Pakistan To Expel Over A Million Illegal Migrants After Nov 1. Here's Why

Pakistan has asked all undocumented immigrants, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, to voluntarily leave the country by November 1 or face deportations. Pakistan is determined to remove all illegal immigrants from the country, said Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday amid claims by Islamabad that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. According to the minister, there will be no deadline extension. He also stated that action would be taken against anyone involved in helping or hiding the immigrants. 

"All the illegal immigrants have been identified. The state has complete data," said Mr Bugti, as per DW. "I want to appeal one more time that all the illegal immigrants should leave voluntarily by the deadline," he added. 

Who Are These "Illegal Immigrants"?

Notably, according to Reuters, Pakistan is home to over 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees. Out of these, about 1.7 million are undocumented. Afghans make up the largest portion of migrants - many came after the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, but a large number have been present since the 1979 Soviet invasion, the news agency reported. 

Now, as cash-strapped Pakistan is navigating record inflation and a tough International Monetary Fund bailout program, the officials in the country have accused the undocumented migrants of draining the resources for decades. Islamabad has also claimed that the many bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. 

"There are no two opinions that we are attacked from within Afghanistan and Afghan nationals are involved in attacks on us," Mr Bugti said in a news conference. "We have evidence," he added. "If they do not go, ... then all the law enforcement agencies in the provinces or federal government will be utilised to deport them," Mr Bugti said.

According to officials, illegal immigrants who are willing to voluntarily leave the country will be helped by the nation. But authorities also warned that anyone found in the country illegally after Wednesday would be arrested. 

Pakistan also stated that the 1.4 million Afghans who are registered refugees need not worry. It denied targeting Afghan nationals and said that the focus is only on people who are in the country illegally, regardless of their nationality. 

Deportation centres 

According to DW, three deportation centres have been set up in southwestern Baluchistan. Another three centres have also been set in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. More than 60,000 Afghans have returned home since the crackdown was announced, Azam Khan, the caretaker chief minister for the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said. 

Pakistan's crackdown condemned 

A number of diplomats and representatives have condemned Pakistan's crackdown on immigrants. Afghanistan has called Pakistan's move "harassment". The Afghan embassy in Islamabad in a statement on X, said more than 1,000 Afghans have been detained in the past two weeks - half of them despite having a legal right to be in Pakistan. "Despite the repeated promises of the Pakistan authorities, the arrest and harassment of Afghan refugees by the police in Pakistan continues," it said.

Separately, a group of former US diplomats and representatives of resettlement organisations also urged Pakistan not to deport Afghans awaiting US visas under a program that resettled vulnerable refugees fleeing Taliban rule. 

According to DW, the United Nations also made a similar appeal, saying that the crackdown could lead to human rights violations, including the separation of families. 

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Here's How to Get iPhone 14 Under Rs. 50,000 During Flipkart Big Diwali Sale

Flipkart is offering lucrative discounts on mobile phones during the festive season sale. During its upcoming Big Diwali Sale, which kicks off on November 2, the e-commerce website is claiming to offer the lowest prices of the year on iPhone models. As part of the sale, the base iPhone 14 could be available for as low as Rs. 49,999. Bear in mind that this offer price includes bank offers and other discounts. The iPhone 14 series launched last year at Apple's 'Far Out' event, with the base 128GB model starting at Rs. 79,900 in India.

iPhone 14 price in India during Flipkart's Big Diwali Sale

According to a teaser page for the upcoming Diwali sale, the base iPhone 14 with 128GB storage could be available under Rs. 50,000. The sale preview lists iPhone 14's base deal price as Rs. 54,999. Flipkart also promises an additional bank offer discount of Rs. 4,000 to customers using SBI credit card and Flipkart Axis Bank card. Further, the listing also includes an extra price cut of Rs. 1,000 on exchange, thus bringing the final sale pricing, including all offers, to Rs. 49,999.

Alternatively, customers can also pay a down payment amount of Rs. 19,999 at the time of purchase, and the remaining balance of Rs. 35,000 via no-cost EMI options. The sale price will go live when the Big Diwali Sale begins on November 2. The festive season sale will go on till November 11.

iPhone 14 specifications

The iPhone 14 launched last year in September, sporting a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1200nits peak brightness and support for Dolby Vision.

The base model iPhone 14 runs on Apple's A15 Bionic SoC. The handset features a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and a second 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens with 120-degree field-of-view on the back. The front shooter is a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera. The iPhone 14 also gets a flat-edge aerospace-grade aluminium frame, with Ceramic Shield material on the front panel, and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating.

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Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company's latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro 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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Gaza Has Become A "Graveyard" For Thousands Of Children: UN

The Gaza Strip has become a graveyard for thousands of children, the United Nations said Tuesday, as it feared the prospect of more dying of dehydration.

Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping at least 240 others, according to Israeli officials.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said the strikes have killed more than 8,500 people, mainly civilians.

The UN children's agency UNICEF said there was a risk that the number of child deaths directly from bombardment could become eclipsed.

"Our gravest fears about the reported numbers of children killed becoming dozens, then hundreds, and ultimately thousands were realised in just a fortnight," UNICEF spokesman James Elder said in a statement.

"The numbers are appalling; reportedly more than 3,450 children killed; staggeringly this rises significantly every day."

"Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children. It's a living hell for everyone else."

He said the more than one million children living in the Gaza Strip were also suffering from a lack of clean water.

"Gaza's water production capacity is a mere five percent of its usual daily output. Child deaths -- particularly infants -- to dehydration are a growing threat," he said.

UNICEF is calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, with all access crossings into Gaza opened for the safe, sustained and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel.

"And if there is no ceasefire, no water, no medicine, and no release of abducted children? Then we hurtle towards even greater horrors afflicting innocent children," said Elder.

"There are certainly children who are dying who have been impacted by the bombardment but should have had their lives saved," Elder told reporters in Geneva, via video-link.

He said that without greater humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip, "then the deaths from the attacks, they could absolutely be the tip of the iceberg".

Elder said that according to figures from health faculties in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, some 940 children were missing.

