Maysaa Sabrine Becomes First Woman To Head Syria's Central Bank

Maysaa Sabrine, a former deputy governor of the Syrian central bank, has been named as its first female governor, marking a significant moment in its 70-year-old history. Sabrine's appointment comes as the country's new leadership seeks to reshape its banking sector and economy. 

With over 15 years of experience in the financial sector, Sabrine has long been an integral part of the central bank, overseeing various facets of the country's banking infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera. 

Holding a master's degree in accounting from Damascus University, she is also a certified public accountant and has represented the central bank on the board of the Damascus Securities Exchange since 2018. Sabrine has also held the position of chief of the Office Control Division within the central bank.

Sabrine's appointment follows the ousting of Mohammed Issam Hazime, who had been appointed governor in 2021 by the previous regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Hazime remained in the role even after Assad's fall in December, when a rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power.

Since the regime's collapse, the Syrian central bank has made efforts to modernise and liberalise the nation's economy, which has long been tightly controlled by the state. These changes include eliminating the requirement for pre-approvals for imports and exports and loosening strict controls on foreign currency usage. 

Despite these moves, the bank continues to operate under stringent sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western powers.

The bank has also taken steps to assess the country's financial assets following the upheaval. While a brief period of looting resulted in the theft of Syrian currency, the central bank's vaults remained largely untouched, reported Reuters. 

These vaults reportedly still contain nearly 26 tonnes of gold, the same amount it held at the onset of the civil war in 2011. But Syria's foreign currency reserves have seen a dramatic decline, plummeting from around $18 billion before the conflict to just $200 million today.

Sabrine's appointment is part of a broader shift within Syria's new administration, led by de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who has also appointed Aisha al-Dibs as head of the Women's Affairs Office earlier this month.

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Sparks From Construction On Gurugram Highway Fall On Vehicles, Cops Respond

A lack of safety measures during construction on the National Highway-8 in Gurugram has sparked a debate on the internet with users claiming it was a "perfect recipe for disaster".

In an undated video that has now gone viral on social media platforms, two men can be seen performing welding-related work on a billboard with sparks from the construction site dropping onto moving vehicles.

The 36-second clip shows multiple cars, buses and two-wheelers passing through the sparks during construction work. Some commuters were also seen waiting for the sparks to stop.

"No traffic diversion or control, no fire safety precautions, no work zone isolation - a perfect recipe for disaster," a user said on X.

Scenes from NH-8, Gurugram.

No traffic diversion or control, no fire safety precautions, no work zone isolation — a perfect recipe for disaster!

Jis hisaab se desh mein kadam kadam par maut ka khel chalta hai, yahan zinda rehna bhi apne aap mein ek uplabdhi hi hai. pic.twitter.com/Dse8wGFq4K

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) December 29, 2024

Some other users alleged it was "criminal-level negligence".

"The situation on NH-8 is just scary. Because of all the construction work, traffic has become a daily nightmare," said another.

The police, however, claimed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was working with "proper safety equipment" and one lane was also closed for safety purposes.

A user countered them and said the sparks that were falling from above were not in the closed lane.

"It's right over the lane from which traffic is moving. If this is what doing safely means, I just wonder what unsafe work will be," the user charged.

Earlier this year, the authorities in Gurugram faced backlash after a video showed cars "flying" due to a speed breaker on the Golf Course road.

A video on X showed a speeding BMW hitting a speed breaker, being in the air for over a second and at least three feet above the ground before landing about 15 feet away from the breaker.

Ouch!
This seems to have happened on a newly made unmarked speed breaker on golf course road in Gurugram!

Got it in one of my groups. Damn!

Can anyone from Gurgaon confirm this pic.twitter.com/EZMmvq7W1f

— Bunny Punia (@BunnyPunia) October 28, 2024

The video also showed two trucks approaching the point, unaware of the unmarked breaker, flying after hitting it.

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), however, quickly swung into action and installed a cautionary signboard "Speed Breaker Ahead".

