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US Man Arrested For Pointing Gun At 6-Year-Old Over Halloween Candy Bag

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US Man Arrested For Pointing Gun At 6-Year-Old Boy's Head Over Halloween Candy Bag

The incident occurred on Saturday in New York. (Representative pic)

A 43-year-old man in the United States has been arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a 6-year-old boy over Halloween candy. According to NBC News, the incident occurred on Saturday in New York. Michael Yifan Wen was arrested and charged with menacing and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Nassau County police said in a statement.

The incident began when a mother drove her daughter, two sons, and a nephew to a nearby residence to drop off a goody bag. Her 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son rang the doorbell and dropped off a Halloween goody bag on the porch for the girl’s friend. However, when the children returned to the car, the girl told her mother the address may have been incorrect, so they drove back, and the boy went to the porch to get the bag full of candy.

This is when the man opened the door and pointed a handgun at the boy’s head, the outlet reported. The Nassau County Police Department were immediately notified of the incident and the 43-year-old suspect was arrested.

Mr Wen’s attorney, however, said that his client is presumed innocent. “These are just allegations,” the lawyer said. He also asked the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions “before the facts come out”.

According to ABC News, the investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.

Also Read | “The Irony Is That…”: Elon Musk After Tesla Wins Autopilot Trial Involving Fatal Crash

Meanwhile, this comes amid a time when US is reeling under the uncontrolled and widespread use of guns across the country which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians over the years. The country has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.

Notably, the recent shooting in Maine left 18 dead. This attack was the deadliest mass shooting in 2023 so far, according to the GVA’s data.

Sports

CWC 2023: Superior India look to continue march, take on struggling Sri Lanka

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Twelve years on from that dream April 2011 night when a country of billions landed in a frenzy of delight, India take on Sri Lanka in another World Cup clash

Published Date – 08:00 AM, Thu – 2 November 23

CWC 2023: Superior India look to continue march, take on struggling Sri Lanka — India’s Rohit Sharma attends a practice session ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

Mumbai: Twelve years on from that dream April 2011 night when a country of billions landed in a frenzy of delight, India take on Sri Lanka in another World Cup clash here on Thursday, albeit one that is poles apart from being termed an encore.

If that World Cup final was truly a battle of titans in every sense, the impending contest is more or less a battle of the unequals.

India have hitherto marched on immaculately in pursuit of a third title and Sri Lanka have lost more than what they have won. Unbeaten in six straight games and largely unchallenged for longer spans, India have displayed traits of being a champion side which has the knack of staging remarkable fightbacks.

India’s confidence is irrefutably high but greater is their self-belief and trust on skills — witnessed in the mini-storm created by Australia in Chennai when reduced to 2/3 or when England limited them to a modest 229/9 in Lucknow. The doggedness to keep striking England until the defending champions were disintegrated was not only another display of their potential, but also a sign that India’s opponents must raise the performance bar significantly higher when it comes to facing Rohit Sharma’s team in this World Cup.

Coming into fray as a forced selection with India looking to answer Hardik Pandya’s absence by creating ‘balance’, Mohammed Shami has only provided the happiest of selection headaches with nine wickets — including a fifer — in only two appearances.

But the think tank led by captain Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid knows ‘Special Shami’ must be preserved for greater battles ahead — for India would still need Jasprit Bumrah fresh and firing to steer through remaining challenges in the league stage.

There is no news on Pandya’s return yet, but going into this game there would be lingering concerns on how India’s young guns would go. Both Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer came into the World Cup with consistent performances in the one-day format, but are yet to make a strong dent on the tournament. Gill missed two games at the start and has only one fifty to show since he returned. He has been guilty of getting out to what is termed ‘soft dismissals’ and the young batter would know the stage is set for him to get cracking once again.

At 1,334 runs (24 matches, 5x100s, 6x50s, avg 63.52), Gill is still a considerable distance (560 runs) behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in terms of getting most ODI runs in a year. With his frailties against the short ball once again becoming opposition’s weapon against him, Iyer too will be in need of a big knock. He has only one fifty to show from six outings so far.

Iyer’s unbeaten 53 came in the chase against Pakistan when the opposition was down and out but the right-handed batter has also fallen on occasions where there were opportunities to bat big and finish games. There will be extra motivation to put that all behind when Iyer walks out at the Wankhede Stadium, playing a World Cup game on his home ground.

For that matter, the feeling would be ditto for the local boys Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur. India’s leading run-scorer with 398 runs at 66.33 with one century and two fifties in the World Cup, Rohit will want to make more memories with the bat in front of his raucous and passionate home crowd.