UN humanitarian agency spokesman Jens Laerke added: "It's almost unbearable to think about children buried under rubble, but (with) very little opportunity or possibility for getting them out."

The World Health Organization said people in Gaza were dying not just from direct bombardment.

"We have 130 premature infants that are dependent on incubators, of which 61 percent approximately are in the north," said WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier.

"It's an imminent public health catastrophe that looms with the mass displacement, the overcrowding, and the damage to water and sanitation infrastructure."

(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 Beds", Former BJP MP's Son Dies At Lucknow Hospital, Doctor Suspended

A former BJP MP has lost his son in Lucknow's SGPGI Hospital due to shortage of beds at the Emergency Ward. The grieving father sat on a protest at the ward with his son's dead body, till the government suspended the doctor in question and promised further action.  

Bhairon Prasad Mishra's son, 41-year-old Prakash Mishra, was suffering from a kidney ailment and was taken to the SGPGI's Emergency ward around 11 PM yesterday.  Mr Mishra claims no bed was available and the Emergency medical officer did nothing to help. His son died shortly after, the former MP has claimed.

Later, Mr Mishra -- who represented Banda in parliament -- sat on a protest outside the Emergency ward with his son's body.   

"I have lost my son, but I sat there so these guys fall in line. After me, some 20-25 people got the treatment... When I was sitting on protest everybody was complaining about him. He should be punished," he told reporters.

The hospital authorities have promised strict action and formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter.  

"The doctor said to him to take him to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).  But there were no beds available. Don't know why it was said... We have formed a committee. Strict action will be taken... The doctor has been suspended as of now," said Dr RK Dhiman, the hospital chief.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the state's BJP government over the incident. "It is not the hospital's fault. But it is the fault of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Why no budgets are being given to hospital?" he said.  

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has promised strict action and visited the leader at his home. "This is an unfortunate incident. A three-member committee has been formed and the matter will be investigated thoroughly," he said.

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Arvind Kejriwal Summoned By Probe Agency On Thursday In Liquor Policy Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned for questioning in the alleged liquor scam by the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money laundering angle. He has been asked to present himself at the Delhi office of the Central agency on November 2.

In April, the Central Bureau of Investigation had summoned Mr Kejriwal for questioning on the same issue.

"The Central government has only one objective -- to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party at any cost," said senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj. "For this, they are leaving no stone unturned, including creating a fake case. The idea is to send Arvind Kejriwal to jail and destroy the Aam Aadmi Party," he added.

Today's summons came hours after the Supreme Court rejected the bail plea of Mr Kejriwal's former Deputy Manish Sisodia, who is the prime accused in the case. A money trail of Rs 338 crore has been tentatively established in the case, said the judges, who earlier insisted that a chain of evidence must be established.

In a 41-page order, the court accepted the argument of the Central Bureau of Investigation that there is a "carefully hatched conspiracy" to ensure that a select few make windfall gains. The policy "facilitated getting bribes" from wholesale distributors who are "assured of exorbitant profits".

After the verdict, leaders of Delhi's BJP unit demanded that Mr Kejriwal resign. "The court order has presented sufficient reason for Chief Minister Kejriwal to resign from his post," said Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva.

The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing the excise policy, which would have brought them a 12 per cent profit. A liquor lobby it dubbed the "South Group" had paid kickbacks, part of which was routed to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate alleged laundering of the kickbacks.

The BJP has alleged that the proceeds of the alleged scam were used by AAP to fund its large-scale campaign in Gujarat, in which it got a 12.91 per cent votes and established itself as a national party.

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Woman Soldier Freed From Hamas Captivity In Gaza: Israel

A female Israeli soldier was released from captivity in the Gaza Strip, the army said Monday, following an operation in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

"Last night, soldier Ori Megidish was released during a ground operation after being kidnapped by Hamas on October 7," the army said in a statement.

"The soldier was medically checked, is doing well, and has met with her family."

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a photograph of Megidish in which she is seen surrounded with her family members.

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

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2 Loyalists Of Eknath Shinde Resign As MPs Over Maratha Quota Issue

Shiv Sena MPs from Nashik and Hingoli in Maharashtra, both loyalists of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, have resigned in support of the Maratha reservation demand.

Hingoli MP Hemant Patil submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha secretariat in New Delhi on Monday, while Nashik MP Hemant Godse sent his resignation letter to CM Shinde.

"As Lok Sabha Speaker was not present in his office, my resignation letter was submitted to the office secretary. I have also received an acknowledgement," Patil told a Marathi news channel in New Delhi.

Notably, he decided to step down when he was stopped by agitators in Yavatmal who asked him to clarify his stand on the reservation demand. Patil drafted his resignation letter on the spot and handed it over to the agitators.

Reacting to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) working president Supriya Sule's jibe that his resignation was a stunt, Patil said, "'I am not born in Nehru-Gandhi family. There two-three generations are in power. They would have taken the initiative (to grant quota)", he said, adding if leaders are concerned about Marathas, they should resign.

"Several leaders from the Maratha community went on to become chief ministers but the community didn't get anything," he added.

In Nashik, Shiv Sena MP Godse drafted his resignation letter when Maratha protesters observing a fast asked him to clarify his position on the issue.

He sent the resignation letter to CM Shinde and appealed to him to grant reservation to the Maratha community as soon as possible.

"For the last many years, the Maratha community has been striving to get the reservation. Earlier, the reservation for the community didn't survive in the court. After becoming the chief minister, you (Shinde) focused your attention on the issue of the reservation.

"After you took oath in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's bust at Dussehra rally to provide reservation to the Maratha community, members of the Maratha community felt assured," the letter stated.

Godse said the government could not solve the reservation issue in the time limit given by Jalna-based quota activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite fast for reservation entered the sixth day on Monday.

"The health of Manoj Jarange is deteriorating with each passing day. Considering the strong feelings of the Maratha community, I am resigning as the Member of Parliament," Godse stated.

(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, 2 Daughters Run Over By Vande Bharat In UP

A 40-year-old woman and her two daughters died on Sunday evening when they were run over by the Vande Bharat Express at a manned level crossing in this district while they were crossing it, police said.

