Thursday, November 30, 2023

26% of 25.5 lakh applicants for minority scholarship bogus

Over 6.7 lakh non-existent applicants were found in the scrutiny of the minority scholarship scheme. The biometric authentication exercise revealed missing institutional nodal officers and heads of institutions. Only 30% of renewal applicants were genuine. The Ministry of Minority Affairs will share the findings with the CBI. The investigation into the scholarship scam continues with allegations of fake beneficiaries and diversion of public funds. The scholarship portal registers 1.8 lakh institutions and provides scholarships ranging from Rs 4000 to Rs 25,000 annually.

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MoD nod for projects worth over 2 lakh crore

The defence ministry on Thursday gave the preliminary approval for capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore, including the procurement of 97 more Tejas fighters and 156 Prachand light combat helicopters as well as an upgrade of 84 existing Sukhoi-30MKI jets, in a hugely significant boost for indigenous defence production. The Rajnath Singh-led defence acquisitions council also accorded the acceptance of necessity (AoN) for 400 new towed artillery gun systems for Rs 9,900 crore to replace old Indian field guns and two types of Pinaka `area denial munitions’ for the Army.

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'US not averse to conducting underground nuclear tests'

The Biden administration has not completely ruled out the possibility of conducting underground nuclear tests if circumstances demand so. This has been made amply clear in the US Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) report to the US Congress this month. The report, which delves into the details about various aspects of the current status of America’s nuclear weapons programme, says: “The US must be ready to perform underground nuclear explosive tests using a test article.”

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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

'Will enforce CAA': Amit Shah vows to stop infiltration

Home Minister Amit Shah virtually kicks off the BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in Kolkata, emphasizing the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and asserting the rights of Hindu refugees. Shah expresses confidence in BJP forming the Bengal government in 2026 and urges voters to support Prime Minister Modi in the upcoming election. He criticizes the Mamata Banerjee government, urging voters to choose BJP for change and development in the state.

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India's G20 presidency marks the dawn of a new multilateralism

India reflects on its G20 Presidency, emphasizing inclusivity and a human-centric approach amid global challenges. Key achievements include integrating the African Union into the G20, hosting the 'Voice of the Global South Summit,' and delivering the G20 2023 Action Plan for Sustainable Development Goals. India advances digital public infrastructure, green development, and climate justice, fostering collaboration on policy coherence and trade. Handing over to Brazil, India expresses confidence in a lasting impact on people, planet, peace, and prosperity.

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Imran Khan steps down, Gohar Khan named interim PTI chief

Imran Khan steps down as leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), handing over to close associate Gohar Ali Khan in a temporary arrangement amid legal challenges. Imran's decision follows his conviction in the Toshakhana graft case. The move aims to prevent electoral watchdog interference and maintain the party's integrity. Imran plans to contest intra-party polls after the prompt resolution of legal issues. Gohar expressed gratitude for being picked to head Pakistan's main opposition party. "I am stunned. There are no words to express my gratitude to Imran Khan sahib."

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Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Amazon Announces New AI Chip for AWS Amid Competition With Microsoft

Amazon.com on Tuesday announced a new artificial intelligence chip for its cloud computing service as competition with Microsoft to dominate the market for artificial intelligence heats up.

At a conference in Las Vegas, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Chief Executive Adam Selipsky announced Trainium2, the second generation of chip designed for training AI systems. Selipsky said the new version is four times as fast as its predecessor while being twice as energy efficient.

The AWS move comes weeks after Microsoft announced its own AI chip called Maia. The Trainium2 chip will also compete against AI chips from Alphabet's Google, which has offered its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) to its cloud computing customers since 2018.

Selipsky said that AWS will start offering the new training chips next year. The proliferation of custom chips comes amid a scramble to find the computing power to develop technologies such as large language models that form the basis of services similar to ChatGPT.

The cloud computing firms are offering their chips as a complement to Nvidia, the market leader in AI chips whose products have been in short supply for the past year. AWS also on Tuesday said that it will offer Nvidia's newest chips on its cloud service.

Selipsky on Tuesday also announced Graviton4, the cloud firm's fourth custom central processor chip, which it said is 30 percent faster than its predecessor. The news comes weeks after Microsoft announced its own custom chip called Cobalt designed to compete with Amazon's Graviton series.

Both AWS and Microsoft are using technology from Arm in their chips, part of an ongoing trend away from chips made by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices in cloud computing. Oracle is using chips from startup Ampere Computing for its cloud service.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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$40,000 dinner with Xi Jinping: The price of business negotiations in China



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Maxwell equals Rohit's record for most T20I hundreds

Australia's Glenn Maxwell's exceptional century played a pivotal role in guiding Australia to a thrilling last-ball victory against India at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. With this win, Australia managed to cut India's series lead to 2-1 in the five-match rubber. Both the players now share the record for the most centuries in the T20 format, each having scored four centuries. Maxwell scored an unbeaten 104 off 48 balls which included eight sixes and as many fours.

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Monday, November 27, 2023

Depression non-disclosure no ground to reject claim: Panel

The NCDRC has ruled that non-disclosure of ailments like depression should not be a basis for denying insurance claims by LIC. The commission stated that LIC's medical literature did not classify depression as a serious ailment and there was no record indicating that depression could lead to heart failure. Anil Patel's family approached the Kheda district consumer forum, which mandated LIC to fulfil the insurance claims. LIC contested the forum's orders, but the Gujarat State Dispute Redressal Commission upheld the decision in 2019.

