Video: IndiGo Crew Member Ties Rakhi On Flight, To Her Brother - The Pilot

Raksha Bandhan is the celebration of the unique bond between siblings. While it is celebrated with much zeal across the country, it is not uncommon for hectic schedules and work commitments to keep loved ones away from each other on the day of the festival. One sibling duo got the opportunity to celebrate the festival on a flight. Yes, Shubha,  an IndiGo Airlines cabin crew member got to celebrate the festival with her brother Gaurav, who was the pilot.

A video of the heartwarming moment shared on X [formerly Twitter] shows Shubha tying the sacred thread on Captain Gaurav's wrist and the pilot touching her feet. 

The video begins with Shubha making a special announcement to passengers before the flight takes off. “In a profession like ours, it is not that every year we get to celebrate festivals and special moments with our loved ones back home, because it is important for us to take you back home so you can celebrate with your loved ones,” she says on the flight interphone system, adding, “That's why, today is a very special day for me and my brother Gaurav, who is on board today to make sure that we celebrate Raksha Bandhan together after many years.”

With Captain Gaurav standing next to her, she adds, “Like all brothers and sisters, we also laugh and cry, play and fight, but he's my rock, my best friend, my shoulder to lean on.” To this, the passengers begin applauding as Shubha proceeds to tie the rakhi on her brother's hand.

The tweet by IndiGo says, “At 30,000 feet or on the ground, the bond of a brother and sister remains special. A heartwarming moment on board today as our Check Cabin Attendant Shubha celebrates Rakhi with her brother Capt. Gaurav.”

At 30,000 feet or on the ground, the bond of a brother and sister remains special.
A heartwarming moment on board today as our Check Cabin Attendant Shubha celebrates Rakhi with her brother Capt. Gaurav. #HappyRakshaBandhan2023 #HappyRakhi #goIndiGo #IndiaByIndiGo pic.twitter.com/WoLgx8XoIa

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 30, 2023

Replying to the post, one user wrote, “Some might envy the job of the cabin & flight deck crew for their glamorised work profile. But nobody envys them for their odd working hours....nobody envys them when they are on the jobs, come rain, come shine, or festivals when all of enjoy at home. KUDOS to every crew member!”

Some might envy the job of the cabin & flight deck crew for their glamorised work profile. But nobody envys them for their odd working hours....nobody envys them when they are on the jobs, come rain, come shine, or festivals when all of enjoy at home. KUDOS to every Crew member!

— Sanjeev P. Ghanekar (@sanjeevghanekar) August 31, 2023

“This is unbelievable, the bonds between brother & sister is unimaginable, no matter where we are. Proud to be an Indian,” wrote another.

This is unbelievable, the bonds between brother & sister is unimaginable, no matter where we are. Proud to be an Indian. https://t.co/ybELgakHGB

— Raj Nayak (@RajNaya50858983) August 30, 2023

“Truly heart-warming,” read a comment.

Very Nice
Happy Rakshabandhan https://t.co/XDLQnVmnOF pic.twitter.com/aO2kEahdtt

— vinod (@grrnage) August 31, 2023

Tell us what you think of the video.

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Video: Roads Flooded, Cars Submerged In Florida As Hurricane Idalia Hits

Hurricane Idalia made landfall early Wednesday on Florida's Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm. It is the strongest hurricane storm to hit the region in more than 125 years, as per a CNN report. Several videos posted on social media show high-speed winds and flooded roadways across Florida as the hurricane passed through the state and moved into South Georgia. The storm left 400,000 people in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina without power, the outlet further said in its report.

In one of the clips posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Clearwater Police Department, roads are flooded with the cops navigating the waters on a speed boat.

Current view on #ClearwaterBeach amid the surge from #Idalia pic.twitter.com/t1SzFQd97X

— Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) August 30, 2023

Navigating the waters of #Idalia on #ClearwaterBeach in the north beach residential area. pic.twitter.com/ArbfMAgO8Y

— Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) August 30, 2023

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office also posted a picture on social media of a flooded roadway and warned residents to stay home.

"It's a good night to stay in. Trees are down. Roads are flooded. If you encounter street flooding, turn around. Don't drown. This is the scene deputies found on Pinckney Street in McClellanville," the sheriff's office said in the post.

Several roads were closed and parks cars half-submerged due to the flooding. Coastal flooding is also expected in Storm Surge Watch areas in North Carolina on Thursday, as per National Weather Service's (NWS) latest update.

Idalia has now weakened into a tropical storm but nevertheless drenching the region with up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain and bringing life-threatening storm surges to coastal communities, officials said.

They described Idalia and its record-high surging waters as once-in-a-lifetime event for the area of northwest Florida most affected.

While there were no immediately confirmed deaths, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stressed "that very well may change," given the storm's magnitude.

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Google Adds New Features To AI-Based Search In India: All You Need To Know

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained a lot of prominence in recent months. Using the generative model, the technology is capable of generating text, image and other media. This feature caught the eye of internet giant Google, which embedded it in its Search. This form of AI uses deep-learning models to identify the patterns and structures within existing data to generate new and original content. The generative AI gives contextual content along with text-based search results in the form of videos (explainers or DIY clips) and images to make a user understand the result better.

And now, taking a step further, Google has introduced generative AI to its Search tool for users in India and Japan that will show text or visual results in local languages.

How will the new feature change Search results?

According to a Google blog post, generative AI will help users better understand topics faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights and get things done more easily.

The short videos and images on the Search result page will be based on a conversational pattern, covering some of the aspects of the topic to give users the complete picture.

Explaining it further

Citing an example, Google said if a user asks a question like "Which is a good beginner trek in Himachal and how to prepare for it?" generative AI will help him/her to break down the topic faster.

The AI-powered Search will give an overview of key information to consider, with links to dig deeper - such as covering a follow-up question "How to take great photos on a trek?"

Context will be carried over from question-to-question.

Switching between languages

Google Search will also allow users to switch from an English result to Hindi by tapping the language toggle button. It will also read out the results with the help of text-to-speech feature (present as Listen button).

Google said it will soon add a microphone icon in conversational mode to allow users to ask follow-up questions instead of typing them.

Other features in AI-based Search

The Google blog said that it will use a wide range of voices for the Search results. It added that Search ads will continue to appear in dedicated ad slots throughout the page.

The feature was so far available only in the United States. After its rollout in India and Japan, Google said users will have the choice to opt in for it.

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China's Baidu Launches ChatGPT Rival ERNIE Bot As AI Race Heats Up

China's Baidu rolled out its ChatGPT rival ERNIE Bot to the public on Thursday, in a major leap for the country's tech sector as it aims to cash in on the artificial intelligence gold rush. The Chinese government introduced fresh regulations this month for AI developers, aiming to allow them to stay in the race with the likes of ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Microsoft while tightly controlling information online.

ERNIE Bot is the first domestic AI app to be fully available to the public in China. It is not available outside the country.