Superintendent of Police (city) Piyush Kumar Singh said the accident took place when the gates of the Kasampur manned level crossing were closed.

He added that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

Describing the sequence of events, police said Kankarkhera resident Naresh was pulling a 'rherha' (a type of hand-driven cart), while his wife Mona (40) and their daughters Manisha (14) and Charu (7) were seated at the back side of the 'rehra'.

At the Kasampur manned railway crossing, Naresh moved under the railway gate, and was crossing the railway track, when the semi-high speed train hit the rear of the cart, running over Mona, and her two daughters, who died on the spot.

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

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Watch: British Envoy Plays Cricket With Girls School Team In Lucknow

British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, is currently in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to witness this India vs England face-off. Prior to the match, Mr Ellis engaged in a friendly cricket session with students from the Prerna Girls School.

In the video, Mr Ellis is seen wearing and England cricket jersey while gearing up to face the ball. The next attached to the clip, shared by ANI on X (formerly Twitter), read, “Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India plays cricket with the students of Prerna Girls School in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.”

#WATCH | Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India plays cricket with the students of Prerna Girls School in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/HNwMdJQJVh

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

In another video, Mr Ellis is seen engaging with the students. He greets the girls with "namaste" and wishes them a "good morning." In addition to the students, he also interacts with the coach, organisers, and the scorekeeper.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India played cricket with the students of Prerna Girls School in Lucknow. He also interacted with the students. pic.twitter.com/FKHlxi1mse

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

Speaking about his visit to Lucknow and the India vs England match, Mr. Ellis told the news agency, "I'm very excited to be in Lucknow. It's the most beautiful city. I am a little anxious about the game because India are playing very well and England are not playing so well. But I hope that we're going to see a really tight game. There are some great players on both sides and it's just a pleasure to be here in Lucknow."

"I think India looks the best at the moment. Australia are coming through nicely. I think they look strong as well. South Africa's batting is superb, probably India would be the favourite, I would think... I'm very excited for today's match. I've seen England and India play many times before. It's usually a good game, so I hope we'll have the same today," he added.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: On the India vs England match in Lucknow today, Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India says, "I'm very excited to be in Lucknow. It's the most beautiful city. I am a little anxious about the game because India are playing very well and England are… pic.twitter.com/Dst2nV7OCI

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

India vs England is hosted by the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.

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US Mass Shooter Was "Hearing Voices, Suffering From Paranoia": Police

Police in Maine said Saturday that the man who gunned down 18 people at a bar and a bowling alley and later committed suicide, suffered serious mental health issues, but was able to buy weapons legally because he had never been forcibly committed to treatment.

The body of Robert Card, a 40-year-old army reservist, was discovered Friday night inside a tractor trailer near a recycling center where he used to work, said Maine public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck. Card had shot himself.

Investigators are still struggling to determine Card's motive for carrying out Wednesday's massacre in the town of Lewiston.

However, Mike Sauschuck said that Card had reportedly been hearing voices and suffering from paranoia.

"Clearly there's a mental health component to this," Mr Sauschuck told reporters.

Investigators found a "paper-style" note that Card had left to a loved one which contained a password to his phone and bank account information, Mr Sauschuck said, adding that the note had the tone of a suicide letter.

Card was found in possession of three weapons, one of them a long gun, all purchased legally because he had never been forcibly committed to a mental institution.

Despite the apparently clear mental health issues and a reportedly recent psychiatric evaluation undergone by Card, "a background check is not going to ping that this individual was prohibited," Mr Sauschuck added.

A 'coward's way out'

The discovery of Card's body ended a massive two-day manhunt, which had this quiet city of 38,000 people on lockdown with businesses and schools closed and residents terrified.

Sauschuck acknowledged the help Card's family provided to the investigation, saying among the first people to call the police and identify the suspect were his family members. "This family has been incredibly cooperative with us," he said.

Lewiston finally breathed a sigh of relief with businesses beginning to open and people appearing on the streets Saturday.

Guadalupe Hursch, 49, a stay-at-home mother said she was happy that the ordeal was over. "Relieved. Relieved," Hursch told AFP, adding that she also felt sorry for Card's parents.

A local resident by the name of Danica who was buying coffee at a drive-in said she was "very afraid" in the aftermath of the shooting and was now happy Card was dead, but at the same time wished he had first been brought to justice.

"I think he took the coward's way out of doing it by suicide," Danica, who declined to give her last name, told AFP. "I think he should be held accountable for his crimes."

She added: "It's a very terrible thing and it's going to take a long time to get back up to be where we were before."

In a statement issued shortly after Card's body was discovered Friday night, President Joe Biden vowed to renew efforts to curb gun violence in the United States.

"Americans should not have to live like this," Joe Biden said. "I will continue to do everything in my power to end this gun violence epidemic."

President Biden said the shooting brought "a tragic two days -- not just for Lewiston, Maine, but for our entire country."

Authorities on Friday identified the victims, ranging from a husband and wife in their 70s, to a 14-year-old boy killed alongside his father.

This latest shooting is one of the deadliest in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people

Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance.

The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.

Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms.

The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings.

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

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Top Deals on Microwave Ovens During Amazon Great Indian Festival Finale Days Sale

The Amazon Great Indian Festival kicked off this year on October 7 for its Prime users and was extended to all users since October 8. During this ongoing sale, a wide range of products, including electronic items like smartphones, laptops, PCs, tablets, and Smart TVs. A variety of home appliances are also offered at discounted rates. The sale has entered the ‘Finale Days' starting from October 28. There are also other bank offers over sale discounts that customers can avail of.

The additional bank offers help in bringing the effective price of any product down to an even lower price than that of the original deal price. There may also be an exchange option available for some things, particularly electrical devices. When the exchange offer is applied over the deal price and bank discounts combined, the effective price is further reduced. We've written about some incredible sales that are now going on for computers, tablets, smartphones, big home appliances, and more. Some of the best offers available during the ongoing sale are on microwave ovens. Customers using ICICI Bank Debit and Credit cards and Credit Card EMI options during payment can receive a 10 percent discount of up to Rs. 3,500. AU Small Finance Bank Credit and Debit card users may also get a discount of 10 percent up to Rs. 1,750. People using the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card may receive a 5 percent instant discount and 5 percent cashback offers.

