The first images sent back by the Euclid space telescope from its “dark universe” mission have been revealed. On Tuesday, November 7, astronomers hailed the powerful space telescope, which captured detailed colour images of the cosmos. The Euclid telescope’s initial release includes five space observations made from its orbital home, 1 million miles or 1.5 million km away from the Earth. Before unveiling the pictures Euclid project scientist René Laureijs said, “We have never seen astronomical images like this before, containing so much detail.”
“They are even more beautiful and sharp than we could have hoped for, showing us many previously unseen features in well-known areas of the nearby universe,” Laureijs added. Back in July, the European Space Agency first launched the Euclid telescope, calling it their “dark universe detective.” According to the ESA, Euclid will observe the shapes, distances, and motions of billions of galaxies spanning over 10 billion light-years over the next six years. This will lead to the creation of the largest cosmic 3D map ever made with the primary goal of observing dark matter and dark energy in the cosmos.
ESA’s director of science Carole Mundell said before revealing the high-quality pictures, “I’m absolutely delighted to say that is the point where we say that we have reached all of our engineering milestones for the mission and we’re now able to move into the science phase.” In a never-seen-before series of pictures, the striking Perseus Cluster and its 1,000 galaxies, along with its 100,000 additional distant galaxies in the background can be seen in an unfathomable detail. The space telescope also observed spiral galaxy IC 342 a.k.a “The Hidden Galaxy.”
Month: November 2023
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Euclid space telescope sends back first color images of cosmos from ‘dark universe’ mission
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Instagram to allow users to disable read receipts in DMs
Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Instagram is testing a new feature that will let users disable read receipts in DMs (Direct Messages), The Verge reported.
While Zuckerberg did not share any details on when the feature will be available to everyone, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared a screenshot of the upcoming read receipts toggle on his broadcast channel. A similar feature is already available on the Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, which lets users disable read receipts for reading messages privately. Also, Zuckerberg and Mosseri did not mention if that option will be coming to Messenger, which also forces users to use read receipts with no way to disable them. Meanwhile, Instagram is planning to come up with a Threads application programming interface. This will help developers to create different apps and experiences around Threads, TechCrunch reported. Source: ANI -
El Nino likely to last till April, push temperatures up globally: WMO
The ongoing El Niño event is expected to last at least until April 2024 contributing to further spike in global temperatures on land and the ocean, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned. The result could be a record warm year in 2024, close on the heels of 2023, which is set to be the warmest ever. For India, the impact could be a warm winter, more fog, and summer heat waves, an expert said.
“E Niño impacts on global temperature typically play out in the year after its development, in this case in 2024. But as a result of record high land and sea-surface temperatures since June, the year 2023 is now on track to be the warmest year on record. Next year may be even warmer. This is clearly and unequivocally due to the contribution of the increasing concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from human activities,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
As of mid-October 2023, sea surface temperatures and other atmospheric and oceanic indicators in the central-eastern tropical Pacific are consistent with El Niño, the warm phase of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the agency said. The El Niño developed rapidly during July-August, and reached moderate strength by September, 2023 and is likely to peak as a ‘strong; event in November – January 2024. There is a 90% likelihood it will persist throughout the upcoming northern hemisphere winter/southern hemisphere summer, WMO added. Based on historical patterns and current long-range predictions, it is expected that El Nino will gradually diminish around April.
El Niño occurs on average every two to seven years, and typically lasts nine to 12 months. It is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. HT reported on November 2 that ocean and land temperatures continued their record-breaking spree in October. Sea surface and land temperatures have been at record highs for seven and five months respectively, according to data maintained by University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer. October was the warmest on record, Europe’s climate monitor said.
The trend started in April, a result of an intensifying El Nino in addition to global warming. Copernicus Marine’s data said that as of 20 October, sea surface temperature anomalies reached peaks of +3 to +5°C at various locations in the Mediterranean Sea. September was the warmest September in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) 174-year global climate record, NOAA said in a statement on October 13. “Extreme events such as heatwaves, drought, wildfires, heavy rain and floods will be enhanced in some regions, with major impacts. That is why WMO is committed to the Early Warnings for All initiative to save lives and minimize economic losses,” said Taalas.
The previous warmest year on record was 2016 due to a “double whammy” of an exceptionally strong El Niño and climate change.
Since May 2023, monthly average sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific have warmed significantly, rising from about 0.5 °C above average in May, 2023) to around 1.5 °C above average in September, 2023. Source: HT -
Diwali health tips: Sugar alternatives to savour festive treats
Festive treats have long been synonymous with sweetness but this Dhanteras, Diwali or Bhai Dooj, it is time we redefine what that sweetness means. Discovering sugar alternatives like – wild honey, jaggery, gulkand, coconut sugar and date syrup is not just a culinary exploration; it’s a journey towards healthier celebrations and there’s no better time than this festive season to begin.
