Man In Chennai Gets Stuck In Lift For 30 Minutes Amid Cyclone Michaung

December 04, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Cyclone Michaung, currently swirling over the Bay of Bengal and heading towards the Andhra coast, has unleashed torrential rain upon Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Several parts of the city are waterlogged and without electricity as the relentless downpour paralysed daily life. On Monday, a person took to X to share his experience after he missed an early morning flight from Chennai airport amid Cyclone Michaung. Not only that, he also ended up getting stuck in the elevator of his Chennai home for about half an hour after a power cut.

"Crazy morning! Cyclone Michuang in Chennai, Uber couldn't reach our apartments due to flooding, missed the flight to Mumbai, and then when returning home - had a power cut - so stuck in the elevator for half an hour before being rescued by society people," Suryanarayan Ganesh wrote on X.

Here's the post:

In another tweet, he thanked his Uber driver who relentlessly tried to reach his location to drive him to the airport. He wrote, ''Special shoutout to @Uber_India driver Prakash - absolute hero - tried to get to me for half hour through various routes driving almost 10 kms before I gave up, he didn't. Do rate / reward him well, I did send a tip via GPay. The app should allow rating/tips even for cancellation.''

Many internet users enquired why he stepped out despite warnings from authorities. Mr Ganesh replied saying that he had a big client meeting in Mumbai. 

One user wrote, ''No matter whats important work always follow weather updates or at least follow many handles in X to get updates on weather. Don't venture out it's not safe. Let this a lesson who takes it lightly.. and do follow my weather updates buddies... Stay safe.'' 

Another commented, ''You should have planned well given the circumstances. Stay safe. I hope the Uber driver is safe at home.''

Meanwhile, authorities have declared a public holiday today and tomorrow, shutting schools and colleges across the city, and dispatched rescue teams to avert any untoward incidents. Operations at the Chennai airport have been suspended till 9 am tomorrow - with about 70 flights canceled due to flooding of the runway and tarmac, the Airport Authority of India.



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Box Office: "Sam Bahadur Stands On Its Feet Despite A Hurricane Called Animal"

December 04, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Vicky Kaushal's Sam Bahadur is gradually gaining momentum at the box office. As per a Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "#SamBahadur stands on its feet, despite a hurricane called #Animal… Riding on glowing word of mouth, the day-wise growth - mainly at key metros - saw the biz witnessing a spike on Day 2 and 3… Fri 6.25 cr, Sat 9 cr, Sun 10.30 cr. Total: ₹ 25.55 cr. #India biz. Take a look at his post below. 

About Sam Bahadur growing momentum at the box office, Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote on Sunday, "Sam Bahadur jumps on Day 2 [Saturday], with key metros recording excellent footfalls… A bigger number on Day 3 [Sunday] is clearly on the cards… Friday ₹ 6.25 crore, Saturday ₹ 9 crore. Total: ₹ 15.25 crore. #India biz. The real test begins tomorrow: the make-or-break Day 4 [Mon]… It needs to stay super-steady at its best-performing centres to leave a mark."

Sam Bahadur is receiving much love from fans and film critics alike. In his review for NDTV, Saibal Chatterjee gave the film 3.5 stars and wrote, “As the film flits from one point in time to another from the early 1940s (when Japanese soldiers march into Burma) to the early 1970s (when the Indian Army enters Bangladesh's war of liberation), it has its share of ellipses. But no matter how glaring the gaps are, they do not restrict the sweep of the consistently arresting saga. The screenwriters graft just enough narrative meat on to the condensed storyline to be able to do justice to the charismatic general whose career it explores in the context of the nation's eventful history before and after Independence.”

Sam Bahadur is the biopic of India's first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw. Beyond capturing the hearts of Bollywood enthusiasts, the film deeply moved Sam Manekshaw's daughter Maja Daruwala to tears. Maja Daruwala attended The Indian Express' Adda event with director Meghna Gulzar and Vicky Kaushal. At the event, she expressed, "They have made the film to make the country proud of whatever it was. But, the time that I tear up, every time, I've seen the film twice now and I teared up both times, is the last two seconds of the film when you turn to the audience and you're smiling. That just kills me every time." The emotional moment was captured and shared by a fan page on Twitter.

In addition to Vicky Kaushal, Sam Bahadur features Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra in important roles.