Following are some of the best deals on microwave ovens you can grab now.

One of the best deals offered is on the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven, which has the capacity of 28 litres and can be used for baking along with grilling, reheating, defrosting and cooking. It is priced at Rs. 11,990, down 29 percent from its marked price of Rs. 16,99. Another good grab is the 24-litre IFB Solo Microwave Oven that is listed at Rs. 6,490, down 26 percent from its usual price of Rs. 8,790.

Top Deals on Microwave Ovens During Ongoing Amazon Sale

Product	MRP	Deal Price
28-Litre Convection Microwave Oven	Rs. 16,990	Rs. 11,990
21-Litre Samsung Convection Microwave Oven	Rs. 12,990	Rs. 9,990
24-Litre IFB Solo Microwave Oven	Rs. 8,790	Rs. 6,490
20-Litre LG Solo Microwave Oven	Rs. 8,199	Rs. 6,290
20-Litre Panasonic Solo Microwave Oven	Rs. 6,790	Rs. 5,390

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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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US Model Found Dead Inside Fridge Had Cocaine, Alcohol In Blood: Autopsy

The body of a Los Angeles model was found in her downtown apartment last month stuffed in a refrigerator, with her wrists and ankles tied and mouth gagged, according to the latest autopsy report obtained by the New York Post. 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney was found dead in her luxury apartment on September 12. The LA County Medical Examiner's Office had ruled her death "homicidal violence" earlier this month, but the grizzly details of how her remains were discovered in her apartment were released on Friday in an autopsy report obtained by The Post. 

According to the outlet, Ms Mooney had been beaten and bound before being stuffed into her own refrigerator. The autopsy also revealed blunt force trauma to parts of her body and her toxicology tests showed traces of cocaine and alcohol in her system. 

"The blunt force traumatic injuries observed at autopsy are generally not considered acutely life-threatening on their own," the medical examiner wrote in the autopsy report. "However, based on the circumstances of how Ms. Mooney was found, these injuries suggest she was likely involved in a violent physical altercation prior to her death. Given this, the role that drugs and/or alcohol may have played in Ms. Mooney's death, if any, is uncertain," the report added. 

No arrests have been made in the case, PEOPLE reported. 

Also Read | 25-Year-Old Brazilian Makeup Influencer Dies After Mystery Disappearance Online

The 31-year-old was found dead in her apartment last month after her mother called cops to perform a "welfare check" on the model. When officers entered the apartment, they found a pool of blood beneath her body, which was "wedged in the refrigerator," the outlet reported. 

Based on the blunt force injuries found all over her body and the condition she was found in, the officials deemed the manner of her death a homicide. There also is evidence that the model was strangled, the officials said. 

Ms Mooney's sister, Pauline, told PEOPLE that her sister was two months pregnant when she died and had always wanted to be a mom. "She was super excited and I know she really wanted a kid, and it's something that she has always talked about," she told the outlet. She also said her late sister's boyfriend was "heartbroken" about the incident. 

Meanwhile, Ms Mooney's death spurred fear in local residents, especially after another model in the downtown LA area was found dead in her apartment. But despite similarities in the two cases, police have said that the two incidents are not related. 

Nichole Coats' family members feared their 32-year-old daughter also was murdered, but an autopsy report released on Tuesday showed she had died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and alcohol.

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MAMI 2023: Kamal Haasan, Priyanka, Sonam Lit Up The Red Carpet

Mumbai witnessed a starry Friday night as some of the biggest names from the industry assembled under one roof for the opening ceremony of the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023. Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Kamal Haasan, Karan Johar, Diana Penty, Jim Sarbh, Randeep Hooda walked the red carpet in their festive finery. Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal, Arjun Rampal-Gabriella Demetriades made appearances together. Shanaya Kapoor, Kritika Kamra, Tejasswi Prakash also rocked the red carpet in style. Shabana Azmi, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga also marked their presence. Let's take a look at their OOTNs from the event.

Priyanka Chopra stunned the Mumbai audience with her dazzling gown. She chose it from the collections of designer Tony Ward. Priyanka is the chairperson of this year's edition.

Sonam Kapoor made heads turn in a black structured outfit. She completed her look with pearl accessories.

Karan Johar was dressed in his traditional best.

Kamal Haasan attended the red carpet.

Bhumi Pednekar showed up in a green ensemble.

Aditi Rao Hydari looked pretty as ever in a traditional outfit.

Here's how Dia Mirza dressed up for the occasion.

Diana Penty's OOTN was surely something to look at.

Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal were all smiles for the camera.

Arjun Rampal and Gabriella Demetriades appeared like this.

Shanya Kapoor lit up the red carpet like this.

Kritika Kamra looked ravishing in an ensemble.

Tejasswi Prakash looked stunning in her ensemble.

Shabana Azmi was all smiles on the red carpet.

Jim Sarbh looked dapper as ever.

Randeep Hooda's swag couldn't be missed.

Guneet Monga was also spotted on the red carpet.

Babil Khan was dressed up for the occasion.

Ishaan Khatter showed up in a black suit.

Director Vikramaditya Motwane was present.

Vishal Bhardwaj and Rekha Bhardwaj marked their presence.

Siddharth was pictured solo on the red carpet.

Tillotama Shome and Shahana Goswami posed together on the red carpet.

Sobhita Dhulipala, Fatima Sana Shaikh stole the limelight like this.

The festival will be held at the Jio World Centre, a convention, theatre and concert hall complex in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. The festival will run from today (October 27) to November 5. The curation boasts over 40 World Premieres, 45 Asia Premieres, and 70+ South Asia Premieres, with a record-breaking number of 1000+ submissions for the South Asia programme, reported ANI.

