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Apple Laid Off 600 Workers After Halting Car, Smartwatch Projects

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Apple Laid Off 600 Workers After Halting Car, Smartwatch Projects

71 employees were released at Apple’s main car-related office. (Representational)

Apple Inc. laid off more than 600 employees in California as part of the decisions to end its car and smartwatch display projects, according to filings with the California Employment Development Department.

The Cupertino, California-based company filed eight separate reports to the state to comply with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN program. Companies must file a report to the state agency for each California address that includes employees affected by a layoff. At least 87 of the people worked at an address corresponding to a secret Apple facility for its next-generation screen development, while the others were located at buildings related to the car project.

At the end of February, Apple began to wind down both initiatives, which were seen as major moonshot efforts to advance the company’s technologies or enter sizable new areas. The car project was canceled amid indecision among executives about its direction and cost concerns. The display program was shuttered due to engineering, supplier and cost challenges.

According to the reports, 371 employees were released at Apple’s main car-related office in Santa Clara, California, while dozens more at multiple satellite offices were also impacted. In some cases, members of the Apple car group were relocated to other teams, such as for artificial intelligence or work on personal robotics.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the number of employees affected by the job cuts.

The WARN notices don’t disclose the full scope of the job reductions because Apple had many engineers on both projects in other areas, including Arizona.

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

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High Alert In Meghalaya Over Double Murder After Anti-CAA Protests

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High Alert In Meghalaya Over Double Murder After Anti-CAA Protests

Guwahati:

Meghalaya’s Khasi and Jaintia hills are on high alert after two student union members were arrested on Wednesday following the deaths of two people in the state last week.

Police arrested Shanborlang Shati and Mesadapbor Skhembil, members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), in connection with the killing of two men in Ichamati last week after a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The two men were produced in court and sent to seven days’ police custody.

The bodies of Ishan Singh and Sujit Dutta had been found close to the Bangladesh border and about 80 km from Meghalaya’s capital Shillong. Police are yet to confirm whether the killings are related to the protest.

A crowd of 300 people led by the KSU gathered at Sohra police station to protest the arrests, demanding that its cadre not be “hunted like militants”.

A police vehicle was burned after unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb at Shillong’s Malwai police station, East Khasi Hills District police chief Rituraj Ravi said, adding that the arrests were based on “strong evidence.” “They are protesting against the arrests made and we have explained that we are investigating the two murders and law shall take its own course,” he said.

The members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have written to President Draupadi Murmu over the March 27 killings, alleging the murders were a “stark reminder of the reign of terror against the non-tribal communities residing in Meghalaya.”

“Two innocent Hindus (Ishan Singh & Sujit Dutta) have been brutally murdered in Ichamati, a village in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, after an anti-CAA rally. A pressure group organised an anti-CAA rally which led to the murder of two innocent Hindus by unknown miscreants, as widely reported in the media”, reads the letter.

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"False, Malicious": Centre Denies Report On Targetted Pak Assassinations

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New Delhi:

The foreign ministry has denied allegations in a report by the UK daily The Guardian that accuses India of conducting targeted killings in Pakistan to eliminate terrorists. The ministry has called it “false and malicious anti-India propaganda” and quoted foreign minister S Jaishankar, who had said targeted killings in other countries were “not the government of India’s policy”.

The ministry’s denial was mentioned in the report by The Guardian, which claims that Delhi “has implemented a policy of targeting those it considers hostile to India”.

Claiming that upto 20 such assassinations were carried out by the Indian intelligence agency RAW since the Pulwama attack of 2019, the report mentions that it is based on evidence supplied by Pakistan and interviews with intelligence officials from both sides of the border.

Quoting an un-named Indian official, The Guardian reported that India had drawn inspiration from Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and Russia’s KGB — which have been linked to extrajudicial killings on foreign soil — and the killing of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

The report said Pakistani authorities have produced documents about some of the killings, which could not be independently verified. It said Pakistani officials also claimed that the killings were orchestrated by sleeper cells of Indian intelligence established in the UAE.

Earlier, US and Canada had accused India of being involved in assassinations and such attempts on foreign soil.

In September last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. A Canadian citizen and a wanted terrorist in India, Nijjar was shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June. India had rejected the allegation as “absurd”.

Later, the US had claimed that they had foiled an attempt to kill another Khalistani separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The US claimed Pannun, an American-Canadian citizen, was the subject of an assassination bid orchestrated by Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, and an un-named Indian government official.

India said it is examining US inputs on the “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others” amid the US allegations.

“India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well. Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” former foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi had said.