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"The Movie Isn't Flawless But...": Anand Mahindra On 'Sam Bahadur'

December 03, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Meghana Gulzar's 'Sam Bahadur', which is based on the life of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, was released in theatres on Friday. The film features Vicky Kaushal in the lead role and it also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra. The movie has created a buzz on social media and garnered praise from critics and audiences alike. Among these reactions, industrialist Anand Mahindra also shared his thoughts on the film. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Mahindra Group Chairman said the movie isn't flawless, but he applauded Vicky Kaushal for his performance in the titular role. 

"There is a powerful virtuous cycle created when a country produces movies which tell the stories of their heroes. Especially about soldiers & narratives of leadership & courage. The pride & self belief of people multiplies. More heroes emerge when people know their courage will be feted," Mr Mahindra wrote. 

Further, he drew parallels with Hollywood which is renowned for the creation of this virtuous cycle for over a century. He praised the movie and noted that 'Gazab ka banda, sab ka banda' song rightly suggests the same. Mr Mahindra went on to thank producer Ronnie Screvala for making such movies. He also praised Vicky Kaushal for transforming himself into Sam Bahadur. 

"Hollywood has created this virtuous cycle for a century. So thank you @RonnieScrewvala for making such movies for us. Especially about this 'gazab ka banda, sab ka banda' as the song says. The movie isn't flawless but @vickykaushal09 transforms himself into Sam Bahadur in a goosebump-raising and award-winning characterisation. Go see it and cheer an authentic Indian Hero," Mr Mahindra wrote in the caption of the post. 

Also Read | Tech Mogul Who Spends 2 Million A Year To Stay Young Shows Off His New "Baby" Face. See Post

'Sam Bahadur' is the biopic on the life and times of Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal. The movie has been directed by Meghna Gulzar. 

The film opened to stellar reviews on Friday. Film critic Saibal Chatterjee, in his review for NDTV, gave Sam Bahadur a 3.5 star rating out of 5 and he wrote, "It would be easy to describe Sam Bahadur as a Vicky Kaushal show because it is who dominates every major scene in the film. But without the fine balance that Meghna Gulzar strikes between ambition and restraint, neither the spirited central performance nor its emotional (and cinematic) payoff would have been quite as remarkable". 



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Behind Congress's Shock Defeat In Chhattisgarh, Tribal Anger And...

December 03, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Chhattisgarh, a state the Congress considered bagged even before the counting started, unravelled by mid-afternoon today. Within an hour, it presented a picture of complete reversal, with the BJP pulling far ahead.  

Exit polls, too, had predicted a Congress victory. An aggregate of nine exit polls indicated that the Congress may win 49 seats -- just above the majority mark of 46 -- while the BJP will bag only 38 seats. But today, at 7.30 pm, the BJP is ahead of 54 of the state's 90 seats -- 39 more than 2018 -- and the Congress on 35 seats, 33 down from five years ago.  

What went wrong for the Congress, which claimed a turnaround for the state under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, presents a picture that's complex.

The results make it clear that the party's biggest blow came in the tribal-dominated areas of the state that is home to a chunk of the country's tribal population.  

Of the 90 assembly seats in tribal-dominated Bastar, the Congress won 35 seats, 33 down from 2018. The difference has been pocketed by the BJP, which upped its tally from 15 to 54.  

The tribal anger has been brewing for almost three years, when in May 2021, four persons died in police firing during a protest in Sukma district, 46 people were injured and a pregnant woman died in the hospital.

The backlash came in time. As after the farmers' death in Mandsaur police firing, the farmer vote swung towards the Congress, the tribals turned to the BJP this time.

The tribals are also angry over the prices of minor forest produce like Tendu leaves. Unhappy with government prices, Chhattisgarh tribals took their tendu leaves to the open market. Tendu leaves or the "green gold" are the biggest source of income for tribals.

What helped was the BJP's grassroot campaign, which penetrated Maoist-dominated areas of Bastar that outsiders feared to tread. Then, days before the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sweetened the deal, launching a Rs 24,000 crore scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups from neighbouring Jharkhand.  

Along with tribals, the Congress has apparently alienated the business community as well with allegations of corruption.

Ahead of the election, a string of alleged corruption cases made headlines -- ones involving the coal levy commission, illegal liquor sales and kickbacks to rice millers in collusion with officials of the state marketing federation.  

There was also the Mahadev betting app cases, where the name of the Chief Minister figured. Asim Das, an alleged cash courier, after being caught with 5.39 crore in cash, had apparently told the Enforcement Directorate investigators that he was carrying money sent from Dubai for Mr Baghel for use in elections.   

