"Can We Do More?": Man Urges Zomato CEO After Encounter With Delivery Boy

A Delhi man was "deeply shaken" after listening to a young Zomato delivery executive who delivered food to his doorstep late one night. Himanshu Bohra shared the story of Shiva Sarkar, a delivery executive barely in his twenties, who works tirelessly through the night to support his family after his father's death.

In his LinkedIn post titled “The Story of Shiva Sarkar,” Mr Bohra said that one night, after wrapping up his work at 3 AM, he ordered food through Zomato.

“As the doorbell rang, I stood up to open it. There he was, Shiva Sarkar, the delivery executive, with a warm smile despite the biting cold outside. But there was something in his eyes. A heaviness, a story untold,” he wrote.

Mr Bohra invited the Zomato agent in, offering him water and inquiring about his well-being. That's when the young man broke down and revealed his struggles. After losing his father, Mr Sarkar was forced to drop out of school in class 8 and take up a job to support his family. His earnings now go toward preparing for his younger sisters' weddings.

“I sat there, in awe of his strength,” Mr Bohra said. “This young man, who should be chasing his aspirations, is instead running against the clock to make ends meet, with a determination that can only be admired.”

Mr Bohra reflected on countless others like Sarkar — "young boys and girls sacrificing their education, dreams, and potential to keep their families afloat.” After meeting Mr Sarkar, he wondered how society could help individuals like him.

The post continued with an emotional plea to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal: “Deepinder Goyal, I love the Zomato app, but can we do more?” He asked if Zomato could introduce upskilling programmes, scholarships, or easy loans for these “unsung heroes.” 

“What if these delivery executives could dream again? Could learn skills that open doors to brighter futures while earning a living?” he wrote.

The post, which included a photo of Mr Sarkar (shared with his consent), has since gone viral.

Zomato was quick to respond.

In a comment, the company wrote, “Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This looks quite inspirational, and we are proud of our delivery universe,” asking for the order ID of the delivery partner to express their appreciation for his dedication and hard work.

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

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

Sharing a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "Sriram Krishnan will serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy."

"Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI, and help shape and coordinate A.l. policy across Government, including working with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Sriram started his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure," he said.

?? I'm honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with @DavidSacks.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump for this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/kw1n0IKK2a

— Sriram Krishnan (@sriramk) December 22, 2024

Mr Krishnan, 41, acknowledged the offer and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "I'm honoured to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with @DavidSacks . Thank you @realDonaldTrump for this opportunity."

Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director of Indiaspora, congratulated Mr Krishnan on his appointment and highlighted his exceptional qualities, calling him as an "insightful thinker."

"We heartily congratulate Sriram Krishnan and are delighted that he has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. For several years, Sriram has been an insightful thinker and influential commentator in the artificial intelligence realm. His previous work blending public policy, international affairs, investing and technology will stand him in good stead as he serves the nation in this important role," he said.

"As Indiaspora continues our convening and thought leadership work on AI in the United States and abroad, we look forward to engaging closely with Sriram," he added.

As per his website, Mr Krishnan till recently was a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a personal investor in over two dozen companies including SpaceX, Figma and Scale.ai. He previously lead organizations at Meta, Twitter/X and Microsoft.

He has a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology from SRM Engineering College, Anna University.

Mr Krishnan and his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy host the podcast "The Aarthi and Sriram Show."

On Sunday, Trump nominated Mark Burnett as the country 's special envoy to United Kingdom.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump noted that Burnett brings to the table "a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition" to the important role.

He also noted that Burnett would work in enhancing the diplomatic ties between the US and the UK with a focus on areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment and cultural exchanges.

Earlier, Trump nominated Herschel Walker, a renowned American athlete and businessman, as the United States Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Walker has been a former Heisman Trophy winner, a National Football League (NFL) great, as well as co-chair of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

In early December, Trump nominated former Georgia Senator David Perdue as his pick for the US Ambassador to China, Al Jazeera reported.

"As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the US Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China. He has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, and worked in Asia and China for much of his career," Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social."

He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain peace in the region and a productive working relationship with China's leaders," Trump said, as per Al Jazeera.

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

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Pakistan Jails 25 Imran Khan Supporters Over Violent Protests

Pakistan military courts have convicted and sentenced 25 people for involvement in pro-Imran Khan unrest last year, the armed forces said Saturday, with the majority handed decade-long prison terms.

Ex-prime minister Khan was arrested in May last year after being ousted from office and mounting an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the nation's powerful military leaders.

His detention over graft allegations sparked nationwide unrest, some targeting armed forces installations, and prompting rare prosecutions of civilians in military courts.

Amnesty International called the move "an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent" and said it was "contrary to international law".

Military courts are largely opaque, but after months of confidentiality the military public relations wing named 25 people who have been prosecuted.

All of the convicted are men and 14 have been sentenced to a decade of "rigorous imprisonment", the military said with the remaining 11 set to serve lesser prison terms.

"All sentences announced by the military courts are disproportionate and excessive," said a spokesman for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. "These sentences are rejected."

The verdicts were announced just three weeks after the capital Islamabad was gripped by fresh unrest, as tens of thousands of Khan supporters flooded in to demand his release.

The government said at least five security personnel were killed whilst PTI allege at least 10 of their own were shot dead by security forces before crowds retreated. 

'Political terrorism'

A military statement did not make clear what crime each person had been convicted of or when, listing only the location of their offence. The shortest sentence meted out was two years.

During the May 2023 unrest Pakistan "witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places," the military statement said.

"These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said "no civilian should be tried in a military court under any circumstances".

"This contravenes the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan as well as the international human rights obligations to which Pakistan is a state party," the organisation said in a statement on social media platform X.

Former cricket star Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, when he was ousted by parliament in a no-confidence vote.

He blamed the then-head of the powerful military establishment for his downfall. Pakistan's generals are considered the country's political kingmakers and have directly ruled the nation for decades at a time.

Khan's May 2023 detention lasted a matter of days but he was re-arrested three months later and has remained imprisoned since, facing a parade of court cases he claims are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, PTI was targeted by a sweeping crackdown following the unrest, with thousands of grassroots supporters and senior officials arrested.

The 72-year-old was barred from running in February elections, which were marred by rigging allegations.

PTI defied the crackdown to win more seats than any other party, but a coalition of parties considered more pliable to military influence formed a government and shut them out of power.

A United Nations panel of experts found in September that Khan's detention "had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office".

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

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China Woman Hires Actors To Pose As Family, Extorts Money From Blind Date

A married woman in China has been detained by police for hiring actors to impersonate herself and her parents on a blind date.

The man, named Xin, a resident of central China's Hubei province, met the woman who identified herself as Xiaoyu. She reached out to him in August 2022 after seeing his contact details in a wedding planning advertisement, South China Morning Post reported.