"We are thrilled to share that ERNIE Bot is now fully open to the general public starting August 31," Baidu said in a statement on Thursday.

"In addition to ERNIE Bot, Baidu is set to launch a suite of new AI-native apps that allow users to fully experience the four core abilities of generative AI: understanding, generation, reasoning, and memory."

The chatbot was released in March but its availability was limited.

By making it widely available, Baidu will be able to gain "massive" human feedback to improve the app at a swift pace, CEO Robin Li was quoted as saying in the statement.

Generative AI apps including chatbots such as ERNIE are trained on vast amounts of data as well as their interactions with users so they can answer questions, including complex ones, in human-like language.

'Let's talk about something else'

Chinese generative AI apps must "adhere to the core values of socialism" and refrain from threatening national security, according to the guidelines published this month.

When tested by AFP on Thursday, ERNIE Bot easily answered mundane questions such as "What is the capital of China" and "Do you have any hobbies".

But on sensitive topics such as China's bloody clampdown on the pro-democracy protesters at Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989, it said: "Let's change the topic and start again."

Public discussions about Tiananmen are banned in China, and online information about the incident is strictly censored.

When asked about Taiwan, a self-ruling island that China claims as its territory, ERNIE Bot offered a longer answer.

"Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China," it responded. "China's sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be violated or divided."

Then, it said: "Let's talk about something else."

And in response to the question "Can we freely discuss any topic", ERNIE Bot replied:

"Yes, we can talk about anything you want. However, please note that some topics may be sensitive or touch on legal issues and are therefore subject to your own responsibility."

Global AI race

The rapid success of US-based OpenAI's ChatGPT -- which is banned in China -- sparked an international race to develop rival apps, including image and video generators, but also widespread alarm about the potential for abuse and disinformation.

Under Chinese regulations, AI developers must conduct security assessments and submit filings on their algorithms to the authorities if their software is judged to have an impact on "public opinion", according to the rules.

They are also required to label AI-generated content.

Baidu is one of China's biggest tech companies, but has faced competition from other firms such as Tencent in various sectors.

In addition to AI, it has also looked to grow its cloud computing business and develop autonomous driving tech.

Baidu shares were up 3.3 percent in Hong Kong at 0330 GMT on Thursday.

Bloomberg reported that another Chinese tech titan, the Hong Kong-listed SenseTime, has also received a green light from Beijing for its service.

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

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52 Killed After Massive Fire At 5-Storey Building In S Africa's Johannesburg

The death count from a fire that engulfed a five-storey building in central Johannesburg on Thursday has risen to 52, the South African city's emergency services said.

"We're on 52 bodies, which we have recovered and also 43 people who sustained minor injuries," Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi told a local broadcaster.

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

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Gabonese Army Takes Over Country, Say Election Result "Cancelled"

A dozen Gabonese soldiers appeared on television Wednesday announcing they were "putting an end to the current regime" and the cancellation of an election that, according to official results, President Ali Bongo Ondimba won.

During the announcement, AFP journalists heard gunfire ring out in the Gabonese capital, Libreville.

While announcing the cancellation of the results one of the soldiers said "all the institutions of the republic" had been dissolved.

"We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime", one of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the "Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions".

"To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled," he added.

"All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court," he added, announcing the closure of the country's borders "until further notice".

Among the soldiers were members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers.

The statement was also broadcast on Gabon 1 public television.

Gunfire in the capital

AFP journalists heard gunfire in several districts of Libreville during the statement.

The announcement came shortly after the national election authority said Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, had won a third term in Saturday's election with 64.27 percent of the vote.

Bongo's main rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, won just 30.77 percent of the vote, according to the results.

Ondo Ossa had denounced "fraud orchestrated by the Bongo camp", claiming victory ahead of the closure of polls.

On Monday, Ondo Ossa's campaign manager Mike Jocktane called on Bongo to hand over power "without bloodshed", insisting a partial count had Ondo Ossa clearly ahead, without providing any proof.

Gabonese law forbids any publication of partial results pending the final result which only the Gabonese Elections Centre, the body that organises the polls, is legally allowed to publish.

The official election results were broadcast at 03:30 (02:30 GMT) on state television without any prior announcement of the event.

Before polls closed on Saturday, Bongo's government imposed a curfew and a nationwide internet shutdown to prevent the spread of "false news" and possible violence, according to Libreville

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

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Police Warns Of Fake e-Challan Scam: Here's How It Works

Amid a rise in cybercrime, Faridabad police have warned citizens to beware of the new fake e-challan scam. According to the police. fraudsters are scamming citizens “by sending links of e-challan” and by creating exact copies of government websites.

Faridabad Police has urged citizens to not click on any links they receive in the name of e-challan. The authorities added that fraudsters can hack into your bank account with just one click on these fake links.

“If you receive a link for a traffic challan, don't click these links. By clicking upon these links for payment, fraudsters can hack your bank account,” read the text attached to an infographic. The police have also differentiated between the original link of the e-challan and the fake one.

“Cyber frauds are now making people their victims by using the growing trend of e-challan payment as a weapon,” DCP Hemendra Kumar Meena was quoted as saying.

Urging citizens to not click any type of links they receive through a text message, DCP Meena informed that the fraud messages are created in such a manner that it will conclude with a link. “You have been issued a challan. You can pay your fine by clicking on this link,” she said. 

The authorities notified citizens about how they could differentiate between the original and the fake message. The statement informed that an original challan message will include “engine number, vehicle identification number (VIN) and other information about your vehicle.”

In addition, the official challan message will end with a government link: https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/. 

However, the fake messages are being concluded with a link that doesn't include .gov.in at the end. The fake e-challan message will have links like https://echallan.parivahan.in/.

Faridabad police added that as soon as any vehicle owner clicks on the link and enters bank account number and card details, fraudsters first hack the person's phone and after some time they clear out the entire balance available in the account.

Police spokesperson Sube Singh said, “If you have been a victim of any online fraud, immediately call the National Cyber Complaint Portal number 1930 and register an online complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.”

He added that as soon as the victim files a complaint, the authorities stop the transaction of money from your account. Apart from this victims can also go to the nearest cyber police station, cyber help desk or a police station.

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As Hurricane Idalia Heads Towards Florida, Blue Moon Could Worsen Tides

Hurricane Idalia is crawling towards the Florida Gulf Coast, forcing mass evacuations in low-lying areas that are expected to be swamped once the Category 3 storm makes landfall on Wednesday morning (local time). It is expected to intensify into a Category 4 storm. What's concerning is that the rare super blue moon, that's coinciding with the hurricane's landfall, can play a role in exacerbating flooding from the storm. The moon will be closest to Earth on Wednesday, for the second time this month.

While a supermoon can make for a spectacular backdrop in photos of landmarks around the world, its intensified gravitational pull also makes tides higher. And its impact will be visible not only in Florida but in Georgia and South Carolina too, according to Sky News.

