Climbing 50 Stairs A Day Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds

A new study from Tulane University suggests that climbing at least 50 stairs each day can lower the risk of heart disease, The Independent reported. According to the research, daily stair climbing of more than five flights may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by almost 20 per cent. Strokes, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular illnesses, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), are the main killers and causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

 "Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially among those unable to achieve the current physical activity recommendations," The Independent quoted Dr Lu Qi, a co-author of the study and a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as saying.

He added, "The findings highlight the potential advantages of stair climbing as a primary preventive measure for ASCVD in the general population."

Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which included 450,000 adults, to carry out the study. On the basis of their family history of cardiovascular disease, known risk factors, and genetic risk factors, participants were assessed. A survey of lifestyle practises and the frequency of stair climbing was also conducted, with a median follow-up period of 12.5 years.

The findings showed that people who were less sensitive to cardiovascular disease had a lower risk when they climbed more stairs each day. 

Walking up stairs has more advantages than walking on a flat surface because it requires the use of more muscles, balance, and gross motor skills, according to Dr. Nicolas Berger, a senior lecturer in sport and exercise at Teesside University in England who was not involved in the study. He stated that even brief periods of stair climbing involve significant cardiovascular activity, which is why people frequently experience shortness of breath while engaging in this exercise.

Dr Berger emphasized, "These short, intermittent bursts of activity have large benefits in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. They can significantly increase your heart rate and oxygen uptake and cause positive adaptations in the body."

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"Britain, Canada Should Take...": UK Faith Adviser On Khalistani Issue

Expressing his concerns over the recent rise in the incidents of Khalistan extremism, Colin Bloom, former adviser to the UK government said that the situation has escalated because the 'Western governments' have "not done enough" to tackle the sinister and aggressive behaviour of extremists.

Mr Bloom stressed that both the British and Canadian governments should take more proactive measures to address this issue. He warned that the situation could spiral "out of control" if the issue is not addressed.

Mr Bloom is the author of 'The Bloom Review, Does Government do God?'. He was also appointed by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an Independent Faith Engagement advisor in order to make suggestions on how the government should interact with religious organisations in England.

In an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Colin Bloom said, "What I think we're seeing at the moment is a rise of pro-Khalistan extremism...Now, look, just for the record, I am 100 per cent in favour of free speech and people being free to think and believe and support pretty much anything that they want, so long as they don't harm and intimidate and harass other people."

"But what we saw with the Indian High Commissioner was very much an overreach of free speech...This was, in fact, limiting the free speech of the people who run the Gurdwara in Glasgow and of the High Commissioner himself," he added.

Earlier in the day, a planned interaction of the Indian High Commissioner to Britain, Vikram Doraiswami at the Glasgow Gurdwara was disrupted by some "extremist elements". Scotland Police has responded to the incident and said an investigation is happening in the case.

However, Mr Bloom also highlighted that the majority of the Sikh population in the UK does not share extremist ideologies and is feeling let down by these radical elements within their community.

"And I think what we're seeing is this increase in activity partly because Western governments have not done enough to address and tackle this rising extremist and sinister and aggressive behaviour," he said.

He added, "I'm very concerned that the vast majority of British Sikhs, many of whom wrote to me and I interviewed as part of my evidence gathering for the report, are being let down by these very small numbers within their own community and by the British government and I guess would be the same in Canada, the Canadian government who are not doing enough to protect them from these fringe elements that exist within their community".

Regarding the rising extremism in Canada, Mr Bloom emphasised that the UK, US, Canada, and other Western governments should collectively address the issue. He called for an improvement in the British government's efforts to protect British Sikhs who want no involvement with such extremist elements.

In another incident on Saturday, a Sikh restaurant owner, who earlier received threats from Khalistani elements for being vocal against them, alleged that his car was shot at and vandalised by the extremists in West London.

"I think the British government do need to improve their game. I think they've done a lot in the last few years, but I think they need to do a lot more to protect the vast majority of British Sikhs who want nothing to do with this nonsense...I guess that the Canadian government and the American government and other Western governments also need to do more to make sure that this small minority is not ruining the lives of others," he said.

The British author also cautioned, stating that if the issue is not addressed, it will get "out of control" harming more people. He also advised that the authorities need to take a closer look at online materials being put out.

"And I think that is where we've got to be really very careful because if this issue with these extremists within the Sikh community, if it's not addressed, if it's not dealt with, then it will get out of control and more people will be intimidated, more people will be harmed...There's no doubt in my mind that there are extremists within all faith communities, but there are extremists within the Sikh community that they need to be dealt with," Bloom further said.

Notably, the report by Colin Bloom for the UK government warned that some pro-Khalistan Sikh groups aim to artificially inflate their influence by lobbying political bodies under the guise of human rights activism, presenting a false appearance of legitimacy. 

It is to be noted that the subversive, sectarian, and discriminatory activities of these groups do not reflect the true nature of the majority of British Sikh communities.