Jaggery: A timeless traditional favourite for Indian households and especially our dadis everywhere, jaggery is a natural sweetener that stands as an excellent alternative to white sugar. Packed with a multitude of micronutrients, it provides a healthier sweetness option, perfect for the festive season. It also blends in seamlessly with homemade Indian sweets such as ‘gulab jamun,’ ‘laddoos,’ ‘rasogulla’, ‘sandesh’ and ‘payasam, pretty much every Indian sweet really.
Dates: These dried fruits not only introduce a rich, natural sweetness to your dishes but also offer a substantial source of iron and various other essential micronutrients. Dates can be finely chopped and used as a sweetener in your desserts. They can also be the star ingredient in date and nut laddoos, another great option would be to mix in dates with almonds, cashews, pistachios or blend in shakes as well. Dates can also be stuffed with nuts or coconut for an exotic sweet dish, this is also a quick, easy and healthy dessert to top off a festive meal.
Fresh Fruits: Fruits like Bananas: Including fresh fruits like bananas in your festive treats brings a double benefit. They contribute a natural sweetness while also delivering a significant dose of fiber, potassium, and prebiotic properties. This adds a healthy touch to your celebratory spread. Banana slices can be added to sweet rice dishes, they can be blended into a creamy smoothie or shakes, or even a delicious banana-based halwa. Another quick recipe would be banana chips which are made by cutting raw banana into thin wafer strips and frying them.
Raisins, dried grapes, are a delightful and guilt-free way to enhance the flavour of your gluten-free creations. Raisins in every bite would bring forth an exquisite fusion of flavours that harmonise seamlessly with ingredients like pistachios, honey, almonds, cashews, and mixed seeds. Dark chocolate infused with raisins is high in micronutrients and anti-oxidants, with a low glycaemic index.
Source: HT -
Record 7.5 million people globally diagnosed with TB in 2022: WHO
7.5 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in 2022, the highest recorded since World Health Organization (WHO) began global TB monitoring in 1995, according to a report featuring data from 192 countries and areas. The WHO 2023 Global Tuberculosis Report also shows that globally, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2022 from 10.3 million in 2021. The report underscores a significant worldwide recovery in the scale-up of TB diagnosis and treatment services in 2022. It shows an encouraging trend to reverse the detrimental effects of COVID- 19 on TB services. The increase in diagnosis is attributed to good recovery in access to and provision of health services in many countries, WHO said.
India, Indonesia and the Philippines, which together accounted for over 60 per cent of the global reductions in the number of people newly diagnosed with TB in 2020 and 2021, all recovered to beyond 2019 levels in 2022, it said.
“For millennia, our ancestors suffered and died with TB, without knowing what it was, what caused it, or how to stop it,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General in a statement.
“Today, we have knowledge and tools they could only have dreamed of. We have political commitment, and we have an opportunity that no generation in the history of humanity has had, the opportunity to write the final chapter in the story of TB,” Ghebreyesus said.
Geographically, in 2022, most people who developed TB were in the WHO Regions of South-East Asia (46 per cent), Africa (23 per cent), and the Western Pacific (18 per cent), with smaller proportions in the Eastern Mediterranean (8.1 per cent), the Americas (3.1 per cent), and Europe (2.2 per cent).
The total number of TB-related deaths (including those among people with HIV) was 1.3 million in 2022, down from 14 million in 2021, according to the report.
However, during the 2020-2022 period, COVID-19 disruptions resulted in nearly half a million more deaths from TB. It continues to be the leading killer among people with HIV, it said. Source: PTI -
Britain’s health service rolls out breast cancer prevention pill
Thousands of women at increased risk of breast cancer are set to benefit from a risk-reducing drug to be offered by Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) after it was licensed for use to help prevent the disease, the state-funded health service has announced.
Anastrozole, which has been used for many years as a breast cancer treatment, has today been licensed by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a preventive option which it is hoped could help prevent thousands of breast cancer cases in England. The drug, which is off-patent, has been shown in trials to reduce the incidence of the disease in post-menopausal women at increased risk of the disease by almost 50 per cent. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, so I’m delighted that another effective drug to help prevent this cruel disease has now been approved,” said UK Health Minister Will Quince.
“We’ve already seen the positive effect Anastrozole can have in treating the disease when it has been detected in postmenopausal women and now we can use it to stop it developing at all in some women. This is a great example of NHS England’s innovative Medicines Repurposing Programme supporting the development of new ways for NHS patients to benefit from existing treatments,” he said.
Around 289,000 women at moderate or high risk of breast cancer could be eligible for the drug, and while not all will choose to take it, it is estimated that if 25 per cent do, around 2,000 cases of breast cancer could potentially be prevented in England, while saving the NHS around GBP 15 million in treatment costs.
