All You Need To Know About Viral "Click Here" Trend On Social Media

Since last Saturday, X (formerly Twitter) has been flooded with the viral "Click Here" trend, catching everyone's attention. While many have been joining the bandwagon of this buzzing trend, numerous others remain puzzled about the new feature.

Notably, major political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Aam Aadmi Party, and Congress have also actively engaged in the trend through their official X pages.

What is the “Click Here” trend all about?

This new trend has thousands of users sharing images featuring a stark white backdrop with the bold, black declaration "Click here" emblazoned across it.

The text is accompanied by a diagonally downward arrow, pointing to “ALT” text or alternative text on the bottom left corner of the picture.

The “ALT” text is a feature by X that helps its users add descriptions to the photos that they share on the platform.

Let us take a look at a few examples:

pic.twitter.com/XBeO9LgZYT

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 30, 2024

pic.twitter.com/784LgcFME6

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 28, 2024

pic.twitter.com/sxjarDNUgU

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 30, 2024

Some users also confessed that they were unable to understand this trend. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, “What is the click here pic story? My timeline is full of it!”

What is the click here pic story.? My timeline is full of it!

— Priyanka Chaturvedi???????? (@priyankac19) March 30, 2024

What is the use of the feature and why Twitter created it?

The Click Here feature is meant to help visually impaired users understand the image better, with the help of text-to-speech recognition and Braille language.

The “ALT” text was introduced by the platform back in 2016 when the social media company was still known as Twitter.

Announcing the feature Twitter in its blog, in 2016, stated, “Photos have been at the center of some of the biggest moments on Twitter. As a core part of the Twitter experience, it's important that images shared on our platform are accessible to everyone, including those who are visually impaired.”

It added, “Starting today, people using our iOS and Android apps can add descriptions — also known as alternative text (alt text) — to images in Tweets. With this update, we're empowering everyone to ensure content shared on Twitter is accessible to the widest possible audience.”

“The Alt text is supposed to contain a textual description of what the image contains, to help the visually impaired people understand what the image is about. So, using that text for anything else is a misuse of that feature and goes against web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG),” a user, wrote while explaining the feature.

Apologise! I've just deleted this tweet as I wasn't aware that the feature was meant for people who are visually impaired.
The Alt text is supposed to contain a textual description of what the image contains, to help the visually impaired people understand what the image is… pic.twitter.com/I7DjYiqbnh

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 30, 2024

How to use this feature?

The blog post also explained that this feature can be enabled by using “the compose image descriptions option” in the app.

The statement continued, “Enable this feature by using the compose image descriptions option in the Twitter app's accessibility settings. The next time you add an image to a Tweet, each thumbnail in the composer will have an add description button. Tap it to add a description to the image. People who are visually impaired will have access to the description via their assistive technology (e.g., screen readers and braille displays). Descriptions can be up to 420 characters.”

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All You Need To Know About Viral "Click Here" Trend On Social Media

Since last Saturday, X (formerly Twitter) has been flooded with the viral "Click Here" trend, catching everyone's attention. While many have been joining the bandwagon of this buzzing trend, numerous others remain puzzled about the new feature.

Notably, major political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Aam Aadmi Party, and Congress have also actively engaged in the trend through their official X pages.

What is the “Click Here” trend all about?

This new trend has thousands of users sharing images featuring a stark white backdrop with the bold, black declaration "Click here" emblazoned across it.

The text is accompanied by a diagonally downward arrow, pointing to “ALT” text or alternative text on the bottom left corner of the picture.

The “ALT” text is a feature by X that helps its users add descriptions to the photos that they share on the platform.

Let us take a look at a few examples:

pic.twitter.com/XBeO9LgZYT

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 30, 2024

pic.twitter.com/784LgcFME6

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 28, 2024

pic.twitter.com/sxjarDNUgU

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 30, 2024

Some users also confessed that they were unable to understand this trend. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, “What is the click here pic story? My timeline is full of it!”

What is the click here pic story.? My timeline is full of it!

— Priyanka Chaturvedi???????? (@priyankac19) March 30, 2024

What is the use of the feature and why Twitter created it?

The Click Here feature is meant to help visually impaired users understand the image better, with the help of text-to-speech recognition and Braille language.

The “ALT” text was introduced by the platform back in 2016 when the social media company was still known as Twitter.

Announcing the feature Twitter in its blog, in 2016, stated, “Photos have been at the center of some of the biggest moments on Twitter. As a core part of the Twitter experience, it's important that images shared on our platform are accessible to everyone, including those who are visually impaired.”

It added, “Starting today, people using our iOS and Android apps can add descriptions — also known as alternative text (alt text) — to images in Tweets. With this update, we're empowering everyone to ensure content shared on Twitter is accessible to the widest possible audience.”

“The Alt text is supposed to contain a textual description of what the image contains, to help the visually impaired people understand what the image is about. So, using that text for anything else is a misuse of that feature and goes against web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG),” a user, wrote while explaining the feature.

Apologise! I've just deleted this tweet as I wasn't aware that the feature was meant for people who are visually impaired.
The Alt text is supposed to contain a textual description of what the image contains, to help the visually impaired people understand what the image is… pic.twitter.com/I7DjYiqbnh

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 30, 2024

How to use this feature?

The blog post also explained that this feature can be enabled by using “the compose image descriptions option” in the app.

The statement continued, “Enable this feature by using the compose image descriptions option in the Twitter app's accessibility settings. The next time you add an image to a Tweet, each thumbnail in the composer will have an add description button. Tap it to add a description to the image. People who are visually impaired will have access to the description via their assistive technology (e.g., screen readers and braille displays). Descriptions can be up to 420 characters.”

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"Virat Was Struggling": Faf's Pitch Talk After Loss To KKR In IPL Match

Following his side's loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Faf Du Plessis said that the wicket was two-paced in the first innings, causing players to struggle a bit with their batting. With a scintillating batting display, the Kolkata Knight Riders became the first team to win away from home in this IPL following their comprehensive seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Faf said, "In the first innings, we thought that the wicket was very two-paced, you could see that when the guys bowled the cutters, back of a length, the guys really struggled. We thought it was a decent score knowing that it gets a little bit easier in the evening, there was a little bit of dew that came in. Looking at the way we batted in the first inning, even if you have someone in there, Virat was struggling to hit the ball just because there was a lack of pace and the surface was two-paced."

On whether the team could have done different things in powerplay with the ball, the skipper said, "You can always know after the game, we can say perhaps try one or two things but the way the two of them (Sunil Narine and Phil Salt) were striking the ball, some really good batting there, they put pressure on our bowlers. They hit strong cricket shots, and pretty much took the game away. With Narine there, you cannot go to spin, you want to use pace upfront. That is also a really good match-up for Salt and the way he plays. They were excellent, and really broke the game in the first six overs."

Faf said that the team tried to have spin options with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell but there was not much spin during the game on the surface.

"We have tried the spinning options with Maxi, the finger spinners seem to be effective here, but at night there was not too much spin," he said.

Talking about medium pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak, Faf said that he bowled well, but has not had many opportunities for RCB.

