Two siblings died in a road accident at Bhara Canal bridge on the outskirts of Papannapet mandal headquarters when a speeding lorry rammed a two-wheeler from the opposite direction
Published Date – 03:42 PM, Sat – 2 December 23
Representational Image.
Medak: Two siblings died in a road accident at Bhara Canal bridge on the outskirts of Papannapet mandal headquarters when a speeding lorry rammed a two-wheeler from the opposite direction on Saturday morning.
The victims were Kunsoth Chinya (45) and his younger brother Kunsoth Devya (42) of Hasan Mohammadpally of Tekmal mandal. Both were killed on the spot. The two were on their way towards Medak town to purchase seeds for Yasangi cultivation. The bodies were shifted to the Medak Area Hospital for postmortem.
Putin signed a decree increasing the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces to 2,209,130, with 1,320,000 soldiers, according to the Kremlin’s website.
The decision took effect from the day it was signed.
Earlier, under Putin’s decree, effective from Jan. 1, the army had 2,039,758 personnel, including 1,150,628 soldiers.
Compared to the previous decree, the number of soldiers increased 169,372, while there was no increase in other personnel.
The Ministry of Defense clarified that despite the approximately 170,000 additions to the army, there is no plan for a significant rise in conscriptions.
“There is no provision for mobilization,” it said, attributing the army’s growth to the heightened threats linked to the “special military operation” in Ukraine and NATO’s expansion.
The increase in the armed forces is deemed an appropriate response to NATO’s aggressive activities.
“BJP will form government in Rajasthan with full majority on December 3.”
Rajsamand:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajasthan President CP Joshi has said that he is not in the race for the chief minister’s post in Rajasthan, but will be the first person to garland the one who will hold the position if his party forms the government in the state.
Speaking to media persons here on Friday, Mr Joshi also exuded his confidence in the party winning the assembly elections in Rajasthan.
“BJP will form government in Rajasthan with full majority on December 3. I am not in the race for CM, but will garland the person who will become the CM of the state,” he said.
After exit polls aired by major television networks for the five states predicted that the BJP will form the government in Rajasthan, ousting Congress from power, CP Joshi has said, “BJP will win more than 135 seats while Congress will remain below 50.”
The exit polls reinforced the perception of a hard contest in Rajasthan, with differences in their prediction of the winner in the crucial Hindi heartland state that has a nearly three-decade tradition of not repeating an incumbent government.
While three exit polls predicted the BJP to be the clear winner, two others showed Congress was ahead in the sweepstakes to form the next government in the state.
The exit poll predictions showed that “others” including smaller parties and independents could play a crucial role in the formation of the government when the results are announced on December 3. Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 assembly seats on November 25.
The Congress government in the state led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot unleashed a series of populist schemes closer to the assembly election to ward off the challenge from the BJP.
According to India Today-Axis My India poll, Congress is poised to get 86-106 seats in Rajasthan with 42 per cent votes and BJP 80-100 seats with 41 per cent vote support. Others are poised to seven per cent votes and 9-18 seats.
India TV-CNX poll predicted 94-104 seats for Congress with 43 per cent votes and 80-90 seats for BJP with 42 per cent vote share. It said ‘others’ are expected to get 15 per cent votes and 14-18 seats.
Times Now-ETG poll gave 56-72 seats to Congress with 38.98 per cent vote share, 108-128 to BJP with 41.88 per cent votes and others expected to get 13-21 seats with a sizeable 19.14 per cent vote share.
The Jan Ki Baat poll gave 100-122 seats to BJP with vote share of 44 per cent, 62-85 seats to Congress with a vote share of 41 per cent and predicted that others will get 15 per cent votes and 14-15 seats.
The P-Marq poll said BJP will win 105-125 seats in Rajasthan with 42.2 per cent vote share and Congress 69-81 seats with 39.7 per cent votes. It said others are poised to get 5-15 seats with 18.1 per cent vote, it said.
Counting in four other states that went to the polls this month will also take place on December 3. The polls, held months before the Lok Sabha polls, are crucial for BJP and Congress for various reasons.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
This has been developed in the laboratories of two research scientists Prof. K. Padmasree from the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Dr. MK Arunasree from the Department of Animal Biology
Published Date – 03:50 PM, Sat – 2 December 23
Dr. M.K. Arunasree and Prof. K. Padmasree.