“This is the first drug to be repurposed though a world-leading new programme to help us realise the full potential of existing medicines in new uses to save and improve more lives on the NHS. Thanks to this initiative, we hope that greater access to anastrozole could enable more women to take risk-reducing steps if they’d like to, helping them live without fear of breast cancer,” said NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard.
The treatment is taken as a 1mg tablet, once a day for five years. Anastrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, which works by cutting down the amount of the hormone oestrogen that a patient’s body makes by blocking an enzyme called “aromatase”.
The most common side effects of the medicine are hot flushes, feeling weak, pain/stiffness in the joints, arthritis, skin rash, nausea, headache, osteoporosis, and depression. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
“The extension of anastrozole’s licence to cover it being used as a risk-reducing treatment is a major step forward that will enable more eligible women with a significant family history of breast cancer, to reduce their chance of developing the disease,” said Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at the Breast Cancer Now charity. Source: PTI -
Beauty routine for a flawless skin
Who doesn’t like the idea of clear, soft and glowing skin? In the quest for good skin, we women have done everything from buying expensive products to parlour sessions. But, are you treating your skin right? Here are 6 tips that you must follow to get that good skin:
Morning water
Forget your morning cup of tea or coffee, the first thing you need to do is drink water. When we wake up, our body is dehydrated and that’s why you should drink water first.
Double Cleansing
Korean women known for their flawless skin swear by this technique. Double Cleansing is a way of cleansing your face twice. First, it is advised to clean your face using an oil cleanser sans water. Next, wash it off with a warm cloth, this helps to remove all the grime and make-up. The second step involves using a regular cleanser to remove all the dirt and sweat.
Use a toner
If you’re skipping the toner, then you’re missing a big skincare step. Toners help to maintain the pH level of the skin and even shrink the pores. You should stay away from alcohol-based toner and look for natural ingredients. You can also use gulab jal (rose water) as a toner.
Always moisturise
The key to healthy skin is moisturising. Even if you have an oily skin texture, you must moisturise using a gel-based cream. By keeping your skin hydrated, you will fight away the signs of ageing.
Use a serum
Growing up comes with a lot of responsibilities and skin issues. That’s one of the reasons, you should invest in a specific serum for your skin issues. Be it dark spots, dry skin or pigmentation, a specific serum at night will give your skin all the pampering it needs.
Don’t forget to scrub
With time our skin tends to get dull. That’s why you must maintain your skin by weekly sessions. Depending on your skin type, you can exfoliate 2-3 times a week. This will buff away the dead skin cells and give your skin that extra glow. Never exfoliate your skin at night, as this can make your skin extra prone to tanning the next day. -
Ways to get rid of smelly armpits
Body odor is normal, but smelly armpits can sometimes get out of hands. Even regular baths, good amount of perfumes can’t seem to solve this issue. We all know that that the underarm odour can be embarrassing. To solve this discomforting issue, we have listed 6 ways you can get rid of smelly armpits.
Anti-bacteria body wash
It’s the bacteria that smells and not the perspiration. Look for body washes with Benzoyl Peroxide, which can help to reduce bacteria and prevent the body odour.
Apple cider vinegar
You can also apply some apple cider vinegar to fight off the bacteria. It will help to reduce the odour by balancing the pH level of the skin. Don’t worry about the smell of apple cider vinegar, as it fades out when dry. Avoid this hack on days you have recently shaved or waxed.
Always dry before applying anything
Not drying properly before applying antiperspirant or deodorant can also trigger the bad odour. Make sure you dry yourself properly before applying the stick.
Try a different brand
A lot of times, a specific deodorant or antiperspirant doesn’t blend with our skin. If you feel that your stick or spray is not making the cut, then you must change your brand or product. Sometimes the chemistry of your skin and fragrance doesn’t work and makes you smell bad instead. -
Mutton Kofta
Ingredients
500 gm minced mutton, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, 2 pinches asafoetida, 6 tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon gram flour (besan), 1 cup water, 4 clove, 1 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder, 3 teaspoon aniseed, 3 tablespoon yoghurt (curd), 3 crushed black cardamom, 3 pinches salt, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 2 bay leaf
Method
– For preparing this yummy mutton recipe, take a large bowl and add minced mutton in it along with the spices – red chilli powder, ginger powder (1/4 teaspoon), aniseed powder (1 teaspoon), asafoetida (1 pinch), yoghurt (1 tablespoon), oil (2 tablespoons), black cardamom seeds, gram flour or besan and half of the salt. Knead well with your hand till the spices are well blended and the mixture starts to grease your hands.