"We had a look in the first inning and we thought about bringing in Karn Sharma (the spinner). But we felt someone who could bowl really good slower balls was probably the most difficult bowler to face on this pitch. Dre Russ probably bowled 80 per cent of his balls as cutters. We took some lessons from that and he was the best bowler of the evening," he concluded.

After KKR won the toss, they opted to field. After losing skipper Faf early, Virat Kohli had a 65-run partnership with Cameron Green (33 in 21 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and a 42-run stand with Glenn Maxwell (28 in 19 balls, with three fours and a six). Virat scored 83 not out in 59 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes and took RCB to 182/6 along with Dinesh Karthik (20* in eight balls, with three sixes) in their 20 overs.

Andre Russell (2/29) and Harshit Rana (2/39) were the pick of the bowlers for KKR.

In the run chase, Phil Salt (30 in 20 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Sunil Narine (47 in 22 balls, with two fours and five sixes) put KKR to a fine start with a quickfire 86-run stand in 39 balls. After Vyshak and Mayank Dagar (1/23 each) dismissed the openers, Venkatesh Iyer (50* in 30 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (39 in 24 balls, with two fours and two sixes) guided KKR to a seven-wicket win with 19 balls to go.

Sunil won 'Player of the Match' on his 500th match for his knock of 47 and one wicket.

RCB is sixth in the points table with a win and two losses. They have just two points. KKR is at second with two wins in two games and four points.

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

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Who Is Rumy Alqahtani, Saudi Arabia's First Miss Universe Contestant

Saudi Arabia is set to enter the esteemed Miss Universe beauty pageant for the first time this year. Rumy Alqahtani, a model from Riyadh, will represent the nation on the global stage.

Ms Alqahtani, who has a million followers on Instagram, announced her participation, sharing a picture of her in a silver sequin gown with the “Miss Universe Saudi Arabia” sash and the Saudi flag. She wrote, “Honoured to participate in Miss Universe 2024. This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني ???????? (@rumy_alqahtani)

Who is Rumy Alqahtani?

1. Rumy Alqahtani is a runway model and social media influencer from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She holds a Bachelor's degree in dentistry and is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.

2. Ms Alqahtani made a name for herself in the beauty pageant industry by participating in several global competitions, including the Miss and Mrs Global Asian competition held in Malaysia, Miss Arab Peace, and Miss Europe.

3. She has won several prestigious titles, including Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Middle East, Miss Arab World Peace, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia), according to Emirates Woman.

4. Ms Alqahtani has a passion for travelling and has visited several countries, including UAE, Egypt, and Italy, which is evident in her social media posts.

5. In February 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appointed Ms Alqahtani as the Goodwill Ambassador to be a voice against violence women and girls are subjected to. She was also invited as a keynote speaker to the 7th World Summit on Human Rights 2024 in Geneva.

The Miss Universe 2024 pageant's 73rd edition will be held in Mexico on September 18. Sheynnis Palacios, the reigning Miss Universe from Nicaragua, will pass on her crown to her successor.

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New Zealand's Maori King Wants Whales To Be Granted Personhood. Here's Why

The King of New Zealand's Indigenous Maori community has called for granting legal personhood to whales, Anadolu News Agency reported, citing Teao News website, on Thursday.

Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII made the call after signing 'He Whakaputanga Moana', or the Declaration for the Ocean, along with an indigenous chief in neighbouring Cooks Island on Thursday.

"He Whakaputanga Moana (declaration) is not merely words on paper. It's a Hinemoana Halo, a woven cloak of protection for our taonga (treasured possession) our treasures - the magnificent whales," the Maori King said.

This development comes as the 'Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative' is aiming at an ocean protection fund for the big mammal, as reported by Anadolu News Agency.

The king termed the Declaration for the Ocean as a "declaration for future generations", saying their descendants deserve to inherit an ocean where whales continue to resonate.

"Our mokopuna (descendants) deserve to inherit an ocean teeming with life, where the songs of whales continue to resonate across the vast expanse," he added.

Aperahama Edwards, one of the drivers of the initiative, said the fund will empower the indigeneous communities in protecting their treasured possessions.

"This fund will empower Indigenous communities, the natural guardians of our shores, and support initiatives aligned with the declaration's goals. Together, we can create a Hinemoana Halo, a woven cloak of protection for these taonga (treasures), our whales," Edwards said.

New Zealand, home to nearly a million Maori ethnic people, has in the past legislated to grant legal status to rivers and mountains, seen as important to the indigenous people, Anadolu reported.

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

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No More Multiple Exams For PhD Admissions, UGC Makes NET Scores Mandatory

In a significant move aimed at streamlining the process of PhD admissions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared that scores obtained in the National Eligibility Test (NET) will be accepted starting academic session 2024-25. This decision comes as a relief to students who previously had to go through multiple entrance exams conducted by various universities for PhD admissions.

Following recommendations from an expert committee, the university body made this decision in the 578th meeting held on March 13.

The NET, conducted biannually in June and December, serves the dual purpose of awarding Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) and selecting Assistant Professors among master's degree holders.

Under the new directive, from June 2024 onwards, UGC NET qualified candidates will now be eligible for PhD admissions in three categories:

• Admission to PhD with JRF and appointment as assistant Professor.
• Admission to PhD without JRF and appointment as assistant professor.
• Admission to PhD programme only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as assistant professor.

UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said, "From the academic session 2024-2025, all universities can use NET scores for admission to PhD programmes, replacing the need for separate entrance tests conducted by individual universities or Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)".

"NTA is working on launching the NET application process for the June 2024 session sometime next week," he added.

From the academic session 2024-2025, all universities can use NET score for admission to PhD programmes in place of entrance tests conducted by the different universities/HEIs. NTA is working on launching the NET application process for June 2024 session sometime next week. pic.twitter.com/IVzKgu56gB

— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) March 27, 2024

The NET result will be announced in percentile along with the marks obtained by each candidate, facilitating their use for PhD admission.

According to the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022, candidates who qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) undergo an interview for admission into PhD programmes.

For students falling under Categories 2 and 3, PhD admissions will consider 70 per cent weightage for test scores and 30 per cent weightage for the interview. Admission to PhD programmes will be determined by the combined merit of NET marks and interview/viva voce performance.

NET marks obtained by candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will remain valid for one year for PhD admissions.

The JRF-qualified students are admitted into the PhD programme based on an interview as per the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.

"For students qualifying under Categories 2 and 3, 70 per cent weightage will be assigned to test scores, while 30 per cent will be allocated to the interview for PhD admission. The admission process will be determined by the combined merit of NET marks and interview/viva voce performance. NET marks attained by candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will remain valid for one year for admission to PhD," the university body specified in an official release.

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Emmanual Macron-Lula Da Silva's "Bromance" Pics Go Viral On Social Media

Wedding photos or a diplomatic visit? The apparent "bromance" between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has set social media fans alight.

During his three-day visit to Brazil, 46-year-old Macron was pictured smiling and warmly embracing Lula, 78, during a trip to the Amazonian rainforest.

