BJP, Congress Brush Off Exit Poll Results, Forward 'Winning' Arguments

November 30, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Exit polls that predicted a primacy of Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and that of the BJP in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, have been hotly contested by both camps in states they were predicted to lose. While exit polls are known to get it wrong many a time, their predictions proved a touchy topic in this round of elections, seen as the semi-finals before next year's Lok Sabha polls.

While the BJP doubled down on claims that they will win Madhya Pradesh, where many exit polls predicted a close fight, the Congress scoffed at the suggestion that they might not have a re-run of the 2018 victory. The party's government had collapsed two years later as its senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the BJP with 20-plus MLAs.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is helming the state Congress in Madhya Pradesh, declared that the country is run by "vision, not television".

"Exit poll results are very diverse. We cannot say anything about it. I can assure you that the Congress will get more than 130 seats in Madhya Pradesh," said his party colleague Digvijaya Singh. "People want transformation. People are fed up with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan," he added.

NDTV poll of Polls, an aggregate of nine exit polls, indicates that the BJP may wind up with 124 of the state's 230 seats, where the majority mark is 116. The Congress may get 102 seats.

A similar script played out in neighbouring Chhattisgarh – only in the BJP camp -- after almost all exit polls gave the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel an edge. NDTV Poll of Polls – an aggregate of nine exit polls -- indicated that 49 of the state's 90 seats can go to the Congress and 38 to the BJP.

"Exit polls have a limited size. The sample size of the BJP is huge," state BJP chief Arun Sao was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"I have been roaming in Chhattisgarh for the past 1.5 years. I have gone to each Vidhan Sabha constituency and had conversations with people. On that basis, I can say that on December 3, the BJP will come to power with a clear majority," he added.

"Everyone can have their way with exit polls. The BJP will form the government. The reason for this is that people want change," said the BJP's Prem Prakash Pandey.

The claims and counterclaims were also strong in Rajasthan, where exit polls predicted the state will remain faithful to its revolving-door tradition and vote out the ruling Congress.

"Exit polls indicate that 'raaj nahi rivaz' (trend, not rule) is set to change in Rajasthan as the Congress is going to win a majority," said Gourav Vallabh, spokesperson of the Congress which is hoping to buck the trend.

Banking on a marginally higher polling figure, the BJP, meanwhile, insisted that the people of Rajasthan want to end the Congress rule.

"The people of Rajasthan want freedom from the Congress, given their record of corruption. The BJP is going to form the government with a majority in Rajasthan as well as Madhya Pradesh," said BJP MP Baba Balaknath, who is the party candidate from the Tijara assembly constituency.

NDTV Poll of Polls indicated that the BJP can get 104 of the state's 200 seats, the Congress 85.



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Opinion: The Long, Agonising Adoption Process In India

November 30, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

There are three crore orphaned children in India, but only 3,500 to 4,000 children are available for adoption in a year and some 30,000 prospective parents have to wait for three years to bring home a child.

Taking note of this discrepancy, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud observed recently: "Why are they (Central Adoption Resource Authority) stalling adoptions? Why is CARA not doing it? Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption in the hope of a better life." The remarks were made when the Supreme Court was hearing two petitions flagging gaps that were delaying adoptions and making the entire process a sham. The practical difficulties of adoption were also highlighted in the court, with one of the judges bringing out the humane and human aspect and cost to the society.

CARA, a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, functions as the central body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA primarily deals with the adoption of "orphan, abandoned and surrendered" children through its associated and recognised adoption agencies.

Due to red tape and lack of transparency, several thousand children are being deprived of home and the love of parents. With each month's delay, the children grow and age, and their chances of adoptability and adaptability diminishes. The prospective parents, too, lose their precious years doing cumbersome and complicated paperwork. Their financial condition suffers as they scout and wait their turn and are made to visit different adoption centres in the country.

The conditions of the shelter homes where these children are placed are also not hygienic, with funds and staff both short.

Deepak Sharma, Trustee, Udayan Care, an NGO for Child Rights, says there is no dearth of funds for his organisation but some shelters in India face financial challenges due to their location and the resources available. "Funding comes from a combination of sources. There is government funding in Mission Vatsalya for funding institutions, mostly funds come from donations from individuals, corporations, and other charitable entities or even from international organisations and foundations or corporate social responsibility," Mr Sharma explains.

In India, adoptions are governed by two laws - the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015. Both laws have their separate eligibility criteria for adoptive parents. Those applying under the Juvenile Justice Act need to register on CARA's portal, after which a specialised adoption agency carries out a home study report. When it finds the candidate eligible for adoption, a child declared legally free for adoption is referred to the applicant.

Under HAMA, a court order, 'dattaka hom' ceremony or an adoption deed is sufficient to obtain irrevocable adoption rights. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are legalised to adopt kids under HAMA.

CARA carries out the tedious process to safeguard adoptive children from abuse at the hands of adoptive parents.

The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) 2021, in order to amend the JJ Act, 2015. The crucial changes include authorising District Magistrates (DMs) and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word 'court'. These changes were carried out "in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability," per the government statement.