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EC revokes nod to T'gana to disburse money to farmers

The Election Commission on Monday withdrew its conditional approval to the release of assistance for farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme in poll-bound Telangana, citing a recent statement by state finance minister T Harish Rao on the timing of the disbursal prior to poll day, which it noted was in clear violation of the model code of conduct and conditions laid down while granting “no objection”. Under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, farmers in Telangana are given Rs 10,000 per acre every year in two tranches in rabi and kharif seasons.

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Sunday, November 26, 2023

Russia puts Meta spokesman on wanted list

Russian authorities have added Andy Stone, the spokesperson of US tech giant Meta, to a wanted list. Stone's inclusion on the list comes after Russian authorities classified Meta as a 'terrorist and extremist' organization. The interior ministry's database does not provide details of the charges against Stone. In February 2022, Stone was put on the wanted list, but the matter was not reported until this week. Meta's actions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a criminal probe by Russia's federal Investigative Committee.

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Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Albert Kabo Lepcha says my wife is my strength

Albert Kabo Lepcha from Kalimpong, West Bengal, emerged as the winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2023.

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Israel angry Irish PM tweet doesn't condemn Hamas

Israel summons Irish ambassador over tweet celebrating release of 9-year-old girl, Emily Hand, from Hamas captivity. Israeli officials criticize Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar for portraying Emily's situation as a disappearance rather than a violent abduction by Hamas militants. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen accuses Varadkar of legitimizing terrorism. Spain and Belgium ambassadors were also called in for criticizing Israel's high civilian death toll in Gaza.

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Saturday, November 25, 2023

Tribal shot by Naxals in 3rd killing in 15 days

In the third killing of a civilian in 15 days and less than 24 hours after a C-60 crack commando’s father was stoned to death in Maharashtra’s restive Gadchiroli, Maoists drew fresh blood late Friday when they dragged a tribal farmer to a kangaroo court, pronounced him guilty of engineering a woman guerrilla’s encounter and shot him from point-blank range. Ramji Chinna Atram (28) lay sprawled on the fields of Kapewancha village in Aheri taluka till Saturday morning.

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Gangster Bishnoi attacked Gippy Grewal’s Canadian home

Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal's house in the serene White Rock area of Vancouver, Canada, became the epicenter of a violent incident as gunshots rang out. Lawrence Bishnoi, an infamous gangster, claimed responsibility for orchestrating the gunfire in a Facebook post. Bishnoi directly addressed Grewal, warning him that his association with Salman Khan would not save him. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Punjabi music industry, raising concerns about Grewal's safety and the underlying tensions behind the attack.

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Friday, November 24, 2023

As rescue operation drags on, locals seek divine intervention

Even as multi-agency teams are involved in efforts to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara tunnel, villagers of the area are praying for the success of the operation by invoking local deities. One of the ways they are doing so is by singing Garhwali folk ‘jagars’, which are devotional songs meant to seek protection of the deities. On Friday, 63-year-old Kushpal Singh Parmar of Dhanari village reached the tunnel site and sang a ‘jagar’, whose lyrics went like this: ‘O lord, please awake and listen to my appeal. Don’t get angry o lord, shower your blessings so that people are safe.’

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Men to clear path in last lap of tunnel rescue operation

The long wait for the 41 workers trapped inside the partially-collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi for almost a fortnight may stretch for a little more time, as the US-made auger machine, which is drilling through the debris to create an escape passage, stopped again on Friday evening after hitting another obstacle. “The rescue timeline depends on any obstacles that may come in the way of drilling,” NDMA member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain said at the official briefing.

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Sam Altman Returns as OpenAI CEO; Bret Taylor to Chair ChatGPT Board

Sam Altman's return as OpenAI's chief executive will strengthen his grip on the startup and may leave the ChatGPT creator with fewer checks on his power as the company introduces technology that could upend industries, corporate governance experts and analysts said.

OpenAI is bringing Altman back just days after his ouster as well as installing a revamped board that could bring sharper scrutiny to the startup at the heart of the AI boom, but strong support from investors including Microsoft may give Altman more leeway to commercialize the technology. 

"Sam's return may put an end to the turmoil on the surface, but there may continue to be deep governance issues," said Mak Yuen Teen, director of the centre for investor protection at the National University of Singapore Business School.

"Altman seems awfully powerful and it is unclear that any board would be able to oversee him. The danger is the board becomes a rubber stamp," he said.

OpenAI's new board will boast more experience at the top level and strong ties to both the US government and Wall Street. 

The board fired Altman last week with little explanation and attempted to move on by naming an interim CEO twice. However, pressure from Microsoft — and the 38-year-old's strong loyalty among the 700-plus OpenAI employees that caused nearly all of them to threaten to leave the company — led to Altman's reinstatement as of Wednesday. 

"Altman has been invigorated by the last few days," GlobalData analyst Beatriz Valle said. But that could come at a cost, she said, adding that he has "too much power now." 

Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce who also played a key role in forcing through Elon Musk's $44 billion (nearly Rs. 3,66,530 crore) purchase of Twitter as a director, will be chairing the board.

Other members include former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, a Harvard academic and longtime economic aide to Democratic presidents.

"The fact that Summers and Taylor will join OpenAI is quite extraordinary and marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes in the company," Valle said.