Many of the images have since circulated wildly among social media users in Brazil alongside montages and witty comments.

i see a new macron/lula family christmas card dropping pic.twitter.com/zzJjFPtUxC

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) March 27, 2024

One picture showing the leaders raising their arms underneath a large tree has been edited to show them holding red balloons in the shape of a heart.

Another portrays the pair hand in hand, smiling as they look at the horizon while floating in a boat along the Amazon River.

"They are going to marry in the Amazon and have their honeymoon in Paris," joked one user on X, while others said pictures from the trip could make up a wedding album.

Macron's warm relations with Lula mark a departure from the frosty ties between the French leader and Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who led the country from 2019 to 2022.

His trip, which will end Thursday in Brasilia when he meets Lula at the presidential palace, saw the two leaders announce a billion-dollar green investment plan for the Amazon.

France, the seventh-largest economy in the world, and Brazil, the ninth-largest, are considered key players in a geopolitical scene marked by rivalry between China and the United States.

Paris sees Brasilia as a bridge to large emerging economies whose voices Brazil is trying to amplify through its presidency of the G20, and membership of the BRICS+ group.

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

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Mark Zuckerberg Is Recruiting Google Engineers With Personal Emails: Report

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is making big moves to amp up its artificial intelligence team. Reports reveal that CEO Mark Zuckerberg is personally reaching out to experts from rival companies like Google's DeepMind to join Meta's AI ventures. 

Sources familiar with the matter said that Mr Zuckerberg has been sending direct emails to researchers, urging them to switch sides. Meta is also reportedly offering jobs without formal interviews and negotiating salaries and incentives to attract top talent, according to The Information.

Meta is reportedly doubling down on artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize its platform's video recommendations. Tom Alison, head of Facebook, revealed Meta's plan to consolidate recommendation systems into one powerful AI model, promising more engaging and responsive suggestions. “Instead of just powering Reels, we're working on a project to power our entire video ecosystem with this single model, and then can we add our Feed recommendation product to also be served by this model. If we get this right, not only will the recommendations be kind of more engaging and more relevant, but we think the responsiveness of them can improve as well,” she said, as per CNBC.

Meta has been using different AI models for various features like Reels, Groups, and Feed. Recently they have also started experimenting with more advanced AI methods to bring all recommendations under one system. But Meta faces a problem of a shortage of computer chips. They have been a major buyer of Nvidia's H100 chips, spending $4.5 billion in 2023. Now, with Nvidia's new Blackwell (or B200) chip being released, everyone is out to get it, with Meta expecting to wait until 2025 for shipments. 

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Afridi's Blunt Message To PCB On Son-In-Law Shaheen's Likely Sacking

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has come out in defence of his son-in-law Shaheen Shah Afridi following speculation that the tall pace bowler was going to be removed as the national T20 captain. "I think that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility then give him time as well," Afridi told the media on Tuesday. "The biggest problem with our cricket is that our system changes whenever the faces change in the board. Whoever comes thinks whatever he is doing is the best for Pakistan cricket," said Afridi.

Afridi remarked that Shaheen should be given adequate time to prove himself.

"If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong," he added.

Afridi was seen as one of the main driving forces behind the appointment of Shaheen as the national T20 captain after last year's ODI World Cup India. Babar Azam was removed as the white-ball captain after Pakistan failed to advance beyond the league stages. The skipper then stepped down in the red-ball format.

Afridi also backed the appointment of a foreign coach but said he should be a high-profile person like Andy Flower, who has a great track record.

"I believe that even if you bring in a foreign coach, the staff under him should be Pakistani so that our people can also move forward and improve their skills," he said.

Asked about the decision to include Imad Wasim and Muhammad Amir in the national training camp, Afridi felt it would have been better to first assess their fitness.

"But I can tell you that if they can come through this two-week training camp in Kakul they will be supermen," he said.

Amir, back from retirement after 2020, has also backed Shaheen as T20 captain.

He tweeted, "Shaheen is not bad and I think he should be given time to prove his credentials."

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US Bridge Collapse May Block Export Of 2.5 Million Tonnes Of Coal

The collapse of a major Baltimore bridge Tuesday is likely to shut down the port's coal exports for as many as six weeks and block the transport of up to 2.5 million tons of coal, said Ernie Thrasher, chief executive officer of Xcoal Energy & Resources LLC.

The US exported about 74 million tons of coal last year, with Baltimore the second-largest terminal for the commodity. Plugging up a major coal hub threatens to disrupt global energy supply chains that have finally begun to work out the kinks left over from pandemic slowdowns.

"You'll see some diversion to other ports but the other ports are pretty busy," said Thrasher at Xcoal, a Pennsylvania coal trading firm that works with several suppliers. "There's a limit on how much you can divert."

Baltimore ships less than 2% of global seaborne coal so the bridge collapse will have little effect on global prices, Thrasher said. He added that the coal that moves out of Baltimore includes a lot of India-bound thermal coal, which is used for electricity generation.

"It will cause some disruption or chaos from a supply-chain standpoint," Thrasher said. "But the big question is the impact on India more than any global impact."

India's annual coal demand totals more than 1 billion tons and the nation imported roughly 238 million tons of the fuel in the most recent fiscal year, of which about 6% was shipped from the US. Baltimore accounted for around 12 million tons of the imports, according to a research note from analytics firm Energy Aspects.

The Energy Aspects note also predicted marine traffic in Baltimore would be disrupted for two or three weeks at most. Some coal shipments may be temporarily rerouted to other ports including Norfolk, Virginia, the note added.

The supply disruption will affect Asian coal markets more than European markets because much of the coal exported from the port has high sulfur content and isn't suitable for European power stations, according to a note from commodity analytics firm DBX.

Shares of companies that mine and move US coal fell Tuesday. Consol Energy Inc. saw its shares drop 6.8% and CSX Corp. shares fell 1.9%. Consol's Marine Terminal in the area of the bridge is used to loading coal into large ocean-going ships and the terminal is served by CSX.

CSX said in a statement Tuesday that it had capacity to send more trains to the Baltimore coal terminals it serves before reaching space limits and that CSX customers should expect shipment delays. CSX is also working to identify alternatives to moving cargo through Baltimore, the statement said.

The European coal price traded slightly higher on Tuesday, up less than 1%.

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

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US Bridge Collapse: Here's A Minute-By-Minute Timeline

Here is a timeline of the collapse on Tuesday of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was hit by the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali. All times are EDT:

01:04 am (0504 GMT). - Loaded with shipping containers, Dali departs from Baltimore's port, headed to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

01:24 am - Dali slowly approaches the Key Bridge, according to video captured by StreamTime Live.

1:24:33 am - Dali appears to suffer a total power failure as all its lights go out.

1:25:31 am - About a minute later, the ship's lights flicker back on. Black smoke starts rising from somewhere aboard the ship.

1:26:37 am - The ship's lights go dark again.

1:27 am - Dali appears to be colliding with one of the Key Bridge's piers. The U.S. Coast Guard receives first report of collision.

1:27:10 am - The ship's lights come back on.

1:28:48 - The roadway of the Key Bridge begins collapsing.

