Imran Khan Gets Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant Over Gifts Case

A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case but he was granted bail in three other cases, amid high drama outside the court premises where thousands of his supporters converged to support their leader.

Mr Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief, travelled from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore to Islamabad, his first appearance here in the federal capital after being shot at a public rally in November last year.

The four cases include prohibited funding at a banking court located at the judicial complex, a terrorism case at the anti-terrorism court in the same complex.

The third was related to the Toshakhana, which was scheduled at the sessions court in F-8 Kachehri, situated half-an-hour drive from the judicial complex.

The fourth case was an attempted to murder case at the same sessions court.

Additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the 70-year-old former prime minister in the Toshakhana case.

The court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Imran Khan and adjourned the hearing till March 7 for his repeated failure to appear before the court.

His indictment, in this case, was earlier postponed twice due to his failure to appear in court.

Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit.

The former cricketer-turned-politician was, however, granted bail in all the other three cases, even as thousands of his supporters thronged the judicial complex here in his support, prompting security officials to beef up security.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in October last year filed a case in an Islamabad-based banking court against Khan and other PTI leaders over allegedly receiving prohibited funding.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year found the party guilty of concealing that it had received the money and also disqualified Khan.

The prohibited funding case was filed by estranged PTI founding member Akbar S Babar in the ECP in 2014.

Khan has not attended any hearings since November last year when he was injured in an assassination attempt at his rally in the Wazirabad area of Punjab province.

He has since received extensions on his bail due to medical reasons.

Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

The PTI chief, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

Since his ouster, Khan has been clamouring for immediate elections to oust what he termed was an "imported government" led by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif has maintained that elections will be held later this year once the parliament completes its five-year tenure.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/ka3n4tz

Priyanka Chopra Reviews The Elephant Whisperers. Guneet Monga's Reply

Priyanka Chopra recently watched Guneet Monga's documentary The Elephant Whisperers, and she couldn't stop gushing over it. The actress shared two posts on her Instagram stories lauding the makers Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga for "bringing this amazing story to life". In the first post, Priyanka wrote, "A trunk-filled with emotions! One of the most heartwarming documentaries I've watched recently...loved it! Big shout out to @kartikigonsalves @guneetmonga for bringing this amazing story to life (red heart emoji)." In the next post, the actress tagged The Elephant Whisperers team. For those who don't know, then let us tell you the documentary is nominated for Oscars 2023 in the Best Documentary Short category.

Soon after Priyanka Chopra shared the posts, Guneet Monga quickly replied. She re-shared the posts on her Instagram stories and wrote sweet notes thanking the actress. In the first post, she wrote, "Thank you Priyanka. You are the best," followed by heart emoticons. In the second, she wrote, "We are over the moon Priyanka. We love you so so much." 

Take a look at both the post below: 

Helmed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain, The Elephant Whisperers has been nominated against Haul Out, How Do You Measure A Year, The Martha Mitchell Effect and Stranger At The Gate. The documentary, set in South India, tells the story of a couple who adopts an orphan baby elephant. 

Coming back to Priyanka Chopra, the actress is gearing up for the release of the much-awaited Citadel trailer. The trailer of the spy thriller is slated to release on March 1, 2023.

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/priyanka-chopra-reviews-oscar-nominated-documentary-the-elephant-whisperers-guneet-mongas-reply-3823147

Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's commander of joint forces weeks ahead of his work anniversary I Know reasons

Russia-Ukraine war: In a major development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired the commander of the joint forces operation from his post on Sunday. According to a report by CNN, President Zelenskyy signed the decree for the removal of Major General Eduard Mykhailovich Moskalov but he did not mention the reason behind his concrete action. Moskalov's removal came weeks before he was about to complete his work anniversary in March. 

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/O0c7Vsj

Wave Of Poison Attacks On Hundreds Of Schoolgirls Alarms Iranians

Hundreds of Iranian girls in different schools have suffered "mild poison" attacks over recent months, the health minister said, with some politicians suggesting they could have been targeted by religious groups opposed to girls' education.

The attacks come at a critical time for Iran's clerical rulers, who faced months of anti-government protests sparked by the death of a young Iranian woman in the custody of the morality police who enforce strict dress codes.