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

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US House Passes Bipartisan Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown

Last-gasp moves to prevent a US government shutdown took a dramatic step forward Saturday, as Democrats overwhelmingly backed an eleventh-hour Republican measure to keep federal funding going for 45 days, albeit with a freeze on aid to Ukraine.

The stopgap proposal adopted by the House of Representatives with a vote of 335-91 was pitched by Speaker Kevin McCarthy just hours before a midnight shutdown deadline that would have seen millions of federal employees and military personnel sent home or required to work without pay.

The deal still has to be approved by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

CNN quoted an administration official as saying the White House would likely support the bill in order to keep the government open with the expectation of being able to restore Ukraine aid later. 

The shutdown crisis was largely triggered by a small group of hardline Republicans who had defied their own party leadership to scupper various temporary funding proposals as they pressed for deep spending cuts.

Saturday's agreement could end up costing McCarthy his job, as the hardliners had threatened to remove him as speaker if a stopgap measure they opposed was passed with Democrat support.

Pitching his last-gasp proposal, McCarthy had appealed to both Republicans and Democrats to "put your partisanship away" and dismissed the threat to his job.

"If somebody wants to remove (me) because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try," he said.

The proposed plan would keep the government funded at current levels without the hardline-backed spending cuts that Democrats had viewed as a non-starter. But the lack of assistance for Ukraine was problematic.

Arming and funding Ukraine in its desperate war against the Russian invasion has been a key policy plank for President Joe Biden's administration and, while the stopgap is only temporary, it does raise questions over the political viability of renewing the multibillion-dollar flow of assistance.

The Democrat-controlled Senate had been prepared to vote on its own stopgap bill later Saturday -- one that did include funding for Ukraine.

"This is enough to keep the government open, and I'm not going to shut the government down over foreign aid," one House Democrat, Jared Moskowitz, told CNN, while making clear he was a strong supporter of Ukraine aid.

The freeze of all but critical government services had been set to start after midnight (0400 GMT Sunday), immediately delaying salaries for millions of federal employees and military personnel.

A shutdown would have meant the majority of national parks, for example -- from the iconic Yosemite and Yellowstone in the west to Florida's Everglades swamp -- would be closed to public access beginning Sunday.

With student loan payments resuming in October, officials also said Friday that key activities at the Federal Student Aid office would continue for a couple of weeks.

But a prolonged shutdown could cause bigger disruptions, percolating through the wider economy.

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

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Pro-China Candidate Mohamed Muizzu Wins Maldives Presidency

Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu won Saturday's presidential election in the Maldives, a result set to once again upend the archipelago's relationship with traditional benefactor India.

Muizzu, 45, helms a party that presided over an influx of Chinese loans when it last held power in the atoll nation, better known for its luxury beach resorts and celebrity tourists.

He won 54.06 percent of the vote in the run-off contest, prompting incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to concede defeat shortly before midnight.

"Congratulations to president-elect Muizzu," Solih wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I also congratulate the people who have shown a peaceful and democratic process."

Muizzu made a brief appearance outside his party's campaign headquarters to urge supporters not to celebrate until Sunday morning, when campaign restrictions officially come to an end.

Solih, 61, will serve as caretaker president until his successor is inaugurated on November 17.

The result upends Solih's efforts to revert the country's diplomatic posture back towards New Delhi since taking office five years ago.

Muizzu played a pivotal role in an earlier government's development programme, bankrolled in part by financial largesse from China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

He told a meeting with Chinese Communist Party officials last year that his party's return to office would "script a further chapter of strong ties between our two countries".

Geopolitical hotspot

The Maldives sits in a strategically vital position in the middle of the Indian Ocean, astride one of the world's busiest east-west shipping lanes.

Muizzu's mentor, former president Abdulla Yameen, borrowed heavily from China for construction projects and spurned India.

Solih was elected in 2018 on the back of discontent with Yameen's increasingly autocratic rule, accusing him of pushing the country into a Chinese debt trap.

Yameen's turn towards Beijing had also alarmed New Delhi, which shares concerns with the United States and its allies about China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean.

India is a member of the strategic Quad alliance alongside the United States, Australia and Japan.

But Solih's restoration of the Maldives' traditional posture itself proved controversial, with many in the archipelago disapproving of India's outsized political and economic clout.

Muizzu has vowed to free Yameen, currently serving an 11-year sentence for corruption on the same prison island where he had jailed many of his political opponents during his tenure.

In his brief appearance Saturday, Muizzu urged the outgoing president to use his executive power and transfer Yameen to house arrest.

Turnout in Saturday's poll was 85 percent, slightly higher than the first-round vote held earlier this month.

Watchdog group Transparency Maldives said there had been some incidents of "electoral violence," without specifying further details.

Officials said one voter broke open a plastic ballot box, but the ballots were saved and there was no interruption to the count.