However, the very purpose of these amendments has not been met as no time limit has been set up for the transfer of all pending adoption cases before the courts to the District Magistrates, which may end up in longer delays. Moreover, prospective parents are also not clear about the legality of an executive order on the adopted child's entitlements on succession and inheritance rights.

In August 2022, a parliamentary standing committee had expressed serious concerns over the decline in the number of children coming to adoption agencies over the years, saying it pointed to trafficking or a thriving illegal child adoption market. It's a fact that many unregistered adoption agencies are flourishing in the country; illegal and unregulated adoptions are being carried out. Some are involved in child trafficking or exploiting vulnerable children and their biological and adoptive parents.

Typically, there is a shorter queue for older children, children with special needs, or sometimes, even children from some regions. CARA has even introduced a new category of "Children for Immediate Placement" where the wait time may be considerably less.

Mr Sharma says generally, there is a demand for newborn and younger children, particularly infants and toddlers, in the adoption process. "Many adoptive parents prefer younger children as they desire to experience the early stages of a child's development and form strong bonds from the start. But now CARA is advocating for adoption of older children also," he adds.

A young single woman (name withheld) in Bengaluru has been in the queue for adoption for three years. She has completed all the paperwork, but her wait has been stretched by the adoption agency, where she is registered. She thinks that her adoption agency is giving preference to candidates who are better off than her financially. "My waiting time has been constantly increased without any reason. The counsellors are also of little help. Except for guiding us about the papers and forms to be filled, they have hardly been of any assistance in understanding the process or how it works," she says.

There is an urgent need to streamline the adoption process, simplify paperwork, transparency, and reduce the time limit, to the benefit of both the child and the adoptive parents. Loopholes, doubts, and ambiguities in current legislation must be plugged. Unless this happens, thousands of children will languish in shelter homes bereft of love, care and education.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author



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"From Today, We Are One": Randeep Hooda Posts Wedding Pics With Lin Laishram

November 29, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Attention folks, the wait is finally over, Randeep Hooda has posted pictures from his intimate wedding with Lin Laishram. The pictures were shared by Randeep Hooda on Wednesday night, hours after the wedding ceremony in Imphal. In the pictures, the couple can be seen dressed in traditional Manipuri outfits. Randeep Hooda can be spotted in a white kurta while bride Lin can be seen wearing gold jewelery with her wedding attire. The photos give glimpses of the couple's jaimala among other rituals. "From today, we are One," read Randeep Hooda's caption.

Take a look at the post below:

Earlier, an inside video from their wedding went viral in which the couple can be seen performing their wedding rituals. Take a look at the video below:

Lin re-shared pictures from her pre-wedding festivities shared by her friends and families on her Instagram stories. One of the clicks, captioned "Pre wedding glimpse," features the couple along with their families and friends. Take a look here:

Randeep announced in an Instagram post that he would get married to Lin Laishram in an intimate ceremony in Imphal on November 29. The post read, "A date with Destiny. 29.11.2023. Taking a leaf out of Mahabharata where Arjuna married Manipuri Warrior princess Chitrangada, we are getting married with the blessings of our families and friends. We are filled with immense joy to share that our marriage will take place on the 29th of November 2023, Imphal, Manipur, followed by a reception in Mumbai. As we set to embark on this journey, we seek your blessings and love from this union of cultures, for which we are forever indebted and grateful. In love and light, Lin and Randeep." Take a look at the post here:

Randeep Hooda is known for films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Heroine, Murder 3, Sarbjit, Baaghi 2, Radhe while Lin is a model, actor and businesswoman from Manipur.



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Kapil Sharma Slams IndiGo Over Delayed Flight, Calls Them "Shameless"

November 29, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Actor and television host Kapil Sharma was not happy with his recent IndiGo flight experience. The comedian took to social media to express his frustration with the airline, highlighting a considerable delay and a surprising excuse that the pilot was stuck in traffic.He voiced his discontent with the delayed departure and expressed concern about the airline's reliability.

Mr Sharma wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Dear IndiGo, first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minutes, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic. What? Really ? We were supposed to take off by 8 pm and it's 9:20. Still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly in Indigo again? Never #indigo 6E 5149 #shameless."

Mr Sharma later shared a video of passengers deboarding the plane, revealing that they were informed about a change of aircraft, necessitating a return to the terminal for security checks.

"Now they are deboarding all the passengers and saying we will send you on another aircraft, but again, we have to go back to the terminal for a security check," he wrote.

He additionally posted another video where numerous passengers were seen inquiring about the flight delay, expressing their desire to witness some remedial action. However, all of them appeared visibly upset and frustrated over the prolonged delay.



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Opinion: What Higher Voter Turnout Could Mean For Rajasthan

November 29, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The marginally high voter turnout in the Rajasthan assembly election is being claimed as a victory by both the BJP and the ruling Congress. While the BJP believes it's a sign of change, the Congress considers it popular support for its welfare schemes. The final voting percentage for 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan stood at 75.45 per cent (including postal ballots). The highest polling was recorded at Jaisalmer's Pokhran with an 88.23 per cent turnout and the lowest in the Ahore assembly seat at 61.24 per cent. More women (74.72 per cent) voted than men (74.53 per cent) this time. Rajasthan voted on November 25. The results on December 3 will decide whether the Congress retains power, defying the state's tradition of voting out the incumbent, or the BJP topples the Ashok Gehlot government. 