The poison attacks at more than 30 schools in at least four cities started in November in Iran's Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom, prompting some parents to take their children out of school, state media reported.

Social media posts showed some hospitalised schoolgirls, who said they had felt nauseous and suffered heart palpitations.

More than 300 school girls in Iran were intentionally poisoned with organophosphate chemical as an revenge who protested against forced hijab and also with a motive to stop them from going to schools .Nothing scares the Islamic regime more than a liberated woman.#WomanLifeFreedom pic.twitter.com/03OgIZwuiz

— Doctor Thalamus (@Neurochauhan) February 28, 2023

"Investigating where this mild poison comes from ... and whether it is an intentional move are not within the scope of my ministry," Health Minister Bahram Einollahi was quoted as saying by state media.

His deputy, Younes Panahi, said on Sunday "it was found that some people wanted schools, especially girls' schools, to be closed", according to IRNA state news agency.

One boys' school has been targeted in the city of Boroujerd, state media reported.

Lawmaker Alireza Monadi said the existence of "the devil's will" to stop girls from going to school was a "serious threat", according to IRNA.

He did not elaborate, but suspicions have fallen on hardline groups that operate as the self-declared guardians of their interpretation of Islam.

In 2014, people took to the streets of the city of Isfahan after a wave of acid attacks, which appeared to be aimed at terrorising women who violated the country's strict Islamic dress code.

"If operatives of the acid attacks had been identified and punished then, today a group of reactionaries would not have ganged up on our innocent girls in the schools," reformist politician Azar Mansoori tweeted.

Several senior clerics, lawmakers and politicians have criticised the government for failing to end the poison attacks and giving contradicting reasons for them, with some warning that frustration among families could ignite further protests.

"Officials are giving contradictory statements ... one says it is intentional, another says it is security-linked and another official blames it on schools' heating systems," state media quoted senior cleric Mohammad Javad Tabatabai-Borujerdi as saying.

"Such statements increase people's mistrust (towards the establishment)."

A judicial probe into the poisoning cases is under way, state media reported.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/3dL8nMv

Teaser: Priyanka's Citadel Promises To Be Action-Packed Spy Thriller

Priyanka Chopra, on Monday, surprised her fans by sharing the first look of the much-awaited web series Citadel. Now, the actress has treated her fans to the teaser of Citadel, produced by the Russo Brothers. The clip starts with Stanley Tucci saying, "Everything you know is a lie. What you were was a myth. What you were was Citadel." In the next frame, we see glimpses of Priyanka, Richard Madden and some action-packed scenes. Along with the teaser, the actress announced the date of the trailer release. In the caption, the actress wrote, "Everything you know is a lie. @citadelonprime trailer tomorrow." 

Soon after Priyanka Chopra shared the post, her husband Nick Jonas commented, "Let's go!!" while Varun Dhawan, who will star in the Hindi version of Citadel, dropped a bomb emoticon. 

Take a look at the Citadel teaser below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

On Monday, Priyanka shared the first glimpse of the spy series Citadel and captioned it as "First look at @citadelonprime via @vanityfair #CitadelOnPrime". Check out the post below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

The upcoming spy-thriller Citadel is created by Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh. The series stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden as agents Nadia Singh and Mason Kane, respectively. The first season will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 28, 2023, with the first two episodes. 

Meanwhile, The Indian instalment of Citadel, helmed by Raj and DK, features Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead roles. Also, it will have spin-off series in many countries, including Mexico and Italy.

Coming back to Priyanka Chopra, she will also be seen in the film Love Again with Sam Heughan. It will release on May 12, 2023. 

 

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/citadel-teaser-priyanka-chopra-richard-maddens-series-promises-to-be-an-action-packed-spy-thriller-3823065

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/feature/i-dont-have-it-all-figured-out-but-suniel-shetty-on-bollywood-film-business-3820054

US: 5 persons, including patient, die after medical flight crashes in Nevada

Plane crash: In a shocking incident, all five people aboard a medical transport flight, including a patient, died after the plane crashed in a mountainous area in northern Nevada, USA. The Lyon County Sheriff's office said authorities began receiving calls about the crash on Friday night near Stagecoach, Nevada, around 9:15 pm and found the wreckage two hours later. Stagecoach, a rural community home to around 2,500 residents, is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southeast of Reno.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/7lNhmHI

Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 jolts Japan's Hokkaido

Earthquake: USGS on Saturday informed that an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted Japan's Hokkaido. The US Geological Survey and the Japan Meteorological Agency informed that the earthquake hits Hokkaido in northern Japan on Saturday night at around 10:27 PM (1327 GMT) at a depth of around 43 kilometers. However, no tsunami alert was issued after the offshore quake. Major Japanese media reported no immediate news of damage or injuries. 

