Tuesday, January 31, 2023

TikTok CEO to Testify Before US Congress in March Amid Increased Scrutiny Over Security Concerns

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew will appear before the US Energy and Commerce Committee in March, as lawmakers scrutinize the Chinese-owned video-sharing app.

Chew will testify before the committee on March 23, which will be his first appearance before a congressional committee, said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Republican chair of the panel, in a statement on Monday.

The news comes as the House Foreign Affairs Committee plans to hold a vote next month on a bill aimed at blocking the use of TikTok in the United States over national security concerns.

"ByteDance-owned TikTok has knowingly allowed the ability for the Chinese Communist Party to access American user data," McMorris Rodgers said, adding that Americans deserve to know how these actions impact their privacy and data security.

TikTok confirmed on Monday Chew will testify.

"We welcome the opportunity to set the record straight about TikTok, ByteDance, and the commitments we are making to address concerns about US national security before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce," a company spokesperson said, adding the company hopes "by sharing details of our comprehensive plans with the full committee, Congress can take a more deliberative approach to the issues at hand."

The company also said "there is no truth to Rep. McMorris Rodgers' claim that TikTok has made US user data available to the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party has neither direct nor indirect control of ByteDance or TikTok."

McMorris Rodgers and other Republican lawmakers have demanded more information from TikTok. They want to know its impact on young people amid concerns about harmful content, and they want additional details on the potential sexual exploitation of minors on the platform, the statement said.

For three years, TikTok – which has more than 100 million US users – has been seeking to assure Washington that the personal data of US citizens cannot be accessed and its content cannot be manipulated by China's Communist Party or anyone else under Beijing's influence.

The US government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a powerful national security body, in 2020, ordered ByteDance to divest TikTok because of fears that US user data could be passed onto China's government.

CFIUS and TikTok have been in talks for more than two years aiming to reach a national security agreement to protect the data of US TikTok users. The White House on Friday declined to comment on whether it would support a legislative ban on TikTok or the status of the talks.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


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Masaba Gupta's Note For "Gentle Giant" Dad Viv Richards

A few days after her wedding, designer-actor Masaba Gupta has poured her heart out in special notes that she wrote for her family members. Masaba Gupta married actor Satyadeep Misra in an intimate ceremony last week. Masaba posted a picture of her dad and cricketing legend Viv Richards and she quoted Al Pacino's evergreen line "The eyes, chico. They never lie" from the film Scarface and added, "My fierce father, a gentle giant and I'm so glad I got not just your nose but also your shoulders to take on the world just like you did and emerge a fighter."

Read Masaba's note for dad here:

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Screenshot of Masaba Gupta's Instagram story.

Posting a picture of mom Neena Gupta, Masaba wrote: "The sweetest thing. Thanks for raising me to be a lioness." Posting a picture of Neena Gupta's husband Vivek Mehra, Masaba wrote: "The gentle entrepreneur in me that you see is all courtesy this man. The kind brain and the most giving heart."

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Screenshot of Masaba Gupta's Instagram story.

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Screenshot of Masaba Gupta's Instagram story.

Masaba is the daughter of veteran actor Neena Gupta and cricketing legend Viv Richard. Neena Gupta and Viv Richards were in a relationship in the Eighties. Viv Richards is married to Miriam while Neena Gupta later got married to chartered accountant Vivek Mehra.

After her wedding, Masaba Gupta shared a perfect family photo and she wrote: "For the first time ever - My whole life came together. This is us. My beautiful blended family. Everything from here on is just bonus."

Masaba Gupta and Satyadeep Misra announced that they are married in an Instagram post last week. "Married my ocean of calm, this morning. Here's to many many lifetimes of love, peace, stability and most importantly laughter. And thanks for letting me pick the caption - this is gonna be great," read the caption.

Masaba Gupta was last seen in the Netflix series Masaba Masaba 2, a semi-fictionalised show inspired by the lives of Masaba Gupta and her actress-mother Neena Gupta. She also starred in Amazon Prime Video's series Modern Love Mumbai last year. Masaba also featured as one of the judges on the TV reality show MTV Supermodel Of The Year.

Last year, Satyadeep Misra was seen in Vikram Vedha, co-starring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan. He is best-known for starring in No One Killed Jessica. Bombay Velvet, Love Breakups Zindagi, Phobia to name a few. He also starred in Masaba Masaba, alongside Masaba Gupta.



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Bangladesh Gets $4.7 Billion IMF Loan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka Still Waiting

The International Monetary Fund has signed off on a $4.7 billion support loan package for Bangladesh to help it cope with soaring energy and food costs that have sparked huge protests.
Bangladesh and other South Asian countries dependent on fossil fuel imports were hit hard by sharp cost-of-living increases following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Nationwide blackouts of up to 13 hours a day hit the electricity grid last year and the government extended food relief for households unable to afford rice and other staples.

The IMF package makes $476 million immediately available to the government but commits it to tax hikes and bringing down the number of bad loans in the banking sector.

"Multiple shocks have made macroeconomic management challenging in Bangladesh," the lender's active chair Antoinette Sayeh said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"Authorities need to accelerate their ambitious reform agenda to achieve a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth," she said.

Bangladesh plans to use the IMF loan to prop up its foreign exchange reserves, which have nosedived from $46 billion to $34 billion.

The local currency has depreciated around 25 percent against the US dollar since last May, driving up costs for petrol distributors and power utilities that have rippled across the rest of the economy.

Bangladesh's official inflation rate is around 8.7% but independent economists say the true figure is substantially higher.

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has blamed the government for the crisis, accusing it of squandering cash on multibillion-dollar vanity projects.

It has organised a series of rallies demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and a general election.

Bangladesh is one of several South Asian countries seeking international help in navigating economic shocks over the past year.

Pakistan is in the grips of a major crisis and facing the prospect of looming national bankruptcy, with an IMF delegation visiting Tuesday to discuss a vital cash injection.

Sri Lanka is still waiting to finalise its own bailout with the lender after an unprecedented meltdown last year that saw months of major food and fuel shortages.

