Centre Issues Advisory For Protection Against Expected Heat Wave

Amid an unusual rise in temperatures in some places of the country, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday issued an advisory, listing the dos and don'ts for protection against the expected heat wave.

The list of 'Dos and Don'ts' comes after the India Meteorological Department issued its first heat warning for 2023.

As part of a national action plan on heat-related illness, the ministry has advised citizens to avoid high-protein food and cooking during the peak summer hours besides asking them to not get out in the sun, especially between 12 noon and 3 pm.

In the advisory, the ministry has also asked people to drink sufficient water whenever possible, even if not thirsty.

It has also asked people to use Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), consume homemade drinks like lemon water, buttermilk/lassi, and fruit juices with some added salt, and stay indoors in well-ventilated and cool places.

Residents have also been advised to consume fresh fruits such as watermelon, cucumber, lemon, and orange, wear thin, loose, cotton garments preferably light coloured ones, and cover heads using an umbrella, hat, cap, towel, and other traditional head gear during exposure to direct sunlight and not go out barefoot.

The ministry further urged citizens to listen to the radio, read newspapers and watch television for local weather news, and also track the IMD's website.

It has asked people to watch out for symptoms of "heat stress" which include dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, headache, extreme thirst, decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine, and rapid breathing and heartbeat.

It said citizens should call on 108/102 immediately if they find someone with a high body temperature; and is either unconscious, confused, or has stopped sweating.

"Do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles. The temperature inside a vehicle could get dangerous," the advisory read.

"Block direct sunlight and heat waves: Keep windows and curtains closed during the day, especially on the sunny side of your house. Open them up at night to let cooler air in.

"If going outdoors, limit your outdoor activity to cooler times of the day i.e., morning and evening," it stated.  

The advisory also mentioned a list of "vulnerable populations which includes infants and young children, pregnant women, people working outdoors, people having a mental illness, people who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure and people coming from cooler climate to hot climate.

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

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Indian Man Who Allegedly Stabbed A Cleaner Shot Dead By Australian Cops

A 32-year-old Indian national was shot dead by Australian police on Tuesday after he allegedly stabbed a cleaner at a train station in Sydney and threatened law enforcement officers, media reports said.

Mohamed Rahmathullah Syed Ahmed, who hails from Tamil Nadu, was identified by the Consulate General of India in Sydney as the man who was fatally shot by police.

Ahmed allegedly attacked a 28-year-old cleaner at the Auburn train station in Sydney's west on Tuesday before arriving at Auburn police station five minutes later, Sydney Morning Herald newspaper quoted police officials as saying.

Two police officers were leaving the police station, when they were confronted by Ahmed, who tried to attack them, the report said.

A police officer fired three shots, two of which hit Ahmed in the chest. A probationary constable also used her Taser on him, it said.

Ahmed was treated at the scene by paramedics and was rushed to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead, the report said.

Detectives are investigating whether mental health played a part in Ahmed stabbing a cleaner and then threatened the police officers, it said.

Ahmed was living in Australia on a bridging visa.

“The incident is extremely disturbing and unfortunate. We have formally taken up the matter with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New South Wales Office as well as state police authorities,” the Consulate said.

At a press conference on Tuesday, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the officers had just seconds to respond and were left with no choice but to shoot Ahmed.

“I fully support these officers. It's traumatic. It's a significant incident at one of our police stations,” he said.

“There just isn't an impending time. It is immediate. He launches through the glass doors at the officers; they had very little time to react," he said.

Smith said the counter-terrorism unit would be brought in to help in the investigation, the report added.

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

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"Probably Bigger Than...": Stokes Reacts After First Loss As Test Captain

England captain Ben Stokes feels blessed to be involved in a dramatic and high-quality game of cricket that his side lost by just one run, saying the enjoyment of being part of the thriller has outweighed the disappointment of losing the second Test. New Zealand defeated England by one run in a sensational finish at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday to level the two-match series 1-1. It is only the fourth occasion in Test history that a team, forced to follow-on, has gone on to win the match, with the previous occasions being England in 1894 and 1981, and India in 2001.

"It's disappointing to not win, obviously. But we look at the bigger picture of what everyone's enjoyed and seen here today. It's probably bigger than the disappointment at the moment," said Stokes, who tasted a rare defeat since taking over as captain last year.

"It's very disappointing to lose, but you can't help but be excited that we've been a part of a game like that." "It's right up there. Going down to the last day, being in the situation of that last half an hour … it's everything you wish for. Even though we came out on the wrong side of it, you can't help but feel blessed that we've managed to be a part of that incredible game," added the all-rounder, who has won 10 Tests out of the 12 he has captained after taking over from Joe Root.

The 31-year-old added that the gamut of emotions his team -- and also the opposing side -- went through was incredible, and gave spectators the thrills they were craving for.

"That game is what Test cricket is about, it was just incredible. The emotions we were going through and obviously the Kiwi boys out there as well. Was incredible to be involved in such a Test match. Everyone's got their money worth." The match came down to the last man standing at the crease.

England bowling stalwart James Anderson smashed a boundary off Neil Wagner, which left England two runs shy of scoring a series victory.

But in a dramatic moment, Anderson was caught on the leg side by a diving Tome Blundell to signal the Blackcaps' win.

"Disappointing to end on a loss but four (wins) out of five away from home is something we will take great pride in. A few months off and get back to what we love doing," said Stokes.

England made a clean sweep of the three-Test series in Pakistan and won the opening Test in New Zealand, making it four away wins in five games.

Stokes added he did not regret the decision to enforce the follow-on after the hosts had been bundled out for 209 in response to England's 435/8 declared.

The hosts put up a superb 483 in the second essay to give England a competitive 258-run winnings target.

"It was always our game to lose once we enforced the follow-on. But the logic behind it (enforcing follow-on) was that our opening bowlers have ripped through their top-order for three innings in a row. We knew that New Zealand had to pretty much play the perfect game to put us in a situation like this," added Stokes.

