Bihar YouTuber Arrested For Slapping Train Passenger For Social Media Fame

A man who slapped a random passenger onboard a train at Bihar's Anugraha Narayan Road railway station and recorded the entire act for online fame has finally been taught a lesson. The culprit, identified as Ritesh Kumar, stood at the railway platform and waited for the train to roll away before going near it and slapping an unsuspecting passenger. All this while, his friend recorded the act to be posted on social media.

As the video clip went viral, social media users reacted negatively and demanded the authorities to take action against Kumar. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) sprung into action and apprehended Kumar, who was directed to release an apology.

"No compromise on passenger security!! A YouTuber who slapped a passenger on a moving train for social media fame has been tracked & arrested by RPF Dehri-on-Sone!" RPF said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"Your safety matters to us-reckless acts will not be tolerated."

Meanwhile, Kumar in the apology video admitted his mistake, stating that he wanted to increase his followers by staging such a video.

"I am a YouTuber. I make and post videos on Instagram to increase my followers. I came to Anugraha Narayan Road railway station and, to boost my follower count, slapped a passenger on a moving train," said Kumar.

"This was my mistake, and I won't repeat it. Please forgive me," he added.

No compromise on passenger security !!
A YouTuber who slapped a passenger on a moving train for social media fame has been tracked & arrested by #RPF Dehri-on-Sone! pic.twitter.com/4KckhrCyPy
Your safety matters to us—reckless acts will not be tolerated.#PassengerSafety #RPFAction… pic.twitter.com/2h00IQPTKj

— RPF INDIA (@RPF_INDIA) February 27, 2025

Social media reacts

Reacting to the news of Kumar's arrest, social media users applauded RPF for taking action and demanded that all vandals be punished similarly.

"Good job RPF. Such vandals should be taught a lesson," said one user while another added: "Without harsh punishment they will never going to learn. Fine them huge amount."

A third commented: "I hope all those who vandalised trains will be tracked down, arrested and given exemplary punishment too. No one has the right to damage public property."

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Pune Rape Accused, Who Is On The Run, Posed As Cop For Months: Sources

Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the Pune rape accused who is on the run, posed as a policeman for several months, sources have told NDTV. Rs 1 lakh will be given to the person providing information about his whereabouts, Pune Police Commissioner has announced.

A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a state transport bus at the Swargate bus station, which is one of the largest bus depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), in Pune on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old accused, a resident of Gunat village in Pune, is named in half a dozen cases of theft, robbery and chain-snatching in Pune and Ahilyanagar district. He has been out on bail since 2019 in one of the offences.

Sources say the Swargate bus stop was the accused's usual haunt. He was, say sources, often spotted around there in a shirt, sports shoes and a mask. He would tell people around the bus stand that he was a policeman, the sources added.

According to the survivor, she was waiting for a bus for Phaltan in Satara district at one of the platforms around 5.45 am on Tuesday, when the accused engaged her in conversation, calling her 'didi' (sister), and said the bus for Satara had arrived at another platform.

He took her to an empty 'Shiv Shahi' AC bus parked elsewhere on the premises. As the lights inside the bus were not on, she hesitated to get in but the man convinced her that it was the right vehicle. The accused then followed her and raped her, the woman, who works in the medical field, told the police.

According to residents of Gunat village, the accused is married and has children. He also has a brother and his parents are farm labourers, say villagers.  

Earlier today, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik ordered a security audit of all bus stations and depots of the State Road Transport Corporation.

The minister has also directed authorities to deploy women security guards, an MSRTC release said. He also asked police to increase patrolling at depots and bus stations, adding that depot managers must stay at the facility to keep an eye on happenings.

The MSRTC issued an internal circular asking staffers to wear proper uniforms with nameplate for identification.

CCTV cameras will be made mandatory along with GPS and panic buttons in around 15,000 MSRTC buses, including those hired from private contractors, Mr Sarnaik said.
 

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Failed To "Imagine Scenario" Like Oct 7: Israel Army Probe On Hamas Attack

An internal Israeli army probe into Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack released on Thursday acknowledged the military's "complete failure" to prevent the assault, which killed hundreds of Israelis, a military official said.

"October 7 was a complete failure, the IDF (military) failed in fulfilling its mission to protect Israeli civilians," the official said, briefing reporters about the report's contents, on condition of anonymity.

"Too many civilians died that day asking themselves in their hearts or out loud, where was the IDF?"

"The Israel Defense Forces failed to protect Israeli citizens. The Gaza Division was overrun in the early hours of the war, as terrorists took control and carried out massacres in the communities and roads in the area," the military said in the summary of the report released to journalists.

The military acknowledged that it was "overconfident" and had misconceptions about Hamas's military capabilities ahead of the Palestinian militant group's attack, a senior military official said at the same briefing.

The inquiry, which included 77 separate investigations into what transpired in communities, at army bases, and multiple confrontation points around the Gaza periphery, is in the process of being presented to those directly affected.

"We did not even imagine such a scenario," the first military official told journalists, adding that Palestinian militants led by Hamas caught Israel by surprise, not only in terms of the size and scale of the attack, but also its "brutality".

The military probe found that Hamas's attack happened in three waves and at its height more than 5,000 people entered Israel from Gaza.

"The first wave... included more than 1,000 Nukhba (elite force) terrorists who infiltrated under the cover of heavy fire," the summary of the inquiry said.

It added that a second wave included 2,000 militants and third wave was characterised by the arrival of hundreds of militants, along with several thousand civilians. 

"In total, approximately 5,000 terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory during the attack," the report said.

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

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Volcanic Eruption In 79 AD Turned Man's Brain Into Glass. How It Happened

It was a surprising discovery when scientists examining the remains of a man who died in bed in the ancient city of Herculaneum after Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD found dark fragments resembling obsidian inside his skull. It turns out the eruption had somehow turned his brain into glass.

It is the only case on record of such a phenomenon, and researchers now have answers for why and how it happened.

They say the vitrification - transformation into glass - of this victim's brain was the apparent effect of a scorching ash cloud that suddenly descended upon his city along the Bay of Naples, instantly killing all the inhabitants.

They concluded vitrification took place through a unique process of rapid exposure of the brain's organic material to a very high temperature - at least 510 degrees Celsius (950 degrees F) - and its subsequent rapid cooling.

The researchers conducted an extensive analysis that confirmed the glass nature of the fragments and revealed their physical properties.

"The glass formed as a result of this process allowed for an integral preservation of the biological brain material and its microstructures," said forensic anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone of Universita di Napoli Federico II in Italy, one of the leaders of the research published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The eruption obliterated the thriving ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

"The only other type of organic glass we have evidence of is that produced in some rare cases of vitrification of wood, sporadic cases of which have been found at Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, in no other case in the world have vitrified organic human or animal remains ever been found," Petrone added.