Known as a king tide, these higher tides are caused by the extra gravitational pull that occurs when the sun and moon align with Earth.

"I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one," Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, is quoted as saying by the outlet.

Idalia is expected to hit Florida's coast at 6am (local time) on Wednesday.

New York Post said that the hurricane is still over 100 miles off the coast, but the rising tides have washed onto highways and overfilled canals.

Some users on X (formerly Twitter) have posted videos of the high-speed winds ripping through palm trees and kicking up miniature sand storms. NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of these viral clips.

At 11 pm on Tuesday, Idalia was carrying maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kmph) and moving north at 18 mph (29 kmph), the National Hurricane Centre said.

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Onam 2023: Inside Malaika Arora's Eat, Pray, Love Album

What's not to love about Malaika Arora's Onam album? There are glimpses of the large food spread, pictures with loved ones and photos of the festive decor. Malaika posted pictures with her sister Amrita Arora and mom Joyce Arora on her Instagram profile on Tuesday and she accompanied it with a caption that read, "Happy Onam. Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Onam." "Momsy you are the worlds best cook and feeding friends and family makes you the happiest," she wrote tagging mom Joyce. In the comments section, Shweta Bachchan wrote "Happy Onam." Farah Khan commented, "Call us also na one day K******." Rahul Khanna also wished the actress Happy Onam.

See the photos shared by Malaika Arora here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malaika Arora (@malaikaaroraofficial)

Meanwhile, Amrita Arora too shared pictures of the meal prepared by mom Joyce Arora on her Instagram story and she wrote, "My mommy's Onam Sadhya. Just too good."

Screenshot of Amrita Arora's Instagram story.

Malaika Arora is best-known for her dance performances to popular tracks such as Chaiya Chaiya, Munni Badnaam Hui, Anarkali Disco Chali and Hello Hello among many others. She was also seen in the reality TV series Moving In With Malaika.Malaika, a former model, was also a VJ. She has also judged a couple of dance shows over the years, including India's Best Dancer, Nach Baliye, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Zara Nachke Dikha. She also judged shows like India's Got Talent and Supermodel Of The Year. Other than, Malaika Arora also runs a yoga studio, an apparel brand and a food-delivery platform.

Amrita Arora stepped into Bollywood with the 2002 film Kitne Door Kitne Paas, co-starring Fardeen Khan. She has been a part of films such as Ek Aur Ek Gyarah and Hello. She shared screen space with her bestie Kareena Kapoor in films like Golmaal Returns and Kambakkht Ishq.

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After Air New Zealand, Another Airline To Weigh Passengers Before Boarding

After Air New Zealand, passengers flying on Korean Air --South Korea's largest airline-- will be asked to step on a scale before boarding their flight, the Independent reported. Korean Air confirmed on its website that it would be ''measuring the average weight of passengers along with their carry-on items for flight safety''.

The process is used to help determine the weight distribution of aircraft, and calculations need to take place every five years.

The weighing will take place in front of the gates and before boarding, The Korea Times reported.

This initiative has already been rolled out for domestic passengers at Gimpo International Airport from August 28 to September 6, followed by international passengers at Incheon International Airport from September 8 to September 19.

For any passengers who are uncomfortable about the process, the airlines said that both passengers and luggage will be weighed anonymously. If a passenger is still skeptical and chooses not to participate in these weight measurements, they can opt-out by letting a staff member know.

Once all the data is collected it will be shared with Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and will help the airlines determine how much fuel is needed and how to distribute weight onboard planes.

''The data collated anonymously will be utilized for survey purposes and doesn't mean overweight passengers will need to pay more,'' the airline said. 

In July this year, Air New Zealand started weighing passengers departing on international flights from the Auckland International Airport. The flag carrier said the program, which the airline called a passenger weight survey, is a way to gather data on the weight load and distribution of planes.

Described as an 'essential' initiative, the survey is being used to determine the average customer weight, which pilots need to know before departure.

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Box Office Report: Ayushmann's Dream Girl 2 Has "Rock Solid" Weekend 1

The Hindi film industry just had another good weekend at the box office with Dream Girl 2's "rock solid" Rs 40 crore, reported trade analyst Taran Adarsh. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Ananya Panday in lead roles, the film made Rs 16 crore on Sunday and will now face the Monday test. Dream Girl 2 should see a boost in ticket sales on Wednesday, which is Raksha Bandhan; in addition to the festival, it also has another weekend in which to gain traction give that the the next big release – Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan – is two Fridays away.

"Dream Girl 2 has a rock-solid opening weekend. The massy flavour has helped it score beyond metros/urban centres. Most importantly, the growth on Day 2 and 3 places Dream Girl 2 in a comfortable position. Friday 10.69 cr, Saturday 14.02 cr, Sunday 16 cr. Total: Rs 40.71 cr. India biz. Going forward, Dream Girl 2 needs to maintain the grip on the make-or-break Monday," Taran Adarsh posted on X.

Besides the Raksha Bandhan holiday on Wednesday (which should witness a spike in biz), Dream Girl 2 will continue to enjoy an unopposed run in its Weekend 2. The film needs to collect as much as it can, before Jawan strikes on (Thursday) 7 September 2023," he continued.

See the post here:

#DreamGirl2 has a ROCK-SOLID opening weekend… The massy flavour has helped it score beyond metros / urban centres… Most importantly, the growth on Day 2 and 3 places #DG2 in a comfortable position… Fri 10.69 cr, Sat 14.02 cr, Sun 16 cr. Total: ₹ 40.71 cr. #India biz.

Going… pic.twitter.com/MqYcN819vd

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 28, 2023

Dream Girl 2 stars Ayushmann Khurrana as a jagrata artiste who has to resort to subterfuge as his feminine alter-ego Pooja in order to make a quick buck. His goal is to be able to marry his romantic interest, played by Ananya Panday. The cast includes Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Manjot Singh, Asrani and Rajpal Yadav.

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Japan Postpones Moon Mission Launch For 3rd Time Due To Bad Weather

Japan's space agency on Monday postponed for the third time the launch of its "Moon Sniper" lunar mission due to poor weather.

The H2-A rocket due to blast off from the southern island of Tanegashima was also carrying a research satellite developed with NASA and the European Space Agency.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) gave no new date for the start of the mission, which comes after India successfully landed a probe on the Moon last week.

MHI Launch Services, the rocket co-developer, said on the social media platform X that the mission was called off "because it was confirmed that the upper wind does not satisfy the constraints at launch".

Last week India landed a craft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the country and its low-cost space programme.

The "Smart Lander for Investigating Moon" (SLIM) by JAXA.

Previously, only the United States, Russia and China had managed to put a spacecraft on the lunar surface, and none on the south pole.

India's success came days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region, and four years after a previous Indian attempt failed at the last moment.

Japan has also tried before, attempting last year to land a lunar probe named Omotenashi, carried on NASA's Artemis 1, but the mission went wrong and communications were lost.