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Priyanka's Look For The MAMI Event Prompts This Reaction From Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra, who landed early this morning in Mumbai to attend the opening ceremony of the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023, revealed her look for the night. Priyanka Chopra is the chairperson for this year's edition. The former Miss World chose a white bodycon gown for the occasion. Needless to say, she looked stunning as ever. Priyanka shared a few images on Instagram in which she can be seen posing against a piano. Priyanka Chopra opted for a halter neck gown and minimal accessory look. She kept her hair tied in a top bun. She also completed her look with an embellished coat. Priyanka's gown was from the shelves of designer Tony Ward. Priyanka wrote in the caption, "Opening night. Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival @mumbaifilmfestival." Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas was absolutely bowled over by her look. He commented, "Damn" and dropped a few fire emojis. The Internet was also impressed by Priyanka's sartorial choice. A user commented, "So pretty." Another user wrote, "Omggg The Diva." Take a look at Priyanka Chopra's pictures here:

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This is how Priyanka owned the red carpet. Take a look:

In the morning, Priyanka was seen in a crop top and shrug. The actress greeted the paparazzi stationed at the Mumbai airport with a bright smile and folded hands. Speaking of the MAMI Film Festival, it will be held at the Jio World Centre  in the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. See Priyanka Chopra's photos from the Mumbai airport here:

Priyanka Chopra was spotted attending husband Nick Jonas' many of the concerts in the US in the last couple of months. Priyanka also took daughter Malti Marie to a recent concert. An Instagram fan page shared several clips, showing Nick holding Malti Maries's hands from the stage while the toddler was seated on Priyanka's lap. All this was during Nick's performance on stage. The viral clip also showed Malti Marie grooving and clapping with her father, while the actress was smiling her heart out after watching it all. Take a look:

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A post shared by Jerry x Mimi 😍 (@jerryxmimi)

Priyanka Chopra was last seen in Love Again. The actress shared screen space with Celine Dion and Sam Heughan. She will next be seen in Heads Of State, alongside John Cena and Idris Elba.

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Video: Terrifying Moment When Australian Surfer Collides With Whale

An Australian surfer found himself in a terrifying situation when a whale collided with him, sending him plunging into the sea --and he managed to capture the entire harrowing experience on camera.

Jason Breen was wing foiling at a Sydney beach on Wednesday. While the 55-year-old was cruising along the water at Mona Vale beach, a humpback whale leapt out of the water and landed on top of him, dragging him about 20 to 30 feet below the surface, the Guardian reported. 

Mr Breen can be heard saying in the video, "Shit, I just got hit by a whale."

"I thought I was gone, to be honest," he said later. "I thought for a few seconds, 'This is what it's like to die.'"

See the video here:

🔥 Guy surfs into breaching whale pic.twitter.com/uKtmttcXJI

— NatureIsAmazing (@OurNatureRocks) October 25, 2023

Mr Breen told local media that he feared for his life when the animal dragged him deeper into the sea. 

"Luckily, I felt the leash break and from there I got released from under the whale's body and was able to come to the surface," he said.

"I thank my lucky stars that something that's not supposed to break broke and ringed the webbing out."

Mr Breen swam to the shore and discovered that the incident was recorded on his GoPro camera. 

He added: "The whole thing was unusual, one in a million - it's a massive ocean and there was a guy on a headland who just happened to be filming by coincidence and my GoPro... I wasn't pointing or filming so to get the footage was amazing."

Mr Breen said that the whale had smooth skin, leading him to believe that it was a calf. Mr Breen was unhurt. 

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"Expect Government To...": Congress On Death Penalty To 8 Indians In Qatar

With eight former Indian Navy personnel being handed death penalty in Qatar, the Congress on Thursday said it expects that the Centre will use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to ensure that the Indians have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released.

The Indian nationals, all employees of Al Dahra company, were taken into custody in August last year in an alleged case of espionage. The charges against the Indian nationals were not made public by Qatari authorities.

In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the verdict as "deeply" shocking and said that it is attaching "high importance" to this case as well as exploring all legal options.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "The Indian National Congress has noted with the greatest anguish, distress and shock the most disturbing developments in Qatar regarding 8 former officers of the Indian Navy." "It (the Congress) hopes and expects that the Govt of India will use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to the maximum to ensure that the officers have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released at the earliest," Jairam Ramesh said.

The MEA has said it will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to the Indians.

"We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities," it said in a statement.

"Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture," it added.

India's ambassador to Qatar met the men in prison on October 1 after being granted consular access. 

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

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"Manipur Crisis Not Religious Conflict": Indian-American In Congressional Hearing

The Manipur crisis is a complex web of internecine conflict marked by violence, mistrust, socio-political tensions and a deadly trifecta of insurgency, narcotics and illegal infiltration, which pose significant threats to India's national security, but is not a religious conflict between two communities, an Indian-American scholar told a US Congressional hearing.

Rajshree Keisham, an Indian-American scholar, said the projection of the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clash as a religious conflict by some sections "not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions."

"... Efforts have been made to portray this communal conflict in reductionist terms, projected to the world as the Hindu majority prosecuting the Christian minorities. This oversimplification not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions," Ms Rajshree said in the Congressional hearing, adding the attempts to project the Manipur ethnic violence as a religious one is a "classic case of Hinduphobia".

"The majority-minority debate should be examined in terms of the intersectionality of time, space, and context. For example, Christians are a minority in India, but they are a majority in the northeastern region," said the Indian-American scholar, who holds a PhD in Sociology specialising in Gender Studies and Socio Anthropology.

Over 180 people have died and thousands internally displaced after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following a protest by the Kuki tribes over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the affirmative action Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

Ms Rajshree said Manipur's diversity is its strength, as within the Hindu community in the state, there are other ethnicities including people from Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Nepal and more. Similarly, the Christian community includes Nagas, Kuki and also Meiteis. "This diversity is not a source of division, but a testament to the harmonious coexistence that has characterised Manipur for generations," she said.

She pointed out some social activists and religious leaders of the Christian community have strongly denied the Manipur violence was based on religious lines.

"Mizoram activist Alinery Lian-Luwang told the UN that 'the narratives peddled by international media that the Manipur conflict is of religious nature, holds no ground'," Ms Rajshree said, referring to the speech by the activist at a general debate at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"... The Archbishop of Mumbai categorically mentioned, and I quote, 'It is given a religious twist, but it is not a religious conflict between two religions, it's between two tribes, and we must now not do anything that will worsen the situation'," Ms Rajshree said at the Congressional hearing organised by HinduACTion, and Namaste Shalom Multi-Faith Alliance to address rising antisemitism and Hinduphobia in both the US and Canada.

