The Supreme Court today issued a contempt notice to the Assam government following a petition filed by 47 residents accusing the state of violating the top court's order that no demolitions should be carried out without the court's approval.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan ordered the state to respond within three weeks and directed that a status quo be maintained until the next hearing.
The petitioners claim their homes were demolished by the authorities despite the Supreme Court's previous order, as well as an assurance from the Assam Advocate General to the Gauhati High Court on September 20 that no action would be taken against them until their petitions were resolved.
The case revolves around the bulldozer action on 47 households in Kachutoli Pathar village and surrounding areas in Assam's Kamrup district. The petitioners argue that they have lived there for decades under agreements with the original landholders. They contest the state's classification of them as "illegal occupants" of tribal land, contending that they have not violated any legal provisions and that their occupation was legitimate under existing agreements.
The petition alleges that authorities violated legal protocols, including the requirement to issue an eviction notice with a one-month period for occupants to vacate. Additionally, it argues that the demolitions were carried out without giving the residents a fair hearing and depriving them of their homes and livelihoods which is a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and the right to life and personal liberty.
The Supreme Court's September 17 order prohibited demolitions across the country without prior judicial approval, except in cases involving encroachments on public roads, footpaths, railway lines, or water bodies. Despite this, Assam authorities allegedly marked the petitioners' homes for demolition without notice, leading to the present contempt petition.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja scripted history in Test cricket as he dismissed Bangladesh's Khaled Ahmed on Day 4 of the second Test in Kanpur. With the wicket, Jadeja reached 300 scalps in Test cricket, With the milestone, he became the fastest player from the country as well as from the continent to claim the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. Jadeja is also only the third Indian to complete this rare double, with Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin being the other two. However, the southpaw reached the milestone in fewer games in comparison to the other two.
When it comes to the global charts, Jadeja is at the second spot, with England great Ian Botham sitting at the No. 1 position. Botham had taken 72 matches to reach the milestone while Jadeja reached the landmark in his 73rd Test match.
Jadeja is the 7th Indian bowler to claim 300 Test wickets. He took 17428 balls to reach the mark, making him the second quickest to do so. Ravichandran Ashwin sits at the top of the charts for India, doing so in 15636 balls.
The other Indian bowlers who have taken 300 Test wickets or more include table leader Anil Kumble (619), R Ashwin (524), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), Ishant Sharma (311) and Zaheer Khan (311).
In the match, Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque also etched his name into the history books, becoming only the second batter from his country to score a Test century on Indian soil. Mominul's unbeaten knock of 107 not off 194 balls held the innings together as Bangladesh reached 233/10 in the first innings.
The 35-year-old left-hander showcased immense patience and poise, accumulating 16 fours and a six in a masterclass of controlled aggression. He reached his 13th Test century with a sweep off Ravichandran Ashwin, joining Mushfiqur Rahim as the only other Bangladeshi to have scored a century in India.
The third and final round of voting for the Jammu & Kashmir elections will be held tomorrow (October 1). This is the first assembly poll in the erstwhile state after 2014.
The last 10 years have seen momentous changes in the political complexion of the region. Soon after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Article 370, which gave a special status to the state, was rescinded. Further, it was divided into two Union Territories – Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood in future. And while a few regional players have sought a restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress has been non-committal on it.
The Lok Sabha Contest
The assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir this year were preceded by the Lok Sabha election. The BJP contested two seats in the Jammu region and won both. In the remaining three seats in Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) won two and an Independent candidate was elected from one. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) was unable to open its account.
The two key leaders of the NC and the PDP, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, lost the elections. Abdullah was defeated by an independent candidate, Engineer Rashid (who contested the elections from jail), while Mufti lost to the NC's Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi. Both fell behind by over 2 lakh votes.
If the 90 assembly segments are taken into account for the results of the Lok Sabha contest, then the National Conference led in 36 assembly seats and its alliance partner, the Congress, was ahead in seven, bringing their combined strength close to the half-way mark. On the other hand, the BJP led in 29 segments, the PDP in five, and Independents and others in the remaining 13 seats. The NC and the BJP improved their performance compared to the 2014 assembly polls, while the Congress and the PDP faced a sharp decline.
3 Reasons This Election Is So Critical
The current assembly election has evoked tremendous interest both within the country and internationally for multiple reasons. The verdict will reflect the popular mood after the Article 370 move and the subsequent developments in the region. That this is the first election in 10 years also means that there is a whole new generation of voters - those in the age group of 18-28 — that is voting for the first time. The group represents an important segment of the electorate.
There are three dimensions that assume importance in the current Jammu & Kashmir election. The first is the voter turnout, which many see as a barometer to measure the popular response to the democratic process in the state. The first phase of polling saw over 61% voting, while the second phase saw 57% of electors coming out to vote. In 2014, the assembly polls had attracted a 65% turnout despite a boycott call. Thus, while the initial numbers this year may seem lower, they still represent a strong turnout. It is also important to note that the first two phases of voting were free of violence and saw peaceful polling.
Counting is scheduled for October 8. Media reports indicate that for the younger generation, especially, economic issues like development, employment, price rise, and peace and security are key factors that influenced their decision. The two regional parties, the NC and the PDP, have focused on their demand for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood.
The Fate Of Old Players
The Jammu region and the Kashmir valley have distinctly different political orientations. In recent times, the BJP has had an upper hand in Jammu, while the Congress, the NC and the PDP have been key players in the Kashmir valley. The final result would be a clear indication of how much support these players have across the region today.
This leads one to the third and last factor due to which the current assembly polls are significant. This election has seen the entry of several new local parties and independent candidates, whose performance will be watched closely. Do national parties and traditional regional players continue to hold sway, or have new players tipped the scales? The answer to this would also be a reflection of the cut and thrust of the overall politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
(Dr. Sandeep Shastri is the National Coordinator of the Lokniti Network)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
At least six people have died in Rwanda's first-ever outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus. Sabin Nsanzimana, the country's health minister, confirmed that most of the victims were healthcare workers in a hospital intensive care unit.
Twenty-six cases have been confirmed since Friday. Authorities are tracking around 300 people who may have been exposed to the virus, mostly in the capital city, Kigali. To curb its spread, the government is implementing measures such as contact tracing, quarantining affected individuals and launching public health awareness campaigns.
What is the Marburg Virus?
The Marburg virus is a highly infectious disease similar to Ebola. According to the World Health Organisation, the disease has a high fatality rate, ranging from 24 per cent to 88 per cent, depending on the outbreak and the healthcare response.
The virus was first identified in 1967. This outbreak, linked to African green monkeys imported from Uganda, occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade in Serbia, leading to 31 infections and seven deaths at the time.
How the virus spreads
The primary carrier of the Marburg virus is the Egyptian rousette fruit bat, which can transmit the virus to humans. African green monkeys and pigs can also carry the virus.