Later, India had told the US that its investigation has found the involvement of a rogue official, reported Bloomberg. Quoting un-named intelligence officials, the report said that the person was no longer working with the agency.

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Hardik Pandya Faces Question On Booing, Australia Great Reveals Response

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File photo of Hardik Pandya.© BCCI

With defeats in as many games in IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) Hardik Pandya return to the franchise hasn’t gone as planned. Hardik’s move to MI from Gujarat Titans, which eventually saw him take over captaincy from veteran Rohit Sharma, was met with a huge backlash from fans. Hardik has been constantly targetted by fans during the matches so far. He was booed by the fans on his return to Ahmedabad for MI’s opening game against the GT.

The trend continued in the matches against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Several ex-cricketers have come out in support of the all-rounder amid challenging times, on and off the field.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke is the latest to offer his support to Hardik. Clarke, who played just one season in the IPL back in 2012, revealed his chat with Hardik and also shed light on the latter’s mindset.

Clarke labelled Hardik as a confident person, and suggested that he will manage to win over fans if MI can start getting good results.

“It doesn’t help when your team is not performing. I spoke to Hardik Pandya when I got over here and he seems like he is going fine. He’s a really confident sort of a person. He won’t allow this to get to him but he does need to get this team winning games of cricket. Mumbai is such a good team and there’s always high expectations. The fans want them at the top of the tree, but at the moment they are at the bottom,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.

England pacer Stuart Broad also spoke about the slump that five-time champions Mumbai Indians find themselves in. He said the only way Mumbai Indians can stop what is happening inside the stadiums – incessant jeering of skipper Hardik Pandya by fans – is by winning matches.

“As a player it doesn’t bother you at all, to be honest. It’s part and parcel of international and top-flight sport,” Broad said.

“You don’t necessarily get that sort of environment and hostile feeling on your home ground. But I don’t think the atmosphere can affect you as a proven performer. You still need to go out and deliver your skill.” “Ultimately, Mumbai Indians is a winning franchise. It has got a winning mentality, and they’re not winning. That’s the most difficult thing they’re coping with at the moment. What they need to do is just get back on winning ways,” he said.

(With PTI Inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

India

"Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye": Shashank Auction Memes Take Over After PBKS' Win

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Shashank Singh – this is one name which will b spoken about a lot in the coming days in the IPL 2024. On Thursday, when all hope was lost for Punjab Kings while chasing a 200-run total against Gujarat Titans, Shashank Singh emerged as the Shikhar Dhawan-led team’s hero. The batting allrounder scored 61* off just 29 balls to take his team to a win in 19.5 overs. He hit four sixes and six fours as PBKS registered their second win in four matches in the IPL 2024.

However, Shashank Singh’s induction into the PBKS ranks had a hint of controversy last year. Towards the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, Shashank Singh was roped in for Rs 20 lakh by Punjab Kings. But soon after he was picked in the accelerated auction, there seemed to be some confusion going by the gestures of Punjab Kings co-owners Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta. When Shashank’s name was brought up, Preity Zinta raised the paddle after discussing the player with her team. The player was quickly sold as no other franchise bid for him, and the hammer went down.

As there seemed to be some confusion, auctioneer Mallik Sagar said: “It was a wrong name? You don’t want the player?” asked Mallika. “We are talking about Shashank Singh. But the hammer has come down. Player No. 236 and 237 both went to you. I think the hammer has come down for 237 (Shashank) as well,” she said.

Than incident led to social media storm on how Punjab Kings did not want a player which it had just bought. However, Punjab Kings on Wednesday issued a clarification: “Punjab Kings would like to clarify that Shashank Singh was always on our target list. The confusion was due to 2 players of the same name being on the list. We are delighted to have him onboard and see him contribute to our success.

After Shashank’s latest heroics, the auction confusion memes flooded the internet.

Punjab Kings match-winner Shashank Singh said that his mentality of always going in to bat thinking he is the best helped him conquer the imposing 200-run target set by Gujarat Titans in an IPL game here on Thursday.

Shashank slammed an unbeaten 29-ball 61 as PBKS won the match by three wickets on the penultimate ball of the thrilling match.

“They (senior players) are the legends of the game, but when I go to bat I think I am the best. You get experience, couldn’t get a lot of matches before. Here the owners and coaching staff backed me. I was very confident,” said the 32-year-old all-rounder, who outshone GT skipper Shubman Gill on the day with his pyrotechnics and winning mentality.