Sri Lanka are no pushovers but they have faltered more often than not in this World Cup after an superlative show in the qualification round. Injuries and unavailability of key players have also ravaged the team from the island nation, but its young brigade should make the most of facing a high quality opponent in its pomp.

Sadeera Samarawickrama has had a fine run with 331 runs in six games, hitting one century and a fifty in the process to be Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer. Pathum Nissanka has also done well for becoming only the second batter after Gill to score more than a thousand ODI runs this year. His four consecutive fifties in the World Cup makes him one to watch out for while his tally now stands at 1,108 runs in 26 matches at 48.17 with two centuries and nine fifties.

But captain Kusal Mendis with his artistry with the bat remains Sri Lanka’s best batter even though the venerable Angelo Mathews is back and has already put in a match-winning performance. Sri Lanka’s bowlers have largely done a fair job given they have missed the presence of more experienced bowlers, but given their resources they will hope to put up a fight against the rampant Indian batters in perfect batting conditions.

India

YouTube playing into the hands of ruling dispensation in India, says Congress

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Slamming the YouTube, the Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the YouTube India has vindicated what the Washington Post wrote and what were already our genuine apprehensions

Published Date – 08:58 PM, Thu – 19 October 23

YouTube playing into the hands of ruling dispensation in India, says Congress

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday again targeted at the Google owned YouTube platform for putting a warning tagline on Rahul Gandhi’s and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s speeches made in Telangana.

Congress accused YouTube of playing into the hands of the ruling dispensation in India which has been desperately trying to block the messaging from the Opposition. Only a few days ago, the Washington Post revealed how social media platforms including YouTube were playing into the hands of the ruling dispensation in India.

The article had also mentioned that the messages of the Opposition were being suppressed, Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

Slamming the YouTube, the Congress leader said that today the YouTube India has vindicated what the Washington Post wrote and what were already our genuine apprehensions. By putting a warning tagline on Rahul Gandhi’s and Priyanka Gandhi’s speeches, made in Telangana yesterday, that the content may contain suicide or self-harm topics, YouTube has proved beyond any doubt that it is playing into the hands of India’s ruling dispensation which has been desperately trying to block the messaging from the Opposition, the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The Congress leader asked, Will Google, which owns YouTube, explain what is suicidal or self-harming in their speeches? Will now raising issues that matter to the people be censored? We have written to them in the past and we will keep raising our voice in the future for a level-playing field and an unbiased approach from global social media companies a critical necessity today for free and fair elections in India and all over the world, Ramesh said, while attaching a screengrab of the warning put by the YouTube on the video of the Gandhi siblings Telangana’s speech.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties had written to Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai saying they are culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. It also alleged algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders content on their platform while promoting ruling party (BJP) content.

INDIA parties also warned the two companies that in view of the upcoming national elections in 2024, it should consider these facts “seriously” and ensure immediately that Meta’s and Alphabet’s operations “in India remain neutral” and are not used wittingly or unwittingly to cause social unrest or distort India’s much cherished democratic ideals.

Top News

Tamil Nadu Forest Department Uses AI To Track Elephant Movements

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Tamil Nadu Forest Department Uses AI To Track Elephant Movements

This area has seen several tragic elephant deaths due to collisions with trains.

Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) based surveillance mechanism, established on a pilot project basis, started recording elephant movements on railway track in Madhukkarai in Coimbatore, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

The surveillance system has 12 towers fitted with both thermal and normal cameras, installed at strategic locations along the railway track for early detection of animal movement, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment Climate Change & Forests, Supriya Sahu, said.

The AI based surveillance mechanism set up by TN Forest Dept has started recording elephant movements on Railway tracks in pilot project mode in Madhukkarai at Coimbatore. The surveillance system has 12 towers fitted with both thermal and normal cameras, installed at strategic… pic.twitter.com/kfimcFZ2N3

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) November 1, 2023

“The sensed data is automatically transferred to the control room set up on the site that processes the data collected from the field on real-time basis and alerts loco pilots through calls and SMS,” she said in a post on the social media platform “X”.

This area has seen several tragic elephant deaths due to collisions with trains. “We are trying our best to prevent these collisions through the use of modern technology, which can be a big boon in preventing elephant deaths in such areas,” Supriya Sahu said posting a video.

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

Top News

EU Regulator Bans Meta's Use Of Personal Data For Targeted Advertising

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The EDPD said it took the decision following a request from Norway’s data regulator.

Brussels, Belgium:

The European Data Protection Board said Wednesday it had adopted a binding decision that will result in Facebook and Instagram owner Meta being banned from using the personal data of users for targeted advertisements.