"Batting in the last innings, chasing 250 is something that we were never worried about. But give huge credit to New Zealand, not only to the way that they played in the second innings, but also the way that they bowled and managed to get very early wickets with not too many runs on the board. So in terms of looking back and making my decision around the follow-on, No, I don't regret it." PTI AM AM AT AT

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Dhoni "Replaced Me...": India Star On Being Legendary Captain's Understudy

MS Dhoni's rise started a new chapter in Indian cricket. The youngster from Ranchi, Jharkhand, who rose to become a giant in world cricket is an inspiration to many. A few months before Dhoni's debut for India in December, 2004, against Bangladesh, another wicketkeeper-batter started his journey for the Men in Blue. His name was Dinesh Karthik. He made his debut in an ODI against England at Lord's in September, 2004. However, Dhoni's dominance was such that Karthik soon became an understudy of the former India skipper. 

While Dhoni went on to win three ICC title as India captain, Karthik worked hard and is still playing at the top level. He even played the 2022 T20 World Cup for India. Recently, Karthik shared his thoughts on making his debut at a time when Dhoni-mania was just starting.

"I made my debut before him. We went together on an India A tour and from there I got picked for the Indian team, he was still there in India A team," Karthik said on the RCB podcast. 

"That was the first time I played a four-day match together with him. I did so well that they picked me for the Indian team. From there, they went on another trip, there was a ODI tournament where he just blasted it. People stood up and said there is nobody like him. They said he's a special player. Obviously I came to the Indian team, but by then the Dhoni mania was so big that you had to pick him. He then replaced me in all formats and he did very well. At the end of the day, it is all about taking opportunities. You got to be ready to take opportunities.

"I was chasing excellence. I was constantly on the path of becoming the best cricketer in the world. Dhoni was there, he wasn't there – that wasn't my lookout. He was doing very well for himself. I knew that he had settled in all team. He made no mistake at the start. They sent him up an order, he got a hundred in ODI. He then went to Test cricket and scored 85. He kept brilliantly. Most importantly, he became a brand overnight. People were after him. He was hugely popular sportsperson right from the outset. I was always the understudy but I was always on the lookout for opportunities, doing something special."

Karthik is now gearing up for the Indian Premier League, where he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Dhoni is also preparing for the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.

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Missing Head Of Murdered Hong Kong Model Found In Pot of Soup

Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model and influencer from Hong Kong, went missing last Tuesday. Two days later, parts of her dismembered body were found in a fridge in a house in the city's Tai Po district. The home also had an electric saw, a meat slicer, and some clothing, according to the authorities.

However, her head, torso and hands were missing. Now, police have found her missing head in one of two big pots containing soup and human remains, New York Post reported.

Superintendent Alan Chung investigating the case said that the head had ''no skin or meat on it'' and was swimming in liquid with soup scraps like carrots and radishes.

''The liquid was up to the top of the pot so to speak, and the whole pot was full,' he said during a press conference. There was a lot of fat solidified in the form of jelly a the top, and there were a lot of scraps of soup. I remember carrots and green radishes, and there was also other minced meat, which I believe were human remains. About the head – it is a skull actually, with no skin or meat on it. So, basically, skull with hair,'' Mr Chung said, during a press conference. 

Police believe the influencer was attacked in a car and was unconscious when she was taken to the house. A forensic examination found a hole at the back of the skull that could be evidence of a fatal attack.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police have charged four people in connection to the gruesome murder. Those charged with Ms Choi's killing included her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his father, Kwong Kau, and brother Anthony Kwong. Ms Choi's former mother-in-law, Jenny Li, was also charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying evidence. 

According to police, Ms Choi had financial disputes with her ex-husband and his family involving a luxury property involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars. All four appeared in court on Monday and were denied bail, with the next hearing set to take place on May 8.

Notably, Ms Choi, a well-known model and influencer, has appeared in Elle, Vogue, as well as Harper's Bazaar. She was a regular at Paris Fashion Week as well. Her last social media post was on February 19, featuring a photoshoot she had done with the fashion magazine L'Officiel Monaco.

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Origin Of Covid "Shouldn't Be Politicised": China On Lab-Leak Theory

China on Monday rejected a new US report that claims the Covid-19 virus may have leaked from a bio laboratory in Wuhan, saying the origins-tracing of the pandemic "is about science and should not be politicised."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the international experts have considered the theory that the pandemic might have leaked from a Chinese laboratory as "extremely unlikely".

She said it is a science-based, authoritative conclusion reached by the experts of the WHO-China joint mission after field trips to the lab in Wuhan and in-depth communication with researchers.

Mao's remarks came in response to the US Department of Energy's (USDE) latest assessment that the coronavirus mostly likely leaked from a bio laboratory in Wuhan.

"It was accurately recorded in the mission's report and has received extensive recognition from the international community," she said.

"The origins-tracing of SARS-CoV-2 is about science and should not be politicised. China has always supported and participated in global science-based origins-tracing," Mao said.

The USDE has assessed in the intelligence report that it had "low confidence" that the Covid-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan, CNN reported on Sunday.

A low confidence assessment generally means that the information obtained is not reliable enough or is too fragmented to make a more definitive analytic judgment or that there is not enough information available to draw a more robust conclusion, it said.

The Huanan market in central China's Wuhan city was the epicentre of the pandemic. From its origin there, the SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly spread to other locations in Wuhan in late 2019 and then to the rest of the world, killing nearly seven million people.

A WHO team of experts who visited Wuhan in 2021 amid the raging controversy over the lab-leak theory, which China vehemently denied, stated in its report that the leak from the Wuhan bio lab was the "least likely hypothesis".

But WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who received the report, said the Wuhan lab leak allegation required further probe.

"As far as the WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table," Ghebreyesus said.

Over two years since Covid-19 was first detected in Wuhan, the question of how the virus first emerged remains a mystery.

It is suspected that the coronavirus may have escaped, accidentally or otherwise, from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus was first recorded.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has been studying coronaviruses in bats for over a decade.

The USDE assessment further adds to the divide in the US government over whether the Covid-19 pandemic began in China in 2019 as the result of a lab leak or whether it emerged naturally.

The various intelligence agencies have been split on the matter for years.

In 2021, the intelligence community declassified a report that showed four agencies in the intelligence community had assessed with low confidence that the virus likely jumped from animals to humans naturally in the wild, while one assessed with moderate confidence that the pandemic was the result of a laboratory accident, the CNN report said.

A USDE spokesperson in a statement to CNN said, "the Department of Energy continues to support the thorough, careful, and objective work of our intelligence professionals in investigating the origins of COVID-19, as the President directed."

The Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence is one of the 18 government agencies that make up the intelligence community, which is under the umbrella of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

The controversial lab-leak theory first emerged early on in the pandemic and was promoted by then-US President Donald Trump.