In the last assembly election in 2018, Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 74.72 per cent (including postal ballots). This year's voting is 0.73 per cent more than the last time. This trend of increasing voter turnout in assembly elections was also witnessed in other states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram, where elections were held at the same time.

In Rajasthan, the main fight is between the BJP and the ruling Congress. The BJP contested on all seats while the Congress left one seat - Bharatpur - for its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). In 2018 too, the Congress had set aside this seat for the RLD. Other parties in the contest are the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), CPI (M), Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and AlMIM. These parties may manage to win a few seats.

K Subrahmanya, a political analyst and journalist who has reported on Rajasthan elections in the past, cautions against reading too much into the higher turnout. "This largely static turnout figure may be suggestive of a kind of competitive mobilisation by rival contenders for power. The polling figure neither suggests a decisive anti-incumbency vote nor a pro-incumbent vote. Probably, it signals a much closer fight. The gap between the winner and the loser could be relatively narrow," says Mr Subrahmanya.

The election campaign revolved around appeasement politics, corruption, welfare schemes of the state and Centre, women's safety, and the demand for a caste census. Both the Congress and the BJP were plagued by rebels even though most sitting MLAs were renominated. In about 31 seats, rebels from both parties were instrumental in turning the contest into a triangular one.

What does it mean for political parties?

The Congress is relying on the support of its traditional social base - the minority, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Mali, and the Meena communities - and the party sees the higher turnout as proof of support from these communities. Both the BJP and the Congress claim the support of the Mali community, which voted for the Congress in 2018.

For the Congress, there may not be any anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but it is a different story for its sitting MLAs. The party has fielded as many as 97 sitting MLAs, which may backfire.

People came in large numbers to vote in districts of northern Rajasthan like Jhunjhunu and Churu, Sikar, and Nagaur, which are Jat-dominated areas.

The Congress claims its share of Jat votes, based on farmer welfare measures like loan waivers and electricity subsidies by the Gehlot government.

Akhil Chaudhary, a Rajasthan-based lawyer and a member of the Congress, attributes the higher voter turnout to the popularity of pro-social security schemes of the government. "Rajasthan was the first state to bring a separate budget for the farming community. The seven guarantees promised in the manifesto have appealed to voters. One of the guarantees was a pension scheme of Rs 10,000 to the woman head in the family. This time too, like 2018, female voters were more than male voters," says Mr Chaudhary.

In the absence of any chief ministerial face, the BJP chose to fight the elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party leadership seemed to tell the voters to trust the symbol and allow the party's democratic process to identify the chief ministerial candidate. During the last days of campaigning, veteran leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was seen in meetings because the party's top brass realised she was still a force to reckon with. But the message is clear. The party is seeking new leadership and Ms Raje is out of favour.

There are many chief ministerial aspirants, including Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, who is fighting from Vallabhnagar in Jaipur district. Alwar MP Mahant Balaknath Yogi - the 'Adityanath Yogi' of Rajasthan - was asked to contest from Tijara. Some union ministers from Rajasthan are also in the race for the top job if the BJP comes to power. Not naming a presumptive chief minister could go either way for the BJP.

A higher turnout of voters has been reported in eastern Rajasthan, which has a considerable presence of the Gurjar community. The community may have voted for the BJP in large numbers as they were upset with the Congress over the perceived diminished status of their leader Sachin Pilot. The Gurjar and Meena belt of eastern Rajasthan had voted for the Congress in 2018.

"On the ground closer to the polling were three factors - a high degree of the consolidation of their respective social/caste coalitions behind the Congress and the BJP; unpopularity of quite a significant number of sitting Congress MLAs who are in the race; and enthusiasm amongst sections of the voters for Gehlot's poll-oriented freebies to the voters," says Mr Subrahmanya.

Experts also say smaller parties like Rashtriya Loktantrik Party of Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, Mayawati's BSP, Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Jannayak Janata Party and Azad Samaj Party of Chandrashekhar Azad may influence the voting pattern in at least 30 constituencies.

In this closely fought election in Rajasthan, predicting a clear winner is tricky as both the Congress and the BJP are evenly positioned and the smaller parties may end up playing a larger role in the government formation.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author



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Box Office: Keeping Up With Salman Khan's Tiger 3

November 28, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Tiger 3 minted ₹ 2.60 crore (all languages) on day 16 at the domestic box office, as per a Sacnilk report. The total collection of the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif film stands at ₹ 273.8 crore. Tiger 3, directed by Maneesh Sharma, witnessed a jump in its collection figures for day 15. The film made ₹ 6.75 crore, the report added. The third instalment of the Tiger franchise opened to theatres on November 12 (Diwali day). In the spy-thriller, Salman and Katrina reprise their roles as Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger and Zoya. Emraan Hashmi is also part of the project. 
 

Tiger 3 has become “the highest-grossing Diwali release in the history of the Indian cinemas.” The film has collected ₹ 447 crore (worldwide). The makers, Yash Raj Films, have announced the super hit news on Instagram. Along with the poster, the makers wrote, “Catch the high-octane action unfolding in cinemas now. Watch Tiger 3 at your nearest big screen in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu. Book your tickets.”