A month after their initial online meeting, Xiaoyu professed her love to Xin.

As the two of them started planning their marriage last year, the woman informed Xin that he will have to pay a 'bride price' of 188,000 yuan (US$26,000) to her family, according to the local customs.

In January 2023, Xin visited her home and brought along gifts worth 10,000 yuan to meet her parents. However, she claimed that she would not be able to meet him as she was ill.

Thereafter, she continued to take money from him claiming that she required it for her mother's surgery as well as gifts for her sister, while consistently denying Xin's request to meet in person, citing that it was “inconvenient”.

In order to deceive the culprit, she continued to share her photographs and spoke to him over the phone which helped her assuage his growing suspicions. 

According to Xin, he transferred more than 220,000 yuan to the woman throughout last year.

Xiaoyu finally agreed to meet Xin in April and stated that she would come with her parents and sister to his city. However, during the meeting, the man noticed that the woman looked completely different from her photographs. To this, she alleged that the images were “beautified”.

A month after that, Xin's family met with the woman's family to discuss wedding arrangements. During this time, Xin again transferred additional funds and even brought new clothes worth 40,000 yuan for them.

However, Xin was left surprised when he accidentally went on to discover chat messages on Xiaoyu's phone. In the messages, she had complained about him “constantly asking to meet,” while promising to “act according to the script”.

On being confronted, Xiaoyu claimed that it was somebody else who was using her account. A day later, Xiaoyu's sister, Xiaomiao, met Xin in person and told him that her sister was “depressed,” while requesting him to break up with her.

Xin felt there was something fishy and decided to uncover the truth. Hen then travelled to Xiaoyu's city and called her up. However, Xiaomiao answered the phone on her behalf. This is when Xin realised that Xiaomiao was the actual “fiancée” he had been allegedly dating for the past two years.

According to police, the unemployed married woman, surnamed Zhou, even had a child and had hired actors to portray her family and herself in order to extract money from Xin. She wanted the money to financially support her child. In total, Xin sent her 480,000 yuan (US$65,000) before the accused was detained by police in November.

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Putin Calls For "More Interesting" Alternatives To Porn. Here's Why

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concerns about the widespread global popularity of pornographic content, calling for the development of more engaging alternatives to capture people's attention.

During his annual ‘Direct Line' event in Moscow on December 19, which lasted for over four hours, Mr Putin acknowledged the wide prevalence of pornographic content and proposed the development of more “interesting” alternatives to capture people's attention. 

According to a report in RT (formerly Russia Today), Vladimir Putin said that adult content was not just an issue in Russia, but a global phenomenon, saying, “This is not only our problem, but also the problem of many other countries.”

He emphasised that while banning such content might be an option, it is more important to provide alternatives that can offer a more compelling and interesting experience. “The answer can be what? In general, you could ban, but you should always offer an alternative that is more interesting than a porn site. So that a person would get in there, open a porn site and say: ‘I've already seen this, I want to see something else'.”

Mr Putin's remarks come at a time when concerns over internet content and its effects on societal norms have reached global proportions. While many countries struggle with regulating adult material, Putin's focus is on fostering a cultural shift that offers more captivating and positive alternatives to online pornography.

According to a Statista report, visits to adult content websites globally are in billions. As of May 2024, Pornhub recorded around 5.49 billion visits per month, while Xvideos followed with 4.02 billion monthly visits. The Statista report also stated that adult content remained one of the leading categories for internet traffic.

A few months ago, in September 2024, Vladimir Putin made headlines with an unconventional proposal to address Russia's declining birth rate. He reportedly encouraged Russians to engage in intimate relations during lunch and coffee breaks at work. At the time, Russia's fertility rate stood at around 1.5 children per woman, significantly below the 2.1 rate needed to sustain a stable population.

Additionally, Russia's Health Minister, Dr Yevgeny Shestopalov, chimed in, asserting that being too busy at work should not be used as an excuse for avoiding procreation. He suggested that people could utilise their breaks to focus on expanding their families.

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Scientists Reveal Simple Yet Effective Method To Cut Alcohol Intake

A recent study suggests that combining the warning about alcohol-related cancer risks with tracking each drink consumed is an effective way to reduce alcohol intake. The study found that emphasising the cancer connection while encouraging drink-counting significantly helps curb excessive drinking. Among other health problems, an excessive intake of alcohol tends to cause premature death and heart disease, digestive difficulties, and a higher risk of dementia. This dual approach offers a practical and effective strategy for promoting better health and reducing the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

Lead author of the study, Professor Simone Pettigrew from The George Institute for Global Health, said that harmful alcohol use in Australia is a major health issue-it is associated with increased risk of injury, chronic diseases including alcohol-related cancers, and premature death. And it's not just heavy drinkers- even moderate drinkers are at increased risk of several types of cancer.

"There are limited resources available for alcohol harm-reduction campaigns, so it's important to find out which messages resonate best to ensure they have the best chance of working," she said.

"Many people don't know that alcohol is a carcinogen-it's important information that drinkers should have access to. But telling people alcohol causes cancer is just part of the solution-we also need to give them ways to take action to reduce their risk."

The study involved three surveys, which were completed by 7,995 participants, 4,588 of whom completed the second three weeks later, and 2,687 of whom completed the last survey three weeks later.

"We found that pairing information about alcohol and cancer with a particular practical action-counting their drinks-resulted in drinkers reducing the amount of alcohol they consumed," said Professor Simone Pettigrew.

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Opinion: The Election That Defied Explanations

India on the Move by Marya Shakil and Narendra Nath Mishra; Pages 174; Price Rs 699 

First, a disclosure. One of the authors of the book India on the Move is a friend I have known and admired for years. I urge you to keep that in mind while reading this review.

The book is an honest attempt to make sense of the multi-layered 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. It does so in a way few others have attempted to decipher elections thus far: Through WhatsApp group chats, by examining the issues that unified and polarized the country, through long and arduous train journeys, and through conversations with some of the most prominent figures in Indian politics, among other methods.

In that sense, the book is a collection of impressions drawn from real events as they unfolded. As master chroniclers of our time, the authors must be commended for not imposing their biases and prejudices on their written words. That is no mean achievement considering the polarised world we are living in.

A few lines from the book are worth highlighting here. “While JNU catalysed a resurgence of nationalist discourse in India, it concurrently sowed seeds of discord among the youth, whose disillusionment would manifest in subsequent political landscapes,” the authors observe, referring to a series of events at India's premier Jawaharlal University, which eventually contributed to the emergence of contrasting narratives.