Hyderabad: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been granted a new patent namely ‘Method for separation and purification of multifunctional Bowman-Birk and Kunitz inhibitors’.
This has been developed in the laboratories of two research scientists from the School of Life Sciences- Prof. K. Padmasree from the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Dr. M.K. Arunasree from the Department of Animal Biology. Mariyamma Gujjarlapudi and. Bharti Kotarya actively took part in performing the experiments under their guidance, a press release said.
The patented technology has two distinct features. The first one is the separation of two plant proteins Bowman-Birk and Kunitz inhibitors which are generally inseparable using conventional purification methods and the second is fetching the time required for their independent purification from approximately 10 days to < 24h by applying mild TCA extraction followed by trypsin affinity chromatography.
Prof. Padmasree explained that both Bowman-Birk and Kunitz inhibitors present in plants have several biological functions including the defensive role against invading pests and pathogens. Also, these protease inhibitors are farmer-friendly as they are effective in the management of lepidopteran pests such as Helicoverpa armigera (a pod borer) and Achaea janata (a castor semilooper) which devastate many economically important crop plants of India like cotton, tobacco, groundnut, brinjal, tomato, bendi, capsicum, castor, etc.
Dr. Arunasree added that many proteases involved in the development of cancer and microbial growth act as targets for Bowman-Birk and Kunitz inhibitors. Therefore, the technology developed in the current invention is helpful to both the agriculture sector and pharma companies to produce these inhibitors in large quantities in a limited time using minimal resources and manpower.
Officials suspect it is a case of food poisoning. (Representational)
Chandigarh:
As many as 18 students of a government school in Punjab’s Sangrur district were rushed to a hospital as they complained of stomach ache and vomiting after having a meal in the hostel mess, officials said on Saturday.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the food contractor has been arrested and an inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has been ordered in the matter.
Eighteen school students of the government meritorious school at Ghabdan were rushed to the civil hospital on Friday evening after they complained of stomach ache and vomiting, an official said.
Officials suspect it is a case of food poisoning.
Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal on Saturday said 18 students were brought to the civil hospital, of which 14 have been discharged.
“Four still remain admitted,” Jorwal said while speaking to reporters in Sangrur.
He further said 36 more students were brought to the civil hospital on Saturday and all of them were stable. They did not report any loose motion or vomiting at the hospital, but they had complained of vomiting symptoms before bring brought here.
The DC said an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of the SDM has been formed to probe the matter. A tehsildar and a civil surgeon will also be part of the committee, he said, adding that it would submit its report within a week.
He said food samples have been collected from the school, adding that stool and blood samples of the affected students have also been obtained.
Students told reporters that they had earlier complained about the food quality to the school authorities.
Some angry parents who reached the school after they learnt about the incident slammed the school authorities over their wards falling sick.
Minister Bains, in a video message, said that he learned about the incident from the Sangrur deputy commissioner.
He said a medical team has also been stationed at the school premises.
He further said the food contractor of the school has been arrested and his contract has been cancelled.
An inquiry by the SDM-level officer has been marked into the incident, Bains added in the video message.
The minister said that a joint team of education and health departments have been deputed to collect food samples in nine other government meritorious schools in the state as a precautionary measure.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The woman currently lives in Mumbai and the accused is her manager, he said. (Representational)
Mumbai:
The Mumbai police have arrested a man for allegedly repeatedly raping a 31-year-old Mexican woman disc jockey (DJ), an official said on Saturday.
The 35-year-old accused, who also works as a DJ, was arrested on Friday after the victim lodged a complaint against him last week, the official of Bandra police station said.
As per the complaint, the accused raped the woman on several occasions since 2019.
The woman currently lives in Mumbai and the accused is her manager, he said.
“The woman said in her complaint that she met the accused through social media in 2017. He allegedly sexually assaulted her at his home in Bandra in July 2019, after which he raped her on multiple occasions,” the police official said.
“The woman said that the accused used to force himself on her by threatening to kick her out of an assignment if she refused. He also allegedly blackmailed her through some of her intimate pictures,” he said.
The victim complained that the accused used to send inappropriate pictures to her. Despite getting married to another woman in 2020, he kept on texting her sexually explicit things and making sexual demands from her, he added.