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



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Michael Jackson’s Nephew Cast as Michael Jackson in Upcoming Biopic on the Late ‘King of Pop’

The Michael Jackson biopic, originally announced in 2019 and revealed as titled ‘Michael', has finally cast a lead actor to play the late 'King of Pop'. Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, has been confirmed to be playing his uncle in the biopic, which currently does not have a release date. The film is being directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer series), and is produced by Graham King, who previously helmed Freddie Mercury's biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.

The announcement of the lead casting was made by Lionsgate, with producer Graham King saying "I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael,” as per a report by SlashFilm. "I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson,” continued King, who produced 2018's critical and commercial success Bohemian Rhapsody.

The announcement was confirmed by Jaafar Jackson himself in a tweet, which also features an image of the actor in costume. Jaafar is the 26-year-old son of Jermaine Jackson, the elder brother of Michael Jackson, and his former bandmate on The Jackson 5, the singing group comprising members of the Jackson family.

The film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, and is reportedly being made with the approval of Michael Jackson's estate. This does mean that the film will likely be able to use the late singer's original music and footage as needed, but as suggested by the Slashfilm report, this could mean that many of the controversies surrounding Jackson and his career could be washed over or underplayed. As of now, ‘Michael' does not have a confirmed release date, but is expected to start filming this year.


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Kangana Ranaut's Tweet On Uniform Civil Code, Actor Uorfi Javed's Reply

A comment on blockbuster Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan triggered a viral back-and-forth on Twitter between actor Kangana Ranaut, and actor and influencer Uorfi Javed.

It all started with Kangana Ranaut's comment on an appreciation post for Shah Rukh Khan, which said, "Hindu Muslims love SRK equally" and that "India is super secular".

"Very good analysis... this country has only and only loved all Khans and at times only and only Khans...And obsessed over Muslim actresses, so it's very unfair to accuse India of hate and fascism ... there is no country like Bharat in the whole world," wrote Kangana Ranaut, commenting on a Bollywood producer's post.

Uorfi Javed reacted to the two-day-old tweet by the 'Manikarnika' actor and commented: "Oh my gosh ! What is this division , Muslim actors , Hindu actors . Art is not divided by religion . There are only actors."

Kangana Ranaut, who is an open supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacted to Uorfi Javed's tweet: "Yes, my dear Uorfi that will be an ideal world but it's not possible unless we have The Uniform Civil Code, till the time this nation is divided in the constitution itself it will remain divide, Let's all demand Uniform Civil Code from @narendramodiji in 2024 Manifesto. Shall we?"

Back to Uorfi, who sought to make light of Ms Ranaut's suggestion. "Uniform wound be a bad idea for me maam !  I'm popular only because of my clothes," said the Instagram favourite known for her outrageous fashion.

Then she followed it up with a "clarification".

Ms Ranaut, who often posts outrageous and no-filter content on Twitter, had earlier posted similar tweets on Pathaan. "I do believe Indian Muslims are patriotic and very different from Afghan Pathans ... the crux is India will never be Afghanistan, we all know what is happening in Afghanistan, it's beyond hell there, so apt name for the movie Pathan according to its storyline is the Indian Pathan."

Ms Ranaut returned to Twitter recently after a ban for nearly two years. The microblogging website banned her account in May 2021, after she posted controversial content linked to post-election violence in Bengal.



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Monday, January 30, 2023

Watch: Rare 4-Foot-Long Eel Washes Up On Beach In US, Internet Stumped

While surveying a beach, a marine researcher found a 'rare,' 4-foot-long American eel washed up in Texas, CNN  reported. The video of the lifeless marine creature was shared on Facebook by the official page of Mission-Aransas Reserve. Jace Tunnell, director of the Mission-Aransas Reserve, who spotted the eel in the sand called the find “rare”.

In the video, he showed off the massive 4-foot-long American eel to viewers and explained more about the sea creature. "But this thing is massive. It's got to be like 4-foot-long," he said. This particular eel is also likely a female, Mr Tunnell said in the video. "They're larger than the males," he said. "Females can have up to 4 million eggs."

American eels are typically a lot smaller and commonly used for fishing bait, Mr Tunnell said, adding "Obviously, this one's too big for that." 

Watch the video here:

The post was captioned as, ''Have you ever seen an American Eel up close, or read about their wild life cycle of living in freshwater and then going way out into the ocean to spawn 4 million eggs right before dying? Listen to this episode of #beachcombing with Jace Tunnell to learn more about this amazing fish.''

According to US. Fish and Wildlife Services, American eels live mostly in freshwater, usually estuaries and rivers, but go far out into the ocean to spawn their eggs before dying.

The internet was left stumped and amazed by the rare creature, while some were creeped out. 

Reacting to the video, one user wrote, ''What a truly great find! Very informative narrator too!!'' Another commented, ''First time to see one up close. Really interesting. Thank you again for educating us.'' A third added, ''Oh my goodness! It's so big!'' Yet another said, ''Nightmare time.''



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"Xi Jinping's Real Mission Was To Get Me Fired": Ex Top US Official

Mike Pompeo has said that among the dozens of world leaders he met as the US Secretary of State, he found the "most unpleasant" was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who threatened to stop sending PPF kits to America if it kept asking for accountability from Beijing on Covid-19.

In his book titled 'Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,' former US Secretary of State Pompeo, 59, writes that he held multiple interactions with the Chinese leader and found him "dour" and a "quintessential Communist apparatchik".

He writes that Xi told stories about Chinese victimhood and talked about his "demands to avenge grievances from long before any of us were born".

"Personally, I thought Xi was dour. While Putin can be funny and mirthful, even while being evil, Xi was not so serious as dead-eyed. I never once saw an unforced smile," Mr Pompeo writes in the book that hit the bookshops on Tuesday.

"I also found Xi a quintessential Communist apparatchik: heavy in the abstract, light on the issues under discussion, and always eager to impose his views, even while he pretends to be listening to you. He fit the psychological profile of an East German or Soviet Communist I came to study during my Army days," Mr Pompeo notes.

The former US Secretary of State writes in the book about his several interactions with the 69-year-old Chinese leader.