– Make 15 equal portions of the mixture. On a flat greased surface, roll each portion gently into round ball. Put these aside.
– Next, put a kadhai on medium flame and heat 4 tablespoons of oil in it. On the other hand, mix red chilli powder and yoghurt together and make a paste of it. When the oil is hot enough, add the yoghurt paste and stir briskly. When the oil separates, add the water and stir again.
– Add the remaining ginger powder, aniseed powder and garam masala powder, asafoetida, cloves, bay leaves, black cardamom skins and the remaining salt into the pan. Cook till the gravy comes to a boil.
– Carefully slide in the koftas, one at a time and cook on high flame till the gravy starts to thicken. Lower the flame and cook, stirring gently till the oil separates. When the mutton kofta is cooked completely, serve it hot with rice or butter naan. -
Bharuchi Dal
Ingredients
250 gm urad dal, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 2 medium tomato, 2 medium onion, 1/2 tablespoon dried ginger powder, 1/2 tablespoon chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder, salt as required, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
Method
– Take a chopping board and chop one onion in cubes and chop tomatoes. Cut the other onion into thin slices.
– ow take a pressure cooker and add cleaned dal and cubed onions into it. Cook until the dal and onions become soft and tender.
– Now, put a saucepan on medium flame and add ghee in it. When the ghee is hot enough, add the sliced onion pieces into it and saute until light brown. Next add all the spices: green cardamom, cinnamon, jeera, cloves, mace powder, and fry until the jeera turns a little brown and the essence starts coming. Once the spices leave their aroma, add the fresh methi leaves in the pan.
– Then add the chopped tomatoes in the saucepan along with turmeric, chilli powder, red chilli powder, dried ginger powder along with garlic powder. Let the tomato absorb all the spices and saute for a minute or two until the oil begins to separate.
– Now add the dal and onions mixture into the pan and mix well. Cover with a lid and let them cook for about 7-8 minutes. Once the dal is cooked, stir nicely and add the garam masala and salt as required.
– You can serve this delicious dal with hot chapati or steamed rice. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves. -
Sanya Malhotra-starrer ‘Mrs’ selected for Critics’ Pick Competition
Actress Sanya Malhotra’s upcoming film Mrs. has been selected for the 27th edition of POFF — the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film also stars Nishant Dahiya and Kanwaljit Singh in key roles. Additionally, the film has also secured a spot in the esteemed Critics’ Pick Competition category at the festival.
The festival is currently being held in Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn. Mrs. has been directed by Arati Kadav, who is known for films like Cargo and The Astronaut and His Parrot.
The film presents an empowering narrative taking audiences on Richa’s (Sanya Malhotra) journey, as she embarks on a pursuit to discover her identity while navigating the demands of the kitchen and the household.
About the film, Sanya Malhotra said, “I am overjoyed to share the news of Mrs. being selected for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This film is very close to my heart, as it is a reminder that women have the strength to shatter the chains of patriarchal norms. My character’s determination as an aspiring dancer in the face of patriarchal expectations reflects the resilience of women.”
She added, “Working with Arati Kadav (the director) was an incredible experience, her vision and direction brought this story to life in a powerful way. I hope this film sparks important conversations and resonates with audiences as we present it on such a prestigious platform.”
Presented by Jio Studios in association with Baweja Studios, the films has been produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Pammi Baweja and Harman Baweja.
Source: IANS -
Mean Girls trailer out: Regina George and The Plastics return with new twists
The highly-anticipated Mean Girls trailer brings back The Plastics and the Burn Book but with a brand new twist. On Wednesday, November 8, Paramount Pictures dropped the first look into their new Mean Girls story reintroducing Regina George, the undisputed leader and Queen Bee of the mean trio famously labeled The Plastics in school. The upcoming film is an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical based originally on Tina Fey’s 2004 teen comedy. Actress and singer Renee Rapp reprises her role as Regina George from the Broadway show, while Angourie Rice plays the new student Cady Heron this time.
The trailer begins with a fierce disclaimer, “This isn’t your mother’s ‘Mean Girls,’” as Cady manoeuvres through the halls and classrooms of her high school steering clear of the infamous cliquey group of girls. But things take a sudden turn when Cady falls for Aaron Samuels, played by Christopher Briney of The Summer I Turned Pretty fame. Aaron happens to be Queen Bee Regina’s ex-boyfriend and his equation with Cady seems awkward, fresh, and heart-fluttering all at the same time. Cady attempts to get along with the cliques of her new school but to no avail.
A hilarious scene of her eating lunch alone in the bathroom shows her desperate attempt to get away from the high school drama. “We’re concerned you’re either doing drugs or having a toilet baby,” says Damian (Played by Jaquel Spivey), who is an outcast like Janis (Played by Auli’i Carvalho). Cady, Damian, and Janis soon become friends. The trio is developing plans to help Cady become a member of The Plastics, which includes an insecure Gretchen (Played by Bebe Wood) and sweet yet dimwitted Karen (Played by Avantika Vandanapu).