China has rejected the claim that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory, calling it a smear, and has suggested the coronavirus may have entered the country in food shipments from another country.

Given the massive human toll of the pandemic, most scientists think understanding how and where the virus originated is crucial to prevent it from happening again.

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

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Feeling Constipated? 5 Everyday Diet Tips To Regulate Bowel Movement

There are days when you start the morning in an irritated mood because your gut is giving you a silent treatment. Let's agree, we all have been there. Constipation is quite a common problem among many people. It can be uncomfortable and painful at times, especially when it is prolonged. Ever wondered what can be the probable reason for constipation?! It shouldn't come as a surprise that food and lifestyle play a major role in your gut's performance. Let's start with understanding what constipation is and how it affects our regular life.

What is the problem of constipation?

Constipation is a digestive condition characterised by an infrequent or difficult bowel movement. As per experts, the condition is typically defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. However, this can vary depending on the individual. Constipation may often cause stools to be hard, dry, and difficult to pass. This can lead to straining during bowel movements, discomfort, and even pain at times.

Also Read: 5 Foods That Can Help You Poop And Ease Constipation

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Infrequent bowel movements:

As mentioned earlier, it is one of the most common symptoms of constipation is infrequent bowel movements, which are typically fewer than three bowel movements per week.

Difficulty passing stool:

Constipation often makes it difficult to pass stool, resulting in straining or pain during bowel movements.

Hard or lumpy stool:

A stool that is hard, dry, or lumpy is another symptom of constipation. This can make bowel movements even more difficult and painful.

Abdominal pain or bloating:

Constipation can cause abdominal discomfort, bloating, and cramping due to the build-up of gas and stool in the digestive system.

Feeling irritated:

Constipation can leave you feeling irritated. It majorly happens due to unclear bowel movements.

What are the major causes of constipation?

Nutrient deficiency:

One of the most common reasons for constipation is a lack of dietary fibre. Fibre adds bulk to stool, which helps it move more easily through the digestive system. A diet that is low in fibre can cause constipation.

Inadequate fluid intake:

Inadequate fluid intake can also lead to constipation. Without enough water, stool can become hard and difficult to pass. It is important to drink plenty of water and other fluids to help keep stools soft and easy to pass.

High-fat diet:

A diet that is high in fat (and low in fibre) can also cause constipation. These types of foods can be difficult to digest, leading to constipation.

Increased stress:

Stress is quite unhealthy that is often blamed for irregular bowel movements. It is said that stress-related changes can directly affect our gut health, leading to constipation or loose stools.

Medical condition:

Certain medical conditions may cause constipation, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thyroid disorders, diabetes, and certain neurological conditions. Hence, it is always advised to consult a doctor if you are experiencing chronic constipation problem.

Home remedies: How to prevent constipation?

As mentioned earlier, what comes out of your body depends much on what goes in. Hence, it is important to load up on a healthy diet regime to prevent constipation and other gut-related problems. Here, we bring you some simple dietary tips that you can follow every day to regulate bowel movements.

Also Read: 6 Best Fruits To Manage Constipation

 

5 everyday diet tips to promote healthy bowel movement:

Increase fibre intake:

Fibre-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and lentils can help regulate bowel movements. These foods help add bulk to the stool and promote its regularity. Experts suggest aiming for at least 25-30 grams of fibre per day. Click here for some of the most popular fibre-enriched food options.

Drink plenty of water:

Staying hydrated is important for maintaining regular bowel movements. It is always recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water per day to keep up overall health.

Incorporate probiotics:

Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, chaas, kimchi and more can help promote healthy gut bacteria and improve digestive function. Click here for some popular desi probiotic food options.

Avoid processed foods:

Processed foods and fat and calorie-laden junk foods can disrupt the digestive system and lead to irregular bowel movements. Instead, always choose whole, unprocessed foods for better gut health. Here are some whole-grain options for you to add to your daily diet.

Exercise regularly:

Regular exercise can help stimulate bowel movements and improve overall digestive health. Health experts always suggest brisk walking or light exercises for at least half an hour on most days of the week.

Eat healthy, stay fit!

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Kashmiri Pandit Group Calls For "Brutal Operation" Against Terrorists

Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti or KPSS has called for a "brutal operation" against terrorists and their supporters in the Valley, a day after the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Kumar by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

KPSS, an organization of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley, has also demanded replacing Jammu and Kashmir's Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to protect Pandits in the Valley.

In a strongly worked statement, the KPSS claims that a sizeable number of Kashmiri Muslims are working for terrorists responsible for killing of Kashmiri Pandits.

"Decisions taken by the Government of India in August 2019 have exposed the Kashmiri Society and its social fabric. Two out of Ten have turned OGWs (over ground workers) for these terror Organisations who are responsible for the killing of Kashmiri Pandits and other religious minorities" said Sanjay Tikoo, president KPSS.

The Pandit group said that "in a fight between Muslim Kashmir and Hindu India, religious minorities living in Kashmir are becoming a scapegoat".

Press Release - 27.02.2023
Raliv, Galiv ya Chaliv (convert, die or leave) a modus-operandi initiated by the Radical Kashmiries to establish Islamic Doctrine in Kashmir continues and is reverberated by every #KashmiriPandit killing which is happening in Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/JO4bBs4cDR

— KPSS (@KPSSamiti) February 27, 2023

The KPSS said religious terrorist groups are issuing threats against Pandits. "Islamic countries and scholars repeatedly claim that terror doesn't have a religion, but they need to see in Kashmir that here it not only has a religion but a face too."

Mr Tikoo has appealed to the Prime Minister to issue necessary directions to initiate "brutal operation against the militants and their aides to safe guard the lives of the innocents Kashmiri Pandits and other religious minorities living in Kashmir".

On Sunday, Sanjay Kumar, a Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by terrorists near his home at Achan village in Pulwama district.

Soon after the killing, local Muslims held protests and demanded an end to terrorism to save Kashmiriyat. Since yesterday candlelight vigil was were held at several places to protest against the killing.

This was the first targeted attack on a Kashmiri Pandits after a gap of over four months in the Valley. In 2022, four Kashmiri Pandits were killed in targeted attacks by terrorists in Kashmir.

Mr Tikoo however is cynical about these anti terrorist protests. He claims that same people who are behind the killings are joining protests held against the killers.

