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"PM Nehru Wanted To Give It Away": S Jaishankar As Katchatheevu Row Heats Up

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Doubling down on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charge at Opposition over the Katchatheevu island row, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today said Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister, wanted to give away the island to Sri Lanka.

In 1974, the then Indira Gandhi government had accepted the island, about 1.6 km long and over 300 m wide, a Sri Lankan area under Indo-Sri Lankan maritime agreement. The issue has resurfaced after a media report based on a RTI reply received by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on the 1974 pact. In 1976, after the Tamil Nadu government was dismissed during the Emergency, another pact restricted fishermen of both countries from fishing in each other’s waters. The harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan authorities is a key issue in the state, and the BJP has raised this with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing the media, Dr Jaishankar today quoted former External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh’s 1974 address in Parliament. “I feel confident that the agreement demarcating the maritime boundary in the Palk Bay will be considered as fair, just and equitable to both countries. At the same time, I wish to remind the honourable members that in concluding this agreement, the rights of fishing, pilgrimage and navigation, which both sides have enjoyed in the past, have been fully safeguarded for the future,” he said, quoting the former minister.

In less than two years, Dr Jaishankar said, there was another agreement between India and Sri Lanka. “In this agreement, India proposed the following: with the establishment of the exclusive economic zones by the two countries, India and Sri Lanka will exercise sovereign rights over the living and non-living resources of their respective zones. The fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive zone of Sri Lanka,” he said.

“(In) 1974, assurance is given. By 1976, an agreement is concluded which gives away this assurance,” he said. The consequence, he said, is that 6,184 Indian fishermen have been detained in the last 20 years. In the same period, 1,175 Indian fishing vessels have been seized by Lankans, he added.

The Katchatheevu issue, he said, has been repeatedly raised in Parliament by various parties over the past five years. “In fact, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written to me numerous times. My record shows that I have replied to the current Chief Minister (MK Stalin) 21 times on this issue. This is not an issue which has suddenly surfaced. This is a live issue,” he said.

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Asaduddin Owaisi stands with Mukhtar Ansari’s family

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Veiled Dig at BJP: “Light Will Break Through Darkness, ‘Moses’ Will Come if You’re ‘Pharaoh'”

Published Date – 1 April 2024, 10:20 AM


Asaduddin Owaisi stands with Mukhtar Ansari’s family


New Delhi: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi paid tribute to Mukhtar Ansari and visited his residence in Ghazipur.

Taking to the social media platform X, he expressed grief over Ansari’s death and wrote, “Today we went to the house of the deceased Mukhtar Ansari and paid tribute to his family. In this difficult time, we stand with his family, supporters and loved ones.”

Taking a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said, “Insha Allah, the light will break through this darkness. If you are ‘Pharaoh’ then ‘Moses’ will also definitely come.”

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari was laid to rest at the Kali Bagh burial ground in Ghazipur on Saturday. His mortal remains were buried near the graves of his parents.

There was heavy security deployment in Ghazipur on account of his last rites. Police personnel were deployed along the route leading from his residence to the graveyard.

Following the postmortem, the body of Mukhtar Ansari was brought to his Ghazipur residence on Friday night. The postmortem report, however, said that Ansari died due to cardiac

Mukhtar Ansari died at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday. His family, however, claimed that he was “given poison in the food.”

According to the official release from the hospital, Ansari was brought to the hospital around 8:25 pm on Thursday. A team of nine doctors attended to him before he died, the release added.

Meanwhile, a three-member team has been formed that will conduct a magisterial investigation into the death of Ansari.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Banda issued orders concerning the judicial probe.

In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai by an MP-MLA court. He was sentenced to life in prison on March 13, 2024, in a case related to the use of forged documents for obtaining an arms licence in 1990.

India

4 Cops Suspended As Minister's Son, Charged With Assault, Alleges Torture

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4 Cops Suspended As Minister's Son, Charged With Assault, Alleges Torture

The minister’s son and his friends face an assault case for allegedly thrashing four people

Bhopal:

Madhya Pradesh police have registered a case against the son of state minister Narendra Shivaji Patel after he was caught in a brawl in Bhopal’s Shahpura area Saturday night. It is alleged that Abhigyan Patel and his friends assaulted a journalist, a restaurateur couple and their employee during an altercation sparked by a road accident.