GMDA has installed cautionary signboard as well as marked the newly laid speed breaker on Golf Course Road with thermoplastic white paint, to enhance night-time visibility & help motorists navigate the stretch safely. #RoadSafety #speedcalmingmeasures pic.twitter.com/45sgHineSa

— GMDA (@OfficialGMDA) October 29, 2024

They said they have also marked the speed breaker with thermoplastic white paint to enhance night-time visibility and help motorists navigate the stretch "safely".

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'Home Alone' Director Reveals How Mccallisters Could Afford Lavish House

Home Alone director Chris Columbus has finally addressed one of the film's most enduring mysteries — how the McCallister family could afford their opulent Chicago residence. 

During a conversation on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Chris Columbus shed light on this and shared intriguing anecdotes about the film's journey to becoming a beloved Christmas classic.

According to Columbus, he and Home Alone writer John Hughes decided on the McCallisters' professions while working on the script. 

“Back then, John and I had a conversation about it, and we decided on what the jobs were,” Mr Columbus said, adding that Kate McCallister, played by Catherine O'Hara, “was a very successful fashion designer,” citing the mannequins in the family's basement as a subtle hint.

As for John Heard's Peter McCallister, Chris Columbus admitted he wasn't entirely sure. “The father could have, based on John Hughes' own experience, worked in advertising, but I don't remember what the father did.”

Chris Columbus dismissed one popular fan theory about the McCallisters' wealth, which suggested it might have been tied to illegal activities. 

“Not organised crime — even though there was, at the time, a lot of organised crime in Chicago,” he clarified, addressing speculation that this could have attracted the burglars to the family's home.

Home Alone, released in 1990, features a young Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, a resourceful boy who is mistakenly left behind during Christmas by the rest of his family and must outsmart two burglars trying to break into his home. More than three decades later, it remains a holiday favourite, with its blend of humour, heart and festive chaos.

The Georgian-style home, spanning 9,000 square feet, featuring five bedrooms and six bathrooms in the suburbs of Chicago, garnered attention a few months ago when it was listed for $5.25 million. Built in 1921, the house was listed by Kathryn Moore from Coldwell Banker Realty's Dawn McKenna Group. Located at 671 Lincoln Avenue, the house was described by the agency as “a piece of American history” when they shared a preview on Instagram.

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China Man Wins Rs 11.5 Crore Lottery, Cheated Out Of It By Fraudsters

A Chinese court has ruled in favour of a man who was cheated out of his 10 million yuan (Rs 11.5 crore) lottery winnings, but he has yet to receive a single cent.  Yao, a water delivery worker in his 40s, won the lottery in 2019 but was deceived by a man named Wang, who claimed the prize on behalf of his cousin, Gao. 

Wang claimed the ticket was purchased by someone else after sending Yao a picture of the winning numbers.  He had offered Yao 150,000 yuan (Rs 17.25 lakh) as “spiritual compensation,” convincing him to sign an agreement and delete their chat records. Later, Yao discovered Wang's cousin, Gao, had used the ticket to claim the prize and received 8 million yuan (Rs 9.2 crore) after taxes.

Yao sued Wang and Gao in Xian, demanding recognition as the rightful winner. The court ruled that Gao must return the winnings to Yao, with Wang held jointly responsible. Gao's appeal was rejected in July 2024.

However, Yao has not received any money. “The court froze their bank accounts, but there is no money in them. I've received not a single cent,” Yao said, as per the SCMP.

The homes of Wang and Gao have been put up for auction, but there have been no buyers. Yao, who earns just 3,000 yuan (Rs 34,500) a month, has spent his savings and taken on significant debt to cover legal fees.

“Before this incident, I lived a normal life. Now, I'm worried about my future,” he said. Yao's lawyer plans to seek a court investigation into the missing prize money.

Last month, an Indian-origin man became an overnight millionaire after winning a US$1 million (Rs 8.45 crore) lottery in Singapore. The prize was part of a lucky draw organised by a jewellery company, where the man had bought gold worth Rs 3.7 lakh for his wife three months earlier. The Singapore High Commission in India congratulated him on social media, calling it a realisation of "crorepati dreams."