"After executing the task these people join the wailing crowd in stealth mode by giving statements about Kashmiriyat and join Candle Light Marches. Just strategy has changed but the result is the same and i.e. Islamic Kashmir without Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus," said the Pandit organisation.

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Maanvi And Varun Host An Outdoor Lunch Party, Share Beautiful Pics

Maanvi Gagroo and Varun Kumar just dropped a series of images from their outdoor lunch party and it is truly a treat for the eyes. The couple, who were twinning in white, chose to wear traditional outfits for the party they hosted post their marriage. Maanvi was seen wearing a vibrant lehenga and teamed it with Kundan jewelry. Varun wore a white kurta-pajama paired with a vibrant jacket. Sharing the images, Maanvi wrote, "23/23 celebrations would've been incomplete without an outdoor lunch party in the Delhi winter(ish) sun."

The post has been garnering a lot of likes with many users congratulating the couple on their marriage. One user commented, “Congratulations maanvi and varun! Maanvi - you just look breathtaking in every single picture.” Another wrote, “Oooooooh you look like a sunkissed flower.” See the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maanvi Gagroo (@maanvigagroo)

Newlyweds Maanvi Gagroo and Varun Kumar, who got married on February 23, hosted a post-wedding party in Mumbai for their family and close friends on the same day. The bash was attended by Maanvi's co-stars Sayani Gupta (Four More Shot Please!) and Kunaal Roy Kapur with his wife Shayonti (TVF Tripling). Other celebs who were spotted at the party were Patralekhaa and Rasika Dugal. For the special occasion, Maanvi opted for a pink lehenga set and accessorized the look with gold jewelry. Varun, on the other hand, looked dashing in a black pant-suit set.

The couple happily posed for the shutterbugs stationed at the venue. Maanvi's parents Surender-Urmil Gagroo and Varun's mom were also pictured at the bash. See some pictures from the day here: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maanvi Gagroo (@maanvigagroo)

On Valentine's Day, Maanvi Gagroo officially confirmed that she is dating Varun Kumar in an adorable Instagram post. She shared a picture from their vacation and wrote, "Found my lobster. #HappyValentinesDay"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maanvi Gagroo (@maanvigagroo)

Meanwhile, on the work front, Maanvi Gagroo is best known for her performance as Siddhi Patel in Four More Shots Please! and as Chanchal Sharma in Tripling. She has also worked in movies such as Ujda Chaman, No One Killed Jessica, and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.

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With 'Hera Pheri 3' Post, Suniel Shetty Explains Bollywood Film Business

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty on Monday confirmed that the much-awaited 'Hera Pheri 3' is "finally happening". Taking to LinkedIn, Mr Shetty, who played the role of Shaam in the movie, announced that the film's shooting has started. 

"So Hera Pheri 3 is finally happening! Look forward to being back on set with Pareshji & Akki. Like all good things, this one took some time, but it's a relief to finally have an answer to this question!" the actor wrote in his post. 

Mr Shetty also spoke about how movies are financed, produced and released, as well as how they make money. "The movie business isn't very different. To explain the entirety of the movie business here would be oversimplifying it. But let's just say having a good script, a set of actors & a director is literally just the starting point," he wrote. 

Further, while explaining the several revenue outlets for a film, ranging from box office receipts to digital and satellite rights and music, Mr Shetty said that there are several factors for any business to succeed - a good idea, thorough market research, a solid business plan, a skilled team, funding at the right time and a strong distribution network. 

"The movie business isn't very different. To explain the entirety of the movie business here would be oversimplifying it. But let's just say having a good script, a set of actors & a director is literally just the starting point," the actor explained. 

Also Read | "Everything Is Mystical": Mexico President Shares Photo Of What He Claims To Be An Elf

The 'Refugee' actor termed the distribution of films as a complex process that involves several layers like producers, distributors and exhibitors. "Once a film's made, a studio typically either sells the distribution rights to a distributor or appoints one on a commission basis, who is then responsible for securing screens from theatre owners, negotiating terms & releasing the film in theatres. Sometimes distributors negotiate a % of the box office collections," he wrote on LinkedIn.

Mr Shetty also mentioned various ways to monetise films. "#BoxOffice collections, domestic & international, are the primary ones," he said. Further, pointing out that music rights are another key source of revenue, he stated, "#MusicRights are another important source of revenue. Usually sold to a #musiclabel who in turn monetise it through channels like streaming, licensing, digital ad revenues, etc..." 

"33 years & 125 films later I don't have it all figured out, but I will keep getting better at it," the actor concluded. 

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''Skipped A Heartbeat'': Employee Laid Off By Google India Shares Ordeal

The past few months have been gloomy for the technology sector as several big tech firms have carried out massive layoffs. Tech giant Google is also learnt to have sacked around 450 employees across various departments in India. The sudden layoffs have prompted several employees to express their grief and share their stories about their time at the tech giant.

Impacted by the job cut, a Google India employee, hailing from Hyderabad, who worked as Digital media senior associate at the company, shared his ordeal on LinkedIn. 

In a lengthy post, the employee said how he ''skipped a heartbeat'', on Saturday when he received the mail informing him that he had been laid off. He further wrote that Google fired him even after rewarding him with a ''star'' performer of the month badge. 

His post reads, ''Saturday Morning I skipped a heartbeat when I got a pop-up email notification on my phone stating email was from Google Operations Center. I have been affected by a layoff - workforce reduction at Google Operations Center. One of the most valuable esteemed companies. I was a proud #Googler and will always be... I had a very first question why me though I was star performer for month still why me? And I see there was no answer at all!''

Sharing how the layoff has affected him, he wrote, "My salary is half for 2 months! My financial plans are completely ruined! This took place on Saturday and it took me two days to get the strength to jot this down and now I have to fight back for survival."

The former Google employee also urged people on LinkedIn to suggest a better opportunity available for him. He said, ''If my connections could react to this it would help me reach out any better opportunity. May all the people fighting the battle of layoff find a way to fight the inner battle and also survival battle.''

Aakriti Walia, a Google Cloud program manager based in Gurugram, who recently celebrated her 5-year-Googleversary at the firm was also laid off. She expressed how the "access denied" message on her computer left her numb. 