Thousands of people were killed and the two cities were buried under a thick layer of volcanic material and mud, sitting untouched until their rediscovery in the 18th century. Victims were preserved in sudden death, as was the case with the one whose brain was turned to glass.

His body was first discovered in the 1960s inside a building called the College of the Augustales dedicated to the cult of Emperor Augustus, who had died in 14 AD. The individual was identified as a young man believed to have been the college's custodian. The remains were re-examined in 2018.

"I was in the room where the college's custodian was lying in his bed to document his charred bones. Under the lamp, I suddenly saw small glassy remains glittering in the volcanic ash that filled the skull," Petrone said.

"Taking one of these fragments, it had a black appearance and shiny surfaces quite similar to obsidian, a natural glass of volcanic origin - black and shiny, whose formation is due to the very rapid cooling of the lava. But, unlike obsidian, the glassy remains were extremely brittle and easy to crumble," Petrone said.

Analyses of this material, previously published in other scientific journals, revealed the presence of proteins and fatty acids common in human brain tissues, with the entire central nervous system exceptionally well preserved, represented by nerve cells interconnected by a dense network of fibers called axons.

The research is forging a deeper understanding of how the tragic events unfolded after the eruption.

"The study shows that the 'killer' at Herculaneum was the arrival in town of an early hot ash cloud. This highlights the importance of understanding the behavior of ash clouds, as they are very hazardous and still very poorly studied and understood," said volcanologist and study first author Guido Giordano of Roma Tre University in Italy.

The actual burial of the city occurred in later stages of the eruption.

The custodian at apparently around midnight was surprised while sleeping in his bed by the first effects of the eruption.

"As the postures of the victims' bodies show, the custodian of the college died instantly from the impact with the hot volcanic ash surge, as did all the rest of the inhabitants of Herculaneum," Petrone said. "The body of evidence found for the victims at Herculaneum shows that all people died instantly, so they did not have time to notice or suffer."

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

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Who Will Head BJP After JP Nadda? Decision Likely By March 15, Say Sources

The next BJP chief could be announced as soon as within a fortnight, sources have indicated, citing that the organisational elections of the party have been completed in 12 states. Sources said the party's national president likely to be announced before March 15, after which an inauspicious period starts in the Hindu calendar.. 

Elections in Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are already over. So is the situation in Assam. There will be no change in Bihar, where elections are due by the end of this year.

State in-charges have already been asked to submit prospective names. Some states like UP and Gujarat are likely to get unit presidents before a national president is announced.

Mr Nadda's tenure was extended until June 2024 in view of the Lok Sabha election, and with his induction into the government, the party has been looking at prospective candidates to succeed him. 

But the process has been slow, with the leaders hoping to create consensus on the issue. 

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Out On Bail, Man Rapes Pune Woman Inside Bus 100 Metres From Police Station

Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the man allegedly responsible for the rape of a 26-year-old woman in Pune, is a history sheeter, who was out on bail, the police have said. A manhunt is on in the city since the young woman reported the rape earlier today. The police have pressed in eight teams and sniffer dogs. 

Gade has at least six cases of theft, robbery and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and adjoining Ahilyanagar district. Arrested for a robbery, he has been out on bail snice 2019, reported news agency Press Trust of India quoting un-named officials. 

Cases were registered against him in Shikrapur and Shirur police station limits in Pune district. He also faces cases in Ahilyanagar district. As late as last year, a theft case was lodged against him in Pune.

A Pune police team has already questioned his brother to know his whereabouts.

The rape took place at Swargate bus stand, one of the busiest in the city. Today, when Gade tricked the woman into the empty bus, locked its door and assaulted her, there have been people around, the police had said. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Smartana Patil, has told reporters that CCTV footage showed the woman walking towards the bus with the accused. In fact, the police identified him from the footage. There were many people and several buses on the station premises when the incident took place, she said. 

The woman had been waiting for a bus for Phaltan in Satara district around 5.45 am. The accused, according to MSRTC officials, had taken her to the empty bus claiming to be its conductor. When she pointed out the bus was empty, he said it had people inside who were sleeping.
 
After the assault, the woman took a bus for her hometown and narrated the incident to her friend on phone while on way, the police said. On her friend's advice, she got off the bus and went to the police to report the matter.

The MSRTC is one of the three public transport bodies in the country, with a fleet of more than 14,000 buses. Every day, more than 55 lakh passengers travel by its buses.

(With Agencies)

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Trump Confirms Zelensky Visit On Friday Amid Negotiations On Mineral Deal

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Friday, as negotiations are underway on a deal to give the United States access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

"President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday, that is now confirmed," Trump said Wednesday at his first cabinet meeting.

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

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"Ready For Another Language War": MK Stalin Convenes All-Party Meet

Amid the ongoing Hindi imposition row, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said the state was "ready" for "another language war" and also announced convening an all-party meet on March 5 to discuss the Lok Sabha delimitation issue.

Tamil Nadu was facing the "threat" of losing 8 seats as the state has successfully implemented the family planning programme that led to population control, he said while addressing reporters after chairing a Cabinet meet at the Secretariat here.

About 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India have been invited for the all-party meeting, he said and appealed for unity, overcoming political differences.

Responding, BJP state president K Annamalai said Stalin was now trying to "shift the narrative" with the "imaginary fear" regarding delimitation as people of the state had rejected his argument on the three-language policy. He indicated that the BJP may not attend the all-party meet.

Asked if the March 5 meeting will discuss the three-language policy, a bone of contention between the NDA-led Centre and the Tamil Nadu government in light of the National Education Policy (NEP), Stalin said that to raise voice in the Parliament on issues like NEP, central funds and NEET, adequate number of MPs was required.

"Because, in the name of delimitation, a sword is hanging over southern states," he said.

The state was leading in all development indices, but now faced the "threat" of losing out on the Lok Sabha seats post delimitation as the process would be based on the state's population.

"Tamil Nadu succeeded in population control through the family planning programme. Just because population is less, there is a situation of the Lok Sabha seats being cut down (in TN). We stand to lose 8 seats and as a result, we would be having only 31 MPs, and not the 39 (present number)," he added.

"Our representation (in Parliament) will reduce, Tamil Nadu's voice is being stifled. This is a matter of Tamil Nadu's rights. All leaders and political parties should jointly speak across party lines on the issue," the CM added.

Responding to a query if the Centre was "sowing the seeds for another language war," in light of the alleged Hindi imposition, Stalin replied, "Yes, certainly. We are ready for it." The ruling DMK has been opposed to the three-language policy and has been insisting Tamil Nadu was content with Tamil and English, and has accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of "imposing Hindi," a charge denied by the union government.

The "language war" refers to the DMK's anti-Hindi agitation in 1965, when the Dravidian party successfully campaigned against the alleged imposition of the language on the Tamil people.

In a copy of the invitation for the all-party meeting uploaded on his 'X' page, Stalin highlighted the various issues the state was facing, including central fund allocation.