The BJP, in contrast, had come up with a strong manifesto instead of a Chief Ministerial face, letting it speak for itself. The party, whose analysis after the 2018 defeat pinned the cause on a weak manifesto, made populist promises this time, titling it "Modi ki Guarantee 2023".

The promises included procurement of 21 quintals of paddy per acre at Rs 3,100 per quintal, annual financial assistance of Rs 12,000 to married women under the 'Mahtari Vandan Yojana', construction of 18 lakh houses under 'PM Awas Yojna', tendu leaf procurement at Rs 5,500 per standard sack and bonus of Rs 4,500 to leaf collectors and annual assistance of Rs 10,000 to landless farm labourers.



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BJP vs Congress As Votes To Be Counted In 4 States Today

December 02, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Counting of votes will be held on today in assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in what is seen as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months. 

The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.

Pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Starting with postal ballots, counting will commence at 8 am amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate.

A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, election officials said.

After wresting Karnataka from the BJP in May, the Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. An impressive performance in these polls will boost the party's standing in the opposition INDIA alliance which has been formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP is seeking to replicate the winning streak of Gujarat, where it has been ruling since 1998, in Madhya Pradesh with four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoping to form government again. The party is also keen to win back Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as it seeks to regain its hold in the Hindi heartland states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"The face of the Congress has been exposed. Only the results are to come. The good governance that the public wanted will be found under the BJP government," Union minister Anurag Thakur said in Jaipur, adding that the people want the "double-engine" government of the BJP.

With several pollsters predicting a close fight, there were reports claiming that parties have decided to herd their winning candidates swiftly to prevent any poaching.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, dismissed reports that he has been asked to bring winning Congress candidates from the states to resorts and hotels in Karnataka.

"No MLAs will be going anywhere. Nobody has given me a responsibility or called me. ... I am confident that we will win all the states," Shivakumar, who had made similar arrangements to bring 44 Gujarat legislators during the August 2017 Rajya Sabha elections, told reporters in Bengaluru.

Madhya Pradesh

The counting for 230 assembly seats in MP will be held at 52 district headquarters, officials said.

As many as 2,533 candidates are in contention, including political bigwigs like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath, in a poll that was largely a bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

Chouhan claimed his party would retain power with a "huge majority", while state Congress chief Kamal Nath said he had "complete confidence" in the voters of the state.

Of the 230 seats, 47 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 35 for Scheduled Castes.

Besides CM Chouhan (from Budhni seat) and state Congress president Nath (Chhindwara), the EVMs will also decide the fate of three BJP Union ministers - Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste.

It will also decide the political fortunes of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywrgiya who contested from Indore-1 and three Lok Sabha MPs of the saffron party - Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh and Riti Pathak.

Rajasthan

Over 1800 candidates are in contention in 199 seats in Rajasthan where power has alternated between Congress and BJP every five years in the last three decades.

"The counting of ballot papers will start at 8 pm. As many as 979 tables have been arranged for the counting of ballot papers across the state. Strong rooms will be opened in the presence of observers, candidates and their representatives," Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said.

Gupta said that the counting of votes in EVM machines will begin at 8.30 am.

Chhattisgarh

Tight security arrangements have been made in all counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including the ones affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), officials said.

"The counting of postal ballots will begin at 8 am. Half an hour after the postal ballots are counted, the process of counting votes from the EVMs will begin.

"A total of 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers have been appointed for carrying out the counting process smoothly," Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Baba Saheb Kangale said at a press conference.

A total of 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Patan seat, represented by Baghel, is witnessing a triangular contest with BJP fielding the chief minister's distant nephew and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel.

Amit Jogi, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) state president and son of former CM late Ajit Jogi, is also in the fray from Patan. 

Telangana

As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray in the elections, including BRS supremo Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao.

The BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI. The BJP and Janasena contested 111 and 8 seats respectively in a pre-poll pact. The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.

Several segments witnessed triangular contests making them keenly watched ones.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao is contesting from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy. In a post on X, BRS working president K T Rama Rao had earlier said, "After a long time had a peaceful sleep. Exit polls can take a hike. Exact polls will give us good news." Dismissing some exit-poll surveys that suggested that the ruling BRS will fall short of a majority in the Assembly polls, Rama Rao had said the Chandrasekhar Rao-led dispensation will return to power with over 70 seats.