The virus spreads between humans through contact with:
Bodily fluids (blood, saliva, vomit, etc)
Contaminated bedding or surfaces
Infected semen, which can remain infectious months after recovery
Symptoms
Symptoms can start suddenly and include:
High fever
Severe headaches
Muscle pains
After about three days, patients report severe symptoms such as:
Watery diarrhoea
Stomach pain
Vomiting
Bleeding from various parts of the body
According to the WHO, “The appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing 'ghost-like' drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces and extreme lethargy.”
Extreme blood loss and shock can result in death within eight to nine days after symptoms appear.
Current control measures
Health authorities recommend:
Avoiding physical contact with the infected people
Washing hands regularly with soap and water or using sanitiser
Avoiding consumption of bushmeat or contact with pigs in outbreak areas
The WHO is providing support to Rwanda in managing the outbreak. There are currently no specific treatments or vaccines, although supportive care, including fluid replacement and blood transfusions, may help manage symptoms. Researchers are developing various blood products, drug therapies, and immune treatments.
A farmer in northern Thailand was forced to cull more than 100 crocodiles from his farm as heavy floods raised fears that they could escape and pose a threat to human lives. Natthapak Khumkad, the owner of a crocodile farm in Lamphun, explained that days of relentless rain had severely damaged the enclosures holding his Siamese crocodiles.
With the animals at risk of escaping, he decided to kill 125 crocodiles, which measured up to three meters long. Mr Khumkad was particularly concerned that the reptiles might roam the flooded countryside, potentially attacking locals and animals.
The incident, reported by CNN on Friday, took place in the Lamphun province following devastating monsoon rains that have swept across the region. In September, northern Thailand was hit by intense monsoon rains, which resulted in landslides and floods that killed over 20 people.
"I had to make the most difficult decision of my life to kill them all. My family and I discussed if the wall collapsed the damage to people's lives would be far bigger than we can control. It would involve people's lives and public safety," the farmer told CNN.
In a Facebook post, Natthapak Khumkad showed the eroded walls of the crocodile pond and explained, "This was the primary reason that forced me to make an urgent decision. On that day, it rained heavily non-stop. The underwater wall collapsed, which was very close to reaching the outer wall."
He clarified that although his staff attempted to block off the area to fix the pond as soon as possible, the unceasing rain made the situation dangerous.
"It was a crisis that required an extremely urgent decision. I had to use the last resort, which was to remove the crocodiles from the farm by slaughtering them. If it wasn't absolutely necessary, we wouldn't have used this method. It was the best, fastest, and safest method in that situation, with the rain still pouring incessantly. Thank you for all the encouragement and understanding.," Natthapak added.
इमरान हाशमी और कुणाल खेमू की फिल्म 'कलयुग' याद है या नहीं? फिल्म में आतिफ असलम की आवाज में दर्द भरे गाने याद है या नहीं? अच्छा फिल्म में कुणाल खेमू की प्रेमिका रेणुका का रोल करने वाली स्माइली सूरी तो अच्छे से याद होगी. साल 2005 में रिलीज हुई फिल्म 'कलयुग' को स्माइली सूरी के भाई मोहित सूरी ने डायरेक्ट किया था. फिल्म के गाने तो खूब हिट हुए, लेकिन स्माइली सूरी इन गानों की आवाज के पीछे ही रह गईं. 'कलयुग' के बाद स्माइली सूरी महज चार और फिल्मों में दिखीं, जो सभी फ्लॉप साबित हुईं. इसके बाद स्माइली सूरी की शादी हुई और वह बॉलीवुड से कट गईं. फिलहाल स्माइली सूरी तलाकशुदा जिंदगी जी रही हैं. स्माइली सूरी 41 साल की हो गई हैं और अब एक्ट्रेस ने सोशल मीडिया पर अपने ट्रांसफॉर्मेशन से हंगामा मचा दिया है.
स्माइली सूरी की सोशल मीडिया पर एक तस्वीर बेहद वायरल हो रही है. इस तस्वीर में स्माइली सूरी को उनकी खूबसूरत स्माइल में देखा जा रहा है. इसके साथ ही उनके प्रोफाइल पर उनकी कई सारी लेटेस्ट तस्वीरें हैं, जिन्हें देख आपको पहचानना मुश्किल होगा कि ये कलयुग की रेणुका ही हैं या कोई और है.
अब स्माइली सूरी के ट्रांसफॉर्मेशन को देख फैंस शॉक्ड हैं और वो कमेंट्स पोस्ट कर रहे हैं. एक ने लिखा है, 'साक्षी लकी गर्ल है, जिसे तुम्हारी जैसी मां मिली'. एक फैन लिखता है, 'खूबसूरत दिख रही हो'. एक और फैन लिखता है, 'वाह क्या बात है'. एक और फैन ने लिखा है, 'तुम तो बिल्कुल बदल गई. पहचान नहीं पाए'. बता दें, स्माइली सूरी की शादी 2 जुलाई 2014 को कोरियोग्राफर विनीत बंगरा से हुई थी. दो साल बाद ही दोनों का तलाक हो गया और स्माइली डिप्रेशन में चली गईं. डिप्रेशन से उबरने के लिए स्माइली ने पोल डांस सीखा. वह एक ट्रेंड पोल डांसर हैं.
दरअसल, स्माइली सूरी फिल्मों से तो दूर हैं, लेकिन अब सोशल मीडियो को उन्होंने अपना सिनेमा बना लिया है. स्माइली सूरी सोशल मीडिया पर अपनी सिजलिंग तस्वीरों से लोगों का ध्यान अपनी ओर खींचने की कोशिश कर रही हैं. जिंदगी में आए उतार-चढ़ाव से हारीं स्माइली सूरी एक बार फिर अपनी खुशहाल जिंदगी में लौटने की कोशिश कर रही हैं.
The YouTube channels of influencer-podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, known widely as BeerBiceps, have been reinstated, days after they were hacked and renamed. After the accounts were restored, Ranveer updated his followers about the same. In the video update, he said, “Hey guys. Want to update you all that our channels have been restored. Thanks to the YouTube Global and YouTube India team. Very grateful to them, very grateful to you all. Thank you so much for supporting us through this very testing period.”
The hack, at around 11:30 pm on September 25, resulted in the deletion of all videos from the channels, before they were renamed “@Elon.trump.tesla_live2024” and “@Tesla.event.trump_2024,” featuring content focused on Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Initially, YouTube disabled both channels, redirecting visitors to a ‘404 not found' page with the message, “This page isn't available. Sorry about that. Try searching for something else.”
Ranveer added that the situation made him contemplate his future on the platform. “There was a moment when I felt that I finally have to switch to being a full-time entrepreneur. No more YouTube. But God has other plans,” he said.
Ranveer also used the opportunity to raise awareness of cybercrime. He urged his followers to prioritise cybersecurity, saying, “I hope this is a reminder for you all to focus much more on your cybersecurity needs. It's something we have been very serious about, and then this happened. Cyber safety is a very serious topic. It's the need of the hour. Educate yourself on this topic.”