Police reported arresting 14 people, mostly for taking photographs of their marked ballot papers and sharing them on social media.

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

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Man With Special Needs Detained For "Misbehaving" On IndiGo Flight

A mentally disabled passenger was detained for allegedly "misbehaving" and "locking himself" inside a bathroom onboard an Indigo Hyderabad-Patna flight following a complaint against him by the crew, officials said.

The alleged incident took place on Indigo flight 6E 126.

Officials further said the accused was detained by the police after landing at the Patna airport. 

"He misbehaved on the flight and also locked himself inside the toilet onboard," the crew stated in their complaint.

Station House Officer, Airport police station, Vinod Peter told ANI, "The passenger, Kamar Riyaz, is mentally disabled and is under treatment. He was carrying medical reports. He was travelling with one of his relatives from Hyderabad to Patna."

"On a complaint filed by indigo staff, we detained him," he said, adding that further verification is underway.

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

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"No Posters Or Bribes, Vote For Me If You Want To": Nitin Gadkari

In a sign of his confidence in the work he has done, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said he has decided not to put up any posters or banners for the Lok Sabha elections next year, nor will he offer any inducements to voters. "I have served you. Vote for me if you like, don't if you do not want to," Mr Gadkari told a public gathering in Maharashtra. 

Speaking during the inauguration of a road in Washim on Saturday, Mr Gadkari said in Marathi that he will not bribe (give chai-paani to) the voters and that he would not indulge in corruption, nor let them indulge in it. 

"I have decided that I will not put up any banners or posters for the next Lok Sabha elections and will not give any chai-paani. You will not get the darshan of Goddess Lakshmi (a colloquial way of saying one won't get money), nor will you get domestic or foreign liquor. I will not indulge in corruption and won't let you indulge in it either," he said.

Mr Gadkari, who is the minister for Road Transport and Highways, is the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from the Nagpur constituency.

On Thursday, the minister had said that the government is working on a policy to ensure that there are no potholes on national highways by the end of the year. The ministry is also preferring to undertake construction of roads using the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model as such projects are maintained better, he had said. 

Generally, road construction is done using three models - BOT, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).

"The roads which are constructed under the EPC mode require maintenance quite early whereas, under the BOT mode, roads are better constructed as the contractor knows that he will have to bear the cost of maintenance for the next 15-20 years," news agency PTI quoted Mr Gadkari as saying. 

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Watch: Young Elephant Hugs Caretaker, Refusing To Let Go

Wild animals often form strong bonds with the humans who care for them, and a heartwarming video showcasing the deep attachment between a young elephant and its caregiver has captured the hearts of many social media users.

Ananth Rupanagudi, a railway bureaucrat, shared this touching video on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, and it has since garnered an impressive 40,000 views. In the clip, the elephant embraces the man with its trunk. Despite the man's attempts to ride as a pillion passenger on a two-wheeler, it becomes evident that the elephant is not ready to part ways.

The young elephant continues to insist on hugging its beloved caretaker despite several exchanges of embraces between them. Unfortunately, the location and time of the video are unknown, adding an air of mystery to this beautiful display of animal-human compassion.

"The bond between the elephant and its caretaker is incredible - it won't let him go!" Rupanagudi captioned the video.

The bonding between the elephant and it's caretaker - it won't just let him go! ❤️ #elephants #bonding @Gannuuprem pic.twitter.com/AOkTmi7ceJ

— Ananth Rupanagudi (@Ananth_IRAS) September 27, 2023

"Oh, such a heartwarming bond... God bless... this video made my day," a user wrote.

"What a profound relationship between a man and an elephant, truly heartwarming," said another. "Notice how carefully he handles... he is very gentle... he knows he is powerful... look at 0.22," a third commented.

"Beauty, innocence, purity, harmlessness, selfless love, and bonding-qualities often hard to find among humans," a fourth said.

Baby Elephant Rushes To Save 'Drowning' Human Friend 

In October 2016, a heartwarming moment was captured on camera as a baby elephant waded through water to save his human best friend from 'drowning.' The footage was beloved by millions online and was filmed at the Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand.

This young elephant spots a man he thinks is drowning in the river, and rushes across to save him, so tenderly. We are so lucky to share the world with such creatures. They are so unlucky to share it with us. pic.twitter.com/BIyQSqJ5HU

— Ben Goldsmith (@BenGoldsmith) September 15, 2019

The video showed the trainer swimming in water, while Kham Lha, the elephant, misunderstood and thought that her trainer, Darrick, needed help. The elephant rushed to rescue her human, almost as if it were a reflex action.
 

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Noise Air Buds Pro SE TWS Earphones With 45-Hour Battery Life Launched in India

Noise Air Buds Pro SE TWS earphones were launched in India today. The entry-level wearable offers active noise cancellation (ANC) up to 30dB. It packs a 45-hour playback time on a single charge with the case. The latest earphones from Noise get an IPX5 rating for water and dust resistance. It houses quad mics with ENC support for better quality of calls. The Noise Air Buds Pro SE TWS earphones are already available for sale in India in two colour variants.