In April, Japanese start-up ispace failed in an ambitious attempt to become the first private company to land on the Moon, losing communication after what the firm called a "hard landing".

The "Moon Sniper" is so called because JAXA is aiming to land it within 100 metres (330 feet) of a specific target on the Moon, far less than the usual range of several kilometres.

Japan has also had problems with launch rockets, with failures after liftoff of the next-generation H3 model in March and the normally reliable solid-fuel Epsilon the previous October.

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

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''Bohot Khushi Hui'': Pakistani TV Anchors Applaud Chandrayaan-3's Success

India achieved a historic milestone on August 23 as Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon's southern pole. India's triumph garnered global attention, with leading news outlets praising ISRO's ground-breaking achievement and congratulating the country. Now, a video has surfaced on social media, showing India receiving praise from an unexpected quarter, Pakistan.

In the video that is being widely shared, two news anchors identified as Huma Amir Shah and Abdullah Sultan were seen cheering India and urging their fellow countrymen to break free from internal conflicts. NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of this video, which is going viral. 

Highlighting the stark contrast between India's space exploration success and Pakistan's focus on internal issues, the anchor identified as Huma Amir Shah said, "India chaand pe pohoch gaya, hum beech mein hi phasein huye hai. Apne hi ladaio mein pade hue hai. We really need to broaden our horizons (India has reached the moon, we are stuck here. We are so busy with our own fights, we really need to broaden our horizons)''.

Watch the video here:

Kaam aisa karo ki dushman bhi taarif kre. pic.twitter.com/dUIZJC5xLI

— Zaira Nizaam ?? (@Zaira_Nizaam) August 25, 2023

"Talking of India being on chaand... kya visual tha, hume yaha baite hue khushi ho rahi hai (what a sight, we are happy witnessing it right from sitting here in the studio)," the anchor added. 

"From a regional perspective, it is commendable. Otherwise, we don't really expect it from our region, our nations. We tend to assume that the West could've achieved such a thing, or Russia, or even China. But it is India that managed to do it. We talk about a constant battle between the two countries when in reality this (lunar landing) is something we should actually become competitive about," the anchor added further.

Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry, the ex-Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Imran Khan government, also congratulated the Indian scientists and praised the moon landing. Earlier, he also suggested that Pakistan's media should broadcast the Chandrayaan-3 landing program. 

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "What a great moment for #ISRO as #Chandrayaan3 lands on the Moon, I can see lots of young scientists celebrating this moment with Mr Somnat Chairman ISRO, only Younger generation with dreams can change the world ... good luck."

Chandrayaan-3, the spacecraft, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on July 14. 

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US Military Aircraft, With 20 On Board, Crashes In Australia: Report

A US military aircraft crashed during drills in Australia's Northern Territory on Sunday with around 20 people on board, according to local media.

Several people have reportedly been rescued after the Osprey vertical takeoff aircraft crashed during drills near the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin, according to Australian public broadcaster ABC.

An emergency services incident map for the Northern Territory said there had been an "aircraft crash" on Melville Island, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Australian mainland on Sunday morning.

The Osprey was taking part in the Predators Run exercises, a joint series of warfighting drills held between the US and Australian military.

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

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Trump Campaign Raises $7.1 Million Since His Arrest In Georgia

The Trump 2024 presidential campaign has raised $7.1 million since former President Donald Trump's mugshot was taken at the Fulton County jail in Georgia after surrendering himself in the Georgia election subversion case, CNN reported.

Over the last three weeks, Trump's campaign raised around $20 million, following his indictment and arraignment in Washington related to the federal January 6 case and then his surrender and processing at the Fulton County jail in Georgia.

The source further revealed that the campaign had raised $4.18 million after his arrest in Georgia. It is the highest-grossing day of the entire campaign, as per CNN.

The fundraising figures were first reported by Politico.

Following Trump's arrest, his 2024 presidential campaign started selling merchandise featuring the first mug shot of a former US president, The Washington Post reported.

In the mug shot, Trump has throughout tried his best to appear "unfazed and unbowed" by having been indicted four times since March, as per the New York Times.

"It is not a comfortable feeling - especially when you have done nothing wrong," he told Fox News's website in an interview.

However, Trump has been able to make the most of his mug shot, according to The Washington Post.

The merchandise, including T-shirts, mugs, koozies and bumper stickers of Trump's mug shot, was for sale about 90 minutes after he was released from an Atlanta jail on Thursday. The merchandise, which includes USD 34 shirts, is accompanied by the words "NEVER SURRENDER!"

Trump's legal troubles have mounted in recent weeks, with prosecutors bringing two indictments related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, reported CNN.

Earlier this month, special counsel Jack Smith brought four federal charges against the former president. The indictment alleges that Trump "was determined to remain in power" and, along with his allies, orchestrated a plot to overturn the results on and leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Trump pleaded not guilty to those charges, which included conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

Last week, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought 41 charges against Trump and 18 co-defendants, including his former personal attorney and New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The charges include violating the state's anti-racketeering law, and the indictment claims the defendants worked as an "enterprise" to overturn the state's election result, CNN reported.

Trump also made a classic come back to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, for the first time since January 2021 to share a fundraising note.

"I walked into the lion's den with one simple message on behalf of our entire movement: I WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR MISSION TO SAVE AMERICA," Trump wrote Thursday. He asked his supporters to make a campaign contribution "to evict" President Joe Biden "during this dark chapter in our nation's history."

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Australian Toddler Had "Just A Fever", It Turned Out To Be...

A toddler in Australia was admitted to the intensive care unit after she was diagnosed with Strep A infection, which the doctors had dismissed as "just a fever", according to a report in 7News. The mother of the child, Sandeep Kaur, spoke to the outlet and said that the doctors ruled her problem as a fever. However, her 16-month-old daughter ended up spending nearly two months in the care unit, suffering kidney failure and swelling, which made it difficult for her to walk. 

"It was terrible, we never expected that," Ms Kaur told the outlet. Girsirat was misdiagnosed and was actually suffering from Step A, a type of bacteria that can cause sore throats, scarlet fever and skin sores, as per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. It can also lead to very serious and deadly diseases. 

Strep A may also cause Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, which can result in "low blood pressure, multiple organ failure, and even death," according to the CDC, and necrotizing fasciitis (also known as flesh-eating disease), which can result in amputations or death.

As per the outlet, there is an alarming rise in the number of children being diagnosed with the disease in Australia. So far, cases of severe Strep A are "up more than 500 per cent since the pandemic". According to the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the number of children admitted to hospital with strep A increased from 23 in 2020 to 107 in 2022. Strep A affects around 750 million individuals worldwide and kills 500,000 people each year.

Although there is no vaccination for Strep A, the CDC advises the best approach to avoid it is to practise basic hygiene, such as washing hands often. It is recommended to wash sick people's utensils and plates after each use, pick up filthy tissues and urge them to cover their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

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Taxi Driver Killed For Resisting Robbery In Pakistan's Karachi

A taxi driver was gunned down by unidentified robbers for resisting robbery in Karachi, ARY News reported on Saturday. The victim, identified as Mumtaz, was taking passengers back home from Jinnah International Airport to New Karachi.