1:29:00 - Most of the bridge's span has plunged beneath the water

1:40 am - Baltimore City Fire Department has dispatched rescue teams for the Patapsco River, with reports of multiple people in the water.

1:50 am - The first fire unit arrives on the scene.

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

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Adani Group's Green Energy Gallery Opens At London's Science Museum

The 'Adani Green Energy Gallery' was inaugurated at the Science Museum in London today.

'Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery' explores how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably.

The gallery shows how the past, present and future are shaped by human imagination and innovation and explores how we all have a role to play in deciding our energy future, a company statement said.

In 'Future Planet', visitors can explore how scientists use complex computer-based models to understand our planet, and what these tell us about the range of climate futures that might lie ahead, it said.

At the centre of the gallery is 'Only Breath', a moving sculpture that signifies the power of nature to inspire technological change.

Speaking at the event, Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, said the gallery is about the revolution that is taking place in the world of energy. "This new gallery is about more than just clean air - or about moving away from oil and gas. It is about the energy transition we need - this world needs - and it is about the revolution that is taking place in the world of energy," Mr Adani said.

"We are the bridge connecting the past with the future - we are the bridge between generations. It is our duty to take care of our planet, not only for this generation and the next, but also for generations to come - and I am proud that Adani Green Energy is leading an energy transition that honours this commitment," he added.

"Today is a red-letter day that marks the opening of The Adani Green Energy Gallery at the @sciencemuseum in London. We are proud of the partnership with the Science Museum, led by Sir Timothy Laurence and Sir Ian Blatchford, that made this stunning gallery a reality. This gallery will serve as a pivotal public space in the understanding of sustainability, transformative technology and climate science," Gautam Adani wrote on X - while sharing some photographs of the landmark gallery. 

Today is a red-letter day that marks the opening of The Adani Green Energy Gallery at the @sciencemuseum in London. We are proud of the partnership with the Science Museum, led by Sir Timothy Laurence and Sir Ian Blatchford, that made this stunning gallery a reality. This gallery… https://t.co/XHrz9K0wS3 pic.twitter.com/MnPtf9XE8p

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) March 26, 2024

The Science Museum was founded in 1857, and is one of London's major tourist attractions.

"The Science Museum has put together the world's best curated gallery on energy transition. As one of the world's largest renewable energy companies, we are committed to making progress towards net zero - and there is no greater resource in the fight against climate change than education," said Sagar Adani, Executive Director, AGEL.

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

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Australian Man Freed After He Survives 36 Hours Stuck In Underground Drain

An Australian man has been rescued after he spent 36 hours stuck in Brisbane's underground drain network. The incident happened on Sunday when the man got trapped inside the drain while trying to retrieve his phone when it fell inside, Sky News reported. Emergency services were called to the Kangaroo Point area on the Brisbane River at about 11 am on Monday after nearby residents heard screaming coming from "underground". 

Notably, a worker from a nearby building offered him rescue on the weekend, but the trapped man said he was fine. When the same resident saw him again the next day he made the call to emergency services for help. Firefighters removed the bolted drain lid and lifted the trapped man out.

He told emergency services he spent 36 hours crawling, sometimes partially submerged and sometimes pushing through surges of stormwater and drinking drain water, before finding an opening and yelling for help, according to the Courier Mail.

''He reported he was there for 36 hours and went to get his phone,'' the spokesman said. 

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the trapped man had some abrasions and was treated for exposure to the cold.

Later, Queensland police said he had "fled" there after his car crashed into one of their vehicles on Sunday, BBC reported. 

"It's amazing what people will do sometimes and what happens, so yes, there's always surprises," acting police commissioner Steve Gollschewski told media on Tuesday. The man who is now in stable condition is assisting them with their enquiries.

The Gold Coast Council website warns residents to ''always stay away'' from drains, pipes and manholes due to the dangers they pose.

"The stormwater system is made up of pipes of varying sizes, manholes, grates and pits which could trap someone who may have been sucked or fallen into the drains. Additional dangers in the pipes could be floating debris, poisonous substances and even snakes and rats. If an animal or person gets caught in a stormwater drain or flash flood, please phone triple zero (000) immediately,''  the website said.

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"No Conditions, Expectations": Mining Baron Janardhana Reddy Rejoins BJP

Former Karnataka Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy on Monday rejoined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Gangavati MLA, who is an accused in an illegal mining case, had formed the 'Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha' (KRPP) ahead of the state assembly polls last year, snapping his two-decade-old association with the BJP.

Reddy today merged his KRPP with the BJP as he, along with wife Aruna Lakshmi and some family members, joined the party in the presence of its veteran leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, state President B Y Vijayendra, and others.

Reddy had recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

However, in the February 27 Rajya Sabha polls he had extended support to the Congress candidate.

Calling it a "home coming", Reddy explained that the move to merge KRPP with the BJP is to "make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister a third time".

"Amit Shah had invited me to Delhi and told me that -- there is no question of extending outside support (KRPP supporting BJP in LS polls) and instead I should join the BJP and work for it, as I took my political birth in the party. Accepting it, I'm joining the party," he said.

Praising Yediyurappa and the leader's contribution in his political growth, Reddy said he is happy that he will be working in the party now with the veteran leader's son Vijayendra.

"I will work as a common party worker along with other leaders under the leadership of Vijayendra. I have not come with any conditions or expectations. Whatever responsibility the party gives me, I will honestly work.

"BJP was always there in my blood, but due to some reasons I had gone out, but today I feel I have come back to my mother's lap. Looking at my brothers here, I don't feel like I'm coming back to the BJP office after 13 years," he added.

Welcoming Reddy back into the party, Vijayendra said his joining will strengthen BJP in the Kalyana Karnataka region.

"Liking Narendra Modi's leadership and accepting BJP's ideology, Reddy has rejoined the party. Reddy has said that Karnataka should have a larger contribution in making Modi PM once again -- to ensure that BJP and JD(S) alliance win all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, he is merging his KRPP with BJP and is joining the party," he said.

Before the assembly polls last year, Reddy had been largely politically inactive for nearly 12 years since his arrest by the CBI for an alleged role in a mining scam. During this period, he had a brief stint ahead of the 2018 assembly polls when he campaigned for his close friend and former Minister B Sriramulu in Molakalmuru Assembly segment.

In the run up to the 2018 assembly polls, the then BJP national president Amit Shah, in response to a reporter's question, had distanced the party from him and stressed that "the BJP has nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy." Accused in a multi-crore illegal mining case, he has been out on bail since 2015. Several conditions were imposed by the top court in its order which includes prohibiting him from visiting Ballari in Karnataka and Ananthpur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.

Because of these restrictions, he had to contest the 2023 Assembly polls from Gangavati in Koppal district.

Expressing his displeasure about the way BJP had ignored him, Reddy had announced a new party last year and also took a dig at his brothers -- Karunakara Reddy and Somashekar Reddy -- and Sriramulu, as they remained with the BJP.

The three of them had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls, with Reddy's new party said to have impacted their performance in the election.

Sriramulu, a ST community leader and former Minister is now the BJP's candidate from the Bellary (Ballari) Lok Sabha constituency.