Pompeo notes that Xi talked in "hollow tones" and was always in search of words, phrases, and archaic Chinese proverbs of questionable clarity.

"My China policy advisor at the State Department, Miles Yu, later told me that CCP leaders in general, and General Secretary Xi in particular, deploy overwrought erudition to play gullible American leaders," he said.

"Of the dozens of world leaders I met, he was among the most unpleasant. How's that for telling the hard truth? Having now seen the regime personified at the highest level, I was gripped by just how different its leaders were from the Chinese people," Mr Pompeo said.

He says a small business he ran in Kansas, with an operation in Shanghai that employed fewer than 15 people, enabled him to travel to China several times in the early 2000s.

"I had come to love the Chinese people, and I still do. It saddened me that the American model of engagement with China had emboldened a regime with such utter disdain for basic human dignity and that viewed its own people as cogs in the Marxist system of power," he writes.

Xi, 69, was re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China for a record third five-year term last year, a privilege only accorded to party founder Mao Zedong.

Referring to his first meeting with Xi, Mr Pompeo said he sized him up and told him what he thought.

"It was clear that he sought to take the measure of me and the Trump team, too. He had already met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in April 2017. On that occasion, Trump disclosed that he had ordered a strike against Syria and other targets just a few minutes earlier. Undoubtedly, Xi knew this was not Team Obama. My message in Beijing reinforced it," he said.

In the book, Pompeo writes that at the peak of the Covid-19 crisis, Xi told then-president Donald Trump that continued calls for accountability would jeopardise America's ability to receive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shipped from China.

Coronavirus originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in early December 2019 before spreading across the world, killing over 6 million people globally, upending businesses.

According to the WHO, as of January 27, 2023, there have been 752,517,552 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6,804,491 deaths.

"The United States was still in the early stages of understanding what we were up against, and the President made the tough call that putting America first meant not jeopardising our ability to procure potentially life-saving equipment from China," Mr Pompeo writes.

"At the same time, however, I was determined to impose accountability by telling the truth. I knew that the CCP already was not happy with me," he said.

Mr Pompeo said that on March 25, he held a press conference at the State Department and tore into the party over its decision to hide a looming global disaster.

He says that he suspects that his harsh words influenced Trump's previously scheduled call with Xi the next evening, March 26.

"I joined the call from a secure location, while the President was at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It started off cordially, as Xi offered Eastern medicines that he assured us would stem the symptoms of COVID-19, if Trump needed them. Yet Xi's real mission was to get me fired," Mr Pompeo writes.

"He railed against me: Pompeo has defamed the Chinese people. Pompeo is antagonistic and a pugilist without reason. Pompeo is risking the trade deal we signed two months ago. Pompeo is immature and jeopardises all we've built together. I'm sure that he knew I was on the call, so I admired his directness, if not his objective," he wrote.

Mr Pompeo writes that soon after the call, Trump called him and said: "My Mike, that f--ing guy hates you!".

"We should chat in the morning, as the hour was late in DC, but that I needed to 'shut the hell up for a while.' We needed that health equipment from China, he said," Mr Pompeo writes.

"At his direction, I committed to a temporary rhetorical ceasefire. There was only one moment when I thought my job might be at risk. I'd watched President Trump aim his ire at many cabinet officials over the previous three years, but had never really worried that I could be on the way out. Now it was my turn," he said.

According to the book, a few days later when Mr Pompeo was in the Oval Office, Trump walked in, and saw him in person for the first time since the Xi call.

He said: "You guys need to know Xi hates that guy. Mike, you're putting us all at risk - the PPE, our trade deal. Stop, for God's sake!", notes the book.

"When I went home that night, I told Susan that my good run might be near its end. I would not praise Xi or the CCP for their death-dealing lies. Quiet for a time? Fine," Mr Pompeo writes.

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



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China's Smartphone Sales Drop To Lowest In 10 Years

China's smartphone sales endured a record fall in 2022, tumbling 13% to their lowest level in a decade as COVID-19 controls and a slowing economy sapped consumer appetite, data from third-party research firms showed.

The total number of devices shipped was 286 million, down from 329 million in 2022. It was the lowest sales volume since 2013 and the first time since then that annual sales have dropped below 300 million, IDC said in a report.

Strict COVID-19 controls weighed heavily on the Chinese economy last year but Beijing started dismantling the restrictions in December, boosting consumption.

"The strict pandemic control poicy has resulted in historically high household savings as consumer spending became conservative," said Lucas Zhong, who tracks China's smartphone sector for research firm Canalys.

Android handset maker Vivo was the top-selling brand in 2022, with a market share of 18.6%, according to IDC. Its total shipments fell 25.1% year-on-year.

Huawei Technologies spin-off Honor ranked as the second best-selling brand, with shipments growing more than 34%, albeit from a low base.

Apple Inc was the third best-selling phone brand in 2022, tied with Oppo, moving up from fourth place in the previous year.

Apple's overall sales fell 4.4% year-on-year, according to IDC, while all other rivals excluding Honor saw sales fall in the double digits.

Overall, the plunge in smartphone sales in China reflected the sector's performance globally. In 2022, global smartphone shipments hit 1.2 billion, the lowest since 2013 and a year-on-year fall of more than 11%, according to IDC.

A separate report from Canalys published on Monday said that in the fourth quarter of 2022, Apple sold 16.4 million devices, down 24% year-on-year. This compared to a 37.3% shipments slump from Xiaomi and Honor's 14.1% fall during the same quarter.

That marks the first time Apple shipments dropped year-on-year in China since early 2020, when the first wave of COVID-19 swept the country. The fall was caused by an earlier release of the latest iPhone series as well as by worker unrest at its major manufacturer Foxconn's plant in the city of Zhengzhou that impacted its supply chain, Canalys said.

Still, Apple remained the top-selling phone maker in China in the quarter, hitting record-high market share, Canalys added.