Some unidentified robbers intercepted Mumtaz and asked him to stop the vehicle at the limits of Bilal Colony police station. As the cabbie tried to resist the robbery, the unidentified men opened fire on him, killing Mumtaz on the spot, ARY News reported.

The police said they had collected evidence from the crime scene and further investigation was underway. According to the police, Mumtaz was a resident of Nathia Gali and was living alone in Greentown. The family members said Riyaz, the brother of the cab driver Mumtaz, was also killed by robbers eight years ago, ARY News reported.

Earlier, in August, unidentified robbers killed a young man for putting up resistance during a robbery bid near Karachi's Northern Bypass. The incident took place when the victim identified as Ibrahim, travelling in a car, was shot and killed during a robbery. He was intercepted by armed muggers riding on a motorbike and as soon as resisted, one of them shot him and rode away, ARY News reported.

In a separate incident this month, a policeman was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Allahdad Ground near Sharafi Goth in Pakistan's Karachi, as per ARY News. According to the police, the unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at the officer.

Notably, Pakistan has been witnessing a rise in terror activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the ceasefire between Pakistan's government and the outlawed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (TTP) ended in November last year.

A report released in July said that Pakistan has been witnessing a steady rise in suicide attacks. Pakistan in the first seven months of 2023 experienced 18 suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 200 people and injuring more than 450 others, Pakistan-based Dawn reported citing a think tank report.

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Pak Doctor Jailed For Attempting To Support ISIS, Conduct Attacks In US

A Pakistani doctor, who worked in the US on an H-1B visa, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to terror organisation ISIS and conduct "lone wolf" terrorist attacks in the United States.

Muhammad Masood, 31, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a Department of Justice statement said.

He pleaded guilty in August last year and was sentenced before Senior Judge Paul A. Magnuson.

According to court documents, Masood was a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan and was formerly employed as a research coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B visa.

Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood used an encrypted messaging application to facilitate his travel overseas to join a terrorist organization. Masood made multiple statements about his desire to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), and he pledged his allegiance to the designated terrorist organization and its leader.

Masood also expressed his desire to conduct "lone wolf" terrorist attacks in the United States. In February 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois, to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria. In March that year, Masood's travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Masood then agreed to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who, he believed, would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to an ISIS territory.

He travelled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.
 

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

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"I Pay For Everything": UFC Star Claims He Gets Pass For Cheating On Wife

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley recently reached the pinnacle of his career, securing the title by defeating Aljamain Sterling. This victory marked his first championship win since becoming a part of the UFC. However, O'Malley has stirred controversy with his remarks concerning relationships with his wife, Daya Gonzalez.

According to the New York Post, O'Malley appeared on "RawTalk" before the fight against Sterling and talked about his open relationship with Gonzalez. O'Malley explained why it was OK for him to have flings with other women and said it wouldn't be fair if he wasn't as successful as he is.

Watch: UFC Fighter Sean O'Malley's Brutal Knock Out Of Aljamain Sterling Called 'Most Beautiful' Shot, Gets 12 Million Plus Views

"I'm a king; I pay for everything," O'Malley said.

"I treat Danya like a queen. I have testosterone running through my veins. It's very simple."

Watch the video here:

"If I wasn't paying for everything, if I wasn't, you know, successful in any sort of way, and I was just like maybe an average Joe, I probably wouldn't. It probably wouldn't be fair. But I'm King Kong, baby. Andrew Tate explains its status well. You know I got status, so I can."

Sean O'Malley has long been in an open relationship with his wife, Danya Gonzalez, and he once claimed they have "dope threesomes" together.

In the past few years, Tate has become known for his extravagant and opulent way of living, accompanied by an extremely masculine image. Presently, he is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, which he has denied.

O'Malley later mentioned that Gonzalez is "never fine with it."

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Spanish Artist Pablo Picasso's Son Dies At The Age Of 76

Claude Ruiz Picasso, the younger son of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, has died in Switzerland aged 76, his lawyer told AFP on Thursday.

He did not give the cause of death.

Ruiz Picasso managed the Picasso estate from 1989 to July 2023, when he handed over responsibility to his sister, Paloma.

Picasso had four children.

His elder son, Paul, from his marriage to ballet dancer Olga Khokhlova, died in 1975. Maya, his daughter with French model Marie-Therese Walter, died in 2022.

Claude and Paloma were his children with French artist Francoise Gilot.

Ruiz Picasso is survived by his wife Sylvie Vautier and their two children, lawyer Jean-Jacques Neueur said.

The Picasso estate manages works held by several of his children and grandchildren.

The organisation holds a monopoly on the copyright of Picasso's works, as well as reproduction and trademark rights.

It issues authentication certificates and fights forgeries, regularly taking legal action.

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

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These Rakesh Roshan Memes Are Out Of This World (Pun Intended)

The mood has been largely jubilant on X (formerly called Twitter) as Chandrayaan-3 successfully made a soft landing near the moon's South Pole earlier this week. Amid all the buzz, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan started trending after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confused astronaut Rakesh Sharma with veteran filmmaker-producer and actor Rakesh Roshan at an event earlier this week. The Internet, as always, took the opportunity to curate memes about Rakesh Roshan, who famously directed the 2003 sci-fi Koi... Mil Gaya, in which an extra-terrestrial creature (Jaadoo) befriends Hrithik Roshan's character Rohit Mehra. Enough about the movie, check out the memes here:

A user wrote, "Stop making fun of it. Koi Mil Gaya was a film based on a true story. Rakesh Roshan was the first one to contact Jadoo."

Stop making fun of it.
Koi Mil Gaya was a film,based on a true story. #RakeshRoshan was the first one to contact #Jadoo. https://t.co/ZwjirXSNUn

— Sourav Bhattacharya (@S0urav_here) August 24, 2023

A dance sequence accompanied this meme. It read, "Hrithik Roshan after he came to know that his father Rakesh Roshan had once gone in space."

Hrithik Roshan after he came to know that his father Rakesh Roshan had once gone in space pic.twitter.com/TALv78XwD0

— Pankaj Gulati (@panky101) August 23, 2023

"#MoodOfTheNation is the #RakeshRoshan," tweeted another user.

#MoodOfTheNation is the #RakeshRoshan

— Soysaquib (@Saquibmahmood4) August 24, 2023

Another X user's contribution to the Rakesh Roshan meme fest.

Rakesh Roshan yeh Saab jaadu ka kamal hai @mamtaofficial #rakeshroshan pic.twitter.com/XipQ4ZxjXt

— TvMirror (@tvottmirror) August 24, 2023

A user took the opportunity to churn out a meme out of Hrithik Roshan's tweet. "And also congratulations to Rakesh Roshan sir, for landing on moon," the user wrote.