"In recent times, there has been an alarming surge in attempts to exploit the Manipur conflict as a platform for propagating Hindu hate. This disturbing trend has found traction among certain factions... in the United States, who have strategically exploited religious sentiments to further their divisive agenda. What is even more concerning is the convergence of some radical Islamist groups in the United States, who have appropriated and aligned themselves with this cause. They perceive this situation as a prime opportunity to tarnish the image of Hindus on a global scale," Ms Rajshree said.

In August, three months after the Manipur violence began, a speech by the leader of a Canada-based Kuki-Zo tribes group from Manipur over the ethnic violence back home had sparked a massive controversy. The event was held at the same gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, whose chief and Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified people in June.

Lien Gangte, the Canada chapter chief of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), in his address condemned what he called "attacks on minorities in India" and asked Canada for "all possible help".

NAMTA had posted a video of the event on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on August 7. It deleted the videos much later when the row between India and Canada surfaced following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar.

India's anti-terror body the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 30 said it is investigating a transnational conspiracy case involving terrorist leaders in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The NIA statement came after a terror accused, Seiminlun Gangte, was arrested and charged with conspiring with Myanmar- and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against India by exploiting the ethnic unrest in Manipur.

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"Whatever My Boys Could Do, Daughter Could Too": Nita Ambani On Succession

For girls to learn that they are equal to boys, they have to see that at their homes, says Nita Ambani, wife of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, on how they never differentiated among their three children who in the succession planning have got equal share of the Reliance empire.

Mukesh and Nita Ambani have three children -- twins Isha and Akash, 32, and Anant, 28.

The three have recently been inducted on the board of India's most valuable company and are being groomed to take over its three almost equal verticals.

Isha, who is married to Anand Piramal, son of Piramal Group's Ajay and Swati Piramal, is being groomed for retail, Akash for digital/telecom and Anant for new energy business.

In an interview with CNBC International, Nita Ambani spoke about her family life, including the relationship with husband Mukesh.

"We have learnt so much from each other. Mukesh, as I say, has the floodlights in life... he thinks far ahead of his times. While I get into the meticulous details, he calls it the spotlights," she said.

Stating that she always tells her children that the single-most important decision is choosing the right life partner, she said, "I am so blessed to have Mukesh, who's my best friend and my life partner." "And, you know, we've enjoyed the journey of life, raising our children and our grandchildren," she said.

She says the couple still loves doing the same thing that they used to when they were young.

"So he takes me for a drive, we love listening to Hindi music, eating street food, I love my 'bhel' on the road and he loves his 'dosa idli'.

"So, we still love doing what we used to love doing. So these are the values that we kind of really live every day of loving our family, respecting our elders, being honest, humble, I think not much has changed," she said.

On children, she said Isha, who too is a mother of twins, was hands on for the launch of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) -- a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space in the sphere of arts in Mumbai.

"And now she's leading our retail (business)," she said.

"But I think for girls to learn that they are equal, they have to see that (at) their homes they have mentors who know that they're not anything less than boys. I have never differentiated between Isha and Akash and Anant. Whatever my boys could do, my daughter could do too." And this has been reflected in the succession at Reliance. Though Isha is married into Parimals, she is getting an equal share in the business as her brothers.

"Akash, Isha and Anant and a whole lot of the young generation is going to be the next leadership for Reliance and for India.

"In all three of them, I see different qualities. In Anant, my youngest, I see a compassionate young man who believes in conservation, in making the world a better place," she said.

"Akash is leading the digital revolution through Jio. Isha is leading retail besides taking active interest in Reliance Foundation. All three of them are very, very committed to working in Reliance. They have their own strengths," she said.

She tells her children to concentrate on their strengths and make them stronger. "Nobody's born perfect or nobody can be perfect. And it is okay to make mistakes. You learn much more from your mistakes than you do from your successes. Be humble, Be compassionate. Treat people with respect. And I'm very happy for the new young generation that is growing at Reliance," she added.

A Bharatnatyam dancer, Nita said the inspiration to set up NMACC came when she visited Australia for the Cricket World Cup and saw the Sydney Opera House.

"At that time, I thought, why can't India have something like this of its own? So the idea really sparked off at that time in Australia. And it's taken us now a decade to bring this to life." Nita, who is a member of the International Olympics Committee, said India is absolutely ready to host the Olympics. "Just like we would love to have the Olympics in India, the Olympics also cannot ignore the 1.4 billion people of India." She also heads Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd.

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

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Video: KCR's Party MLA Assaults BJP Leader On Live TV Debate In Telangana

An open debate conducted by a Telugu news channel in connection with the November 30 Telangana Legislative Assembly election turned ugly here on Wednesday with a scuffle breaking out between a BRS MLA and his BJP rival.

However, police and others intervened and separated the two, the video showed.

State BJP president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy alleged the BRS MLA from Quthbullapur in Hyderabad K P Vivekanand had attacked the BJP candidate from the constituency Kuna Srisailam Goud as he was unable to answer the question posed by the latter.

Mr Vivekanand attacking Mr Goud by holding the latter's throat is an act of timidity, Mr Reddy said in a statement.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗥𝗦 - 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗺

BJP MLA candidate from Quthuballapur @KunaSrisailam attacked by BRS sitting MLA.

It's shocking when a contesting opposition candidate is attacked and scuffled in open public, imagine if BRS returns to power even common… pic.twitter.com/h4kj3m9ydw

— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) October 25, 2023

He said police should book a case against the BRS MLA failing which the BJP would take up a legal battle.

When contacted, BRS spokesperson Sravan Dasoju alleged Goud made a reference to the BRS MLA's father though both were supposed to maintain decency and decorum during the debate While Vivekanand is an incumbent MLA, Srisailam Goud was a legislator earlier, he said.

"Both of them are supposed to have maintained decency, decorum," and be restrained.