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Depression In Bay Of Bengal To Become Cyclonic Storm By Tomorrow

December 02, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal will intensify into a cyclonic storm on December 3 resulting in heavy to very heavy rains in the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and interior parts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

The city and its neighbourhoods in the adjoining districts saw sharp spells of rain late on Saturday.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said that following a forecast of heavy rains for the next two days, ministers, MPs, MLAs and local body members among others should help the people in the respective localities with their essential needs.

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena reviewed the precautionary measures to be taken, with senior officials here.

South Central Railway announced the cancellation of 118 long-distance trains from December 3 to 7 due to cyclone Michaung.

Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards, almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast, and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of Tuesday, the IMD said in a bulletin.

The cyclonic activity would lead the winds to blow at a speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.

According to S Balachandran, deputy director general of the Regional Meteorological Centre, here, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur over Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu.

Squally wind prevailing over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to become gales reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from December 2 night to December 4. Thereafter, it would gradually decrease.

From October 1 till date, the region recorded 34 cm rainfall against the normal 36 cm during the north east Monsoon period, so far, Balachandran said. Chennai recorded 62 cm against the normal rainfall of 67 cm during this period.

Cancelled trains include about 40 between Chennai and other destinations and those passing through the metro, a release said on Saturday.

Officials at the Chennai International Airport also reviewed the preparedness vis-a-vis Cyclone Michaung.

A meeting was chaired by Airport Director C V Deepak with concerned departments on Saturday to evaluate the preparedness for handling the situation, an official release said.

A number of measures have been initiated as a precautionary measure in view of the weather forecast. This includes the setting up of a core team consisting of members from various departments for close monitoring of the situation and to take necessary action as would be the requirement.

The updates regarding the system were being obtained regularly from IMD and shared with all stakeholders for better preparation, while the water level in Adyar river was also being monitored.

Airports Authority of India engineering departments have been instructed to carry out regular checks and actions as per standard operating procedures in place like clearing of drains, gratings, stocking/arranging sufficient men and materials for meeting the contingency, among others, it said.

"A Special Task Force of senior AAI officials is inspecting the airfield and terminal building regularly to ensure smooth operations in adverse conditions. The meeting followed up with operational area inspection. Airport Director advised all stake holders to be alert due wet runway conditions and changing visibility parameters," it added.

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



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Munich Airport Shut, Flights, Trains Hit As Heavy Snow Paralyses Germany

December 02, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Heavy snowfall brought chaos to parts of southern Germany on Saturday, with air and rail traffic blocked in the Bavarian state capital of Munich.

After first suspending flights until noon Saturday (1100 GMT), Munich airport later said it would remain closed until 6:00 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday. 

In total, 760 flights were affected, a spokesperson told AFP. More than 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow fell overnight Friday to Saturday, according to weather services.

Authorities asked residents to stay home for their safety. 

The winter weather also disrupted train traffic, with rail operator Deutsche Bahn saying "The main Munich station cannot be served".

Deutsche Bahn said travellers should expect delays and cancellations throughout the region, and most buses, trams and suburban trains were not running in Munich. 

Saturday's planned football championship match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin has been called off.

Police in Lower Bavaria said they made 350 interventions linked to the weather Friday night, with five people slightly injured in car accidents.   

Much of Germany has been subject to snow and freezing temperatures for several days.

According to weather forecasts, the largest quantities of snow are expected Saturday in Allgau in the south of Bavaria, with another 30 to 40 centimetres.

The snowfall is expected to progressively ease in the afternoon. 

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



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KBC Participant Alolika Bhattacharjee On Big B Sharing Her Viral Video

December 02, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Alolika Bhattacharjee Guha entered the set of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) as a homemaker and left as a 'lakhpati' who not only won prize money but also hearts with her exuberant personality.

Alolika became a viral social media sensation after the quiz show's host, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, shared a clip of the former contestant on X, something she says made her feel like a "crorepati".

The 69th episode of the long-running show, which aired on Sony TV on November 16, turned into a laugh riot when Kolkata-based Alolika spoke about her first-time experience of travelling by air and staying at a luxury hotel in Mumbai to shoot for KBC.

"I received a message from 'KBC' saying that Bachchan sir shared my video on X, I felt I became a 'crorepati' multiple times. I'm not on X or Facebook, I'm only on WhatsApp. It was like winning a lottery," Alolika told PTI in an interview.

