Bihar YouTuber Arrested For Slapping Train Passenger For Social Media Fame

A man who slapped a random passenger onboard a train at Bihar's Anugraha Narayan Road railway station and recorded the entire act for online fame has finally been taught a lesson. The culprit, identified as Ritesh Kumar, stood at the railway platform and waited for the train to roll away before going near it and slapping an unsuspecting passenger. All this while, his friend recorded the act to be posted on social media.

As the video clip went viral, social media users reacted negatively and demanded the authorities to take action against Kumar. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) sprung into action and apprehended Kumar, who was directed to release an apology.

"No compromise on passenger security!! A YouTuber who slapped a passenger on a moving train for social media fame has been tracked & arrested by RPF Dehri-on-Sone!" RPF said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"Your safety matters to us-reckless acts will not be tolerated."

Meanwhile, Kumar in the apology video admitted his mistake, stating that he wanted to increase his followers by staging such a video.

"I am a YouTuber. I make and post videos on Instagram to increase my followers. I came to Anugraha Narayan Road railway station and, to boost my follower count, slapped a passenger on a moving train," said Kumar.

"This was my mistake, and I won't repeat it. Please forgive me," he added.

No compromise on passenger security !!
A YouTuber who slapped a passenger on a moving train for social media fame has been tracked & arrested by #RPF Dehri-on-Sone! pic.twitter.com/4KckhrCyPy
Your safety matters to us—reckless acts will not be tolerated.#PassengerSafety #RPFAction… pic.twitter.com/2h00IQPTKj

— RPF INDIA (@RPF_INDIA) February 27, 2025

Social media reacts

Reacting to the news of Kumar's arrest, social media users applauded RPF for taking action and demanded that all vandals be punished similarly.

"Good job RPF. Such vandals should be taught a lesson," said one user while another added: "Without harsh punishment they will never going to learn. Fine them huge amount."

A third commented: "I hope all those who vandalised trains will be tracked down, arrested and given exemplary punishment too. No one has the right to damage public property."

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Volcanic Eruption In 79 AD Turned Man's Brain Into Glass. How It Happened

It was a surprising discovery when scientists examining the remains of a man who died in bed in the ancient city of Herculaneum after Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD found dark fragments resembling obsidian inside his skull. It turns out the eruption had somehow turned his brain into glass.

It is the only case on record of such a phenomenon, and researchers now have answers for why and how it happened.

They say the vitrification - transformation into glass - of this victim's brain was the apparent effect of a scorching ash cloud that suddenly descended upon his city along the Bay of Naples, instantly killing all the inhabitants.

They concluded vitrification took place through a unique process of rapid exposure of the brain's organic material to a very high temperature - at least 510 degrees Celsius (950 degrees F) - and its subsequent rapid cooling.

The researchers conducted an extensive analysis that confirmed the glass nature of the fragments and revealed their physical properties.

"The glass formed as a result of this process allowed for an integral preservation of the biological brain material and its microstructures," said forensic anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone of Universita di Napoli Federico II in Italy, one of the leaders of the research published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The eruption obliterated the thriving ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

"The only other type of organic glass we have evidence of is that produced in some rare cases of vitrification of wood, sporadic cases of which have been found at Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, in no other case in the world have vitrified organic human or animal remains ever been found," Petrone added.

Thousands of people were killed and the two cities were buried under a thick layer of volcanic material and mud, sitting untouched until their rediscovery in the 18th century. Victims were preserved in sudden death, as was the case with the one whose brain was turned to glass.

His body was first discovered in the 1960s inside a building called the College of the Augustales dedicated to the cult of Emperor Augustus, who had died in 14 AD. The individual was identified as a young man believed to have been the college's custodian. The remains were re-examined in 2018.

"I was in the room where the college's custodian was lying in his bed to document his charred bones. Under the lamp, I suddenly saw small glassy remains glittering in the volcanic ash that filled the skull," Petrone said.

"Taking one of these fragments, it had a black appearance and shiny surfaces quite similar to obsidian, a natural glass of volcanic origin - black and shiny, whose formation is due to the very rapid cooling of the lava. But, unlike obsidian, the glassy remains were extremely brittle and easy to crumble," Petrone said.

Analyses of this material, previously published in other scientific journals, revealed the presence of proteins and fatty acids common in human brain tissues, with the entire central nervous system exceptionally well preserved, represented by nerve cells interconnected by a dense network of fibers called axons.

The research is forging a deeper understanding of how the tragic events unfolded after the eruption.

"The study shows that the 'killer' at Herculaneum was the arrival in town of an early hot ash cloud. This highlights the importance of understanding the behavior of ash clouds, as they are very hazardous and still very poorly studied and understood," said volcanologist and study first author Guido Giordano of Roma Tre University in Italy.

The actual burial of the city occurred in later stages of the eruption.

The custodian at apparently around midnight was surprised while sleeping in his bed by the first effects of the eruption.

"As the postures of the victims' bodies show, the custodian of the college died instantly from the impact with the hot volcanic ash surge, as did all the rest of the inhabitants of Herculaneum," Petrone said. "The body of evidence found for the victims at Herculaneum shows that all people died instantly, so they did not have time to notice or suffer."

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

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Who Will Head BJP After JP Nadda? Decision Likely By March 15, Say Sources

The next BJP chief could be announced as soon as within a fortnight, sources have indicated, citing that the organisational elections of the party have been completed in 12 states. Sources said the party's national president likely to be announced before March 15, after which an inauspicious period starts in the Hindu calendar.. 

Elections in Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are already over. So is the situation in Assam. There will be no change in Bihar, where elections are due by the end of this year.

State in-charges have already been asked to submit prospective names. Some states like UP and Gujarat are likely to get unit presidents before a national president is announced.

Mr Nadda's tenure was extended until June 2024 in view of the Lok Sabha election, and with his induction into the government, the party has been looking at prospective candidates to succeed him. 

But the process has been slow, with the leaders hoping to create consensus on the issue. 

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Trump Confirms Zelensky Visit On Friday Amid Negotiations On Mineral Deal

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Friday, as negotiations are underway on a deal to give the United States access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

"President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday, that is now confirmed," Trump said Wednesday at his first cabinet meeting.

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

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Trump Confirms Zelensky Visit On Friday Amid Negotiations On Mineral Deal

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Friday, as negotiations are underway on a deal to give the United States access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

"President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday, that is now confirmed," Trump said Wednesday at his first cabinet meeting.

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

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India Getting 'Undeniable Advantage' In Champions Trophy: Cricket Greats

Pakistan might officially be the hosts of the ICC Champions Trophy but Team India's matches in the tournament are being held in Dubai. Even as the Indian team progresses to the semi-finals and the final, Dubai would remain the only venue for Rohit Sharma's men. Whereas for other teams, the Champions Trophy matches are taking place across five venues, with one of them being the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Though Pakistan are the 'hosts', former England greats Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain feel it's the Indian team that is enjoying a 'home advantage'.

"What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage," said Michael Atherton in conversation with Naseer Hussain on Sky Sports Podcast.

"They're playing at just one venue. They don't have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do.

The fact that all of India's matches are to be held in Dubai, Atherton feels the situation does give the team management an advantage over player selection.

"Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they'll know where they're playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage," he said.