Mr Goud should not have driven the debate 'attacking' Vivekanand's parents in the first place and the ruling party MLA should not have attacked his rival. "Both could have been sensible and realised the whole world is watching them," Mr Dasoju 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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Israel Finds Itself Increasingly Alone As Anger Grows Over Gaza

Jordan's Queen Rania Al Abdullah was offered a chance to express horror at the Oct. 7 Hamas killing and abduction of Israelis.

How did she feel, she was asked in a CNN interview, "as an Arab, as a Palestinian, a human being, a mother?"

The monarch launched into an impassioned denunciation of Israel's subsequent bombing of Gaza and the West's "double standard," juxtaposing what happened in southern Israel with what is occurring in Gaza. "Are we being told it is wrong to kill an entire family at gunpoint but it's OK to shell them to death?"

The interview, greeted with fury in Israel, is part of a growing disconnect between how the Jewish state views the conflict, and how it is seen by the rest of the Middle East and many further afield.

Inside Israel, a powerful sense of foreboding was evidenced by a new poll showing 64% of Israelis now fear for their physical safety. Hamas continues to fire rockets and missiles into the country every day while militants try to sneak in via land or sea. Security officials believe some of those who entered on Oct. 7 may be in hiding in preparation for a second attack. 

Outside of Israel, many see things differently. On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said of the Hamas killings that they "did not happen in a vacuum," adding, "The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation."

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, was so outraged at the notion that Hamas' violence needed this context that he called on Guterres to resign. The sentiment wasn't limited to those on the right of Israeli politics. "Dark are the days when the United Nations Secretary General condones terror," opposition leader Benny Gantz posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Germany, which has been quick to show its support to Israel in the days since the Oct. 7 attacks, made a point of rejecting its ally's demand. "The UN secretary general has of course the trust of the German government," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin.

Israelis don't deny that the events of Oct. 7 - when 1,400 were killed and another 200 people abducted - require context. But for them, that context is not the mistreatment of Palestinians. They see the attack by Hamas as an extension of anti-Semitic assaults through the centuries.

The Holocaust memorial centre in Jerusalem, known as Yad Vashem, issued a statement in response to Guterres, saying Oct. 7 was different from the Holocaust only "because Jews have today a state and an army. We are not defenseless and at the mercy of others. However, it puts to test the sincerity of world leaders, intellectuals and influencers who come to Yad Vashem and pledge 'Never Again.'" 

There has been a parade of Western leaders through Tel Aviv offering solidarity and support. This follows a visit by President Joe Biden who came offering billions in military aid and referred to painful Jewish history. 

After that visit, Israelis felt understood. They believed that their plan to destroy Hamas would gain world sympathy as they publicized gruesome videos the killers themselves took of slaughter and abuse.

As Israeli fighter jets took to the skies over Gaza and bombarded it, killing thousands, that sympathy has come with qualifications they did not expect. 

Rescuers search the site of collapsed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday canceled a visit to Israel that was meant to take place later this year and added, "Hamas isn't a terror organization but is instead a group of liberators and mujahideen defending their land and people. We will never allow for the killing of children." Turkey also paused plans for energy cooperation with Israel.

Elsewhere in the Muslim world, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that no Muslim leader expects the events in Gaza to be resolved easily. Why? "Israel has become too arrogant with the support of the US and Europe," he said. "It is the level of insanity to allow people to be butchered, babies to be killed, hospitals to be bombed, and schools to be destroyed. It is the height of barbarism in this world."

Israel refers to Hamas as the new ISIS, and has vowed to destroy the militant group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. 

"Saying that Hamas is the new ISIS is not only analytically inaccurate but also carries the risk of making all residents of Gaza vulnerable targets," said Lina Khatib, the Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute in London. "Arabs and Muslims are widely rejecting this simplistic and dangerous characterization."

Many world leaders are calling for a ceasefire that would allow for more aid to get into Gaza, although some describe it as a "humanitarian pause." On Tuesday, eight trucks got in, followed by another 17 on Wednesday, according to Israeli officials, who said every truck was checked by their officers to make sure nothing was going in to help Hamas. 

The aid that's arrived so far is "a drop in the ocean," said Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson for The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, earlier this week.

In Israel, as concerns grow that Hezbollah may enter the war from Lebanon to its north, some speak of leaving for the US or Europe, at least for a period. But others say the anti-Israeli demonstrations across Western cities make them feel even less safe abroad than at home. 

This is a fight, many say, for the Jewish homeland, a second war of independence. But what that will create internally remains unclear. Gun license applications, officials report, are poised to triple. 

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was taken captive by Hamas at a music festival, spoke at the UN and asked why there wasn't more agitation over the abducted. "Where is the world?" she said in anguish. "Where are you?"

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

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Gaza Crisis May Force Rethink Of Security Strategy In Kashmir

The Gaza crisis has raised the possibility of street protests making a comeback in Jammu and Kashmir. That, coupled with an increase in foreign terrorists, has prompted security agencies to conduct a review of security measures and strategise on new ones. 

A meeting of top officials of Jammu and Kashmir and security agencies was held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps in Srinagar on Wednesday. "A new security matrix was discussed and the focus was on how to curb street protests, if any,  that take place in the coming days," a senior official told NDTV, adding that the meeting was aimed at increasing coordination. 

He said people in Kashmir are keeping a close eye on what is unfolding in Gaza. "So far, we fear that some street protests may take place, resulting in a law-and-order situation. So, a new security matrix was discussed to keep things in check," he explains.

Street protests have come down significantly since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and security agencies feel that it was a result of coordinated efforts. 

Another aspect which was discussed in this high-profile meeting was the role that foreign terrorists may play. "The number of foreign terrorists has gone up again as local recruitments have gone down drastically," said another officer. 

Out of 46 militants killed in the UT this year, 37 were Pakistanis and only nine were locals, official figures reveal. This is the first time in the 33 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir that the number of foreign terrorists killed is four times as high as local terrorists. 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs,  about 130 terrorists are operating in the Valley currently, of which half are foreign terrorists. "Pakistan wants to keep the pot boiling and that's why they are pushing more and more terrorists into Kashmir. The fear is that those who are hiding in the upper reaches may also come down to the Valley," said a senior official in New Delhi. 