Let's consider another passage: “While the virus tested the robustness and contingencies of the country's healthcare systems, the fear of the virus also amplified existing prejudices at a time when the nation needed to fight a common enemy,” the authors argue, reflecting on the Covid pandemic, which tested our bodies and nerves like few other events in recent decades.

There are chapters, and then there are unique phrases. Here are some chapter titles from the book: When a Deadly Virus Meets Viral Nationalism, Nationalism Goes Global, Of Ideology and Semantics, New Parliament and New Names, Political Tricolour and Soft Hindutva, and Popular Culture: The New Battleground. My favourite remains the one dealing with multiple discourses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The authors are spot-on when they observe that “the new plan of benevolent statesmanship linked with nationalism has now become an inevitable part of politics".

My own take is that while the 2024 verdict leaned more toward benevolent statesmanship, the element of macho nationalism was somewhat missing. It seemed like a collection of several state elections. While West Bengal voted one way, neighbouring Bihar went the opposite. The verdict in Uttar Pradesh was full of surprises, and the people of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan chose to punish some and reward others.

One theme that stood out was that people did not appreciate any political party taking them for granted. “Logon ne aukat dikha di” (people showed a mirror to all), as a friend said the day the Lok Sabha election results were announced.

The book delves into the multiplicity of the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. Instead of a single meta-narrative, there were several at play—some cancelling each other out, and some reinforcing one another.

My editor-in-chief beautifully captured the pattern here: “It is a multi-layered verdict—the beauty of the India we know and have grown up in. The 2024 mandate is like a rainbow whose colours politicians will have to work hard to decipher. And decipher they must, with humility and passion, not dismissively. This verdict signals a triumph of individualism.”

(The author is Consulting Editor, NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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Bacan: A Secret Island Near Venice With Unique Ecosystem

Located off the shores of Venice, Bacan, a small strip of land is 820 feet wide and 33 feet long. Once a temporary feature that only emerged from the lagoon during the summer months, Bacan has now become a year-round refuge for Venetians, thanks to the city's flood barriers.

The Mose flood barrier, which has been protecting Venice from rising sea surges since 2020, has played a key role in keeping Bacan afloat. "The barrier accelerates the flow of water into the lagoon when it's open, bringing more sand and helping to sustain Bacan," explained Giovanni Cecconi, an engineer who worked on the project, to The Times. "By raising the barrier in winter, it also protects the island from surges that used to erode it."

Before the 6 billion pounds Mose flood barrier was built, Venice's St. Mark's Square was regularly flooded in winter. The barrier accelerates the flow of water into the lagoon, bringing in more sand that helps sustain the island. In winter, the barrier is raised to prevent storm surges, keeping Bacan safe from erosion.

Bacan was last submerged during the winter of 2020. Today, it is a peaceful escape from the crowded streets of Venice, where locals can bask in the sun and forage for shellfish in the thickets of new vegetation that have emerged on the island. Mr Cecconi said that the island's transformation into a new ecosystem shows the lagoon's potential to evolve positively with human intervention.

Mr Cecconi, an engineer involved with the Mose project, shared that Bacan has become a year-round sanctuary. "I have friends who visited [the island] yesterday and collected 5kg of razor clams," he said. The island is now home to samphire, flowers, rushes, and tamarisk thickets, creating a new ecosystem. Mr Cecconi believes the flood barrier is responsible for the island's transformation.

Some experts warn the flood barriers could disrupt the natural balance of the lagoon. By blocking storm surges, the barriers prevent the inflow of silt, a critical element for the salt marshes that stretch across the lagoon. These marshes play a crucial role in fighting climate change, absorbing carbon at a rate 30 times greater than forests.

Bacan's new vegetation is helping protect it from erosion, and locals are happy to have a peaceful escape from the tourist crowds. But they hope it remains a secret from developers and mass tourism. "What we need to avoid are ice cream kiosks and luxury hotels," Mr Cecconi warned.

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How US Markets Regulator, Justice Department Harassed Elon Musk For 6 Years

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is back in the news for taking on the US market regulator SEC or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Musk's lawyer Alex Shapiro has stated in a letter that Musk has faced 6 years of harassment by the SEC and the Biden administration.

Oh Gary, how could you do this to me? ? pic.twitter.com/OoooQI77ZS

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2024

The charges made by Musk and his lawyer are justified. The entire might of the US Justice Department and the SEC as well as other departments came down on Musk and his companies. The deep rot in the system was exposed by Musk who has been under attack for various frivolous and false charges since 2021.

The first sign of a feud was visible in February 2021, barely a month after Joe Biden assumed office as the President of the United States. "My top recommendation, honestly, would be just add a carbon tax," the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink and X.com told a podcaster. Musk lobbied for it with Biden in vain.

In August 2021, Biden made it clear that Elon Musk was to be sidelined. A White House summit on electric vehicles was held, with the leadership of Ford and General Motors as well as the Auto Workers' Union UAW. Tesla, despite being the largest and most innovative company in the EV space, was not invited. Musk tweeted about it - "Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn't invited."

Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn't invited

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2021

It is difficult to comprehend why the Biden administration decided to "cold shoulder" Tesla and Musk. Both men are pro-clean fuel and Musk had donated close to half a million dollars to Hillary Clinton's as well as Joe Biden's campaign. In fact, he stated that he voted Democrat too.

"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; Government is the problem," said former US President Ronald Reagan, in his inaugural address in 1981. His words find echo in what has happened to Elon Musk under the Biden regime.

As the disaffection grew, Musk began criticising the Biden administration's policies. Biden then unleashed the full might of the government on Musk and his companies. They set up investigations into his companies and even forced Musk to agree to a clause wherein his tweets would be vetted by the Tesla Board.

Elon Musk, though, refused to kneel. In October 2022, he bought Twitter, the popular social media platform. He then released a series of internal documents that showed how deeply the Jack Dorsey-led team had been involved in censoring political views and content, thereby helping the Democrats. Musk handed over what came to be known as the Twitter Files to journalists Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss, Lee Fang, Michael Shellenberger, David Zweig and Alex Berenson. The Twitter Files were published between December 2022 to March 2023.

The Biden administrated began to attack Musk's businesses.

The U.S. Department of Transportation cited violations and fined SpaceX and Neuralink. A government body under the Department - the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles in December 2023 for alleged safety issues with the company's Full Self-Driving software. This came on the back of four reported collisions and a fatal accident.

Tesla was forced to recall 2 million cars due to this, although it has provided evidence that its cars are safer with the autopilot system.

The collisions that the NHTSA is investigating involve cases where drivers of those cars were not paying attention to the road. One driver said he was searching the floor of the car for his phone when the collision happened. Others did not pay attention to the autopilot system's warnings. A California jury ruled that the case in which a pedestrian died as a Tesla car rammed into him was not the fault of the autopilot feature. The driver of the Tesla had had alcohol in his system at the time.