Even Nasser Hussain feels the saying 'Pakistan host nation, India home advantage', is correct, considering the format that has been created for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain also called the Dubai factor an advantage, while also lauding the team composition they have set up for the venue.

"It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament has that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying 'Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.' It sums it up really," he said.

"They are at one place, one hotel, they don't have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch.

"They were very smart in their selection. They probably knew what Dubai is going to be like. They picked all their spinners. there was a bit of debate with Indian media saying why don't you have gone for an extra seamer? Why all these spinners? Now we can seen why.

"For example the other sides like England if they do get to the semis they have only one spinner (Rehan Ahmed is added as replacement of Brydon Carse), Pakistan have one frontline spinner. You can says that when the injuries came they should have change that and I have made that argument.

"Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for different conditions in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions.

"So it is an advantage but what else could have happened. Once India refused to come to Pakistan, what could have happen. You can't have a tournament like this without India-Pakistan. It had to be in Dubai.

"They sit happily and comfortably there. They know they are going to play six games there and if they win all those, they will win another global tournament," he said.

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India Getting 'Undeniable Advantage' In Champions Trophy: Cricket Greats

Pakistan might officially be the hosts of the ICC Champions Trophy but Team India's matches in the tournament are being held in Dubai. Even as the Indian team progresses to the semi-finals and the final, Dubai would remain the only venue for Rohit Sharma's men. Whereas for other teams, the Champions Trophy matches are taking place across five venues, with one of them being the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Though Pakistan are the 'hosts', former England greats Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain feel it's the Indian team that is enjoying a 'home advantage'.

"What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage," said Michael Atherton in conversation with Naseer Hussain on Sky Sports Podcast.

"They're playing at just one venue. They don't have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do.

The fact that all of India's matches are to be held in Dubai, Atherton feels the situation does give the team management an advantage over player selection.

"Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they'll know where they're playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage," he said.

Even Nasser Hussain feels the saying 'Pakistan host nation, India home advantage', is correct, considering the format that has been created for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain also called the Dubai factor an advantage, while also lauding the team composition they have set up for the venue.

"It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament has that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying 'Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.' It sums it up really," he said.

"They are at one place, one hotel, they don't have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch.

"They were very smart in their selection. They probably knew what Dubai is going to be like. They picked all their spinners. there was a bit of debate with Indian media saying why don't you have gone for an extra seamer? Why all these spinners? Now we can seen why.

"For example the other sides like England if they do get to the semis they have only one spinner (Rehan Ahmed is added as replacement of Brydon Carse), Pakistan have one frontline spinner. You can says that when the injuries came they should have change that and I have made that argument.

"Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for different conditions in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions.

"So it is an advantage but what else could have happened. Once India refused to come to Pakistan, what could have happen. You can't have a tournament like this without India-Pakistan. It had to be in Dubai.

"They sit happily and comfortably there. They know they are going to play six games there and if they win all those, they will win another global tournament," he said.

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Rape Survivor Faces Horror Again In Bengaluru Hotel, Cop Arrested

A 17-year-old rape survivor was allegedly raped by a police constable at a Bengaluru hotel, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place in December, when constable Arun asked the survivor to meet her at a hotel on the pretext of helping her. 

According to officials, the teen initially befriended Vicky, who allegedly raped her on a false promise of marriage. Vicky also assaulted the girl.

The survivor's mother filed a complaint with Bommanahalli police, but Arun befriended the accused.

The constable assured justice to the girl and also promised to find her a job. He allegedly called her to a hotel, where he mixed sedatives in a liquor bottle and forced her to consume it. Arun then raped the survivor and threatened to circulate her private videos if she disclosed the incident to anyone, the officials said. 

Both Arun and Vicky have been arrested and charged under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The accused have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

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S Jaishankar Cautions Bangladesh Over "Ridiculous" Claims By Its Leaders

Days after his meeting with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain in Muscat, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has cautioned Bangladesh over its inconsistent outlook towards India, advising Dhaka to refrain from some of the "ridiculous" claims being made against India by leaders of the interim government.

Mr Jaishankar's caution comes amid Dhaka's increasingly hostile behaviour towards New Delhi. Voicing his concern sternly, the foreign minister said Bangladesh must "make up their mind" right now on which direction they want their relations with India to head.

Highlighting Dhaka's duplicity, Mr Jaishankar said Bangladesh cannot say it wants good ties with India while blaming New Delhi at the same time for everything that goes wrong for them domestically.

"If every day someone in the interim government stands up and blames India for everything - some of those things if you look at the reports, are absolutely ridiculous...You cannot, on the one hand, say that 'I would now like to have good relations with you', but I wake up every morning and blame you for everything that goes wrong. It is a decision that they must make," Mr Jaishankar said at a public function.

"They must make up their minds on what kind of relationship they want to have with New Delhi, going forward. We have a long history with Bangladesh. We have a very special history with Bangladesh - one that goes back to 1971," he added.

The foreign minister also reiterated India's concerns on the situation in Bangladesh and how it impacts bilateral talks. "There are two aspects to the problem that our bilateral ties are facing - the first being communal attacks on minorities. What is very troubling for India is the spate of attacks on minorities. It obviously is something that impacts our thinking. It is something we have to speak up about, which we have done," Mr Jaishankar said.

"The second aspect," he explained "is that they have their domestic politics - which you can agree with or disagree with, but at the end of the day, we are their neighbour, and they have to make up their mind on their outlook towards us."

The Government of India, he said, has "sent a clear message to Bangladesh" - that New Delhi would like things to calm down. But it does not appreciate Bangladesh's constant hostile messaging towards India.

In the meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Touhid Hossain, Mr Jaishankar had, last week, conveyed that Dhaka must not "normalise terrorism". The caution comes amid Pakistan's growing influence in Bangladesh.

In response to a question on whether regional grouping SAARC came up during Mr Jaishankar's meeting with Mr Hossain, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that "Regarding whether SAARC came up for discussion or not... Yes, the matter was brought up by the Bangladesh side when the EAM met with Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser in Muscat. It was acknowledged that everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are responsible for stymying SAARC. EAM conveyed that it is important for Bangladesh not to normalise terrorism."

Mr Jaishankar and Mr Hossain had previously met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Bangladesh's interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024.
 

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"It's Very Weird How Fear Works": Kunal Kemmu On Saif Stabbing Incident

Saif Ali Khan was attacked by an intruder during a robbery attempt at his home last month. Following the incident, the actor underwent two major surgeries at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. 

Now, Saif Ali Khan's brother-in-law, Kunal Kemmu, has opened up about the shocking incident. Speaking to ANI, Kunal – who is married to Saif's sister Soha Ali Khan – shared that he got the news around 6 AM and immediately informed Soha. At that time, the couple was busy getting their daughter, Inaaya, ready for school.

Kunal Kemmu said, “The first thing was, is Saif okay? And once we knew that he was out of danger, none of the chatter made any sense again because that's the only thing that mattered.”

The actor-director continued, “It's very weird how fear works. I had to break this to her (Soha Ali Khan). We were getting our daughter ready to go to school and you just had this information and nothing else. So, am I supposed to send my daughter to school right now or not? All of those things were kind of playing on my mind.”

“So we (Kunal and Soha) did send her (Inaaya) to school, and then I said we need to go there, and that's when slowly we started to find out what had kind of transpired,” Kunal added.

Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu got married in 2015. The couple welcomed their daughter, Inaaya, in 2017.

For the unversed, Saif Ali Khan was attacked by an intruder at his home on the morning of January 16. He was stabbed six times and had to undergo neurosurgery and plastic surgery.

In a media briefing, the hospital revealed that the knife injuries caused a spinal fluid leak, which doctors managed to repair. He also suffered deep cuts on his hands and neck.

After spending six days in the hospital, Saif was discharged and returned home on January 21.

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Liquor Ban In J&K? Signature Campaign, Posters, Spark Massive Row

Jammu and Kashmir is seeing a fresh political row over liquor ban - an issue that came up in 2016 but got thumbs downed by Mehbooba Mufti's ruling People's Democratic Party. Now the battlelines have been re-drawn, with the PDP spearheading the demand for a ban. The party has started a signature campaign in support of the ban and it is the ruling National Conference that is accusing it of hypocrisy.
Over the weekend, posters came up across Srinagar, supporting the ban and calling upon tourists to "respect local culture and traditions". Police action to remove the posters has been questioned by the Opposition.

The matter is expected to dominate the assembly in the budget session which begins on March 3. Two members - one of the PDP and one from the National Conference -- have submitted bills to ban liquor.

PDP's Fayaz Ahamd Mir, National Conference's Ahsan Pardesi and a third MLA -- Awami Ittehad Party's (AIP) Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad - have moved separate bills in the assembly seeking ban on sale of liquor in the Union Territory.

Today PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti  joined the signature campaign that was  launched by her daughter  Iltija Mufti yesterday. 

A day before, on Friday, traders at Srinagar's historic Lal Chowk had put up posters that, after welcoming tourists, said, "For a memorable and enjoyable trip, we kindly request: Love and cherish your family, avoid liquor, drugs, spitting on roads and smoking. Respect our culture and traditions".

NC MLA, Ahsan Pardesi said, in support of his bill, that the unchecked sale of alcohol disregards the religious and cultural ethos of Kashmir.

"Our heritage has always stood against intoxicants, and this bill is a step toward preserving those values," he added.

Kashmir - heavily dependent on tourism -- has always been cosmopolitan in its hospitality. The first liquor shop in the Valley dates back to the British era. Since then, liquor shops have functioned in Kashmir, but as terror broke out in the Valley in the 1990s, Islamist terrorist groups banned the sale of liquor.

The ruling National Conference has said it is pro-choice and would prefer to leave it to tourists to decide whether they wanted a tipple or not.

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"Folly To Be Wise...": Shashi Tharoor's Cryptic Post Amid Congress Rift Buzz

Amid the buzz of a rift between him and the Congress over his recent praise of certain policies of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has put up a cryptic post on X, stating, that being wise is sometimes a mistake.

Sharing a quote from English poet Thomas Gray's poem 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College', Mr Tharoor wrote, "Though of the Day: "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

Thought for the day! pic.twitter.com/hXDxn9p0rv

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 22, 2025

Mr Tharoor has been at the receiving end of criticism from Kerala Congress leaders for his praise of some of the CPI(M) government's policies in the state and the PM's US visit. 

Mr Tharoor defended his praise for PM Modi's US visit and said that he spoke with India's interests in mind and that "we cannot always speak only in terms of party interest." He noted that PM Modi being the fourth world leader to meet Trump after he took office underscored India's growing importance on the global stage.

Following his praise for Prime Minister Modi, he appreciated the entrepreneurial growth of CPI(M)-led Kerala in an article. The Left party welcomed the Congress MP's validation, terming Mr Tharoor's comments as recognition of Pinarayi Vijayan's administration's achievements.

"As a Member of Parliament from Kerala, I wrote this article focusing on a specific issue -- the transformation of the industrial landscape through the growth of the startup sector. As a Congress worker, I take pride in acknowledging that it was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who initiated this change," he wrote in Malayalam.

He credited Chandy's policies for laying the foundation for Kerala's startup ecosystem, citing initiatives like the 'Startup Village' and the 'Kerala Startup Mission', which have been continued by the current government.

Kerala Congress vs Shashi Tharoor

The row escalated after, Veekshanam Daily, the Congress party's mouthpiece in Kerala, published an editorial criticising Congress leader Shashi Tharoor -without naming him.

It urged him not to betray the expectations of thousands of party workers ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

The strongly worded editorial stated that an anti-incumbency wave was prevalent in the state and that attempts to suppress it by those responsible for fuelling it represented a 'distorted' political practice.

A day later, Mr Tharoor withdrew a poster from his Facebook, reportedly from the Kerala Congress Committee, which referred to members of the CPI(M) as "cannibals".

Hours after sharing the controversial poster commemorating Kripesh and Sarathlal, the Youth Congress workers who were killed in Periya in Kasaragod district, by CPI(M) workers five years ago, Mr Tharoor made another post, sharing their photos but without any reference to the CPI(M).

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Shooting At Hospital In US' Pennsylvania, Reports Say Gunman Killed

Several shots were fired at a hospital in central Pennsylvania, with the gunman being reportedly killed in the encounter with police. The incident took place at the UPMC Memorial Hospital and some people are reportedly injured.

Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, said, "I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene. The hospital is now secure and members of the police are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners."

I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene.

The hospital is now secure and members of the @PAStatePolice and @PEMAHQ are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners.

Follow the…

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 22, 2025

"Follow the direction of local authorities and stay clear of the area. We will share more updates as they become available," Mr Shapiro said.

A video, which is viral on social media, shows a police car approaching the hospital and people running out of the premises. After shots were fired, the area was cordoned off by the police.

🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING | NEWS ⚠️
Active shooter situation at UMPC hospital in York, Pennsylvania story is still developing multiple victims reported pic.twitter.com/GqOAqWMtiE

— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) February 22, 2025

According to reports, two law enforcement officers and a nurse sustained injuries in the shooting.

The New York Times, quoting an official from the hospital said, "A gunman was at the hospital on Saturday and shots were fired." "The hospital is now secure and the threat has been neutralized," the hospital said.

Officials at UPMC Memorial in York said that no patients were injured and that the gunman is dead, the news agency Associated Press reported, adding that law enforcement agencies are on-premises and are managing the situation.

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"Chhaava Ki Dhoom Machi Hui Hai ": PM Modi On Vicky Kaushal's Historical Drama

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Vicky Kaushal starrer historical period drama 'Chhaava' and spoke about Maharashtra's role in shaping both Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Speaking at the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi on Friday, PM Modi highlighted how the film, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has been appreciated across the country. He also spoke about the historical novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, which introduced many readers to the bravery of Sambhaji Maharaj.

"Ye Maharashtra aur Mumbai hi hai jisne Marathi filmon ke saath-saath, Hindi cinema ko ye unchai di hai. Aur in dino toh, Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai. (It is Maharashtra and Mumbai that have elevated Hindi cinema along with Marathi films. And these days, Chhaava is making waves.)," PM Modi said.

"Sambhaji Maharaj ke shaurya se, iss roop mein parichay, Shivaji Sawant ke Marathi upanyas ne hi karaya hai." (It is through Shivaji Sawant's Marathi novel that we have been introduced to the valor of Sambhaji Maharaj in this form.)," he added.

Meanwhile, the film, directed by Laxman Utekar, has been performing strongly at the box office since its release on February 14. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Chhaava crossed the Rs 200 crore milestone on Thursday.