Summers, who also sits on the board of Jack Dorsey's fintech firm Block, has in recent months been vocal about the potential job losses and disruption that could be caused by AI.

"ChatGPT is coming for the cognitive class. It's going to replace what doctors do," he said in a post on X in April. 

OpenAI's previous board consisted of entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, director of strategy at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, as well as Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, who also sits on the new board.

It was not immediately clear if any of the other directors would remain, including Sutskever, who joined in the effort to fire Altman then signed onto an employee letter demanding his return, expressing regret for her "participation in the board's actions." 

OpenAI on X said it was "collaborating to figure out the details" of the new board.

Microsoft declined to comment. Summers and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sutskever, Altman and Taylor could not be immediately reached for comment.

Some analysts say the management fiasco will ensure that OpenAI executives proceed cautiously, as the high-flying startup will now be subject to more scrutiny. Several noted that companies such as Facebook parent Meta have flourished with a powerful CEO despite concerns about corporate governance.

"Sam definitely comes out stronger but also dirtied and will have more of a microscope from the AI and broader tech and business community," Gartner analyst Jason Wong said. "He can no longer do no wrong."

© Thomson Reuters 2023


From the launch of the Infinix GT 10 Pro to Amazon's latest mega-sale, we discuss the most noteworthy technology news events of the week on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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1st T20I: Surya, Rinku seal India's highest successful chase

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav shrugged off the disappointment of a World Cup final defeat with a captain's knock but it was Rinku Singh's composure that took a young Indian team to a thrilling two-wicket victory in the opening T20I in Visakhapatnam. This was India's highest successful chase in T20 Internationals. The skipper was in belligerent mood making a mockery of a 209-run chase with 42-ball 80 but Rinku's 22 not out off 14 balls saved India from the blushes.

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Threat to blow up Mumbai T2 Airport in 48 hrs if ...

The sender of the mail has placed a demand to pay one million dollars in Bitcoin within 48 hours to avert the blast.

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1st T20I: '3 wickets and an unaccounted six' in thrilling last-over

Young left-handed batter Rinku Singh held his nerves despite losing three wickets in three balls, guiding India to a thrilling last-ball two-wicket win over Australia in the first T20I of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Needing 7 runs off 6 balls, Rinku started off with a four off the first ball followed with a single bringing the equation down to 2 off 4 balls. But fate had different plans as India lost three wickets in the form of Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the next three successive deliveries.

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Vehicle explosion closes US-Canada border crossings

US-Canada border crossings near Niagara Falls were closed Wednesday as terrorism investigators responded to a vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge, local and state authorities said. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear but New York Governor Kathy Hochul said state police and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force were monitoring all points of entry into the state. Ron Rienas, of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, told ABC News all four bridges connecting the two countries over the Niagara River have been closed.

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US alleges Indian plot to assassinate Sikh extremist Pannun

US authorities have reportedly foiled a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, prompting a warning to India. An indictment has been filed against at least one alleged perpetrator in a New York court, but it remains sealed. US officials have said that they expect those responsible to be held accountable, while India has expressed surprise and concern over the allegations.

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Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Israel, seeks India to ban Hamas, bans LeT ahead of 15th anni of 26/11

Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, Israel banned the UN-proscribed Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that carried out the terror strike. Despite not being requested by Indian government to do so, the Israeli embassy said in a statement that Tel Aviv had formally completed all necessary procedures and had “satisfied all required checks and regulations to the result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organisations”.

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After 40 yrs, grandson trumps ‘adopted’ son to inherit property

The grandson of a septuagenarian woman from Andhra Pradesh spent four decades of his prime years in the labyrinthine litigation queue to finally oust an imposter ‘adopted son’ from inheriting a valuable property. Seventeen of these years were spent in the Andhra high court, and sixteen in the Supreme Court which has repeatedly ruled that the right to speedy justice is part of right to life. The woman, Venkubayamma, made a will in May 1981, bequeathing her property in a town in Odisha to her only grandson, Kaliprasad.

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West Bengal: TMC worker killed near house

The victim, identified as Vicky Jadav, was attacked while outside his house. After being initially rushed to Bhatapara State General Hospital, he was later transferred to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by the police.

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Monday, November 20, 2023

Court again flags centre sitting on collegium recommendations

The Supreme Court of India criticized the government for selectively accepting recommendations from the court's collegium for appointments and transfers of high court judges. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the delay in acting upon the collegium's recommendation to transfer four judges of the Gujarat High Court. A bench of justices emphasized that the delay from the govt side in taking any decision sends a wrong signal and called for the pending transfers to be completed.

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SC questions delay in assent to bills: What was guv doing?

Exasperated by the interminable delay on the part of Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi in processing bills sent for his assent after being passed by the assembly, one as far back as January 2020, the Supreme Court on Monday said, “After we passed the order, the governor took action. What was the governor doing for three years?” The SC was irked by the fact that the governor, after the court’s order frowning upon the delay, cleared some long-pending bills on November 13.

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Bigg Boss 17: Naved Sole gets eliminated from the first ever ‘mid-week eviction’; contestants get emotional

Bigg Boss 17 had its first mid-week eviction, with Naved getting eliminated. The housemates had to collectively choose three contestants they thought were least deserving. Naved's name came up, leaving many shocked and emotional. Rinku Dhawan and Jigna Vora, who were close to Naved, were particularly emotional. There was also a fight between Mannara Chopra and Abhishek Kumar, and Ankita Lokhande got emotional while talking about her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput. Khanzaadi got into a fight with Rinku Dhawan, leading to criticism from other contestants.