With Olivia Rodrigo’s Get Him Back playing in the background, one of the highlights became the iconic Halloween scene from the original film. Cady’s scary look frightens The Plastics, who begin to school her about sluttish Halloween looks. Cady’s plan was first to become a member of the Plastics but towards the end, she is seen taking desperate measures to take Regina down. The trailer takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride of laughter with hilarious scenes of cliche high school kisses and sex education sessions preaching about abstinence and protection. In brevity, the new Mean Girls aptly retains the essence of its original version by introducing a new generation almost 20 years after the movie hit the theaters. The Paramount Pictures’ revised tale is scheduled to be released in January 2024. Source: News18 -
Sharon Stone accuses former Sony executive of sexual harassment
Actress Sharon Stone has claimed that a former head of Sony exposed himself to her during a meeting in the 1980s.
Stone did not name the executive, but she said the encounter was “not the last of many weird experiences” throughout her long career. Sony Pictures did not immediately return a request for comment from the BBC.
The Oscar-nominated 65-year-old talked about the incident during a podcast with US talk show host Kelly Ripa.
She says she was called to the office of the former “head of Sony” for a meeting when she first moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s. Stone claims the executive told her: “It’s true what they say about you and you’re the most gorgeous. We haven’t seen anyone like you in decades. Everybody’s talking about you, and look at you. You’re the most articulate. You’re so smart and beautiful – and that hair”.
“Then he went, came walking right up in front of me, and he said, ‘But first,’ and he took his penis right out in my face,” she said. Source: BBC -
Megan Fox reveals ‘horrific’ experiences with ‘very famous people’
Megan Fox has opened up about her past abusive relationships with some very famous people that she has kept secret. ‘Jennifer’s Body’ actress has written a book of poetry called Pretty Boys Are Poisonous, where she explores themes of abuse and toxicity in her relationships.
She spoke to Good Morning America on Tuesday and said that she had been in at least one physically abusive relationship and several psychologically abusive ones in her life.
“I have only been publicly connected to a few people, but I shared energy with, I guess we could say, who were horrific people. And also very famous — very famous — people,” Fox said.
“But no one knows that I was involved with those people.”
Fox is engaged to musician Machine Gun Kelly, and has three children with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green.
She told GMA that her fiancé encouraged her to write a poetry book. She also said that she did not publish some of the poems she wrote because they were too revealing for a known person.
“Some of it is too much when you’re a known person,” she said. “If I had the freedom of just being a poet and people not really wanting to dig too much into my personal life, I would have included more entries like that.”
One of the poems in Pretty Boys Are Poisonous, titled “oxycodone and tequila”, describes a scene of domestic violence. She writes about being hit, spit on and choked by a man who is “delusional and possessed”.
She writes, “you hit me / again / and again / i recognize the familiar taste of blood on my tongue.” She also writes about being covered in scratches and bite marks, and being trapped by the man who falls asleep on top of her. “you fall asleep on top of me so that i can’t call my family or the police,” she writes.
Fox, who also writes about having a miscarriage in the book, said that some of her poetry is literal and some is allegorical, but “all of it is something women can relate to.”
She said that relationships are not pretty, but are complicated and sometimes a war. She said that through a wound, there is a chance to grow and become stronger and more whole.
She announced the book in August and said: “I’ve spent my entire life keeping the secrets of men, my body aches from carrying the weight of their sins.” Source: HT -
Kareena Kapoor back in blazing new avatar as Avni Bajirao in ‘Singham 3’
Bollywood star Kareen Kapoor is now back with fire as she will be making her return as Avni Bajirao in superstar Ajay Devgn’s upcoming ‘Singham 3′. Superstar Akshay Kumar also revealed the poster and wrote: “Avni Bajirao Singham returns…mess at your own risk!”