Based on her complaint, the police filed a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) against the accused, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The collaboration of technology and data analytics becomes a magic wand for political parties, helping them make not just decisions but smart choices.
Published Date – 02:21 PM, Sat – 2 December 23
Representation Image
Hyderabad: Telangana Legislative Assembly elections were conducted on November 30, Thursday. With 119 seats in its legislative assembly and a staggering three crore voters, the symphony of democracy has reached an upsurge in a single-phase election. Notably, the voter list has increased by a whopping 17 lakhs, a testament to the ever-evolving nature of the state’s electorate. In this political crescendo, the fusion of data science and technology emerges as the maestro, transforming the melody of Indian politics.
In this vast political symposium, data science isn’t just a player; it’s a rule-breaker, rewriting how elections are played out, how voters connect, and how political strategies unfold. The collaboration of technology and data analytics becomes a magic wand for political parties, helping them make not just decisions but smart choices. It translates voter sentiments and creates campaign efforts for an impact that resonates. In the dance of democracy, data science claims the spotlight, turning politics into a gripping and ever-evolving saga.
Evolution of Data Science in Indian Elections
The incorporation of data science in Indian elections has witnessed a significant evolution, mirroring the global trend of harnessing data for strategic decision-making. While the initial phases saw traditional campaign methods relying on demographic data and ground-level surveys, the advent of technology catapulted the field into a new era. The integration of big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence has allowed political parties to analyze vast datasets, extract meaningful insights, and predict voter behaviour with unprecedented accuracy.
Data science enables political parties to create comprehensive voter profiles by analyzing demographic, socio-economic, and behavioural data. By understanding the preferences and concerns of specific voter segments, parties can tailor their messages and policies to resonate with the electorate.
Predictive modelling has become a cornerstone of election campaigns. By leveraging historical data, parties can forecast voting patterns, identify swing constituencies, and allocate resources strategically. This minimizes guesswork and enhances the precision of campaign efforts.
Social Media Analysis
The influence of social media in Indian elections cannot be overstated. Data science tools analyze social media trends, sentiment analysis, and online discussions to gauge public opinion. This allows parties to adapt their strategies in real-time, responding to emerging issues and concerns. Limited resources demand optimal allocation. Data science helps parties identify key battlegrounds, allocate campaign funds efficiently, and focus on areas where they are likely to have the most significant impact. This resource optimization is crucial in a country as vast and diverse as India.
Role of Data Science in the Previous Elections
In the 2014 General Elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategically harnessed data analytics, marking a watershed moment in political campaigning. This data-centric approach played a pivotal role in their landslide victory, reflected in the historic 66.4% voter turnout, underscoring the effectiveness of precision campaigns in mobilizing voters.
Building on the success of 2014, the 2019 General Elections saw an even more pronounced integration of data science into political strategies. The BJP, in collaboration with data analytics firms, employed advanced modelling techniques to predict electoral outcomes accurately.
The influence of data science on political outreach is multifaceted, transforming the landscape of interactions between political entities and the electorate. One significant aspect is precision targeting, where data science empowers political parties to identify and engage specific voter
segments through personalized messages. This tailored approach significantly amplifies the impact of outreach efforts, ensuring messages resonate with the unique concerns of diverse demographics.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While the integration of data science in Indian elections has undoubtedly ushered in transformative changes to the electoral landscape, it is not without its fair share of challenges and ethical considerations. One primary concern revolves around data privacy, as the extensive collection of personal data for voter profiling raises valid apprehensions about individual privacy. Striking a delicate balance between harnessing data for strategic electoral purposes and safeguarding the privacy rights of citizens presents a complex and evolving challenge for electoral systems.
Moreover, the application of data science introduces another challenge – algorithmic bias. The algorithms utilized in predictive modelling may inadvertently perpetuate biases embedded in historical data, potentially impacting the fairness and equity of political decision-making. Addressing algorithmic bias becomes imperative to ensure that the insights drawn from data science contribute to a political process that is truly representative and just.