Reddy had played an instrumental role in strengthening the BJP in the Ballari district and is still believed to enjoy a considerable clout there as well as in adjoining districts like Chitradurga, Koppal and Raichur, which could be useful for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, managing director of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), were arrested by the CBI on September 5, 2011.

The company is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, spread over Ballari in Karnataka and the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy first came to political limelight during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, when he campaigned for BJP leader, the late Sushma Swaraj, who had contested against Congress' Sonia Gandhi from Ballari.

Former Congress Minister T John's son Thomas John also joined the BJP today.

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DMK Minister Faces Police Case Over 'Derogatory' Remarks Against PM Modi

The Tuticorin police in Tamil Nadu have filed a case against state Fisheries Minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan for his alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Aren't you those who wanted to kill Kamaraj when he was sleeping," the minister was heard saying in a video in an apparent response to PM Modi, who had invoked Congress icon K Kamaraj at a rally.

NDTV couldn't independently verify the video featuring the minister.

"We have booked the minister under section 294B (using obscene words in public), based on a complaint by a BJP functionary," an officer from the Meignanapuram Police Station told NDTV.

The state BJP has also written to the Election Commission for action against the minister.

DMK leaders have reached a new low in their uncouth behaviour by passing vile comments & unpardonable public discourse against our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl.

When they have nothing to criticise, this is the level DMK leaders have stooped. DMK MP Smt Kanimozhi avl was on… pic.twitter.com/sTdQSNjkir

— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 24, 2024

Sharing the video on X, BJP state Chief Annamalai said, "DMK leaders have reached a new low in their uncouth behaviour by passing vile comments & unpardonable public discourse against our Hon PM".

"DMK MP Smt Kanimozhi avl was on the stage and did not bother to stop her colleague," he added.

K Kamaraj, a former chief minister of the erstwhile Madras State, was a Congress icon from Tamil Nadu. PM Modi had invoked Kamaraj at an election rally in Salem last week, saying his honesty and revolutionary schemes like mid-day meals have been big inspiration for him.

Targeting the Prime Minister, DMK's Anitha R Radhakrishnan is heard saying in the video, "You speak as if Kamaraj hugged you."

The DMK is yet to respond to the charges.

Mr Radhakrishnan is not alien to controversies. A newspaper ad commissioned by him, hailing the creation of a second launch pad for India's space agency, had sparked a furious row last month. The ad had an image of the Chinese flag prominently on the rocket in the poster.

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5 Killed, 1,000 Homes Destroyed In Magnitude 6.9 Quake In Papua New Guinea

At least five people were killed and an estimated 1,000 homes destroyed when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked flood-stricken northern Papua New Guinea, officials said Monday as disaster crews poured into the region. 

"So far, around 1,000 homes have been lost," said East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, adding that emergency crews were "still assessing the impact" from a tremor that "damaged most parts of the province".

Dozens of villages nestled on the banks of the country's Sepik River were already dealing with major flooding when the quake struck early Sunday morning. 

Provincial police commander Christopher Tamari told AFP that authorities had recorded five deaths but the number of fatalities "could be more". 

Photos taken in the aftermath of the quake showed damaged wooden houses collapsing into the surrounding knee-high floodwaters. 

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on top of the seismic "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. 

Although they seldom cause widespread damage in the sparsely populated jungle highlands, they can trigger destructive landslides.

Many of the island nation's nine million citizens live outside major towns and cities, where the difficult terrain and lack of sealed roads can seriously hamstring search-and-rescue efforts.

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

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All You Need To Know About Ghost Jobs, The Rising Trend In Hiring

The rising trend of ghost jobs has gained significant attention after a social media user shared a personal anecdote. These are jobs that are “open” on the company website but don't actually exist.

The user, Maureen W Clough, shared a note on Thread, where she revealed that the HR personnel of her company asked her to continue interviewing candidates for a ghost job.

Sharing details, she wrote, “There's a new super cool trend in tech: ghost jobs... I was a hiring manager with a new position to fill. As I went through the process with candidates, a buddy said, 'Hey, do you know there's a hiring freeze?' I went to HR, who confirmed… then told me to keep going with interviews since the req “might” be reopened. NOPE. I refused to waste candidates' time & my own.”

Post by @maureenwclough

View on Threads

What is a Ghost Job?

Ghost jobs are the vacancies that a company advertises but has no intention of filling. The reason for this may vary from company to company.

One possible explanation is that a company may be unable to budget for hiring new employees during that specific period, while another reason could be to assess the talent pool available in the market.

There is also a possibility that these “open jobs” have been posted earlier for an upcoming position, which is not currently available or will not exist at all. 

Many companies that freeze the hiring process still have job postings listed.

As per a study by Harvard Business School, the rise of employees quitting during the pandemic and its economic uncertainty might have increased the number of ghost jobs.

The study also added that it might be due to companies being unsure of the future and hiring new people.

It is worth noting that several ghost job listings don't even have a job description but include a long list of perks to convince a candidate to apply.

How can you tell if the job is real or not?

Genuine job postings will always include specific details about the expectations for the role, qualifications and responsibilities. Therefore, if a candidate comes across a vague job description, which reads like a generic template, then that is your clue.

When a candidate applies for a job and doesn't get a response for weeks or even months in some cases then that means he/she fell for a ghost job.

If a candidate comes across the same job opening repeatedly over an extended period could also serve as a warning sign.

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All You Need To Know About Ghost Jobs, The Rising Trend In Hiring

The rising trend of ghost jobs has gained significant attention after a social media user shared a personal anecdote. These are jobs that are “open” on the company website but don't actually exist.

The user, Maureen W Clough, shared a note on Thread, where she revealed that the HR personnel of her company asked her to continue interviewing candidates for a ghost job.

Sharing details, she wrote, “There's a new super cool trend in tech: ghost jobs... I was a hiring manager with a new position to fill. As I went through the process with candidates, a buddy said, 'Hey, do you know there's a hiring freeze?' I went to HR, who confirmed… then told me to keep going with interviews since the req “might” be reopened. NOPE. I refused to waste candidates' time & my own.”

Post by @maureenwclough

View on Threads

What is a Ghost Job?

Ghost jobs are the vacancies that a company advertises but has no intention of filling. The reason for this may vary from company to company.

One possible explanation is that a company may be unable to budget for hiring new employees during that specific period, while another reason could be to assess the talent pool available in the market.

There is also a possibility that these “open jobs” have been posted earlier for an upcoming position, which is not currently available or will not exist at all. 

Many companies that freeze the hiring process still have job postings listed.

As per a study by Harvard Business School, the rise of employees quitting during the pandemic and its economic uncertainty might have increased the number of ghost jobs.

The study also added that it might be due to companies being unsure of the future and hiring new people.

It is worth noting that several ghost job listings don't even have a job description but include a long list of perks to convince a candidate to apply.

How can you tell if the job is real or not?

Genuine job postings will always include specific details about the expectations for the role, qualifications and responsibilities. Therefore, if a candidate comes across a vague job description, which reads like a generic template, then that is your clue.