Revealing the poster of her character, director Rohit Shetty wrote: “Meet the strength behind Singham…Avni Bajirao Singham…”
He added: “We first worked together in 2007…3 blockbuster films till now. ‘Golmaal Returns, ‘Golmaal 3′, ‘Singham returns… And now we are working on our fourth project…’Singham Again’. 16 year long association. Nothing has changed, Bebo is still the same, simple, sweet, and hardworking.” In ‘Singham Returns’, Kareena played the character who was Bajirao Singham’s love interest and in ‘Singham 3′ she will now be playing his wife as the movie takes place 10 years after the previous film. A powerful woman in her own right, Kareena’s poster sees her in a bright flaming light with shades of dark, as her character is blazing with collected confidence. -
Ananya Panday confirms relationship with Aditya Roy Kapur
Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur have been reportedly dating for quite some time now but the two refraoned from acknowledging their relationship publicly till now. However, on the latest episode of Koffee with Karan, which hosted Ananya and Sara Ali Khan, Karan Johar asked her about her relationship status. Even though Ananya did not declare her relationship explicitly, she dropped enough hints for everyone to put the pieces together. When Karan asked if Ananya had been “Gumraah in love” (Gumraah was Aditya’s last theatrical release), Ananya responded by saying, “Aashiqui aise hi hoti hai (such is love).” Aashiqui 2 was the film that shot Aditya to stardom. Karan further prodded and encouraged her to answer by saying that denying a relationship was quite passe. The Liger actor then shared, “Some things are private and special and it should be kept that way but I really want to talk about my professional life because no one’s talking about it.” When Karan pushed to get an answer again, Ananya said that they were friends. And to the Karan Johar line “pyaar dosti hai“, she said, “We’re best friends.”
Later in the episode, when Sara was asked about the one thing Ananya has that she doesn’t, the Atrangi Re actor said, “A Night Manager” referring to Aditya’s hit web series The Night Manager. During Ananya’s last appearance on Koffee with Karan, the host had hinted that there was something brewing between the two actors. Back then too, Ananya did not open up about their relationship. The two have been spotted around the city at various events. They were also photographed by fans during their vacation in Europe. Ananya was last seen in the film Dream Girl 2, alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. She is now looking forward to her debut OTT release Call Me Bae and her film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, which also stars Adarsh Gourav and Siddhant Chaturvedi.
Source: The Indian Express -
UGC notifies regulations for foreign universities to set up campuses in India
New Delhi (TIP)- The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday notified the regulations for foreign universities to set up and operate their campuses in India with complete autonomy to decide their admission process and fee structure. The draft of the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023 was released by the commission in January this year.
The guidelines have been prepared in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that has envisioned that top universities in the world will be facilitated to operate in India.
UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said, “The regulations aim to facilitate the entry of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) into India…and to provide an international dimension to higher education in India.” “These regulations aim to ensure that the education imparted in the (India) campus is at par with that of the main campus in the country of origin and that its operations comply with the applicable laws and regulations,” he said.
According to the regulations, “Foreign institutions intending to establish campuses in India should have secured a position within the top 500 in the overall category of global rankings, as decided by the commission from time to time, or should have secured a position within the top 500 in the subject-wise category of global rankings and should possess outstanding expertise in a particular area….”
In case an FHEI desires to receive or utilise foreign contributions, it will have to obtain registration or prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and comply with legal requirement under the FCRA, the UGC stated. In their Indian campuses, foreign universities will be allowed to offer study programmes leading to the award of certificates, diplomas, degrees, research and other programmes at the undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels. -
MP polls: ‘53% Congress, 28% BJP candidates have criminal cases against them’
New Delhi (TIP)- Despite serious concerns and Supreme Court directives, political parties continue to field candidates with criminal cases with impunity in elections across the country. In Madhya Pradesh, which goes to polls on November 17, as high as 53 per cent of Congress candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their poll affidavits, while 28 per cent of BJP candidates have declared such cases against themselves.
Significantly, 27 per cent of Congress and 10 per cent of BJP candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, a joint analysis of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Madhya Pradesh Election Watch (MPEW), shows.
Also, the major parties have taken care to field wealthy candidates, highlighting the role of money power in the crucial polls. Among the major parties, 200 (87 per cent) of 230 candidates analysed from BJP and 196 (85 per cent) of 230 candidates analysed from Congress have assets over Rs 1 crore (crorepatis). Similarly, 39 (59 per cent) of 66 candidates analysed from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and 54 (30 per cent) of 181 candidates analysed from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have declared assets valued at more than Rs 1 crore.
Of the total 2,534 candidates analysed, 727 (29 per cent) are crorepatis. In 2018 polls, of the 2,716 candidates, 656 (24 per cent) were crorepatis.
The ADR and MPEW have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 2,534 candidates, who are contesting in the Madhya Pradesh 2023 Assembly Elections. Of the 2,534 candidates analysed, 711 are from national parties, 103 are from state parties, 553 are from registered unrecognised parties and 1,167 candidates are contesting independently.
Overall, of the 2,534 candidates analysed, 472 (19 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, which is higher than in 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections, when 464 (17 per cent) of 2,716 candidates analysed had declared criminal cases against themselves.
In all, 291 (11 per cent) of all candidates have declared serious criminal cases, which is the same as in 2018 elections percentage wise. Among other parties, 18 (27 per cent) of 66 candidates from AAP and 16 (9 per cent) of 181 candidates analysed from BSP have declared serious criminal cases.