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/50wIkVH

Bunkers Built 70 Years Ago Proving Lifeline In Devastated Ukraine Village

For a Ukrainian village devastated by war, Cold War bunkers built to withstand a nuclear attack that never happened have proven a lifeline for residents who have spent much of the past year living in them.

Luch, a southern village, about 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Kherson, was hammered by Russian fire almost from the start of the war when it ended up close to the frontlines.

There, Svitlana Gynzhul is one of five people who reside in a concrete-and-turf bunker, accessed via a door on the side of a grassy mound that leads to a steep, dingy staircase underground.

Starting in March and through the autumn, she used the village's strategic location to organize spying on Russian troop movements when soldiers were as close as 2 km away.

Some younger villagers mounted a cell communications tower on the village's outskirts to train their binoculars on the Russians from a high vantage point. Gynzhul said she passed the reports to Ukrainian armed forces. Reuters could not independently verify her account.

Now she cares for the few neighbors who have remained in Luch.

The need to take shelter in a bunker built 70 years ago for a different threat underlines the desperate measures many Ukrainians have employed in the last year to stay alive.

In April, with their village caught between Russian and Ukrainian forces, Gynzhul, her husband Dmytro and their son moved into a warehouse basement, just before their second-storey apartment was shelled.

Then in August, they moved into one of Luch's two abandoned Soviet-era nuclear bomb shelters, built in the 1950s for soldiers who at the time trained in Luch.

The heavy metal doors, bunk beds and gas masks had long been stolen.

"Nobody thought it would be useful," said Gynzhul, 55.

Her group has made it their refuge, outlasting the Russian army's occupation of parts of Kherson region. Ukrainian soldiers pushed the Russians south away from Luch last autumn and by early November had recaptured Kherson city.

By that time, Luch was devastated and most homes destroyed, with roofs caved in, windows missing and rocket holes punched into walls.

UNDERGROUND

The village, population 935 before the invasion, is now home to around 50 people. Up to 30 of them live underground in Luch's two nuclear shelters and a basement.

Gynzhul and the others in her bunker live off humanitarian aid and her 4,000 hryvnia ($109) per month salary from her administrative job in the village.

After the Russians retreated, the bunker's residents found an electrician to connect it to power lines. A wood stove heats the two-room bunker, furnished with a double bed and three single beds lined side-by-side.

A generator allows them to pump water. Rugs on the floor and colorful blankets pinned to the walls add comforting touches.

War has exacted a heavy price for some survivors.

Bunker resident Iryna Sichkar said her son was captured early in the war in Mariupol. She does not know if he is alive.

"I only pray my son will come home," she said, in tears.

A Russian strike killed two people in Luch and wounded eight, including Gynzhul, when shrapnel passed through her foot.

Her son is now preparing for deployment to Bakhmut, scene of some of the war's bloodiest battles.

Some families didn't feel safe underground, where shelling sent vibrations through the bunker.

Irina and Viktor Okhnal lived there from March until April, when they left with their two children to live with her parents in Chernivtsi region 800 km northwest of Luch.

The couple and son Slavik, 6, returned to Luch in November, where they are back among friends. Slavik is the only child left in the village

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/SMBGyXx

Kashmiri Pandit Group Calls For "Brutal Operation" Against Terrorists

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

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

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

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

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

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

— KPSS (@KPSSamiti) February 27, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kashmiri-pandit-group-calls-for-brutal-operation-against-terrorists-3820011

Ukraine-Russia war anniversary: G20 finance leaders discuss economic damage from Russia's invasion in Ukraine

Global finance leaders are meeting on Friday to discuss the economic damage caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, marking the conflict's first anniversary. The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will discuss concerns over potential sanctions on Moscow that could disrupt modest growth improvements. The global outlook has reportedly improved since the group's last meeting in October, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting global GDP growth of 2.9% for 2023, up from a 2.7% forecast in October but still lower than the 3.4% achieved in 2022. 