When a candidate applies for a job and doesn't get a response for weeks or even months in some cases then that means he/she fell for a ghost job.

If a candidate comes across the same job opening repeatedly over an extended period could also serve as a warning sign.

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Toxic Liquor Deaths In Punjab's Sangrur Rises To 20, Special Probe Ordered

The death count due to the suspected consumption of spurious liquor in Punjab's Sangrur district has climbed to twenty, with six more persons succumbing, officials said today.

Meanwhile, a four-member special investigation team (SIT), led by an additional director general of police (ADGP) rank officer, has been set up in connection with the incident.

Eleven people are undergoing treatment at Patiala's Rajindra Hospital and six at the Civil Hospital in Sangrur.

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Kirpal Singh said today that 20 people have died so far in the incident.

The officials said that the casualties have been reported from Gujran, Tibbi Ravidaspura and Dhandoli Khurd villages in Dirba and Sunam blocks.

The police have made six arrests in the case so far, they said.

The AAP government has been under fire from the opposition parties Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over the Sangrur hooch tragedy.

A case has already been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Excise Act.

The police on Saturday said that a high-level committee has been set up to supervise uncovering of the backward and forward linkages in a professional and scientific manner to unearth the nexus behind the whole matter.

A four-member SIT headed by ADGP (law and order) Gurinder Singh Dhillon will supervise the investigations.

Deputy Inspector General (Patiala Range) Harcharan Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, Sartaj Chahal, and Additional Commissioner (Excise) Naresh Dubey will be part of the SIT.

"The SIT will go to the bottom of the conspiracy. No person found involved will be spared," police said.

The district administration has already formed a five-member committee, led by the Dirba sub-divisional magistrate, to investigate the matter.

The police had earlier recovered 200 litres of ethanol, 156 bottles of alcohol, 130 bottles containing suspected spurious liquor with labelling, 80 bottles containing spurious liquor without labelling, 4,500 empty bottles and a bottling machine etc.

The police had said with the arrests made until Thursday it had busted a gang which had just started selling spurious liquor in the area in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The gang could have affected the conduct of the elections by luring the voters, the police had said in a statement.

A survey was also being conducted in the affected villages to find out if anyone else reported symptoms of deterioration in health.
 

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

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"MS Dhoni May Not Play All Games": Chris Gayle Drops Bombshell

Formrer West Indies captain Chris Gayle feels MS Dhoni might not play all the games for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024 after stepping down as captain on the eve of their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday. CSK defeated RCB in the IPL 2024 opener by six wickets to get their title defense underway in style at the Chepauk. Dhoni played under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's leadership, but did not get the chance to bat. After CSK's win over RCB, Gayle said Dhoni might take a break between the tournament, but backed the veteran to do well in the tournament.

"He (MS Dhoni) might not play all games. There may be a little break in between for him. that's why the decision. But MSD will go well, don't worry about that," Gayle said on Jio Cinema.

Dhoni looked sharp behind the stumps, affecting a run out on the final ball of RCB's innings.

He didn't get the chance to bat though as CSK chased down 174 with eight balls to spare.

Recapping the match, RCB opted to bat and at one point, was reduced to 78/5, despite a brisk start by skipper Faf (35 in 23 balls, with eight fours). Virat Kohli had a disappointing outing with the bat, scoring 21 in 20 balls with a six. Anuj Rawat (48 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Dinesh Karthik (38* in 26 balls, with three fours and two sixes). Mustafizur (4/29) was the pick of the bowlers for CSK. RCB scored 173/6 in 20 overs.

In the run chase of 174 runs, Rachin Ravindra (37 in 15 balls, with three fours and three sixes) provided a brisk start to CSK. RCB managed to take some quick and crucial wickets, but Shivam Dube (34* in 28 balls, with four boundaries and six) and Ravindra Jadeja (25* in 17 balls, with a six) guided the defending champions to a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare.

Gaikwad said his team was in total control from the start and believed they played really well in the end.

"Total control, I would say, right from the start (apart) from 2-3 overs. Would have loved 10-15 runs less but I think they played really well towards the end. I feel that was a big turning point to get Maxwell and Faf out. We got three quick wickets and it helped us control the next overs, that was the real turning point," Gaikwad said after his first win as CSK skipper.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Kate Middleton Is Undergoing Preventative Chemotherapy. What That means

Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced on Friday that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy to treat cancer discovered after she had abdominal surgery.

While the exact situation is difficult to determine because the 42-year-old princess did not disclose the nature of the cancer, here is an explanation of preventative chemo.

- What is chemotherapy? -

Chemotherapy is the use of powerful drugs to stop cancerous cells from growing, dividing and creating more cells. There are a large number of kinds of chemotherapy, depending on the cancer, how far it has spread and the treatment regime.

Because these treatments cannot distinguish between different cells, they end up killing some cells that do good, such as white blood cells, causing some side effects.

- Why preventative? -

Preventative chemotherapy is often used after surgery to "decrease the likelihood" that cancer will return, Kimmie Ng, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the United States told AFP.

Even after successful surgery, "microscopic cancer cells can remain lurking in the body and can't be detected by current tests," said Lawrence Young, molecular oncology professor at the University of Warwick.

It is "a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it", Andrew Beggs, a cancer surgeon at the University of Birmingham, told the Science Media Centre.

- Side effects? -

How chemo affects people can vary depending on the particular cancer, treatment and person.

But common side effects include fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and an increased risk of getting an infection.

Some rarer, more severe side effects can include sepsis and damage to vital organs.

- How long? -

Treatment schedules again can vary widely, but a traditional chemo regime would be delivered in four to six blocks, said Bob Phillips, paediatric oncology professor at the University of York.

A cycle may last 21 days and "consists of a day or few days of chemo, then time for the body to recover from it," Phillips said.

Regimes of preventative chemo tend to last between three to six months.

It can take people weeks or months to recover from the treatment.

- More cancer among young people? -

Beggs emphasised that "young onset cancer is by no means rare".

"I run a clinic for early-onset cancer in adults and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer," he said.

Shivan Sivakumar, an oncology expert at the University of Birmingham said "there is an epidemic currently" of people under 50 getting cancer.

"It is unknown the cause of this, but we are seeing more patients getting abdominal cancers," he said.

Ng pointed out that research from the American Cancer Society released this year showed that younger adults were the only age group in which cancer increased between 1995 and 2020.

"There is an urgent need for research into the causes of this uptick," Ng said.

Research published in the BMJ journal last week said that cancer cases among people aged 35-69 in Britain also rose over the last quarter of a century.

But deaths from cancer fell by a significant margin.

"The younger you are, the more likely you are to tolerate chemotherapy well," Sivakumar said.

Younger people also more likely to survive cancer.

A combination of early diagnosis and better treatments has led to "survival rates doubling in the last 50 years", Young said.

"An incidental finding of cancer during surgery for other conditions is often associated with the tumour being detected at an early stage when subsequent chemotherapy is much more effective," he added.

- Check yourself? -

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said that such high-profile cancers can serve as a reminder for people to think about their own health.

"If people spot something that's not normal for them or isn't going away, they should check with their GP," she said.