Following the incident, minister Patel rushed to Shahpura police station with his aides late on Saturday night. There, Abhigyan and his friends alleged that they were tortured by policemen. Thereafter, four cops were suspended and an inquiry ordered. Mr Patel is Minister of State for Public Health and Medical Education. Abhigyan is learnt to appear in state functions on behalf of his minister father.  

Restaurateur Alisha Saxena has said in her complaint that it all started when a car hit the motorcycle of journalist Vivek Singh. When Mr Singh shouted out to the car driver, asking him to drive properly. Soon, Abhigyan and his friends stepped out of the car and allegedly beat up the journalist. Ms Saxena intervened and Abhigyan allegedly thrashed her with a rod. Her husband and one of their employees were beaten up when they rushed to save her, she has said.

Police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code sections relating to voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation, among others.

Police have registered a counter FIR against the Saxenas and others on a complaint by the minister’s son, who has accused them of assault.

Senior police officer Mayur Khandelwal said the medical examination of those involved has been conducted and further probe is on. On the suspended cops, he said an inquiry is on and further steps will be taken as per the findings.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari has hit out at the state government over the incident. “This is anarchy. Police did not register an FIR on the journalist’s complaint of assault. The woman got six stitches on her head, Section 307 (attempt to murder) should have been invoked. The SSP does not even know that four cops have been suspended, but it is a headline in newspapers. Lowering the morale of police personnel and supporting crime has become the policy of this government,” he told news agency ANI.

Addressing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, he said, “You appear helpless when family members of your ministers intimidate people. Please take such action that people have faith in law.”

World

Israeli Bombing Kills 4, Wounds 17 at Gaza Hospital

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Eyewitnesses told Xinhua news agency on Sunday that a drone launched at least one missile targeting tents hosting displaced individuals and journalists within the courtyard of Deir al-Balah’s Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Updated On – 1 April 2024, 09:21 AM


Israeli Bombing Kills 4, Wounds 17 at Gaza Hospital


Gaza: At least four Palestinians were killed and 17 others were wounded in an Israeli bombing on tents inside the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian eyewitnesses and sources said.

The eyewitnesses reported to Xinhua news agency on Sunday that a drone fired at least one missile at tents housing displaced persons and journalists in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah.

The Israel Defense Forces said on its official X account that “an IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft struck an operational Islamic Jihad command centre and terrorists positioned in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital,” adding that the hospital building was not damaged and its function was not affected, Xinhua news agency reported.

Palestinian medical sources said the attack killed four people and injured 17 others with varying injuries, including two journalists.

Activists shared a video on Facebook showing tents made of nylon and tin catching fire.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run media office in Gaza condemned in a statement that the Israeli army waged another “massacre” by bombing at the peak hours of movement among the wounded and the displaced in the hospital.

The office called on international and regional organisations related to health work to “condemn this terrible crime”.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Fire engulfs cotton godown in Attapur

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Fire Officer Chandra Naik reported, “A short circuit caused the fire at the cotton packing godown in Attapur during the night of March 31 and April 1. Two fire tenders arrived and extinguished the blaze after four hours.”

Published Date – 1 April 2024, 10:00 AM


Hyderabad: Fire engulfs cotton godown in Attapur

Photo: ANI

Rangareddy: A massive fire broke out at a cotton godown in the Attapur area of Rangareddy district, officials said on Monday.

According to Fire Officer, Chandra Naik, “The fire broke out in the cotton packing godown in Attapur due to a short circuit in the intervening night of March 31 and April 1. Two fire tenders reached the spot and conducted dousing operations for four hours.”

There were no causalities reported in the incident, said the official.

Further details into the matter are awaited.