Taking to Instagram, Adarsh shared, "200 NOT OUT: CHHAAVA IS SENSATIONAL... RECORD HOLD IN MAHARASHTRA... Chhaava makes a grand entry into the Rs 200 crore club, aided by the #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharajJayanti holiday boost on Wednesday [Day 6]."

The film collected over Rs 30 crore on Wednesday alone, nearly matching its Valentine's Day opening numbers.

Maharashtra has emerged as the strongest market for Chhaava, with Rajasthan and West Bengal also recording increased footfalls mid-week.

The film, a period drama, portrays the legendary story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, with Vicky Kaushal impressing audiences with his role as the Maratha ruler. The film also features Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna in key roles.

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

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New FBI Director Kash Patel's Family Has Roots In This Gujarat Village

Indian-American Kash Patel, confirmed by the US Senate to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), traces his roots to Bhadran village in Gujarat's Anand district, from where his family migrated to Uganda 70 to 80 years ago, members of the community he belongs to said on Friday.

New York-born Patel (44), who belongs to the Patidar community, has become the first Indian-American to lead the premier law enforcement agency of the United States.

Leaders of the Patidar community said all close family members of Mr Patel are settled in foreign countries. They sold their ancestral houses in Bhadran once they shifted to Africa.

Chh Gam Patidar Mandal, an organisation of the community based in Anand, maintains a `vanshavali' (family tree) of its members.

"In the 'vanshavali' we have names of Kash Patel's father Pramod Patel and also his brothers and grandfather," said secretary of the organisation and Anand district BJP present Rajesh Patel.

Rajesh Patel told PTI that though Kash Patel's name was yet to be added to the family tree, the entry of 18 generations of his family is there in the 'vanshavali' and it is stored in their office along with those of all members of their community.

"As per our records, the family used to live in Moti Khadki area of Bhadran village and they migrated to Uganda some 70 to 80 years ago," he informed.

"The family sold their ancestral house and land and all of his relatives are settled in foreign countries, especially in the USA. Now, when a family member of Kash Patek comes back to India we will seek their permission to record their next generation's names, including his own name, in the 'vanshavali'," Rajesh Patel informed.

"We have not met Kash Patel as the family has not visited Anand in recent years. But many in our community know them as the Patidar community is a close-knit one," he said.

Rajesh Patel said, as far as he knows, that the family had returned for a brief time to India after their expulsion from the African country in the 1970.

"Those Indians who were expelled from Uganda had come to India for a brief stay as they had applied for asylum in the UK, US or Canada. Kash Patel's family had also come here for a brief stopover and then moved to Canada once their applications were accepted," he said.

From Canada, they shifted to the US, where Kash Patel was born in 1980, Rajesh Patel maintained.

Indians who migrated to Uganda were expelled from the African country by dictator Idi Amin who seized power in a military coup in 1971. In 1972, he ordered the Indian community to leave his country in 90 days.

Chh Gam Patidar Mandal is an organization of the Patidar community from six villages/towns of Anand district -- Dharmaj, Nadiad, Sojitra, Bhadran, Vaso and Karamsad. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of the country, hailed from Karamsad.

The new FBI chief served as the former Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller. He was responsible for leading the Secretary's mission at the Department, including his executive staff and providing counsel to him on all matters concerning its operations, the US Department of Defence's short biography on Kash Patel said.

A native of New York, Kash Patel completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond before returning to New York to earn his law degree, along with a Certificate in International Law from University College London Faculty of Laws in the United Kingdom, it said.

Kash Patel, a trained lawyer, is an ice-hockey fan and has been playing the sport since he was six, it said.

"We are Gujarati,” he had told PTI in an earlier interview in the United States. 

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

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Hamas Displays 4 Coffins On Stage Before Handover Of Israeli Hostages' Bodies

Hamas handed over coffins it said contain the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family who became symbols of the ordeal that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war began.

The transfer of the bodies is the first by Hamas since its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war, and is taking place under a fragile ceasefire that has seen living hostages exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The ceremony to return the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two young boys -- Kfir and Ariel -- and a fourth captive, Oded Lifshitz, 83 at the time of his capture, took place at a former cemetery in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

Ahead of the handover, Hamas displayed four black coffins on a stage erected on the sandy patch of ground. A banner behind them depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a blood-stained vampire. An armed militant stood nearby.

Each casket bore a small photo of each of the dead. White mock-up missiles placed near the coffins bore the inscription: "They were killed by USA bombs."

A militant, his face wrapped in a red and white keffiyeh scarf, sat on the stage to complete documents with a Red Cross official before the coffins were loaded into Red Cross vehicles, AFPTV images showed.

The Israeli military said later that "the hostages' bodies were handed over" to it and the Shin Bet internal security agency in Gaza.

Hundreds of people gathered to witness the ceremony. A fence had been erected to keep onlookers away from the immediate area where the handover to the Red Cross was to occur.

Armed men in military fatigues and wearing Hamas headbands were ubiquitous, standing near the stage for the ceremony -- carefully choreographed as for previous transfers of hostages during the truce.

Footage of the family's abduction, filmed and broadcast by Hamas during their attack, showed the mother and her sons Ariel, then four, and Kfir, just nine months old, being seized from their home near the Gaza border.

Yarden Bibas, the boys' father and Shiri's husband, was abducted separately that day and released from the Gaza Strip in a previous hostage-prisoner exchange on February 1.

'Day of grief'

The repatriation of their bodies is part of the first six-week phase of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza.

Netanyahu said Thursday would be "a very difficult day for the State of Israel -- a heartbreaking day, a day of grief".

Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.

Of the remaining 14 Gaza hostages eligible for release under phase one, Israel says eight are dead.

The Bibas family members became national symbols of the despair that has gripped the nation since the Hamas attack and hostage takings.

While their deaths are largely accepted as fact abroad after Hamas said an Israeli air strike killed them early in the war, Israel has never confirmed the claim and many remained unconvinced -- including the Bibas family.

Late on Wednesday, the Israeli campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it had been informed about the "heart-shattering" news of the deaths of the three Bibas family members.

The Bibas family said it would wait for a confirmation.

"Should we receive devastating news, it must come through the proper official channels after all identification procedures are completed," it said in a statement late Wednesday.

The national forensic medicine institute in Tel Aviv has mobilised 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported.

Single swap

Israel and Hamas announced a deal earlier this week for the return of the remains of eight hostages in two groups this week and next, as well as the release of the last six living Israeli captives on Saturday.

The hostages' forum named the six as Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.

The ceasefire in Gaza has held despite accusations of violations on both sides. It has also been under strain from US President Donald Trump's widely condemned plan to take control of rubble-strewn Gaza and relocate its population of more than two million Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the truce's second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during phase two.

He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.

Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during their attack. Prior to Thursday's handover, there were 70 hostages in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

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

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Man Who Filed Case Against KCR Killed, Wife Says He Was Offered Rs 10 Lakh

The family of a man who had moved court accusing former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of corruption in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, alleged he was threatened and offered Rs 10 lakh to settle the case, days before he was found murdered on Wednesday.

N Sarala, wife of N Rajalingamurthy, who was stabbed to death by unidentified people on the outskirts of his village in Jayshankar Bhupalpally district, alleged the followers of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) former MLA Gandra Venkatramana Reddy, who is close to KCR's son and party's working president KT Rama Rao, carried out the attack. 