After Tiger 3's worldwide success, Katrina Kaif expressed her gratitude towards fans. In a conversation with news agency ANI, the actress said, “The Tiger franchise has only given me love since 2012! So, it is an amazing feeling to have received so much warmth for over a decade now. Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and now Tiger 3 are films that have been a part of my cinematic journey and growth as an artist and it's something that I cherish greatly.”

Katrina added that each instalment of the Tiger franchise has challenged her “physically and mentally.”

Tiger 3 also saw Shah Rukh Khan aka Pathaan. The actor featured in a cameo appearance. Speaking about the experience, Salman Khan said, “Our off-screen chemistry is better than our on-screen chemistry. When the on-screen chemistry is so good, you can understand the off-screen chemistry.”



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Madhya Pradesh Teen Raped In Car By Man She Befriended On Social Media

November 27, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth who had befriended her on social media and his three friends in a car in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, police said on Monday.

Police have invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act since the victim is a Dalit, an official said, adding that nobody has been arrested so far.

The incident occurred on November 21 but a complaint was lodged four days later as the girl kept mum because she was threatened by the accused against disclosing the incident, an official said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Niranjan Sharma said the girl and her family lodged a complaint.

"The girl became friends with a youth on Facebook last year. On November 21, her male friend took her to a deserted forest area in a car where he and his three friends raped her and also threatened to kill her," he said.

A case was registered under sections 376 (Punishment for rape), and 377 (unnatural act) among others, along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to sources in police, the victim has claimed that one of the accused is a close relative of a politician.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Mumbai Indians Squad: List Of Players Retained, Released And Traded

November 27, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Mumbai Indians announced their list of retained and released players on Sunday. While Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David and Jasprit Bumrah were among the star players that were retained by the side, the likes of Jofra Archer, Tristan Stubbs and Chris Jordan were released by them. It is interesting to note that Mumbai traded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore while they roped in Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans.

Mumbai Indians had earlier traded West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd from Lucknow Super Giants. IPL had released a media advisory to announce Shepherd's trade for a fee of Rs 50 lakh which read, "Romario Shepherd has been traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window ahead of the IPL 2024. Shepherd, who has played 4 IPL matches, representing LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad, was traded to MI for his existing fee of INR 50 Lakh."

It is worth noting that Mumbai Indians during mid-November officially appointed former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga as their bowling coach, promptly filling the void left by the departure of Shane Bond. The 40-year-old Malinga, who played for the five-time champions in his prime, will join the coaching team led by Mark Boucher and his former teammate Kieron Pollard ahead of the upcoming season.

Mumbai Indians' Retained Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd (traded from LSG), Hardik Pandya (traded from GT).

Players Released By Mumbai Indians: Mohd. Arshad Khan, Ramandeep Singh, Hrithik Shokeen, Raghav Goyal, Jofra Archer, Tristan Stubbs, Duan Jansen, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Chris Jordan, Sandeep Warrier, Cameron Green (traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore).



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RCB Complete Massive Signing From MI Amid Pandya Trade Saga: Report

November 26, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

India's T20I captain Hardik Pandya on Sunday returned to his "spiritual home" Mumbai Indians after an all-cash deal trade-off with Gujarat Titans was formally completed following 72 hours of intense drama. On Sunday at 5 pm, the IPL retention window was closed and at that point, Gujarat Titans named their IPL-winning captain in the retention list raising a lot of eyebrows. However it was learnt that the formal paperwork wasn't yet completed and hence IPL and BCCI didn't give greenlight of approval for the most anticipated move of this transfer season. "Yes, Hardik's trade off got completed after 5 pm. The deal is now formalised and he is a MI player. It's been a tripartite all cash deal. MI have traded their all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in an all cash deal. After that they had requisite funds to settle an all-cash deal with Gujarat Titans and procure Hardik's services," a senior BCCI official and IPL Governing Council member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

It must be mentioned that Green was bought by MI for a whopping Rs 17.5 crore during last auction and hence the money required to buy Hardik wasn't available till that deal was inked.

Pandya was picked by Gujarat Titans before 2022 auction from the list of available players for the two new franchises -- GT and Lucknow Super Giants.

His reported fee was Rs 15 crore and he led the side to back-to-back finals, winning the championship in maiden year and losing a thriller to CSK in 2023.

Mumbai Indians, who have one of the most systematic team building process, have roped in Pandya with a long term plan in mind as there will be mega auction in 2025 and every franchise will try to build a new team with a young core.

However with India's ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma still very much in the mix and perhaps franchise's biggest icon with five titles under his belt, it would be interesting what kind of decision the owners and top management with regards to leadership.

This must be mentioned that those in the know of things had an inkling that Pandya after two years at Titans wanted to move back to the franchise from where he had made a name and played seven seasons.

The lure of captaining IPL's most popular franchise with biggest fan base was also a reason apart from building his brand as a national skipper in one of the formats.



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"We're Flying To...": Israeli Boy In Chopper After Hamas Freed Him. Watch

November 26, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Nine-year-old Ohad Munder was among four children freed from Hamas' captivity on Friday. He was released along with his mother and grandmother after 49 days in Hamas' captivity on the first day of a planned four-day truce and prisoner exchange.

