police FIR filed against Mr Mishra at Barharwa police station in Sahibganj district, and some other police complaints filed in illegal mining trade instances under various sections of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, among others.

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Watch: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju Relishes Traditional Tiwa Food In Assam

Politicians usually have a lot on their plates ahead of the vote count. This seems to be especially true for Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju who has been attending many "hectic programs" in Assam. 

Taking to social media, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader shared what's on his plate (quite literally) and revealed a delicious Assamese spread served to him in Morigaon. "This is real India..! We relished traditional Tiwa food in Morigaon, Assam. Immense satisfaction to have such delicious local cuisine with our Assam BJP Karyakartas after attending many hectic programs," Mr Rijiju wrote in the caption of his post. 

Watch the video below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kiren Rijiju (@kiren.rijiju)

The clip showed the BJP leader sitting on the floor with other BJP Karyakartas and relishing the traditional Tiwa food in Morigaon. Mr Rijiju shared the video just a few hours back and since then it accumulated more than 5,500 likes and over 40,000 views. 

Meanwhile, according to PTI, Mr Rijiju reached Morigaon on Monday and met old members of the Jan Sangh during the day and attended a Vichar Parivar Samanvay Baithak at the local RSS office. He also attended the prime minister's post-budget webinar on 'Ease of living with technology' during the day.

Also Read | Anand Mahindra Meets "Classmate" Bill Gates. Here's What They Discussed

While addressing a meeting elected by BJP representatives at Morigaon, Mr Rijiju urged BJP workers to make the people aware of the work undertaken by the Central government and ensure that party candidates win the maximum number of seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Union Minister said, "We have to work by setting a target for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. We have to ensure that the BJP candidate becomes the MP from this area". 

He also asked the party leaders to visit people and make an assessment of the functioning of government schemes, like the construction of toilets, and providing potable water and LPG connections to every household. "The public must be made aware of who has given them these facilities. We are working for winning the election. What is the use if we work but still lose?" the Arunachal Pradesh MP quipped.

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'Show That You Have Political Majority': Supreme Court To Shinde Camp

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction on Tuesday claimed their right to the Shiv Sena party and said that a legislature party is integral and organically connected to the political party.

Senior Advocate NK Kaul, appearing for Shinde faction, told a five-judge constitution bench that rival leaders had no faith in the ministry any longer.

Five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha was dealing with the issue related to Maharashtra political crisis.

Justice Narasimha, who was part of the bench, asked the Shinde camp to show that they have a political majority and not a legislative majority.

Senior Advocate NK Kaul, replied to the court that he would address this issue on Wednesday.

The court also asked several questions to the Shinde camp on various issues, legal aspects on various judgements and sought to know how to separate defection and floor test.

CJI Chandrachud also remarked that if the antecedent reason for a floor test is based on a violation of the tenth schedule, then holding a floor test at that stage will defeat the whole basis and purpose of the tenth schedule. The court also sought to know if they are legitimizing a defection which is otherwise not permissible under the tenth schedule.

Advocate replied that their case is not a case of split under the tenth schedule, they are talking about a rival faction within a party which is dissent and the essence of democracy within a party and they claim that their camp is the Shiv Sena.

During the hearing, the court noted that the problem which necessitated the floor test is an alleged defection and said the problem arises because the trust vote is so intrinsically connected with the disqualification proceedings.

Senior Advocate Kaul said that this is a case of internal dissent and the Shinde group is the faction that represents Shiv Sena, which can be decided by the Election Commission of India. As far as floor test is concerned, it is only related to the issue of whether the Chief Minister has the confidence, Kaul said.

The court also noted that the head of the political party did not inform the Governor that they were withdrawing from the alliance of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Kaul replied that 34 out of 55 have written to the Governor saying they had no faith in this government.

As the hearing remained inconclusive on Tuesday, the matter was adjourned for Wednesday.

Uddhav Thackeray faction had earlier submitted that the opposite camp has no defence under the tenth schedule.

A five-judge Constitution bench was hearing a batch of petitions filed by rival factions Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis.

The Supreme Court's Constitution bench has earlier said it would decide later on referring the cases related to the Maharashtra political crisis to a larger seven-judge bench for reconsideration of a 2016 Nabam Rebia judgment on powers of Assembly Speakers to deal with disqualification pleas.

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"COVID-19 Likely Came From Chinese Lab": Nikki Haley

US Republican Party Presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday said that COVID likely came from a Chinese lab and asked to cut US aid to China.

"COVID-19 likely came from a Chinese lab. Cut US aid. Not a cent to Communist China," Haley tweeted on Tuesday.

Haley recently said that if voted to power, she will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate the US. This includes China, Pakistan and other adversaries as "a strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys".

"I will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us. A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," Haley, the Former Governor of South Carolina and former US ambassador to the UN, wrote in an op-ed for New York Post.

According to Haley, America spent USD 46 billion on foreign aid last year. That's more than any other country by far. Taxpayers deserve to know where that money is going and what it's doing. They will be shocked to find that much of it goes to fund anti-American countries and causes.

Grand Old Party (GOP) leader Haley formally launched her 2024 campaign for the White House on February 15 (local time), pitching herself to voters as part of a "new generation" of Republican leaders who can win at the ballot box.

Haley is now the first Indian American woman from the Republican Party to run for the presidential bid. As the former governor of South Carolina and US ambassador to the United Nations, took the stage, Haley introduced herself as the proud daughter of Indian immigrants pitching a new future for the Republican party.

Haley in the Op-ed, while citing examples said that the US has given Iran more than USD 2 billion over the last few years, even though its government is getting closer to the murderous thugs in Iran who shout "Death to America!" and launch attacks on our troops.

"The Biden administration resumed military aid to Pakistan, though it's home to at least a dozen terrorist organizations and its government is deeply in hock to China. Team Biden restored half a billion dollars to a corrupt United Nations agency that's supposed to help the Palestinian people but in fact covers for deeply anti-Semitic propaganda against our ally Israel," she said.

The US has given hundreds of millions of dollars to Zimbabwe, a country with one of the most anti-American voting records in the UN.

American taxpayers still give money to Communist China for ridiculous environmental programs, despite the obvious threat China poses to Americans. We give money to Belarus, which is Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's closest ally. We even give money to Communist Cuba -- a country our own government has designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, Haley stated in her Op-ed for the New York Post.

Earlier this month, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said that the organization will continue pushing until it finds an answer to how the Covid-19 pandemic started, following a report suggesting it had abandoned the search.

"We need to continue to push until we get the answer," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, referring to the search for the origins of the virus that first began spreading in China in late 2019.

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After US, Canada Bans TikTok On Government Devices Over Data Concerns

The Canadian government on Monday banned TikTok from all of its phones and other devices, citing concerns about data protection.

TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is Chinese, has faced increasing Western scrutiny in recent months over fears about how much access Beijing has to user data.

Effective Tuesday, "the TikTok application will be removed from government-issued mobile devices. Users of these devices will also be blocked from downloading the application in the future," the government said in a statement.

It added that Canada's chief information officer had "determined that it presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security."

Although there's been no evidence of breaches of government data linked to the app, it warned that "TikTok's data collection methods provide considerable access to the contents of the phone."

The European Commission banned the app from its equipment last week, following similar moves in the United States.