The order will “impose a ban on the processing of personal data for behavioural advertising on the legal bases of contract and legitimate interest across the entire European Economic Area,” the EDPB said in a statement posted on its website.

The EDPD said it took the decision following a request from Norway’s data regulator, which earlier this year imposed a ban on sending Facebook and Instagram users targeted advertisements based on their personal data which the social media platform collects without their explicit consent.

The EDPB decision forces Ireland’s data regulator, which has authority over Meta’s operations in Europe, to take final measures on the issue within two weeks, with a ban to enter force a week later.

The statement said Meta was informed Tuesday of the EDPB’s decision and indicated that it plans to ask for consent to use personal data to target ads that users see when they use the apps.

“The EDPB takes note of Meta’s proposal to rely on a consent based approach as legal basis” and said this was being evaluated.

Facebook had some 300 million daily users in Europe at the end of 2022, out of about two billion users worldwide, with Europeans generating about a fifth of Meta’s advertising sales.

Losing the ability to target ads may deal a financial blow to Meta if advertisers reduce their spending.

EDPB Chairwoman Anu Talus said in a statement that the decision to impose a ban was taken after Meta was found not to have complied with orders issued at the end of least year.

“It is high time for Meta to bring its processing into compliance and to stop unlawful processing,” she said.

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

Top News

Maratha Reservation: A Timeline Of Long-Drawn Political-Legal Battle

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Maratha Reservation: A Timeline Of Long-Drawn Political-Legal Battle

The push for Maratha reservations is not new and has been going on for four decades

Mumbai:

The fresh wave over the Maratha quota demand in Maharashtra has once again put the spotlight on the complex politics of the reservation. Pro-Maratha quota protesters vandalised the house of Maharashtra lawmaker Prakash Solanke’s home in Beed district and set it on fire Monday morning.

The angry mob also targeted an office of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), prompting the authorities to tighten the security in Beed and parts of the Marathwada region amid the renewed violence.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who chaired an all-party meeting today to discuss the fresh wave of statewide protests, said the Maharashtra government is in favour of the Maratha quota. Mr Shinde said that reservation should be given to the Maratha community without tampering with the existing quotas of other communities in the state.

The meeting which was attended by NCP veteran Sharad Pawar, and Congress leader Ashok Chavan among others passed a unanimous resolution to improve the law and order situation in the state.

However, the demand for Maratha reservations is not new and the push for it has been going on for four decades. Here, we chart the Maratha quota issue over the years.

When Did the Maratha Quota Protests Start?

Marathas, who constitute nearly 33% of the state’s population, have been demanding the reservation in education and government jobs.

It was in the year 1981 when the state saw its first protests demanding the Maratha reservation under the leadership of the Mathadi Labour Union leader Annasaheb Patil.

The community has been seeking Kunbi caste certificates for Marathas which will enable their inclusion in the OBC category for reservation. Kunbis, who are associated with agriculture, are grouped under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category in Maharashtra.

In 2014, when the Congress was in power in the state, the government brought an ordinance pronouncing 16 per cent reservation to Marathas. The Maharashtra government gave its nod to the Maratha quota under a special provision in 2018- Socially and Educationally Backward Class Act.

High Court Verdict In 2019

In June 2019, the Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Maratha quota. The court reduced it to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs.

Two years later, the Supreme Court struck down the provisions of Maharashtra law providing reservation to the Maratha community, which granted reservation to the Maratha community, for violating the 50 per cent quota limit.

In 2022, the Supreme Court upheld the 10 per cent quota for the Economically Weaker Sections. In April this year, the Supreme Court turned down Maharashtra’s government review plea.

In 2023

In the wake of the recent flare-ups, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the centre resolve the issue of the Maratha reservation by calling a special session of Parliament.

Top News

Andhra Pradesh: Group 1, 2 job notification to be issued this month

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The notification for Group 1 and Group 2 recruitment will be issued before this month end to fill 100 and 900 posts respectively

Published Date – 08:24 PM, Wed – 1 November 23

Andhra Pradesh: Group 1, 2 job notification to be issued this month — The notification for Group 1 and Group 2 recruitment will be issued before this month end to fill 100 and 900 posts respectively

Vijayawada: The notification for Group 1 and Group 2 recruitment will be issued before this month end to fill 100 and 900 posts respectively, according to Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission chairman Gautham Sawang.

The Group 1 prelims would be held in February and steps were being taken to complete the entire process in a transparent manner, he said here on Wednesday. Last year, the Group 1 process was completed in record nine months time and this year also it would be done on the same lines, he revealed.