Israel today released footage showing a conversation between Munder and an Israel Air Force (IAF) helicopter pilot during his first moments of "regained freedom".

In a 25-second-long video posted by Israel Defense Forces on X, Munder can be heard asking the pilot "Where are we flying".

"We are now flying to a hospital," the woman pilot told him.

Ohad was also asked if he had been on a plane before, to which he could be heard saying "Not on an army one".

While Ohad, his mother Keren, 54, and grandmother Ruth, 78, were all freed, his grandfather, 78-year-old Avraham Munder, remained in captivity in Gaza.

The 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Friday included sisters aged 2 and 4 and their mother, a 5-year-old girl and her mother, as well as elderly women.

They were among around 240 people taken hostage by Hamas during their surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

Meanwhile, Hamas today said it had handed over 13 more Israeli hostages, three Thai nationals and a person with Russian citizenship who had been held in the Gaza Strip to the Red Cross.

The four-day truce is the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since Hamas killed about 1,200 people on October 7. In response to that attack, Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas and has bombarded Gaza and mounted a ground offensive in the north.

According to Gaza health authorities, about 14,800 Palestinians have so far been killed in the Israeli offensive, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

(With agency inputs)



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Gill To Lead Gujarat Titans After Hardik's Move To Mumbai Indians: Sources

November 26, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Indian cricket team batter Shubman Gill will lead Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after all-rounder Hardik Pandya completed his move to Mumbai Indians on Sunday, according to sources. Pandya was the skipper of the team for the past two years and he even led them to the IPL title on their debut season in 2022. However, Pandya completed his move back to MI as part of an all-cash deal and it will be a perfect opportunity for Shubman Gill to prove his mettle as a captain.

Pandya on Sunday returned to his "spiritual home" Mumbai Indians after an all-cash deal trade-off with Gujarat Titans was formally completed following 72 hours of intense drama.

On Sunday at 5 pm, the IPL retention window was closed and at that point, Gujarat Titans named their IPL-winning captain in the retention list raising a lot of eyebrows.

However it was learnt that the formal paperwork wasn't yet completed and hence IPL and BCCI didn't give greenlight of approval for the most anticipated move of this transfer season.

"Yes, Hardik's trade off got completed after 5 pm. The deal is now formalised and he is a MI player. It's been a tripartite all cash deal. MI have traded their all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in an all cash deal. After that they had requisite funds to settle an all-cash deal with Gujarat Titans and procure Hardik's services," a senior BCCI official and IPL Governing Council member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

It must be mentioned that Green was bought by MI for a whopping Rs 17.5 crore during last auction and hence the money required to buy Hardik wasn't available till that deal was inked.

Pandya was picked by Gujarat Titans before 2022 auction from the list of available players for the two new franchises -- GT and Lucknow Super Giants.

His reported fee was Rs 15 crore and he led the side to back-to-back finals, winning the championship in maiden year and losing a thriller to CSK in 2023.

(With PTI inputs)



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Citizenship Amendment Act Final Draft Likely By March-End: Union Minister

November 26, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra on Sunday said that the final draft of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA is expected to be ready by March 30 next year.

The BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, while addressing a gathering of the Matua community at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district, asserted that nobody can snatch citizenship rights from Matuas, who had fled religious persecution in Bangladesh.

"The process to roll out CAA has gained momentum in the last couple of years... some issues are being sorted out. Nobody can snatch citizenship rights from the Matuas. By March next year, the final draft of the CAA is expected to be ready for coming into force," he said, sharing dais with local BJP MP and Union minister Santanu Thakur.

The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan entering India before December 31, 2014.

Reacting to the claim, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen said, "The BJP remembers Matuas and the CAA only during elections. The saffron party will never be able to roll out CAA in West Bengal".
"The BJP's false claims are becoming clear to the Matuas and others. The saffron party will be rejected by all in next year's elections," he said.

Mr Sen said the Trinamool Congress has ensured the rights of Matuas as citizens of the country.

"We will continue to work for the community throughout the year, unlike the BJP will only gives false promises," he added.



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Inside Salim Khan's Birthday Special Famjam: Salman, Helen And Others

November 25, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Salim Khan celebrated his 89th birthday on Friday. Salim Khan's daughter Arpita Khan shared an inside picture from the celebrations and it's a blockbuster one. The entire Khan family can be seen posing together for a grand frame. In the picture, Salim Khan, his first wife Salma Khan, Helen, Sohail Khan's elder son Nirvan, Arbaaz Khan's son Arhaan can be seen seated in the first row. In the second row, Salman Khan can be seen posing with brothers Arbaaz and Sohail, sisters Alvira, Arpita and brothers-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma. Arpita-Aayush's children Ahil and Ayat can also be spotted in the picture. Arpita Khan wrote in the caption, "Happy 89th birthday Dad."