A TikTok spokesperson said the Canadian decision to block TikTok was "curious" as it was taken "without citing any specific security concern" or consultation with the company.

Relations between China and Canada have deteriorated sharply in recent years, particularly after Canada's arrest on a US warrant of a Huawei senior executive in 2018 and China's retaliatory detention of two Canadian nationals.

Last week, Canada's privacy commissioner launched an investigation into TikTok over its collection and use of users' personal information.

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Honor Magic 5 Series With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 5,100mAh Battery Launched at MWC 2023

Honor Magic 5 series was unveiled by the company on the first day of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. The flagship lineup from the Shenzen-based company includes Honor Magic 5, and Honor Magic 5 Pro. The smartphone company also unveiled the Honor Magic Vs, which is its first foldable flagship to debut outside China. The Honor Magic 5 series smartphones come equipped with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Moreover, the Honor Magic 5 Pro packs a bundle of significant upgrades.

Honor Magic 5, Honor Magic 5 Pro, Honor Magic Vs price, availablity

The MWC 2023 witnessed the launch of latest flagship smartphones from Honor, which included non-foldable Magic 5 series and company's first global foldable smartphone — the Honor Magic Vs. The Honor Magic 5 Pro comes five colour variants — Black, Glacier Blue, Meadow Green, Orange and Coral Purple, while the vanilla Magic 5 variant comes in Blue and Black colour options. Similarly, the Honor Magic Vs also offers Cyan and Black colour variants.

The Honor Magic 5 will be available at the stating price of EUR 899 (nearly Rs. 78,800), while the Honor Magic 5 Pro comes at EUR 1199 (nearly Rs. 1,05,100) for the 12GB RAM and 512 GB storage model. On the other hand, the Honor Magic Vs offers similar configuration at EUR 1599 (nearly Rs. 1,40,300).

The company has not revealed any date regarding the availability of the smartphones yet.

Honor Magic 5 Pro specifications

The smartphone features a 6.81-inch OLED display with 19.54:9 aspect ratio. It gets quad-curved floating screen with support for gestures. The Honor Magic 5 runs on MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13. It packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC coupled with Adreno 740 GPU.

For optics, the smartphone gets a triple unit rear camera unit led by a 50-megapixel wide primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra wide camera and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with OIS. It also sports a rear single LED flash in the camera unit. Meanwhile, users get a 12-megapixel front snapper with 3D depth camera for selfies and video calls.

The Honor Magic 5 Pro packs a 5,100 mAh battery with 66W SuperCharge charger and 50W support for wireless charging. The dual-SIM smartphone gets connectivity support for 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth and USB Type-C. It is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance.

Honor Magic 5 specifications

On the other hand, the Honor Magic 5 offers a 6.73-inch OLED display with 19.54:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone has similar details as its high-end variant when it comes to operating system and processor.

Meanwhile, the tripe rear camera setup includes a 54-megapixel wide main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 32-megapixel telephoto lens, along with a 12-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. The Honor Magic 5 is backed by a 5,100mAh battery. Other specifications are similar to the Honor Magic 5 Pro.

Honor Magic Vs specifications

Claimed to be the company's first foldable smartphone to be launched outside China, the Honor Magic Vs offers 7.9-inch inner display and 6.45-inch external screen, with screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.

The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC coupled with Adreno 730 GPU. The keyboard supports gestures and comes equipped with three-key navigation. Just like the other two smartphones in the Magic series, the Honor Magic Vs also runs on Android-13 based MagicOS 7.1.

The optics specifications of the smartphone include a 54-megapixel led triple camera setup and a 16-megapixel front snapper. The rear camera unit also has a 50-megapixel ultra-wide shooter and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens.

It gets a 5,000mAh coupled with an HONOR 66W SuperCharge charger. With USB Type-C cable, the Honor Magic Vs gets WiFi, Bluetooth, and 5G connectivity support.

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After facing headwinds in India last year, Xiaomi is all set to take on the competition in 2023. What are the company's plans for its wide product portfolio and its Make in India commitment in the country? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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"Anti Punjab": Bhagwant Mann Slams BJP's Governor Rule Demand For State

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday accused BJP leaders, including former chief minister Amarinder Singh, of demanding "governor's rule" in the state and said that people know that these leaders have always been "anti-Punjab".

The Mann-led AAP government has been under fire from the opposition which has been alleging a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. The chief minister's also involved in a tussle with Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

It worsened last week with the governor indicating that he is in no hurry to summon the Assembly's Budget session, and reminding the chief minister about his "derogatory response" to a letter from the Raj Bhavan.

Governor's letter to Chief Minister Mann had come two days after the Punjab Cabinet decided to call the assembly session from March 3 and requested the governor to summon the House.

"Capt Amarinder Singh, Kewal Dhillon, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Fateh Jang Bajwa, Raj Kumar Verka, Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi... all Congressmen (who are) in BJP these days can often be seen around the Governor's residence. They are speaking about the governor's rule in Punjab. People of Punjab know that they have always remained anti-Punjab," Mr Mann said in his tweet in Punjabi.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday said the Punjab government has been forced to move the Supreme Court as the Governor was not responding to the state cabinet's decision of convening the budget session of the assembly.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP leader Fateh Jang Bajwa demanded the governor's rule in Punjab while attacking the AAP government over various issues, including alleged deteriorating law and order in the state.

"Our party, while considering the present situation, demands that governor's rule should be imposed in Punjab," Mr Bajwa said here on Monday and accused the AAP of not being able to run the state.

He said the state government was talking about attracting investments from other states but considering the present law-and-order situation, "there is a fear that the existing industry may leave".

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also attacked the AAP government over the law and order issue. In a statement, Mr Badal said, "No one is safe in today's Punjab." "The police force has been bottled down by the AAP administration as was witnessed recently during the attack on the Ajnala police station by radicals led by Amritpal Singh. This, as well as other incidents, which have revealed the complete lack of an integrated command structure, have demoralized the state police and compounded the problem," he alleged.

Punjab BJP leader Subhash Sharma slammed the AAP for holding protests over CBI arresting Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, stating the arrest was made on the basis of proof.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanded that the CBI probe into the Delhi excise policy case be extended to Punjab, claiming Sisodia was also the "architect" of the Punjab excise policy which had caused "losses of hundreds of crores to the state exchequer".

"The actors and directors of the Punjab excise policy are the same as in the case of Delhi. As in the case of Delhi, the CBI should probe the role of senior officers and AAP politicians who had colluded to give huge benefits to select liquor manufacturers," Mr Majithia alleged.

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Madhya Pradesh Couple Gets Life In Jail For Killing Daughter Born Without Ear

A couple was on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Indore in Madhya Pradesh for killing their three-month-old daughter, who was born without an ear, and disposing of her body in a garbage dump.

Pappu Rawal (50) and his wife Sangeeta Rawal (45) were convicted under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for killing their child with a kitchen plier, a prosecution official said.

The child's body was found wrapped in cloth in a garbage heap in Khajrana area here on March 16, 2016.

The child, who was the second daughter of the couple, did not have an ear, due to which they disowned her and killed her, the official said.

However, DNA tests established them as the biological parents and a probe found them guilty.

Assistant District Public Prosecution Officer Avisarika Jain convinced the court about the couple's guilt through circumstantial and scientific evidence, the official said.