In January, Alphabet Inc announced that it was eliminating about 12,000 jobs or six per cent of its workforce. Some of the staff realised they lost their jobs when they were unable to access the systems. CEO Sundar Pichai told staff in a memo that the firm had reviewed its products, people and priorities, leading to job cuts across geographies and tech.

Earlier in January, Microsoft announced 10,000 job cuts or nearly 5 per cent of its workforce. Amazon also is cutting 18,000 jobs. Meta let go over 11,000 workers last year, 13% of its workforce, in its first major layoff.

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"Event Management Can't Save AAP From Law": BJP On Manish Sisodia Arrest

The BJP has hit out at the Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party over its claims that the Central Bureau of Investigation is being misused by the Centre, following the arrest of Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. "Event management can't save AAP from the law," said the BJP's Sambit Patra, questioning why AAP chose to withdraw the controversial liquor policy when his party questioned it.

AAP has claimed that the arrest of Mr Sisodia this evening in connection with the now-withdrawn liquor policy, is the BJP's political retaliation over its failure to get Delhi's mandate.

"Manish Sisodia, other AAP leaders never explained why they withdrew the excise policy after corruption was flagged... Delhi excise policy was leaked to liquor-contractor 'friends' by AAP before it was sent to the Group of Ministers," Mr Patra told reporters at a press conference this evening. "AAP spread liquor culture in Delhi and lost liquor money in election campaign," he added.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, the BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "He may have done work on education. But that doesn't mean he should indulge in corruption in liquor policy".

The reference was to Mr Sisodia's education and finance portfolios, two areas that AAP cites as reason for its huge popularity. AAP has won two sweeping victories in Delhi in face of BJP challenge and had a landslide victory in neighbouring Punjab last year.  

"Black day for democracy! BJP's CBI arrested the world's best education minister Manish Sisodia in a fake case, who is shaping the future of lakhs of children. The BJP has made this arrest due to political rivalry," read a rough translation of AAP's Hindi tweet after the arrest. The party has dubbed it an attack on governance in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal.

Mr Patra alleged that Mr Sisodia must be the only education minister in the world who is involved in a liquor scam. "Manish Sisodia, you played with the future of children," he added.

Mr Sisodia and others face corruption allegations in connection with a new liquor sale policy in 2021. The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing of the policy, for which kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore were paid by a liquor lobby it dubbed the "South Group".

The policy would have led to a 12 per cent profit for them, of which 6 per cent was routed to public servants through middlemen, the agency claimed.

The Enforcement Directorate has also launched an investigation, alleging laundering of the kickbacks.

After the policy was scrapped, the BJP said the Delhi government went back to the old liquor sale policy to cover up the corruption.

Mr Sisodia was asked to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation last Sunday for questioning, but he sought more time, citing the pending Delhi budget. Earlier, he had faced a nine-hour questioning session by the Enforcement Directorate officials, after which he claimed the officials had asked him to quit AAP.

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Olaf Scholz Asks More Indian Techies To Consider Working In Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, wrapping up a two-day visit to India, urged the country's IT specialists and other skilled workers to consider working in Germany.

Looking for ways to tackle labor shortages in Europe's largest economy, Scholz said his coalition government was planning to reduce immigration hurdles and introduce a point-based system that would grant visas even to specialists who don't yet have a firm job offer in hand.

He offered no specifics on how many workers Germany hopes to attract from India.

"I am quite sure that many will want to take advantage of the opportunities to work as skilled workers in Germany," Scholz told reporters during a visit at software company SAP Labs India in Bangalore, where he held a roundtable discussion with workers.

"We need this in all areas of employment, but of course especially when it comes to skills such as those we have seen today in the area of software and IT development," Scholz said.

The German leader's trip to India was aimed at deepening economic ties as well as discussing Russia's war in Ukraine with PM Modi, who'll host the next leaders summit of the Group of 20 nations in September.

Scholz, who traveled with a large business delegation, said Saturday he would personally make an effort to advance talks between the EU and India for a trade and investment agreement.

PM Modi and the German chancellor also discussed closer defense cooperation, including a possible joint venture to build six submarines in India to help the Asian nation modernize its maritime forces.

#Indien ist eine Hightech-Nation, mit enormer Kompetenz in der Digitalisierung. Das hat mich beeindruckt, etwa bei SAP in Bengaluru, der zweiten Station meiner Indien-Reise. Als starkes und offenes Land kann DEU vom Austausch - insbesondere auch von Fachkraften - sehr profitieren pic.twitter.com/BRlhu58OxF

-- Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 26, 2023

During his meeting with workers at the SAP Labs, Scholz said he was "determined" to reduce bureaucratic hurdles to immigration for skilled workers, and "make it easier to come to Germany as a specialist, including with your own family."

Scholz said he wants to "establish a new system that allows people to apply for a visa to Germany who still have not signed a specific job contract, but who come with a lot of talent and skills, and then find a job in Germany."

The coalition government is putting the finishing touches on a draft law to ease immigration barriers, Scholz said. The new system is planned to work on a points basis, comparable to those in countries such as Canada.

A command of the German language would be an advantage, he added.

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

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"Sensitive Info Leaked": Phogat On #MeToo Investigation Of Wrestling Body

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) vs Wrestlers saga is showing no signs of an end. Despite a probe committee being formed to investigate the accusations of 'sexual harassment' against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, there hasn't been any development on the matter. In fact, now Vinesh Phogat, one of the wrestlers demanding the removal of Brij Bhushan from the wrestling body, has claimed that a member of the probe committee is leaking 'sensitive information' to the press. Phogat has demanded strict action be taken against the person.

In a post on Twitter, Phogat said that a certain member of the oversight committee has allegedly leaked the contents of the complaint to the media. Phogat also questioned the 'attitude of the person against women'.

"It has come to my recent awareness that a sportsperson member of the Oversight Committee has been allegedly leaking contents of the complaint of sexual harassment while reading certain media reports since yesterday. Being a sports person it is extremely disheartening to see a fellow sports-person member of the Oversight Committee has behaved so recklessly. Their attitude towards women is evident from such behaviour," she wrote.

Requirement of action against a member of oversight committee for leaking sensitive information to the press. @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/cUPDDUXhaf

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) February 26, 2023

"It is even more appalling that this sportsperson is a member of both the committees enquiring upon the sexual harassment allegations against high-ranking office bearers of the WFI. All this has placed great mistrust towards the committee proceedings. | am feeling let down at the not just weak but also strategic attempts of this committee member towards what should have been a fair and just investigation. I request that strict action be taken against the member for using his position in such a manner and that they should be immediately removed from the committee.