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



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The Last of Us Episode 4 Trailer: A Road Trip Poses Big Trouble for Joel and Ellie

The Last of Us episode 4 trailer is out. HBO has dropped a preview for next week's episode of the post-apocalyptic drama based on the eponymous PlayStation video game, teasing a new character in the form of Kathleen, a ruthless leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City. Melanie Lynskey, best known for her run on Yellowjackets, will portray the role — signifying big trouble for our survivor duo Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Titled 'Please Hold My Hand', the episode will be directed by Jeremy Webb (The Umbrella Academy) and will reportedly be only 50 minutes long — significantly shorter than the 75-minute runtime of episode 3. The Last of Us episode 4 premieres February 6 at 8:30am IST/ February 5 at 9pm ET on Disney+ Hotstar and HBO Max, respectively.

The trailer for The Last of Us episode 4 kicks off by introducing Ellie's (Ramsey) new pet peeve - a disgust for the smell of coffee, as the pair take a break, out in the woods. “It smells like burnt sh-t,” she tells Joel (Pascal), who unbothered by her comments, instantly takes a loud slurp from the flask. While not explicitly mentioned, to Ellie's credit, the coffee must have been strained using some smelly rag or his sock — seeing as they've been travelling for a while. Episode 3 introduced our unlikely greasy-haired ally Bill (Nick Offerman), who was given a surprising love story spin with his partner Frank (Murray Bartlett) in the TV series.

The Last of Us episode 4 trailer puts Joel and Ellie on the road, as they continue their journey to Wyoming. Ellie, who isn't familiar with being in a car, struggles to help with map navigation, causing the duo to halt at a hostile territory. “This is my second day in a f--king car, man. Stop,” she says, upon noticing an injured survivor begging them for help. Believing that he's probably bitten and infected, Joel resumes driving the car, crashing into some debris. “This has gone too far. It has to stop,” an unseen hostage tells the new character Kathleen (Lynskey), who is seen holding a gun to his head. “Where is he?”, she asks with tears in her eyes, presumably referring to Joel. The Last of Us episode 4 trailer then cuts to display some action sequences of our duo stealthily navigating their way across the dilapidated town, and engaging in combat with the last surviving citizens.

“We'll get through this,” Joel assures Ellie at the end of the Last of Us episode 4 trailer, before heading out onto the streets. Circling back to the new character Kathleen, over on Twitter, writer Neil Druckmann commended her performance in the series. “OMG! You crushed your episodes! Can't wait for people to see your character!”, he said, confirming that Lynskey will appear in multiple episodes.

Last week, HBO renewed The Last of Us series for a second season, with Druckmann adding that it will explore the events of the award-winning video game sequel, The Last of Us Part II. Craig Mazin, showrunner and director on episode 1 of the Last of Us also suggested that the continuation might end up being a two-parter, claiming that the story is 'more than a season's worth of television'.

New episodes of The Last of Us stream every Monday on Disney+ Hotstar, at 8:30am IST in India, and Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO Max wherever available. Season 1 comprises of nine episodes.


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"I'd Rather Die Than Tie Up With BJP Again," Says Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar today said he would "rather die" than return to an alliance with the BJP and accused the ruling party of launching cases against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav "deliberately, without basis".

The Bihar Chief Minister was responding to BJP leaders accusing him of "abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trust" while rejecting speculation of a reunion, once again.

"The question does not arise. I'd rather die than tie up with them," he told reporters, Tejashwi Yadav standing next to him.

The Chief Minister and Janata Dal United leader said his decision to revive his alliance with the BJP, following corruption cases against Tejashwi Yadav and his father Lalu Yadav, was a "mistake".

"Listen carefully. They (BJP) went through so much effort. They slapped cases against Tejashwi and his father to get me on board. Now again, they are trying to get after them. These people keep doing such things," Nitish Kumar said.

The Chief Minister scoffed at the BJP's claim that it would win 36 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the national election next year. He sought to "remind" the BJP that when they were allies it used to get the votes of all his supporters, including Muslims, who have always been "wary" of the BJP's Hindutva ideology.

Mr Kumar's comments come after BJP leaders said there is "no question" of partnering again with an "unpopular" Chief Minister.

"We have sought to stamp out rumours among our party cadre about such a realignment. Of course, the CM has the proclivity to oscillate like a pendulum. But we are not going to be cheated by him again," said BJP's Bihar chief Sanjay Jaiswal.

"Nitish Kumar has grown hugely unpopular. It was his unpopularity that had caused his JDU to do badly in the assembly polls of 2020 when we did much better. Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed magnanimity in deciding to stick to the promise made before elections and Nitish Kumar, the habitual betrayer that he is, abused the PM's trust," he said.

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



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5 Injured As "Pro-Khalistan" Group Attacks Crowd In Australia: Report

Five people were hospitalised after members of alleged pro-Khalistani groups attacked a crowd carrying the national flag in Melbourne, reported The Australia Today. "Another video of #Khalistan goons running a mock in #Melbourne's Federation Square Five injured one in Hospital," The Australia Today tweeted. After the video went viral, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemned the "anti-India activities" by pro-Khalistani in Australia.

"I strongly condemn anti-India activities by pro-Khalistani in Australia. Anti-social elements that are trying to disrupt the peace & harmony of the country with these activities, must be dealt with strongly and culprits must be brought to books," he tweeted.

The Indians were seen running away to protect themselves from the attack while one individual threw an Indian flag on the ground.

Sarah L Gates, director of Hindu Human Rights Australasia, tweeted the video of a group of alleged pro-Khalistani supporters chasing a man who was carrying the Indian national flag.

"Khalistanis now sharing footage of a Khali mob approaching a lone Indian youth with Tiranga and assaulting them near Federation Square Khalistan Referendum. I hope @AusFedPolice will not turn a blind eye," tweeted Gates.

One of them was seen charging towards the crowd with a sword.

The Australia Today earlier reported that Indians in Australia had notified the Victoria Police that they had planned a protest at the Federation Square in Melbourne against the rising pro-Khalistan activities in the country.

Meanwhile, Australian Hindu Media tweeted that a sword-yielding Khalistani supporter was arrested by the police at Federation Square.

"Khalistani goon, armed with a sword, who attacked Indians holding the Tiranga - arrested by police at Khalistani event at Federation Square, Melbourne today," Australian Hindu Media tweeted.