And also congratulations to #RakeshRoshan sir, for landing on moon.#RakeshSharma

— Indian Atheist (@AbhishekIndia99) August 24, 2023

"Rakesh Roshan, Congratulations Sir, for becoming first Indian on the moon," wrote another X user.

@RakeshRoshan_N Congratulations Sir, for becoming first Indian on the moon .#RakeshRoshan@NASAMoon

— Koushik Pal (@KoushikPal_KP) August 24, 2023

Let's just say Jaadoo was name-checked multiple times. A user wrote, "I don't know if he visited space or not, but I'm damn sure that he brought an alien from space to India in the form of JAADU... we celebrated our childhood with Jaadoo."

#RakeshRoshan
I don't know if he visited space or not, but I'm damn sure that he brought an alien from space to India in the form of JAADU... we celebrated our childhood with Jadu. @RakeshRoshan_N #HrithikRoshan pic.twitter.com/uarD47hXOJ

— Shankar Mukesh (@shankarmukesh07) August 24, 2023

Directed by Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan, Koi... Mil Gaya established the base for the Krrish series of films to follow, all starring Hrithik Roshan. Krrish released in 2006, while Krrish 3 released in 2013.

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Video: Drone Footage Shows People Trapped Inside Cable Car In Pakistan

Days after authorities in Pakistan rescued eight people trapped for more than 15 hours in a cable car dangling 900 feet above the ground over a deep ravine, a new footage has emerged that shows the harrowing final moments before the rescue. The drone video shows passengers desperately holding onto the grills and pole as the cable car hung dangerously in a titled position above the remote Allai valley in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The video has been obtained exclusively by the BBC and is widely circulating on social media platforms.

Watch the video here:

The terrifying reality of 15 hours inside the cable car, hanging precariously yesterday
With new drone footage and testimonies from those inside
Our latest on @BBCNews
with @uszahid @MalikMudassir2 pic.twitter.com/3jphL9Veik

— Caroline Davies (@caroline_gm_d) August 23, 2023

Military helicopters and zipline experts were deployed to rescue the eight stranded people, including six schoolchildren.

The daring rescue began with a helicopter plucking two children to safety. It was forced back to base in the dark after being airborne for 12 hours.

The rescuers then used the cable keeping the gondola from plunging into the valley as a zipline to rescue the rest of those stranded.

Cable cars that carry passengers, and sometimes even cars, are commonly used across the northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gilgit-Baltistan and are vital in connecting villages and towns in areas where roads cannot be built.

In 2017, 10 people were killed when a chairlift cable broke, sending passengers plunging into a ravine in a mountain hamlet near the capital, Islamabad.

(With inputs from AFP)

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4 Including Gunman Killed In California Bar Shooting

Four people including a gunman were killed in a shooting at a bikers' bar in California's Orange County, the local sheriff's office said on Wednesday.

Six more people were in a hospital after the shooter opened fired at the Cook's Corner bar in Trabuco Canyon, the Orange County Sheriff said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

CBS Los Angeles, which first reported the shooting at the historic bikers' bar, initially reported five people were killed. It said a retired law enforcement officer opened fired at the bar and cited KCAL News reporting from sources that the shooter had been shot by deputies.

The Sheriff's office has not released any details about the shooter or how he was killed. The California governor's office said it was monitoring the shooting.

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

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PM Modi To Witness Chandrayaan-3's Moon Landing Attempt Virtually

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in South Africa to attend the BRICS Summit, will today virtually witness the landing attempt of India's moon mission - Chandrayaan-3.

Chandrayaan-3's lander module, comprising of the lander Vikram and the rover Pragyan, will attempt to land on the south pole of the moon at 6.04 pm today. If successful, India will become the first country to land a spacecraft on the lunar body's south pole.

Excitement is running high across the country, with prayers being held for Chandrayaan's success, schools marshalling students to watch a live telecast of the event and space enthusiasts organising parties to celebrate.

The Rs 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.

The module would undergo internal checks and await the sunrise at the designated landing site, ISRO has said, adding that the powered descent -- to achieve soft-landing on the Moon's surface -- is expected to be initiated at around 5:45 pm on Wednesday.

A day before the scheduled touch-down, ISRO on Tuesday confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is on schedule.

India's second attempt to land on the moon after a failure in 2019 is being seen as a display of the tenacity of its scientific institutions.

During that attempt, PM Modi had flown to Bengaluru to watch the planned touch down of the lander. Even the mission failed, the space agency witnessed a heartfelt moment between the Prime Minister and former ISRO chief K Sivan.

PM Modi hugged and consoled Mr Sivan as he broke down, hours after the space agency announced it lost contact with the lander.

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Box Office: Gadar 2 Juggernaut Rolls Past 400 Crore, Challenges Pathaan

Sunny Deol's Gadar 2 crossed the Rs 400 crore mark and it is heading towards the coveted club of Rs 500 crore. Ever since the movie released in theatres on August 11, the mass pockets have been playing crucial roles to drive the gigantic business of the movie. Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh mentioned on X (formerly known as Twitter), that the movie is a "ONE-HORSE RACE in mass pockets", which have contributed to its large total earnings. The movie earned on Tuesday over Rs 12 crore and the total earnings of the movie now stand at over 400 crore.

"400 NOT OUT... #Gadar2 begins its momentous journey to ₹ 500 cr Club... Is a ONE-HORSE RACE in mass pockets / #Hindi heartland, which is adding to its big, fat total... [Week 2] Fri 20.50 cr, Sat 31.07 cr, Sun 38.90 cr, Mon 13.50 cr, Tue 12.10 cr. Total: ₹ 400.70 cr. #India biz. #Boxoffice," wrote Taran Adarsh.

Take a look at his post on X:

400 NOT OUT… #Gadar2 begins its momentous journey to ₹ 500 cr Club… Is a ONE-HORSE RACE in mass pockets / #Hindi heartland, which is adding to its big, fat total… [Week 2] Fri 20.50 cr, Sat 31.07 cr, Sun 38.90 cr, Mon 13.50 cr, Tue 12.10 cr. Total: ₹ 400.70 cr. #India biz.… pic.twitter.com/WjpwG7LzNH

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 23, 2023

In another post on X, Taran Adarsh mentioned that he is hopeful that Gadar 2 will challenge Baahubali 2 and Pathaan in the coming days the way it has been smashing records and setting benchmarks. Taran Adarsh gave the detailed break-down of the movie showing how quickly it reached the club of 400 crore. "'GADAR 2' TO CHALLENGE 'BAAHUBALI 2', 'PATHAAN'...#Gadar2 continues to surprise and shock the naysayers... Has crossed ₹ 400 cr and I am confident, it will cross ₹ 500 cr as well and challenge #Baahubali2 #Hindi and #Pathaan, both in #India," wrote Taran Adarsh.