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/qLbxJDd

Olaf Scholz Asks More Indian Techies To Consider Working In Germany

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/ikcEs3S

Ukraine-Russia war anniversary: G20 finance leaders discuss economic damage from Russia's invasion in Ukraine

Global finance leaders are meeting on Friday to discuss the economic damage caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, marking the conflict's first anniversary. The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will discuss concerns over potential sanctions on Moscow that could disrupt modest growth improvements. The global outlook has reportedly improved since the group's last meeting in October, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting global GDP growth of 2.9% for 2023, up from a 2.7% forecast in October but still lower than the 3.4% achieved in 2022. 

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/qLbxJDd

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

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

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

Watch the video below: 

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

— Interesting Engineering (@IntEngineering) February 25, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/old-video-ceo-takes-shots-from-ak-47-to-prove-his-bulletproof-cars-really-work-3816884

Ukraine-Russia war anniversary: G20 finance leaders discuss economic damage from Russia's invasion in Ukraine

Global finance leaders are meeting on Friday to discuss the economic damage caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, marking the conflict's first anniversary. The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will discuss concerns over potential sanctions on Moscow that could disrupt modest growth improvements. The global outlook has reportedly improved since the group's last meeting in October, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting global GDP growth of 2.9% for 2023, up from a 2.7% forecast in October but still lower than the 3.4% achieved in 2022. 

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/qLbxJDd

Pakistan's Weekly Inflation Crosses 40 Percent For 1st Time In 5 Months

Consumer prices rose significantly in the outgoing week on the back of onions, chicken, eggs, rice, cigarettes and fuel, official data showed on Friday, driving the weekly inflation to over 40 per cent for the first time in over five months, the Dawn reported.

Though week-on-week inflation eased slightly, it still remained high as bananas, chicken, sugar, cooking oil, gas and cigarettes became costlier, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

As a result, short-term inflation, measured by Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), jumped to 41.54 per cent on a year-on-year basis for the week ended on Feb 23, rising from 38.42 per cent in the previous week.

The hike in prices is the highest annual rise since the week ending September 8, 2022, when the SPI inflation was 42.7 per cent. And it was above 40 per cent for the first time since Sept 15, when the reading was 40.58 per cent.

Prices of onions, chicken, eggs, cigarettes and fuel see the highest increase, the Dawn reported.

The week-on-week inflation eased to 2.78 per cent from 2.89 per cent a week ago. Of the 51 items tracked, the prices of 33 items increased, six items decreased, whereas those of 12 items remained stable.

The previous week-on-week reading of 2.89 per cent reading was the highest since October 27, when the change in SPI was 4.13 per cent, official data showed.

During the week under review, the items whose prices increased the most compared to the same week a year ago were onions 372 per cent, cigarettes 164.7 per cent, gas 108.38 per cent, chicken 85.7 per cent, diesel 81.36 per cent, eggs 75.81 per cent, Irri 6/9 rice 75.41 per cent, broken basmati rice 74.16 per cent, bananas 72.22 per cent, washed moong pulse 70.39 per cent, and petrol 69.87 per cent.

In contrast, the highest year-on-year fall was recorded in the prices of tomatoes -67.93pc, chilli powder -7.42pc, and electricity charges for the lowest-income group (-6.64pc).

On a week-on-week basis, the biggest change was noted in the prices of gas 108.4pc (for the lowest-income group), cigarettes 76.45 per cent, bananas 6.67 per cent, chicken 5.27 per cent, sugar 3.37 per cent, cooking oil five-litre tin 3.07 per cent, vegetable ghee 2.5 kg pack 2.79 per cent, vegetable ghee 1 kg pack 2.2 per cent, and prepared tea 1.09 per cent.

The products whose prices saw the highest decline compared to the previous week were onions -13.84 per cent, eggs -5.5 per cent, tomatoes -4.23 per cent, garlic -3.03 per cent, LPG -0.81 per cent, and gram pulse -0.21 per cent.