Condemning the attack, the Victoria Police informed that as of now two people have been arrested. The two arrested men are in their 30s and have been issued a penalty notice for "riotous behaviour".

The attack comes days after Hindu temples in Melbourne were set on fire in a targeted attack.



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Sunday, January 29, 2023

Google Employee Laid Off While On Leave Caring For Sick Mother

Tech giant Google announced 12,000 job cuts globally this month. The recent layoffs have greatly impacted employees, prompting them to express their grief and share their stories about their time at the tech giant. Impacted by the job cuts, Paul Baker, who worked at Google as Video Production Manager, revealed he was fired while he was on carer's leave. 

In a LinkedIn post, the former Google employee revealed that he had taken a month's leave to take care of his ailing mother, who was suffering from terminal cancer, according to an Insider report attached to his post. During his leave, he was informed by a friend about the layoffs. He then found his work laptop had been "cut off," following which he switched on his personal laptop to discover an email from the company saying he was being let go, as per the report. 

According to his bio, Mr Baker joined Google in late 2018 and worked at the company's office in Venice, Los Angeles, as a video production manager. 

Sharing his experience, Mr Baker wrote in the LinkedIn post, ''With the advent of 12k Google employee lay-offs on Friday and reading numerous hard-breaking/inspiring stories, I'm ready to share my story. While on carer's leave for my immediate family member's terminal cancer, I too was laid off. After the initial shock it morphed into sadness because I miss the people. I miss immersing myself into my Google career and culture.''  

Despite all this, he still looks back fondly at his time at the company, saying he ''will miss it''.  

''Through it all, I'm lucky & proud I played a pivotal role in creating scalable video and a wonderful community within Google. I'll truly miss it,'' he added.  

In a similar story, a Google employee who gave birth to her second child on January 19 shared she was laid off while she was still in the hospital, holding her hours-old newborn baby. Another Google employee, who was laid off, revealed he worked as a recruiter at the company. He got to know about getting laid off when his call with a potential candidate was cut off abruptly. 

Google last week announced it's making 12,000 roles redundant, becoming the latest tech major to cut jobs after years of growth. Chief executive officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai stressed the cuts were made after careful consideration and stated that Google will "support" employees as they look for other opportunities. 

"We've decided to reduce our workforce by approximately 12,000 roles. We've already sent a separate email to employees in the US who are affected. In other countries, this process will take longer due to local laws and practices," Mr Pichai said in a statement. 



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UK PM Dismisses Conservative Party Chairman After Tax Probe

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday fired Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi after an inquiry into Zahawi's tax affairs found a "serious breach" of ministerial rules, the government said.

"As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty's Government," Sunak wrote in a publicly released letter to his Iraqi-born ally, following a scandal that cast doubt on the premier's own judgement and vows of integrity.

The government also released the inquiry report by Sunak's newly appointed independent ethics advisor, Laurie Magnus.

Magnus pulled no punches in finding that Zahawi effectively lied to successive Conservative leaders when he came under investigation by the UK's tax authority, which led to the politician handing over a fine for late payment reportedly worth £5 million ($6.2 million).

Zahawi gave shifting explanations in the affair, and initially tried to silence journalists and a tax consultant with threats of libel lawsuits.

Sunak's decision to dismiss Zahawi, rather than invite him to resign with some saving of face, underlined the serious political stakes at play at a time when millions of Britons are struggling to pay the bills.

Sunak appointed Zahawi as Conservative party chairman, and cabinet minister without portfolio, when he entered 10 Downing Street in October, when he vowed to deliver "integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level".

Zahawi was previously in the cabinet under both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson -- who appointed him as chancellor of the exchequer, in ultimate charge of the UK tax agency.

The opposition Labour party said Sunak should have fired Zahawi immediately when the allegations emerged in newspaper reports this month, rather than seeking to buy time by asking Magnus to investigate.

The scandal underlined that Sunak was a "weak" prime minister, senior Labour MP Bridget Phillipson told Sky News.

"The stench of sleaze just hangs around the Conservative party," she said.

Sunak has faced questions himself about his family's tax affairs after it emerged that his wife Akshata Murty had for years enjoyed "non-domicile" status, which shielded her from paying UK taxes on her overseas income from her family's Infosys business group.

And last week he apologised for receiving his second police fine, after he was filmed not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat of a moving car.

As chancellor himself under Johnson, Sunak was fined along with the then prime minister for attending an illegal workplace party during a Covid lockdown.

The "partygate" scandal was one of several that brought down Johnson.

Sunak's vows of integrity were in sharp contrast to that record, but he remains stalked by his predecessor's dealings in government.

A separate probe is underway into reports that just before he was made chairman of the BBC by Johnson, former banker Richard Sharp was involved in securing a private credit line for up to £800,000 ($990,000) for the then-PM from a Canadian businessman.

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



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UK PM Dismisses Conservative Party Chairman After Tax Probe

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday fired Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi after an inquiry into Zahawi's tax affairs found a "serious breach" of ministerial rules, the government said.

"As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty's Government," Sunak wrote in a publicly released letter to his Iraqi-born ally, following a scandal that cast doubt on the premier's own judgement and vows of integrity.

The government also released the inquiry report by Sunak's newly appointed independent ethics advisor, Laurie Magnus.

Magnus pulled no punches in finding that Zahawi effectively lied to successive Conservative leaders when he came under investigation by the UK's tax authority, which led to the politician handing over a fine for late payment reportedly worth £5 million ($6.2 million).

Zahawi gave shifting explanations in the affair, and initially tried to silence journalists and a tax consultant with threats of libel lawsuits.

Sunak's decision to dismiss Zahawi, rather than invite him to resign with some saving of face, underlined the serious political stakes at play at a time when millions of Britons are struggling to pay the bills.

Sunak appointed Zahawi as Conservative party chairman, and cabinet minister without portfolio, when he entered 10 Downing Street in October, when he vowed to deliver "integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level".

Zahawi was previously in the cabinet under both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson -- who appointed him as chancellor of the exchequer, in ultimate charge of the UK tax agency.