In September 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which comes under the Transportation Department fined SpaceX $633,009 for "allegedly failing to follow its license requirements during two launches in 2023."

In February 2023, based on a complaint by an animal rights group, the Department of Transportation opened an investigation into "possible unsafe transport of contaminated hardware." The agency fined Neuralink $2,480.

The US Justice Department

In October 2022, they opened an investigation into the vehicle performance of Tesla and the use of company funds allegedly for a house for Elon Musk.

In August 2023, the Justice Department sued SpaceX for not employing migrants and those seeking asylum. SpaceX was alleged to have hired only U.S. citizens. A U.S. court has blocked the Justice Department from going ahead in this case.

The US Department of Labor

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which comes under the U.S. Department of Labor opened an investigation into the death of a worker at Tesla's Gigafactory in Texas. The investigation began in September 2024. In 2022, OSHA had fined Tesla $6,913 for allegedly exposing workers to hazardous chemicals without proper training.

In 2023, OSHA had also opened investigations into worker injuries that were allegedly not reported by SpaceX.

The US Department of the Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service)

In May 2022, the US Department of the Interior issued a letter stating that there would be no damage to fish and wildlife in Starbase, the rocket launchpad of SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas. Subsequently, the Department did an about-turn - stating that it could not measure long-term impact.

A flood of litigation by environmental groups and investigations by various environment-related departments of the US government followed.

The US Department of Agriculture

In December 2022, the Department of Agriculture initiated an investigation into claims of cruelty to animals in Neuralink.

A year later, the case was closed as there was no evidence of the same.

Other Agencies

National Labor Relations Board: The Board took up complaints over Musk's 2018 tweet wherein he stated that he was against unionisation and that employees at Tesla who wanted to form a union could lose their stock options.

Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so tmrw if they wanted. But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing? Our safety record is 2X better than when plant was UAW & everybody already gets healthcare.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 21, 2018

This post on X.com was found by a judge of the Board as violating labour laws "threatening employees" with loss of stock options if they voted to form a union. The Appeals court, however, sided with Musk and stated that it was not a threat.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: In September 2023, this Commission sued Tesla for alleged racial harassment and retaliation against Black Americans. This case is ongoing.

Environmental Protection Agency: In August 2024, the Agency initiated a probe against SpaceX for allegedly dumping hazardous wastewater into the city's sewer system without permits.

They are also investigating allegations that a malfunctioning casting furnace released toxins into the air.

The Agency also initiated a lawsuit against Tesla for alleged air pollution in its California facility. This was in 2021. The company paid a penalty of $275,000 to settle the case.

Federal Communications Commission: The Commission reversed a 2020 funding of $885 million in subsidies to Starlink to help expand rural broadband coverage.

The Commission claimed that Starlink "failed to demonstrate that it could deliver the promised service."

Starlink, however, provides high-speed broadband service in 60 countries like Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Benin, Costa Rica, the Maldives and for the U.S. personnel in Ukraine.

Musk posted his surprise at the decision to cut funding and the rationale for it. He alleged that the rules had been changed by the government to stop Starlink from getting the contract.

Doesn't make sense. Starlink is the only company actually solving rural broadband at scale!

They should arguably dissolve the program and return funds to taxpayers, but definitely not send it those who aren't getting the job done.

What actually happened is that the companies…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2023

Federal Trade Commission: As Musk was set to acquire Twitter from Jack Dorsey in April 2022, the Commission demanded a modified consent decree without providing adequate time for all stakeholders to read the new documents. A Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives launched an enquiry into the actions of the FTC chairperson Lina Khan and her role in attempting to harass Elon Musk during the takeover of Twitter.

In an exhaustive report titled The Weaponization of the Federal Trade Commission Part II - Harassment of Elon Musk, the Judiciary Committee states that “over a dozen letters” were “sent by the FTC to Twitter within the first three months following Musk's takeover of the company.”

The report goes on to state - “The Biden-Harris FTC used these letters to impose more than 350 different demands for documents and information, including a significant number of demands that fell outside the scope of the FTC's consent decree.”

They concluded that “this regulatory assault by the FTC appeared to be politically motivated.”

Securities & Exchange Commission: In the most recent war between the market regulator SEC and Elon Musk, the latter posted a letter by his lawyer Alex Shapiro which claimed that the SEC had given Musk 48 hours to pay a penalty or “face numerous charges” regarding “certain purchases, sales and disclosures of Twitter shares.”

Musk has gone head-to-head with the SEC multiple times. In a 2018 television interview, he categorically stated that he does not respect the SEC. In the latest spat, he has called the regulator a “weaponized institution doing political dirty work.”

The SEC is just another weaponized institution doing political dirty work https://t.co/5w9ajcS6bf

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2024

His spat with the SEC began when the regulator ordered an investigation into a 2018 post by Musk about taking Tesla private. Musk and Tesla paid $20 million each to settle the case, although Musk maintained that he had firm funding for the deal.

Musk also posted a letter from the SEC chair Gary Gensler which shows a new investigation had been launched against Neuralink.

Oh Gary, how could you do this to me? ? pic.twitter.com/OoooQI77ZS

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2024

It is little wonder then that Musk's lawyer alleges 6 years of harassment by the U.S. government in the letter to the SEC.

Musk's travails are also glaring examples of how political, flawed, unprofessional and vindictive the Biden administration has been to individuals. When the might of the government machinery of a superpower state decides to work against an individual, many tales are fabricated to achieve the political master's end.

The Adanis, in India, are victims of this same politicisation and weaponisation of the government under Biden.

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Dubai Cafe Sells 'Gold Karak' Tea For Rs 1 Lakh, Sparks Debate Online

An Indian-origin entrepreneur's Dubai restaurant has taken luxury tea to new heights with its viral "Gold Karak" tea. Owned by Sucheta Sharma, the Boho Cafe offers this extravagant drink priced at AED 5000 (approximately INR 1.14 lakhs), served in pure silver cups topped with 24-carat gold leaf.

The tea is served with a gold-dusted croissant and silverware that customers can keep as souvenirs.

Located in the DIFC's Emirates Financial Towers, Boho Cafe features a dual menu system, offering both high-end and affordable Indian street food options. Other premium items on the menu include Gold Souvenir Coffee, Gold-dusted croissants, Gold drinks, and even Gold ice cream, reported Khaleej Times.

"We wanted to make something exceptional for people seeking indulgence, while also catering to the larger community," said Sucheta Sharma.

Other offerings on their 'royal menu' include Gold Souvenir Coffee, which is served in silverware and can be taken home, for AED 4,761 (around INR 1.09 Lakh).

A food vlogger highlighted the cafe and its most talked-about beverage in a viral video, describing its unusual presentation and high cost.