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"Should I Say Last Words?": Flyer's Text To Family Before South Korea Crash

A somber atmosphere filled with grief loomed over South Korea on Sunday morning as a plane carrying 181 people crashed and burst into flames, likely killing at least 179 of them. Inconsolable families and friends of the passengers hurriedly gathered at the Muan International Airport where the incident took place, looking for their loved ones. One such family of a passenger reportedly said they received a text from the person onboard, minutes before the crash, saying that a bird was stuck to the flight's wing.

Another message pinged on their phone saying, "Should I say my last words?"

Many locals saw the flames in the jet's engine and heard multiple explosions during the incident, reported South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

"I saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when I noticed a flash of light...Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions," an eyewitness who was taking a stroll around 4.5 kilometers away from the airport, said.

Another witness recalled hearing the sound of "metal scraping" twice about five minutes before the crash, the local media reported. The man, then, saw the plane ascending after failing to make a landing, heard an explosion, and saw black smoke billowing into the sky - all within a couple of seconds.

The Jeju Air plane, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, was flying from Bangkok to Muan. It attempted to land shortly after 9 am but ended up crashing into a fence. Visuals showed the twin-engine plane skidding off the runway, crashing, and immediately bursting into flames. Within seconds, huge black smoke rose into the sky.

The only thing that gave away about the crashed flight was its charred tail.

In the videos, it appears the aircraft attempted a 'belly landing' (without its landing gear fully extended).

Investigators are looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors that led to the deadly crash, officials said.

Also Read | Bird Hit, Gear Glitch, Belly Landing: Chain Of Events In South Korea Crash

More than two hours after the accident, smoke was still pouring out of the tail section and search efforts were underway for scattered pieces of the aircraft. Passengers' clothes, luggage, and water bottles - most of them stained with blood - were scattered all over the site.

According to local media, two people, likely to be crew members, have been rescued so far.

While the oldest person on the flight was a 78-year-old man, the youngest was a three-year-old baby, reported South Korea's News1 agency.

Reports also suggested that there were two Thai passengers onboard.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in a post on X, wrote, "I would like to express my condolences to the families of the victims and injured. I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently investigate whether there are any Thai passengers on this plane and what the current situation is. I have ordered immediate assistance. If there are Thai passengers, please contact their families to inform them of the progress and have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs report the situation at all times."

Authorities have switched from rescue to recovery operations and because of the force of the impact, are searching nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, reported news agency Reuters citing Muan fire chief.

Jeju Air issues statement

Jeju Air issued a statement 'sincerely apologising' for the crash.

"We at Jeju Air will do everything in our power in response to this accident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern," the airline said in a statement on its website.

The airline's CEO Kim E-Bae, during a televised address, said that while the exact cause of the crash was still unknown, the plane had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction. "The airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority," he said.

All domestic and international flights at the Muan airport have been reportedly cancelled.

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"10-20% Chance...": 'Godfather Of AI' Warns Tech Could Wipe Out Humanity

Geoffrey Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist who is often referred to as the “godfather” of artificial intelligence (AI), has raised concerns that the technology may lead to human extinction in the next 30 years.

Prof Hinton, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics earlier this year for his work in the field, estimates a “10% to 20%” chance that AI could result in human extinction over the next three decades. This is an increase from his earlier prediction of a 10% likelihood.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hinton was asked whether his views on a potential AI apocalypse had changed. He responded by saying, “Not really, 10% to 20%.” When asked if the odds had increased, Hinton said, “If anything. You see, we've never had to deal with things more intelligent than ourselves before.”

He added “And how many examples do you know of a more intelligent thing being controlled by a less intelligent thing? There are very few examples. There's a mother and baby. Evolution put a lot of work into allowing the baby to control the mother, but that's about the only example I know of.”

Mr Hinton, who is also a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, described humans as toddlers when compared to advanced AI systems. “I like to think of it as: imagine yourself and a three-year-old. We'll be three-year-olds,” he said.

His concerns regarding the technology first became publicly known when he resigned from his role at Google in 2023 to speak more freely about the dangers of unregulated AI development. He warned that “bad actors” could exploit AI to cause harm.