Addressing speculation that the hacking incident was a publicity stunt, Ranveer denied the claims. “I also want to tell you guys that this is not a marketing or a PR stunt. My work is my dharma. This is my faith. I would not mess around with the image of my work in such a way,” he said.
Watch the full video here:
Channels are back. Now, the podcast will go International ????????♥️????????
Following this video update, fans flooded the comments section.
“Congratulations buddy! I am glad that you got it back. That's years of hard work and dedication. I can't imagine what you must have been feeling during that period,” wrote one user.
Congratulations buddy! I am glad that you got it back. That's years of hard work and dedication. I can't imagine what you must have been feeling during that period.
Another user shared their insights, stating, “Biggest life lesson in last 48 hours. Even if it's zero we can start again. Now make an educational video how one can get their channel back if they get in this condition. It will help many.
Biggest life lesson in last 48 hours . Even if it's zero we can start again. @BeerBicepsGuy now make a educational video how one can get their channel back if they get in this condition. it will help many
A third user expressed, “It's really great to see that you got your channel back. But not many lucky as you are. So request you to do a series on Cyber Security and talk some feasible solutions. Basically, how should we take precautions and if anyhow something mishappening happened then what should do after that.”
Its really great to see that you got your channel back. But not many lucky as you are.
So request you to do a series on Cyber Security and talk some feasible solutions. Basically how should we take precautions and if anyhow something mishappening happened then what should do…
Ranveer Allahbadia embarked on his content creation journey at the age of 22 when he launched BeerBiceps, and he has since expanded his digital presence to include seven YouTube channels, amassing around 12 million subscribers.
A Bangladeshi porn star has been arrested for allegedly using a fake Indian passport to live in India. Riya Barde, also known as Arohi Barde, was taken into custody by the Hill Line Police in Ulhasnagar, about 50 km from Mumbai.
The cops had received a tip-off that a Bangladeshi family was living in Ambernath, Nevali A, using fake documents. An investigation was launched, and the family's fraudulent activities were unearthed.
During the inquiry, it was found that an Amravati resident had forged the documents for Riya and three of her associates to facilitate their stay in India. The Hill Line police registered a case against Riya and four others under Section 14(A) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 as well as the Indian Penal Code.
A search is on for the four other individuals involved in the case.
Reports suggest the accused's parents are currently in Qatar.
Earlier this year, a case was registered against a 23-year-old woman in Thane, Maharashtra, for allegedly travelling to Pakistan using a fake passport and visa obtained through forged documents.
The woman, identified as Nagma Noor Maksood Ali, also known as Sanam Khan, is accused of changing her name and acquiring various identity documents, including an Aadhaar card and PAN card, which she had submitted with her passport application.
The police also filed a case against an unidentified man for facilitating her fake documents.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's new film, 'Emergency', can be released as long as some cuts - to be recommended by a revision committee - are made, the Censor Board of Film Certification told the Bombay High Court Thursday afternoon.
Ms Ranaut's film - which is based on the Emergency imposed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi - has been stuck with the CBFC amid complaints by the Sikh apex religious body, that it misrepresents their community. Government sources later told NDTV "there is some sensitive content in the movie" and acknowledged "religious sentiments cannot be hurt".
The High Court was hearing a petition by the movie's co-producers, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking the release of the censor certificate so the movie can hit the screens.
The movie was supposed to release on September 6.
Last week the court directed the censor board to take a final call on the film's release, accepting the film ratings body's reservations but noting "it is not for CBFC to decide whether this affects public order".
Justice BP Colabwalla, one of two judges in the division bench hearing this case, pointed out Ms Ranaut's production is not a documentary, and asked, "Do you think public is so naive they will believe everything in a movie? What about creative freedom?"
The court also said the CBFC "can't sit on the fence". "Take a decision. Let's see what the revising committee says, be it deciding to release or not, take a decision. Have the courage to say that the film should not be released. We will appreciate the stand of the CBFC," it said.
Abhinav Chandrachud, the censor board's counsel, had earlier told the court some scenes show a polarising figure cutting a deal with political parties. "We have to see if this is factually accurate," he said.
Earlier, the matter came up before the Madhya Pradesh High Court when two Sikh organisations filed a Public Interest Litigation. In response, the Censor Board told the court that the movie had not been issued a certificate. The court then disposed of the petition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special gift from chess star Vantika Agarwal during his meeting with the Chess Olympiad 2024 double gold winners. During the meeting, PM Modi recalled that he organised the 'Swarnim Chess Mahotsav' as part of his Khel Mahakumbh initiative back in 2010 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. In 2012, he organised 'Swami Vivekananda Mahila Chess Mahotsav' in Gandhinagar which was attended by 3,500 women chess players. Vantika also took part in the event and she gifted PM Modi with a picture from that event.
The picture showed PM Modi felicitating Vantika during the event and he expressed his happiness at receiving such a 'special' gift.
A wonderful interaction with the Indian chess contingent that won the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad. Do watch! https://t.co/1fALfjTOe7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed a game of bullet chess between two members of India's 45th Chess Olympiad-winning team, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi, during a visit by the Indian men's and women's chess teams to his residence on Wednesday.
In the recently concluded Chess Olympiad, India's men's and women's teams made history by securing gold medals for the first time in their respective categories, joining the elite ranks of countries to have achieved a double gold in the same edition of the competition.
Following this remarkable achievement, PM Modi met the Indian men's and women's chess teams at his residence on Wednesday to celebrate their success at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad.
The Prime Minister shared a video on his official social media of Praggnanandhaa and Arjun playing bullet chess, captioning it: "Bullet Chess by two Grandmasters. Incredible! India's chess future is very bright."
In the men's competition, the USA secured second place, with Uzbekistan winning bronze. In the women's competition, Kazakhstan claimed the silver medal, and the USA took bronze.
In the final round of the tournament, the Indian men's team--comprising D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna--defeated Slovenia to clinch the gold medal. Victories from Gukesh and Arjun gave India a 2-0 lead, securing the gold. Praggnanandhaa later won his game, and Vidit drew his, resulting in a 3.5-0.5 win for India.
Meanwhile, the Indian women's team--featuring Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev--also won gold after beating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. Harika, Divya, and Vantika won their respective matches in the final round, while Vaishali drew her game against Ulviyya Fataliyeva.
A 64-year-old woman from the US recently died by suicide using the Sarco suicide pod at a woodland retreat in Switzerland. The device delivered a haunting message in her final moments: “If you want to die, press this button,” reported AFP. The Sarco pod, with its futuristic design, operates by filling with nitrogen, leading to death through hypoxia. This self-operated, human-sized capsule has raised legal and ethical questions in Switzerland, where active euthanasia is illegal, yet assisted dying has been permitted for decades.
On the day the pod was used, Switzerland's Interior Minister, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, told lawmakers that the Sarco remained “not legal,” leading to a fresh debate around its use.
Let's take a look at what the Sarco suicide pod is, how it works, and the controversies.
What is the Sarco Pod?