The role of data science in Indian elections has evolved from a promising innovation to an indispensable tool for political campaigns. As India continues its journey as the world’s largest democracy, the responsible and ethical use of data science will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian elections. Striking a balance between innovation and ethical considerations is essential to harness the full potential of data science for the benefit of democratic processes in the country. In this transformative landscape, upskilling platforms like OdinSchool stand out, offering comprehensive bootcamps in Data Science to individuals, contributing to the development of skilled professionals ready to navigate the intricate intersection of data science and political processes
Official sources said that two more battalions of CRPF are expected to reach the Nagarjuna Sagar project for additional deployments.
Published Date – 03:19 PM, Sat – 2 December 23
Hyderabad: Two battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) to take over the security and surveillance of the project while the Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Debashree Mukherjee on Saturday asked the Chief Secretary of AP Jawahar Reddy to stop drawl of water from the Nagarjuna Sagar and withdraw its forces to restore status quo at the dam site as on November 28.
Telangana State Chief Secretary A Shanti Kumari and her team of officials could not take part in the video conference held by the Union Secretary in view of the arrangements in progress in the State for counting of votes scheduled for Sunday. She had reportedly asked for rescheduling the talks with her AP counterpart and the representatives of the central agencies including the CWC any time after December 5.
Conveying the same to AP officials, Mukherjee has reportedly asked them to wait for talks till the newly elected political executive of the Telangana government assumed office.
Official sources said that two more battalions of CRPF are expected to reach the Nagarjuna Sagar project for additional deployments.
AP forces are yet to withdraw from the Head Regulator of the NSP right canal where from they had drawn 5000 cusecs of water without any release order from the KRMB thus stirring the hornet’s nest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering the Russia military to add 170,000 more forces to its ranks, as Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine continues into its 22nd month.
Putin’s executive order, which took force from the date of its signing, was posted by the Kremlin and the Russian defense ministry on their respective websites on Friday.
The Russian leader ordered the increase of the total number of people serving in the Russian Armed Forces to 2,209,130, including 1,320,000 servicemen, meaning that nearly 170,000 more personnel must be added to current ranks.
Under Putin’s previous decree in August last year, which has been in force since January this year, the total number of people serving in the Russian Armed Forces was 2,039,758 people, including 1,150,628 servicemen.
“The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO,” the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.
It stressed that the order did not imply any “significant expansion of conscription,” adding that the increase would happen gradually by recruiting more volunteers.
The ministry also emphasized that the boost was an appropriate response to “the aggressive activities of the NATO bloc.”
Putin’s mobilization decree is open-ended, although he said there was no need to round up more forces. Moreover, the decree allows the Russian military to call up additional reservists when needed, banning volunteer soldiers from ending their contracts.
Separately on Friday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from January to December.
Russia started the war in eastern parts of Ukraine in February last year in response to Western provocations — to defend the Russian-speaking population against the Kiev Nazis’ atrocities — by stopping the US-led NATO military forces’ eastward encroachment on Moscow which had started in 2014.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has received massive amounts of arms from the United States and its allies in Europe.
Tecno Spark 20 is the company’s latest budget model in its Spark series of smartphones. It arrives days after the debut of the Tecno Spark Go 2024 in November and is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G85 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It runs on HiOS 13, which is based on Android 13. The phone features a 6.6-inch LCD display with a 720p resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The Tecno Spark 20 packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W charging.
Pricing for the Tecno Spark 20 is yet to be announced — the company has listed the smartphone’s features and specifications on its website, but details about its availability are currently under wraps. The handset will be available in Cyber White, Gravity Black, Magic Skin 2.0 (Blue), and Neon Gold.
Tecno Spark 20 specifications, features
The dual-SIM (Nano) Tecno Spark 20 runs on Android 13-based HiOS 13 out-of-the-box. It sports a 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1,612 pixels) LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate — it also features the company’s ‘Dynamic Port’, a software feature that shows notifications and other device status-related information around the selfie camera cutout. The phone runs on a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM.
The company has equipped the Tecno Spark 20 with a 50-megapixel primary camera along with an unspecified secondary camera with a dual flash. For selfies and video chats, the handset features a 32-megapixel front-facing camera which is also paired with two LED flash.
The handset has up to 256GB of inbuilt storage that can be further expanded via a MicroSD card slot. Connectivity options on the Tecno Spark 20 include 4G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. It features an accelerometer, e-compass, virtual gyroscope, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W charging. It measures 163.69 x 75.6 x 8.45mm
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