Noise Air Buds Pro SE earphones: Price, Availability in India

In India, the Noise Air Buds Pro SE TWS earphones are available on sale starting today. The company is offering a lightning deal on the purchase of the earphones, with the discounted price of Rs. 1,699. It is available in Lustre Black and Champagne Gold colour variants. The earphones can be purchased through Flipkart, or online Noise website.

Noise Air Buds Pro SE earphones: Specifications

The latest offering from Noise comes in a metallic finish case, with Noise branding on the case as well as each bud. The earphones get an in-ear design. The Noise Air Buds Pro SE TWS earphones get ENC (environment noise cancellation) for better quality of calls, with up to 30dB of ANC. It houses quad microphone setup. The earphones are powered by a 13mm driver.

With smart touch control, the Noise Air Buds Pro SE earphones allow users to receive calls hands-free. They can also use Siri or Google Assistant, control the volume as well play music by tapping on touch-sensitive area on earbuds.

For battery, Noise claims to offer up to 45 hours of playback time with the case, and up to 7.5 hours of battery life on each bud on a single charge. The buds take up to 30 minutes to get fully charged, while the case can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in 90 minutes. The case also gets a charging indicator.

Talking about the weight, the buds weigh 3.3 grams each, while the case weighs 33.3 grams. The Noise Air Buds Pro SE earphones get an IPX5 rating for dust and water resistance. It gets Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity support, and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

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Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Watch: Kartik Aaryan Takes An Ice Bath In Kashmir For The First Time

Kartik Aaryan, who is working with Kabir Khan for the first time in Chandu Champion, took some time off his busy schedule and indulged in some self-pleasure. After wrapping the power-packed action schedule of the movie, Kartik Aaryan took an ice bath in a river in Kashmir. This is the first time the actor has experienced an ice bath. He shared a video on his Instagram feed and it's rejuvenating to say the least. Kartik Aaryan wrote in the caption, "Wrapping up a Power Packed Action Schedule with a First time experience of an Ice bath in the river that too in Kashmir." Shilpa Shetty dropped a comment on Kartik Aaryan's post and she wrote, "The best way to heal." Huma Qureshi wrote, "Baap re".  Abhishek Kapoor wrote, "Arre wah!!" Mini Mathur, wife of Kabir Khan wrote, "Why didn't I go with you?"

Take a look at the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

In August, Kartik shared the first look from the movie. Dressed in a uniform, Kartik Aaryan looks grim in the first look poster. There are bruises on his face. Without divulging much details, Kartik Aaryan wrote in the caption, "When INDIA is written on your chest, it's a DIFFERENT feeling Proud to be playing a Real Hero. A Man Who Refuses To Give Up." The first look confirmed that it's a sports film but the makers hadn't revealed the identity of the protagonist. The actor has also mentioned in his post that the first schedule of the movie has been wrapped up in London. He added in the caption, "End of Schedule 1 #London."

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

Kartik Aaryan and Kabir Khan announced the movie in July. The director summed up the story of his new project, "A true story of a man who refused to surrender." Kabir Khan shared the poster of the film and wrote, "Elated to announce my next one with #SajidNadiadwala. Presenting @kartikaaryan in and as #ChanduChampion - A true story of a man who refused to surrender. Releasing on 14th June 2024."

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

Kabir Khan is best known for directing hits like Kabul Express, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Phantom, Tubelight and 83. He also directed the web-series The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye. Kartik Aaryan was last seen in Satyaprem Ki Katha. Kartik will also be seen in Hansal Mehta's untitled movie.

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Galaxy S24 Ultra Design Revealed in Leaked CAD Renders, Specifications Suggested

Samsung Galaxy S23 series was launched in February this year. The South Korean tech giant has reportedly started working on its successor, the Galaxy S24 series, which may release early next year. The lineup is expected to include base Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra models. There has been several leaks and rumours regarding the smartphones, hinting at the specifications and the design. Now, the CAD renders of the Galaxy S24 Ultra have leaked online, suggesting significant design details. 

SmartPrix, in collaboration with tipster OnLeaks, has revealed the leaked CAD renders of the purported smartphone. The high-end variant of the Samsung's upcoming flagship series could be seen sporting a similar design as its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra (review). For optics, as the renders suggest, the Galaxy S24 Ultra houses a quad-camera setup, housing multiple sensors. The Stylus pen has been shown to get the same dedicated holster as the predecessor. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Leaked CAD Renders
Photo Credit: OnLeaks X SmartPrix

 

Previous reports have already suggested that the smartphone could sport a 6.8-inch display. The latest renders add that the model is expected to get narrowest bezels on any smartphone yet due to significant reduction in bezel size. It is said to feature WQHD+ resolution display. Moreover. the Galaxy S24 Ultra could incorporate an ultra-wideband antenna on the right edge. 