With PTI inputs

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Hardik Pandya Faces Question On Booing, Australia Great Reveals Response

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File photo of Hardik Pandya.© BCCI

With defeats in as many games in IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) Hardik Pandya return to the franchise hasn’t gone as planned. Hardik’s move to MI from Gujarat Titans, which eventually saw him take over captaincy from veteran Rohit Sharma, was met with a huge backlash from fans. Hardik has been constantly targetted by fans during the matches so far. He was booed by the fans on his return to Ahmedabad for MI’s opening game against the GT.

The trend continued in the matches against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Several ex-cricketers have come out in support of the all-rounder amid challenging times, on and off the field.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke is the latest to offer his support to Hardik. Clarke, who played just one season in the IPL back in 2012, revealed his chat with Hardik and also shed light on the latter’s mindset.

Clarke labelled Hardik as a confident person, and suggested that he will manage to win over fans if MI can start getting good results.

“It doesn’t help when your team is not performing. I spoke to Hardik Pandya when I got over here and he seems like he is going fine. He’s a really confident sort of a person. He won’t allow this to get to him but he does need to get this team winning games of cricket. Mumbai is such a good team and there’s always high expectations. The fans want them at the top of the tree, but at the moment they are at the bottom,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.

England pacer Stuart Broad also spoke about the slump that five-time champions Mumbai Indians find themselves in. He said the only way Mumbai Indians can stop what is happening inside the stadiums – incessant jeering of skipper Hardik Pandya by fans – is by winning matches.

“As a player it doesn’t bother you at all, to be honest. It’s part and parcel of international and top-flight sport,” Broad said.

“You don’t necessarily get that sort of environment and hostile feeling on your home ground. But I don’t think the atmosphere can affect you as a proven performer. You still need to go out and deliver your skill.” “Ultimately, Mumbai Indians is a winning franchise. It has got a winning mentality, and they’re not winning. That’s the most difficult thing they’re coping with at the moment. What they need to do is just get back on winning ways,” he said.

(With PTI Inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

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2 Indians Reported Missing After Taiwan Earthquake Are Safe: Centre

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2 Indians Reported Missing After Taiwan Earthquake Are Safe: Centre

It was the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in about 25 years.

New Delhi/Taiwan:

Two Indians who were earlier reported missing after a strong earthquake in Taiwan are safe, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

“Two persons, we were not able to establish contact in the wake of the earthquake there. But now, we have established contact and they are safe,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in his weekly briefing.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake, which was the strongest to hit Taiwan in about 25 years, struck the island’s mountainous Hualien County during the morning rush hour on Wednesday.

Video |Buildings Tilted, Bridges Swaying As Taiwan Hit By Massive Earthquake

At least 10 people died while a hundred others were injured. A search is still on for over a dozen missing people. Dramatic visuals online showed buildings shaking, bridges swaying and people scrambling for cover. 

Some buildings leaned at severe angles with their ground floors crushed in Hualien. The quake also triggered tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines. 

Dozens of aftershocks rocked Hualien overnight, some of which were felt in Taipei, over 150 km away. In the capital city, tiles fell off older buildings and schools were evacuated as part of safety measures.

Taiwan, which lies near the junction of two tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes. In 2016, over 100 people died in an earthquake in southern Taiwan while another in 1999 had killed over 2,000 people.

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Poll Body Notice To Chandrababu Naidu Over Remarks Against Jagan Reddy

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Poll Body Notice To Chandrababu Naidu Over 'Derogatory' Remarks Against Jagan Reddy

The Election Commission has reviewed the speeches in question, which were provided in a pen drive.

Amaravathi:

The Election Commission has issued a notice to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu for alleged derogatory remarks against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The TDP chief was issued notice on Thursday for purportedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during his campaign speeches on March 31 by allegedly referring to CM Jagan as “Monster,” “Animal,” “Thief,” and various other offensive terms.

As per the notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu has been given 48 hours to provide an explanation regarding the derogatory remarks made against the YSR Congress Party and its leader, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The notice was issued following a complaint filed by Lella Appi Reddy, State General Secretary of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), and another individual.

According to the notice, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, during his campaign rallies held in Yemmiganur, Markapuram, and Bapatla constituencies, reportedly used derogatory language, referring to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as a Monster, Animal, Thief and various other insulting and offensive terms.

The Election Commission has reviewed the speeches in question, which were provided in a pen drive, and has determined that they prima facie violate provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled for May 13, with vote counting set for June 4.

Notably, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly consists of 175 seats and a party would need at least 88 seats to form a government.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP won with a majority of 102 seats. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP won 67 seats. The BJP could only win four seats by contesting against the two regional heavyweights.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the YSRCP won with a thumping majority of 151 seats, while the TDP was confined to 23 seats.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha as well as the assemblies will take place on June 4.