"The concern is not limited to the proceedings of this investigation itself as I'm sure that the former President is finding support from this member. This member has been acting against the interest of women from day one. The lack of empathy and insensitivity displayed by this sportsperson was shocking during the proceedings of the committee. I request this matter to be investigated and all necessary actions to be taken immediately," the post added.

It was also recently reported that the Sports Ministry is annoyed with the country's top wrestlers for opting out of multiple international events amid the ongoing stand-off with the Wrestling Federation of India.

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Arvind Kejriwal's First Big Challenge After Manish Sisodia's Arrest

The Arvind Kejriwal government is staring at a possible crisis with the CBI arresting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who holds as many as 18 of the total 33 departments, including education, finance and home.

The arrest of Mr Sisodia comes after that of Satyendar Jain, Delhi's then health minister, in June last year. Both have led what the Aam Aadmi Party describes as the successful transformation of Delhi's education and health services, contributing to the party's popularity and continued electoral success.

Their absence leaves Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with no heavyweight lieutenant to implement his governance agenda in Delhi.

The immediate challenge for Mr Kejriwal is to present the Delhi government budget as scheduled and find Mr Sisodia's replacement.

Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party said Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot may present the Delhi government budget for the next financial year.

"As there was a possibility that the deputy chief minister may be arrested by the CBI, Mr Gahlot was attending budget-related meetings for the last few days.

"Gahlot is likely to present the 2023-24 budget. It is scheduled to be presented next month," an AAP functionary told PTI.

According to the Delhi government's websites, there are a total of 33 departments.

Of these, Mr Sisodia looks after 18, including health, education, public works department (PWD), services, finance, power, home and urban development. He is also in charge of all other departments not specifically allotted to any minister.

Apart from Mr Kejriwal, the Delhi government has six cabinet ministers, including jailed Satyendar Jain who is still a minister without a portfolio. Mr Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai has only three departments while Imran Hussain is in charge of only two departments -- food and civil supplies, and election.

Kailash Gahlot is in charge of six departments, including revenue, and transport while Raj Kumar Anand has four portfolios.

The CBI on Sunday evening arrested Mr Sisodia, who is close to Mr Kejriwal, in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22 after nearly eight hours of questioning.

This was the second round of questioning of Mr Sisodia after the agency registered a case on August 17 last year. He was quizzed on October 17 last year.

Mr Kejriwal termed the arrest "dirty politics" and asserted that his deputy was innocent.

"Manish is innocent. His arrest is dirty politics. It has angered people quite a lot. People are watching everything. People now understand everything and will give a reply to this. It will boost our spirit and our struggle will only get stronger," Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. 

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

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Old Video: CEO Takes Shots From AK-47 To Prove Bulletproof Cars' Security

An old video showing what it's like to be shot at with an AK-47 in a bulletproof Mercedes Benz has resurfaced on social media and left users stunned. The clip was posted on Twitter on Saturday by an account called Interesting Engineering. It showed Texas Armoring Corporation's (TAC) CEO sitting inside a bulletproof Mercedes Benz SUV while it was being shot at by an AK-47. 

"Texan armored vehicle company markets its product in the most Texas way possible," the caption of the post read. The short video showed TAC CEO Trent Kimball sitting alone inside the Mercedes-Benz as 8-10 rounds from an AK-47 rained down upon the SUV.

Watch the video below: 

Texan armored vehicle company markets its product in the most Texas way possible.#engineering pic.twitter.com/M0bqZlcgXE

— Interesting Engineering (@IntEngineering) February 25, 2023

The clip was first released by the company back in 2014. According to New York Post, the shots were fired by the firm's sales and export compliance manager, Lawrence Kosub, who seemed very familiar with an assault rifle. In the video, all of Mr Kosub's shots hit the windscreen but none of them breached it. 

Coming back to the video, since being shared it has accumulated more than 4.8 million views and hundreds of likes and comments. Internet users were shocked to see how the company's CEO didn't even flinch once during the whole scene. 

"Confidence in one's product," wrote one user. "A lot of confidence must have gone in there...whew," said another. 

Also Read | Chinese University Invents "Kissing Device" That Lets Users Smooch Over The Internet

A third user commented, "Gotta admire a man who stands behind his products 100%". A fourth added, "Now this is a CEO who truly stands behind his product.  Give that man a raise". One user even expressed, "This is both terrifying and very serious. You guys are bosses." 

Meanwhile, according to Fox News, Texas Armoring Corporation is a supplier of bulletproof vehicles based out of San Antonio, US. the company produces a range of armoured passenger vehicles and they can even upgrade a person's current car.

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Eknath Shinde's "Ties With Dawood Ibrahim" Dig At Opposition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday took a dig at the Opposition for boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the Budget session of the state legislature, and said it was good that those having ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim did not turn up for it.

The budget session of the state legislature, which begins on Monday, will end on March 25. The opposition parties - the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Congress - boycotted the tea party hosted by the government on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters here later, CM Shinde said, "In a way, it was good that the opposition did not turn for the high tea when some of them have ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Instead of calling our (Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance as anti-Maharashtra, will you not call such people anti-nationals? There are some people in the opposition parties who have had ties with Haseen Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim." Shinde was apparently referring to former state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who is currently in jail following his arrest last year in a money-laundering case linked to the activities of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The chief minister also took a dig at senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

"Ajit Pawar is saying that I changed my allegiance (from Uddhav Thackeray to the BJP), but he should not forget that I am still following what late Balasaheb Thackeray taught us. Even the Election Commission's decision to allot us the name Shiv Sena and symbol (of bow and arrow) proves it," Shinde said.

"Unlike Pawar, who on one day took an oath with Devendra Fadnavis (in November 2019) and changed it again within a couple of days. You need not have to be wise to make any random allegations. Pawar is like a fish out of water. Since he is out of power, he is acting in this manner," the CM added.

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

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"Congress Could Have Been More Vocal On Bilkis Bano Case": Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the Congress should be absolutely clear in its ideological stance in favour of an inclusive India and pointed out that party could have been more vocal on issues such as the Bilkis Bano outrage and murder in the name of cow vigilantism.

Addressing the 85th plenary session of the party in Raipur, the former Union minister said the Congress should stand up for its foundational principles.