"It probably won't be cancer. But if it is, spotting it at an early stage means treatment is more likely to be successful."

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

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CBSE Live Updates: Board To Conduct Class 12 Political Science Exam Today

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct Class 12 Political Science paper today, Friday March 22, 2024. The exam will began at 10.30am and will conclude around 1.30pm. This year, a total of 39 lakh students from 26 countries are taking the examinations. In the national capital, the examinations are being held at 877 centers, with 5.80 lakh students appearing.

Students appearing in the examination have been advised to arrive at the center at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the exam. They must not forget to carry their admit card as it is a crucial document. Candidates without admit cards will not be allowed to enter the examination hall.

Students must also bring their own stationery as borrowing in the examination hall is not permitted. Prohibited items should not be brought into the examination hall, as doing so may result in cancellation of the exam.

CBSE commenced conducting board exams for Classes 10 and 12 starting February 15. Class 12 exams will be held until April 2 while Class 10 exams concluded on March 13.

Here are the LIVE updates on the Board Exam:

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PM Modi Arrives In Bhutan On 2-Day State Visit, Gets Red Carpet Welcome

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Bhutan on a two-day State visit to further cement India's unique relations with the Himalayan nation as part of the country's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy.

PM Modi was accorded a red-carpet welcome upon his arrival at the Paro airport.

He was warmly received by Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, at Paro airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome.

Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome, with the Bhutanese people lining the entire 45-kilometre route from Paro International Airport to Thimphu which was also decked up with Indian and Bhutanese flags.

The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and the Government's emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release on Friday.

The Bhutanese prime minister wrote on X in Hindi: "Bhutan mein aapka swagat hai mere bade bhai @narendramodi Ji."

Earlier, PM Modi posted on X about his visit to Bhutan.

"On the way to Bhutan, where I will be attending various programmes aimed at further cementing the India-Bhutan partnership. I look forward to talks with Majesty the King of Bhutan, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and Prime Minister @tsheringtobgay," he wrote on X.

The visit, scheduled between March 21 and 22, was postponed due to the inclement weather in Bhutan.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will receive an audience with Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan. He will also hold talks with the Prime Minister of Bhutan.

The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to "exchange views on bilateral and regional matters of interest and deliberate on ways to expand and intensify our exemplary partnership for the benefit of our peoples", the MEA said in a statement earlier this week.

India and Bhutan share "a unique and enduring partnership which is rooted in mutual trust, understanding and goodwill", the statement emphasised.

"Our shared spiritual heritage and warm people-to-people ties add depth and vibrancy to our exceptional relations," the MEA said.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to receive a grand welcome at the Tashichho Dzong, a traditional Buddhist monastery and the seat of the Bhutanese government.

PM Modi will also inaugurate the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu, a state-of-the-art hospital, built with the assistance of the Government of India in Thimphu.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay was on a five-day visit to India last week, his first foreign trip after assuming charge of the top office in January.

He also held meetings with captains of various industries, besides other important engagements.
 

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

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Review: Ae Watan Mere Watan Is Neither Riveting Nor Rousing

With history and politics increasingly serving as vehicles of blatant propaganda in the hands of some Mumbai filmmakers, it is with trepidation that one approaches Ae Watan Mere Watan. Mercifully, it turns out that the historical thriller produced by Dharmatic Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios does not have agenda-tinged blinkers on.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video and featuring Sara Ali Khan as a khadi-clad freedom fighter taking on the might of the British, Ae Watan Mere Watan does not fall prey to excess as it brings to the screen a little-known but important chapter of India's independence movement.

While the freedom fighters in the film shout slogans, express unwavering anti-colonial intent and resist a brutal regime, Ae Watan Mere Watan is anything but given to shrill posturing. The restraint that the film demonstrates in peddling patriotism is commendable but it does not sadly translate into something bigger than the sum of its parts.

Ae Watan Mere Watan, directed by Kannan Iyer who debuted a decade ago with the supernatural horror film Ek Thi Dayan, isn't as impactful as it should have been given that it does not lack elements that instantly resonate in an era in which news is in the midst of a protracted silly season.

Scripted by Darab Farooqui, Ae Watan Mere Watan revolves around a period of freedom fighter Usha Mehta's life. Sara Ali Khan, playing the principal character, is way too porcelain and dainty to convey the remarkably doughty woman's fierce determination.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's "do or die" call as part of the Quit India movement, Usha Mehta, then only 22 and at loggerheads with her pro-Churchill judge-father (Sachin Khedekar) who sees no reason why the family should side with the Congress, started a secret radio station in 1942 to transmit the message of independence to the people.

The film covers only a brief period of history. Usha's defiance lasted a few months before the police clamped down on her and her associates. For violating a ban imposed on radio stations during World War II, she was jailed for four years. But neither the fear of penal action nor the prospect of her father's ire is able to stop the young lady.

Gandhi, played by Uday Chandra, appears in two scenes. The focus of Ae Watan Mere Watan is on the socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi is an extended guest appearance). The latter's voice is heard repeatedly on the airwaves and elsewhere as Usha and her associates, Kaushik (Abhay Verma) and Fahad (Sparsh Shrivastava), run Congress Radio from a secret location and dodge the law as long as they can.

Hindi cinema has never given Lohia his due. By granting him a rightful pride of place in the Usha Mehta story, Ae Watan Mere Watan provides the audience with a significant piece of history that has hitherto not been highlighted enough. Hashmi, an actor who thrives on being effortless, fleshes out Lohia without resorting to unduly flashy methods.

While the performance is sufficiently weighty, the film appears to struggle with pace and depth. Not so much the cloak-and-dagger drama that it should ideally have been as a thriller cast in a conventional mould complete with action scenes and chases, Ae Watan Mere Watan lacks the intrinsic power to generate genuine tension and a sense of danger.

The film equates the airwaves with wings. Spread your wings, Mahatma Gandhi exhorts his followers. Usha intends to do just that - seek freedom with the help of the radio signals that she transmits "from somewhere in India".

Mumbai Police inspector, John Lyre (Alexx O'Nell), is on the trail of the people behind the secret radio station. The climax of the film (parts of which are revealed in a brief prelude) centres on a raid on a building that houses the clandestine broadcasting set-up.

A cop points a gun at Usha as she runs down a staircase. The sequence cuts to a scene in which the protagonist, as a 10-year-old girl, is in an open-air classroom in Surat where a teacher explains to her the significance of the freedom struggle.

The staging is somewhat stuffy and the emphasis is on dialogues that sound more like speeches than conversational exchanges. But a couple of points that Ae Watan Mere Watan makes have contemporary relevance and deserve mention.

In one scene, Usha asserts that news empowers people. She makes the statement is response to an associate's lament that newspapers of the day are spreading falsehoods. What we see and think, he adds, is being controlled by these sources of information. The official channels of communication are spreading false news, Usha says, and it is, therefore, imperative to get the truth to the people.

In another sequence, Usha and her comrades discuss the pitfalls of andh-bhakti (blind obeisance), citing the example of Lohia who, despite idolising Jawaharlal Nehru, would think nothing of criticising him when the need arose.