The dimensions of the upcoming smartphone are reported to be around 162.3 x 79 x 8.7mm, while it may weigh approximately 23g. Similar to Apple's iPhone 15 series, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also said to get titanium build, making the smartphone lighter in weight. In terms of battery, it could pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging. 

The report adds that the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It is expected to get a 200-megapixel primary rear camera. For selfies, the phone could house a 12-megapixel front snapper. It is to be noted that Samsung has not announced the upcoming series yet. 

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Samsung Galaxy A34 5G was recently launched by the company in India alongside the more expensive Galaxy A54 5G smartphone. How does this phone fare against the Nothing Phone 1 and the iQoo Neo 7? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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One Man Planned, Executed Rs 25-Crore Delhi Heist; Another Thief Did Him In

This is one thief who would have probably earned a hat-tip from the Professor in 'Money Heist'.

The Rs 25-crore jewellery theft in Delhi, the biggest in the national capital in recent memory, was planned and executed by just one man from Chhattisgarh. He would have probably evaded the cops for longer, but for the arrest of another burglar in his state, who told the police that a man had just returned from Delhi after carrying out a "big job".

The Theft

Lokesh Srivas, who was arrested on Friday morning and is currently in the custody of the Bilaspur Police, came to Delhi alone by bus earlier this month. Police said that he carried out a recce and also found out that his target, Umrao Jewellers in the Bhogal area, stayed shut on Mondays. He broke into the store from the adjacent building around 11 pm on Sunday, September 24.

He stayed in the shop the entire night and, besides stealing the jewellery that was on display, he made his way to the strongroom. He drilled a hole into the wall and took all the ornaments from the strongroom as well. He left the shop, the same way he had come, around 7 pm on Monday - almost 20 hours after he had entered it. 

The owner found out about the theft when he opened the jewellery store on Tuesday, but Srivas was already well on his way to Chhattisgarh by then. 

A police official said Lokesh left the shop and headed to the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) at Kashmere Gate in Delhi, stopping to buy an additional bag on the way to store his loot.

Luck Runs Out

The Durg Police in Chhattisgarh called the Delhi Police on Thursday and informed them that they had arrested a thief called Lokesh Rao, who had told them during questioning that one Lokesh Srivas had returned to his rented house in Bilaspur after carrying out a "big job" in Delhi

"We found a photo of Lokesh Srivas after an internet search and compared it with the suspects we had identified based on the CCTV footage that we had. We found that the build of the person in the photo matched with that of a suspect in a white shirt and black trousers, carrying a black bag, who was seen in Bhogal market on Sunday," said an official from the Delhi Police. 

Srivas' mobile phone was tracked and the police found that it had been switched on at the ISBT in Kashmere Gate on Monday. CCTV footage from the bus terminus showed Srivas buying a ticket at 8.40 pm. The footage showed him carrying two bags. 

Stakeout

A Delhi Police team left for Chhattisgarh on Thursday itself and reached Smriti Nagar in Bilaspur, where Srivas lives in a rented home, with teams from the Durg Police and Raipur Police. The cops waited outside the house for the entire night and arrested Srivas when he reached home at 5.45 am on Friday.

"Srivas is currently in the custody of the Bilaspur Police," said a Delhi Police official.

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Sehwag Picks India's No.4 Batter Between Suryakumar And Iyer For World Cup

Team India had a fruitful dress rehearsal for the ODI World Cup 2023 as they not only faced Australia in a three-match ODI series but also emerged as the winners. The Rohit Sharma-led side, who will be opening its World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8, registered a 2-1 win over them in the ODI series. The likes of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and especially Suryakumar Yadav played fiery knocks and contributed in the team's victory. Apart from them, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin also delivered terrific spells. 

However, the series win has also put the team management into a dilemma as they now have plenty of options for the number four spot. Iyer smashed a century in the second ODI but things got complicated as Suryakumar also played a crucial knock of 72 off 37 balls in the same match. 

Former India opener Virender Sehwag backed Iyer and stated that the 28-year-old batter has proved himself and deserves the number four spot in the team. He further said that Surya needs to play some more innings to win the trust of the management. 

"To adjust someone at no 6, why do you want to change the no 4 which is the most important position? Shreyas Iyer has just scored a century and he's someone who can stabilise an innings if you lose wickets against the new ball and score big. So don't disturb that," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

"Suryakumar Yadav hasn't played an innings like that in ODIs because all his runs have usually come in the last 15 overs. It's like T20, no doubt it's important but KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan can do the same job. So, in my view, Shreyas Iyer is quite fit for the no 4 slot. Suryakumar Yadav will have to wait. He will have to prove to selectors and management that he's capable of scoring hundred," he added. 

The ODI World Cup 2023 will kick-start from October 5 with England taking on New Zealand in the opening match in Ahmedabad. Team India will play their first match against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. 