Under such circumstances, the number of Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu going down will only further impact the state and it was the need of the hour to put up a show of unity in the interest of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the need for such an all-party meeting, the CM added.

Meanwhile, Annamalai slammed the CM.

"When TN CM Thiru MK Stalin knows the whole of TN has rejected their argument... on the third language for our children studying in TN Govt schools similar to the schools run by TN CM's family, he now wants to shift the narrative to his imaginary fear of TN losing in the Delimitation of seats. What a shame & downfall for DMK!" "When our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl had clearly said delimitation - if and when it happens - will be favourable to all, including the southern states, why this fear-mongering Thiru @mkstalin? Imaginary fears & stupid arguments have, of late, become TN CM's arsenal!" he said in a post on micro-blogging site 'X.' Later, speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai demanded to know on what basis Stalin was making such claims and whether it was revealed so in the Parliament, by PM Narendra Modi or through a "secret document." Only if this is revealed would the BJP attend the March 5 meeting, he said and slammed the CM for "creating panic and this doesn't suit his position." "When delimitation comes, it is our duty to bring it without affecting the state. Lok Sabha seats have to increase and that is the need of the hour," he said. 

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

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Canada's New Visa Rules May Become A Nightmare For Indian Students, Workers

Canada's latest steps to curb migration is likely to have an adverse effect on tens of thousands of foreign students, including those from India. It will also negatively impact those who apply for work and resident permits.

These new rules have come into effect from the beginning of February and give unhindered powers to Canadian border officials to alter the visa status of students, workers, and migrants at any time should they deem such action necessary.

Under the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, Canadian border personnel are now vested with the powers to deny or reject temporary resident documents such as electronic travel authorisations or eTAs and temporary resident visas or TRVs.

This means that border officials can now cancel such documents, which include work permits and student visas. However, there are some guidelines which need to be met in order for them to reject permits and visas. This includes one which states that if an officer is not convinced that the individual will leave Canada upon the expiration of their authorised stay, they can reject their entry or cancel their permit even during their stay in Canada.

The discretionary powers to make such judgement is entirely vested upon the officer.

These new rules and regulations have a scope of uncertainty, and will potentially impact tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of international students and workers - of which Indians are the largest group of foreign nationals in either category.

Canada is among the most preferred destination for Indian students, workers, and legal migrants. Students alone, currently pursuing their higher education in Canada, account for more than 4.2 lakh Indian nationals as per government data.

Should a student, worker, or migrant get rejected, they will be stopped at the port of entry and sent back to their home country. In case a permit is cancelled while such a person is already studying, working, or residing in Canada, they will be served a notice to leave the country by a specified date.

Besides these categories, Canada also sees a massive inflow of tourists from India - all of whom also have temporary permits of different duration of stay. In the first six months of 2024, Canada issued travel visas to more than 3.6 lakh Indians. In 2023 too, Indians accounted for 3.4 lakh tourists in the first six months of the year as per data released by the Canadian authorities.

Those who will be impacted shall receive a notification by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada via email as well as their IRCC account. There is no clarity regarding what will happen to the money invested or already paid by such persons - be it towards their education or loans, mortgages or rent paid by workers during their stay in case of a sudden cancellation.

Just three months earlier - in November 2024, Canada had closed down the Student Direct Stream or SDS visa program - a preferred route for Indian students who were willing to guarantee money upfront to be assured of their education in the North American country.
 

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Rape Survivor Faces Horror Again In Bengaluru Hotel, Cop Arrested

A 17-year-old rape survivor was allegedly raped by a police constable at a Bengaluru hotel, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place in December, when constable Arun asked the survivor to meet her at a hotel on the pretext of helping her. 

According to officials, the teen initially befriended Vicky, who allegedly raped her on a false promise of marriage. Vicky also assaulted the girl.

The survivor's mother filed a complaint with Bommanahalli police, but Arun befriended the accused.

The constable assured justice to the girl and also promised to find her a job. He allegedly called her to a hotel, where he mixed sedatives in a liquor bottle and forced her to consume it. Arun then raped the survivor and threatened to circulate her private videos if she disclosed the incident to anyone, the officials said. 

Both Arun and Vicky have been arrested and charged under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The accused have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

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Liquor Ban In J&K? Signature Campaign, Posters, Spark Massive Row

Jammu and Kashmir is seeing a fresh political row over liquor ban - an issue that came up in 2016 but got thumbs downed by Mehbooba Mufti's ruling People's Democratic Party. Now the battlelines have been re-drawn, with the PDP spearheading the demand for a ban. The party has started a signature campaign in support of the ban and it is the ruling National Conference that is accusing it of hypocrisy.
Over the weekend, posters came up across Srinagar, supporting the ban and calling upon tourists to "respect local culture and traditions". Police action to remove the posters has been questioned by the Opposition.

The matter is expected to dominate the assembly in the budget session which begins on March 3. Two members - one of the PDP and one from the National Conference -- have submitted bills to ban liquor.

PDP's Fayaz Ahamd Mir, National Conference's Ahsan Pardesi and a third MLA -- Awami Ittehad Party's (AIP) Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad - have moved separate bills in the assembly seeking ban on sale of liquor in the Union Territory.

Today PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti  joined the signature campaign that was  launched by her daughter  Iltija Mufti yesterday. 

A day before, on Friday, traders at Srinagar's historic Lal Chowk had put up posters that, after welcoming tourists, said, "For a memorable and enjoyable trip, we kindly request: Love and cherish your family, avoid liquor, drugs, spitting on roads and smoking. Respect our culture and traditions".

NC MLA, Ahsan Pardesi said, in support of his bill, that the unchecked sale of alcohol disregards the religious and cultural ethos of Kashmir.

"Our heritage has always stood against intoxicants, and this bill is a step toward preserving those values," he added.

Kashmir - heavily dependent on tourism -- has always been cosmopolitan in its hospitality. The first liquor shop in the Valley dates back to the British era. Since then, liquor shops have functioned in Kashmir, but as terror broke out in the Valley in the 1990s, Islamist terrorist groups banned the sale of liquor.

The ruling National Conference has said it is pro-choice and would prefer to leave it to tourists to decide whether they wanted a tipple or not.

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Shooting At Hospital In US' Pennsylvania, Reports Say Gunman Killed

Several shots were fired at a hospital in central Pennsylvania, with the gunman being reportedly killed in the encounter with police. The incident took place at the UPMC Memorial Hospital and some people are reportedly injured.

Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, said, "I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene. The hospital is now secure and members of the police are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners."

I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene.

The hospital is now secure and members of the @PAStatePolice and @PEMAHQ are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners.

Follow the…

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 22, 2025

"Follow the direction of local authorities and stay clear of the area. We will share more updates as they become available," Mr Shapiro said.

A video, which is viral on social media, shows a police car approaching the hospital and people running out of the premises. After shots were fired, the area was cordoned off by the police.

🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING | NEWS ⚠️
Active shooter situation at UMPC hospital in York, Pennsylvania story is still developing multiple victims reported pic.twitter.com/GqOAqWMtiE

— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) February 22, 2025

According to reports, two law enforcement officers and a nurse sustained injuries in the shooting.

The New York Times, quoting an official from the hospital said, "A gunman was at the hospital on Saturday and shots were fired." "The hospital is now secure and the threat has been neutralized," the hospital said.

Officials at UPMC Memorial in York said that no patients were injured and that the gunman is dead, the news agency Associated Press reported, adding that law enforcement agencies are on-premises and are managing the situation.

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New FBI Director Kash Patel's Family Has Roots In This Gujarat Village

Indian-American Kash Patel, confirmed by the US Senate to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), traces his roots to Bhadran village in Gujarat's Anand district, from where his family migrated to Uganda 70 to 80 years ago, members of the community he belongs to said on Friday.

New York-born Patel (44), who belongs to the Patidar community, has become the first Indian-American to lead the premier law enforcement agency of the United States.

Leaders of the Patidar community said all close family members of Mr Patel are settled in foreign countries. They sold their ancestral houses in Bhadran once they shifted to Africa.

Chh Gam Patidar Mandal, an organisation of the community based in Anand, maintains a `vanshavali' (family tree) of its members.

"In the 'vanshavali' we have names of Kash Patel's father Pramod Patel and also his brothers and grandfather," said secretary of the organisation and Anand district BJP present Rajesh Patel.

Rajesh Patel told PTI that though Kash Patel's name was yet to be added to the family tree, the entry of 18 generations of his family is there in the 'vanshavali' and it is stored in their office along with those of all members of their community.

"As per our records, the family used to live in Moti Khadki area of Bhadran village and they migrated to Uganda some 70 to 80 years ago," he informed.

"The family sold their ancestral house and land and all of his relatives are settled in foreign countries, especially in the USA. Now, when a family member of Kash Patek comes back to India we will seek their permission to record their next generation's names, including his own name, in the 'vanshavali'," Rajesh Patel informed.

"We have not met Kash Patel as the family has not visited Anand in recent years. But many in our community know them as the Patidar community is a close-knit one," he said.

Rajesh Patel said, as far as he knows, that the family had returned for a brief time to India after their expulsion from the African country in the 1970.

"Those Indians who were expelled from Uganda had come to India for a brief stay as they had applied for asylum in the UK, US or Canada. Kash Patel's family had also come here for a brief stopover and then moved to Canada once their applications were accepted," he said.

From Canada, they shifted to the US, where Kash Patel was born in 1980, Rajesh Patel maintained.

Indians who migrated to Uganda were expelled from the African country by dictator Idi Amin who seized power in a military coup in 1971. In 1972, he ordered the Indian community to leave his country in 90 days.

Chh Gam Patidar Mandal is an organization of the Patidar community from six villages/towns of Anand district -- Dharmaj, Nadiad, Sojitra, Bhadran, Vaso and Karamsad. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of the country, hailed from Karamsad.

The new FBI chief served as the former Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller. He was responsible for leading the Secretary's mission at the Department, including his executive staff and providing counsel to him on all matters concerning its operations, the US Department of Defence's short biography on Kash Patel said.

A native of New York, Kash Patel completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond before returning to New York to earn his law degree, along with a Certificate in International Law from University College London Faculty of Laws in the United Kingdom, it said.

Kash Patel, a trained lawyer, is an ice-hockey fan and has been playing the sport since he was six, it said.

"We are Gujarati,” he had told PTI in an earlier interview in the United States. 

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

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Musk's Reaction To Woman Losing "Dream Job" In DOGE Cuts Sparks Discussion

A US woman who once praised the convenience of remote work has lost her job in the federal restructuring spearheaded by Elon Musk. After assuming office earlier this year, US President Donald Trump has focused on reducing government spending and downsizing the federal workforce. Spearheading this initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has enforced cost-cutting measures across various federal agencies. Amid this, a woman who goes by the name 'That Blonde Girl' on social media shared that she was terminated from her "dream job" due to the federal restructuring orders. 

In a post shared on February 15, Saturday, she wrote: "I was terminated from my dream job with the Children's Bureau yesterday due to federal restructuring orders/DOGE. I am unemployed for the first time since I was 15 years old."

This post and her termination came months after she bragged about the convenience of a work-from-home job. "Didn't have any meetings today so I've been wearing my jammies all day but now I have a meeting in 30 minutes sooo putting on a hoodie. Eventually that WFH life gonna getcha," she posted in October 2024. 

These two different posts have gone viral on social media and even caught the attention of Elon Musk. The billionaire, who has been vocal about bringing employees back to the office, reacted to the combined tweets with one emoji which reflects his stand regarding the work-from-home situation for employees. 

Take a look below: 

🤨 https://t.co/OGJrNK1KuW

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 19, 2025

Mr Musk's reaction to the tweet quickly caught the attention of social media users. In the comments section, some questioned why the woman was being criticised, suggesting that remote working doesn't necessarily mean she was unproductive. Others argued that optics might seem unprofessional but did not indicate a lack of effort. 

Also Read | Recruiter Destroys Keyboard In Rage After Candidate Rejects Job Offer, Internet Reacts

"I don't get it. Why is this bad?  Because she was wearing comfortable clothes while working from home with no meetings?" questioned one user. "I'm confused.. What is the problem here..Whether she wears pajamas or a suit - it shouldn't matter to anyone?" commented another. 

"So, you are assuming, (or insinuating), that people are not capable of working in pyjamas?  She is referring to a meeting/online video call, not her full scope of work of which you have absolutely ZERO idea!" expressed a third user. 

"I honestly don't get this one and I'm a Trump supporter.  If the role can be done from home and the required tasks are being completed on time and accurately, what's the big deal?  If people aren't needed just because their job is obselete or duplicate, that's a different story," wrote another. 

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Kash Patel, A Trump Loyalist, Confirmed As FBI Director

The Republican-controlled US Senate on Thursday confirmed Kash Patel, a staunch loyalist of President Donald Trump, to be director of the FBI, the country's top law enforcement agency.

Patel, 44, whose nomination sparked fierce but ultimately futile opposition from Democrats, was approved by a 51-49 vote.

The vote was split along party lines with the exception of two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted not to confirm Patel to head the 38,000-strong Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Patel drew fire from Democrats for his promotion of conspiracy theories, his defense of pro-Trump rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and his vow to root out members of a supposed "deep state" plotting to oppose the Republican president.

The Senate has approved all of Trump's cabinet picks so far, underscoring his iron grip on the Republican Party.

Among them is Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed as the nation's spy chief despite past support for adversarial nations including Russia and Syria, and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be health secretary.