Meanwhile, the headline inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was recorded at 27.6 percent in January. However, the government has been taking strict measures under IMF conditions that are likely to further cool the economy and stoke inflation.

The government has already taken a string of measures, including adopting a market-based exchange rate; a hike in fuel and power tariffs; the withdrawal of subsidies, and more taxation to generate revenue to bridge the fiscal deficit.

As per the Dawn news, officials say the lender is still negotiating with Islamabad over power sector debt and a potential rise in the policy rate, which currently stands at 17 per cent.

The country's economy has been in turmoil and desperately needs external financing, with its foreign exchange reserves dipping to around USD 3 billion, barely enough for three weeks' worth of imports.

China this week announced refinancing of USD 700 million, which was received by the State Bank of Pakistan on Friday.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/4zYSriv

Watch: US Woman Loses Wallet On Train In India, This Happens Next

In a heartwarming incident, a woman from the United States, who forgot her wallet on a train in India, recently revealed how a man came forward to help her after he found her lost item. In a video, posted on Instagram by user @stephandpete_, the woman said that when she boarded a train in India, she forgot her wallet and got off at the station. Soon, she received a message on her Instagram from a man named Chirag, who informed her that he had found her purse and would return it. 

So, when the woman checked the message, she made her way to Chirag's restaurant in Bhuj, Gujarat. In the video, she is seen thanking Chirag for his kind gesture and even offering him money, however, he refuses to accept it and instead tells her to keep her things safe. 

Watch the video below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steph & Pete | Family Travel (@stephandpete_)

"I've learned (3,000+ times over) how wrong I was to offer a tip for a genuine act of kindness (and how transactional the culture in America can be), how common something like this is India (I've been loving all of the other lost and found stories!), and lastly, how many people think I lost my wallet on purpose (in month 17 of traveling with a three-year-old, I assure you that this kind of carelessness comes naturally.)" the caption of the post read. 

The woman shared the video earlier this month and since then it has accumulated more than 3,000 likes and nearly 50,000 likes. 

Viral Video | Wholesome Video Shows Man's Unlikely Friendship With Bird He Rescued

"I'm glad you got it back. So proud of people like Chirag! Hope you have a great stay In India. Lots of love," wrote one user in the comment section. "People like Chirag are the real ambassadors of Indian tourism. He searched for her by her name on social media, and even without knowing correct English, he tried to help her with that message," commented another. 

A third user said, "Maybe the misconceptions about India change with this! Appreciate Chirag's attitude and helping mentality. Hope you guys enjoy the trip in India" while a fourth added, "such a lovely video of positivity!" "This is the beauty of India," expressed fifth. 

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/watch-man-returns-us-womans-lost-wallet-internet-calls-him-ambassador-of-indian-tourism-3814814

G20 foreign ministers meeting: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to India on March 1

G20 foreign ministers meeting: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to India on March 1 to attend the meeting of G20 foreign ministers, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/qnbifk4

Russia Accuses West Of "Destabilising" G20 Talks In India

Russia on Saturday accused the West of destabilising the G20 finance ministers' meeting in India by trying to force through a joint statement on Ukraine that stalled because of disagreements.

"We regret that the activities of the G20 continue to be destabilised by the Western collective and used in an anti-Russian... way," the foreign ministry said.

Moscow accused the United States, the European Union and the G7 nations of having "disrupted the adoption of collective decisions" by trying to impose their "diktat" by what they said was "clear blackmail".

Their aim had been to impose their interpretation of the Ukraine conflict in the joint statement by means of lobbying and "ultimatums", said the ministry statement.

The ministry called on the West to "renounce its destructive policy as soon as possible, to acknowledge the objective realities of a multipolar world".

"The G20 must remain an economic forum rather than encroaching on the security sphere," it said.

G20 finance ministers failed Saturday to agree a joint statement on the global economy at talks in India, after China sought to water down references to the Ukraine conflict.

Instead, current G20 president India issued a "chair's summary" which said "most members strongly condemned" the conflict and that there were "different assessments of the situation and sanctions" at the two-day meeting in Bengaluru.