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Sunday, November 19, 2023

Tesla, auto MNCs likely to get relief on local value addition

In what can be a major relief for Tesla and other multi-national car companies looking to import electrics in India at a specially-crafted and subsidised 15% duty regime that is being proposed, the government may exclude cost-heavy batteries, semiconductors, and magnetic parts from the committed localisation norms for global companies. The relaxation will be a significant reprieve for global companies that would need to fulfil domestic value addition conditions to avail the lower duty regime.

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4.6 lakh flyers on World Cup eve set record after lean Diwali

The World Cup final led to a boost in air traffic in India, with almost 460,000 domestic flyers on Saturday. This was the highest-ever figure recorded, in contrast to the lean daily numbers seen during the Diwali season. Industry insiders attribute this to the high advance fares set by airlines before Diwali, which led travellers to choose AC classes on premium trains instead. However, looking at the excitement in the audience, airlines later lowered the fares.

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Rohit has been an exceptional leader: Dravid

The dream of ending their ICC trophy drought remains elusive for Team India as they stumbled at the final hurdle, succumbing to a six-wicket defeat against Australia in the World Cup final on Sunday. Rohit Sharma came within reach of becoming the third Indian captain, following Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to lift the ICC World Cup trophy. However, Australia outperformed the hosts in all departments of the game.

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Saturday, November 18, 2023

ASI gets 10 more days to file Gyanvapi survey report

The Varanasi district court has granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) an additional 10 days to submit its scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The ASI had previously requested 15 more days to complete the report, but the court has instructed them to submit it by November 28. The ASI had been ordered to conduct a survey to determine if the mosque was built on the remains of a temple.

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Maldives wants Indian troops out but talks on



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Friday, November 17, 2023

EAM Jaishankar calls for Global South self-reliance

India's foreign minister, S Jaishankar, emphasized the need for the Global South to have a greater role in shaping solutions to key global issues at the second Global South summit. He called for self-reliance and diversification of production to mitigate economic vulnerabilities. The summit, attended by nearly 130 countries, discussed topics such as development, finance, health, education, and environment. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing autonomy and desire for a bigger role in global affairs among developing countries.

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In Pakistan, mysterious shootings of over a dozen terrorists by ‘hostiles’

In the past two years, more than a dozen terrorists from New Delhi's "most wanted list" have been mysteriously killed in Pakistan. The militants were associated with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Jaish-e-Muhammed. The assassinations began after a failed attempt on the life of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. Pakistani officials suspect the involvement of a hostile foreign intelligence agency and claim that India controls a network of local assassins. Pakistan has remained silent on the killings, possibly due to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force.

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Amazon Announced Layoffs in Alexa Voice Assistant Unit to Focus on Gen AI

Amazon.com on Friday announced it is trimming jobs at its Alexa voice assistant unit, citing shifting business priorities and a greater focus on generative artificial intelligence.

The cuts affect several hundred employees working on Alexa, according to the email. A spokeswoman declined to elaborate on exactly how many were affected.

"We're shifting some of our efforts to better align with our business priorities, and what we know matters most to customers — which includes maximising our resources and efforts focused on generative AI," Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV, said in the email. "These shifts are leading us to discontinue some initiatives."

Amazon has been pulling back in a variety of divisions this month, including in its music and gaming divisions and some human resources roles. 

While most of the jobs affected were in the devices division, a few were working on Alexa-related products in a different unit, a spokeswoman said. Many companies are shifting resources to generative AI, which can create software code and lengthy text responses from short prompts.

Alexa is a voice assistant that can be used to set timers, ask search queries, play music, or as a home automation hub.

Reuters reported in September that morale in the devices division had suffered over concerns about what some viewed as a weak product pipeline. In particular, people familiar with the matter pointed to the Alexa voice assistant, now nearly a decade old, as having failed to keep pace in the age of generative artificial intelligence. 

Amazon said at the time that "to suggest that a few anecdotes paint a picture of reality for an organization as large and diverse as Devices and Services is inaccurate," and that it stood by its products.

Amazon has said its devices and services business is not profitable, without providing figures.

Only last month the device unit got a new chief, Panos Panay, who joined the company from Microsoft, replacing David Limp, a 13-year veteran who is leaving later this year to head Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket company. Panay had overseen development of the Surface tablet.

Amazon has struggled to generate any profits from Alexa, which many people use through Echo speakers or video screens. Most efforts to make money from it have centered on easing purchasing from Amazon.com.

The Seattle-based online retailer's voice assistant products compete with offerings from Alphabet and Apple.

Amazon has cut more than 27,000 jobs across the company over the past year, part of a wave of US tech layoffs after the industry hired heavily people during the pandemic. 

The latest cuts come even as Amazon reported third-quarter net income that far exceeded analyst estimates and forecast revenue in the year's final quarter roughly in line with expectations. The fourth quarter is Amazon's most crucial, as it includes holiday shopping.

In the email, Rausch said he remained optimistic about Alexa. 