(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: Greek Presidential Guards March Goes Viral For Its Unique Style

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Video: March Of Greece's Presidential Guards Goes Viral For Its Unique Style

The Evzones are instantly recognizable by their unique uniform.

An old YouTube video featuring Greece’s elite guards, the Evzones, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity across social media. The video, now boasting over 178,000 views on YouTube alone, showcases the Evzones’ unique marching style in slow motion. Their high kicks and precise movements, nicknamed “mid-air foot ballet” by some viewers, are certainly eye-catching. But the spectacle doesn’t stop there. The Evzones’ traditional attire, including a white skirt with 400 symbolic folds representing the 400 years of Ottoman rule and their hefty pom-pommed shoes weighing over 3 kilogrammes, adds another layer of charm.

The video has sparked amusement and curiosity online, with many commenting on the guards’ quirky movements. However, the elaborate march has a deeper meaning. The Evzones, stationed at the Greek Parliament, stand guard for one-hour shifts, three times within 48 hours.

Watch the video here:

Their synchronized movements and the clinking sound from the 60 nails on their shoes, called Tsarouchia, are said to mimic the sounds of horses. Legend has it that a homesick King Otto, who missed the sounds of his native Bavaria, had his guards imitate the clatter of horseshoes to comfort him.

Whether it’s the historical significance of the uniform or the intriguing marching style, the Evzones have captured the internet’s attention, proving that even a changing of the guard ceremony can become a viral sensation.

Who are the Evzones?

The Evzones are elite soldiers in Greece with a rich history. Originally, they were light infantry and mountain units within the Greek Army. Today, the term refers specifically to the members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit stationed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens’ Syntagma Square, in front of the Hellenic Parliament.

Though their duties are primarily ceremonial, these Evzones are all volunteers meticulously chosen from the Hellenic Army’s Infantry Corps. Interestingly, potential Evzones are identified as early as basic training, with a minimum height requirement of a staggering 1.95 meters (6′ 5″).

The Evzones are instantly recognizable by their unique uniform, which traces its roots back to the clothing worn by klephts, Greek resistance fighters who battled Ottoman occupation. The most prominent feature of this uniform is the fustanella, a garment resembling a kilt. This distinctive attire has made the Evzones a popular image of the Greek soldier, particularly among international audiences.

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Middle East

Quds Day symbolizes all-out support for Palestinian cause

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The pro-Palestinian event is held every year on the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan. 

This year’s Quds Day rallies will be held worldwide on Friday, April 5, 2024.

The Israeli regime continues the war, despite the UN Security Council passing a resolution, calling for an immediate cease-fire during Ramadan and Tel Aviv appearing before the International Court of Justice for the first time on charges of “genocide” against the Palestinians.

The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has risen to 32,705, the Health Ministry said in a statement, adding that 75,190 people have been injured since October 7, 2023.

Quds Day symbolizes all-out support for Palestinian cause

The attacks target civilian areas and vital infrastructure while blocking humanitarian aid, leading to widespread hunger and medical shortages.

Hospitals have been operating far beyond capacity due to rising numbers of patients and displaced civilians seeking shelter.

The provision of essential health services – from maternal and newborn care to treatment for chronic conditions – has been severely compromised. 

The UN has warned of a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, amid Israel’s tightened siege and an increasing death toll from its military attacks.

International Quds Day is considered the legacy of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered as a spiritual leader by Muslims worldwide.

In 1979, shortly after leading an Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan Quds Day.

Quds Day symbolizes all-out support for Palestinian cause

Every year on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, worldwide rallies are held to commemorate the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel and their struggles to liberate their territories which have been occupied by the Israeli regime for decades.

Millions of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including Muslims and non-Muslims, take to the streets to denounce Israel’s atrocities against the people of Palestine. 

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has termed the Zionist regime as a terrorist camp against the Palestinian nation and other Muslim nations. 

He believes it is a collective responsibility to fight against this despotic regime, noting that weakness and discord in the Islamic Ummah have prepared the ground for the usurpation of Palestine.

“Al-Quds Day this year synchronizes with important developments.”

Quds Day symbolizes all-out support for Palestinian cause

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has addressed the worshippers in Beirut’s Dahiyeh and elsewhere marking the First Night of Al-Qadr, calling for massive participation in Hezbollah central ceremony that will be held to mark Al-Quds International Day.

The annual event is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the cause of Palestine and vent their anger against the Apartheid regime of Israel.

Millions of people in Iran and other Muslim and non-Muslim countries hold rallies in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Quds Day is a far cry from a casual Islamic religious event. It is, indeed, a human rights event open to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Reported by Tohid Mahmoudpour