Take a look at his post on X here:

‘GADAR 2' TO CHALLENGE ‘BAAHUBALI 2', ‘PATHAAN'…#Gadar2 continues to surprise and shock the naysayers… Has crossed ₹ 400 cr and I am confident, it will cross ₹ 500 cr as well and challenge #Baahubali2 #Hindi and #Pathaan, both in #India.#Gadar2 benchmarks…
Crossed ₹ 50… pic.twitter.com/nJ8rCxB6EZ

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 23, 2023

Sunny Deol also posted a reel on his Instagram feed to express his gratitude to the audience. Sunny Deol said in the video, "Hello everyone, first and foremost a very big thank you. You liked Gadar 2 so much. I've never thought about it. We have crossed Rs 400 crore. We will proceed further. You liked Tara Singh, Sakeena, Jeete. You liked our entire family. Thank you so much."

Take a look at Sunny Deol's video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)

Despite creating havoc at the box office, Gadar 2 released to average reviews. Film critic Saibal Chatterjee, in his review of NDTV, gave the film 2 stars out of 5 and he wrote, "Gadar 2 is strictly for three categories of people: Sunny Deol fans, those that miss the unbridled excesses of Bollywood of yore, and those that believe that "hate thy neighbour" is an axiom worth cheering for in a movie theatre. The film has enough to please them all - and then some."

Directed by Anil Sharma, Gadar 2 is the sequel to the 2001 hit Gadar. In the sequel Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma have reprised their roles of Tara Singh, Sakeena and Jeete, respectively. The film released in theatres on August 11. It is clashing with Akshay Kumar's OMG 2 at the box office.

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Over 1,100 Missing As Deadly Wildfires Continue To Destroy Hawaii Island

At least 1,100 people are still missing two weeks after deadly wildfires ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui, authorities said Tuesday, with the FBI seeking family members' help in identifying the remains of the dead.

The fires were the deadliest to hit the United States in a century, claiming at least 115 lives, according to the latest provisional death count.

The tourist town of Lahaina, home to 12,000 people, was all but wiped off the map, with thousands of missing persons appearing on lists maintained by various organizations, including the police, Red Cross and shelters.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now working to collate and verify the data, Special Agent Steven Merrill told reporters on Tuesday.

"We're cross-referencing all the lists so that we can determine who in fact truly is still unaccounted for," Merrill said.

As of Tuesday, the FBI had counted 1,100 missing persons, he added, with the number likely to rise.

The FBI has set up a dedicated telephone hotline and has encouraged relatives of the missing to contact them.

"We really need the public's help", said Merrill, particularly in terms of getting additional information to verify details for some of the missing.

Maui police chief John Pelletier said authorities were refining the data and were hoping to publish a verified list of missing persons "in the next few days".

FBI agents have also been collecting DNA samples from the families of the missing who are unable to travel to Maui, wherever in the world they may be.

Identifying the unrecognizable bodies found in the ashes of Lahaina is a laborious task.

So far, only 27 of the 115 victims have been identified.

Having the DNA of the families of the missing "is a critical step in order to make an identification" of the victims, said Julie French, vice president of ANDE, the company in charge of these operations.

"Nearly three-quarters of remains that have been tested for DNA thus far have generated searchable DNA results," she said.

But without DNA from relatives against which to compare this data, the process is futile.

Only 104 DNA samples from family members of the missing or dead have been collected so far, and the authorities were keen to dispel any distrust of the process.

"The DNA profiles are not being retained by the FBI" or the police, said Maui County District Attorney Andrew Martin.

"The only purpose for which it will be used is helping identify the unaccounted for."

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

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Russian Drones Attack Ukraine Granary After Black Sea Grain Deal Collapse

A Russian drone attack hit grain infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Wednesday, the local governor said, the latest strike since the collapse of a deal allowing safe shipments from the Black Sea.

"There are hits on production and transshipment complexes... Granaries were among the damaged objects," Oleg Kiper wrote on Telegram, adding there were no civilian casualties.

Air defence forces had destroyed nine Iranian-made Shahed attack drones during the strike, Ukraine's southern military command said in a statement.

"The enemy targeted granaries and a production and transshipment complex in the Danube," it said.

"A fire broke out in the warehouse, the fire was promptly contained. Firefighters continue their work."

Since exiting the United Nations-brokered deal Moscow has pounded Ukraine's southern Odesa and Mykolaiv regions that are home to ports and infrastructure vital for shipment of grain.

Last week the first civilian cargo ship sailing through the Black Sea from Ukraine arrived in Istanbul in defiance of the Russian blockade.

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

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Poet-Diplomat Abhay K Pens 'Moon Anthem' Ahead Of Chandrayaan-3 Landing

As India counts down to the crowning moment of its third lunar mission 'Chandrayaan-3' — the attempted soft-landing on the south face of the moon — poet and diplomat Abhay K has penned down a 'Moon Anthem'.

The diplomat wrote the anthem in the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, in anticipation of a successful touch-down of the lunar lander on the moon's south pole.

The anthem opens with the lines, "Celestial diamond, primeval timepiece Cosmic lamppost, night's soft kiss Seducing oceans, occulting Sun Silver goddess lighting up Heaven..." The anthem is an ode to India's third lunar mission, which is tipped to set the tone for future explorations into deep space.

World-renowned violinist and composer Dr L Subramaniam will later set tunes for the 'Moon Anthem' and ace playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy will lend vocals to it. Abhay has penned anthems on all planets in the solar system. His 'Earth Anthem' has been translated into over 150 languages spoken globally and is widely sung to celebrate 'Earth Day' and the 'World Environment Day' every year.

On the attempted lunar landing on Wednesday, Abhay said, “It's a matter of great pride and honour that India's Chandrayaan-3 lander is soon going to make a soft landing on the Moon. It will be a dream coming true for a billion-and-a-half Indians. I hope the 'Moon Anthem' would help connect humanity to our closest celestial body, our constant companion in the universe."

The poet earlier served in different diplomatic capacities in Russia, Nepal, Brazil, Madagascar, and Comoros.

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon. The attempted soft-landing has been scheduled at 18:04 hrs IST.

The live telecast of the landing operations will begin at 5:20 PM IST on Wednesday. Live actions of landing will be available on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and public broadcaster DD National TV from 5:27 PM IST on Aug 23, 2023.

India will be the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat after the United States, Russia, and China. However, it will be the first country in the world to attempt a soft landing on the lunar south pole.
Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) — lander Vikram and rover Pragyan — is scheduled to make a touchdown near the lunar south pole.

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R Praggnanandhaa: Here's All You Need To Know About India's Chess Star

Rameshbabu Pragganandhaa, better known as R Praggnanandhaa, eyes history as he takes on world No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the final of the Chess World Cup on Tuesday. Praggnanandhaa, who was born on August 10, 2005 in Chennai, defeated world No.3 Fabiano Caruana of the USA in the semi-final on Monday. The 18-year-old edged out Caruana following a 1-1 tie in their two-game classical series, to set up a captivating final against Carlsen. He is the first Indian in 21 years to reach the final of the Chess World Cup since Viswanathan Anand, who won the world title 2000 and 2002.