Reflecting on the rapid progress of AI development, Hinton said, “I didn't think it would be where we (are) now. I thought at some point in the future we would get here.”

He expressed concern that experts in the field now predict AI systems could become smarter than humans in the next 20 years, saying it's “a very scary thought.”

Mr Hinton underscored the need for government regulation, noting the pace of development was “very, very fast, much faster than I expected.” He warned that relying only on big companies driven by profit motives would not ensure the safe development of AI. “The only thing that can force those big companies to do more research on safety is government regulation,” he added.

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Bird Poop May Help Stop The Next Flu Pandemic. Here's How

Scientists in the US have been collecting bird poop as part of their influenza sampling projects to stop the next pandemic. The shores of Delaware Bay, which sees nearly 25 different species of birds each spring, serve as a "treasure trove" for their research work.

With H5N1 bird flu - a dangerous flu virus - spreading fast through dairy cattle and poultry flocks in the US, researchers have their work cut out, CNN reported.

"It's a treasure trove around here," said Dr Pamela McKenzie, who along with Patrick Seiler is a part of the National Institutes of Health-funded research team at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The team has been collecting bird poop for the past four decades.

How it started

Dr. Robert Webster, a virologist from New Zealand, is believed to be the first to understand that flu viruses are coming from the guts of birds. The project is the 92-year-old's brainchild. Although he has retired now, Webster joins the team whenever he can.

Speaking to CNN, Webster said they were "most amazed" to find that "instead of in the respiratory tract, where we thought it was, it was replicating in the intestinal tract and they were pooping it out in the water and spreading it".

The bird poop, also referred to as guano, that comes from the infected ones is teaming up with viruses.

Two of the known influenza subtypes have been found in birds, while the other two have so far been linked to bats.

In 1985, Webster and his team made its first trip to the Delaware Bay. Back then, the team found that 20% of the bird poop samples they collected contained influenza viruses. Since then, this area has served as an ideal observatory to track flu viruses travelling in birds.

Predicting the future

Researchers believe the discovery of a new flu virus here might help the world with an early warning.

Dr Richard Webby, who now looks after the project, has termed it one of the longest-running influenza sampling projects of the same bird populations.

"To predict the bad things, whether it's a tornado, whether a pandemic, you've got to understand normal now...From there we can detect when things are different, when it changes hosts and what drives those transitions," said Webby, who leads the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals at St. Jude.

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"Was Not Sure I Could Survive": WHO Chief On Escaping Israel Strike On Yemen

The head of the World Health Organization said on Friday he was not sure he was going to survive an air strike on Yemen's main airport carried out by Israel a day earlier during a series of attacks on the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

Speaking after his ordeal at the Sanaa International Airport on Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the explosions that rocked the building were so deafening that his ears were still ringing more than a day later.

Tedros said it quickly became apparent the airport was under attack, describing people "running in disarray" through the site after approximately four blasts, one of them "alarmingly" close to where he was sitting near the departure lounge.

"I was not sure actually I could survive because it was so close, a few meters from where we were," he told Reuters. "A slight deviation could have resulted in a direct hit."

Tedros said he and his colleagues were stuck at the airport for the next hour or so as what he thought were drones flew overhead, feeding concern they could open fire again. Among the debris, he and colleagues saw missile fragments, he said.

"There (was) no shelter at all. Nothing. So you're just exposed, just waiting for anything to happen," he said.

The Israeli strikes on Yemen came after Houthis repeatedly fired drones and missiles toward Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said afterwards that Israel was "just getting started" with the Houthis.

The Houthi-controlled Saba News Agency said three people died in the strikes on the airport and three were killed in Hodeidah, with 40 others wounded in the attacks.

Speaking by telephone from Jordan, where he flew on Friday, helping to evacuate a U.N. colleague seriously injured at the airport for further medical treatment, Tedros said he had received no warning Israel could be about to strike the airport.

The injured man, who worked for the UN Humanitarian Air Service, was now "OK" and in a stable condition, he said.