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Marketed as a high-end fusion of luxury and decadence, the "Gold Karak" tea has sparked discussions on social media, with many questioning whether the price tag is reasonable or ridiculous.

One user wrote, "Never thought in my wildest dreams that I would say 'bhai chai peene ke liye emi leni padegi' [You have to get an EMI to drink this tea]."

Another added, "This is diplomatic robbery. Even with the silver cutlery and gold sheet it isn't gonna cost more than 700 AED. It's so ridiculous to charge 5000 AED for it!."

"Now why in the world would I want to eat gold in my coffee and croissant?" asked a user.

Someone joked, "Do I need to declare this to customs after having it?"

Despite the popularity of gold tea and its related foods, opinions among the masses are still divided. Some people believe that the pleasure of drinking tea infused with gold in a luxurious atmosphere is worth the expense. Others view it as an unnecessary indulgence.

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"Nahi Ho Raha...": Bumrah's Frustration Caught On Stump Mic During 3rd Test

Indian cricket team fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was heard complaining about the lack of swing during Day 1 of the third Test encounter against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. Only 13.2 overs of play was possible in the first session of the match due to rain and the conditions were predominantly overcast. However, there was very little swing on offer for the fast bowlers and Bumrah was heard complaining about it on the stump mic. During the fifth over of the match, Bumrah tried to alter his length in order to find more movement off the pitch. However, he realised that there was no swing on offer.

“Nahi ho raha swing, kahin bhi kar (There is no swing no matter where you bowl)," Bumrah's comment was caught on the stump microphone as he made his way back to the bowling mark.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field in the third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.

The match will begin in overcast and humid conditions with the threat of rain later, which could suit Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

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The five-match series is locked at one win apiece after India won the first Test in Perth, before Australia bounced back to claim victory in Adelaide.

Australia made one change, with speedster Josh Hazlewood back from a side strain in place of Scott Boland.

India have brought in spinner Ravindra Jadeja for Ravichandran Ashwin, while Akash Deep replaces fast bowler Harshit Rana.

"It's a little bit overcast and there's a little bit of grass and looks a bit soft as well," Sharma said. "We want to make best use of the conditions."

Australian captain Pat Cummins said he would have bowled first as well.

"We're really happy with last week, just about everyone got into the series -- it's been a good lead-up (to Brisbane)," he said.

Australia: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma (capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

(With AFP inputs)

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5th Possible Human Pelvic Bone Washes Up On NYC Waterfront Park

A possible human pelvic bone was recently found along the Brooklyn Bridge Park shoreline, making it at least the fifth such spotting in the last few months along the waterfront, officials said.

The bone was spotted wedged between the rocks of the East River near Water and Dock Streets in DUMBO, The New York Post reported.

All the human body parts found a few steps away from the iconic Jane's Carousel "are believed to be of the same person", according to a representative of the city Medical Examiner's Office.

“It is believed the remains are washing up there because of the tides,” the representative said.

“This person has not yet been identified,” the spokesperson said, adding the team would use all the advanced forensic science tools -- dental analysis, taking DNA from bone -- to reach a conclusion.

The first time the body parts were recovered by a Department of Parks & Recreation worker on the morning of August 19 earlier this year. The remains, including a skull, were found covered in clothing, while a pair of boots were also recovered nearby, officials said.

Two days later, authorities discovered another bone from the same area. Later, it was described as a leg or part of one. This happened on August 21. On August 31, more bone fragments were discovered along the shoreline, police officials said.

Nothing was found for a few weeks after that. But authorities were left stunned when additional remains were seen on September 27 in the same area.

In September, specialists from the Forensic Anthropology Unit of the Medical Examiner's Office informed that during the initial investigation it seemed the remains belonged to a man because of the size and shape of the bones, especially the pelvic bones, which are usually smaller in men as compared to women.

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Box Office: Pushpa 2 Becomes Highest-Grossing Indian Film Of 2024

Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna's Pushpa 2 was released in theatres last Thursday and is continuing its strong performance at the box office. According to Sacnilk, Pushpa 2 earned Rs 726.25 crore nett in India across all languages on Day 8. On the global front, the movie has collected Rs 1,067 crore so far, as per the makers. The film had an exceptional opening with Rs 164.25 crore, and its opening weekend saw an impressive Rs 529 crore nett, breaking multiple records. However, collections began to dip over the weekdays, with Rs 64.45 crore on Monday, Rs 51.55 crore on Tuesday and Rs 42 crore on Wednesday. On Thursday, the film earned Rs. 25.59 crore domestically.

Despite the film's impressive earnings, the occupancy in theatres has been declining. In the Telugu market, the movie has seen an overall occupancy rate of 24.63%, with morning shows at 14.41%, afternoon shows at 23.85%, evening shows and night shows at 30.56% and 29.68% respectively. Similarly, the Hindi market showed an overall occupancy of 28.93%, with morning and afternoon shows at 12.72% and 24.70%, respectively, according to Sacnilk.

Within just seven days of its release, the film has crossed the remarkable milestone of Rs 1,000 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024. Having surpassed Prabhas' Kalki 2898 AD, which earned Rs 1,042.25 crore in its lifetime collection, Pushpa 2 now sets its sights on beating other massive blockbusters of all time, including Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (Rs 1,788.06 crore), RRR (Rs 1,230 crore), KGF: Chapter 2 (Rs 1,215 crore), Jawan (Rs 1,160 crore) and Dangal (2016), which grossed Rs 2,070.3 crore globally, to secure the title of the all-time highest-grossing Indian film.

Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 picks up where its predecessor, Pushpa: The Rise (2021), left off. The much-anticipated sequel continues the story of red sandalwood smuggling, with Allu Arjun reprising his role as Pushpa Raj, alongside Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekawat. The film also features seasoned actors such as Jagapathi Babu, Dhananjaya, Rao Ramesh, Sunil and Anasuya Bharadwaj.

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Hong Kong Spends Rs 76 Lakh on Panda Renaming, Then Keeps Original Names

Authorities in Hong Kong spent Rs 76 lakh ($90,028) earlier this year on a competition to rename two giant pandas, gifted by China, but ended up retaining the original names despite spending the huge sum. According to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the giant panda renaming competition started in October where the public was invited to come up with fresh names for "An An" and "Ke Ke" -- the two bears, who arrived from Sichuan.

As per the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the taxpayer's money was spent to build a website for the activity, recruit staff, post advertisements on internet and Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations in addition to offering prizes to the winners.

The winner of the competition was awarded prizes worth Rs 5.16 lakh which included a tourbillon watch, valued around Rs 4 lakh and membership and vouchers for Ocean Park where the pandas are kept. Despite offering the prizes, the judges, who did not take any pay for their services, announced that the pandas would keep their original names.