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

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A Car Accident That Wasn't And 3 Bodies: 'Suicide' Mystery Shocks Kolkata

The deaths of two women and a girl at a house in Kolkata which has shocked the city, may not be suicide, postmortem reports have indicated, said sources in Kolkata police. The women -- married to two brothers -- and the daughter of one of them, were found dead yesterday. Their husbands and son of one brother, were involved in a car accident. They have apparently told the police that they were trying to commit suicide.

The women were found with their wrists slit. But the postmortem report indicated other injuries as well. Both had slashes on the throat and died after massive bleeding. The girl, who was 14 years old, had bruises on chest, legs, lips and head. She had also been poisoned, sources said, quoting the report.

The police said the brothers, Pranoy and Prasun Dey, lived at the house in Tangra with their wives Sudeshna and Romi Dey. Pranoy and Sudeshna had a son, Pratik. Prasun and Priyambada's daughter was Priyambada.

The deaths of the woman became known after the two men and the boy were found involved in the crash near Abhishikta crossing on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass --- the arterial road that encircles part of the city - around 4 am.

All three had sustained injuries but survived. They are still in the hospital. 

One of the men told the police that they were attempting suicide and had deliberately crashed the car into a metro pillar. The women, he had added, had already died by suicide. 

The police later recovered the bodies from the house in Tangra and investigated the spot, collecting forensic and other evidence. All three bodies were found in different rooms, the police said. 

The post-mortem examination was conducted at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in the presence of a videographer and police personnel.

The police said the family, which used to operate a tannery business, was in financial difficulties. There was a possibility that this was a case of murder-suicide, sources said. 
 

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Ganga Water At Kumbh's Sangam Unsafe On Another Parameter Too: Data

The Ganga water at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is currently unsafe for bathing as it exceeds the prescribed limit for biological oxygen demand (BOD), a key parameter to determine water quality, according to government data.

BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic material in a water body. A higher BOD level indicates more organic content in the water.

River water is considered fit for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams per litre.

The Central Pollution Control Board recently told the National Green Tribunal that several locations in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj do not conform to the primary water quality standards for bathing with respect to faecal coliform levels.

However, it said that the river water quality met the bathing criteria in terms of BOD after January 13 "due to freshwater intrusion at upstream locations." Government data shows that the river water at Sangam is currently exceeding the safe limit for BOD as well.

The BOD level at Sangam was 5.09 milligrams per litre at 5 am on February 16. It was recorded at 4.6 milligrams per litre at 5 pm on February 18 and 5.29 milligrams per litre at 8 am on February 19 (Wednesday).

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the BOD level at Sangam was 3.94 milligrams per litre on January 13 when the Maha Kumbh started.

It improved to 2.28 milligrams per litre on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and further dropped to 1 milligram per litre on January 15.

However, it rose to 4.08 milligrams per litre on January 24 and was recorded at 3.26 milligrams per litre on Mauni Amavasya (January 29). According to Uttar Pradesh government officials, 10,000 to 11,000 cusecs of water is being released into the Ganga to ensure it meets bathing standards.

The Maha Kumbh, which started on January 13, will conclude on February 26, Maha Shivaratri day. Over 54 crore people have taken a dip in the sacred waters of Triveni Sangam so far.

Mahakumbh Nagar is the world's largest temporary city, accommodating 50 lakh to 1 crore devotees at any given time.

These pilgrims generate at least 16 million litres of faecal waste and 240 million litres of greywater daily from activities like cooking, washing, and bathing.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh told reporters on Sunday that the rise in footfall is due to the government's success in improving river water quality and sanitation since the 2019 Ardh Kumbh.

"Before 2019, there would be no toilets at Kumbh. Officials would earmark an area with a red flag, provide tents, and open defecation used to take place.

"For the first time in 2019, we built 1.14 lakh individual toilets with Sintex (plastic) tanks underneath to collect wastewater and excreta. Desludging would be done every two-three days and the faecal sludge would be taken to open oxidation ponds far away. This time, we have constructed 1.5 lakh individual toilets and two faecal sludge treatment plants," he said.

A 200 km-long temporary drainage network has been set up to connect treatment facilities, Singh added.

"Sanitation is a big hallmark (of Kumbh arrangements), and those who have been to Kumbh previously can distinctly see the difference," he said.

Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People (SANDRP), said the state government has been highly irresponsible in claiming that no harm has come to people who have bathed in the river, despite the water being unfit for bathing.

"It is the government's moral duty to provide clean water for bathing. When the water is not safe, there is always a high risk of infection," he said.

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

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Woman Loses Rs 4.3 Crore, Becomes Homeless, Trying To Find Love Online

A woman based in Perth has been forced to live homeless after losing over Rs 4.3 crore ($780,000) in life savings to scammers while searching for love online. According to a report in news.com.au, Annette Ford, 57, is now couch-surfing in Western Australia and hoping to secure housing at an affordable retirement village as the scammers remain free.

Ms Ford joined the dating pool after her 33-year-long marriage ended in 2018 and her ex-husband moved on quickly. Looking to seek a love life of her own, she joined a dating site called "Plenty of Fish" where she started talking to a man named 'William'.

Over the course of several months, the stranger managed to win Ms Ford's trust before asking her for money. 'Wlliam' said he needed Rs 2,75,000 ($5000) as his wallet had been stolen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"He said he had been mugged outside the site he was working on (in Kuala Lumpur) and they took his wallet and his cards," said Ms Ford.

"The next thing I know he's in hospital and I'm being landed with a $5000 hospital payable to an Australian doctor. I (paid) that. Then there was a hotel bill, and he said he couldn't pay the workers on the site because he didn't have access to his cards."

The requests for money continued and by the time Ms Ford suspected she had been scammed, she was out of Rs 1.6 crore ($300,000), having drained her self-managed super fund. Despite reporting the case to the Australian Federal Police, Ms Ford did not hear anything back.

Also Read | British Woman Duped Of Rs 98 Lakh In Catfish Scam By Friend Of Two Decades

The second scam

Four years later, Ms Ford came across another scammer -- this time on Facebook who went by the name, 'Nelson'. The stranger told her that he lived in Amsterdam and had a friend in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who needed $2500 to help with an ongoing investigation.

Aware of the danger, she refused initially but the stranger told her to deposit money he sent to her into a Bitcoin ATM. Ms Ford said there was money going in and out of her account that she wasn't aware of and before she could realise it, her account was out of Rs 1.5 crore ($280,000).

Having lost everything, Ms Ford is now begging Australians to not fall prey to such scams. "They say all the right things, they sweep you off your feet but they're going to take your money and they're going to leave you broke," Ms Ford warned.

Last month, a British woman was swindled of Rs 98.5 lakh (£92,300) after a friend of two decades, ran a catfish scam against her.

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Jerry Seinfeld's "I Don't Care About Palestine" Comment Sparks Outrage

Actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld has received divisive responses after he said he does not care about Palestine when an activist ambushed him in public. In the video posted on social media, an influencer, known as Subway DJ, approached Mr Seinfeld outside the Radio City Music Hall where Saturday Night Live was hosting a 50th-anniversary celebration and asked for a photograph.