Tedros traveled to Yemen over Christmas to try to negotiate the release of UN staff and others held there. He acknowledged that he and colleagues knew the trip was risky in light of high tension between Israel and the Houthis.

But such was the window of opportunity to work for the release of the UN personnel that they believed they had to take it, said Tedros, a former Ethiopian foreign minister.

He said talks with Yemeni authorities had gone well and that he saw a chance that the 16 UN staff as well as employees of diplomatic missions and NGO workers held there could be freed.

He declined to engage in recriminations over the attack but said his itinerary had been shared publicly and expressed surprise that civilian infrastructure should have been targeted.

"So a civilian airport should be protected, whether I am in it or not," he said, before observing there was "nothing special" about what he had faced in Yemen. "One of my colleagues said we narrowly escaped death. I'm just one human being. So I feel for those who are facing the same thing every single day. But at least it allowed me to feel the way they feel."

"I'm worried about our world, where it's heading," Tedros added, urging world leaders to work together to end global conflicts. "I have never ... as far as I can remember, seen the world really being in such a very dangerous state."

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

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Miami Island Plot Near Jeff Bezos Estate Up For Sale. Price Is...

A rare and exclusive piece of real estate has come up on the market for $200 million (around Rs 1,660 crore), offering buyers the opportunity to become neighbours with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Situated on the ultra-private Indian Creek Island, off the coast of Miami, the 1.84-acre parcel of undeveloped waterfront land is one of the most expensive plots currently listed in the US, The NY Post reported.

Potential buyers of this luxury parcel will have the chance to construct a private residence next door to Bezos, who already owns three properties on the island. Known as a “billionaire's bunker,” the island is home to just 41 residences, all set within the exclusive grounds of the Indian Creek Country Club, complete with an 18-hole golf course.

The prime plot of land offers 200 feet of frontage along Biscayne Bay, with breathtaking views of downtown Miami. According to Ilya Reznik, the listing broker from the Reznik Group, the property provides ample space for the construction of a deep-water dock, with enough room to accommodate a 180-foot megayacht.

Security on the island is as exclusive as the residents, with tight access controls and round-the-clock surveillance by both private security and a dedicated police force. Reznik said, “It's a perfect spot to build your dream home.”

The land was bought for $27.5 million (around Rs 225 crore) in 2018, but plans to build a property there were later shelved by the current owners. “They were planning to build, but then plans changed and they decided to sell. It's more interesting to know that the land is next to Bezos than who the seller is,” Reznik said.

The island is home to many high-profile residents such as NFL legend Tom Brady, billionaire Carl Icahn and political figures Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

However, despite its steep price tag, the land doesn't hold the record for the most costly listing. That distinction belongs to a $295 million (around Rs 2,500 crore) estate in Naples, Florida, which hit the market in early 2024.

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Sam Konstas Breaks Silence On Clash With 'Favourite Player' Virat Kohli

Making his debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test against India, teenager Sam Konstas made headlines with his explosive 60-run knock at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. Over the course of his stay in the middle Konstas hit some explosive shots, especially to counter the Jasprit Bumrah threat. However, the 19-year-old opening batter was also involved in a heated altercation in the middle with 'his favourite player in the whole world' Virat Kohli. Speaking after his dismissal, Konstas opened up on what transpired with Kohli in the middle, saying emotions got the better of both of them.

Konsta was all smiles in the sidelines after scoring his maiden half-century in Test cricket on debut. The youngster had no complaints over the incident involving Kohli.

"I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn't quite realise as I was doing my gloves. But, it happens in cricket," Konstas told the broadcaster 7Cricket.

The man of the moment

Sam Konstas chats with @copes9 about his first Test innings...

And everything else that happened during it as well #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/v7hhwMWgtB

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024

Konstas was also asked about his plans against Bumrah, especially in reference to the ramp shots the he managed to hit against the marquee Indian pacer.

"It wasn't a plan yesterday I was I was going to play good cricket shots but Bumrah is obviously world class ball and yeah just trying to pull pressure on him trying to change his tactics was the key thing," he said in response.