The Sarco pod, short for sarcophagus, is a controversial euthanasia device that has attracted significant attention due to its innovative design and intended use. This 3D-printed, detachable capsule is mounted on a stand and contains a canister of liquid nitrogen, allowing individuals to end their lives through inert gas asphyxiation. First introduced in Switzerland in 2019, the capsule offers a means for people to die without the need for medical supervision. It releases nitrogen gas inside and reduces the oxygen levels to lethal amounts.
The Sarco pod is the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician known for his advocacy of assisted suicide since the 1990s. His work has played a significant role in the ongoing discussions around the ethics and legality of euthanasia, according to CNN.
The 3D-printable Sarco capsule cost over 6,50,000 euros (around Rs 6.06 crore) to research and develop in the Netherlands over 12 years, according to AFP.
How does the Sarco pod work?
The Sarco pod replaces the oxygen inside with nitrogen, resulting in death by hypoxia. To operate the Sarco pod, the individual wishing to die must follow some steps:
To use the Sarco, individuals must first pass a psychiatric assessment.
Users climb into the capsule, close the lid, and answer automated questions about their identity and understanding of the process.
Once the button is pressed, the oxygen level in the capsule drops from 21% to 0.05% in less than 30 seconds.
Individuals quickly lose consciousness and die within approximately five minutes.
An emergency exit button is also located inside the pod, providing a potential escape route if needed.
Once the hypoxia process is complete, the biodegradable capsule can be detached from the machine's base, allowing it to serve as the deceased individual's coffin.
Nitschke's Exit International, which owns the Sarco, is a non-profit organisation funded by donations, with users only paying 18 Swiss francs (around Rs 1,769) for the nitrogen.
Its legality in Switzerland
Switzerland has permitted assisted suicide since the 1940s, saying the ones assisting must have no direct interest in the individual's death. This legal framework has established Switzerland as a notable "death tourism" destination, attracting individuals from around the globe seeking the right to end their lives on their terms, Reuters reported. The use of the Sarco suicide pod has led to a renewed debate on the ethics and legality of euthanasia not just in Switzerland but across the world.
Lately, suicides among students have captured the news cycle and the public's attention. Kota, India's infamous 'coaching hub' is at the centre of this fixation. Stories about the tragic deaths by suicide among young students and policy measures to identify and support students who exhibit signs of suicide risk have become commonplace.
Last month, a report underscored the growing concern. The number of suicides among students saw a drastic rise of 21% between 2019 and 2020, and, more recently, 4.5% from 2020 to 2021. The data paints a grim picture that extends beyond Kota and its intense coaching culture.
An Unprecedented Spike
India's suicide rate has been growing at an unprecedented rate - one that was not seen earlier, in the last six decades since data was collected. In 2022, the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) reported 1.71 lakh deaths by suicide in the country, and as many as 40% of these deaths were among children and young people. If we take a closer look, around 10,000 young people below the age of 18 years took their lives in 2022. Generally, more men die by suicide as compared to women in India. However, within this age group, we observe a skew in the data, where 55% of suicide deaths were reported among girls and young women.
Those between 18 and 30 years of age accounted for 30% of all deaths by suicide in the same year. Consistently, more men died by suicide in this age group than women - typically, 65% men compared to 35% women. However, suicides among young women increased at a higher rate - 12% - as compared to a 1% rise among young men.
A Host Of Factors Drive Youth To Take Their Lives
This may be answered in part by understanding the forces and drivers that shape young people's mental health and well-being. Last year, we conducted a landscape study in an attempt to answer this exact question. The study, funded by the Being initiative, involved a host of consultations and research activities with young people, mental health experts, development professionals, funders and policymakers across the country from diverse geographies, identities and contexts. Through this landscape analysis, we uncovered a myriad of personal, social and environmental factors that influence mental health and well-being for young people.
A Widening Generational Divide
The influence of family, both positive and negative, emerged frequently as a factor that impacts young people's mental health. Those we spoke to stressed the growing generational divide among young people and their parents. The constant tussle for autonomy in decisions around education, careers and relationships weighed on them; they expressed being misunderstood by their parents and unable to bridge the generational communication gap between them.
Many were deeply impacted by the family environments in which they were raised. They reported conflict and marital discord among parents, neglect and abuse and poor parental mental health, all of which had a direct consequence on their well-being. This instability in family relationships and its effect on young people is also reflected in suicide data from NCRB. Among the 69,000 cases of young people who died by suicide (18-30 and below 18 years) in 2022, over 30% reported family problems as the cause of death.
The Gender Quandary
The young women we spoke to were affected by the added burden of gendered expectations from families and society. Patriarchal notions of a woman's role and responsibilities within the household are internalised at a very young age. Young women learn early on to deprioritise their needs and ambitions as compared to their male siblings or partners.
In some parts of the country, this control extends to restrictions and policing of women's bodies and mobility - from deciding what young women wear and who they socialise with, to limiting their access to certain places when menstruating and controlling how many children they should have. The relationship between gender discrimination and violence and suicide in India needs further unpacking: It is disconcerting that suicide is the leading cause of death among young women in India between the age of 15-29 years.
The State Of Education And Employment
Another pervasive yet under-reported issue was the lack of support within education and workplace settings for young people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds. Young people reported experiences of institutional discrimination based on their identities of caste, religion, gender and sexual orientation, which compounds mental health challenges.
Often overlooked in the conversation on student suicides are working children and youth who have dropped out of schools or colleges. Employed in the informal sector, they face precarious working conditions, such as the lack of basic amenities, safety measures and protections from violence and discrimination. Young people frequently migrate to urban cities for better opportunities. In this unfamiliar environment, they encounter isolation, language barriers, and skill gap challenges, and are left to cope by themselves without adequate social or institutional support.
The Digital Boom
This is further complicated by the digital boom where smartphone and internet use has had a consequential and lasting impact on young people. Cyberbullying, digital addiction, misinformation and harmful portrayals of mental health and suicide in the media - including social media - have led to distress and unsafe behaviour among young people, who are left to negotiate these complex systems while confronting their generational challenges of growing socio-economic inequality, conflicts and climate change. The confluence of these interlinked drivers and forces places young people in a unique predicament.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The potential of India's youth is immense and their lived experiences and needs are highly diverse. Tackling these complex and cross-cutting issues requires building and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of youth mental health and, therefore, prevention of suicide. Services, policies and programmes should be made youth-friendly and inclusive of these diverse experiences.
Specific policy and structural recommendations include
creating and promoting interventions that strengthen familial relationships based on mutual respect and communication, as well as addressing gender norms and dysfunction perpetuated by family systems;
need for schools and colleges to create enabling environments for the well-being of students from all backgrounds;
enforcing guidelines for the media on reporting or engaging with content on suicides; and
addressing youth unemployment by enabling young people to access stable and viable career pathways, thus offering a chance at upward mobility and the associated autonomy and freedoms it offers
Beyond the attention of World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention requires a consistent, multisectoral response throughout the year to safeguard the country's youth.