Mr Seinfeld readily agreed and even posed for the photograph before Subway DJ brought up the Gaza conflict. Instead of taking a photo, the influencer recorded a video and put up two fingers in a peace sign while saying: "Free Palestine."

Mr Seinfeld appeared uncomfortable in the footage but remained quiet. However, when asked to repeat the phrase, he shook his head and said: "I don't care about Palestine," before walking away from the activist.

"That's sad," Subway DJ said, frowning.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Subway DJ (@subwaydj)

Social media divided

As the video went viral, a section of social media users lambasted Mr Seinfeld for being insensitive while others called out the influencer.

"We don't care about Seinfeld or anyone who supports genocide," said one user, while another added: "The guy gives u a selfie and u pull some dumb move like that. Come on man."

A third commented: "As someone who loved Seinfeld, this is super disappointing."

Also Read | Elon Musk Ignores Ashley St Clair While Reacting To His Other Baby Mama's Post

Jerry Seinfeld supports Israel

Mr Seinfeld is Jewish and has been a staunch ally of Israel in its war against Hamas. He even visited Israel in December 2023 and met with the families of the hostages.

"We believe in justice, freedom, and equality. We survive and flourish no matter what. I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people," he said at the time.

Last year in May, dozens of students walked out of Duke University's commencement ceremony to protest against Mr Seinfeld who was invited as the guest speaker. The video showed students in robes and caps, some waving Palestinian flags, filing out as chants of 'Free Palestine' reverberated.

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50 Film Stars, Industrialists, Diplomats Invited For BJP's Delhi Oath Event

The new Chief Minister of Delhi will take oath at the iconic Ramlila Maidan on Thursday in a grand ceremony that will be attended by BJP leaders and ministers and all the allies. Sources said plans are in progress to make the party's return to power in the national capital after 26 years a truly memorable event. 

The ceremony will begin at 4.30 pm.

A colourful musical programme will be held on the stage of Ramlila Maidan before the swearing-in ceremony, in which Kailash Kher will also perform.

Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of 20 states will attend the mega event. Diplomats of major countries have also been invited. BJP leaders and workers from other states who campaigned in the Delhi elections are also expected to be present on the occasion.

More than 50 film stars and industrialists, will be present. Besides, Farmers of Delhi, beneficiaries of central government schemes including laadli sisters, and common people from Delhi will also be invited to the ceremony.

The spiritual leaders of the country will be represented by Baba Ramdev, Swami Chidananda, Baba Bageshwar Dhirendra Shastri and other religious figures. 

There, however, is no word on who is going to get the top job. Initially it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France and the US that had delayed a decision. But now, even two days after his return, there has been no announcement, ratcheting up the suspense. 

While Parvesh Verma -- the son of former Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma -- is seen as the front-runner in the race, sources said the list of probables has no less than 15 names that also include candidates for cabinet and the Assembly Speaker.

Nine names will be chosen, sources said, and Delhi will have eight ministers including the Chief Minister.

The 48 BJP MLAs are expected to meet on Wednesday to select their leader, who will succeed Aam Aadmi Party's Atishi. 

In the election held earlier this month, the BJP had scripted a massive comeback, winning 48 of the assembly's 70 seats and confining AAP to 22 -- down from 62.

The end to the 10-year rule of AAP came on the heels of massive corruption allegations against its leaders, including then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A number of its leaders, including Mr Kejriwal and his then deputy Manish Sisodia -- spent months in jail. 

Not just the alleged liquor policy scam, the "Sheesh Mahal" allegations against Mr Kejriwal - the Rs 33.6 crore revamp that that turned the official residence of the Chief Minister into an opulent bungalow suitable for the uber-rich - appeared to have taken the sheen off AAP that thrived on its governance records for the better part of the last decade.

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Suits LA: Why It Took 6 Years To Make A Comeback With Gabriel Macht

Suits, the American drama series set in New York's fictional corporate law firm, enjoys a massive fandom. Especially its lead character Harvey Spectre played by Gabriel Macht has been an eternal favourite amongst the fans of the show.

However, now that the spin-off  titled Suits LA is premiering today, it leaves us with the question of why it took six years for the makers to come up with it.

As per a report on Screenrant, Suits gained a rising momentum when it was released on OTT platforms for streaming, in 2023. This was primarily the reason why Suits LA was initiated.

The craze around the show got stronger when Suits dropped on Netflix, beating Wednesday, which was one of the most trending shows at that time.

As per Hollywood Reporter, Suits also broke the viewership record of Steve Carell's The Office, which was set in 2020.

As for the spinoff Suits LA, it comes with an interesting cast featuring Stephen Amell in the role of Ted Black, as per TV Guide, Jost McDermitt as Stuart Lane, Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson, Lex Scott Davis as Erica Rollins, Troy Winbush as Kevin, and Alice Lee as Leah, these are all key roles in the upcoming series.

Everyone's favourite Harvey Spectre played by Gabriel Macht also makes a comeback for 3 episodes in the spin-off.
 

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"Kohli Zindabad": Fans In Karachi Shower Love On India Star. Video Viral

Star India batter Virat Kohli enjoys a huge fan following and his popularity across the border, Pakistan, is no secret. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, which will be played in Pakistan and UAE (only India matches) under the hybrid model, Kohli chants gripped the National Stadium in Karachi as fans showered their love towards the former India captain. In fact, a fan even raised chants of "Virat Kohli zindabaad" (long live Virat Kohli) chants outside the stadium. The incident took place after after the tri-nation series final between Pakistan and New Zealand on Friday.

A video of the same incident has now gone viral on social media. In the video, a fan, introduced himself by the name of Karan, labelled himself as Kohli's biggest fan. He even revealed that people in his neighbourhood call him 'Kohli'.

KOHLI KOHLI chants outside Karachi stadium after #PAKvNZ
game
A man even said Virat Kohli zindabad in Pakistan

Truly face of world Cricket.#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/n7oCtMRqyc

— HARSH (@harsh_dean) February 14, 2025

In the same video, some fans were also seen making "RCB, RCB" chants.

Amid uncertainity over his future in the Indian team, former England captain Kevin Pietersen backed Kohli to silence his critics, just like he has done in the past.

While speaking on Star Sports, Pietersen said: "He is one of the greats of the game. There have been too many people who have written him off on too many occasions. You can't write these guys off because of the aura they have when they walk out to bat. The question mark comes down to Virat Kohli."

"The question mark doesn't come down to me, you, the selectors, the coaches, and the other players. Virat Kohli can only answer the question, in terms of how long he wants to continue, and how much fight he has to get better and to create those high standards that everybody expects from him," he added.

The Indian team left for Dubai on Saturday, five days ahead of their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.

India's squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Non-travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.