Sawang said that the Group 1 prelims would have only one paper instead of two papers and the mains would have four papers instead of five. Two of the papers would be objective type while two others would be descriptive style. Also, there would be only one paper instead of two in language and there is no change in the syllabus, he disclosed, and added that these changes were brought in after examining the UPSC and Maharashtra Public Service Commission examinations.

The APPSC would conduct examinations for 2,200 Assistant Professors posts in December and declare the results in January, he stated.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad sees surge in residential sales

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It represents a significant 21% share of the total new supply across India’s top seven cities: Anarock

Published Date – 11:45 PM, Wed – 1 November 23

Hyderabad sees surge in residential sales — Hyderabad experienced an impressive surge in residential launches with 24,900 new units in third quarter of 2023. — Photo: Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: In the third quarter of 2023, Hyderabad experienced an impressive surge in residential launches, with approximately 24,900 new units flooding the market. This surge represented a significant 21 per cent share of the total new supply across India’s top seven cities, according to data collated for Q3 2023 by Anarock.

The city registered 137 per cent increase compared to the previous quarter and a substantial 60 per cent rise from the same period in the previous year. The western part of Hyderabad emerged as the leader, accounting for 56 per cent of the city’s new launches, closely followed by North Hyderabad with 40 per cent. These two zones showed outstanding growth, with the north witnessing a remarkable 301 per cent quarterly increase and the west not far behind with a notable 124 per cent surge.

In contrast, South Hyderabad saw a decline of 78 per cent on a quarter-to-quarter basis, marking the only zone to experience such a decrease. Luxury and ultra-luxury residential segments played a significant role, according to the Anarock report. When it comes to residential sales, Hyderabad outshone all other cities, recording around 16,400 units sold in Q3 2023.

On a quarterly basis, the city experienced a robust 21 per cent surge in housing sales. West and North Hyderabad took the lead, each securing a significant market share of 56 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively. Hyderabad’s available inventory also showed impressive results, with an 11 per cent quarterly growth and a 12 per cent annual increase.

By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the city had a total of 89,100 units available, representing the highest quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth among the top seven cities. According to Anarock, the future of Hyderabad’s residential real estate sector looks promising.

The ongoing expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail network and the development of the ORR are set to open up new growth corridors, making the city more accessible and attractive for potential homebuyers, it said.

Top News

World Cup Points Table: Pakistan's Semis Chances Get Boost With NZ's Loss

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World Cup 2023 Points Table:Things are suddenly looking slightly positive for the Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team at the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. After losing four straight matches at the marquee event, the 1992 Cricket World Cup champions returned to winning ways with a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in Kolkata on Tuesday. The win catapulted them to the fifth spot with three wins in seven games. And now, they have more good news with New Zealand losing to South Africa in a Cricket World Cup match in Pune. (World Cup 2023 points table)

New Zealand lost the game to South Africa by 190 runs to be placed fourth in the points table.

According to the current points table, South Africa and India hold the top two places with 12 points each. New Zealand are fourth (8 points, 7 matches, NRR +0.484) while Australia are third (8 points, 6 matches, NRR +0.970). Pakistan are placed fifth (6 points, 7 games, NRR -0.024) and Afghanistan are sixth (6 points, 6 matches, NRR -0.718). With New Zealand’s defeat, they are within touching distance of the next three teams in the points table.

Pakistan’s next two matches are against New Zealand and England. If they can win those and other teams’ results go their way, the side may have an outside chance of making it to the last four. However, Afghanistan and 7th-placed Sri Lanka (4 points, 6 matches, NRR -0.275) are also in contention. Afghanistan next face Netherlands, Australia and South Africa. Sri Lanka next face India, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

South Africa’s in-form opener Quinton de Kock on Wednesday slammed his fourth hundred of the ICC World Cup 2023 and became the first batter from his country to cross the 500-run mark in a World Cup edition.

Meanwhile, The 30-year-old opener achieved this milestone during a match against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune where he slammed a sublime century.

With his ton against the Kiwis, de Kock also equalled Kumar Sangakkara‘s record of four centuries in a single edition of the tournament. The Sri Lanka batter slammed four tons in the 2015 ODI World Cup.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma holds the top spot as he smashed five centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.

De Kock also matched Adam Gilchrist and Sangakkara’s accomplishment of most 50+ scores by a wicket-keeper in a single World Cup edition. De Kock (22) has hit the most number of sixes as a wicketkeeper-batter at the ODI World Cup.

In an outstanding display of batting in the 50-over tournament, De Kock has hammered hundreds against Sri Lanka (100), Australia (109), Bangladesh (174) and New Zealand.

South Africa piled up yet another huge total in the World Cup, this time against New Zealand as they scored 357/4 riding on centuries by Rassie van der Dussen and De Kock.

With ANI inputs

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