[Tanya Nicole Fernandes and Amiti Varma are research fellows; Dr Soumitra Pathare is a consultant psychiatrist and director; all at the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP), Indian Law Society, India. Being India is a joint collaborative study by CMHLP and Sangath Addictions and related-Research Group.]
Aloe Vera gel: क्या आप भी अपनी स्किन केयर (Skin Care) के लिए, हेयर केयर के लिए और सुबह खाली पेट पीने के लिए बाजार से अलग-अलग तरह के एलोवेरा जेल (Aloe Vera) या जूस (Aloe Vera juice) लेकर आते हैं? तो आज से ऐसा करना बंद कर दें, क्योंकि आज हम आपको बताते हैं कि कैसे आप घर पर ही आसानी से एलोवेरा जेल बना सकते हैं और इसका इस्तेमाल स्किन और हेयर पर कर सकते हैं. तो चलिए नोट कर लीजिए होममेड ऑर्गेनिक एलोवेरा जेल बनाने का तरीका, इसे बनाने के लिए आपको चाहिए.
1 या 2 बड़े एलोवेरा के पत्ते
1 बड़ा चम्मच विटामिन ई ऑयल
1 बड़ा चम्मच एसेंशियल ऑयल (खुशबू के लिए)
एलोवेरा जेल बनाने का तरीका
ऑर्गेनिक एलोवेरा जेल बनाने के लिए सबसे पहले पौधे से ताजा और हरे एलोवेरा का पत्ता काटें. याद रखें कि एलोवेरा के पत्ते मोटे और हरे होने चाहिए.
अब पत्ती को एक साफ सतह पर सपाट रखें और दोनों तरफ से दांतेदार किनारों को काट लें.
पत्ती की ऊपरी परत को सावधानी से काटने के लिए एक तेज चाकू का उपयोग करें, ताकि अंदर का साफ जेल बाहर आ जाए.
एक चम्मच का उपयोग करके, पत्ती के अंदर से साफ एलोवेरा जेल को धीरे से बाहर निकालें.
जेल को ब्लेंडर में डालें और कुछ सेकंड के लिए ब्लेंड करें जब तक कि यह लिक्विड जेल में न बदल जाए. इसमें एक्स्ट्रा बेनेफिट्स और खुशबू के लिए 1 बड़ा चम्मच विटामिन ई तेल और अपने पसंदीदा एसेंशियल ऑयल (जैसे लैवेंडर या टी ट्री ऑयल) की कुछ बूंदें डालें.
इसे मिक्स करने के लिए फिर से ब्लेंड करें. फिर ब्लेंड किए गए एलोवेरा जेल को एयरटाइट ग्लास जार या कंटेनर में डालें. इसे रेफ्रिजरेटर में स्टोर करें, जहां यह 1 सप्ताह तक ताजा रहेगा.
आप इसकी शेल्फ लाइफ बढ़ाने के लिए आइस क्यूब ट्रे में भी जमा सकते हैं.
एलोवेरा जेल के फायदे
सनबर्न को कम करता है.
त्वचा को हाइड्रेट करता है.
नेचुरल मॉइस्चराइजर के रूप में काम करता है.
छोटे-मोटे कट और जलन को ठीक करता है.
मुंहासे और अन्य त्वचा संबंधी समस्याओं का इलाज करता है.
Elon Musk offered effusive praise for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in brief remarks at an awards ceremony in New York, the latest sign of cosiness between a billionaire who's trying to get Donald Trump elected and a European leader at odds with her Group of Seven allies.
Musk, bestowing an Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award on Meloni, said it was an honour to present the accolade to "someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside."
"She's also someone who is authentic, honest, truthful - and that can't always be said about politicians," Musk added.
The remarks were in keeping with the warm relationship between Musk and Meloni, whose political roots on the right align her with Trump, even as she's backed the G-7's support of Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion.
At a festival organized by Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy party in December, Musk exhorted the crowd to "make more Italians" and warned of unchecked migration while addressing Italy's birth rate, which is the lowest in Europe.
Meloni has refrained from backing either Trump or his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she will work closely with whoever occupies the White House, given long-standing ties between the two countries.
After Musk spoke, Meloni delivered an implicit rebuke to the left, lamenting the desire to "to violently erase the symbols of our civilizations in the US as in Europe."
"I know that we should not be ashamed to use and defend words and concepts like nation and patriotism, words that mean more than a physical place," Meloni said. "They mean a state of mind to which one belongs."
Meloni is in New York with leaders from more than 190 other nations for the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. On Sunday, she met with Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, the chief executives of Alphabet Inc. And OpenAI Inc.
The choice to give a Global Citizen Award to the prime minister, and have Musk present it, has angered some former and current Atlantic Council staff, Politico reported last week, given the dissonance between their views on Ukraine and immigration.
Meloni received the award "for her strong support of the EU and becoming the first female prime minister of Italy," according to a media package distributed by the Atlantic Council.
Musk has business interests in Italy. He and Meloni have scheduled a closed-door meeting later this month to discuss investment opportunities in Italy's space and artificial intelligence sectors, according to people familiar with the matter.
Italy approved a new regulatory framework in June that grants foreign space companies permission to operate in the country, a move that it expects to generate investments of about €7.3 billion ($8.1 billion).
Italy is already serviced by Musk's Starlink, which delivers broadband internet through a global network of more than 6,000 satellites operated by his Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
Meloni has also expressed interest in artificial intelligence, though she sounded a note of caution about the technology in a speech to the United Nations Summit of the Future earlier Monday. She called AI a "great multiplier" but warned it could widen global imbalances.
"Machines will not answer this question," she said. "Politics must guarantee that artificial intelligence remains controlled by humans and keeps humans at the centre."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Shardiya Navratri 2024 Date: भारत में नवरात्रि पर्व को बहुत ही उत्साह के साथ मनाया जाता है. इस साल नवरात्रि गुरुवार 3 अक्टूबर 2024 से आरंभ होकर 12 अक्टूबर को समापन होगा. यह नौ दिवसीय उत्सव देवी दुर्गा के नौ रूपों की पूजा के लिए समर्पित है. नवरात्रि एक संस्कृत शब्द है जिसका अनुवाद ‘नौ रात' होता है. एक साल में कुल चार नवरात्रि आती हैं. जिनमें से दो बड़े पैमाने पर मनाई जाती हैं. चैत्र नवरात्रि वसंत ऋतु के दौरान और शरद नवरात्रि. शरद (शारदीय) नवरात्रि में चैत्र नवरात्रि के समान धार्मिक रीति-रिवाजों का पालन करते हैं. नवरात्रि में मां भगवती की आराधना का विशेष महत्व है, माना जाता है कि इन नौ दिनों में जो भक्त मां की सच्ची श्रद्धा से पूजा-अर्चना करते हैं मां शक्ति उनकी सभी मनोकामनाएं पूरी करती है.