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Mumbai Indians Women vs Delhi Capitals Women Live Updates, WPL 2025

Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Live Updates: Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed a commanding fifty but failed to get support from her teammates as Delhi Capitals bowled out Mumbai Indians for 164 in their opening match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 in Vadodara. Sciver-Brunt was the standout performer, striking 13 fours in an unbeaten 80-run knock. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also played a key role, blasting 42 off 22 balls and completing 8,000 T20 runs. The pair shared a crucial 73-run partnership off 40 balls for the third wicket, laying a solid foundation. However, DC's bowlers struck back, taking eight wickets for 59 runs to dismiss MI for 164 in 19.1 overs. (Live Scorecard)

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"New Sheriff In Town": JD Vance Rips Into Europe At Munich Conference

US Vice President JD Vance launched a withering attack on Friday against European policies on immigration, populist parties, and free speech, echoing President Donald Trump whom he called Washington's "new sheriff in town". Vance's speech -- which focussed on key themes of Trump's election campaign -- was a combative broadside at the Munich Security Conference at a time of transatlantic discord over Ukraine, defence, and trade.

Vance stressed that Europe must "step up" in managing its own security, a key bone of contention. But he mostly lambasted the EU's members on culture war issues.

"There is a new sheriff in town under Donald Trump's leadership," said Vance in a speech that stunned the room, and was later condemned as "unacceptable" by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

Vance slammed EU "commissars" for stifling free expression and charged that "across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat".

Read: "Ready To Move Towards Real, Guaranteed Peace": Zelensky After Meeting Vance

Trump, speaking in Washington, doubled down on Vance's attack on traditional US allies.

"I heard his speech. He talked about freedom of speech. And I think it's true in Europe," the President told reporters at the White House. "They're losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech."

"And he talked about immigration, and Europe has a big immigration problem."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had earlier made clear that Berlin's relationship with Washington had sharply deteriorated since Trump's return.

"The new American administration has a very different worldview to ours," Steinmeier said. "One that has no regard for established rules, partnership, and established trust."

Immigration

The German head of state urged European leaders to keep calm in the face of a blizzard of disruptive policy announcements from Washington. "We must not freeze in fear, or as the English saying goes: Let's not be a deer caught in the headlights."

Vance, undeterred, in a later speech urged European countries, including conference host Germany, which faces elections on February 23, to "change course" on immigration.

Read: Is Democracy In Trouble Globally? S Jaishankar Responds

His remarks came a day after a 24-year-old Afghan man was arrested in Munich over a car-ramming attack that wounded 36 people. "How many times must we suffer these appalling setbacks before we change course and take our shared civilisation in a new direction?" he said.

"Why did this happen in the first place? It's a terrible story but it's one we've heard way too many times in Europe and unfortunately too many times in the United States as well. An asylum seeker, often a young man in his mid-20s already known to police, rams a car into a crowd and shatters a community."

Defending political parties that oppose immigration and their supporters, Vance added: "No voter on this continent went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants."

'Meddling'

Germany warned Friday against foreign "meddling" in its politics after Vance also called for a bigger role for Europe's anti-immigration parties, nine days before the German general election.

Vance told the Wall Street Journal: "Unfortunately, the will of voters has been ignored by a lot of our European friends."

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) looks set for its best-ever result of around 20 percent in the election and has received enthusiastic backing from tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk.

Vance met on the sidelines of the conference with AfD leader Alice Weidel, according to German press.

Vance additionally warned Germany to get used to Musk weighing in, just as the United States tolerated criticism by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

"If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg's scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk," he said.

Pistorius blasted Vance, saying "democracy was called into question by the US vice president for the whole of Europe". "He is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes... that is not acceptable."

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Mexico Threatens US With Legal Action If Cartels Declared Terror Group

Mexico's president on Friday warned US gunmakers they could face fresh legal action and be deemed accomplices if Washington designates Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.

"If they declare these criminal groups as terrorists, then we'll have to expand our US lawsuit," Claudia Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference.

A new charge could include alleged "complicity" of gunmakers with terror groups, she said.

Sheinbaum said the US Justice Department itself has recognized that "74 percent of the weapons" used by criminal groups in Mexico come from north of the border.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the US State Department plans to classify criminal groups from Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Venezuela as "terrorist organizations."

Mexico has already filed a lawsuit in the United States against US arms manufacturers and vendors, claiming $10 billion in damages for their alleged role in criminal violence in the country.

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum angrily rejected an accusation by the United States that her government has an alliance with drug cartels.

"We categorically reject the slander made by the White House against the Mexican government about alliances with criminal organizations," the president wrote on social platform X at the time.

"If there is such an alliance anywhere, it is in the US gun shops that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups," she added.

Tensions between the closely connected neighbors soared after the White House said Trump would slap tariffs of 25 percent on both Mexican and Canadian goods because of illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

The threatened tariffs have since been halted for 30 days.

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

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Bihar Teacher Allegedly Asks Student To Be His Girlfriend, Cites Ekalavya

A village in Bihar is witnessing a massive row after a teacher at a school asked a girl student to become his "girlfriend" as "honorarium". No police case has been filed despite the girl complaining to the school. The school authorities have complained to the state Education Department, but no action has been taken against the teacher yet.

Vikas Kumar -- a teacher of Kisan High School in Kisanganj district -- had called up the student of Class 12 and harassed her multiple times. He even proposed that the two of them go to Siliguri, and made vulgar suggestions, the girl has alleged. 

He cited the example of Mahabharat's archer Ekalavya, who had parted with the thumb of his right hand to please Dronacharya, whom he considered his teacher. Why can't his student follow this example and become his girlfriend, he had questioned, she has alleged.

Incensed, the girl had informed her teachers and made a formal complaint against him at the school.

Sources said the teacher had even made similar propositions to a woman teacher of the school to whom he is now married.

Now that a complaint was filed, headmaster Shafiq Ahmed informed the District Education Office. But the Education Office took no action other than calling for an explanation from Vikar Kumar. 

The teacher is yet to reply and is serving as an invigilator in the Matriculation examination at a private school in Kishanganj.

Asked about the allegations against him, he refused to respond.

The lack of action infuriated the villagers, who held a dharna outside the school yesterday. The police had to be called in to deal with the situation.

Asked about the matter, the District Magistrate said they are taking the matter seriously. "After investigation, action would be taken," he said.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Reveals How He Uses AI In His Daily Life

You might assume that top AI executives use artificial intelligence in highly sophisticated ways, but that's not necessarily the case. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, for example, primarily relies on AI for everyday tasks like summarizing emails and documents.

"I use [AI] in the boring ways," Altman said on Wharton psychologist Adam Grant's ReThinking podcast last month. "I use it for like, 'Help me process all of this email' or 'Help me summarize this document.'"

Altman isn't alone. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang uses AI chatbots to help draft written content, as he mentioned at a Wired event in December. Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella takes advantage of Outlook's AI features to organize and prioritize his inbox, he said at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024.