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Sohail Khan also shared an inside picture with the birthday boy. In the picture he can be seen posing with his two sons Nirvan, Yohan and Arhaan and Salim Khan. He wrote in the caption, "Happy birthday cowboy, we exist because of you." Take a look:

Salman Khan wished his father with a heartwarming note on Friday. Salman Khan shared a picture with his father in which they can be seen relaxing in a garden-like area. The father and son can be seen wearing similar coloured shirts as well. Salman Khan wrote in the caption, "Happy Birthday My Tiger." Salman Khan's third film of the Tiger franchise Tiger 3 is running in theatres and the film already crossed the ₹ 250 crore mark at the box office. It's not difficult to understand that Salman who plays the character of Tiger on-screen looks up to his father and calls him "My Tiger" in the caption. Cricketer Harbhajan Singh wrote in the comments section, "Happy Birthday." Sarod player Amaan Ali Khan wrote, "Precious moments." Take a look at the post here:

Veteran Salim Khan is best-known for writing superhits like Zanjeer, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay among many others. Salman Khan was last seen in Tiger 3. The first film Ek Tha Tiger released in 2012 and was directed by Kabir Khan. The second film of the franchise Tiger Zinda Hai released in 2017. It was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Both the films did well at the box office. Salman Khan recently attended the special screening of Farrey, which marked the debut of his niece Alizeh Agnihotri. Alizeh is the daughter of Salman's sister Alvira and Atul Agnihotri.



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"You Have Violated...": Poll Body Issues Notice To Telangana Minister KTR

November 25, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The Election Commission on Saturday issued a notice to ruling BRS working president and IT Minister K T Rama Rao for allegedly visiting a government institution here and using the platform for political activities and sought a reply from him by Sunday afternoon.

The EC in its notice said it had received a complaint from Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, wherein it was alleged that Rama Rao, a star campaigner for BRS visited the office of 'T-works' and interacted with a large number of youth employed in the office on November 20.

The Commission obtained a factual report on the matter from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Referring to the provisions of MCC that the ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel, the Commission in its notice observed that, Rama Rao, is not only a contesting candidate in the upcoming assembly election but also a start campaigner of the BRS.

"Whereas, the Commission is, prima facie, held that that by visiting to a Government Institution and using the platform of T-works for political activities and combining your official visit with political/private visit, you have violated the instruction of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)," the Commission said in its notice.

The Commission asked Rama Rao to explain his stand in respect of the visit and use of a Government Institute for political purposes by 3 PM on November 26.

In the event of no response from Rama Rao's side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that he had nothing to say in the matter and that the EC will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Case Against TV Journalist For Filming, Harassing Women Leaving Bar

November 24, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The Chennai Police have filed a case against a TV journalist of News Tamil 24x7 and others for their alleged involvement in the sexual harassment of women at a bar in the early hours of Monday.

Reports said the women leaving the bar were not only filmed without consent but also subjected to abuse and obscene comments. The footage, telecast by several TV channels, sparked outrage on social media.

The charges include sexual harassment, explicit sexual behaviour, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, singing obscene songs, and intent to insult a woman's modesty.

The police said they are investigating the matter.

The incident highlighted the need for strict action against any form of harassment and the responsible use of media platforms.

Investigators said trouble started when five members who were denied entry at a private bar after the bar timing ended created a ruckus. Many customers were reportedly watching the world cup cricket final match and the subsequent programmes since Sunday night.

On hearing about this, the accused Sudharsan and the others came.

"While taking video, a few unknown people used abusive, denigrating and obscene remarks against the women coming out of the bar, which were telecast later in various channels," the police said in a statement.

Neither News Tamil 24x7 nor the journalist Sudharshan has responded to the allegations or the police charges.



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"Can't Be Fishing Inquiry": Experts To NDTV On Hindenburg Case Petitioners

November 24, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The Supreme Court on Friday raised tough questions against petitioners in the case linked to a report by a George Soros-funded group that targeted the Adani Group. "Why must we take foreign reports as the truth? We are not rejecting the report, but we need proof. So what proof do you have against the Adani Group?" Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud told the petitioner's lawyer Prashant Bhushan. "A publication's work can't be treated as a gospel of truth," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), funded by billionaire George Soros, had alleged insider trading in the Adani Group via two foreign investors. The Adani Group has called them "recycled allegations" and another concerted bid by Soros-funded interests supported by a section of the foreign media to revive the "meritless Hindenburg report".

Experts speak to NDTV on the development:

"The Supreme Court very rightly pointed out three important questions to the petitioner's counsel. The court said look, when you take information from random public places, you should check it. It is easy to make allegations cooked up outside this country... The expert committee set up by the Supreme Court has already said there is no evidence of regulatory failure. They (petitioners) are relying on newspaper reports and other material, but where is the evidence? The report (by the George Soros-backed group) was meant to destabilise the country." - Ashwani Dubey, lawyer, Supreme Court.

"What the Supreme Court said is that the petitioners had approached the court on the basis of the Hindenburg report... Essentially, what is happening is that after the court appointed the panel, the petitioners have now come up with questioning the integrity of the panel members, which the court today said is not correct. The Congress party has been raising the issue on many platforms. I don't see this gaining any traction... This has the potential of becoming Rafale 2.0 for the Congress by barking up the wrong tree... When the petitioners are talking about the integrity of the panel and conflict of interest, they should also be wary of the conflict of interest of the people who prepared the (Hindenburg) report. So we can't give clean chit to the people who have prepared the report. They don't have honest intention. This report was predominantly used by shortsellers to make money. The SEBI has regulations to protect the interest of small investors..." - Amitabh Tiwari, political analysts.