Both Kohli and Konstas exchanged a few words after the on-field clash. Australia opener Usman Khawaja had to intervene and try to diffuse the tension by putting an arm around the India icon. Umpire Michael Gough also joined in and tried to maintain peace.

It has been widely claimed that the match referee Andy Pycroft is certain to look at the incident and take appropriate action.

ICC's Code of Conduct says that "any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire".

One of Kohli and Konstas would receive three or four demerit points if match referee Pycroft adjudged the incident as a Level Two offence, leading to possible suspension. If the match referee feels that it was a Level 1 offence, only a monetary would be issued. 

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Come To Morgue, Stand For 10 Mins: Chinese Funeral Home's Post For Jobseekers

A funeral home in Rushan, Shandong province, China, is hiring a "morgue manager", offering a monthly salary of 2,200 yuan (Rs 25,000). Sounds simple? Wait till you read the fine print. The job requires candidates to endure 10 minutes in a freezing morgue to qualify for an interview.

Details of the unconventional test were shared on December 11 by an internet user from Rushan. The hiring process, conducted by Rushan Xinmike Human Resources Co., Ltd., was advertised by the Rushan Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security on December 6.

Applicants must meet specific criteria, including permanent household registration in Rushan, the ability to work 24-hour shifts, male, age below 45, and at least a junior secondary school education, the SCMP reported. Candidates must also pay a 70 yuan (Rs 816) exam fee to participate in the process.

The position, a three-year contract, includes various evaluation stages such as the morgue room test, structured interviews, background checks, medical exams, and a six-month probation period. However, the role does not offer "bian zhi" - a benefit that guarantees stable, lifelong employment.

A Rushan Funeral Services Centre representative explained the purpose of the morgue test. "The special requirement is just a test method because some people have strong taboos or fears staying too long in such settings, but our work requires someone who can remain in the room for more than 10 minutes," they told Eastern Business News.

Some experts, however, questioned the ethics of the hiring process. Wang, a funeral home management professional in southwestern China, called the test inappropriate, saying, "This on-site test might assess a candidate's psychological resilience, but it seems unethical. Professional psychological tests or internships would be better alternatives."

Despite these concerns, China's funeral services market continues to expand, growing from 169.5 billion yuan in 2015 to 310.2 billion yuan in 2022, according to Zhiyan Consulting.

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Probe Agency's Big Reveal: Canada College 'Admission' To Illegal US Crossing

Links between two Maharashtra-based 'institutions' and an unspecified number of Canadian colleges - to illegally ferry Indian citizens across the United States-Canada border - have become the focus of an Enforcement Directorate inquiry, sources told NDTV Wednesday.

The investigation is linked to the deaths of a family of four Indians - from Dingucha village in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district - in January 2022; their bodies were found frozen, in -35 degrees Celsius weather, on the Canadian side of the border. Inquiries since suggest they paid human smugglers an exorbitant sum - at least Rs 55 lakh each - to be illegally transported into the US.

The ED's inquiry - into money laundering and associated financial crimes - followed police in Gujarat's Ahmedabad filing a complaint against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, the principal accused in the Dingucha-Canada deaths case, and a few others, who "hatched a well-planned conspiracy to send people (Indians) to the United States through Canada, via illegal channels..."

According to the federal agency, the modus operandi was to get their 'clients' admitted to certain colleges in Canada - with whom a deal had been struck - and so get student visas.

Once in Canada the 'clients' would be smuggled across the border and the money sent to the colleges - for 'admission' - returned. Sources said the ED has identified two 'institutions' - one in Mumbai, the other in Nagpur - that had such commission-based deals with Canadian colleges.

The 'fee' was between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh per person, sources told NDTV.

Last week the ED raided eight places in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, and seized documents indicating 25,000 Indian 'students' were being referred to Canadian colleges by one such 'institution' every year and over 10,000 by the other. These institutions, the documents said, had thousands of 'agents' based in Gujarat and other states across India.

The agency also froze Rs 19 lakh spread across multiple bank accounts.

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"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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A post shared by Gulf Buzz (@gulfbuzz)

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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