Despite leading the AI industry, these executives' personal use of AI mirrors that of many professionals. According to a Gallup survey from last year, the most common uses of AI chatbots include idea generation, information consolidation, and automating routine tasks.

The Future of AI: From Assistants to Agents

Altman acknowledges that AI's impact across industries is still evolving. In a January blog post, he pointed to AI "agents" as the next big step- models capable of handling multi-step tasks with minimal user input.

OpenAI took a step in this direction with Operator, a ChatGPT feature launched last month that can automate tasks like vacation planning, filling out forms, making reservations, and ordering groceries. Other tech giants, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Anthropic, are also developing similar AI-powered agents, CNBC Make It reported. 

"Imagine that this agent will eventually be capable of doing most things a software engineer at a top company with a few years of experience could do," Altman wrote. However, he noted that these agents won't be flawless-they'll need human supervision, struggle with some tasks, and won't be the source of groundbreaking new ideas.

For now, AI adoption in workplaces remains relatively low. A January report from McKinsey & Company found that only about 13% of U.S. employees currently use AI at work. But as AI agents become more capable, that number could rise-potentially changing how people across industries interact with technology in their daily routines.

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Gambhir Breaks Silence On Bumrah Missing CT 2025: "Details, I Can't..."

Jasprit Bumrah was on Tuesday ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025, a BCCI released confirmed. The BCCI said that the bowler was out due to a lower back injury that he sustained during the final India vs Australia Test in Sydney. According to a report by news agency PTI that came right before the official announcement, the Sports and Medical Science team of National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru had left it on the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to decide on Jasprit Bumrah's selection for the Champions Trophy.

The report said: "There are two parameters of fitness that the NCA checks before clearing a player's return to action. It is understood that once Bumrah completed his rehabilitation for his lower back injury under strength & conditioning coach Rajnikanth and physio Thulasi, he was declared medically fit. However, doubts still remain over whether he is bowling fit or not before a tournament as big as the Champions Trophy."

India coach Gautam Gambhir has now broken his silence on the issue. He said the medical team at the NCA should be able to provide an update on the status of Jasprit Bumrah. "Obviously he has been ruled out. But all the details, I can't give you because it's up to the medical team to talk about that how long is he going to be out for and stuff because it's the medical team that decides at NCA," he said.

In another post-match interaction, Gambhir said: "Obviously we wanted him desperately. We know that what he can do, he's a world-class player. But then again, some things are not in your hands. So it's an opportunity for some of the young guys, like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, to put their hands up and do something for the country. Sometimes these are the opportunities which you're looking for. And Harshit has been brilliant throughout the series. He's taken some important wickets. We all know what Arshdeep can deliver. So, yes, Bumrah will always be a miss. But having someone like Mohammad Shami back with his experience is always good."

A BCCI release on Tuesday had said: "Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Men's Selection Committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah's replacement. Team India have also named Varun Chakaravarthy in the squad. The spinner will replace Yashasvi Jaiswal who was initially named in the provisional squad."

Updated Team India Squad for Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Non Travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.

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Man's Sister Drafts 13-Point 'Contract' Before He Moves Away For Work

A heartfelt letter penned by a teenage girl to her brother as he moved away for work has gone viral, melting hearts online with its display of sibling love. A young Telugu man recently shared a heartwarming story on Reddit about how his younger sister ensured he wouldn't forget her after he moved to Chennai for a new job. To keep in touch, she drafted a 13-point contract, listing her expectations from him- and even set it as his phone wallpaper so he wouldn't ignore it.

"My little sister made this contract for me because I'm moving out of the city for a job. She even made this picture my wallpaper so that I don't forget it," he wrote, sharing an image of the handwritten agreement.

At the top of the list, she humorously demanded that 0.5% of his salary be credited to her bank account. Other key conditions included:

Regular calls: "Call at least 2-3 times a week, day or night. Don't get irritated when I call you."

Gifts from Chennai: "Bring me something every time you come home."

Prioritizing her over his pet: "Give me your utmost importance, not your stupid dumb cat."

Taking her to Chennai: "Once I finish 10th grade, take me along with you."

Guidance for the future: "Advise me about my career plans."

Buying her books: "Get me a novel or Ritvik Singh's poetry books."

Her final requests melted hearts, as she made her brother promise to take care of himself while living away from home: "Do not skip meals, Exercise regularly. Lose weight. Don't roam around like an idiot, Stick to a proper sleep schedule."

My little sister made this contract for me because I'm moving out of the city for a job.
byu/Due_Performance_6917 inindiasocial

The post quickly gained attention on Reddit, with many users praising the sister's adorable way of expressing love.

One user joked: "Hello, I am the lawyer appointed by your sister. You must follow all these rules, or we will sue you. Jokes aside, this is the cutest thing I've seen today."

"I have no clue why this sub was recommended to me, but this is so damn wholesome."

"Not all siblings have bonds like OP and his sister. Mine hasn't talked to me in months despite living inder the same roof," the third user wrote. 

The post left many amused, proving that sibling bonds, no matter how playful, always come from the deepest love.

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Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas And Others With The Newlyweds Siddharth-Neelam

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas never fail to set family goals. The couple always makes an effort to celebrate each other's families. While pictures and videos from Priyanka's brother Siddharth Chopra's wedding to actress Neelam Upadhyaya continue to keep fans hooked, one post-wedding family photo is stealing the spotlight.

In the picture, the newlyweds sit together while their families stand behind them. Priyanka and Siddharth's mother, Madhu Chopra, stands at the centre, flanked by her loved ones. On one side, we see our favourite couple – Priyanka and Nick – while on the other, Nick's parents, Denise and Kevin Jonas, complete the frame. A true picture-perfect moment, agree?

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A post shared by Patty Cardona (@jerryxmimi)

Siddharth Chopra and Neelam Upadhyaya got married on February 7. On Saturday, the couple shared glimpses of their wedding festivities on Instagram. The carousel post captured candid moments of the couple and their guests, but one image has our undivided attention – the 13th slide.

In the monochrome shot, Nick Jonas is seen sitting in front of a photo frame of the late Ashok Chopra, Priyanka Chopra's father. Amidst the joyous celebrations, this quiet moment of reflection surely stood out.

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Before that, Priyanka Chopra shared a bunch of pictures from Siddharth Chopra and Neelam Upadhyaya's wedding. In one of the clips, the Fashion actress made a grand entrance with the groom. Another video showed Priyanka dancing joyfully in the baraat.

A particularly sweet moment came during the pheras, when Priyanka helped with the gathbandhan. With her playful remark, "Dum laga ke haisha," she made the bride burst into laughter.

"To a lifetime of love, laughter, sunshine, and happiness #SidNee ki shaadi! Siddharth Chopra, Neelam Upadhyaya," read the text attached to Priyanka's post.

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Siddharth Chopra met Neelam Upadhyaya through a dating app. The couple had their roka ceremony in April last year. In August 2024, the lovebirds had an engagement party and a hastakshar ceremony.

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