The meeting held in Srinagar was chaired by RR Bhatnagar, advisor to the Jammu And Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, and Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander, Northern Command. The J&K Director General of Police, the Chinar Corps Commander and other senior officials from the military, state administration and security agencies also attended the meeting.

"The nuances of security in the region related to the onset of the winter season also came up for discussion," said an official.

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Congress Complains To Poll Body Against Amit Shah, Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Congress on Wednesday lodged complaints against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the Election Commission, alleging that their remarks during the Chhattisgarh assembly poll campaign violated the model code of conduct.

A delegation of Congress leaders met the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners and presented to them eight different memorandums of poll code violations in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

The delegation comprised AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, party leader Salman Khurshid, AICC state in-charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakre, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Revanth Reddy, former TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and CLP leader (Telangana assembly) Bhatti Vikramarka.

In its complaint against Mr Shah, the Congress told the EC that the home minister claimed in a speech in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon on October 16 that "...Bhupesh Baghel's government, for appeasement politics and vote bank politics, lynched Chhattisgarh's son Bhuneshwar Sahoo and got him killed..." Mr Shah further said that the BJP had pledged to bring Sahoo's killers to justice and "in his honour, we are fielding his father Ishwar Sahoo as a candidate in the elections", the complaint stated.

The opposition party alleged that these statements and claims are in blatant violation of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Congress' complaint against Assam Chief Minister Sarma pertained to a speech he delivered in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha on October 18 while campaigning against Congress candidate Mohd Akbar.

In his speech, the Congress alleged, Mr Sarma said, "If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled." 

The complaint stated that Mr Sarma subsequently levelled allegations against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, saying, "Today, the tribals of Chhattisgarh, who are dear to us, are being encouraged to convert their religion on a daily basis. And when someone raises their voice against it, Bhupesh Baghel ji says 'we are secular'. Is beating up Hindus your secularism? This country is a country of Hindus and will belong to Hindus. Do not teach us secularism, we do not need to learn secularism from you." Congress leaders claimed that these statements and claims highlight a clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another.

In another complaint, the Congress alleged the central government issued orders directing civil servants and Indian Army soldiers to promote achievements of the BJP dispensation.

"These acts of politicising the conduct of civil servants and Army soldiers violate the model code of conduct and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964," the party said.

The Congress also submitted a complaint against Govind Singh Rajput, the BJP candidate from Surkhi, Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh.

The party sought his disqualification, alleging that he had publicly stated that he would pay Rs 25 lakh to incharges of booths where the maximum number of votes would be cast for the BJP.

The Congress also submitted a complaint against "unlawful" transfer and posting of police officers in Telangana. It claimed these officers were transferred before the completion of two-and-a-half years of their tenure, as mandated by the EC.

It also complained against election duties being assigned to officers in Telangana who publicly support a specific political party.

"The Indian National Congress has consistently highlighted, exposed and documented electoral malpractices and brought them to the attention of the ECI for action and redressal.

"Through this process, the INC has ensured the deletion of lakhs of bogus voters across states, ensured the registration of FIRs against political actors engaging in electoral malpractices, ensured the transfer of officials acting in violation of the law and also secured campaign bans against repeated offenders who flout the law," the Congress said in its memorandum to the poll panel.

Mr Khurshid said as the electoral process begins, "the mudding of the waters by people from other political parties must be immediately curtailed and immediately put to an end".

The Union home minister, the chief minister of Assam and other leaders travelling to different states have taken up "divisive and hurtful" issues that would inevitably divert people's attention from the issues that should be considered important for an election, and cause division and polarisation amongst the voters, he said.

"To have a level playing field and for people to be able to decide fairly and objectively... we hope genuinely that the Election Commission will be able to do something about this," the former union minister said.

Former TPCC chief Reddy said the Congress brought to the EC's notice that elections "have probably become the most corrupt in the state of Telangana from the time this BRS party has come to power".

"We have requested the Election Commission of India to intervene strongly to ensure free and fair elections," 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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Man Sells "Energy Drink" Made From Urine On Amazon, Company Reacts

In a rather bizarre incident, Amazon allowed a user on its e-commerce site to sell bottles of its drivers' urine that were marketed as an energy drink, according to a Channel 4 documentary. In the documentary, titled "The Great Amazon Heist", filmmaker and past prankster Oobah Butler claimed that he collected discarded bottles of Amazon drivers' urine to sell on the e-commerce platform and titled it 'Release'. He stated that the drink emerged as the top-selling in the "Bitter Lemon" category of Amazon, and revealed that the product was made from bottles or urine that he found discarded near Amazon fulfillment centers.

In his documentary, which aired on Thursday, Mr Butler said that he collected the discarded bottles of urine from the Amazon delivery drivers, and then repackaged them and marketed them as a yellow-coloured drink, the Telegraph reported. Separately, speaking to WIRED, he said that it was "surprisingly easy" to get the product listed on the site. He even claimed that Amazon's algorithm moved the bizarre product into its drinks category on the site after he had put it in the "Refillable Pump Dispense" category. 

Mr Butler got some of his friends to purchase the product and felt "initially really excited and found it very funny". However, he added that when real people started trying to buy the product, he felt a bit "scared". Mr Butler reportedly claimed that he never sold the item to any real customers. 

Also read | NASA Unable To Remove Remaining Asteroid Sample From Container, Working On New Ways

Mr Butler said that he decided to make the documentary and list the bottles on Amazon to help shed some light on the company's impact on society, which includes its workers who stated that they were forced to urinate in bottles so that they could meet strict deadlines. He even spoke to some workers who said that they would be urinating in bottles to meet delivery deadlines on the e-commerce site. 

However, reacting to the story of "Release" being sold on the e-commerce site, Amazon said that a distorted picture of their process has been shown to the world. According to Vice, an Amazon spokesperson said that it was a "crude stunt" and that the company has "industry-leading tools to prevent genuinely unsafe products being listed". No "genuine customer" brought the product, they added. 

"Safety is a top priority for Amazon and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations," stated the spokesperson.

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