A footnote said two paragraphs in the summary about the conflict, which it said were adapted from the G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration in November, "were agreed to by all member countries except Russia and China".

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/PmYf8F0

Student In US Brutally Thrash Teacher Who Confiscated His Nintendo Switch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Denn Dunham (@DennD68) February 22, 2023

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/feature/school-student-in-us-brutally-thrash-teacher-who-confiscated-his-nintendo-switch-3814575

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

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

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

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

Watch the video below: 

View this post on Instagram

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

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

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

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

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

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/old-video-zookeeper-places-head-inside-crocodiles-mouth-this-happens-next-3814581

Look at yourself as state that provides safe havens to terrorists: India slams Pakistan at UNGA

Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur on Thursday hit back at Pakistan, saying It should first look at its track record of harbouring and providing safe havens to terrorists with impunity.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/q2aEH9f

Russia-Ukraine war: The Story so far

Russia-Ukraine war: On February 24, 2022, the temperature was around 20 degrees below freezing point when millions of Ukrainians woke up with sirens of perilous emergency. Although the citizens were acquainted with Russia's ill intentions, they were oblivious that a topsy-turvy journey had been waiting for them.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/b5QgdIk

Russia-Ukraine war: The Story so far

Russia-Ukraine war: On February 24, 2022, the temperature was around 20 degrees below freezing point when millions of Ukrainians woke up with sirens of perilous emergency. Although the citizens were acquainted with Russia's ill intentions, they were oblivious that a topsy-turvy journey had been waiting for them.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/b5QgdIk

Ukraine's Victory Inevitable If West "Respects All Promises": Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Ukraine would push back Russian troops if Western allies kept their promises following pledges of more financial and military aid.

"If partners respect all their promises and deadlines, victory will inevitably await us," Zelensky said during a press conference that started with a minute of silence, "if we can all do our homework, we can all win."

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/aQmyTAJ

Russia Might Provide Iran Fighter Jets, Missiles: US

Russia is considering sending fighter jets to Iran as part of an expanding military cooperation that has seen Tehran ship growing quantities of weaponry to Moscow for use in the invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Friday.

"We believe that Russia might provide Iran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics and air defense. We believe that Russia might provide Iran with fighter jets," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Kirby said Iran, which is deeply isolated by Western sanctions aimed at halting its disputed nuclear program, was seeking to bolster its military with Russian help in exchange for sending armaments used in the year-long onslaught against Ukraine.

"Iran is also seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars and combat training aircraft. In total, Iran are seeking billions of dollars' worth of military equipment," Kirby said.

"We were concerned it was going to go both ways, and those concerns are certainly being realized," he said.

According to Kirby, Iran has already sent hundreds of drones, as well as artillery and tank ammunition, to Russia and that "Iran's support for Russia's war has expanded."

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/NjY5Wkc

Video: Baby Langur Weeps After Mother's Tragic Death, Internet Emotional

Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda on Friday shared a heartbreaking video of a baby langur weeping while holding on to its dead mother. Sharing the short clip on Twitter, Mr Nanda wrote that the incident took place in Assam. The video showed a golden baby langur sobbing uncontrollably over the lifeless body of its mother after she was killed by a speeding vehicle. 

"This will haunt me for a long long time. A Golden langur was assassinated on the road in Assam. The baby is still in its arm not knowing what has befallen him. I am informed that all steps are being taken to save the baby," Mr Nanda wrote in the caption of the post. 

Watch the video below: 

This will hunt me for a long long time💔💔
A Golden langur assassinated on the road in Assam. The baby still in its arm not knowing what has befallen him.

I am informed that all steps are being taken to save the baby. pic.twitter.com/iMOcEHquZw

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) February 24, 2023

In the clip, the baby langur is seen weeping, clutching its mother's face and trying to wake her up but to no avail. The two animals are also seen surrounded by several people. 

Internet users were quick to react to the video. While some expressed their condolence over the tragic accident, others expressed anger. 

"This is so sad! Why can't we care for the co-inhabitants of our planet? Poor Baby!" wrote one user. "Can't bear to watch..... hope the baby recovers from the trauma," said another. 