"We should be absolutely clear in our ideological stance in favour of inclusive India. The tendency to downplay some positions or avoid taking a stand on some issues in order not to alienate what we assume to be the sentiments of the majority only plays into the BJP's hands," Mr Tharoor said.

"We must have the courage of our convictions. We could have been more vocal on the Bilkis Bano outrage, attacks on Christian churches, murder in the name of cow vigilantism, bulldozer demolition of Muslim homes and similar issues," he said.

These are Indian citizens who look to the party for support, Mr Tharoor added.

Last year in August, all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang rape case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy, triggering outrage from various sections, including the Congress. He asserted that India belongs to all and if the party does not speak up in such cases, it is only surrendering its core responsibility of standing up for India's diversity and pluralism which should be central to the Congress core message.

He said every effort must be made to strengthen the secular foundations of the country.

"The fact is that India's future is bright as long as the Congress fights the good fight," Mr Tharoor said.

He also hailed the Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying it has revived the confidence of the party cadre.

"From here let us send out a message of Congress jodo," Mr Tharoor said.

Speaking on the economic resolution passed on the second day of the three-day plenary, Mr Tharoor said it should outline the elements of a progressive economic agenda that addresses head-on the challenge of unacceptable economic inequality.

"We want economic growth but we must ensure that the fruits of that growth reach the poor and the marginalised. India will not shine until it shines for all," he stressed.

The former minister of state for external affairs and the convenor of the party's sub-group on foreign affairs for the plenary also said policy has long been seen as an are of national consensus.

"There was no Congress foreign policy or BJP foreign policy only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest. This tradition has sadly been undermined by the (Narendra) Modi government," Mr Tharoor said.

Mr Tharoor also criticised the government, saying it refuses to take the nation into confidence on vital foreign policy issues, including what is happening on the LAC with China.

"It is shocking to hear our foreign minister imply that China is too rich to stand up to. We must demand that Parliament be taken into confidence, that the nation be told what is our thinking about our vital foreign policy interests," he said.

Foreign policy must again return to being a consensual national endeavour with bipartisan agreement and support, he asserted.

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

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Box Office Report: Akshay's Selfiee Earns Rs 2.55 Crore On Opening Day

Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi's new release Selfiee, which hit the theatres on Friday, earned merely Rs 2.55 crore on its opening day, Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. Taran Adarsh described the film's opening day collection as "disastrous." Taran Adarsh wrote in his tweet: "Selfiee has a disastrous Day 1... Sends shock waves throughout the industry... One of the lowest starts for a film that has several prominent names attached to it... Fri Rs 255 cr+ India biz."

Read the tweet shared by Taran Adarsh here:

#Selfiee has a disastrous Day 1... Sends shock waves throughout the industry... One of the lowest starts for a film that has several prominent names attached to it... Fri 2.55 cr+. #India biz. pic.twitter.com/juk8aCCvZq

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 25, 2023

In a separate tweet, Taran Adarsh compared Selfie's opening day collection to that of Pathaan and Shehzada. Both the films released this year. He mentioned that Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, earned Rs 27.08 crore on its release day. Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon's Shehzada's opening day collection was Rs 2.92 crore.

#Selfiee at national chains... *Day 1* biz...#PVR: 64 lacs#INOX: 43 lacs#Cinepolis: 23 lacs
Total: 1.30 cr
Nett BOC.
SHOCKINGLY LOW NUMBERS

2023 releases... national chains only - *Day 1* biz...
#Pathaan: 27.08 cr
#Shehzada: 2.92 cr
Nett BOC. pic.twitter.com/Gi9W9gaqep

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 25, 2023

The film opened to largely underwhelming reviews. In his review for NDTV, film critic Saibal Chatterjee gave the film 2 stars and he wrote: "Script isn't King in Selfiee. It is an unabashed Akshay Kumar show. The star leaves absolutely nothing to chance. He stamps himself on everything that the vapid film has on offer. The narrative (derived from the late Sachy's screenplay) is tweaked and stretched to make space for an actor in search of a hit. But nothing clicks."

Selfiee, directed by Raj Mehta, is based on the 2019 Malayalam film Driving Licence, which featured Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the lead roles. Selfiee also features Nushrratt Bharuccha and Diana Penty.

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Core Within Earth's Core: Scientists Discover Deepest Region Of Earth

In order to comprehend planetary origin and evolution, scientists have been investigating the Earth's centre for a very long time, and recently they have made a huge discovery related to the innercore of the planet Earth.

Until recently, it was believed that the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core made up the structure of the Earth. But, new research published in Nature Communications confirms that there is actually a fifth layer.

According to a new study, scientists have made previously unheard-of observations of a mystery metal ball that resides within the Earth's deep core, revealing a structure that has long been the subject of conjecture but has never been seen in such detail.

Researchers said the intensive study of Earth's deep interior, based on the behavior of seismic waves from large earthquakes, confirmed the existence of a distinct structure inside our planet's inner core - a wickedly hot innermost solid ball of iron and nickel about 800 miles (1,350 km) wide.

Earth's diameter is about 7,900 miles (12,750 km). The planet's internal structure comprises four layers: a rocky crust on the outside, then a rocky mantle, an outer core made of magma and a solid inner core. This metallic inner core, about 1,500 miles (2,440) wide, was discovered in the 1930s, also based on seismic waves traveling through Earth.

"We may know more about the surface of other distant celestial bodies than the deep interior of our planet," said observational seismologist Thanh-Son Pham of the Australian National University in Canberra, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

"We analyzed digital records of ground motion, known as seismograms, from large earthquakes in the last decade. Our study becomes possible thanks to the unprecedented expansion of the global seismic networks, particularly the dense networks in the contiguous US, the Alaskan peninsula, and over the European Alps," Pham added.

"Earth's inner core (IC), which accounts for less than 1% of the Earth's volume, is a time capsule of our planet's history. As the IC grows, the latent heat and light elements released by the solidification process drive the convection of the liquid outer core, which, in turn, maintains the geodynamo," said Pham and Tkalcic in the study.

"As the IC grows, the latent heat and light elements released by the solidification process drive the convection of the liquid outer core, which, in turn, maintains the geodynamo," they said referring to the mechanism that generates Earth's magnetic field.  