As Praggnanandhaa chases history, here's all you need to know about the young Indian Grandmaster:

R Praggnanandhaa was born on August 10, 2005 in Chennai. He started playing chess at the age of 5. He hails from a Tamil family. He completed high school from Chennai's Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

At 10 years, 10 months and 19 days, Praggnanandhaa is the youngest international master in the history of the sport. He attained the Grandmaster norm at the age of 12 years, 10 months and 13 days, making him the fifth youngest to achieve the feat. 

Praggnanandhaa is the youngest Indian to reach the World Cup final. Last year, Praggnanandhaa was honoured with the Arjuna Award in Novemeber. 

He has a sister, Vaishali, who is also a chess player. His father, Rameshbabu, works as a branch manager at TNSC Bank, and his mother, Nagalakshmi, is a homemaker.

Praggnanandhaa won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013, as well as the Under-10 title in 2015.

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Explainer: Why Space Agencies Racing To Moon's South Pole

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is attempting to land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole, a mission that could advance India's space ambitions and expand knowledge of lunar water ice, potentially one of the moon's most valuable resources.

Here's what's known about the presence of frozen water on the moon - and why space agencies and private companies see it as a key to a moon colony, lunar mining and potential missions to Mars.

How did scientists find water on the Moon?

As early as the 1960s, before the first Apollo landing, scientists had speculated that water could exist on the moon. Samples the Apollo crews returned for analysis in the late 1960s and early 1970s appeared to be dry.

In 2008, Brown University researchers revisited those lunar samples with new technology and found hydrogen inside tiny beads of volcanic glass. In 2009, a NASA instrument aboard the ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 probe detected water on the moon's surface.

In the same year, another NASA probe that hit the south pole found water ice below the moon's surface. An earlier NASA mission, the 1998 Lunar Prospector, had found evidence that the highest concentration of water ice was in the south pole's shadowed craters.

Why is water on the Moon important?

Scientists are interested in pockets of ancient water ice because they could provide a record of lunar volcanoes, material that comets and asteroids delivered to Earth, and the origin of oceans.

If water ice exists in sufficient quantities, it could be a source of drinking water for moon exploration and could help cool equipment.

It could also be broken down to produce hydrogen for fuel and oxygen to breathe, supporting missions to Mars or lunar mining.

The 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty prohibits any nation from claiming ownership of the moon. There is no provision that would stop commercial operations.

A US-led effort to establish a set of principles for moon exploration and the use of its resources, the Artemis Accords, has 27 signatories. China and Russia have not signed.

What makes the south pole especially tricky?

Attempted landings on the moon have failed before. Russia's Luna-25 craft had been scheduled to land on the south pole this week but spun out of control on approach and crashed on Sunday.

The south pole - far from the equatorial region targeted by previous missions, including the crewed Apollo landings - is full of craters and deep trenches.

ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission is on track for an attempted landing on Wednesday, the space agency has said. A previous Indian mission failed in 2019 to safely land near the area targeted by Chandrayaan-3.

Both the United States and China have planned missions to the south pole.

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

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Ellen Degeneres' Oscars Selfie Temporarily Disappears, Twitter Fumes

Elon Musk, who bought Twitter (now known as X) last year, has made several changes to the social media platforms. He made the coveted blue tick paid, limiting the number of posts non-verified users can see and announcing plans to turn it into an everything app. Some of these changes and updates have shocked X users, like the disappearance of television host, actress, writer and producer Ellen Degeneres' Oscars selfie. Clicked in 2014, when she hosted the Academy Awards presentation, it "broke Twitter" amassing millions of views.

The photo disappeared because of an update to the social media platform by breaking t.co links used to share images, according to Indy 100.

Tech writer Tom Coates spotted the issue on Saturday, noting that "all media posted before 2014" had been removed from Twitter/X - albeit with some exceptions, such as Barack Obama's tweet celebrating his being elected for another four terms in office.

The decision made X users angry.

"Why remove our ability to see our posts, memories, and literal historical events from twitter? With no warning at all," commented one user.

"Guaranteed this is to save on storage costs," said another.

"This is a good reminder that we should all download our Twitter data, especially because I think it's very, very likely that our old DM history is just gonna vanish out of nowhere one day like what happened to Reddit earlier this year," a third user commented.

This is a good reminder that we should all download our Twitter data, especially because I think it's very, very likely that our old DM history is just gonna vanish out of nowhere one day like what happened to Reddit earlier this year. https://t.co/CAEy2YFI2d

— Velodus (@velodus) August 19, 2023

However, some users pointed out a few hours later that it happened because of a bug and the issue has been resolved.

But during this time, #TwitterDeletesPhotos had already started trending.

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Soils Play Key Role In Keeping Planet Cool: Study

A new study investigated how to stop soil carbon from evaporating and trapping heat in the air.

A new project from the University of Central Florida aims to use soils to cool the atmosphere.

The research will look into ways to prevent soil carbon from evaporating and turning into the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide warms the globe by retaining heat as it builds up in the atmosphere.

The study is crucial since, according to NASA, this summer has witnessed some of the planet's warmest temperatures ever recorded.

“When we talk about climate change, a lot of people have the misperception that most of the Earth's carbon is stored in the atmosphere,” said Lisa Chambers, the project's principal investigator and an associate professor in UCF's Department of Biology. “But the atmospheric carbon pool is actually quite small, relative to the pool of carbon in the soil.”

The research will focus on histosols, or organic-rich soils, in the Everglades Agricultural Area located south of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

Histosols comprise only about 1.3 per cent of Earth's land surface but store approximately 23 per cent of its carbon. The nutrient-rich soils are perfect for agriculture, but their drainage and cultivation lead to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The research team, which includes Jehangir Bhadha from the University of Florida and Jing Hu from Mississippi State University, will examine adding fine minerals — such as silt and clays — to the histosols to prevent carbon from escaping.

Research has found that mineral-associated organic matter releases less carbon into the atmosphere because it is less susceptible to decomposition by microbes.

“It's been shown through carbon-14 dating that the carbon that's associated with these fine silts and clays has remained in the soil the longest,” Chambers said. “Whereas unassociated, loose organic matter only dates back tens to hundreds of years old and is easily decomposed by microbes into CO2, the mineral-associated organic matter has been aged to be millennia.”

She says the Everglades Agricultural Area is the perfect place to perform the research because not only could the work help with climate change, but it could also improve agricultural production and sustainability in the area.

Soil subsidence due to decomposing histosols has become a major problem in the Everglades Agricultural Area, where in some locations soil elevation has dropped as much as six feet over the past 100 years.

“The cas been so unprotected and oxidizing so fast, that there are places where the soils are almost completely gone, turned back into carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and they're almost down to bedrock,” she said. “So, it's kind of a precarious situation.”

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

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