नवरात्रि भोग रेसिपी- (Navratri Nine Day Bhog)
नवरात्रि के नौ दिन मां दुर्गा को अलग-अलग भोग लगाएं जाते हैं. पहले दिन खीर का भोग लगाया जाता है तो वहीं दूसरे दिन मां दुर्गा के ब्रह्मचारिणी स्वरूप को शक्कर से बनी चीजों का भोग लगाया जाता है. तीसरे दिन की बात करें तो माता चंद्रघंटा को दूध से बनी चीजों का भोग लगाते हैं. मां दुर्गा के चौथे स्वरूप में कुष्मांडा को मालपुआ का भोग लगाया जाता है. पांचवें दिन केले का, छठवें दिन शहद, सातवें दिन गुड़ से बनी चीजों का. आठवें दिन महागौरी को नारियल का, तो वहीं नौवें दिन हलवा, पूड़ी और चने का भोग लगाने का विधान है.
हिंदू धर्म में शारदीय नवरात्रि का विशेष महत्व है. पंचांग के अनुसार, आश्विन मास के शुक्ल पक्ष की प्रतिपदा तिथि का आरंभ 3 अक्टूबर की सुबह 12:19 मिनट से होगा और इसका समापन अगले दिन 4 अक्टूबर की सुबह 2:58 मिनट पर होगा. नवरात्रि के पहले दिन कलश स्थापना भी की जाती है.
Ticketing site BookMyShow crashed today just seconds before sale for Coldplay's Mumbai concert began. Coldplay will be bringing their much-anticipated Music Of The Spheres World Tour to India, and tickets for the band's Mumbai concert go on sale today.
The iconic British rock band will perform at D.Y. Patil Sports Stadium on January 18 and 19, 2025.
Coldplay is set to return to India after an eight-year hiatus, and fans are ecstatic. The band's highly anticipated concert announcement has generated immense excitement, with promoters promising an "extraordinary experience" for attendees.
The concert will feature a mix of hits from their acclaimed album "Music of the Spheres," including new singles "We Pray" and "feelslikeimfallinginlove," alongside beloved classics like "Yellow," "Fix You," and "Viva La Vida." The show will boast stunning visuals, with lasers, fireworks, and LED displays.
The "Music of the Spheres World Tour" has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its launch in March 2022, with upcoming shows in Abu Dhabi, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
Coldplay's new album, "Moon Music," releases on October 4, 2024, and aims to set new sustainability standards in the music industry, with vinyls made from 100% recycled plastic. Lead vocalist Chris Martin reflected on the album's theme, saying, "Maybe love is the best response" to global conflicts.
This marks Coldplay's second performance in India, following their 2016 appearance at the Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai. The band, formed in 1997, comprises Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion. Some of their biggest hits include "A Sky Full of Stars," "Don't Panic," "Viva La Vida," and "In My Place."
In January, during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, 300 kilograms of 'prasad' from the Tirupati temple was distributed to devotees, confirmed Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the temple. This revelation comes in the wake of a controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in ghee in the preparation of laddoos at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati, managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
"If animal fat was mixed in the 'prasad', it is unforgivable. Strict action should be taken against those responsible," Mr Das said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The TTD revealed that the lab report confirmed the presence of lard and other impurities in ghee used by a contractor. An official stated that the contractor responsible for supplying adulterated ghee had been blacklisted and legal proceedings were initiated.
The row began when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu first raised concerns about the quality of the 'prasad', alleging that animal fat was used during the tenure of the previous YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Mr Naidu accused the YSRCP regime of purchasing substandard ghee at cheaper rates, which compromised the sacredness of the Tirupati laddoos.
In response, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed these allegations as "diversion politics" and a "concocted story" aimed at shifting focus from the current government's failures.
The issue intensified after lab reports, commissioned by the TDP, backed Mr Naidu's claims. According to these reports, the ghee samples tested showed traces of animal fats, including beef tallow, lard, and fish oil. The temple management confirmed that four separate tests revealed similar results, prompting immediate action to halt supplies from the blacklisted contractor.
Mr Naidu, in a public address, announced that new suppliers of pure cow ghee, including the Nandini brand from Karnataka, have been engaged to restore the sacredness of the laddoos. The former chief priest of the Tirupati temple, Ramana Deekshitulu, also expressed concerns over the issue, stating that he had previously raised the matter with the TTD management to no avail.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi have both called for investigations and have sought reports from the Andhra Pradesh government. The TTD has assured devotees that the purity of the laddoos has now been restored, and steps have been taken to ensure that only the highest quality ingredients are used going forward.
Some people on Twitter say it like no other. "It's rather amusing that One Nation, One Election abbreviates to ONOE - oh noe!".
After the Union Cabinet cleared the One Nation One Election (ONOE) proposal, legacy television channels, dutifully, complied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) playbook. Distract from the real issues: unemployment, inflation, anti-federal policies, Manipur, a plummeting rupee, fuel prices not being cut despite a decline in global crude oil prices, and more.
Just Like The Women's Reservation Bill
This is very similar to when the Women's Reservation Bill was passed last year. The news stayed on primetime, tucking away the government's ineffectual handling of the Manipur crisis. These con jobs have a pattern. The Women's Reservation Bill can only come into effect after the Census and delimitation exercise have been completed. So, the earliest that it can happen is 2034. The ONOE is another 'Weapon of Mass Distraction'!
As my colleague in Rajya Sabha and eminent jurist P. Chidambaram pointed out, "ONOE would require at least five constitutional amendments". The High Level Committee (HLC) on ONOE, headed by a former President, recommended 18 amendments to the Constitution and other statutes of Union Territories having Legislative Assemblies. This would require a Constitution Amendment Bill to be passed in Parliament, with a special majority (a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House present and voting). Daydreaming is a popular hobby.
Under Article 368(2) of the Constitution of India, ratification by not less than half of the states will be required to carry out amendments to Article 324A to facilitate simultaneous elections of Panchayats and Municipalities. Similarly, in order to have a Single Electoral Roll, an amendment to Article 325 is required. To implement this amendment, ratification by not less than half of the States would be required.
Here are six reasons why ONOE is antithetical to federalism:
In March 1994, the S.R. Bommai v. Union of India case, a landmark in safeguarding Indian federalism, strengthened the autonomy of states within the Indian polity. Thirty years later, in March 2024, the HLC submitted its report on simultaneous elections. However, the committee's composition failed to reflect the federal nature of the Constitution, as it did not include a single Chief Minister or representative of states.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the HLC are, in themselves, conclusive proof of the government's blatant disregard for federalism. The second ToR tasks the committee with the dubious mandate to "examine and recommend if amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by states". Any constitutional amendment to implement simultaneous polls would directly impact the tenure of state assemblies and governments. Even the Law Commission in 2018 had suggested that while such amendments might not fall strictly under the proviso to Article 368(2), the government should still seek ratification from at least half of the states as a matter of abundant caution.