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Student In US Brutally Thrash Teacher Who Confiscated His Nintendo Switch

In a disturbing event that occurred in the United States, a female staff member of a Florida school was brutally thrashed by a teenage student after she took his Nintendo Switch away.

According to the Fox News story, the violent altercation took place at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, Florida, on Tuesday. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office reported that a 17-year-old was detained and charged with felony aggravated assault with bodily harm.

According to deputies, he became irate when a female teacher's assistant stole his Nintendo Switch during class.

The disturbing event was captured on tape by the CCTV cameras, and it reveals the 6'6" and 270-pound 17-year-old student pushing the teacher's assistant to the ground before continuing to punch and kick her.

After continuously stomping on the paraprofessional inside Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, the youngster punched the woman many times.

According to The New York Post, several other employees who saw the savage assault ran to rescue the teacher from the violent student, who was then taken to a nearby hospital. She is expected to recover from her injuries.

In another video made public by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the assailant is shown being handcuffed inside a Matanzas High School classroom.

BUNNELL, Florida - On February 21, 2023, the FCSO School Resource Deputies assigned to Matanzas High School were alerted to a paraprofessional employee being physically attacked on campus. Upon arrival, deputies located the female paraprofessional on the ground with severe… https://t.co/w5CpZIFuhk pic.twitter.com/rB9EhOfGIr

— Denn Dunham (@DennD68) February 22, 2023

"The student stated that he was upset with the victim because she took his Nintendo Switch away during class," police said in a statement.

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G20 Finance Chiefs Fail To Draw A Consensus Over Russia-Ukraine War

Finance leaders of the world's biggest economies were entangled in differences on Saturday over the war in Ukraine and on resolving the debt burden of distressed developing nations, participants said.

The meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs of the Group of 20 (G20), hosted by India, was likely to end later in the day without a joint communique because there was no consensus on how to describe the conflict in Ukraine, delegates said.

The United States and its allies in the Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers have been adamant in demanding the communique squarely condemn Russia for the invasion of its neighbour, which has been opposed by the Russian and Chinese delegations, they said.

"I think there has to be a statement in the communique condemning Russia's war," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on the sidelines of the meeting. "It's something that I think is absolutely necessary.

"And I think the G7 is certainly united on that, so it's something that I would expect and I think is necessary and appropriate," she said in an interview.

Russia, a member of the G20 but not the G7, refers to its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation", and avoids calling it an invasion or war.

India is pressing the meeting to avoid using the word "war" in any communique, G20 officials have told Reuters. India, which holds the this year's G20 presidency, has kept a largely neutral stance on the war, declining to blame Russia for the invasion, seeking a diplomatic solution and sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil.

India and China were among the nations that abstained on Thursday when U.N. voted overwhelmingly to demand Moscow withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop fighting.

Besides the G7 nations, the G20 bloc also includes such countries as Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

A senior G20 source said negotiations over the communique were difficult, with Russia and China blocking proposals by Western countries.

The source and several other officials said barring a last-minute surprise, a consensus on the communique was unlikely and that the meeting was likely to end with a statement by the host summarising the discussions.

"In the absence of a consensus, the option for India would be to issue a chair statement," one official said.

India's foreign, finance and information ministries did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

DEBT NEGOTIATIONS

On the sidelines, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a meeting on Saturday with the World Bank, China, India, Saudi Arabia and the G7 on restructuring debt for distressed economies, but there were disagreements among members, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

"We just finished a session in which it was clear that there is a commitment to bridge differences for the benefit of countries," Georgieva, who co-chaired the roundtable with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, told reporters.

Yellen said there were no "deliverables" from the meeting, which was mostly organisational.

Further discussions of the panel are planned around the time of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in April.

Pressure has been building on China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, and other nations to take a large haircut in loans given to struggling developing nations.

In a video address to the G20 meeting on Friday, Chinese Finance Minister Liu Kun reiterated Beijing's position that the World Bank and other multilateral development banks participate in debt relief by taking haircuts alongside bilateral creditors.

Yellen had said before the debt meeting that she would press all bilateral creditors, including China, to participate in meaningful discussions, adding that debt treatment for Zambia and financing assurances for Sri Lanka were "most urgent".

Zambia owed Beijing nearly $6 billion of a total external debt of $17 billion at the end of 2021, according to government data, while Ghana owes China $1.7 billion, according to the International Institute of Finance, a financial services trade association focussed on emerging markets.

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion - or nearly a fifth of public external debt - by the end of 2022, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative think tank show.

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

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Old Video: Zookeeper Puts Head Inside Crocodile's Mouth, This Happens Next

A horrific old video has resurfaced online showing the moment a crocodile bit a zookeeper's head before viciously thrashing him side to side. The short clip was shared a few days back by an Instagram page called 'earth.reel'. According to the Express, the incident took place in 2017 at a free crocodile show on the island of Ko Samui, in Thailand.

In the video, a zookeeper is seen kneeling before a crocodile and placing his entire head inside its motionless mouth. The man holds his position for ten seconds before the reptile suddenly snaps down on his head and violently thrashes him around. 

"WARNING! Not for Weak Heart People," the Instagram user wrote in the caption of the post. 

Watch the video below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Earth Reels (@earth.reel)

Towards the end of the clip, as the crocodile continues to thrash the man around, shrieks are heard in the background. But fortunately, seconds later he is left on the ground reeling from his injuries while the crocodile slides back into the water. 

According to the Express, the horrifying incident took place around six years back at one of Thailand's famed crocodile shows for a small group of people on the tourist island of Ko Samui. At the time, it was reported that the zookeeper's condition remained unknown. The man was also said to have been "showing off" previous crocodile-related wounds, including a missing finger, to the crowd of six shortly before the performance.

Also Read | Bureaucrat Shares Pic Of Old Indian Coins, Internet Says "Gone Are The Beautiful Era Of 90s"

Meanwhile, on Instagram, the old video has accumulated more than 1,800 likes and over 44,000 views. In the comment section, one user wrote, "If you mess with a wild animals, you have to expect this will probably happen, and it is on you". Another said, "When you play with fire you get burned, when you play Russian roulette you get shot, when you play with alligators or crocodiles you get your a** ate up lol the lesson here has been learned by the idiot and taught by the wild a** professor."

"Some people have to learn the hard way," added third. "Human stupidity is unbelievable!! I can't believe what this guy does!! What the animal does is instinct, what the other animal does is stupidity," expressed fourth. 

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