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After Manish Sisodia's Arrest, Delhi's Ashram Flyover Opening Postponed

The inauguration of the Ashram flyover extension scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed in light of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's arrest, officials said on Monday.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was supposed to inaugurate it on Tuesday.

"The flyover extension was supposed to be thrown open to the public on Tuesday and had got the date from the chief minister's office. But in light of the recent developments, we will now have to seek a new date from his office. The work on the flyover extension has been completed," an official said.

The CBI on Sunday arrested Mr Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22 relating to the sale of alcohol.

He was sent to five-day custody of the CBI by a special court here.

Mr Sisodia, who also holds the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio, had earlier this month conducted an on-sight inspection to assess the progress of the work.

The flyover will allow passengers to bypass three traffic lights between Ashram Chowk and DND, making vehicular movement smoother, according to officials.

At present, vehicles coming and going from Noida and Ghaziabad to South Delhi have to grapple with congestion while travelling from the DND loop to the Ashram intersection.

The construction work of the flyover extension started in June 2020 after the project was approved by the Cabinet. The total cost of the project is Rs 128.25 crore while the total length of the flyover including the ramp is 1,425 metres.

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Meghalaya, Nagaland Vote Today, Multi-Cornered Contests On Cards: 10 Facts

1. Meghalaya will witness a multi-cornered contest, where besides the Congress, BJP and Conrad Sangma's NPP (National People's Party), Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress are in fray.
2. Trinamool has become the largest opposition party in the state following the defection of former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and several other Congress legislators. The Congress, which won 21 seats last time and became the single largest party, is seen to have suffered an erosion of its voter base.
3. In 2018, the BJP won only two seats, but managed to cobble together a government with NPP. This time, it has fielded candidates on 60 seats after a rift with Mr Sangma's party over allegations of corruption.
4. The NPP's ambition for a footprint in all the northeastern states, however, is seen as the big reason for the growing coolness between the two parties. Mr Sangma's party has contested the last year's elections in Manipur and improved its vote share. It has some presence in Arunachal Pradesh also and has plans for Nagaland next.
5. Both the BJP and Conrad Sangma have brushed off the Trinamool challenge. Mr Sangma has tagged the party an outsider, and said it would take Trinamool a long time to establish themselves and get people's acceptance.
6. Triangular contests are on the cards in 59 of the 60 assembly constituencies in Nagaland. The BJP, which won 12 of the state's 60 seats in 2018, is contesting in alliance with the NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party). Under the seat-sharing agreement, the NDPP is contesting on 40 seats and the BJP on 20 seats.
7. The BJP, though, has opened its account already, with its candidate Kazheto Kinimi being re-elected unopposed from the Akuluto Assembly constituency after his only opponent withdrew his candidature.
8. The opposition Congress and the Naga People's Front are contesting in 23 and 22 seats. The Congress has said it can opt for a post-poll alliance if needed.
9. Four women candidates are contesting the elections in Nagaland this time. While the state has women in leading positions in every sphere, a woman MLA will be a first.
10. Voting will begin at 7 am and continue till 4 pm in both states under tight security. The counting of votes will be held on March 2.

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Czech Foreign Minister, Delegation Arrive In India For 3-Day Visit

Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on Sunday arrived in India for a three-day official visit which is supposed to provide further momentum to India-Czech Republic bilateral relations.

"Welcoming the Czech Foreign Minister @JanLipavsky as he arrives in India on a 3-day official visit. This visit will provide further momentum to India's bilateral relations with the Czech Republic," MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Sunday.

Jan Lipavsky is visiting India from February 26 to March 1.

A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release said that Lipavsky will during his India visit, attend the inaugural session of the India-EU Business and Sustainability Conclave on February 28.

During his visit to India, Jan Lipavsky will be accompanied by Czech Republic's Members of the Parliament, the Deputy Minister for Science, Research and Innovation and a high-level official and business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a recent release. Lipavsky will also hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.

"During the visit, Foreign Minister Lipavsky will hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar where the two leaders are expected to discuss the entire range of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," read the MEA release.

It further read, "Foreign Minister Lipavsky will also be attending the inaugural session of the India-EU Business and Sustainability Conclave organized by CII on 28 February 2023. He will then travel to Mumbai on the same day and will depart on 01 March 2023 from Mumbai."

The visit of Lipavsky to India follows EAM S Jaishankar's visit to the Czech Republic in June 2022 where the two held delegation-level talks. In January this year, the two leaders held a meeting in Vienna during Mr Jaishankar's visit to Austria.

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Elon Musk Accuses Media Of Racism After Newspapers Drop 'Dilbert' Cartoon

Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday accused the media of being racist against whites and Asians after US newspapers dropped a white comic strip author who made derogatory comments about Black Americans.

The Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and USA Today were among newspapers that canceled the cartoon "Dilbert" after its creator Scott Adams said Black Americans were a hate group and posted racist comments on his YouTube channel on Wednesday.

In replies to tweets about the controversy, the Tesla and Twitter chief executive said the media had long been racist against non-white people but are now "racist against whites & Asians."

"Maybe they can try not being racist," Musk tweeted.

In response to an account that said white victims of police violence get a fraction of media coverage compared to Black victims, Musk said the coverage is "Very disproportionate to promote a false narrative."

Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Musk's views on social issues have been increasingly under the microscope since he took over Twitter in October.

He has sparred with civil rights groups over Twitter's level of protection against hateful content and the reinstatement of some accounts that previously had been suspended. Some advertisers have left the platform over concerns about brand safety, and Twitter has rolled out some new controls for ad placement.

Musk's latest tweets come after the Dilbert creator suggested white Americans "get the hell away from Black people". Adams, the cartoonist, was responding to a poll by the conservative Rasmussen Reports that said 26% of Black respondents said they disagreed with the statement "It's OK to be white."

The move to drop the cartoon was "not a difficult decision", the Plain Dealer newspaper in Ohio told its readers on Friday.

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Congress Adopted 85 Resolutions During 3-Day All Party Meet

As curtains came down on the Congress' 85th plenary session on Sunday, there were several takeaways from the three-day conclave of the party -- from opting to authorise the AICC president to nominate CWC members to making its stance clear on alliances for 2024 polls.

The main takeaways from the session are as follows:

• The Congress Steering Committee unanimously decided not to hold elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate its members.
• Mr Kharge said his party is willing to forge a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties in order to get rid of the "anti-people" BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and is ready to make any sacrifice required to achieve the goal.
• The Congress said it is the only party that can provide capable and decisive leadership to the country, but is ready to make sacrifices to defeat the BJP-led NDA and would go all out to identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular forces to achieve its goal.
• The party also cautioned that the emergence of any third force would give an advantage to the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
• Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched an all-out attack on the BJP government, accusing it of "fuelling the fire of hatred" and "viciously targeting minorities, women, Dalits and tribals".
• Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said she was happy that her innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra, with the party asserting that the remark was about her tenure as the party president and had nothing to do with her retirement from politics.
• The Congress carried out 85 amendments in its constitution at its plenary session to provide 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), women, youth and minorities in its working committee and at all party positions.
• According to the amended constitution of the party, the CWC will now include former prime ministers from the party and former AICC chiefs besides leaders of the Congress in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• The party decided to provide 50 per cent vertical reservation to SCs/STs/OBCs/minorities and horizontal reservation to youths aged below 50 and women in both reserved and unreserved categories.
• The number of CWC members will go up to 35 from the earlier 23, with 18 members to be elected and 17 to be nominated.
• The amended constitution says from now on, the party will only have digital membership and records.
• The party also amended its constitution to make stringent provisions for those taking Congress membership and ensure that they abstain from taking intoxicating drugs and psychotropic substances.
• In its economic resolution, the Congress said is against "government-facilitated" private monopolies and not any person rising from a humble background to become the world's second richest. It reiterated its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue.
• The Congress will bring a legislation against hate crimes in the country if voted to power. The assertion was part of the party's 58-point political resolution that was adopted at the plenary session.
• In its Raipur Declaration, the Congress gave a call to party leaders in poll-bound states, including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, to work with discipline and complete unity to ensure victory that will "set the tone" for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
• In its five-point Raipur Declaration adopted at the party's plenary session here, the Congress declared that it is ready to work with like-minded political parties on the basis of a common, constructive programme to preserve and protect the Constitution.
• In his remarks at the plenary, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi flayed BJP leaders for coming out in support of the Adani Group in Parliament over the fraud allegations levelled against it in a report by Hindenburg Research. He likened the business conglomerate to the British East India Company and said the party would keep raising questions about its business practices until the truth comes out.
• In a scathing attack on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Mr Gandhi said his recent remarks on China did not show nationalism but cowardice and that these were in line with V D Savarkar's ideology of "bowing before the strong".

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Eknath Shinde's "Ties With Dawood Ibrahim" Dig At Opposition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday took a dig at the Opposition for boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the Budget session of the state legislature, and said it was good that those having ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim did not turn up for it.

The budget session of the state legislature, which begins on Monday, will end on March 25. The opposition parties - the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Congress - boycotted the tea party hosted by the government on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters here later, CM Shinde said, "In a way, it was good that the opposition did not turn for the high tea when some of them have ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Instead of calling our (Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance as anti-Maharashtra, will you not call such people anti-nationals? There are some people in the opposition parties who have had ties with Haseen Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim." Shinde was apparently referring to former state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who is currently in jail following his arrest last year in a money-laundering case linked to the activities of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The chief minister also took a dig at senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

"Ajit Pawar is saying that I changed my allegiance (from Uddhav Thackeray to the BJP), but he should not forget that I am still following what late Balasaheb Thackeray taught us. Even the Election Commission's decision to allot us the name Shiv Sena and symbol (of bow and arrow) proves it," Shinde said.

"Unlike Pawar, who on one day took an oath with Devendra Fadnavis (in November 2019) and changed it again within a couple of days. You need not have to be wise to make any random allegations. Pawar is like a fish out of water. Since he is out of power, he is acting in this manner," the CM added.

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Girls Poisoned To Stop Them From Going To School: Iran Minister

An Iranian deputy minister on Sunday said "some people" were poisoning schoolgirls in the holy city of Qom with the aim of shutting down education for girls, state media reported.

Since late November, hundreds of cases of respiratory poisoning have been reported among schoolgirls mainly in Qom, south of Tehran, with some needing hospital treatment.

On Sunday the deputy health minister, Younes Panahi, implicitly confirmed the poisonings had been deliberate.

"After the poisoning of several students in Qom schools, it was found that some people wanted all schools, especially girls' schools, to be closed," the IRNA state news agency quoted Panahi as saying.

He did not elaborate. So far, there have been no arrests linked to the poisonings.

On February 14, parents of students who had been ill had gathered outside the city's governorate to "demand an explanation" from the authorities, IRNA reported.

The next day government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said the intelligence and education ministries were trying to find the cause of the poisonings.

Last week, Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri ordered a judicial probe into the incidents.

The poisonings come as Iran has been rocked by protests since the December 16 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini for an alleged violation of country's strict dress code for women.

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6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania.

The earthquake occurred at 21:24:48 (UTC 05:30) and hit Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on Saturday, at a depth of 38.2 km, the USGS informed.

The earthquake's epicentre was 6.111°S and 149.793°E, respectively.

No casualties have been reported yet. Further details awaited.

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Thousands Protest In Berlin Over Arming Ukraine Against Russia

A demonstration against supplying Ukraine with weapons for war with Russia attracted 10,000 people on Saturday, drawing criticism from top German government officials and a large police presence to maintain order.

Organised by a prominent left-wing German politician, the protest comes a day after the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which drew promises of more weapons from western allies, fresh sanctions against Russia and shows of support for Kyiv across the globe.

"We call on the German chancellor to stop the escalation of arms deliveries. Now!...Because every day lost costs up to 1,000 more lives - and brings us closer to a 3rd world war," the protest's organizers said on their website.

The "Uprising for Peace" was organised in part by Sahra Wagenknecht, a member of Germany's left-wing Die Linke party.

Germany, along with the United States, has been one of the biggest suppliers of weapons for Ukraine.

"Negotiate, not escalate" one sign held by a demonstrator said, while a banner in the crowd read "Not our war".

A police spokesperson said 10,000 people gathered around Germany's symbolic Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin.

Police mobilised 1,400 officials to keep the peace and to enforce bans on military uniforms, Russian and Soviet flags, Russian military songs and right-wing symbols.

The police spokesperson said there was no sign of right-wing groups attending and that the protest, which German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said must be "clearly opposed", was peaceful.

"Whoever does not stand by Ukraine is on the wrong side of history," Lindner said on Twitter.

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Congress Proposes Legislation Against Hate Crimes At All Party Meet

The Congress will bring a legislation against hate crimes in the country if voted to power.

The assertion is part of the party's 58-point political resolution that was adopted at its 85th plenary session on Saturday.

In its political resolution, the Congress also said, "The judiciary is constantly threatened by direct and indirect measures which create apprehensions in their mind." "Unfortunately, the law minister himself is leading the blatant attack on the judiciary. Congress promises that the independence and integrity of the judiciary will be maintained and protected at all costs," the party said in its resolution.

The party will pass a "new law to prevent and punish hate crimes", it said.

"Congress promises to pass an anti-discrimination law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, gender or language in the supply of goods and services that are made available to the public in general such as housing, hostels, hotels, clubs, etc," the resolution said.

In the last eight and a half years under the BJP government, the party said, "politics of hate has assumed alarming proportions and religious polarisation has reached its peak".

"Hate crimes and atrocities have increased manifold. Vigilante right wing groups incite violence on various trivial issues. These groups operate with impunity and have started acting like police, spreading anarchy and fear. This fear in the minds of minorities is the aim of the BJP/RSS regime," the party said in its resolution.

"During the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it was clear that majority of Indians yearn for love, peace and harmony," it said.

"Crimes against weaker sections of society have also increased. Atrocities against scheduled castes (SCs) have increased by 1.2 per cent in 2021, according to the NCRB. Violence against Dalit and adivasi women has also risen. Cases of rape against SC women, including, shockingly, minors, account for 7.64 per cent and ST women account for 15 per cent out of the total cases reported," the party also said.

The 85th plenary session of the Congress started here on Friday. Congress leaders are brainstorming on the party's strategy to prepare for the state assembly polls scheduled to be held this year and the 2024 general election during the plenary session.