The 39-year-old won the cash prize of Rs 12,50,000 on "KBC" season 15 but left a stronger impression on the studio audience, crew and even Bachchan, who were in splits whenever she weighed in on the everyday struggles of a common Indian through her relatable anecdotes narrated in an endearing manner.

Her 'joie de vivre' seems to have caught up with people on the internet with actors such as Adil Hussain and others famous personalities posting the clip and praising Alolika's cheerful nature.

On Friday, Bachchan shared a clip of Alolika on X and captioned it as "Jai Ho", in a reference to a phrase she used on the show every time she gave the right answer on the 'hot seat', the coveted chair where 10 contenders aim to reach after clearing the famous 'Fastest Fingers First' round on "KBC".

The former primary school teacher, who hails from Malbazar town in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, said she enjoyed her time on the game show.

"I laughed and made people laugh, including Bachchan sir. I was surprised to see that sir also laughs a lot. I had a lot of fun. I keep cracking such jokes when I'm around family and friends. I speak what I feel like saying in a fun, light-hearted manner," she said.

Asked what could be the reason behind her growing popularity, Alolika said she perhaps struck a chord with people because "I told the reality of a common Indian in a simple manner".

"As common people, we are not financially so strong to afford air travel, or have enough opportunities to do so. It was really a big deal for me to travel by plane when the team of KBC arranged the tickets.

"I was busy drawing comparisons between travelling by train and plane while I was en route to Mumbai. And that's what I said when Bachchan sir asked me about my experience," she added.

It wasn't about strategy or winning a big cash prize, said Alolika about her time on KBC. She has been trying to get to the 'hot seat' from the last 18 years to fulfil her mother's long-cherished dream of featuring on television.

"My mother is a big fan of Bachchan sir... She used to do theatre and wanted to appear on television. But she couldn't continue with theatre as she didn't get the support after she got married.

"She wanted to realise that dream through me. I entered the show without any strategy and with no expectations to win a big cash prize. I just wanted to see sir or maybe reach the hot seat... even that would have been enough for me," she said, adding her mother got teary eyed when she watched the episode.

Bachchan may be a towering personality but Alolika said sharing the screen space with the 81-year-old star was a great experience as he makes "every contestant feel comfortable".

"I wasn't scared or intimidated by Bachchan sir. I would have been scared if I had gone in with any expectation, especially about money. I was either taking a lot of time in 'Fastest Fingers First' or giving wrong answers. I was convinced I wasn't going to reach the 'hot seat'," she said.

Alolika said she was unwell on the day of the shoot. The doctors on set tended to her. When she went in to try out for another round of Fastest Fingers First, the contestant said Bachchan enquired about her well being.

"Sir asked me if I would be able to play and I said 'I'll try', and I had not even reached the hot seat by that time. I was so blown away that 'The Amitabh Bachchan' asked me if I was feeling well. Sir is such a big celebrity but he cared so much about a commoner like me. It was a big deal for me," she recalled.

Alolika was recently appointed as a supervisor in the Directorate of Integrated Child Development Services under West Bengal government's Department of Women & Child Development & Social Welfare. She is likely to assume charge early next year.

She plans to use the cash prize from the show for her four-year-old son's education and support her brother in taking out a home loan for their parents.

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



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Matthew Perry's Stepfather Opens Up 1 Month After Actor's Death. See Post

December 01, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Matthew Perry's stepfather, Canadian broadcaster Keith Morrison, has broken his social media silence and spoken out nearly a month after the 'Friends' actor's death. Matthew Perry, who shot to fame for playing Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom 'Friends', was found dead at his Los Angeles home last month. He was 54 years old. His cause of death remains "deferred" after an initial postmortem showed no signs of meth or fentanyl in his system.

Now, a month after his stepson's tragic death, Mr Morrison on Monday took to social media to honour the late actor. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Dateline correspondent encouraged people to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation in celebration of Giving Tuesday. "This is not the sort of thing I commonly do, this pitch. But this year is different," Mr Morrison wrote. "And tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful," he continued before including a link to the website for the Matthew Perry Foundation - a charity for those "struggling with the disease of addiction". 

According to The Independent, the Matthew Perry Foundation was established by The National Philanthropic Trust after the actor's death. Its aim is to help others struggling with the disease of addiction", the website states. "It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible," it reads. 

Matthew Perry had been vocal about his battle with addiction. He wrote in his 2022 memoir, 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing', that he had spent about $9 million trying to get sober and once nearly died from consuming 55 Vicodin tablets and a quart of vodka. 