"Given a choice, I would say that one can't file false charges against anybody, but levelling charges against regulated institutions and statutory bodies is more serious. Anybody and anyone who does this should have concrete proof. The court was very clear the charges levelled have no basis. The intent and timing of the report was suspicious, I have been saying from the start..." - JN Gupta, former executive director, SEBI.

"... They (petitioners) are asking for a fishing inquiry. It is never permitted in a court, that they make an allegation and we go and find evidence. That kind of thing is never permitted in court. This was exactly politically motivated. The credibility of SEBI was upheld. It is doing a perfect job... Hindenburg, we all know, is a short seller, who targeted Adani. We need to be careful. You also saw Mahua Moitra matter where Adani was targeted..." - Desh Ratan Nigam, lawyer, Supreme Court.



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Twice In 2 Days: Drilling Stops In Tunnel After Machine Hits Metal Object

November 24, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

In the second such setback in two days, drilling at the Uttarakhand tunnel where 41 labourers are trapped had to be stopped on Friday evening after the auger machine encountered a metallic object. The blades of the machine had hit a pipe on Thursday evening and drilling had resumed after 24 hours, only to be stopped again.

Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, senior officials had said only 10-12 metres of drilling was left for the rescuers to reach the trapped construction workers and that ground penetrating radar had revealed that there were likely to be no major metal obstacles for the next five metres.

"They (a team of ground penetrating experts) could not say this with 100% accuracy but what they are expecting is that there is no continuous metal object, like girders, pipes and metal plates, in the next 5.4 metres. They have pointed out some other hurdles, but this is good news," Uttarakhand Secretary Neeraj Khairwal, who is the nodal officer for the rescue operation, had said.

Officials said that, with the drill stopped, efforts are being made to manually inch closer to the trapped workers but the rescue is unlikely on Friday night.

"The auger machine has encountered some difficulty again and that's why it's being dismantled. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to get to the trapped workers manually. We are analysing the debris and trying to figure this out," said an official.

'Workers Okay'

Officials said the workers are mentally stable and physically fit despite being trapped for 13 days.

"They are adequately clothed and when we speak to them, they say they will walk out on their own. That's the kind of mental strength they have," an official. He added that the labourers are also speaking to their families and one of the workers, who has been in such a situation before, has been helping his colleagues keep their morale high.

"The labourers are being given cut fruits, hot chapatis, daal and sabzi. These are being pushed through pipes in bottles," the official said.

The under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, a national infrastructure initiative to enhance connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The labourers got trapped when a portion of the tunnel had collapsed on November 12.



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"Hamas Took My Daughter": Father Pleads For Return Of Kidnapped Daughter

November 23, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A father is pleading for the return of his 9-year-old daughter. Emily Hand was kidnapped by Hamas in its attack on Israel on October 7. She is believed to be one of over 240 hostages currently held by Hamas. The father, Thomas Hand is pleading for Emily's return after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for a four-day truce. The deal calls for 50 civilian hostages held by Hamas to be released and for Palestinians in Israeli prisons to be released. 

"That'd be very great for everyone concerned on both sides," Thomas Hand, 63 told The Guardian. "It gives me hope, but until I see her, until I'm holding her I won't believe anything. Until I see it, I won't believe it."

Mr Hand during a press conference in London described his life as a nightmare. "I know the Israeli government and the army will do everything in their capabilities to get them back." 

Emily was initially believed to be among the 1,200 Israelis killed during the surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Now, she is counted among the 240 hostages in Gaza.

"My sole purpose in life now is to do everything I can to get my little daughter Emily back," said Hand, who after living in Be'eri kibbutz for 20 years working in a printing house, now lives in a hotel near the Dead Sea. "Nothing else concerns me."

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also shared a video on its Facebook page and wrote, "This beautiful 8-year-old girl Emily Hand was believed to have been murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. We now know she is being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Please share this and help us bring Emily home."

Under the Israel-Hamas deal, the two sides agreed to a four-day truce so that 50 women and children under the age of 19 taken hostage could be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and teenagers in Israeli detention, Reuters reported. 

The four-day truce will start at 7 am local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday and the first 13 civilian captives will be released at about 4 pm (14:00 GMT), the Qatari foreign ministry says.

The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire.

Those involved in the deal have described the break in hostilities as "a humanitarian pause". The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement.

The hostages are expected to be transported through Egypt, the only country apart from Israel to share a border with Gaza.



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UK Museum Recognises Roman Emperor As Trans Woman

November 23, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A UK museum has embraced inclusivity but sparked controversy by relabeling the third-century Roman emperor Elagabalus with female pronouns, based on historical accounts. North Hertfordshire Museum will now refer to emperor Elagabalus with female pronouns of she and her, BBC reported. 

The museum said the decision was prompted by classical texts that allege the emperor once said, "Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady." The words were written by Cassius Dio, a well-known Roman historian and administrator. 

The spokesperson for the museum said, "only polite and respectful to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past".

The museum owns a silver denarius minted in the reign of Elagabalus, who ruled Rome from 218AD until his assassination, aged 18, in 222AD, and the coin has been used in LGBT-themed displays, Telegraph reported. In displays featuring the coin, information about it and Elagabalus, the ruler will be referred to as she.