"Incorporating a new large language model into a voice-forward, personal AI, has been and continues to be an enormous scientific and engineering challenge," he wrote, using another term for generative AI.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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via

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Microsoft Copilot With Generative AI Features Coming to Windows 10: All You Need to Know

Microsoft Copilot — the company's artificial intelligence (AI) assistant available on Windows 11 computers — is making its way to Windows 10. At its annual Microsoft Ignite 2023 developer conference, the company revealed that it was releasing Copilot (previously referred to as Bing Chat) in the Release Preview channel to Windows Insiders, which means the assistant will soon be available to users running on older computers that are not compatible with the latest version of Windows due to hardware constraints.

On Thursday, the company announced via a Windows Insider blog post that its Microsoft Copilot generative AI assistant is making its way to Windows 10 computers. The feature will soon be in preview, which means that users running on Windows Insiders preview builds will be the first to gain access to the feature. The same features will be available to users on Windows 10 version 22H2 at a later date, according to the company.

In order to get the Copilot features on Windows 10 computers as soon as it is rolled out, users will have to modify a Windows Update setting, according to the company. In order to ensure that you have the latest optional (non-security) updates on the latest Release Preview channel, you can follow the steps outlined by the company.

Click on the Start button and click on the gear icon to open the settings app. Select Update & Security > Windows Update > toggle the Get the latest updates as soon as they're available option. You can then click Check for updates to verify that you have the latest version of Windows for your computer.

Microsoft reiterated that the end-of-life date for Windows 10 remains the same — support for the previous-generation operating system will end on October 14, 2025. Users who are running on Windows 10 version 22H2 can expect to see the generative AI assistant eventually roll out to their computer after it is tested on the Windows Insiders Release Preview channel.


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Chhath Puja 2023: Top 50 wishes, messages and quotes

Chhath Puja is a festival observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. This year, it will be celebrated from November 17 to November 20. Devotees engage in rituals like fasting and standing in the sacred water of the Ganga. Here are some wishes and messages to send to friends and family during this festival, expressing gratitude to the Sun God and celebrating the power of faith and unity.

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Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Cancer patient falls to death from balcony

They reported receiving information at approximately 3:45 am that Sharda Nand Manjhi had been admitted to Max Hospital by his son, Rahul.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Braverman launches scathing attack against UK PM Rishi Sunak

Former British interior minister Suella Braverman has criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying that his plan is not working and urging him to change course to avoid election defeat. Braverman accused Sunak of failing on immigration and anti-Semitism, and described his rejection of withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights as a "betrayal." She also accused Sunak of putting off tough decisions to minimize political risk. Braverman's letter comes a week after she accused the police of left-wing bias, leading to her dismissal from her ministerial position.

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Nothing Chats App Lets Users Send iMessage From Android Smartphone

Nothing Chats, a new app introduced by the UK-based tech company today, will now blur the lines between iMessage and Android SMS with a blue bubble for text messages. Nothing has shared that it has added iMessage compatibility to Nothing Phone 2, letting the users of the smartphone to send messages that will be displayed in iMessage-like blue bubbles. The app is powered by the messaging platform Sunbird. Nothing Chats app is currently in its beta phase. It will be initially available to users in select countries only. 

In an announcement on today, Nothing announced its new app — Nothing Chats. So far, any text message sent from an Android smartphone to an iPhone is displayed in a green bubble, while messages sent from iPhone or iPads to another iOS devices are shown in a blue bubble. With Nothing Chats, messages that will be sent from Nothing Phone 2, the company's latest smartphone, to an iOS device will now be displayed in a blue bubble, similar to iMessage. 

Apart from the colour of the bubble, Nothing has also onboarded several other features of the iMessage service. These include group messaging, live typing indicators, media sharing at full resolution, read receipts as well as responding with reactions. 

As per Nothing, the app will be initially available to only Phone 2 users in the US, Canada, UK, and EU, starting November 17. However, it may gradually be made available to other regions of the world. The company has also mentioned of the future improvements and updates in the coming time. 

To use the Nothing Chats app, users can download it from the Google Play Store and log in using an existing Apple ID username or sign up with a new account. The company has also assured that all the messages will be end-to-end encrypted considering the safety and security of user data. 


Will the Nothing Phone 2 serve as the successor to the Phone 1, or will the two co-exist? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Chairman of Sahara Group Subrata Roy passes away

Subrata Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group, passed away in Mumbai on late Tuesday due to a cardiorespiratory arrest following an extended battle with complications arising from metastatic malignancy, hypertension, and diabetes. He was 75. Roy was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute in Mumbai on Sunday after his health deteriorated, it added. One of India's leading businessmen, Subrata Roy was the founder of Sahara India, a conglomerate with diversified business interests. In 2012, Roy was named among the 10 most influential businessmen in India.

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Kate, William exclude Harry from birthday post for King Charles

Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton celebrated King Charles's birthday on social media with a tribute that notably did not include Prince Harry. The post featured pictures of the King alone and with Prince William, but no images of Prince Harry. Royal enthusiasts expressed speculation and concern about the absence of Prince Harry and his family in the photos. However, some defended the couple, emphasizing the joy and love depicted in the pictures.

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Monday, November 13, 2023

Rishi Sunak faces first no-confidence letter following cabinet rejig

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing his first vote of no confidence after firing Interior Minister Suella Braverman. Conservative Party member Andrea Jenkyns criticized Sunak for removing Boris Johnson as leader and purging the center-right from the cabinet. Jenkyns submitted the no confidence letter to "stand up and fight for true Conservatism." A vote of confidence in Sunak's leadership would be initiated if 15 percent of the party's MPs sent letters indicating their choice for a new leader. The reshuffle was triggered by Braverman's criticism of the police's handling of protests.