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"Congress Could Have Been More Vocal On Bilkis Bano Case": Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the Congress should be absolutely clear in its ideological stance in favour of an inclusive India and pointed out that party could have been more vocal on issues such as the Bilkis Bano outrage and murder in the name of cow vigilantism.

Addressing the 85th plenary session of the party in Raipur, the former Union minister said the Congress should stand up for its foundational principles.

"We should be absolutely clear in our ideological stance in favour of inclusive India. The tendency to downplay some positions or avoid taking a stand on some issues in order not to alienate what we assume to be the sentiments of the majority only plays into the BJP's hands," Mr Tharoor said.

"We must have the courage of our convictions. We could have been more vocal on the Bilkis Bano outrage, attacks on Christian churches, murder in the name of cow vigilantism, bulldozer demolition of Muslim homes and similar issues," he said.

These are Indian citizens who look to the party for support, Mr Tharoor added.

Last year in August, all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang rape case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy, triggering outrage from various sections, including the Congress. He asserted that India belongs to all and if the party does not speak up in such cases, it is only surrendering its core responsibility of standing up for India's diversity and pluralism which should be central to the Congress core message.

He said every effort must be made to strengthen the secular foundations of the country.

"The fact is that India's future is bright as long as the Congress fights the good fight," Mr Tharoor said.

He also hailed the Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying it has revived the confidence of the party cadre.

"From here let us send out a message of Congress jodo," Mr Tharoor said.

Speaking on the economic resolution passed on the second day of the three-day plenary, Mr Tharoor said it should outline the elements of a progressive economic agenda that addresses head-on the challenge of unacceptable economic inequality.

"We want economic growth but we must ensure that the fruits of that growth reach the poor and the marginalised. India will not shine until it shines for all," he stressed.

The former minister of state for external affairs and the convenor of the party's sub-group on foreign affairs for the plenary also said policy has long been seen as an are of national consensus.

"There was no Congress foreign policy or BJP foreign policy only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest. This tradition has sadly been undermined by the (Narendra) Modi government," Mr Tharoor said.

Mr Tharoor also criticised the government, saying it refuses to take the nation into confidence on vital foreign policy issues, including what is happening on the LAC with China.

"It is shocking to hear our foreign minister imply that China is too rich to stand up to. We must demand that Parliament be taken into confidence, that the nation be told what is our thinking about our vital foreign policy interests," he said.

Foreign policy must again return to being a consensual national endeavour with bipartisan agreement and support, he asserted.

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Xiaomi 13 Lite Appears on Geekbench Listing Ahead of Global Launch; Specifications Leaked

Xiaomi 13 series will be launched in Barcelona on February 26, a day before the Mobile World Congress 2023 begins. The company will unveil three models in this series — the Xiaomi 13, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, and the Xiaomi 13 Lite. While the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro were already launched in China, the global series will reportedly have one more addition i.e, the Xiaomi 13 Lite. The details about all three devices have been doing rounds on the internet. Now, the Xiaomi 13 Lite has appeared on a Geekbench listing, suggesting the processor and its performance.

According to a report by Gizmochina, the upcoming Xiaomi 13 Lite has been spotted on the Geekbench certification site with model number 2210129SG. The listing suggests that the handset will be powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC coupled with 8GB RAM. The phone is hinted to come pre-installed with Android 12, paired with MIUI 13 skin. Additionally, the listing reveals that the phone has scored 793 in single-core tests and 2,938 in multi-core tests.

While the Geekbench listing has only this much information, the phone was recently spotted on German e-retailer CyberPort for a brief time. The listing reportedly revealed its detailed specifications and pricing. Xiaomi 13 Lite is speculated to be available in two shades – Black and Pink.

The other two models — Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro — were already launched in the Chinese market in December 2022. The global variants of the phone are speculated to carry the same features as their Chinese variants. The vanilla variant in the series runs MIUI 14 and has a 6.73-inch 2K OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC coupled with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM.

The phones also appeared on a European retail site, suggesting that the Xiaomi 13 will be priced at EUR 999.90 (roughly Rs. 88,300) for 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro will cost EUR 1,299.90 (roughly Rs. 1,14,700). Both smartphones are said to be available in lack and white colour options.

 

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Core Within Earth's Core: Scientists Discover Deepest Region Of Earth

In order to comprehend planetary origin and evolution, scientists have been investigating the Earth's centre for a very long time, and recently they have made a huge discovery related to the innercore of the planet Earth.

Until recently, it was believed that the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core made up the structure of the Earth. But, new research published in Nature Communications confirms that there is actually a fifth layer.

According to a new study, scientists have made previously unheard-of observations of a mystery metal ball that resides within the Earth's deep core, revealing a structure that has long been the subject of conjecture but has never been seen in such detail.

Researchers said the intensive study of Earth's deep interior, based on the behavior of seismic waves from large earthquakes, confirmed the existence of a distinct structure inside our planet's inner core - a wickedly hot innermost solid ball of iron and nickel about 800 miles (1,350 km) wide.

Earth's diameter is about 7,900 miles (12,750 km). The planet's internal structure comprises four layers: a rocky crust on the outside, then a rocky mantle, an outer core made of magma and a solid inner core. This metallic inner core, about 1,500 miles (2,440) wide, was discovered in the 1930s, also based on seismic waves traveling through Earth.

"We may know more about the surface of other distant celestial bodies than the deep interior of our planet," said observational seismologist Thanh-Son Pham of the Australian National University in Canberra, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

"We analyzed digital records of ground motion, known as seismograms, from large earthquakes in the last decade. Our study becomes possible thanks to the unprecedented expansion of the global seismic networks, particularly the dense networks in the contiguous US, the Alaskan peninsula, and over the European Alps," Pham added.

"Earth's inner core (IC), which accounts for less than 1% of the Earth's volume, is a time capsule of our planet's history. As the IC grows, the latent heat and light elements released by the solidification process drive the convection of the liquid outer core, which, in turn, maintains the geodynamo," said Pham and Tkalcic in the study.

"As the IC grows, the latent heat and light elements released by the solidification process drive the convection of the liquid outer core, which, in turn, maintains the geodynamo," they said referring to the mechanism that generates Earth's magnetic field.  

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Meta Steps Up Chatbot Buzz, Announces Research Tool LLaMA as Rival to Microsoft's ChatGPT, Google's LaMDA

Meta Platforms introduced a research tool for building artificial intelligence-based chatbots and other products, seeking to create a buzz for its own technology in a field lately focused on internet rivals Google and Microsoft.

The tool, LLaMA, is Meta's latest entry in the realm of large language models, which “have shown a lot of promise in generating text, having conversations, summarizing written material and more complicated tasks like solving math theorems or predicting protein structures,” Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in an Facebook post on Friday.

For now LLaMA isn't in use in Meta's products, which include social networks Facebook and Instagram, according to a spokesperson. The company plans to make the technology available to AI researchers.

“Meta is committed to this open model of research,” Zuckerberg wrote.

Large language models are massive AI systems that suck up enormous volumes of digital text — from news articles, social media posts or other internet sources — and use that written material to train software that predicts and generates content on its own when given a prompt or query. The models can be used for tasks like writing essays, composing tweets, generating chatbot conversations and suggesting computer programming code. 