"KTR's follower is Venkatramana Reddy. His follower is Haribabu. He got this done (murder). Around 10 days ago, my husband was threatened and offered Rs 10 lakh to withdraw the complaint in the corruption case against KCR," Sarala, who was a former Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) councillor before moving to the Congress, said. 

"Mr Reddy got my husband killed in the middle of the road because he filed a case in the Kaleshwaram case, fearing they may lose. I want justice. What will happen to my two children?" she added. 

Rajalingamurthy's murder, which took place a day before a high court hearing in the corruption case, has triggered a massive political row, with the ruling Congress blaming the BRS. Police, however, said the victim was targeted over some land disputes.

In October 2023, Rajalingamurthy filed a private complaint in the court, seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against KCR, who was then the Chief Minister, and others after some piers of the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram project "sank". He alleged irregularities in the construction of the project. 

KCR, along with his nephew and former minister T Harish Rao, subsequently approached the Telangana High Court, which in December last year suspended an order passed by the principal district sessions judge in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, allowing a petition against them.

An inquiry commission constituted by the current Congress government on the alleged irregularities is expected to submit its report next month. 

Mr Reddy, a former BRS MLA from Bhupalpally, dismissed the accusations against him. "Neither did I threaten nor did I offer Rs 10 lakh to anyone. The case is already in court. This is not going to change, whether Rajalingamurthy is alive or not. He was involved in land disputes. That is why he must have been targeted," he said. 

The BRS also ruled out any possible role of its party leaders in the murder. It said neither Ms Sarala's complaint nor the FIR has named KTR or Mr Reddy. 

Congress spokesperson Addanki Dayakar, however, alleged BRS' role in the murder. "There is a clear link. He (victim) was not just a complainant, he was also to give evidence about the irregularities in the Kaleshwaram case," he said. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/USdJbDc

Hamas Displays 4 Coffins On Stage Before Handover Of Israeli Hostages' Bodies

Hamas handed over coffins it said contain the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family who became symbols of the ordeal that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war began.

The transfer of the bodies is the first by Hamas since its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war, and is taking place under a fragile ceasefire that has seen living hostages exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The ceremony to return the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two young boys -- Kfir and Ariel -- and a fourth captive, Oded Lifshitz, 83 at the time of his capture, took place at a former cemetery in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

Ahead of the handover, Hamas displayed four black coffins on a stage erected on the sandy patch of ground. A banner behind them depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a blood-stained vampire. An armed militant stood nearby.

Each casket bore a small photo of each of the dead. White mock-up missiles placed near the coffins bore the inscription: "They were killed by USA bombs."

A militant, his face wrapped in a red and white keffiyeh scarf, sat on the stage to complete documents with a Red Cross official before the coffins were loaded into Red Cross vehicles, AFPTV images showed.

The Israeli military said later that "the hostages' bodies were handed over" to it and the Shin Bet internal security agency in Gaza.

Hundreds of people gathered to witness the ceremony. A fence had been erected to keep onlookers away from the immediate area where the handover to the Red Cross was to occur.

Armed men in military fatigues and wearing Hamas headbands were ubiquitous, standing near the stage for the ceremony -- carefully choreographed as for previous transfers of hostages during the truce.

Footage of the family's abduction, filmed and broadcast by Hamas during their attack, showed the mother and her sons Ariel, then four, and Kfir, just nine months old, being seized from their home near the Gaza border.

Yarden Bibas, the boys' father and Shiri's husband, was abducted separately that day and released from the Gaza Strip in a previous hostage-prisoner exchange on February 1.

'Day of grief'

The repatriation of their bodies is part of the first six-week phase of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza.

Netanyahu said Thursday would be "a very difficult day for the State of Israel -- a heartbreaking day, a day of grief".

Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.

Of the remaining 14 Gaza hostages eligible for release under phase one, Israel says eight are dead.

The Bibas family members became national symbols of the despair that has gripped the nation since the Hamas attack and hostage takings.

While their deaths are largely accepted as fact abroad after Hamas said an Israeli air strike killed them early in the war, Israel has never confirmed the claim and many remained unconvinced -- including the Bibas family.

Late on Wednesday, the Israeli campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it had been informed about the "heart-shattering" news of the deaths of the three Bibas family members.

The Bibas family said it would wait for a confirmation.

"Should we receive devastating news, it must come through the proper official channels after all identification procedures are completed," it said in a statement late Wednesday.

The national forensic medicine institute in Tel Aviv has mobilised 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported.

Single swap

Israel and Hamas announced a deal earlier this week for the return of the remains of eight hostages in two groups this week and next, as well as the release of the last six living Israeli captives on Saturday.

The hostages' forum named the six as Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.

The ceasefire in Gaza has held despite accusations of violations on both sides. It has also been under strain from US President Donald Trump's widely condemned plan to take control of rubble-strewn Gaza and relocate its population of more than two million Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the truce's second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during phase two.

He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.

Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during their attack. Prior to Thursday's handover, there were 70 hostages in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

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

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Man Who Filed Case Against KCR Killed, Wife Says He Was Offered Rs 10 Lakh

The family of a man who had moved court accusing former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of corruption in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, alleged he was threatened and offered Rs 10 lakh to settle the case, days before he was found murdered on Wednesday.

N Sarala, wife of N Rajalingamurthy, who was stabbed to death by unidentified people on the outskirts of his village in Jayshankar Bhupalpally district, alleged the followers of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) former MLA Gandra Venkatramana Reddy, who is close to KCR's son and party's working president KT Rama Rao, carried out the attack. 

"KTR's follower is Venkatramana Reddy. His follower is Haribabu. He got this done (murder). Around 10 days ago, my husband was threatened and offered Rs 10 lakh to withdraw the complaint in the corruption case against KCR," Sarala, who was a former Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) councillor before moving to the Congress, said. 

"Mr Reddy got my husband killed in the middle of the road because he filed a case in the Kaleshwaram case, fearing they may lose. I want justice. What will happen to my two children?" she added. 

Rajalingamurthy's murder, which took place a day before a high court hearing in the corruption case, has triggered a massive political row, with the ruling Congress blaming the BRS. Police, however, said the victim was targeted over some land disputes.

In October 2023, Rajalingamurthy filed a private complaint in the court, seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against KCR, who was then the Chief Minister, and others after some piers of the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram project "sank". He alleged irregularities in the construction of the project. 

KCR, along with his nephew and former minister T Harish Rao, subsequently approached the Telangana High Court, which in December last year suspended an order passed by the principal district sessions judge in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, allowing a petition against them.

An inquiry commission constituted by the current Congress government on the alleged irregularities is expected to submit its report next month. 

Mr Reddy, a former BRS MLA from Bhupalpally, dismissed the accusations against him. "Neither did I threaten nor did I offer Rs 10 lakh to anyone. The case is already in court. This is not going to change, whether Rajalingamurthy is alive or not. He was involved in land disputes. That is why he must have been targeted," he said. 

The BRS also ruled out any possible role of its party leaders in the murder. It said neither Ms Sarala's complaint nor the FIR has named KTR or Mr Reddy. 

Congress spokesperson Addanki Dayakar, however, alleged BRS' role in the murder. "There is a clear link. He (victim) was not just a complainant, he was also to give evidence about the irregularities in the Kaleshwaram case," he said. 