The opposition Labour party said Sunak should have fired Zahawi immediately when the allegations emerged in newspaper reports this month, rather than seeking to buy time by asking Magnus to investigate.

The scandal underlined that Sunak was a "weak" prime minister, senior Labour MP Bridget Phillipson told Sky News.

"The stench of sleaze just hangs around the Conservative party," she said.

Sunak has faced questions himself about his family's tax affairs after it emerged that his wife Akshata Murty had for years enjoyed "non-domicile" status, which shielded her from paying UK taxes on her overseas income from her family's Infosys business group.

And last week he apologised for receiving his second police fine, after he was filmed not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat of a moving car.

As chancellor himself under Johnson, Sunak was fined along with the then prime minister for attending an illegal workplace party during a Covid lockdown.

The "partygate" scandal was one of several that brought down Johnson.

Sunak's vows of integrity were in sharp contrast to that record, but he remains stalked by his predecessor's dealings in government.

A separate probe is underway into reports that just before he was made chairman of the BBC by Johnson, former banker Richard Sharp was involved in securing a private credit line for up to £800,000 ($990,000) for the then-PM from a Canadian businessman.

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



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"Wanted To Raise Flag In Srinagar Tomorrow But...": Congress Leader



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Pics: Alia Bhatt And Katrina Kaif Get Clicked At Zoya Akhtar's House

Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt were spotted at filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's house on Saturday. Both the actresses smiled for the shutterbugs stationed outside the filmmaker's residence as they made their way out to get into their respective cars. Katrina and Alia, along with Priyanka Chopra will be seen in Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa, a film written by Zoya Akhtar. Alia looked beautiful in an all-black ensemble and accessorised her look with hoop earrings and black heels. On the other hand, Katrina Kaif looked cool in a white t-shirt paired with blue jeans and a military-printed jacket. She left her hair open and sported a no-makeup look.

Check out the pictures below: 

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Jee Le Zaraa is one of the most highly-anticipated films in recent times, as it stars three veteran stars Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra. The movie was announced in 2021, on the day when Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut, completed 20 years. It is touted to be a road trip movie celebrating friendship and love. The movie will be produced under the banner of Excel Entertainment.

Last year speaking to Pinkvilla, Katrina Kaif opened up about Jee Le Zara. She said, "We're all looking forward to it. That film's had its journey, yes but I think when finally it does happen it's gonna be a lot of fun." The actress also revealed her plans of making her co-stars Priyanka and Alia use a whole lot of makeup that she will carry from her beauty brand. She said, "Jee Le Zaraa is a super exciting film. And on that film, I'm going to be taking the whole range of makeup (from her beauty brand) to the girls and be like 'Girls now you have to use this."

Meanwhile, Katrina Kaif will be next seen in Tiger 3. On the other hand, Alia Bhatt has two releases this year - Heart Of Stone and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.



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40 Killed in Pakistan After Bus Plunges Off Bridge, Catches Fire

At least 40 people died when a bus plunged off a bridge in southwestern Pakistan and burst into flames, a government official said Sunday.

"The dead bodies...are beyond recognition," Hamza Anjum, a senior official of Lasbela district in Balochistan province, said at the accident site.

Anjum said three survivors had been rescued and the bus was reportedly carrying 48 passengers when it hit a pillar on the bridge and careened off course.

Ramshackle highways, lax safety measures and reckless driving contribute to Pakistan's dire road safety record.

Passenger buses are frequently crammed to capacity and seatbelts are not commonly worn, meaning high death tolls from single vehicle accidents are common.

According to World Health Organization estimates, more than 27,000 people were killed on Pakistan's roads in 2018.

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



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Saturday, January 28, 2023

2 Wounded In Shooting Near Jerusalem Old City: Israel Medics

Two people were wounded in a gun attack outside Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday, Israeli medics said, hours after a Palestinian gunman killed seven people outside a synagogue in the eastern sector of the city.

"A 23-year-old male is in serious condition and a 47-year-old male in moderate to serious condition, with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies," a spokesman for Israel's Magen David Adom rescue emergency response service said.

The MDA described the incident in the Silwan area of east Jerusalem as a "shooting terror attack".

It said it had received an emergency call about the attack at 10:42 am (0842 GMT).

"We were quickly on scene and saw two gunshot victims," MDA medic Fadi Dekidek said in a statement. 

The victims were "fully conscious" and had been taken to hospital, he added.

Police said the suspect had been "neutralised," without commenting on whether he was dead or injured.

The shooting came hours after a Palestinian gunman killed seven people outside an east Jerusalem synagogue on Friday night, one of the deadliest attacks in the city in a year.

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



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Oppo Reno 8T Price, Specifications Leaked via Retail Listing Ahead of February 8 Launch

Oppo Reno 8T has been a part of the rumour mill for quite a while now. The company has confirmed that this handset will launch in the Philippines on February 8. However, the remaining details are yet to be officially revealed. However, it appears that a retailer has revealed the pricing of the Oppo Reno 8T. An alleged listing for this upcoming smartphone has surfaced on Facebook that also mentions some of the key specifications of the Oppo Reno 8T. It also includes supposed live images of the handset and its box packaging.

Oppo Reno 8T price (expected)

According to a report by Revü, the Oppo Reno 8T might be priced at PHP 18,999 (roughly Rs. 28,500) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The lack of 5G branding on the leaked retail box image could mean that this is the 4G variant. Oppo is believed to be also working on the Oppo Reno 8T 5G.

Oppo recently posted a teaser video on Facebook confirming the launch of the Oppo Reno 8T in the Philippines. This upcoming smartphone is set to launch on February 8.

Oppo Reno 8T specifications (rumoured)

The leaked Oppo Reno 8T listing suggests that this smartphone might feature a 6.43-inch AMOLED display. Moreover, recent reports have hinted that the Oppo Reno 8T could be powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC. It could pack 8GB of physical RAM with the option of extending it with up to 8GB of virtual memory. This smartphone is expected to run on Android 13-based ColorOS 13.