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Suella sacked, ex-PM Cameron makes shock return as foreign secretary

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sacked Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman and appointed former PM David Cameron as Foreign Secretary in a cabinet reshuffle. Braverman was fired following controversial comments she made criticizing the police's handling of pro-Palestine protests and making derogatory remarks about the homeless. Cameron's appointment marks his return to frontline politics after a seven-year absence. He will now speak for the government in the House of Lords. Critics have described his appointment as a "dead cat strategy."

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3-yr-old among US hostages being held by Hamas: White House

A three-year-old American child, whose parents were killed in an attack, is among the hostages being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. President Joe Biden has raised the issue of hostages, including the child, with the leader of Qatar, who is involved in negotiations with Hamas. The US is actively working to secure the release of all American hostages. The US national security adviser and President Biden's chief Middle East adviser are traveling to the region to engage in efforts to secure the hostages' release.

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Sunday, November 12, 2023

Trudeau attacks India again, but says don't want a fight now

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada does not want to have a "fight" with India but wants to work constructively with them on a serious matter. Trudeau alleged that India violated the Vienna Convention by shifting over 40 Canadian diplomats and threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity. The strained ties between the two countries began when Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist. India rejected these allegations as absurd and motivated.

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Happy Govardhan Puja: Wishes, messages, quotes, images and more

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakoot, is a festival celebrated in India to commemorate Lord Krishna's victory over the rain god Indra. It is observed on the fourth day of the Kartika month, usually in October or November. Devotees visit temples to offer prayers, flowers, fruits, and sweets to Lord Krishna and Mount Govardhan. Families come together to enjoy a vegetarian feast and reflect on the importance of faith and the environment.

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Saturday, November 11, 2023

Allot grandson flat promised to deceased man 48 yrs ago: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) to allocate a flat to a man whose family has been waiting for close to 48 years. The family was evicted from their room in 1975 and has been waiting for re-accommodation ever since. The court noted that the delay in allotment was due to a discrepancy in the size of the flat, but ruled in favor of the petitioner and ordered Mhada to allocate a 579 sq ft flat.

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More officials, business tycoons vanish in China

The disappearance and dismissal of officials and business executives in China under President Xi Jinping's regime have raised concerns about the Chinese government's inner workings. Chen Shaojie, the CEO of DouYu, and Zhao Bingxian, the chairman of Shandong Wohua Pharmaceutical, are the latest to vanish. The reasons behind these disappearances remain unclear, but they are part of a broader pattern that has led to a significant outflow of profits from China.

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Friday, November 10, 2023

59% of women detected with breast cancer after its spread

A new study has found that only 30% of women in India are diagnosed with breast cancer when the disease is still confined to the breast, while 59% are diagnosed when it has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes. Additionally, 11% of women are diagnosed with cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. For India, the data from 28 population based cancer registries was included in the analysis coordinated by the ICMR-NCDIR, Bengaluru. The study, conducted across 81 countries, highlights the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis.

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Song on millets featuring PM Modi nominated for Grammy

Indian-American singer Falu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's collaboration on a song promoting the benefits of millets has been nominated for a Grammy award in the best global music performance category. The song, titled "Abundance in Millets," was released in celebration of the "International Year of Millets" and aims to raise awareness about the grain as a potential solution to world hunger. Falu was inspired to create the song after meeting PM Modi in New Delhi following her Grammy win in 2022.

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Humane launches AI Pin, its OpenAI-powered wearable that aims to replace your smartphone

Humane, an AI company founded by ex-Apple engineers, has launched its first hardware, the AI Pin. The small square device can be pinned onto clothes and is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 and Microsoft's AI models. The AI Pin costs $699 and has a monthly fee of $24 for a Humane subscription. It features a small projector that can display icons and text on the user's palm. The device can be activated through voice, touch, gesture, or the laser ink display and offers various AI tools and features. Shipping begins in early 2024.

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Thursday, November 9, 2023

Nod sought for contempt case against Uddhav Thackeray

A journalist has filed a contempt petition against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for his derogatory remarks towards Chief Justice DY Chandrachud in a Dussehra speech. The journalist alleges that Thackeray's comments are an attempt to influence pending cases in the Supreme Court and undermine the dignity of the court and the CJI's office. He has sought the attorney general's permission to file the petition, stating that Thackeray's statements amount to criminal contempt under the Contempt of Court Act.

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Liverpool striker Luis Diaz' father released after kidnapping

The father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz has been released in Colombia after being kidnapped by members of the guerrilla group ELN. The release was announced by the government's delegation currently in peace negotiations with the ELN. Diaz's kidnapping drew international attention, and the younger Diaz appealed for his father's release after scoring in a Premier League soccer match. The ELN initially denied involvement but later acknowledged the kidnapping was a mistake. Diaz's mother was rescued shortly after the abduction, and special forces were deployed to search for his father.

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Man kills partner in Delhi hotel, hangs himself

The individuals involved in the unfortunate incident have been identified as Shorab (28) and Ayesha (27), according to the authorities.