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"No One Is Excluding Ukraine": Putin Tells Zelensky Not To Be "Hysterical"

Vladimir Putin has reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv will most definitely be included in negotiations that will aim to end the three-year war in Ukraine. Speaking for the first time since the crucial Russia-US meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, President Putin described it as in important step towards finding a solution to the conflict.

Success, he said, would depend a great degree on raising the level of trust between Moscow and Washington - which he described as "below zero" due to the Biden administration. "In my opinion, we have taken a first step to resume work in a variety of areas that are of mutual interest," Putin said about the meeting of Russian and US diplomats.

"Without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States, it is impossible to resolve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis," he added.

Ukraine and the European Union has raised concerns about not being included in the talks between Russia and US, fearing an agreement between Moscow and Washington might ignore their vital security concerns. On this Mr Putin said Moscow has never rejected talks with either Kyiv or Europe - instead, it is them who have refused to speak with Moscow.

Reassuring Ukraine that Kyiv will not be left out of negotiations, President Putin said "If they (Ukraine) want, please, let these negotiations take place. And we will be ready to return to the table for negotiations."

"There is not need for a hysterical reaction. No one is excluding Ukraine," he added.

Praising Donald Trump, the Russian President said he appreciated his "restraint" amid "boorish behaviour" by US allies. He went on to say that he would be "happy to meet with Donald (Trump), but we are in such a situation that it is not enough to meet just to have tea or coffee, sit and talk about the future. We need to ensure that our teams prepare issues that are extremely important for both the United States and Russia, including - but not only - on the Ukrainian track, in order to reach solutions acceptable to both sides."

Speaking about Tuesday's meeting, to which he was not invited, President Zelensky said "Kyiv cannot recognise any agreements or things discussed about us without us." European leaders also met in Paris hours before the Russia-US meeting to discuss Washington's massive policy shift towards Moscow.

(Inputs from Reuters)
 

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Ganga Water At Kumbh's Sangam Unsafe On Another Parameter Too: Data

The Ganga water at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is currently unsafe for bathing as it exceeds the prescribed limit for biological oxygen demand (BOD), a key parameter to determine water quality, according to government data.

BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic material in a water body. A higher BOD level indicates more organic content in the water.

River water is considered fit for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams per litre.

The Central Pollution Control Board recently told the National Green Tribunal that several locations in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj do not conform to the primary water quality standards for bathing with respect to faecal coliform levels.

However, it said that the river water quality met the bathing criteria in terms of BOD after January 13 "due to freshwater intrusion at upstream locations." Government data shows that the river water at Sangam is currently exceeding the safe limit for BOD as well.

The BOD level at Sangam was 5.09 milligrams per litre at 5 am on February 16. It was recorded at 4.6 milligrams per litre at 5 pm on February 18 and 5.29 milligrams per litre at 8 am on February 19 (Wednesday).

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the BOD level at Sangam was 3.94 milligrams per litre on January 13 when the Maha Kumbh started.

It improved to 2.28 milligrams per litre on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and further dropped to 1 milligram per litre on January 15.

However, it rose to 4.08 milligrams per litre on January 24 and was recorded at 3.26 milligrams per litre on Mauni Amavasya (January 29). According to Uttar Pradesh government officials, 10,000 to 11,000 cusecs of water is being released into the Ganga to ensure it meets bathing standards.

The Maha Kumbh, which started on January 13, will conclude on February 26, Maha Shivaratri day. Over 54 crore people have taken a dip in the sacred waters of Triveni Sangam so far.

Mahakumbh Nagar is the world's largest temporary city, accommodating 50 lakh to 1 crore devotees at any given time.

These pilgrims generate at least 16 million litres of faecal waste and 240 million litres of greywater daily from activities like cooking, washing, and bathing.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh told reporters on Sunday that the rise in footfall is due to the government's success in improving river water quality and sanitation since the 2019 Ardh Kumbh.

"Before 2019, there would be no toilets at Kumbh. Officials would earmark an area with a red flag, provide tents, and open defecation used to take place.

"For the first time in 2019, we built 1.14 lakh individual toilets with Sintex (plastic) tanks underneath to collect wastewater and excreta. Desludging would be done every two-three days and the faecal sludge would be taken to open oxidation ponds far away. This time, we have constructed 1.5 lakh individual toilets and two faecal sludge treatment plants," he said.

A 200 km-long temporary drainage network has been set up to connect treatment facilities, Singh added.

"Sanitation is a big hallmark (of Kumbh arrangements), and those who have been to Kumbh previously can distinctly see the difference," he said.

Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People (SANDRP), said the state government has been highly irresponsible in claiming that no harm has come to people who have bathed in the river, despite the water being unfit for bathing.

"It is the government's moral duty to provide clean water for bathing. When the water is not safe, there is always a high risk of infection," he said.

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

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Woman Loses Rs 4.3 Crore, Becomes Homeless, Trying To Find Love Online

A woman based in Perth has been forced to live homeless after losing over Rs 4.3 crore ($780,000) in life savings to scammers while searching for love online. According to a report in news.com.au, Annette Ford, 57, is now couch-surfing in Western Australia and hoping to secure housing at an affordable retirement village as the scammers remain free.

Ms Ford joined the dating pool after her 33-year-long marriage ended in 2018 and her ex-husband moved on quickly. Looking to seek a love life of her own, she joined a dating site called "Plenty of Fish" where she started talking to a man named 'William'.

Over the course of several months, the stranger managed to win Ms Ford's trust before asking her for money. 'Wlliam' said he needed Rs 2,75,000 ($5000) as his wallet had been stolen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"He said he had been mugged outside the site he was working on (in Kuala Lumpur) and they took his wallet and his cards," said Ms Ford.

"The next thing I know he's in hospital and I'm being landed with a $5000 hospital payable to an Australian doctor. I (paid) that. Then there was a hotel bill, and he said he couldn't pay the workers on the site because he didn't have access to his cards."

The requests for money continued and by the time Ms Ford suspected she had been scammed, she was out of Rs 1.6 crore ($300,000), having drained her self-managed super fund. Despite reporting the case to the Australian Federal Police, Ms Ford did not hear anything back.

Also Read | British Woman Duped Of Rs 98 Lakh In Catfish Scam By Friend Of Two Decades

The second scam

Four years later, Ms Ford came across another scammer -- this time on Facebook who went by the name, 'Nelson'. The stranger told her that he lived in Amsterdam and had a friend in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who needed $2500 to help with an ongoing investigation.

Aware of the danger, she refused initially but the stranger told her to deposit money he sent to her into a Bitcoin ATM. Ms Ford said there was money going in and out of her account that she wasn't aware of and before she could realise it, her account was out of Rs 1.5 crore ($280,000).

Having lost everything, Ms Ford is now begging Australians to not fall prey to such scams. "They say all the right things, they sweep you off your feet but they're going to take your money and they're going to leave you broke," Ms Ford warned.

Last month, a British woman was swindled of Rs 98.5 lakh (£92,300) after a friend of two decades, ran a catfish scam against her.