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All Schools, Colleges Closed In Bengaluru Today Due To Karnataka Bandh

As pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations have called for a 'Karnataka Bandh' on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the administration in Bengaluru has declared a holiday in all educational institutions in the city for the day.

"As Karnataka bandh has been declared by various organizations, a holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru city in the interest of students," said KA Dayananda, Bengaluru City District Deputy Commissioner.

Meanwhile, in view of the bandh, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) have been imposed in the Mandya district, where schools and colleges will remain closed tomorrow, said District Collector Kumar.

Karnataka has been witnessing protests over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu after the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the decisions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA) and its assisting body Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) that directed the state to do so.

In the latest decision, the CWRC had ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023. In the earlier spell, it was 5,000 cusecs.

Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Swabhimani Sene on Thursday interrupted a press conference being held by actor Siddharth for his film and demanded he leave the venue.

The actor was promoting his upcoming film 'Chikku' in Bengaluru when the members of Karnataka Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Swabhimani Sene disrupted the event, saying that it was not an appropriate time for him to do that as Tamil Nadu was demanding Cauvery River water from Karnataka.

Also, a group of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists on Thursday held a massive protest in Bengaluru against the state MPs and Siddaramaiah Government over the Cauvery River water issue.

The KRV activists shouted slogans of "Cauvery Is Ours" as they protested against the release of the river water to Tamil Nadu.

KRV Women's Wing President Ashwini Gowda said that this is the time for all Kannadigas to come together and demanded that the state-elected MPs should come up and speak up on the matter and stand for the people of Karnataka or resign from the post.

"The issue has been raised for 150 years and I think this is the right time for all Kannadigas to come and have a better conclusion," she said in a statement.

The KRV activist also demanded the Prime Minister's intervention in the matter.

"The MPs of Karnataka do not want to raise this issue and they do not want to talk about this. There is not even a single MP talking about the issue of Cauvery, we want them to talk or we want them to resign," she 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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OnePlus Buds 3 Leaked Renders Reveal Specifications, Could Offer Battery Life of Up to 9 Hours

OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earphones were launched in India in February this year at the company's Cloud 11 event. The Chinese electronics company is now working on OnePlus Buds 3, and the renders of the purported earphones have been leaked online. They reveal the specifications of the audio wearable, and also tease their design. To recall, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 earphones debuted alongside OnePlus 11. The device is priced at Rs. 11,999 in India and is available for purchase in Arbor Green and Obsidian Black colour options. 

In a recent report, MySmartPrice (in collaboration with OnLeaks) have revealed the renders of the OnePlus Buds 3, based on the testing stage phase. The wearable is shown to carry a similar design as the Buds Pro 2, except the metallic finish. 

The upcoming wearable is reported to get 48dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) support. It can be connected using Bluetooth 5.3 or Google Fast pair, according to the report. The OnePlus Buds 3 are also said to get dual connection support. With an IP55 rating, the earbuds are expected to get water and dust resistance, while the charging case is said to get an IPX4 rating. 

In terms of battery, the earbuds could pack a 58mAh battery each, while the charging case is said to be backed by a 520mAh battery. It could offer 9 hours of battery life on each earbud, same as Buds Pro 2, with ANC turned off. Meanwhile, it would provide 33 hours of battery life with the case. On the other hand, with ANC turned on, the OnePlus Buds 3 are said to offer 6 hours of battery life on earphones and for 22 hours with the case.

The company has not revealed any details about the purported device yet. However, as per a previous report, the Buds 3 could make a debut in January 2024, alongside OnePlus 12. The earphones are expected to be lighter in weight as compared to the Buds Pro 2.

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Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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"You Make The...": Soni Razdan's Wish For Ranbir Is Aww-Dorable

Mom-in-law Soni Razdan's birthday wish for her son-in-law Ranbir Kapoor might be the cutest thing on the internet today. On Thursday, Ranbir Kapoor rang in his 41st birthday with an adorable birthday wish from his wife Alia Bhatt's mother and veteran actor Soni Randan. The Raazi actor shared a selflie clicked with Ranbir Kapoor and wrote underneath it, "Happy birthday to the sweetest sil. You make the world a better place by just being in it. Have an amazing year, love you loads."

See Soni Razdan's wish for her son-in-law Ranbir:

 On his special day, wife Alia Batt curated some super cute pictures to wish him, accompanied by an equally adorable caption. She wrote, "My love.. my best friend.. my happiest place... As you read this caption from your secret account sitting right next to me...All I'd like to say is...Happy birthday baby... You make it all magical."

Read Alia Bhatt's post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

The actor's 41st birthday happens to coincide with the release of the teaser of his film Animal. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor alongside Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and others. ICYMI, here's the teaser of Animal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar with Shraddha Kapoor. His next project is Sandeep ReddyVanga's Animal with Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna. The film will release in December this year. His wife Alia Bhatt recently won the National Film Award for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. She also made her big Hollywood debut this year with Gal Gadot's Heart Of Stone.