Also Read | Actor Shannen Doherty Says Cancer Has Spread to Her Bones: "I Don't Want To Die"

The actor died on October 28 after the Los Angeles Police Department found him unresponsive in the hot tub at his LA home. His cause of death remains "deferred" after an initial postmortem showed no signs of meth or fentanyl in his system.

The actor's 'Friends' co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc shared a touching tribute for Perry three weeks after his demise. 



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"With Advent Of Troll Armies...": Chief Justice On Free Speech On Internet

December 01, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday raised concerns over overwhelming barrage of speech that distorts the truth with the advent of troll armies and organised disinformation campaigns across social media platforms.

"Traditionally, freedom of speech and expression was deemed to be an essential part of civil rights activism because of the fear that the government would prevent certain kinds of speech from entering the marketplace," Chief Justice Chandrachud said at the 14th Justice VM Tarkunde memorial lecture.

"With the advent of troll armies and organised disinformation campaigns across different social media platforms, the fear is that there is an overwhelming barrage of speech that distorts the truth," the Chief Justice said.

"This epistemological battle of sorts was explained eloquently in the New York Times in 2020, where it said 'the spewing of falsehoods isn't meant to win any battle of ideas. Its goal is to prevent the actual battle from being fought'. Therefore, we cannot fall back on traditional notions of free speech and must find new theoretical frameworks to locate free speech on the internet," he said.

Chief Justice Chandrachud said the intricate interplay between surveillance by the state and an individual's right to privacy has been a subject of compelling debate within Indian jurisprudence. The first case that dealt with privacy was R Rajagopal vs State of Tamil Nadu, he said, adding the court determined that a magazine has the right to publish an autobiography penned by a prisoner, even in the absence of the prisoner's consent or authorisation.

"Despite efforts by prison officials to hinder the publication by compelling the prisoner to request its non-publication, the court underscored the need to maintain a delicate equilibrium between press freedom and the right to privacy," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

On Justice Tarkunde, the Chief Justice said the core emphasis of the civil liberties movement that Justice Tarkunde championed is mirrored by digital rights activism today.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, looking back on Justice Tarkunde's dedication to civil liberties, said he inspired him as a young lawyer.

"...It continues to inspire me as I serve as a judge of a constitutional court. That Justice Tarkunde is regarded as the 'Father of the Civil Rights Movement' is no surprise. In every role he donned - as a senior advocate, High Court judge, and activist - he was steadfast in his commitment to democracy, radical humanism, and civil liberty," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

"... No book, academic article or chronicle of the internal emergency imposed in the 1970s is complete without a reference to Justice Tarkunde's spirited defence of personal liberty and democracy, both inside and outside the courtroom," the Chief Justice said.



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Italy PM Giorgia Meloni's Selfie With PM Modi At COP28

December 01, 2023  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a selfie with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

"Good friends at COP28. #Melodi," Ms Meloni, who came to Delhi in September to attend the G20 summit, wrote in the post.

PM Modi also met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Turkey President RT Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, among other leaders.

PM Modi had a packed day-long schedule as he addressed the four sessions at the UN climate change conference.

The Prime Minister had the opportunity to discuss ways to promote clean and green growth, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said. Issues of bilateral and regional interests were also discussed in his meeting with many leaders on the sidelines of the summit, Mr Kwatra said.

Global climate negotiations largely avoided mentioning fossil fuels for decades, until Glasgow's COP26 agreed to "phasedown" unfiltered coal power and the "phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies".

Momentum has built since then on a more ambitious pledge to move away from all fossil fuels, and the UN's former climate chief Christiana Figueres said an unprecedented surge in renewables and electric vehicles gave her optimism that the world can still achieve its climate goals.

Those centre on the 2015 Paris deal, which saw nearly 200 nations agree to limit global warming to "well below" two degree Celsius since the pre-industrial era, and preferably a safer threshold of 1.5 Celsius.

In his COP28 speech on Friday, PM Modi called on all nations to work together to cut global emissions drastically, and announced a "green credit" initiative that focuses on creating carbon skins with people's participation.

He said India's emissions are very low compared to other nations whose population is much less. "India's population is 17 per cent of the global population, but in global carbon emissions India is only at 4 per cent. We are moving fast in achieving the NDC targets. In fact, we reached our non-fossil fuel targets nine years before the deadline," PM Modi said, referring to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

"We do not have much time to correct the mistakes of the last century," PM Modi said, and asked every nation to work sincerely to meet their NDC targets.



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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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