Quizzed about the wastage of funds, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said the authorities were not to know that the public would prefer keeping the original names.

Notably, the giant pandas in Hong Kong are usually named either after seeking suggestions from the public, or by keeping the names given to them while breastfeeding, or by adopting the names that were given to them by the authorities.

Also Read | Giant Pandas Flown To US From China Aboard 'Panda Express'

Giant pandas arrive

Male "An An" and female "Ke Ke" are both aged five, the equivalent of 15 in human years. The pair arrived in the country amid much fanfare in September when Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Tourism Minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung welcomed them at the Hong Kong International Airport in a glittering ceremony.

As per Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong, An An and Ke Ke could help bring in customers and generate revenue. “It is difficult to put a number on [costs] as it is more than just about the income or the park, or the profit or losses. We believe our social responsibility is strong,” Mr Pong said.

“Most importantly we want to bring people to the park, to buy tickets or annual passes to maintain a steady income flow,” he added.

The pandas were unveiled to the public last week with the park anticipating huge rush in the days leading up to Christmas.

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Shirtless Man Assaults Flight Attendant On United Airlines Plane Mid-Air

A 38-year-old man removed his shirt, threatened violence, and assaulted a flight attendant aboard a United Airlines flight on June 12. The man is facing federal charges for the midair incident on the Houston-New Jersey flight.

Kedus Yacob Damtew was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation, a federal offence carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

Shortly before the plane landed, Damtew reportedly took off his shirt, pushed his bare chest against a flight attendant, and pinned her against the aircraft's exit door while shouting threats of physical harm. The confrontation escalated when Damtew allegedly punched an aircraft oven, followed the flight attendant to the back of the plane, and threw a cup of water at her.

In response to a distress call over the plane's public address system, several passengers rushed to help the flight crew restrain Damtew. He was secured with flex cuffs and moved to the back of the aircraft, where he remained until the flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The FBI, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado, investigated with assistance from the Port Authority Police Department. US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited the swift action of passengers and law enforcement in ensuring the flight's safety.

Damtew appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C., on December 10 before Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh. He was released pending further legal proceedings.

In a similar incident last month, a 44-year-old United Airlines passenger was charged with assault after a violent incident aboard a San Francisco-Washington Dulles flight. The man reportedly attacked a sleeping deaf and nonverbal passenger, punching him repeatedly until the victim's nose was split and blood spattered the cabin. The attack, lasting a minute, ended when another passenger restrained him. He faced a federal charge of assault, punishable by up to a year in prison.

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Actor Sapna Singh's Son Found Dead In Bareilly, His 2 Friends Arrested

Actor Sapna Singh staged a protest in Bareilly after her 14-year-old son was found dead under suspicious circumstances, with police arresting his two friends over the case, officials said on Wednesday.

She ended the protest on Tuesday after more than 90 minutes following police's assurance that action will be taken.

Her son Sagar Gangwar's two adult friends -- identified as Anuj and Sunny -- were arrested and sent to jail on Wednesday on charges of murder, the officials said.

"The postmortem report could not confirm the exact cause of death but indications of poisoning or drug overdose have been found. Viscera samples have been preserved for further examination," Circle Officer (Fatehpur) Ashutosh Shivam said.

Bhuta Police Station Inspector Sunil Kumar added, "Anuj and Sunny confessed during questioning that they had consumed drugs and alcohol with Sagar. The overdose caused Sagar to collapse. Panicking, they dragged his body to a field and left him there." Sagar, a Class 8 student, was staying with his maternal uncle Om Prakash in Anand Vihar Colony, Bareilly, according to police.

His body was discovered Sunday morning near Adalakhia village in the Izzatnagar police station area.

Initially, a postmortem was conducted, treating it as an unidentified case. However, the Baradari police had registered a missing persons complaint filed by Om Prakash on December 7, an official said.

Following the identification of the body, CCTV footage near the incident site showed Anuj and Sunny dragging Sagar. This led to their detention, the official added.

The incident sparked protest in Sagar's village, with residents blocking the road and demanding a second postmortem.

Sapna Singh, known for her roles in TV programmes "Crime Patrol" and "Mati Ki Banno," returned from Mumbai on Tuesday to find her son dead.

She broke down upon seeing his body and demanded justice. Police added a murder case following the protests and filed a fresh FIR at the Bhuta police station. 

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

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Opinion: The Fall Of Damascus And Lessons In Liberalism For Delhi

Damascus has fallen. Once again. One of the oldest cities in the world has fallen. To rise again from its rubble, heralding a new order. In its rise and fall, Damascus has lessons for all civilisations, all rebels, and all regimes.

It was in July 2012 that rebels penetrated Damascus, hitherto considered inviolable. Both the regime and the rebels understood its importance—military and symbolic. The rebels advanced to the heavily militarised capital of Syria but did not make any real gains. A year later, in August 2013, the Syrian regime launched Operation Capital Shield. The capital had to be shielded, and any amount of force was acceptable to thwart any rebel attack. The city was safeguarded through the use of disproportionate force against rebels operating from around Damascus. Only temporarily so. Eleven years later, the regime has fallen. For the sixth time, at least, since the 1st century AD Roman conquest of Damascus's Seleucid empire.

The Cycle Of Power

Not only has Damascus seen violent regime changes, it has also experienced ethnic and religious clashes, including the Crusades. But in almost every significant clash—civilisational or political—one thing has stayed common: recapturing of the lost ground. The cyclical nature of power. The centuries-old unabated contestation on the socio-political turf of Damascus has defined its character. The current developments in Syria, therefore, ought to be examined through a more expansive glass of history and culture.

Peter Frankopan's The Silk Roads underscores the importance of Damascus as an emporium adjacent to one of the most thriving trade routes of the world. Despite no easy access to the Mediterranean Sea, it was in the league of great cosmopolitan cities such as the Byzantine Constantinople (Istanbul), the Greco-Roman Antioch, and the old Chinese capital city of Chang'an. Its early embrace of agricultural practices owing to the natural inland water systems of the Barada River and investments in irrigation infrastructure made Damascus a land of plenty. 

Even at the peak of Christian-Muslim religious clashes around the 10th century AD, traders had a breezy time in Damascus. Muslim traders from Spain, for example, were protected by the Christians of Damascus. For one of the oldest inhabited cities of the world, with no religious underpinnings originating from any religious text, trade was vital. Traders, the outsiders, were therefore immune to the local political and religious strife. Damascene society depended on the “outsiders” to retain its regional power as a seat of sociocultural dominance. Damascus, as perceived today, is essentially a result of four centuries of Ottoman rule that came to an end with the First World War. The city was the seat of the Turkish Wali. 