A study conducted by IDFC Institute showed that there is a 77% possibility of voters voting for the same party at centre and states if simultaneous elections take place. The study analysed voting behaviour for four rounds of Lok Sabha elections (1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014) in states where the assembly elections coincided with the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP government, predictably, seeks to homogenise electoral opinion across all facets of political and personal life. As the 1960s, particularly 1962, demonstrated, simultaneous elections can sway voting behaviour and sideline regional aspirations and state-level issues. In the 1962 General Elections, the party that won at the Union swept the simultaneous State Assembly polls in Madras, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.
The Election Commission has struggled with the logistical complexities of conducting multi-phase elections. The 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections were held in five phases and the 2021 West Bengal Assembly Elections were held in eight phases. Lok Sabha elections across three states were held in seven phases, and even then, it took 11 days just to release the voter turnout data for Phase 1. And you are talking about conducting simultaneous polls!
Why were the Maharashtra elections not announced along with elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir? Here's why. The Maharashtra government announced the Ladki Bahin scheme in the budget this June. The first tranche reached the bank accounts of women in August and second tranche will reach beneficiaries mid-October.
More questions. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, in a detailed letter to the HLC in January 2024, asked how many state assemblies' terms would need to be curtailed or extended before implementation of ONOE? And once implemented, what would happen if a state assembly or the Lok Sabha is dissolved before its five-year term? So, fresh elections will be held for the remainder of the term. This in itself is contrary to the very idea of ONOE. Oh Noe!
(Derek O'Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha)
Additional research: Anagha, Ayashman Dey.
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
Four ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal government will retain their posts as Atishi takes charge as Delhi's new Chief Minister on Friday, sources have said. Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai and Imran Hussain are likely to swear in again as the new Chief Minister takes over after Mr Kejriwal's shock resignation Tuesday, sources said.
Dalit leader Mukesh Ahlawat, MLA from Sultan Pur Majra, may be sworn in as minister too. This would leave one ministerial post in Ms Atishi's cabinet vacant. All the ministers will take the oath on Friday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said in a statement today that Ms Atishi will take the oath on Friday. "Atishi will take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21, other ministers will also take their oaths alongside her," it said in a statement.
The 43-year-old MLA from Kalkaji, who has handled key portfolios in the Arvind Kejriwal government and is among the key faces of AAP, is being elevated as Chief Minister after Mr Kejriwal announced that he would resign and return to the top post only after the "people's verdict" in the upcoming election in the national capital. The AAP convener made the shock announcement days after the Supreme Court granted him bail, six months after he was arrested in a corruption case linked to Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy.
Ms Atishi said she is happy with the trust Mr Kejriwal has shown in her. She said she will work to bring Mr Kejriwal back as Chief Minister.
"First of all, I would like to thank the popular CM of Delhi, AAP national convener, and my guru - Arvind Kejriwal. He gave me such a huge responsibility and trusted me for it. This can be done only in AAP, only under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, that a first-time politician becomes the CM of a state. I come from an ordinary family. Had I been in any other party, perhaps I would not have been given even an election ticket," Atishi said.
Ms Atishi will be Delhi's third woman chief minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. An Oxford University alumnus and a Rhodes scholar, she has worked extensively in the AAP's flagship exercise to overhaul education in Delhi's schools.
After Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance were on the same page on the restoration of Article 370, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that he does not know what Pakistan says.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "I don't know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani; I am an Indian citizen."
On the Jammu Kashmir Assembly Polls, he said that everything would be clear in front of the people on October 8.
"Wait till October 8, everything will be clear. The first thing I will do is bring back the Darbar Move. We have both been caused a loss because of the Darbar Move. People used to go there in the winter in the Darbar Move. There was a relationship between Jammu and Kashmir. In summer, they used to come here to finish the work. You can go and ask the people how much loss they have suffered because of the Darbar Move," he said.
Earlier, the BJP has lashed out at the Congress-National Conference alliance after Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that Pakistan and the alliance were on the same page when it came to the restoration of Article 370 in the Union Territory.
BJP leader Amit Malviya in a post on X said, "Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference's position on Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir's Capital Talk on Geo News says, "Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A". How is it that, from Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, are always seen on the side of those inimical to India's interest?"
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, "The question is what is this relation of Congress party & NC with Pakistan called?... We can see how the Congress Party National Conference and INDIA Alliance are continuously trying to join hands with Pakistan..."
Earlier speaking on Geo News to senior journalist Hamid Mir in a show Capital Talk, the Pakistan Defence Minister was asked whether Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.Khwaja Asif replied, "Absolutely. Even our demand is also the same..."
Pakistan's Defence Minister also claimed that that Article 370 could return should the NC-Congress alliance come to power in JK.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A 23-year-old Florida woman is facing a critical health crisis after a severe reaction to vaccines administered at UCI Medical Centre in Orange, California. Alexis Lorenze, who was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) in January, is currently fighting for her life.
According to reports from the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation (VSRF), Ms Lorenze received Tetanus, Pneumococcal, and Meningitis vaccines at the UCI Medical Centre as a condition for further care for her PNH. Within ten minutes of receiving the vaccines, her condition rapidly deteriorated. She experienced a series of alarming symptoms, including temporary blindness, a locked jaw and vomiting.
“It doesn't make sense why would you give someone a vaccines”
This is Alexis Lorenze at a medical centre in California - her disposition is a direct immediate consequence of being given Vaccines.
Alexis Lorenze does not have health insurance in California. Now, she is being transferred to a private hospital in Los Angeles for specialised care, said a fundraiser raising money for her treatment.
In response to the 23-year-old's deteriorating condition, VSRF has sent Registered Nurse Angela Wulbrecht and a team of trusted doctors to assist with her care.
Alexis Lorenze has been using the social media platform TikTok to detail her medical journey. Disturbing images and videos shared by Ms Lorenze reveal the severity of her alleged vaccine reaction. The visuals show her with swollen eyes and forehead, severe black-purplish bruising covering her face and body and red, inflamed skin.
According to Ms Lorenze, she first sought treatment at the hospital for a blood disorder and underwent a blood transfusion. While the transfusion provided some relief, she alleges it did not fully resolve her symptoms. While the transfusion initially showed promise, doctors allegedly advised her to update her vaccinations for the treatment to be fully effective.
After receiving the vaccines, she claimed she experienced severe reactions. The family alleges that the hospital's actions led to the sudden deterioration of Ms Lorenze's health.
Two mighty beams of energy have been detected shooting in opposite directions from a supermassive black hole inside a distant galaxy - the largest such jets ever spotted, extending about 140 times the diameter of our vast Milky Way galaxy. The black hole resides at the heart of a galaxy about 7.5 billion light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). Because of the time it takes for light to travel, looking across great distances is peering back in time, with these observations dating to when the universe was less than half its current age.
Black holes are extraordinarily dense objects with gravity so strong that not even light can escape. Most galaxies, including the Milky Way, have a large black hole at their core. Some of these shoot jets of high-energy particles and magnetic fields into space from their two poles as they devour material such as gas, dust and stars falling into them due to their immense gravitational strength.
The two jet structures documented in the new study - using the LOFAR (Low-Frequency Array) radio telescope, a network of antennas centered in the Netherlands - extend 23 million light-years from end to end.