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Mayank Yadav's Inspiration: How Jet Planes Guided India's New Pace Star

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Speed thrills and excites India’s latest fast-bowling sensation Mayank Yadav, a passion cultivated since childhood where the sleek lines of jet planes, awe-inspiring force of rockets, and the raw power of superbikes captured his imagination. The 21-year-old’s 150kmph thunderbolts amazed one and all during his side Lucknow Super Giants’ 21-run win over Punjab Kings on Saturday. Mayank (3/27) stole the limelight with his searing pace. In the 12th over of Punjab’s innings, he bowled the season’s fastest ball at 155.8 kmph. His extra pace rattled Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma and led to PBKS’ downfall. He consistently clocked 150kmph and above on the speedometer during his four-over spell, to be adjudged the player of the match.

“Even in normal life, apart from cricket, I love things which have speed with them. Whether it is a rocket, aeroplane or superbike, speed excites me. In my childhood, I liked jet planes and would get inspiration from them,” said Mayank at the post-match press conference.

“I have never bowled 156kmph before this. I clicked 155kmph during Mushtaq Ali, but this is my fastest ball,” added the pacer from Punjabi Bagh in New Delhi.

Mayank had played just two List A games before he was picked by LSG ahead of IPL 2022. He did not play a single match in the first season and was ruled out of the next season with a torn hamstring.

After he recovered from the injury, he played for North Zone in the 50-over Deodhar Trophy where he knocked out Rahul Tripathi’s middle stump with a ripper.

“Injuries are part of fast bowlers’ life, they are your friends. I had two-three major injuries in the past one or one and a half years. Those were my setbacks.

“Last season also, I missed playing in IPL because of injury. I had side strain injury with rib fracture and that happened after Vizay Hazare. My effort is to give more attention to recovery and to myself, in training and physically.” It’s natural that Mayank would get inspiration from a speed merchant — South African great Dale Steyn.

“I look up to only one fast bowler, and that is Dale Steyn. He is my idol and I idolise him a lot.” Talking about his game plan on Saturday, he said, “JL (head coach Justin Langer) or even Morne Morkel (bowling coach) did not say anything particular on what I need to work on. They know that along with pace my hard length ball is good.

“They just told me to keep the plan simple, use pace and bowl hard length balls as many as possible as well those which can be finished on stumps.” He said he did not feel any pressure or nervousness during his debut match.

“A lot of excitement was there in my debut. For the last two years, I have been visualising just one thing that, that is when I make my debut what will I feel when I bowl my first ball. Everybody said there would be some pressure or nervousness but I did not feel it at all.

“When my captain told me to bowl the first over, I felt inside me that I belonged to this place and there was a lot of confidence.” Highlighting his goals, Mayank said, “My aim is to always remain consistent and give away less runs to help the team. Pace is a plus point for me which I try to use in a good way.” Asked how he came to the limelight, he said, “Two years back, before the mega auction of the IPL, I was with Delhi team for Vijay Hazare against UP side, out assistant coach Vijay Dahiya sir saw me there.

“There he showed interest in me, he asked me videos of my bowling before IPL auction. From there he picked me, I think.” PTI PDS PDS APA APA

Topics mentioned in this article

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"Grave Step Backwards": Meta Shuts Down Misinformation Monitoring Tool

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'Grave Step Backwards': Meta Shuts Down Misinformation Monitoring Tool In Poll Year

Washington:

A digital tool considered vital in tracking viral falsehoods, CrowdTangle will be decommissioned by Facebook owner Meta in a major election year, a move researchers fear will disrupt efforts to detect an expected firehose of political misinformation.

The tech giant says CrowdTangle will be unavailable after August 14, less than three months before the US election. The Palo Alto company plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality, and which news organizations will largely not have access to.

For years, CrowdTangle has been a game-changer, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Killing off the monitoring tool, a move experts say is in line with a tech industry trend of rolling back transparency and security measures, is a major blow as dozens of countries hold elections this year — a period when bad actors typically spread false narratives more than ever.

“In a year where almost half of the global population is expected to vote in elections, cutting off access to CrowdTangle will severely limit independent oversight of harms,” Melanie Smith, director of research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AFP.

“It represents a grave step backwards for social media platform transparency.”

Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a technology still under development.

It’s a tool that some in the tech industry, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, said is currently not an effective replacement, especially in elections likely to see a proliferation of AI-enabled falsehoods.

“It’s an entire new muscle” that Meta is yet to build to protect the integrity of elections, Silverman told AFP, calling for “openness and transparency.”