For optics, this Oppo smartphone may get a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 100-megapixel main camera. There could also be a 40x zoom 'Microlens' camera on the back as well. The alleged listing mentions that the Oppo Reno 8T might pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W SuperVOOC fast charging.


The Infinix Zero Ultra has a decent set of specifications on paper, but does the phone justify its high asking price? We discuss this and more on 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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"Appropriate Age For Motherhood Is 22 To 30 Years": Assam Chief Minister

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said women should embrace motherhood at the "appropriate age" as it otherwise leads to medical complications. Speaking at a government function here, Mr Sarma iterated his government's commitment to stop underage marriages and motherhood.

His comments come in the backdrop of the state government deciding to bring stringent laws and evoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to check child marriages and underage motherhood.

"Thousands of husbands will be arrested in the next five-six months as it is a crime to have sexual relations with a girl below 14 years of age, even if he is her legally wed husband," Mr Sarma said.

The legal age for the marriage of a woman is 18 years and those who marry younger girls will also be brought to book. "Many (men who marry girls) could face life imprisonment," he said.

Speaking about motherhood, Mr Sarma said, "Women should not wait too long to become mothers as it leads to complications. The appropriate age for motherhood is 22 years to 30 years".

Women who have not married yet should do it soon, he said with a smile.

"We have been speaking against early motherhood. But at the same time, women should not wait too long either as many do ... God has created our bodies in a manner that there is an appropriate age for everything," he added.

The Assam cabinet on Monday decided to book men who marry girls below 14 years of age under the POCSO Act. Those who marry girls in the age group of 14-18 years will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

The decision was taken to curb the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in the state, whose primary cause is child marriage, Sarma had said after the cabinet meeting.

An average of 31 per cent of the marriages in the state are in the prohibited age group, he said.

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



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BharatPe Reveals Founder Ashneer Grover's Salary. It Was...

The salary of top executives of BharatPe, including its founder Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain Grover, has been revealed after a regulatory filing by the fintech startup. The ex-Shark Tank India judge earned Rs 1.69 crore in FY22 while his wife, who was BharatPe's head of controls, took home a salary of Rs 63 lakh, according to Moneycontrol

The filings showed that the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BharatPe, Suhail Sameer, took home Rs 2.1 crore in FY22 and co-founder Shashvat Nakrani earned Rs 29.8 lakh during the same period. Board member Kewal Handa and chairman Rajnish Kumar, the former State Bank of India chief, were paid Rs 36 lakh and Rs 21.4 lakh, respectively, the report added.

The disclosed salaries of these executives, however, do not include the share-based payment made to them. According to the company's financials, it spent Rs 70 crore in share-based payments in FY22, which was an increase of 218% from the previous year, the report stated.

BharatPe sacked Ashneer Grover and his wife last year in March for alleged financial irregularities. The founder had resigned from the company and its board days later. The fintech company, in December 2022, filed a criminal lawsuit against Ashneer Grover and his family seeking Rs 88.67 in damages. It accused the founder of cheating and embezzling funds. 

Suhail Sameer stepped down as CEO of BharatPe earlier this month. A statement by BharatPe said that he will “transition from chief executive officer to strategic advisor effective January 7, 2023”. He said last year that BharatPe did not have enough money to pay salaries to its employees as Ashneer Grover stole all. 

Last week, the Delhi High Court issued summons to Ashneer Grover on a suit by BharatPe's co-founder Bhavik Koladiya who wants to reclaim the shares he transferred to Mr Grover.



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Indian-American Harmeet Dhillon Loses Republican National Committee Polls

Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Indian-American attorney, failed in her bid to win the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee (RNC) to Ronna McDaniel, who was reelected in a high-profile and combustible election that could hurt the party as it prepares for the race for the White House in 2024.

Ms Dhillon, 54, a former California Republican Party Co-Chair, contested against incumbent Ms McDaniel, whom former US president Donald Trump tapped as RNC chair in 2016.

Ms McDaniel, 49, was comfortably reelected in a secret ballot on Friday for the second consecutive term, as she received 111 votes against Ms Dhillon's 51.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell received four votes.

RNC is the top governing body of the Republican Party led by Donald Trump. The meeting of the RNC was held at a luxury seaside resort in southern California's Orange County. With the victory, Ms McDaniel will serve a rare fourth term as chair of the RNC, becoming the longest-serving RNC chair since the Civil War.

The defeat of Ms Dhillon is also seen as a setback for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who of late has emerged as a formidable challenger to Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Mr DeSantis had endorsed Mr Dhillon at the last-minute.

"Congratulations to Ronna McDaniel on her big WIN as RNC CHAIR. Now we have to STOP THE DEMOCRATS FROM CHEATING IN ELECTIONS!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"After a hard-fought effort, we, unfortunately, came up-shot. However, the RNC will be better for the tough conversations that were desperately needed about how to reform the RNC to win elections and earn the trust of our voters, activists and donors," Ms Dhillon said in a statement after the election results were declared.

"A brief thought about the RNC Chair race. It's been an honour to hear from all the Americans who reached out to share their views about the party's leadership. While we are disappointed with the results, we started a movement & I will keep working to elect Republicans nationwide!!," she tweeted.

According to Politico, the at times fierce, two-month-long race sparked debates about how the RNC has managed its finances and fared in recent elections.

"It also saw some members - on both sides of the contest - publicly calling into question the character of their colleagues, putting McDaniel and her allies on the defensive and forcing the incumbent chair to assemble an aggressive whip operation to shore up her support," it said.

"We're disappointed in the results, having left it all on the field and worked really hard over the last several weeks in this campaign," Ms Dhillon told reporters.

"The results were not what we or our hundreds of thousands of supporters around the country were looking for, and I think the party's going to have to deal with that fallout and disconnect from the grassroots," she said.

Ms Dhillon also warned fellow Republicans that "if voters think that our party is out of touch with the voters, they're not going to show up. We've got to solve that problem in the next two years." After her win, Ms McDaniel invited Ms Dhillon and Mr Lindell onstage for a photo op, implicitly attempting to rebut criticism about the fractured nature of the party, CNN reported.

"With us united and all of us going together, the Democrats are going to hear us in 2024," Ms McDaniel said.