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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Nitish Kumar apologises amid row over sex remarks

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced backlash for his explicit remarks in the assembly, prompting an apology from him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Kumar for his choice of words and accused him of insulting women. The BJP demanded Kumar's resignation, questioning his eligibility to hold office due to his "memory loss." While some politicians supported Kumar, others, including Union Power Minister R.K. Singh, condemned his remarks. The issue has escalated into a bitter political confrontation, with Kumar's party, JD(U), urging for no politics to be played over the CM's remarks.

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Samsung, Qualcomm Oppose Live TV Broadcasts on Smartphones in India

Samsung and Qualcomm are among those opposing India's choice of technology to bring live TV broadcasts on smartphones, arguing the required hardware changes will push up a device's cost by $30 (nearly Rs. 2,500), according to letters reviewed by Reuters.

India is considering a policy to mandate equipping smartphones with hardware to receive live TV signals without the need for cellular networks. It has proposed use of so-called ATSC 3.0 technology popular in North America that allows precise geo-locating of TV signals and provides high picture quality.

Companies however say their existing smartphones in India are not equipped to work with ATSC 3.0, and any efforts to add that compatibility will raise cost of each device by $30 as more components need to be added. Some fear their existing manufacturing plans can be hurt.

In a joint letter to India's communication ministry, Samsung, Qualcomm, and telecom gear makers Ericsson and Nokia said adding direct-to-mobile broadcasting can also degrade battery performance of devices and cellular reception.

"We do not find any merit in progressing discussion on the adoption of this," said the letter dated October 17 and reviewed by Reuters.

The four companies and India's communication ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The proposal is still under deliberation and could be changed, and there is no fixed timeline for implementation, according to a source with direct knowledge.

Digital broadcast of TV channels on smartphones has seen limited adoption in countries such as South Korea and United States. It has not gained traction due to the lack of devices that support the technology, executives say.

The policy pushback is the latest from firms operating in India's smartphone sector. In recent months, they pushed back on India's move to make phones compatible with a home-grown navigation system and another proposal to mandate security testing for handsets.

For India's government, the live TV broadcast features are a way to offload the congestion on telecom networks due to higher video consumption.

The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), a lobbying group of smartphone makers that represents Apple and Xiaomi as well as other companies, opposed the move privately in a letter dated Oct 16, saying no major handset maker globally currently supports ATSC 3.0.

Samsung tops India's smartphone market with a 17.2 percent share, while Xiaomi follows with a 16.6 percent share, according to research firm Counterpoint. Apple holds 6 percent. 

"The inclusion of any technology which is not proven and globally acceptable ... will derail the pace of domestic manufacturing," said the ICEA letter, reviewed by Reuters.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


Will the Nothing Phone 2 serve as the successor to the Phone 1, or will the two co-exist? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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Railways to now manufacture coaches with 'anti-injury fittings

Indian Railways' passenger coaches with "anti-injury" features: The Railway Board has asked all coach manufacturing units of the Indian Railways to take this requirement into account when planning equipment purchases for passenger future coaches.

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Tuesday, November 7, 2023

In a first, scientists see viruses cling to each other

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery where one virus attached itself to another, as observed in bacteriophage viruses. This unique event involved a satellite virus attaching itself to a helper virus, a phenomenon that has never been seen before. The attachment occurred at the 'neck' of the virus, where the outer shell of the helper virus connects to its tail. This remarkable discovery was made possible through the use of an electron microscope. The findings were published in the Journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology.

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Monday, November 6, 2023

Israel cuts off north Gaza as Palestinian toll tops 10,000

Israeli forces have cut off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory and launched intense air strikes, preparing for a push into Gaza City. The death toll in Palestine has exceeded 10,000, with over 4,100 children and 2,600 women among the casualties. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas, and the war is expected to escalate as troops enter Gaza City. The Israeli military said it had successfully encircled the north and south of Gaza, and ground troops have taken over a Hamas compound.

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Robotic Device to Detect Slippery Floor Among Tech Displayed at IIT Open House

A robotic device to detect slippery floorings, a wearable pressure sensor to analyze gait patterns and postural deformities, an engineered microbiome and a digital microscope, are among the key technologies showcased at the annual Open House at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. 

The 16th edition of the Open House, its flagship event for school students, was conducted on Saturday wherein some of the cutting-edge research works were displayed for them by the institute faculty and students.

"The objective of the Open House is to show school students what IIT Delhi is doing in science and technology and showcase our work in the areas that impact the real world. The whole idea of the Open House, where interactive sessions and lectures were also organised, is to encourage school students to make informed decisions about their future," IIT Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee said.

Around 2,000 school students from more than 40 schools in the Delhi-NCR visited the Open House which exhibited an extensive collection of innovative research and product development projects.

The researchers showcased around 50 functional demos and 100 research posters highlighting cutting-edge technologies.

Kusum Saini, a PhD Scholar Vasant Matsagar (Dogra Chair and Professor) from the Department of Civil Engineering, displayed a new approach developed by them for utilising solid waste like agro-residues for making sustainable and affordable homes to contribute towards the solution of problems above, and to fulfil the vision of India toward a green future, while effectively addressing the air pollution issues, making the construction practices environment friendly, and at-large ensuring sustainability and climate actions.

The Injury Mechanics Lab (DIML) has developed a novel cost-effective, portable and biofidelic floor friction tester to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the slip resistance ability of floorings.

"This robotic device mimics the actual human slipping motion and calculates the available friction during its motion. The device's structure is highly modular and is fully programmable for its slipping speeds, normal loads, and slipping angles to take into account different slipping scenarios," said Arnab Chanda, Professor at the Centre for Biomedical Engineering.