The technology has become popular, and controversial, in recent months as more companies have started to build them and introduce tests of products based on the models, spotlighting a new area of competition among tech giants. Microsoft is investing billions in OpenAI, the maker of GPT-3, the large language model that runs the ChatGPT chatbot. The software maker this month unveiled a test version of its Bing search engine running on OpenAI's chat technology, which raised immediate concerns over its sometimes-inappropriate responses.

Alphabet's Google has a model called LaMDA, or Language Model for Dialogue Applications. The internet search and advertising leader is testing a chat-based, AI-powered search product called Bard, which also still has some glitches.

Meta previously launched a large language model called OPT-175B, but LLaMA is a newer and more advanced system. Another model Meta released late last year, Galactica, was quickly pulled back after researchers discovered it was routinely sharing biased or inaccurate information with people who used it.

Zuckerberg has made AI a top priority inside the company, often talking about its importance to improving Meta's products on earnings conference calls and in interviews. While LLaMA is not being used in Meta products now, it's possible that it will be in the future. Meta for now relies on AI for all kinds of functions, including content moderation and ranking material that appears in user feeds. 

Making the LLaMA model open-source allows outsiders to see more clearly how the system works, tweak it to their needs and collaborate on related projects. Last year, Big Science and Hugging Face released BLOOM, an open-source LLM that was intended to make this kind of technology more accessible.

© 2023 Bloomberg LP

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"Need A Just Peace" In Ukraine: Turkey's Erdogan On Call With Putin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Friday for "a just peace" in Ukraine during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the presidency announced.

"President Erdogan stressed the need for achieving a just peace to prevent further loss of life and destruction," it said in a brief statement.

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China Directs Tech Companies Not to Offer Access to ChatGPT on Their Platforms: Report

In yet another clampdown on big tech companies, China has instructed them not to offer access to ChatGPT services on their platforms, either directly or via third parties, people with direct knowledge of the matter told Nikkei Asia.

Beijing's clampdown on ChatGPT, the hugely popular AI-powered chatbot, comes as little surprise to many in China's tech industry.

Chinese state media outlet blasted the chatbot for spreading US government 'misinformation' amid growing alarm in Beijing over the AI-powered chatbot's uncensored replies to user queries, reported Nikkei Asia.

On Monday, state-owned media outlet China Daily said in a post on Weibo, China's heavily censored equivalent of Twitter, that the chatbot "could provide a helping hand to the US government in its spread of disinformation and its manipulation of global narratives for its own geopolitical interests."

Tencent Holdings and Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, have been instructed not to offer access to ChatGPT services on their platforms.

The sources added that tech companies will also need to report to regulators before they launch their own ChatGPT-like services.

ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI, is not officially available in China but some internet users have been able to access it using a virtual private network (VPN), reported Nikkei Asia.

There have also been dozens of "mini programs" released by third-party developers on Tencent's WeChat social media app that claim to offer services from ChatGPT.

Under regulatory pressure, Tencent has suspended several such third-party services regardless of whether they were connected to ChatGPT or were in fact copycats, people familiar with the matter told Nikkei.

This is not the first time that China has blocked foreign websites or applications. Beijing has banned dozens of prominent US websites and apps.

Between 2009 and 2010, it moved to block Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Between 2018 and 2019, it instituted bans on Reddit and Wikipedia.

The latest move by regulators comes amid an official backlash against ChatGPT. Sources in the tech industry say they are not surprised by such a clampdown, reported Nikkei Asia.

"Our understanding from the beginning is that ChatGPT can never enter China due to issues with censorship, and China will need its own versions of ChatGPT," said one executive from a leading tech company.

An executive from another leading Chinese tech player said that even without a direct warning his company would not use ChatGPT, reported Nikkei Asia.

"We have already been a target of the Chinese regulator [amid the tech industry crackdown in recent years], so even if there were no such ban, we would never take the initiative to add ChatGPT to our platforms because its responses are uncontrollable," the person said.

"There will inevitably be some users who ask the chatbot politically sensitive questions, but the platform would be held accountable for the results."

Since ChatGPT took the tech world by storm, Chinese tech giants, including Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu, have rushed to unveil their own plans for developing ChatGPT-like services.

These companies have been cautious about wording their announcements, however, with all of them stressing that their services are ChatGPT-like but do not integrate ChatGPT itself, reported Nikkei Asia.

China's clampdown on ChatGPT comes as tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to escalate.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this week that new information suggests Beijing could provide "lethal support" to Russia in the Ukraine war, triggering concerns over a new Cold War. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the claims were false and accused Washington of spreading lies.

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Explained: Who Is Lovepreet Singh, Punjab Radical Leader's Aide Freed By Cops

Lovepreet Singh walked out of jail today after a pro-Khalistan organisation lay siege to Ajnala police station in Punjab's Amritsar. But who is he and who is the Amritpal Singh that led the group to Ajnala police station.

Who is Lovepreet Singh

Lovepreet Singh aka Toofan Singh belongs from Gurdaspur in Punjab. He was arrested for his connection in a kidnapping and assault case. Lovepreet Singh is also a part of Waris Punjab De, and a close aide of Waris Punjab De's chief Amritpal Singh.

Who is Amritpal Singh

Amritpal Singh is the chief of Waris Punjab De, a separatist organisation started by Deep Sidhu. Amritpal Singh returned from Dubai last year. He was recently made the head of Waris Punjab De at an event in Moga district, the village of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

What happened on February 23 at Ajnala police station

After Lovepreet Singh's arrest on February 16, Amritpal Singh warned the police to release him, or else he would come with a huge crowd on February 23. Amritpal Singh's supporters started gathering in the morning at Ajnala station.

The police tried to stop them since they were low in number. Then Amritpal Singh reached Ajnala from Raia's village Jallupur Khera. In half an hour, the situation became such that the police were attacked with swords. Several policemen including senior officers, at Ajnala police post were taken over by Amritpal Singh and his supporters.

What did Punjab Police do

The Punjab Police decided to form a special investigative team to probe the first information report (FIR). Lovepreet Singh was released at 4 pm. "Want to ensure peace. It's hard-earned in Punjab," the Punjab Police chief said.

The whole incident has come at the time when Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been inviting investments to Punjab. This event is not the standalone incident of a separatist uprising in the state. There have been cases in the previous government as well. For now, the situation remains tricky for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.

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Ericsson Could Cut 8,500 Jobs Under Cost-Cutting Plans, Reveals Internal Memo

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson will lay off 8,500 employees globally as part of its plan to cut costs, a memo sent to employees and seen by Reuters said.

While technology companies such as Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet have laid off thousands of employees citing economic conditions, Ericsson's move would be the largest layoff to hit the industry.

"The way headcount reductions will be managed will differ depending on local country practice," Chief Executive Borje Ekholm wrote in the memo.

"In several countries the headcount reductions have already been communicated this week," he said.

On Monday, the company, which employs more than 1,05,000 worldwide, announced plans to cut about 1,400 jobs in Sweden.

While Ericsson did not disclose which geography would be most affected, analysts had predicted that North America would likely be most affected and growing markets such as India the least.

The company said in December it would cut costs by 9 billion crowns ($880 million or nearly 7,300 crore) by the end of 2023 as demand slows in some markets, including North America.

"It is our obligation to take this cost out to remain competitive," Ekholm said in the memo. "Our biggest enemy right now may be complacency."

Many telecom companies had beefed up their inventories during the height of the pandemic which is now leading to slowing orders for telecom equipment makers.