These super-heated jets, caused by the violent events around the black hole, are comprised of subatomic particles called electrons and positrons, and magnetic fields, moving at nearly the speed of light.
The researchers have nicknamed these two jets Porphyrion (pronounced poor-FEER-ee-ahn), named after a giant from ancient Greek mythology. Porphyrion is about 30% longer than the previous record-holder for such jets.
"Jet systems like Porphyrion appear to be among the most energetic spectacles that have occurred in the universe since the Big Bang," said Caltech astrophysicist Martijn Oei, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature, referring to the event that initiated the universe about 13.8 billion years ago.
"The general understanding is that jets are formed when magnetized material falls onto a rotating black hole," added astrophysicist and study co-author Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire in England. "They need to be sustained by a continued infall of matter into the black hole, something of the order of one solar mass (the mass of the sun) a year of material."
Such jets, not visible to the naked eye, start out small and grow over time.
"We've known for a while that black holes can generate these jets. But what is interesting is that to generate a large structure like this, the jets must stay on for a long time - about a billion years," Hardcastle said.
The Porphyrion jets reach far beyond their home galaxy, with an energetic output equivalent to trillions of stars like the sun.
"That is equivalent to the energy released during the most cataclysmic cosmic collisions: for example, those that occur when two galaxy clusters, each sometimes containing thousands of galaxies, merge together," Oei said.
"The fact that it extends so far from its parent black hole means that it may be carrying energy, particles and magnetic fields into the voids in the cosmic web, the gaps between groups and filaments of galaxies which we know make up the large-scale structure of the universe. This may help us to understand the ubiquitous magnetic fields in the present-day universe," Hardcastle said.
Such jets could heat up gas in interstellar space, shutting down the formation of new stars that requires cold clouds of gas, and could damage habitable planets, the researchers said.
The Milky Way's supermassive black hole, in its current quiescent state, does not have such jets.
"The key finding is that jets from black holes can, if circumstances are right, become as large as the universe's major cosmic structures - galaxy clusters, cosmic filaments, cosmic voids," Oei said. "This means that individual black holes can have a sphere of influence that extends way beyond the galaxy in which they reside."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Alcazar is Hyundai India's only three-row offering, and after more than three years on the market, it's received a proper refresh. Until now, the only major update was the replacement of the old 2.0-litre petrol engine with a smaller yet more powerful 1.5-litre turbocharged unit, which continues in the facelift. Now, Hyundai has gone further, giving the Alcazar a new exterior design, an updated interior, and an expanded features list to keep it competitive in urban family car segment.
2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift: Exterior
The facelifted Alcazar borrows design cues from its sibling, the Creta, particularly at the front. New H-shaped LED DRLs and a redesigned headlamp cluster give it a fresher look. The Alcazar now also comes equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), with the radar neatly integrated into the revised bumper.
On the side, you'll notice new 18-inch alloy wheels on higher trims, while lower variants retain the 17-inchers. The roof rails are now more prominent, though the rear quarter panel still bears a resemblance to the Kia Carens, hinting at shared family underpinnings.
The rear has seen a significant improvement, with a more pronounced bumper, silver skid plate, and a connected LED light bar linking the tail lamps in an H-pattern. "Alcazar" is boldly spelled out across the boot lid, adding to its premium feel. However, the extensive use of LED lighting might not appeal to everyone. Boot space remains practical, offering 180 litres with all seats in use, but folding the third row liberates 480 litres-enough for a weekend getaway.
In a surprising move, Hyundai has eliminated the panoramic sunroof and the spare wheel from the diesel variants. Instead, you get a puncture repair kit for the diesels, while petrol variants receive a 17-inch steel spare wheel. While the absence of the sunroof is understandable, doing away with the spare tyre is more contentious.
2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift: Interior
Hyundai's reputation for excellent cabin design continues with the Alcazar. The new dual-tone brown and navy interior looks premium, though it's mostly hard plastic. Soft-touch materials are limited to a small patch on the door trims.
The dashboard layout is clean, inspired by the Creta, with slim AC vents and a single housing for both the 10.25-inch touchscreen and the 10.25-inch driver display. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but wireless connectivity is still absent. There's a piano-black finish around the climate control area, though the switch to touch-sensitive controls can be frustrating while driving. Storage options in the door pockets, glovebox, and armrest remain unchanged, but they're adequate. Front seats are 8-way power-adjustable, and the 8-speaker Bose sound system is a notable plus.
The second row, particularly in the 6-seater configuration with captain's chairs, is where the Alcazar shines. These seats offer ventilation, recline, fore and aft movement, foldable armrests, and winged headrests for added comfort, although they might feel a bit snug for larger passengers. For those under 5'10", headroom and legroom are adequate. Hyundai also provides a useful feature: a button that allows the front passenger seat to be pushed forward to create extra legroom. Rear-seat passengers also get a wireless charger, two type-C USB ports, and rear AC vents.
Access to the third row is a bit tricky and requires some awkward manoeuvring. Once inside, it's manageable for short city drives, but for longer trips, it's best left to children or teens. However, the third row does come with cup holders, type-C chargers, and a generously sized quarter window to prevent the feeling of being cramped.
2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift: Safety Features
Hyundai has equipped the Alcazar with a solid array of safety features. Six airbags, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), hill-start assist, a rear parking camera, sensors, TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System), and rear disc brakes are standard across the range. The facelift also brings level-2 ADAS, an electrochromic IRVM, and hill-descent control. While the Alcazar hasn't undergone crash testing yet, it's expected to fare well.
2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift: Driving Experience
We tested the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which produces a healthy 160 hp and 253 Nm of torque. The engine delivers strong performance, with enough power for quick overtakes. The 7-speed DCT shifts smoothly, complementing the engine's punch. Hyundai claims a 0-100 km/h time of 9.5 seconds, though we couldn't verify this due to the lack of a suitable stretch of road.
The ride quality is marginally firmer than the Creta, thanks to the larger 18-inch wheels, but it's still comfortable over most city roads. However, the suspension does crash through larger potholes if taken at speed, so it's best to approach them cautiously. The steering feels light in urban settings and weighs up nicely at highway speeds. Body roll is well-contained, though taking corners at speed is best avoided with passengers on board.
Hyundai claims a fuel economy of 17.5 kmpl (manual) and 18 kmpl (DCT) for the turbo-petrol variant. During our drive, we observed around 6.5 km/l, though under regular conditions, you can expect figures closer to 10-12 km/l in the city, with higher numbers on the highway.
2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift: Verdict
The decision to remove the sunroof, spare wheel, and LED reading lamps from the diesel variants might disappoint some buyers. Additionally, the entry-level automatic variant starts at a hefty Rs 21 lakh, and the 6-seater captain's chairs configuration is not available with a manual transmission, which could deter chauffeur-driven buyers.
That said, the 2024 Alcazar facelift remains a compelling option for urban families. If you occasionally need a third row, desire a feel-good factor, and want a feature-rich experience, the Alcazar is worth a test drive.