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


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It was disgraceful, lost all respect for Shakib: Angelo slams B'desh over 'time out' drama

A furious Angelo Mathews lashed out at Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan and his team after his 'timed out' dismissal snowballed into a major controversy at the World Cup on Monday. After the Sri Lanka all-rounder became the first international cricketer to be 'timed out' for not being ready to face the ball within two minutes of the fall of a wicket, Mathews hit out at Bangladesh over their 'disgraceful' actions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

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Sunday, November 5, 2023

Blinken makes 'unannounced' stop at Iraq

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the occupied West Bank to hold discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of the Biden administration's efforts to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's civilians during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Blinken also traveled to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to address the rise in attacks by Iranian-allied militias. The US is concerned about Iran and its proxy groups exploiting the situation in Gaza to further destabilize the region.

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New CIC, 2 commissioners likely to be appointed today

Heeralal Samariya, currently serving as an information commissioner, is set to become the new chief information commissioner of the Central Information Commission (CIC). Two new information commissioners, Anandi Ramalingam and V K Tiwari, are also set to be appointed. Samariya, a former IAS officer, was chosen by the selection committee led by PM Narendra Modi. The appointments are expected to be announced soon. The CIC has been without a chief for over a month.

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CM Baghel will now be operated by remote from Dubai: Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani has accused Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of being controlled by a remote from Dubai, suggesting his involvement in the Mahadev betting app scandal. She claimed that the Congress government had cheated the women of Chhattisgarh by not fulfilling its promise to ban liquor, instead looting Rs 2,000 crore through a liquor scam.

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Saturday, November 4, 2023

Tiffin box with 2kg IED planted on NH stretch in Jammu

A major tragedy was averted on Saturday with the timely detection and destruction of a timer-based improvised explosive device (IED) that had been concealed in a tiffin box and planted along the Sidhra-Narwal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near a police checkpoint.

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NYT writer quits after accusing Israel of ‘genocide’

Jazmine Hughes, a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, resigned after violating the company's policy by signing an open letter accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians. The letter, titled "Writers Against the War on Gaza," blamed Israel for deaths in a terrorist attack by Hamas. The conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to restrictions on freedom of expression, with many institutions dealing with members who feel strongly about the conflict. Hughes had previously criticized her newspaper's op-ed desk for publishing a column by Senator Tom Cotton.

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Jaishankar on row with Canada: 'They may have their concerns but it can't be that ...'

S Jaishankar has stated that there is room for diplomacy to address the ongoing bilateral row between India and Canada. The relationship between the two countries deteriorated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani terrorist. India rejected the allegations and called them absurd. Jaishankar emphasized that sovereignty and sensitivity cannot be one-way streets and expressed hope for a resolution. Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India, and visa services have recently been resumed.

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Friday, November 3, 2023

India set to open Seattle consulate, appoints consul general

India has appointed Prakash Gupta as the first consul general in Seattle, finally operationalizing the long-awaited consulate in the US Pacific Northwest. The consulate in Seattle, a technology hub with a large population of Indian nationals and multinational companies, was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June. This move is part of India's plan to open consulates in two other US cities, while the US plans to open consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Seattle will become the sixth US city to have an Indian consulate.

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PM Modi, Sunak discuss Israel-Hamas war

PM Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak discussed the urgent need to deescalate tensions in West Asia and strongly condemned attacks by Hamas on Israel during a telephone conversation between the two leaders on Friday. A spokesperson for Downing Street said the leaders emphasised that Hamas did not represent the Palestinian people and it is necessary to reduce tensions in the broader region.

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Why Bain & Co. CEO Manny Maceda thinks India is a compelling investment destination

Manny Maceda, the Worldwide Managing Partner and CEO of Bain & Co. has said, “India has always been a great, unique opportunity.”

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Thursday, November 2, 2023

'He was toying with Lankans': Akram hails 'exceptional' Shami

Five star Mohammed Shami wreaked havoc on a hapless Sri Lanka as hosts India powered to their seventh straight win at the ODI World Cup and became the first team to qualify for the semis on Thursday. Shami led the bowlers' rampage with an incredible burst of 5-1-18-5 as India shot down a clueless Lanka for a lowly 55 in 19.4 overs in their chase of an improbable 358.

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Astronaut captures ‘ghostly’ face in northern Africa

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have captured a photo of Trou au Natron, a volcanic pit and soda lake in northern Chad that resembles a ghostly face. The photo shows the outline of the face, with the "eyes" and "nose" being cinder cones and the "mouth" covered in a mineral crust made of natron. Trou au Natron is situated southeast of Tarso Toussidé, a volcanic area with fumaroles and an active stratovolcano. It's one of several volcanic peaks in the Tibesti Mountains.

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Air India in dock for aircraft with less emergency-use oxygen

Air India is being investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for using a Boeing 777 with insufficient emergency oxygen on a recent Delhi-US nonstop flight. The pilot refused to operate the aircraft due to the oversight, and the DGCA has requested information from the airline. Most aircraft have enough oxygen for 12-15 minutes per passenger, but planes flying over high mountains, such as the Hindu Kush range, need extra oxygen for 25-30 minutes.

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How 'Trishul' tattoo helps cops crack Delhi robbery

The identification of the accused was made possible due to a distinctive 'trishul' tattoo on his left forearm, according to officials.

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