‘Direct threat’

In recent election cycles, researchers say CrowdTangle alerted them to harmful activities including foreign interference, online harassment and incitements to violence.

By its own admission, Meta — which bought CrowdTangle in 2016 — said that in 2019 elections in Louisiana, the tool helped state officials identify misinformation, such as inaccurate poll hours that had been posted online.

In the 2020 presidential vote, the company offered the tool to US election officials across all states to help them “quickly identify misinformation, voter interference and suppression.”

The tool also made dashboards available to the public to track what major candidates were posting on their official and campaign pages.

Lamenting the risk of losing these functions forever, global nonprofit Mozilla Foundation demanded in an open letter to Meta that CrowdTangle be retained at least until January 2025.

“Abandoning CrowdTangle while the Content Library lacks so much of CrowdTangle’s core functionality undermines the fundamental principle of transparency,” said the letter signed by dozens of tech watchdogs and researchers.

The new tool lacks CrowdTangle features including robust search flexibility and decommissioning it would be a “direct threat” to the integrity of elections, it added.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the letter’s claims are “just wrong,” insisting the Content Library will contain “more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle” and be made available to academics and non-profit election integrity experts.

‘Lot of concerns’

Meta, which has been moving away from news across its platforms, will not make the new tool accessible to for-profit media.

Journalists have used CrowdTangle in the past to investigate public health crises as well as human rights abuses and natural disasters.

Meta’s decision to cut off journalists comes after many used CrowdTangle to report unflattering stories, including its flailing moderation efforts and how its gaming app was overrun with pirated content.

CrowdTangle has been a crucial source of data that helped “hold Meta accountable for enforcing its policies,” Tim Harper, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Democracy & Technology, told AFP.

Organizations that debunk misinformation as part of Meta’s third-party fact-checking program, including AFP, will have access to the Content Library.

But other researchers and nonprofits will have to apply for access or look for expensive alternatives. Two researchers told AFP under condition of anonymity that in one-on-one meetings with Meta officials, they demanded firm commitments from company officials.

“While most fact-checkers already working with Meta will have access to the new tool, it’s not super clear if many independent researchers — already worried about losing CrowdTangle’s functionality — will,” Carlos Hernandez-Echevarria, head of the Spanish nonprofit Maldita, told AFP.

“It has generated a lot of concerns.”

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

World

Bulgaria, Romania partially join Schengen area

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Last year, the European Council approved Bulgaria and Romania’s partial entry into the Schengen zone, covering most EU countries, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Updated On – 1 April 2024, 09:21 AM


Bulgaria, Romania partially join Schengen area


Sofia: Bulgaria along with its northern neighbour Romania have partially joined the passport-free Schengen area.

“On 31 March, Bulgaria and Romania become Schengen members: the Schengen rules will apply in both member states, including on issuing Schengen visas, and controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted,” the European Commission (EC) said on Sunday in a press statement.

The European Council greenlighted at the end of last year the partial entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen zone, which encompasses most European Union (EU) countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since Bulgaria’s admission to the EU in 2007, this was the greatest success of the country’s diplomacy, institutions and politicians, Bulgarian outgoing Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said at a special ceremony at Sofia Airport on Sunday.

Yordanka Chobanova, head of the EC Representation in Bulgaria, said at the ceremony that in the past year alone, more than 10 million people passed through Bulgaria’s airports, and these were mainly flights from and to the Schengen area.

“I am confident that we will have a date for the abolition of internal land border controls very soon, and the EC remains close to Bulgaria in this process,” Chobanova added.

According to the EC, the Schengen area without control at its internal borders was one of EU citizens’ most cherished achievements.

“Besides facilitating free movement of people without internal border controls, Schengen significantly benefits Europe’s economy,” it said.

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President Murmu Droupadi Greets People On Odisha Day

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President Murmu Droupadi Greets People On Odisha Day

Orissa was rechristened as Odisha in 2011.

New Delhi:

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday extended greetings on Odisha Day, and said the resilient people of the state have made great contribution to the development of Odisha and the country.