Verizon, one of the largest telecom companies, plans to spend between $18.25 billion (nearly Rs. 151,400 crore) and $19.25 billion (nearly Rs. 1,59,700 crore) this year, down from a capital expenditure budget of $23 billion last year.

Ericsson Chief Financial Officer Carl Mellander had earlier told Reuters that cost cuts would involve reducing consultants, real estate and employee headcount.

Nordic rival Nokia has not announced any plans to lay off employees.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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North Korea Test Fires 4 Strategic Cruise Missiles: Report

North Korea has test-fired four strategic cruise missiles during a drill designed to demonstrate its ability to conduct a nuclear counterattack against hostile forces, its state media said on Friday.

The exercise on Thursday involved an apparently operational strategic cruise missile unit of the Korean People's Army, which fired the four "Hwasal-2" missiles in the area of Kim Chaek City, North Hamgyong Province, towards the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, state news agency KCNA said.

Other units conducted firepower training at hardened sites without live firing, it added.

The four strategic cruise missiles hit a preset target after traveling the "2000km-long (1,242.7 miles) elliptical and eight-shaped flight orbits for 10,208 seconds to 10,224 seconds," the English-language report said.

The drill demonstrated "the war posture of the DPRK nuclear combat force bolstering up in every way its deadly nuclear counterattack capability against the hostile forces," said KCNA.

The missiles were not announced by South Korea or Japan, which often detect and publicly report North Korean launches.

US and South Korean officials took part in a tabletop, or simulated, exercise that focused on the possibility of North Korea using a nuclear weapon, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

North Korea has forged ahead steadily in developing and mass producing new missiles, despite sanctions imposed by United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the nuclear-armed country's missile activities.

Many launches, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Saturday, have been reported by state media as drills designed to improve the capabilities of the troops operating the weapons.

"These demonstrations might be considered missile exercising rather than developmental testing," the US-based Center for International and Strategic Studies said in a report this week.

North Korea could test-fire ICBMs on a lower, longer trajectory and conduct its seventh nuclear test this year to perfect its weapons capabilities, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday, citing intelligence officials.

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Alexa Users In India To Get New Male Voice Option

Indian users, for the first time, will be able to switch between Alexa's original voice and a new masculine sounding voice, Amazon said on Thursday as its virtual assistant completed five years in India.

Amazon, in a statement marking the milestone, said millions of customers across India have purchased Echo devices.

"For the first-time, Indian users will be able to switch between Alexa's original voice and a new masculine sounding voice. The new voice can respond in both English and Hindi languages," the statement said.

Users can change Alexa's voice by saying "Alexa, change your voice" on the Echo device or from the Alexa app by going to individual device setting and selecting Alexa's voice.

"In 2022, requests to Alexa on Echo Smart speakers, Amazon Shopping App, Fire TV and many Alexa-enabled devices by other brands increased by 37 per cent versus 2021 - making it a household name across the country. Maximum new customers started their Alexa journey on the Amazon Shopping App (Android only) - leading to over 55 per cent increase in monthly active users year on year," it said.

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Singer R Kelly Gets New 20-Year Jail Term For Child Pornography Crimes

A US judge on Thursday handed disgraced R&B singer R Kelly a 20-year prison term for child pornography and other charges -- but he will serve most of it simultaneously with a previous sentence.

Kelly, 56, is already serving a 30-year sentence he received after a Brooklyn jury in a separate federal trial convicted him on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

The judge in Chicago -- Kelly's hometown, where he was once seen as a source of pride -- ruled that most of the new sentence would be served concurrently with the previous one, with all but one year taken at the same time.

That Kelly will spend a maximum of 31 years in prison is a win for the defense, which urged in its sentencing memorandum that "a concurrent sentence is what fairness demands," accusing the prosecution of engaging in a "quest to ensure that Kelly never sees the light of day."

His lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, is appealing both of Kelly's federal convictions.

The artist born Robert Sylvester Kelly was convicted in September 2022 on six of 13 counts alleged in the Chicago trial: three counts of producing child pornography and three of enticement of a minor.

The singer known for hits including "I Believe I Can Fly" was acquitted by a federal jury of the seven other counts, including charges that he obstructed justice in a previous trial.

Kelly and two ex-associates had been accused of rigging the singer's 2008 child pornography proceedings in which a jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.

The federal conviction in Chicago came one year after Kelly was convicted in New York of systematically recruiting teenagers and women for sex.

That verdict was widely seen as a milestone for the #MeToo movement: it was the first major sex abuse trial where the majority of the accusers were Black women.

It was also the first time Kelly faced criminal consequences for the abuse he was rumored for decades to have inflicted on women and children.

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Harvey Weinstein Sentenced To 16 Years In Rape Case

Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for the rape of a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel room a decade ago.

The sentence was handed down by a Los Angeles court. Weinstein is already serving a 23-year sentence for his separate 2020 conviction in New York for sex crimes.

It increases the likelihood that the Academy Award-winning "Shakespeare in Love" producer, 70, will spend the remainder of his life in prison -- though he is appealing in both cases.

In December, he was convicted by a Los Angeles jury of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object of a European actress whose identity was not revealed.

The court heard explicit accounts of meetings between the previously influential movie producer and several young women who were attempting to find a foothold in Hollywood.

Prosecutors said Weinstein exploited and abused women for years, and long enjoyed impunity because of his then-powerful position in the industry.

The women would have risked losing their future Hollywood job prospects if they had publicly accused Weinstein at the time, prosecutors said.

Weinstein was ultimately convicted in the Los Angeles case of assaulting one woman, but acquitted of sexual battery involving a second.

The jury did not reach a verdict on charges relating to the alleged assaults of two other women, one of whom was identified by her lawyers as Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the now-wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Weinstein's lawyers had filed a defense motion requesting either a new trial or a reduced verdict, alleging they were precluded from admitting important evidence about the rape victim -- including Facebook messages with an alleged lover which the judge deemed irrelevant -- and that their cross-examination was limited.

But Judge Lisa Lench denied the motion, and sentencing went ahead.

In New York last June, Weinstein lost his first appeal against his criminal verdict and sentence in the state's intermediate appellate court.

But he has also further appealed that case to the higher New York Court of Appeals.

#MeToo

Weinstein's behaviour had been the topic of rumours in entertainment circles for years, but his power player status in Hollywood ensured few were willing to publicly call him out.

Bombshell allegations broke against him in 2017, launching the #MeToo movement and paving the way for hundreds of women to fight back against sexual violence in the workplace.

Dozens of women have now accused Weinstein of predatory behaviour.

After his conviction in New York, a civil trial awarded $17 million to dozens of other women who had accused the former movie magnate of abuse.

Earlier this month, the European actress who Weinstein was convicted of raping in Los Angeles also sued him for damages.

The civil case alleges sexual battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

"The conduct of Defendant Weinstein was despicable, and done with malice, oppression and fraud, thus justifying an award of punitive damages against him," her lawsuit says.

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2 Dead After Man Who Didn't Know How To Drive Rams Into Wedding Procession

Two persons were killed and eight others injured when an untrained man ploughed a jeep into a marriage party after its driver decided to join their dance procession in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, an official said on Thursday.