Elagabalus became a controversial figure over his short reign, developing a reputation for sexual promiscuity. 

He was married five times- four times to women, and once to Hiercoles, a former slave and chariot driver. 

Cassius Dio, a senator and contemporary of Elagabalus, writes in his historical chronicles mentioned that the emperor "was bestowed in marriage and was termed wife, mistress and queen".

Keith Hoskins, Liberal Democrat councillor and executive member for arts at the Lib Dem and Labour coalition-run North Herts Council, told the Telegraph, "Elagabalus most definitely preferred she pronoun, and as such this is something we reflect when discussing her in contemporary times.

"We try to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past, as we are for people in the present. It is only polite and respectful. We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing."



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Bill Gates Says 3-Day Work Week Possible With AI

November 23, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates believes that technology will not replace humans, but it could make a 3-day work week possible. The billionaire shared his views while talking to South African comedian and writer Trevor Noah on his podcast 'What Now'. 

The 68-year-old Microsoft cofounder said that AI will not be taking jobs but will "change it forever." In the 45-minute-long conversation, the billionaire talked about how AI and technology could change lives for good. 

When Mr Noah asked about the threat of artificial intelligence to jobs, Mr Gates said there could one day be a time when humans "don't have to work so hard."

Mr Gates said, "If you eventually get a society where you only have to work three days a week, that's probably OK."

He even said there could exist a world where "machines can make all the food and the stuff." 

The billionaire has highlighted both the risks and the benefits of AI in his previous interviews and blogs. In July, he addressed the risks of AI. 

"I don't think AI's impact will be as dramatic as the Industrial Revolution, but it certainly will be as big as the introduction of the PC. Word processing applications didn't do away with office work, but they changed it forever," Mr Gates said at the time. "Employers and employees had to adapt, and they did."

He also pointed out the risks of AI, including "misinformation and deepfakes, security threats, changes to the job market, and the impact on education."

"This is not the first time a new technology has caused a big shift in the labour market. I don't think AI's impact will be as dramatic as the Industrial Revolution, but it certainly will be as big as the introduction of the PC," he wrote.

"Another thing that's clear to me is that the future of AI is not as grim as some people think or as rosy as others think. The risks are real, but I am optimistic that they can be managed," he added.


 



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Why Was Rinku Singh's Last-Ball Six vs Australia Not Counted - Explained

November 23, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

India started the T20I series against Australia in some style as they notched a two-wicket win on Thursday. There was no shortage of thrill in the match. Courtesy Josh Inglis' 110, Australia notched a huge total of 208/3 in 20 overs. In reply, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan hit half-centuries as India cruised towards the target. However, both got out and it was left to Rinku Singh to take India over the line as India needed seven runs off six balls. 

More drama ensued as India lost the wickets of Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the last over by Sean Abbott to go eight down. With India needing one off one ball, Rinku Singh hit a huge six to take India to win. However, the six was not counted and there was confusion over India's final score. The umpires then adjudged the delivery as no-ball. Since it was a no-ball, and India had got the required one run and had already won by its courtesy. Hence, the six was not counted. India ended on 209/8 in 19.5 overs.

Half-centuries by Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan helped India secure a two-wicket win over Australia in the first T20I of a five-match series at Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

This is India's highest T20I run-chase, outdoing chase of 208 against West Indies back in 2019.

India is 1-0 up in the series.

In the chase of 209, India started off well with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a four and six in the first over, but a miscommunication with Ruturaj Gaikwad ran out the latter for zero. India was 11/1 in 0.5 overs.

Jaiswal looked to up the attack in the next over, but Matthew Short got his first T20I wicket, removing Jaiswal for 21 off 8 balls, with two fours and two sixes. India was 22/2 in 2.3 overs.

Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper were the fresh pair. After a brief lull, they both started hitting shots. Pacer Sean Abbott went for 20 runs in the fifth over and was hit for a four and two sixes.

India reached the 50-run mark in 4.5 overs.

At the end of the powerplay, India was 63/2, with Suryakumar (26*) and Ishan (14*) unbeaten.

The ninth over pulled India back in the game big time, with young spinner Tanveer Sangha hit for two sixes and a four by Ishan. India reached the 100-run mark in 9.1 overs.

Halfway through the innings, India was 106/2, with Suryakumar (39*) and Suryakumar (40*) unbeaten.

Ishan reached his half-century, his fourth in T20Is in just 37 balls, with two fours and four sixes. The left-hander attempted to punish Sangha with a four and six. However, a third attempt to clear the ropes was caught by Short. Ishan walked back for 58 off 39 balls, with two fours and five sixes. India was 134/3 in 12.3 overs.

India reached the 150-run mark in 14.2 overs.

Tilak played some good shots but lost his wicket to Sangha after being caught by Stoinis at extra cover for 12. India was 154/4 in 14.5 overs.

A knuckle ball was delivered by Jason Behrendorff and Suryakumar skied it, got caught by Aaron Hardie. Surya went back for 80 off 42 balls, with nine fours and four sixes. India was 194/5 in 17.4 overs.

India reached the 200-run mark in 18.5 overs with the help of a four from Rinku Singh.

With ANI inputs



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