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Jerry Seinfeld's "I Don't Care About Palestine" Comment Sparks Outrage

Actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld has received divisive responses after he said he does not care about Palestine when an activist ambushed him in public. In the video posted on social media, an influencer, known as Subway DJ, approached Mr Seinfeld outside the Radio City Music Hall where Saturday Night Live was hosting a 50th-anniversary celebration and asked for a photograph.

Mr Seinfeld readily agreed and even posed for the photograph before Subway DJ brought up the Gaza conflict. Instead of taking a photo, the influencer recorded a video and put up two fingers in a peace sign while saying: "Free Palestine."

Mr Seinfeld appeared uncomfortable in the footage but remained quiet. However, when asked to repeat the phrase, he shook his head and said: "I don't care about Palestine," before walking away from the activist.

"That's sad," Subway DJ said, frowning.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Subway DJ (@subwaydj)

Social media divided

As the video went viral, a section of social media users lambasted Mr Seinfeld for being insensitive while others called out the influencer.

"We don't care about Seinfeld or anyone who supports genocide," said one user, while another added: "The guy gives u a selfie and u pull some dumb move like that. Come on man."

A third commented: "As someone who loved Seinfeld, this is super disappointing."

Also Read | Elon Musk Ignores Ashley St Clair While Reacting To His Other Baby Mama's Post

Jerry Seinfeld supports Israel

Mr Seinfeld is Jewish and has been a staunch ally of Israel in its war against Hamas. He even visited Israel in December 2023 and met with the families of the hostages.

"We believe in justice, freedom, and equality. We survive and flourish no matter what. I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people," he said at the time.

Last year in May, dozens of students walked out of Duke University's commencement ceremony to protest against Mr Seinfeld who was invited as the guest speaker. The video showed students in robes and caps, some waving Palestinian flags, filing out as chants of 'Free Palestine' reverberated.

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50 Film Stars, Industrialists, Diplomats Invited For BJP's Delhi Oath Event

The new Chief Minister of Delhi will take oath at the iconic Ramlila Maidan on Thursday in a grand ceremony that will be attended by BJP leaders and ministers and all the allies. Sources said plans are in progress to make the party's return to power in the national capital after 26 years a truly memorable event. 

The ceremony will begin at 4.30 pm.

A colourful musical programme will be held on the stage of Ramlila Maidan before the swearing-in ceremony, in which Kailash Kher will also perform.

Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of 20 states will attend the mega event. Diplomats of major countries have also been invited. BJP leaders and workers from other states who campaigned in the Delhi elections are also expected to be present on the occasion.

More than 50 film stars and industrialists, will be present. Besides, Farmers of Delhi, beneficiaries of central government schemes including laadli sisters, and common people from Delhi will also be invited to the ceremony.

The spiritual leaders of the country will be represented by Baba Ramdev, Swami Chidananda, Baba Bageshwar Dhirendra Shastri and other religious figures. 

There, however, is no word on who is going to get the top job. Initially it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France and the US that had delayed a decision. But now, even two days after his return, there has been no announcement, ratcheting up the suspense. 

While Parvesh Verma -- the son of former Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma -- is seen as the front-runner in the race, sources said the list of probables has no less than 15 names that also include candidates for cabinet and the Assembly Speaker.

Nine names will be chosen, sources said, and Delhi will have eight ministers including the Chief Minister.

The 48 BJP MLAs are expected to meet on Wednesday to select their leader, who will succeed Aam Aadmi Party's Atishi. 

In the election held earlier this month, the BJP had scripted a massive comeback, winning 48 of the assembly's 70 seats and confining AAP to 22 -- down from 62.

The end to the 10-year rule of AAP came on the heels of massive corruption allegations against its leaders, including then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A number of its leaders, including Mr Kejriwal and his then deputy Manish Sisodia -- spent months in jail. 

Not just the alleged liquor policy scam, the "Sheesh Mahal" allegations against Mr Kejriwal - the Rs 33.6 crore revamp that that turned the official residence of the Chief Minister into an opulent bungalow suitable for the uber-rich - appeared to have taken the sheen off AAP that thrived on its governance records for the better part of the last decade.

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Man Arrested For Smuggling Rs 6 Crore Diamond Necklace At Delhi Airport

A man was arrested for smuggling a diamond necklace worth about rupees six crore at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, the customs department said today.

The arrested individual, an Indian male passenger, had arrived from Bangkok on Air India flight AI 356, according to officials.

The passenger was identified and stopped based on profiling by the Customs officers at IGI Airport after which the necklace studded with diamonds was discovered following a detailed examination of the man's baggage.

The necklace features a delicate chain adorned with oval and rectangular diamonds, leading to a striking pendant. The pendant is a square-shaped piece with a prominent yellow diamond at its center, surrounded by multiple layers of clear diamonds. 

Custom officers have filed a case of smuggling against the accused.

The recovered jewelry was assessed at a total value of Rs. 6,08,97,329/- (Rupees Six Crore Eight Lakh Ninety Seven Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Nine only).

The necklace was confiscated under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, which allows seizure of smuggled goods.

The man has been arrested and is now facing legal action as per the provisions of the Customs Act.

Further investigation is underway to uncover more details related to the smuggling attempt.

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Suits LA: Why It Took 6 Years To Make A Comeback With Gabriel Macht

Suits, the American drama series set in New York's fictional corporate law firm, enjoys a massive fandom. Especially its lead character Harvey Spectre played by Gabriel Macht has been an eternal favourite amongst the fans of the show.

However, now that the spin-off  titled Suits LA is premiering today, it leaves us with the question of why it took six years for the makers to come up with it.

As per a report on Screenrant, Suits gained a rising momentum when it was released on OTT platforms for streaming, in 2023. This was primarily the reason why Suits LA was initiated.

The craze around the show got stronger when Suits dropped on Netflix, beating Wednesday, which was one of the most trending shows at that time.

As per Hollywood Reporter, Suits also broke the viewership record of Steve Carell's The Office, which was set in 2020.

As for the spinoff Suits LA, it comes with an interesting cast featuring Stephen Amell in the role of Ted Black, as per TV Guide, Jost McDermitt as Stuart Lane, Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson, Lex Scott Davis as Erica Rollins, Troy Winbush as Kevin, and Alice Lee as Leah, these are all key roles in the upcoming series.

Everyone's favourite Harvey Spectre played by Gabriel Macht also makes a comeback for 3 episodes in the spin-off.
 

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Mumbai Indians Women vs Delhi Capitals Women Live Updates, WPL 2025

Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Live Updates: Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed a commanding fifty but failed to get support from her teammates as Delhi Capitals bowled out Mumbai Indians for 164 in their opening match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 in Vadodara. Sciver-Brunt was the standout performer, striking 13 fours in an unbeaten 80-run knock. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also played a key role, blasting 42 off 22 balls and completing 8,000 T20 runs. The pair shared a crucial 73-run partnership off 40 balls for the third wicket, laying a solid foundation. However, DC's bowlers struck back, taking eight wickets for 59 runs to dismiss MI for 164 in 19.1 overs. (Live Scorecard)

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Gautam Adani, His Wife Offer 'Chadar' At Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani, accompanied by his wife, Priti Adani, visited Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan.

They offered "makhmali chadar" and flowers at the revered shrine.

The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is considered to be among the holiest Muslim shrines in India and is also a famous landmark in Ajmer.

Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti, a Sufi saint from Persia, is enshrined here. In keeping with his secular teachings, its doors are open to people of all faiths and religions.