Source: The Week -
Need benches for quick trial against MPs and MLAs, says Supreme Court
Kolkata (TIP)- Saying that criminal cases pending against members of Parliament and State Legislatures “have a direct bearing on our political democracy”, the Supreme Court on Thursday, Nov 9, asked High Courts to set up special benches to monitor trials in over 5,000 such cases for their speedy disposal.
Issuing a slew of directions to HCs and trial courts for fast-tracking cases against MPs and MLAs, a three-Judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said criminal cases “punishable with death or life imprisonment” should be given priority, followed by “cases punishable with imprisonment for five years or more, and then…other cases”.
The bench, which included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the trial should not be adjourned, “except for rare and compelling reasons”.
The SC noted that “as many as 5,175 subject cases (were) pending” against MPs and MLAs “as of November, 2022”. “Of these, cases that are pending for more than five years are as many as 2,116, which is more than 40% of such pendencies,” it said.
The SC was hearing a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
“There is a compelling need to make every effort to ensure that these cases are taken up on priority and decided expeditiously. Confidence and trust of the constituency in their political representative, be it an MP or MLA, is necessary for an interactive, efficient and effective functioning of a parliamentary democracy. However, such confidence is difficult to expect when figures, as indicated in the above referred table, loom large in our polity,” the court said.
“In fact, there are no two views about the compelling need to take up and dispose of the subject cases expeditiously. We have no doubt in our mind that even the political representative, be it MP or MLA, involved in the prosecution would also seek a quick disposal of these cases,” it said.
Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria, amicus curiae in the case, said he was hopeful that fewer persons with criminal records would enter Parliament after the court’s order. “I really hope so,” the CJI responded.
Pointing to “multiple factors” which “influence the early disposal” of cases, the SC said “this, coupled with their dissimilarity from state to state, makes it difficult… to form a uniform or standard guideline for trial courts… to dispose of these cases”.
“We deem it appropriate to leave it to the HC to evolve such methods or apply such a measure that they deem expedient for effective monitoring,” the SC said.
In its directions, the SC asked the HC Chief Justices to register a suo motu case with the title, “In Re designated courts for MPs, MLAs”, and said the case “may be heard by the Chief Justice, or a bench assigned by him”.
“The special bench hearing the suo motu case may list the matter at regular intervals as felt necessary. The HC may issue such orders or directions as necessary for expeditious and effective disposal of the subject cases. The special bench may consider calling upon the advocate general or the public prosecutor to assist the court,” it said.
The HCs “may require the principal district and sessions judge to bear the responsibility of allocating the subject cases to such court or courts as is considered appropriate and effective” and “may call upon the principal district and sessions judge to send the report at such intervals as it considers expedient,” it said. Source: The Indian Express -
Bihar House okays Bill to hike caste quota to 65%
Patna (TIP)- Seventy-five percent of government jobs and education seats in Bihar shall be reserved for people from marginalised castes and economically weaker sections, the state’s legislative assembly decided on Thursday (November 9). Legislators passed Bills increasing the extent of caste-based reservation from 50% to 65% through voice vote on, PTI reported. Added to the 65% caste-based reservation, the EWS quota takes the total reservation in the state to 75%. Reservation increased by the following amounts: from 12% to 15% for other backward classes (OBCs), from 18% to 25% for extremely backward classes (EBCs), from 16% to 20% for Scheduled Castes and from 1% to 2% for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Outside of the caste-based quotas, the remaining 10% of reservation, which is for people from the economically weaker sections of society, is in effect under the provisions of a separate legislation, the state government said according to the Indian Express.
The Bihar assembly’s latest decision comes a little over a month after the state government released the results of a socio-economic caste survey it conducted in two phases starting in January this year. According to data from the survey, OBCs and EBCs make up 27.13% and 36.01% of Bihar’s population, respectively.
SCs constitute 19.65% of Bihar residents and STs 1.68%.
General or ‘upper’ caste groups are 15.52% of the population.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar said that his government will find more ways to use the survey’s results, PTI reported. “I will be glad if the [Union government] too agrees to a caste census and [hikes] reservations across the country,” Kumar added, according to the news agency.
The BJP’s Bihar unit extended its support for the increase in legislation, the Hindustan Times reported. However, unit chief Sushil Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have alleged discrepancies in the survey data.
Kumar has responded by saying, “Those who say their caste numbers have come down or some castes have inflated figures are talking trash. This is the first caste survey after 1931. How do they know their numbers without any study?” The state government’s survey also sought to measure the socio-economic conditions of Bihar’s population. It found that about 94 lakh families – or 34.13% of the total 2.76 crore families in Bihar – are economically poor and earn less than Rs 6,000 a month.