Odisha Day or ‘Utkala Dibasa’ marks the formation of Odisha as a separate state on this day in 1936. The state was carved with the splitting of Bihar and Orissa provinces. Orissa was rechristened as Odisha in 2011.

“Warm greetings to people on Odisha Day! Odisha is known for its vast natural wealth and rich cultural heritage. The resilient people of this state have made great contribution in the development of Odisha and the country.

“Odisha has produced many icons over the centuries, including several makers of modern India. May Lord Jagannath bless the state and its people with greater success and prosperity!” she said in a post on X. 

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

Top News

"Grave Step Backwards": Meta Shuts Down Misinformation Monitoring Tool In Poll Year

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'Grave Step Backwards': Meta Shuts Down Misinformation Monitoring Tool In Poll Year

Washington:

A digital tool considered vital in tracking viral falsehoods, CrowdTangle will be decommissioned by Facebook owner Meta in a major election year, a move researchers fear will disrupt efforts to detect an expected firehose of political misinformation.

The tech giant says CrowdTangle will be unavailable after August 14, less than three months before the US election. The Palo Alto company plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality, and which news organizations will largely not have access to.

For years, CrowdTangle has been a game-changer, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Killing off the monitoring tool, a move experts say is in line with a tech industry trend of rolling back transparency and security measures, is a major blow as dozens of countries hold elections this year — a period when bad actors typically spread false narratives more than ever.

“In a year where almost half of the global population is expected to vote in elections, cutting off access to CrowdTangle will severely limit independent oversight of harms,” Melanie Smith, director of research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AFP.

“It represents a grave step backwards for social media platform transparency.”

Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a technology still under development.

It’s a tool that some in the tech industry, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, said is currently not an effective replacement, especially in elections likely to see a proliferation of AI-enabled falsehoods.

“It’s an entire new muscle” that Meta is yet to build to protect the integrity of elections, Silverman told AFP, calling for “openness and transparency.”

‘Direct threat’

In recent election cycles, researchers say CrowdTangle alerted them to harmful activities including foreign interference, online harassment and incitements to violence.

By its own admission, Meta — which bought CrowdTangle in 2016 — said that in 2019 elections in Louisiana, the tool helped state officials identify misinformation, such as inaccurate poll hours that had been posted online.

In the 2020 presidential vote, the company offered the tool to US election officials across all states to help them “quickly identify misinformation, voter interference and suppression.”

The tool also made dashboards available to the public to track what major candidates were posting on their official and campaign pages.

Lamenting the risk of losing these functions forever, global nonprofit Mozilla Foundation demanded in an open letter to Meta that CrowdTangle be retained at least until January 2025.

“Abandoning CrowdTangle while the Content Library lacks so much of CrowdTangle’s core functionality undermines the fundamental principle of transparency,” said the letter signed by dozens of tech watchdogs and researchers.

The new tool lacks CrowdTangle features including robust search flexibility and decommissioning it would be a “direct threat” to the integrity of elections, it added.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the letter’s claims are “just wrong,” insisting the Content Library will contain “more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle” and be made available to academics and non-profit election integrity experts.

‘Lot of concerns’

Meta, which has been moving away from news across its platforms, will not make the new tool accessible to for-profit media.

Journalists have used CrowdTangle in the past to investigate public health crises as well as human rights abuses and natural disasters.

Meta’s decision to cut off journalists comes after many used CrowdTangle to report unflattering stories, including its flailing moderation efforts and how its gaming app was overrun with pirated content.

CrowdTangle has been a crucial source of data that helped “hold Meta accountable for enforcing its policies,” Tim Harper, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Democracy & Technology, told AFP.

Organizations that debunk misinformation as part of Meta’s third-party fact-checking program, including AFP, will have access to the Content Library.

But other researchers and nonprofits will have to apply for access or look for expensive alternatives. Two researchers told AFP under condition of anonymity that in one-on-one meetings with Meta officials, they demanded firm commitments from company officials.

“While most fact-checkers already working with Meta will have access to the new tool, it’s not super clear if many independent researchers — already worried about losing CrowdTangle’s functionality — will,” Carlos Hernandez-Echevarria, head of the Spanish nonprofit Maldita, told AFP.

“It has generated a lot of concerns.”

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