At another juncture in the film, Lohia is cited again to emphasise that the fight against a tyrant isn't waged necessarily with an eye on triumphing over him. One fights a tyrant because he is a tyrant. Ae Watan Mere Watan does not project patriotism as an end in itself nor does it portray it as a panacea for all problems. It goes beyond the narrow confines of what notion stands for today.

Ae Watan Mere Watan addresses the themes of love and revolution, freedom and unity, truth and pragmatism with an undercurrent of subversion that gives it an edge and elevates it above the chronicle that it is out to craft in the service of telling a story unsung heroes of India's freedom struggle.

The first-rate production design ensures that period details do not go awry. Director of photography Amalendu Chaudhary lends an evocative quality to the film's visual palette.

Ae Watan Mere Watan makes its points with clarity and directness. It tells a tale that has meat, but the storytelling style that the film adopts stops it significantly short of being either consistently riveting or memorably rousing.

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British Airways Fires Cabin Crew For Racist Video Mocking Asian Passengers

Two members of British Airways cabin crew have been fired after they posted a racist video on Tik Tok mocking Asian passengers. The offensive clip was filmed by Holly Walton and Lauren Bray while they stayed at a luxury resort hotel in Antigua paid for by the airline, Metro reported.

In the video, the duo mocked a Chinese family who spoke little English and attempted to order drinks on a flight. Ms Walton was filmed making racist eye gestures and saying "Give me wine" in a Chinese accent. A caption on the video read: "2 weeks in a row with this d***head." The clip was filmed by Ms Bray, who has since disabled her Instagram account.

After the video was posted online, colleagues of the duo expressed their shock and disgust over the racist clip. One colleague said the women were "deliberately laughing" at the family which "sends out the worst message possible." Another Asian staff member said, ''I'm reeling from seeing this video. It makes me question the airline and my colleagues. Action has to be taken. We won't stand for it."

Another told the Sun: "This recording is obscene. For anyone to have such racist thoughts, to then film them and share them with the world, is shocking and dumb in equal measure. This is hugely damaging for the airline and they deserved the axe."

The crew members were ordered to fly back from a round trip in Cancun, Mexico for a meeting on Monday with BA bosses at the airline's headquarters. Ms Bray was witnessed leaving the meeting at the airline's HQ in "floods of tears' on Monday.

British Airways confirmed the two women were no longer employed by them. In a statement, a BA spokesperson commented: "All forms of racism are completely unacceptable, and we take allegations of this nature very seriously."

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Nomination Process Begins For Lok Sabha Elections After Poll Body Notice

The nomination process for 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union territories for the 2024 general elections with the Election Commission on behalf of the President issuing its notification.

Candidates contesting in the elections must file their nomination papers within a specified timeframe. The last date for filing nomination papers for most constituencies is March 27. However, in Bihar, due to a festival, the deadline is extended to March 28. Candidates also have the option to withdraw their nomination before a specified deadline. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 20 for most constituencies, and April 2 for Bihar.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in seven phases, starting on April 19 and concluding on June 1. Each phase will cover different constituencies across various states and Union territories. The results of the election will be announced on June 4.

The first phase of polling includes states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

Simultaneous Elections

Simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and assembly will be held in four states: Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Jammu and Kashmir, under President's Rule since 2018, will not have simultaneous elections due to security concerns.

By-elections will also be conducted for 26 assembly seats across multiple states, including Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.

Election Commission's Measures

The Election Commission has taken several measures to ensure fair and transparent elections. Special attention is given to combatting fake news on social media, with severe penalties for dissemination.

Strict guidelines are in place to prevent hate speeches and maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

Special provisions are made for elderly voters above the age of 85 and persons with disabilities, allowing them to vote from home.
Approximately 82 lakh voters fall under the category of those above the age of 85.
 

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Delta Pilot Gets 10 Months in Jail After Trying To Fly Plane While Drunk

A drunk pilot who tried to fly a Delta Airlines plane from Scotland to the US has been sent to jail for 10 months. According to the Guardian, Captain Lawrence Russell, 63, was found to be almost two-and-a-half times over the alcohol blood limit on the day he was due to pilot the Boeing 767 plane from Edinburgh to New York.

The incident happened on June 16 last year when Mr Russell arrived at baggage control 80 minutes before departure wearing his pilot's uniform. However, his carry-on luggage was rejected by the X-ray scanner when it was found to contain two bottles of Jagermeister, one of which was opened and “just under half full.''

He failed a breath test and his blood sample showed he had 49 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit being 20mg.

The 63-year-old was sentenced at an Edinburgh court after pleading guilty to reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through alcohol. Sheriff Alison Stirling said a prison sentence had to be imposed as a punishment and for the "protection of the public".

Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: "Lawrence Russell's conduct would have endangered many lives; the consequences could have been catastrophic. He showed a reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew. The pilot of a commercial aircraft holds the lives of hundreds in his hands. He would have put all of them at serious risk. This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with.''

After serving his time, Mr Russell may be re-employed as a pilot and may return to Delta if they decide to have him back.

The pilot has two previous convictions for driving while under the influence of alcohol in the US. His defence attorney, Pamela Rodgers, said he has not drunk alcohol for 277 days after completing a rehab programme.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations say a pilot cannot have a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .04 or more, which is half the legal limit for driving in the United States. The maximum penalty for anyone found guilty of being "over the prescribed limit" is a two-year jail sentence.

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US Bus Driver Saves 9 Students Moments Before Vehicle Goes Up In Flames

A school bus driver in US' New Orleans is being hailed for her bravery after she saved nine children moments before the vehicle went up in flames, the Guardian reported. The incident happened on March 13 when Kia Rousseve, 28, was doing her usual school run for Community Academies of New Orleans. However, just after 7 am, Ms Rousseve felt the bus was losing power and black smoke began pouring from the vehicle. That's when a girl frantically told her there was a fire underneath the bus. Without wasting time, she grabbed each child off the bus through the front door.

''As soon as I saw the bus smoking, my instinct was to get them off of the bus. A little girl came up and told me the bus was on fire underneath. I got them off,'' bus driver Kia Rousseve told Fox 8. 

She turned the bus off, stepped down to the street to wait for help and immediately heard a series of booms.

''I turned the bus off and got off. When I got off, the bus blew up. All I heard was, ‘Boom! Boom! Boom!' I was like, ‘Oh, my God, the bus blew up,'' she added.

The driver said she was thinking about her own child as she ushered the kids from the vehicle.

A statement providing details about the episode, which has gone viral, declared Ms Rousseve ''courage on wheels''.

It added: ''Her ability to stay calm in the face of danger, ensuring not a single child came to harm is nothing short of heroic. It's a poignant reminder of the crucial role bus drivers play in our children's lives, often going unnoticed until a moment of crisis thrusts them into the spotlight.''

Ms Rousseve said she believes a faulty alternator is to blame for the fire. Her supervisor also sent her a text message thanking her for ''making sure the babies were safe''.

''I'm just happy and glad that God was with me and I got the kids off the bus and got myself off the bus,'' Ms Rousseve said in an interview.

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