Lands Of 'Outsiders'

Damascus, curiously, wasn't ruled by a local dynasty ever since the overthrow of the Aram-Damascus kingdom in the eighth century BC. This feature makes Damascus closer to Delhi than its Phoenician, Judean, and Arab neighbours. The “outsiders” soon started becoming the insiders, and the city evolved. Delhi has this in common with Damascus and lessons from the latter are, therefore, pertinent to us.

The Assad regime's rise and fall alerts us to the limitations of liberalism when it stays within the elite confines. It is always prone to crumbling under the weight of popular mobilisation. The mainstay of Syria's multicultural nature was consociational engagements between different ethno-religious groups at different times in history. The Assad regime's politicisation of the Syrian society's multiculturalism was self-serving. After the military coup of 1970 that installed Hafez al-Assad as a totalitarian ruler, all forms of dissent began to be crushed, ironically, by the ruling Ba'ath Party, the regional champion of dissenters in the Arab world.

When liberalism gets weaponised thus, it spells doom for not just the conservatives but also the quintessential liberal values. Bashar al-Assad carried forward this legacy of his father with more zeal and ruthlessness. The rebellion against him, therefore, needs to be seen as not only political but also socio-religious. The Sunni Muslims of Syria, the majority group, clearly had had enough of the marginalisation heaped on them by the Alawite (Shia) Assad family and their acolytes. 

Liberalism And Liberals

This should appear familiar to us. The undermining of liberal values by liberals themselves, the ascent of conservative forces, the politics of exclusion, and the many fires of violent ethno-religious clashes, we have seen it all. Politics of exclusion, even when the most inclusionary players indulge in it, never ends well. The civil war in Syria needs to be seen as another element in the continuum that has the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Islamic Revolution of Iran of 1979, the reactionary overthrow of the Kemalist order in Turkey by Erdogan, and the fall of Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka as landmark events.

Immediately after the fall of Damascus, scenes of celebrations (and looting) started flooding the news and social media. Impervious to them, Israel moved to plant its flag beyond the earlier buffer zone. And this is the lesson Delhi's regime and rebels must pay heed to.

(Nishtha Gautam is a Delhi-based author and academic.) 

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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'Selfless' Rohit Drops Big Hint For 3rd Test Role, Kohli Looking To...

The pink-ball Test between India and Australia could be over but the players are still toiling hard in the nets at Adelaide. After the day-night Test ended in just 2 days and one session, the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, etc. decided to put the hard yards in the nets at Adelaide, before they fly to Brisbane for the third Test of the series. Ahead of the Gabba clash, Rohit Sharma's batting position has been one of the biggest talking points among experts. However, it doesn't look like the India captain is willing to change anything.

Rohit batted at the No. 6 spot in the pink-ball Test, allowing KL Rahul to continue opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both Rahul and Rohit failed to put in the runs, prompting discussions that the Hitman should reclaim his opening spot. But, Rohit seems to be keen on playing in the middle order for at least one more game.

From India's net sessions in Adelaide on Tuesday, the broadcaster reported that there was no change in Team India's batting order from the pink-ball Test.

In the nets, Virat Kohli worked on his backfoot as well as the issue of pressing the ball on his front foot, subsequently getting caught in the slips. Rohit, meanwhile, continued to occupy a spot in the middle-order.

Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli working hard in nets ahead of the third Test#INDvsAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Vl0IcKea96

— Virat Kohli ( Fans) (@viratkofans18) December 10, 2024

The broadcaster KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal came out for the hits first, followed by Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant. The batting order, hence, indicates that Rohit might not be keen to get Rahul shifted to a spot in the middle-order at the Gabba.

Neither Rohit, nor Rahul had a fruitful outing in the pink-ball Test which concluded on Sunday. But, it doesn't look like the team management is looking to give up on Rahul as an opener at the moment, especially considering the way he performed in the Perth Test.

Rohit might be keen to take up the opening role himself but his selfless act has proved once again that the Hitman always puts the team over personal comfort.

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What UnitedHealthCare CEO Murder Suspect's Social Media Tells About Him

The 26-year-old suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case had a history of posting bizarre and extremist views on social media. On X,  Luigi Mangione's posts ranged from calling for a ban on sex toys in Japan to comparisons between modern America and the fall of the Roman Empire.

In April, he made headlines with a controversial take on Japan's falling population. He argued that the real issue wasn't immigration but rather an overreliance on sex toys and pornography. Mangione suggested Japan ban products such as Tenga Fleshlights and promote “natural human interaction, sex, physical fitness, and spirituality” to combat this trend.

He also criticised the “modern Japanese urban environment,” recommending they shift from automated services such as conveyor belt sushi and vending machines to human interactions, including “real human waiters.”

Modern Japanese urban environment is an evolutionary mismatch for the human animal.

The solution to falling birthdates isn't immigration. It's cultural.

Encourage natural human interaction, sex, physical fitness and spirituality:
* ban Tenga fleshlights and “Japan Real Hole”… https://t.co/3OaJLJPwpX

— Luigi Mangione (@PepMangione) April 18, 2024

His social media also reveals an admiration for controversial figures such as Aldous Huxley, Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), and Jonathan Haidt. Mangione frequently quoted Huxley's Brave New World, conveying a disdain for comfort and conformity: “But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”

Mangione also shared a quote on his Goodreads account from Ted Kaczynski, the notorious “Unabomber” who terrorised the US for nearly two decades with deadly bombings before his arrest in 1996. The quote, which Mangione liked, reads: “Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness.”

The 26-year-old also frequently engaged with the work of blogger Tim Urban, known for his website Wait But Why, which explores artificial intelligence, space exploration, and human productivity.

In a post reposted by Mangione, Urban advocated for restricting cell phone use in children under the age of 16, citing research on the negative effects of screen time on mental health.

It'll soon become ubiquitous among upper class families to restrict kids under 16 from using social media. Hopefully the trend spreads to all families before too long. A hundred times easier to enforce the rule when all parents are doing it.https://t.co/TuAJvk7DXa @JonHaidt

— Tim Urban (@waitbutwhy) March 26, 2024

His social media posts frequently talked about masculinity, often romanticising male resilience and the pursuit of “daring feats.” He reposted a tweet that read, “Men are made for impossible situations and daring feats… This is the heart that society is trying so hard to quash.”

If you want to understand men better, just look at all the movies they've made, books they've written, and games they invent when they're young.

Almost every single one is about a young man being thrust into a position or situation he doesn't know if he can overcome. Many times…

— Daughter of Wolves (@Alicia_Bittle_) April 17, 2024

He was also an advocate for weightlifting, describing it as a superior alternative to antidepressants and engaging with fitness influencers for tips.