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Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2 Press Renders Leaked Ahead of October 4 Launch

Google Pixel 8 series smartphones are all set to launch on October 4, alongside Pixel Watch 2. The smartphone lineup includes Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Both the handsets will be available for purchase in India starting October 5. Ahead of the launch, there have been several leaks regarding the upcoming smartphone series and the smartwatch from Google. A new report has now leaked the press renders of the Google Pixel 8 series and Pixel Watch 2, revealing the design and hinting at specifications of the devices. 

A report by WinFuture has revealed the press renders of the upcoming devices. The base variant of the smartphone series, the Google Pixel 8 is said to sport a 6.17-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120HZ, and a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro will reportedly feature a 6.7-inch OLED display panel, with a resolution of 3120x1440 pixels. It too could offer a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. 

Google Pixel 8 Pro as shown in leaked press renders
Photo Credit: WinFuture

 

As per the report, the Pixel 8 would pack 8GB RAM with 128GB and 256GB storage variants. It is said to be powered by a Google Tensor G3 SoC. On the other hand, Pixel 8 Pro would get three storage configurations: a 12GB RAM + 128GB storage model, another 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option and a 12GB RAM + 512GB storage variant. 

For optics, both smartphones would house a 50-megapixel primary rear camera. However, the Google Pixel 8 would house a 12-megapixel with Sony IMX386 sensor for ultra-wide-angle shots in the dual camera unit, while Pixel 8 Pro is said to get a triple camera unit which would include a 64-megapixel and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. For selfies, both models are expected to feature an 11-megapixel sensor. 

Talking about the price range, the Pixel 8 is expected to start at EUR 799 euros (nearly Rs. 70,200), while the Google Pixel 8 Pro could be available at a starting price of EUR 1099 (nearly Rs. 96,500). 

Google Pixel Watch 2 as shown in leaked press renders
Photo Credit: WinFuture

 

Next in line is the Pixel Watch 2, which is said to feature a 1.2-inch OLED-based display. The company could use a Snapdragon W5 Gen1 chipset for the wearable. It is reported to pack 2GB RAM. The smartwatch would come with all smart features like optical heart rate monitor, oxygen saturation tracker, and a multi-purpose sensor. It could run Wear OS 4, and is expected to be backed by a 306mAH battery. The starting price of the Pixel Watch 2 could be EUR 399 (nearly Rs. 35,000). 

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Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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16-Year-Old Boy Dies During Ganesh Idol Immersion At Mumbai's Juhu Beach

Amid the beating of drums and chants of 'Ganpati Bappa Morya', various Ganesh mandals in Mumbai on Thursday started processions to immerse the idols of the deity, marking the culmination of the 10-day festival. By 6 pm, a total of 7,950 idols had been immersed, comprising 7,513 household ones, 329 'sarvajanik' or public idols and 108 of goddess Gauri, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

He said a 16-year-old boy identified as Hasan Yusuf Shaikh was rescued from the sea at Juhu by lifeguards amid the immersions and rushed to nearby Cooper Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

There was no report of any other untoward incident during the immersions across the metropolis till evening, the BMC official added.

As per civic data, 2,199 of 7,950 idols were immersed in artificial ponds set up by the civic body.

The 2,199 idols comprise 2,096 household idols, 63 'sarvajanik' ones and 40 of goddess Gauri, the official added.

Since early in the day, huge crowds gathered at various places in the city to catch a glimpse of their favourite deity, as decked up idols of Lord Ganesh in various forms and sizes were taken out of pandals for their final journey, accompanied by music, dance and prayers.

The festival, which began with 'Ganesh Chaturthi' on September 19, concludes on the 'Anant Chaturdashi' on Thursday with the immersion of idols in the Arabian Sea and other water bodies here.

In Mumbai's Lalbaug area, famous for celebrating the festival with grandeur, the procession of idols of Tejukaya and Ganesh Gully mandals started with chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya' (come soon next year Lord).

The procession of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol, that attracts maximum number of devotees during the 10-day festival, started at around 11.30 am.

A large number of people were seen waiting on both sides of roads for the final 'darshan' of the idol.

Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Lalbaug and other major procession routes of Ganesh idols to bid farewell to the deity with heartfelt prayers and witness the vibrant processions being taken out with music, dance and sprinkling of 'gulal' (vermillion powder).

There was also a large gathering of people at Lalbaug's Shroff building to witness 'pushpavrusti' (showering of flowers) on the Ganesh idols.

Crowds also assembled on the main road leading to Girgaon in south Mumbai, from where the maximum number of processions pass. These include the processions of Ganesh idols from Fort, Girgaon, Mazgaon, Byculla, Dadar, Matunga, Sion, Chembur and other areas.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, as many as 1,65,964 idols, including several household idols, 'sarvajanik' (public) ones and idols of Goddess Gauri, were immersed in various water bodies here including artificial ponds till the seventh day of the festival.