The jeep was part of a marriage party that had arrived at Khatora village from Shyampur when the accident took place on Wednesday night, said Indaar police station in-charge K N Sharma.

As 30-40 guests were dancing their way to the wedding venue, the jeep driver decided to join them. He left the engine on and asked an untrained person to be in his seat, said the official.

The other person managed to drive the vehicle slowly for a short distance before suddenly running into the dancing group at great speed, perhaps after hitting the accelerator hard, he said.

Two from the marriage party were killed and eight suffered injuries due to the impact, he said. The condition of three persons is serious and they have been referred to Gwalior for treatment, he said.

The other injured persons are being treated at the district hospital, the official said.

The person at the wheel at the time of the accident has been arrested, he added.

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Hospital Submits Report On Premature Baby's Death to Delhi Government

The LNJP Hospital in Delhi has sent its inquiry report on the case of a newborn baby, who was "declared dead" soon after birth, but was later found alive, to the Delhi government for further action, said a senior doctor.

The premature baby, born when her mother was 23 weeks pregnant and weighing only 490 grams, was found alive Sunday when the family was making plans for her burial.

She was brought back to the state-run hospital and was put on ventilator support. She died on Wednesday.

Doctors had earlier said that in medical terms, such babies are considered "non-viable" and their chances of survival are slim.

The hospital had constituted a three-member panel to probe the incident and a report was submitted on Wednesday.

"The report was submitted to the medical director of the hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar, who has forwarded it to Health Department for further action," said a senior doctor at the hospital.

The panel has spoken to doctors who were on duty that day to ascertain the sequence of events.

The hospital has said such babies are considered 'aborted babies' and after the baby showed signs of life, she was immediately put on life support.

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BJP Alleges Cross Voting By AAP In Delhi Mayor Election

As the voting for MCD standing committee carried on till late on Wednesday amid adjournments, the BJP accused AAP of cross voting in the election for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor which underwent earlier in the day. 

The AAP rubbished the claim saying the question doesn't arise and what matters is that AAP won both the posts.

Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor claimed Aam Aadmi Party councillors "openly cross voted" in mayor and deputy mayor elections.

"There were 150 votes of AAP while two independents and one Congress Councillors openly announced their support to AAP taking their tally to 153 but party mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi got just 150 votes.

"While BJP which had 113 votes got 116 votes in mayor election clearly showing three Aam Aadmi Party councillors voted for BJP today," Mr Kapoor claimed.

He also claimed that AAP councillors cross voted in favour of BJP in deputy mayor election as well. Aale Mohammad of AAP defeated BJP candidate Kamal Bagri by 31 votes in deputy mayor election.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj hit out at the BJP saying its leaders were making "silly claims" after losing mayor and deputy mayor elections.

"Initially they said that the AAP is afraid of election of the mayor as cross-voting may take place and they may lose," he said.

"Now that the BJP has lost, it is coming up with these silly claims over cross-voting. Arguments regarding whose vote was declared invalid and who cross-voted is not so important. What eventually matters is that the AAP candidates became mayor and deputy mayor," he said.

Mr Bhardwaj asserted the AAP will eventually also have a majority in the standing committee.

BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat lodged a complaint with newly elected mayor, alleging that "unfair practices" were taking place with AAP councillors carrying mobile phones with them while casting vote in standing committee member election.

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On Second Anniversary Of 'Baghpat Fight', Twitter Posts Hilarious Memes

In 2021, a video of a brawl between two chaat sellers over attracting customers in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat went crazy viral, making its way into meme history pages. The bizarre fight continued for about 20 minutes before it was stopped. The video, recorded possibly by a bystander, quickly found its way to social media and memes overflowed online. 

It has been two years since the epic clash, but the internet is still not over it. Twitter is now marking the second anniversary of the 'Battle Of Baghpat' and remembering the elderly man who stood out because of his unique hairstyle. One of the major highlights of the brawl was a kurta-clad seller with flowing mehendi hair who could be seen pinning down his enemy shopkeepers during the fight.

Harinder, the chaat seller became a social media sensation after he appeared to be winking in a photo clicked by the cops, post their detention.

आज दिनांक 22.02.2021को थाना बड़ौत क्षेत्रान्तर्गत कस्बा बड़ौत मे दुकानदारों के दो पक्षों के मध्य ग्राहकों को लेकर कहासुनी व मारपीट हो गई थी। मारपीट करने वाले दुकानदारों के दोनों पक्षों के कुल 8 व्यक्तियों को गिरफ्तार किया है।अपेक्षित विधिक कार्रवाई की जा रही है। pic.twitter.com/gP7PBBdSca

— Baghpat Police (@baghpatpolice) February 22, 2021

 Some also called his hairstyle similar to that of the great physicist Albert Einstein and 'Virus' from 3 Idiots. Others compared the fight to a WWE match and some even used the raging hashtag "Pawri Ho Rahi Hai".

Here's how Twitter is marking the second anniversary of the Baghpat battle:

It's the 2nd Anniversary of the deadliest “Battle of Papdi-Chaat” fought at Baghpat that brought the world to its knees.
pic.twitter.com/JSXvreC2n6

— Yo Yo Funny Singh (@moronhumor) February 22, 2023

It was on this day in 2021 AD that the battle of Baghpat was fought and won by Chaat Chaacha. All hail the supreme commander, the ruler of the House of Chaat, first of his name, last of his bravado... long live the devolution -#Baghpat pic.twitter.com/2FcTu4kuth

— noir (@BanarasWallah) February 22, 2023

विश्व प्रसिद्ध बागपत चाट युद्ध आज ही के दिन लड़ा गया था ?#Second #anniversary #Baghpat pic.twitter.com/v71CmWzBMw

— Ahmad Suhel Yaseen (@suhel_yaseen) February 22, 2023

Chaat fighters of Baghpat have won 2021 #Bhagpat #chaat #chacha pic.twitter.com/J8k63fRxMQ

— Hemant Kumar ?? (@Hemantkumar398) February 23, 2021

Remember Einstein Chacha? We found a picture of him from when he was younger. pic.twitter.com/293sWLVyhD

— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) February 22, 2023

Normalcy returns in Baghpat on the auspicious occasion of second anniversary of #BattleOfBaghpat. Champion Chacha is living a peaceful mainstream life now. pic.twitter.com/ciZuPZSy1R

— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 ? (@RoflGandhi_) February 22, 2023

Battle of Panipat
Battle of Buxar
Battle of Baghpat ? https://t.co/rc23oWXSeI

— Sam Mathad (@sameermathad) February 22, 2023

Epic Battle of Baghpat is incomplete without this commentry ?? pic.twitter.com/LwzuSpR05C

— Mihir Jha (@MihirkJha) February 22, 2023

Some also gave the clip a Star Wars makeover by replacing the sticks and rods with lightsabers.

Why is this better than all actual Star Wars fight scenes? ??pic.twitter.com/Wv8m4XjBPf

— Saib Bilaval (@SaibBilaval) February 22, 2023

In the viral video, two groups, armed with iron rods and sticks, were seen brutally beating each other up on the road. Harinder, nicknamed "chacha", told news agency ANI that he had suffered because of his rivals over the past few days.

"They kept drawing my customers away...they kept telling them to come to our shop, his food is last night's...The customers would return my chaat," Harinder complained.

A dozen were injured, the Baghpat police said in a statement after making arrests.

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