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New York Police Releases Photos Of Suspect In UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder

New York authorities have released new photographs of the suspect accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. The images were released by the New York Police Department (NYPD). In the first picture, a masked individual is sitting inside a taxi shortly after the incident. In the next frame, the suspect is walking on a street wearing a hooded top and a black down jacket.

One of the photographs shows the suspect gazing directly at a camera, seemingly communicating with the taxi driver through a partition window. While officials confirmed the suspect took a taxi near Central Park after the homicide outside the Hilton Hotel, they have not verified if the images are from that specific ride.

The NYPD is actively seeking public assistance in locating the suspect. Authorities have urged anyone with information to reach out through the NYPD helpline or send direct messages on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.

????UPDATE: Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4.

The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public's help—if you have any information about this case, call the… https://t.co/U4wlUquumf pic.twitter.com/243V0tBZOr

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 8, 2024

According to CNN, the NYPD, collaborating with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, is intensifying its search for the suspect. Authorities believe the individual has left New York City but remain confident of his eventual capture.

"We had to go through lots of video evidence to get that one money shot with the mask down," police Commissioner Jessica Tisch was quoted as saying.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction, with an additional $10,000 from the NYPD. Photographs of the suspect have been distributed widely to law enforcement agencies, airports, and border patrol stations along the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders to prevent his escape from the country.

Key evidence gathered so far includes images of the suspect's unmasked face, video footage tracing his escape route, a Peak Design backpack containing Monopoly money and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, DNA from a discarded Starbucks water bottle, a partial fingerprint from the same bottle and 9 mm shell casings inscribed with the words "delay," "deny," and "depose," stated the CNN report.

But crucial items, including the murder weapon and the suspect's getaway bicycle, remain missing. Police divers recently concluded an extensive search of a Central Park lake, the iconic boathouse and Bethesda Fountain without locating the firearm.

Brian Thompson, 50, was gunned down on December 4 as he approached the New York Hilton Midtown on West 54th Street to attend his company's annual investor conference. Commissioner Tisch said the killer was "lying in wait" outside the hotel. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the right calf and was later declared dead at a hospital.

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Where Is Bashar Al-Assad? Questions Over Syrian President's Whereabouts

A Syria war monitor said that President Bashar al-Assad has left the country, after losing swathes of territory to a lightning offensive led by an Islamist-led rebel coalition that said it entered Damascus on Sunday.

Residents in the Syrian capital told AFP heavy gunfire rang out, after a source close to Hezbollah saying fighters from the key Assad ally had left their positions around Damascus.

The president's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign challenging more than five decades of rule by the Assad family.

"Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left" the facility," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP.

AFP was unable to immediately confirm the report.

After saying their forces were heading into the capital, HTS announced an "end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya" as they broke into the jail which has become a by-word for darkest abuses of the Syrian regime.

The rapid developments in Damascus come only hours after HTS said they had captured the strategic city of Homs, on the way to the capital.

The defence ministry earlier denied that rebels had entered Homs, describing the situation there as "safe and stable".

Homs lies about 140 kilometres (85 miles) north of the capital and was the third major city seized by the rebels who began their advance on November 27, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant.

Hezbollah fighters leave

Monitoring events in Damascus, the Britain-based Observatory confirmed "the doors of the infamous 'Sednaya' prison... have been opened for thousands of detainees who were imprisoned by the security apparatus throughout the regime's rule".

Earlier, Assad's government denied the army had withdrawn from areas around Damascus.

"A very strong security and military cordon" was being established by the armed forces around the capital "and no one... can penetrate this defensive line", Interior Minister Mohammed al-Rahmoun told state television.

Assad has for years been backed by Lebanese Hezbollah, whose forces "vacated their positions around Damascus" according to a source close to the group.

Hezbollah "has instructed its fighters in recent hours to withdraw from the Homs area, with some heading to Latakia (in Syria) and others to the Hermel area in Lebanon", the source also told AFP.

A source close to Hezbollah earlier said it had sent 2,000 fighters into Syria, to an area near the Lebanese border, "to defend its positions".

'Suddenly everyone was scared'

The defence ministry earlier insisted: "There is no truth to news claiming our armed forces... have withdrawn" from positions near Damascus.

The Syrian army said that, in addition to the area around Damascus, it was reinforcing positions in the south, and operations against the rebels were beginning in the Hama, Homs and Daraa areas.

AFP has been unable to independently verify some of the information provided by the government and the rebels, as its journalists cannot reach the areas around Damascus where the rebels say they are present.

Residents of the capital described to AFP a state of panic as traffic jams clogged the city centre, people sought supplies and queued to withdraw money from ATMs.

"The situation was not like this when I left my house this morning... suddenly everyone was scared," said one woman, Rania.

A few kilometres (miles) away, the mood was starkly different. 

In a Damascus suburb, witnesses said protesters toppled a statue of Assad's father, the late leader Hafez al-Assad.

AFPTV images from Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, showed abandoned tanks and other armoured vehicles, one of them on fire.

Hama resident Kharfan Mansour said he was "happy with the liberation of Hama and the liberation of Syria from the Assad regime". 

Soldiers 'fled' to Iraq

The Observatory said government forces had ceded more key ground, losing control of all southern Daraa province, the cradle of the 2011 uprising.

The army said it was "redeploying and repositioning" in Daraa and another southern province, Sweida.

The Observatory also said troops were also evacuating posts in Quneitra, near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Jordan has urged its citizens to leave neighbouring Syria "as soon as possible", as have the United States and Assad ally Russia, which both keep troops in Syria.

An AFP correspondent in Daraa saw local fighters guarding public property and civil institutions.

In Sweida, a local fighter told AFP that after government forces withdrew "from their positions and headquarters, we are now securing and protecting vital facilities".

An Iraqi security source told AFP that Baghdad has allowed in hundreds of Syrian soldiers, who "fled the front lines", through the Al-Qaim border crossing. A second source put the figure at 2,000 troops, including officers.

'War, blood and tears'

HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments, it has sought to soften its image in recent years, and told minority groups living in areas they now control not to worry.

Since the offensive began, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory said.

The United Nations said the violence has displaced 370,000 people.

UN special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for "urgent political talks" to implement a 2015 Security Council resolution, which set out a roadmap for a negotiated settlement.

US President-elect Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the United States should "not get involved", after outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Friday for a "political solution to the conflict", in a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

After Fidan and his Iranian and Russian counterparts discussed Syria in Qatar on Saturday, Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said they agreed on the initiation of "political dialogue between the Syrian government and legitimate opposition groups".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was "inadmissible" to allow a "terrorist group to take control" of Syrian territory.

Moscow and Tehran have supported Assad's government and army during the war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government backs some armed groups in northern Syria, said Saturday that Syria "is tired of war, blood and tears".

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