Kumar announced a slew of welfare benefits for poor families in the state after tabling the survey’s result in the Bihar assembly on Tuesday (November 7). The reservation legislation passed on Thursday will become law after obtaining assent from the state’s governor Rajendra Arlekar.
The percentage of quotas does exceed the 50% ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court in its 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement. Some states, such as Tamil Nadu in the south and most states in the north-east, have reservations that cross the apex court’s 50% ceiling. But in other cases, such as that of Maharashtra, attempts to cross the halfway mark have been struck down by the judiciary.
The Congress party, which is a member of the INDIA opposition alliance that Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) likewise belongs to, is also a proponent of caste surveys and has promised to legislate the 50% ceiling away if elected to power in the 2024 general election. -
Winter session of Parliament from December 4
The winter session of Parliament will begin on December 4 and continue till December 22 with 15 sittings, the government said on Thursday, Nov 9. “…Amid Amrit Kaal, looking forward to discussions on legislative business and other items during the session,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on X.
It is likely to be the last full-fledged session of the 17th Lok Sabha as the General Election is scheduled to be announced in March 2024. The government will present the interim Budget during a curtailed Budget session of Parliament in February 2024.
The government is likely to seek Parliament’s approval on a Bill for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners during the winter session. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill-2023 was listed during the special session of Parliament in September. However it could not come up for consideration. It was introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the monsoon session in August, and is awaiting passage in the Upper House before it is sent to the Lower House for consideration and passing. -
Appeal filed against death penalty to 8 Navy veterans by Qatar court: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that an appeal has been filed in the case involving eight retired Navy personnel, who were sentenced to death by a Qatar court last month. Sources pointed to the likelihood of the matter being heard by a higher court before the end of the month. Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Qatar’s court passed a judgment on October 26 in the case involving eight employees of Al Dara company.” He could not give additional details because “the judgment is confidential and has only been shared with the legal team”. “They are now pursuing further legal steps and an appeal has already been filed. We will also remain engaged with the Qatari authorities in this matter,” he said. Bagchi also urged everyone to refrain from “engaging in speculation” due to the sensitive nature of the case. “The government is actively keeping tabs on the case and diplomats at the Indian Embassy in Doha again met the detainees on November 7. We are in touch with their family members too,” he said. The eight former Indian Navy personnel, employees of a Doha-based company, were arrested in August 2022 for alleged espionage and sentenced to death last month. Source: TNS
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CBI a separate entity, have no control over it, govt tells SC
Patna (TIP)- Underlining that the CBI is an “independent legal person” with a “separate legal identity outside the Union of India”, the Centre on Thursday, Nov 9, questioned the logic of the West Bengal government filing an original suit against it to stop the agency from probing cases in the state after the general consent was withdrawn.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told a Supreme Court bench of Justices B R Gavai and Aravind Kumar that the independent existence of the CBI “is in fact a product of the judgments of” the apex court, “wherein the CBI was vested with a separate legal and functional identity”. The Centre said that while the CBI is the real party against which the state sought relief, it had not made the agency a party and had instead roped in the union government, as an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution can be filed only in cases of disputes between the Centre and states. Mehta contended that as such, the suit was not maintainable.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who appeared for West Bengal, said the suit “has nothing to do with the CBI, which” he said “is only a repository of that power”.
“It is one thing to say that the CBI’s superintendence is with the CVC. But it’s quite a different thing to say that the CBI has nothing to do with union government. Of course it does, it was created by the government’s notification.” Sibal said. -
India likely to get electric air taxis by 2026
InterGlobe Enterprises, which backs India’s top airline IndiGo, and U.S.-based Archer Aviation will launch an all-electric air taxi service in India in 2026 that will be “cost-competitive” with on-road services, the companies said Thursday, Nov 9.The partnership, should they get regulatory clearances, aims to capitalise on a growing need for transport solutions in the world’s most populous country that is battling severe ground travel congestion and pollution in its main cities.
Archer Aviation, backed by the likes of Chrysler-parent Stellantis, Boeing and United Airlines, makes electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that have been touted as the future of urban air mobility.
These ‘Midnight’ e-aircraft can carry four passengers and a pilot for up to 100 miles (roughly 161 kilometers). The service aims to start with 200 aircraft and begin in Delhi, the national capital, Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, and Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley.
The companies said that a trip that typically takes 60 to 90 minutes by car in Delhi, for example, will take about 7 minutes in an air taxi.
InterGlobe Enterprises, which owns nearly 38% of IndiGo-parent InterGlobe Aviation as well as hospitality and logistics businesses, also plans to use the e-aircraft for cargo, logistics, medical, emergency and charter services.
Archer secured a $142 million-deal from the U.S. Air Force in July to provide six Midnight aircraft and said in October it would launch an air taxi service in the UAE. Source: Reuters