"We need all of us. We heard you, grassroots. We know. We heard Harmeet, we heard Mike Lindell. But with us united and all of us going together, the Democrats are going to hear us in 2024 when we take back the White House and the Senate," Ms McDaniel said after her electoral victory. 

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



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"Feeling Overwhelmed And...": Director Siddharth On Pathaan Success

Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan was one of the most awaited films of this year. And ever since its release, the movie has been breaking records at the box office. On seeing this response, director Siddharth Anand, in a statement, said that he is "feeling incredibly overwhelmed". The spy-thriller marked SRK's return to the big screens after four years and became the biggest opener in Hindi cinema with a record of Rs 55 crore. On breaking the records, the director said, "Scripting history. Everyone wants it, but one can't plan it. It just happens. And when it does, it's actually a very humbling experience. I'm feeling incredibly overwhelmed right now and inspired to get back on the film set and try and create something really special for audiences again. That's my state of mind," as per a report in ANI. 

Siddharth Anand added, "With War and now Pathaan, we, the Hindi film industry have given films that have pan India appeal. I have always believed that cinema has no language. Cinema is about an emotion and if it connects with people, it can really go to dizzying heights and that's what's happening with Pathaan."

He concluded by saying, "Today is a victory of Indian cinema because we are all Indians first. It is such an exciting phase for our country that films from across India are making records, breaking records and most importantly entertaining the people of our country globally."

Pathaan, produced by Yash Raj Films, also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in the lead. 

Coming back to the box office collection, Pathaan, in just two days, has entered Rs 200 club as the worldwide ticket sales for two days add up to over Rs 200 crores. On the second day, Pathaan's Hindi version made around Rs 70 crore - the first Hindi film to approach this number in a single day's takings. Pathaan's Hindi version now totals Rs 123 crore. 

In a tweet shared by trade analyst Taran Adarsh, he wrote, "All BO records demolished. Pathaan creates history on Day 2 as well. First Hindi film to near Rs 70 crore on a single day. Wed 55 cr, Th 68 cr (Republic Day). Total: Rs 123 cr. Hindi version. India biz. Unimaginable. Unprecedented. Unstoppable." In another tweet, he reported the Tamil and Telugu earnings.

Take a look below: 

Directed by Siddharth Anand, Pathaan stars SRK in the title role of a RAW agent who teams up with Deepika Padukone's ISI agent to fight against a terror threat from John Abraham.

(With ANI Inputs)



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Friday, January 27, 2023

As ChatGPT Becomes Popular, Gmail Creator Says AI Will "Eliminate" Google

The capabilities of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, is causing alarm among experts. In fact, Gmail developer Paul Buccheit said on Twitter that the tool could bring down search engine giant Google in "a year or two". The tool was launched in November 2022, and within a week, amassed more than one million users, according to a tweet from OpenAI employee Sam Altman. In the past few weeks, ChatGPT has demonstrated what it is capable of - by writing instant and complex essays, drafting marketing pitches, producing poems and jokes, and even drafting the speech of a Congressman in the US.

There are also fears that AI could take over some human jobs.

"Google may be only a year or two away from total disruption. AI will eliminate the Search Engine Result Page, which is where they make most of their money," Mr Buccheit said in his December 1 tweet.

"Even if they catch up on AI, they can't fully deploy it without destroying the most valuable part of their business!" he further said.

He noted that AI will do to search engine what Google did to Yellow Pages.

Last week, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the top business institutions in the world, tested ChatGPT and was stunned to see that it passed the MBA exam.

Professor Christian Terwiesch published a research paper in which he examined ChatGPT's performance on the Operations Management final test, a typical MBA core course. A per a report in Fortune, the professor wrote that the AI chatbot "does an amazing job at basic operations management and process analysis questions including those that are based on case studies". He stated that it did have certain drawbacks, such as not being able to tackle "more advanced process analysis problems".

Also Read | US Congressman Reads ChatGPT-Generated Speech On House Floor

Then on Wednesday, news agency AFP said in a report that ChatGPT passed exams at a US law school after writing essays on topics ranging from constitutional law to taxation and torts.

Jonathan Choi, a professor at Minnesota University Law School, published a white paper in which he and his co-authors reported that the bot scored a C+ overall.



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At Masaba Gupta's Wedding - Father Viv Richards, Stepdad Vivek Mehra

Designer Masaba Gupta has shared a family portrait taken this morning at her wedding to actor Satyadeep Misra and it includes her father, West Indies cricketing legend Vivian Richards. Both Masaba's dad and step-father Vivek Mehra were at the wedding and are in the picture. Also in the photo, apart from the bride and groom, are Masaba's mother Neena Gupta, Satyadeep's mother Nalini and his sister Chinmaya. Everyone is dressed in co-ordinating shades of pink and yellow; the wedding outfits are courtesy the bride's label House Of Masaba.

In the family album shared by Masaba, one picture is of her with her dad Viv Richards and the last with mother Neena Gupta. For the first time ever - My whole life came together. This is us. My beautiful blended family Everything from here on is just bonus," Masaba captioned the post.

Soon after she shared the post, Soni Razdan commented, "Lovely," while Gauahar Khan wrote, "Heartwarming."

Take a look below: 
 

Masaba was born to Neena Gupta and Viv Richards, who never married, in 1989. Neena Gupta married Vivek Mehra in 2008.

Masaba and Satyadeep Misra had a court wedding on Friday morning. They announced their wedding in a post on Instagram. In the wedding photos, Masaba looks pretty as a bride in a pink and green lehenga, while Satydadeep looks dapper in a pink sherwani. Both outfits are from the House of Masaba. In the caption, she wrote, "Married my ocean of calm, this morning. Here's to many many lifetimes of love, peace, stability and most importantly laughter. And thanks for letting me pick the caption - this is gonna be great."

Take a look below:

Masaba Gupta and Satydeep Misra reportedly started dating in 2020 after meeting on the sets of her show Masaba Masaba.



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"Honoured": Chennai-Born Sriram Krishnan, Donald Trump's Pick For AI Advisor

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of...