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

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Young India Will Turn Into Rapidly Ageing Society In Coming Decades: UN

Elderly population in India is expanding at an unprecedented rate and could surpass the children's population by mid-century, a new UNFPA report said, underlining that the young India will turn into a rapidly ageing society in the coming decades.

India has one of the highest populations of adolescents and young people in the world.

At the national level, the share of the elderly (60+ years) population is projected to increase from 10.1 per cent in 2021 to 15 per cent in 2036 and 20.8 per cent in 2050, according to the UNFPA's 'India Ageing Report 2023'.

"By the end of the century, the elderly will constitute over 36 per cent of the total population of the country. Sharp growth in the elderly population is observed from 2010 onwards along with a decline in the age group of below 15 years, indicating rapidity of ageing in India," the report said.

The report noted that the elderly population in India is expanding at an unprecedented rate and may be expected to surpass the children's population by mid-century.

"Four years before 2050, the population size of the elderly in India will be higher than the population size of children aged 0-14 years. By that time, the population share of 15-59 years will also see a dip. Undoubtedly, the relatively young India today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in the coming decades," it said.

A distinguishing feature of ageing in India is the significant interstate variation in absolute levels and growth (and hence, share) of the elderly population, given the varying stages and pace of demographic transition across states.

Consequently, there are considerable variations in the age structure of the population, including the ageing experience.

Most of the states in the southern region and select northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the national average in 2021, a gap that is expected to widen by 2036, the report said.

While states reporting higher fertility rates and lagging in demographic transition, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, expect to see an increase in the share of the elderly population between 2021 and 2036, the level will remain lower than the Indian average, the report said.

The report pointed out that India has witnessed moderate to high pace of decadal growth in elderly population since 1961 and evidently, the pace was slower before 2001 but is expected to increase sharply in coming decades.

"The decadal growth of the elderly population in India declined slightly from 32 per cent between 1961 and 1971 to 31 per cent in 1981-1991. Growth picked up pace during 1991-2001 (35 per cent) and is projected to shoot to 41 per cent between 2021 and 2031," the report said.

The report said that there are 39 older persons per 100 children in India, according to 2021 population estimates.

The states with a higher share of the elderly population (such as those in southern India) also show a higher score for an ageing index, indicative of a decline in fertility leading to a rising number of older persons as compared to children.

"Compared to southern and western India, central and north-eastern regions have the younger group of states as indicated by the ageing index," it said.

The ageing index measures the number of elderly (60+ years) per 100 children population (below 15 years) and the index score increases as the population ages.

The UNFPA said the population projections indicate that in 2021, there were 16 older persons per 100 working-age persons in India, with significant variations across regions.

"In line with the findings regarding the ageing index, in the southern region, the old-age dependency ratio was higher than the national average at around 20 as is true of western India at 17. Overall, Union Territories (13) and the north-eastern region (13) reflected lower old age dependency ratios," it said.

The old-age dependency ratio of a population represents the number of persons aged 60+ years per 100 persons in the 15-59 years (or working-age) group. The higher the ratio, the greater the old age-related dependency, reflecting higher levels of demand for care from immediate family.

Andrea. M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director Bhutan, said the report is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, programme managers, and all stakeholders involved in elder care.

"Older persons have contributed significantly to society, and they deserve nothing less than our best efforts to ensure their well-being," Wojnar 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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"Not Living In British Era": Nitish Kumar On Library Signboard In English

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday voiced his extreme displeasure over the signboard of a government school's library bearing the inscription in English.

Mr Kumar was in Banka district, about 250 km from the state capital, where he reached after inspection of a bridge in the adjoining Jamui which got damaged after heavy rainfall last week.

In Banka, Mr Kumar inaugurated a newly constructed hospital and inspected a recently renovated indoor stadium before visiting a high school and got upset upon seeing the signboard stating it was a "digital library".

"Why is this not in Hindi? We are not living in the British era," he told the District Magistrate, Anshul Kumar, who was present there.

"Look, I have nothing against English. It was the medium of my instruction while I was studying engineering. Many of my speeches in Parliament, too, were in that language", said the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar.

He added, "But, at one point of time, I decided to promote the use of Hindi. I therefore gave up putting on my signature in English. Please get this signboard changed, at the earliest".

The DM assured Mr Kumar that the needful would be done "today itself".

The septuagenarian, who owes his passionate advocacy for Hindi to his ideological devotion towards late socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia, has voiced displeasure, in public, over the use of English on more than one occasion.

In February, he reprimanded an agricultural entrepreneur for making a presentation that contained "too many English words".

A month later, inside the state legislative council, he chided Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur, who belongs to his party Janata Dal (United), upon seeing words like "honourable" and "speaking time" on the electronic display board.

The chief minister was accompanied by cabinet colleagues and top government officials during his tour of the two districts. 

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

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