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Made of marble and gold plating, the actual tomb is guarded by a silver railing and a marble screen. During his reign, Emperor Akbar is known to have made a pilgrimage to Ajmer every year. He, as well as Emperor Shah Jahan, built mosques inside the shrine complex.

Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju had last month presented a sacred chadar on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the revered shrine of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti in Ajmer. The annual Urs commemorates the great Sufi saint, an event symbolizing harmony, spirituality, and devotion.

In conjunction with this solemn presentation, the Minister unveiled several initiatives to enhance the experience and convenience of pilgrims visiting the Dargah. The initiatives included release of the Operations Manual for Urs, the launch of the official Dargah Web Portal, and the introduction of the "Garib Nawaz" App.

The Operations Manual for Urs is a comprehensive guide designed to ensure the effective organization of the event, with detailed protocols for crowd management, security, healthcare, and sustainability.

The Dargah Web Portal and the "Garib Nawaz" App aim to modernize pilgrim services, providing online information about the Dargah, schedules of events, lodging facilities, and other conveniences. These platforms also facilitate transparency and accessibility, aligning with the Government of India's vision of Digital India.

"The Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is a unique occasion that brings people together, transcending boundaries of faith and culture. With these new initiatives, we strive to uphold the sanctity of the event while ensuring a seamless and enriched experience for the devotees," Rijiju said on the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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Mumbai Indians Women vs Delhi Capitals Women Live Updates, WPL 2025

Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Live Updates: Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed a commanding fifty but failed to get support from her teammates as Delhi Capitals bowled out Mumbai Indians for 164 in their opening match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 in Vadodara. Sciver-Brunt was the standout performer, striking 13 fours in an unbeaten 80-run knock. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also played a key role, blasting 42 off 22 balls and completing 8,000 T20 runs. The pair shared a crucial 73-run partnership off 40 balls for the third wicket, laying a solid foundation. However, DC's bowlers struck back, taking eight wickets for 59 runs to dismiss MI for 164 in 19.1 overs. (Live Scorecard)

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Mexico Threatens US With Legal Action If Cartels Declared Terror Group

Mexico's president on Friday warned US gunmakers they could face fresh legal action and be deemed accomplices if Washington designates Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.

"If they declare these criminal groups as terrorists, then we'll have to expand our US lawsuit," Claudia Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference.

A new charge could include alleged "complicity" of gunmakers with terror groups, she said.

Sheinbaum said the US Justice Department itself has recognized that "74 percent of the weapons" used by criminal groups in Mexico come from north of the border.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the US State Department plans to classify criminal groups from Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Venezuela as "terrorist organizations."

Mexico has already filed a lawsuit in the United States against US arms manufacturers and vendors, claiming $10 billion in damages for their alleged role in criminal violence in the country.

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum angrily rejected an accusation by the United States that her government has an alliance with drug cartels.

"We categorically reject the slander made by the White House against the Mexican government about alliances with criminal organizations," the president wrote on social platform X at the time.

"If there is such an alliance anywhere, it is in the US gun shops that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups," she added.

Tensions between the closely connected neighbors soared after the White House said Trump would slap tariffs of 25 percent on both Mexican and Canadian goods because of illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

The threatened tariffs have since been halted for 30 days.

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

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"How Can Chief Justice..." Veep's Big Remark On Separation Of Powers

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that the Chief Justice of the country shouldn't be involved in any executive appointment in a democracy like India. "How can in a country like ours or in any democracy, by statutory prescription, the Chief Justice of India participate in the selection of the CBI director? Can there be any legal rationale for it?" Mr Dhankhar wondered.

"I can appreciate that the Statutory prescription took shape because the executive of the day has yielded to a judicial verdict. But the time has come to revisit. This surely does not merge with democracy. How can we involve the Chief Justice of India with any executive appointment?" he added.

His statement has come at a time when a meeting is to be held for the selection of the next Chief Election Commissioner. The selection would be a first since the Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023, was passed.

The act came after a verdict by the Supreme Court in March 2023 which directed for a three-member panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice (CJI) to operate till Parliament enacted a law. The new law, however, excluded the CJI from the panel. Detractors say the new law amounts to excessive interference of the executive in the appointments and was detrimental to the independence of the poll panel.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar is set to retire on February 18 and the selection committee for appointing his successor is expected to meet possibly on Monday.

The committee - comprised of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, will deliberate on the appointment a day before the Supreme Court hears petitions against the new law.

Jagdeep Dhankhar,while speaking at the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal expressed his deep concern over the breach of the principle of separation of powers and said, "Executive governance by judicial decree is a Constitutional paradox, that the largest democracy on the planet cannot afford any longer. When institutions forget their bounds, democracy is remembered by the wounds this forgetfulness imparts."

He said that these institutions should operate within defined constitutional bounds while "maintaining cooperative dialogue, keeping national interest in mind".

"Executive governance reflecting the will of the people is constitutionally sanctified. Accountability is enforceable when executive roles are performed by an elected government. Governments are accountable to the legislature. And periodically accountable to the electorate. But if executive governance is arrogated or outsourced, the enforceability of accountability will not be there. Exclusively, governance lies with the government with utmost respect, any intervention from any source, in the country or outside, from legislature or judiciary, is antithetical to constitutionalism and certainly not in consonance as with fundamental premise of democracy", he added.

Recalling his stint as Parliamentary Affairs Minister in 1990, Mr Dhankhar said the Supreme Court then had eight judges.

"More often than not, all the eight judges sat together (on a bench hearing a case)....When the strength of the Supreme Court was eight judges, under Article 145(3), there was a stipulation that the interpretation of the Constitution will be by a bench of five judges or more," he said.

"Please note, when this strength was eight, it (size of constitutional bench) was five. And the Constitution allows the highest court of the land to interpret the Constitution," he added.

But under the guise of interpretation, there can be no "arrogation of authority", and the essence and spirit which the founding fathers had in mind under Article 145(3) must be respected, the vice president further said.

Article 145(3) of the Constitution of India states that at least five judges are required to sit on a case involving the interpretation of the Constitution.

Mr Dhankhar, speaking about Judicial review, said, "Parliament is supreme in lawmaking subject to judicial review. It's a good thing. The judicial review has to be on the anvil that the legislation is in conformity with the Constitution. But when it comes to making an amendment in the Indian Constitution, the ultimate repository, the ultimate power, the ultimate authority, and the last authority is only the Indian Parliament."

He said in this case there can't be any intervention from any quarter because the "will of the people is reflected in a representative manner on the most sanctified platform through elections."

Mr Dhankhar further said the judiciary's public presence must be through judgments as "other mode of expression other than through judgments avoidably undermines institutional dignity".

"When we look around the globe, we never find judges reflecting the way we see here on all issues," he added.

Stressing the importance of dialogue, the Vice President said that democracy gets "thinner" if the right to express is "compromised, or throttled, or diluted".

"One facet of expression is right to vote. But more important is to express your views, your point of view. You participate in governance, and administration, by having a voice of expression. And this expression is not standalone. This expression requires dialogue. Expression without dialogue means my way or no way. Dialogue is nothing but reflection, either approval of your expression or the other point of view," he said.

"A difference of opinion should not result in confrontation. A difference of opinion must ignite an urge in us to converse to find a common ground. And sometimes yielding is a better part of discretion," he added.

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