Viral Video| Pakistan University Students Celebrating 'Bollywood Day' Sparks Debate Online

A third user said, "O God! My heart is breaking when I see this accident and the plight of the baby langur. One has to drive carefully keeping other's safety also in mind," while a fourth commented, "Be it be a clear road,it doesn't give the right to anyone to overspeed. Moreover, while we drive, we should always be careful and speed should be moderate."

"Saddest thing!! Brutal! Can't bear to watch. Prayers for the baby to recover from this tragedy," wrote another user. "This is very tragic and heart-wrenching," expressed another. 

Mr Nanda's video has accumulated more than 37,000 views and over 1,500 likes. 

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/saddest-thing-video-shows-baby-langur-weeping-after-mothers-tragic-death-3812297

"Far East Not Far...": Israel PM After Carriers Can Directly Fly To India

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday welcomed the authorisation for Israeli carriers to fly over Oman as a "great day" for the aviation industry as it will connect the country directly with India and also help establish Israel as the main transit point between Asia and Europe.

"The Far East is not so far away and the skies are no longer the limit", Mr Netanyahu said in a statement after receiving the Omani authorisation.

"This is a day of great news for Israeli aviation. Israel has, in effect, become the main transit point between Asia and Europe", the Israeli prime minister added.

Israel received authorisation from Saudi Arabia and the Israeli leader said that he worked since his 2018 visit to Oman on getting permission for Israeli carriers to fly over its airspace so that they could go directly to India and onwards to Australia.

Oman and Israel do not have diplomatic ties.

"This was achieved today, after considerable effort, including in recent months. Here is good news - Israel is opening up to the east on an unprecedented scale", Netanyahu stressed.

Until now, Israeli airlines' flights to East Asia, India, and Thailand were forced to fly south to avoid the Arabian Peninsula - a route that added two and a half hours and wasted expensive fuel, local media reported.

With the Omani announcement, Israeli flights can shave off two to four hours to popular destinations like India and Thailand.

The development could potentially reduce ticket prices as well, given that airlines would save money on fuel.

Air India has been flying from Tel Aviv to Delhi directly using Saudi and Omani airspace, which saves time and makes the flights much more cost-efficient.

Last year Saudi Arabia allowed Israeli airlines to use its airspace but because Omani airspace was closed, Israeli carriers could not use the route to fly to Asia. The Saudi Arabian decision came after United States President Joe Biden visited the region last year.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/oQfquOM

"If Its Basic Industry Is Terrorism...": S Jaishankar On Helping Pakistan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday virtually dismissed the idea of helping Pakistan to come out of its economic mess.

Speaking at the annual Asia Economic Dialogue organised by the external affairs ministry in Pune, Mr Jaishankar said he will consider the local public sentiment while making a big decision.

"I would have a pulse (on) what do my people feel about it. And I think you know the answer," he said.

Pakistan is grappling with an economic crisis and has not been successful in getting an agreement from multilateral institutions either. In the recent past, India has helped neighbours like Sri Lanka as it struggled to come out of its economic troubles and regularly helps others in the neighbourhood as well.

However, when it comes to Pakistan, the fundamental issue impacting the New Delhi-Islamabad ties is terrorism, Mr Jaishankar said, adding that one must not be in denial of this problem.

"No country is ever going to come out of a difficult situation and become a prosperous power if its basic industry is terrorism.

"Just as a country has to fix its economic issues, a country has to fix its political issues too, a country has to fix its social issues," he said without naming Pakistan.

Mr Jaishankar also made it clear that it is in nobody's interest to see a country get into severe economic difficulties, and that too a neighbour.

Once a country is in the throes of a serious economic problem, it has to make policy choices to get out of it, the career diplomat-turned-politician said, adding that others cannot solve it for the country.

The world can only provide options and support systems, Mr Jaishankar said, making it clear that Pakistan will have to make "tough choices".

He said India has also undergone the same challenges several times in its modern history, with the last one being 30 years ago with the balance of payment crisis.

Meanwhile, Mr Jaishankar said ever since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the country's approach to the neighbouring countries has undergone a perceptible change and also reminded all about the Prime Minister's decision to call heads of state for the swearing-in function to start a new relationship.

Citing the case of Maldives, he said India's help in the recent past includes the Greater Male project and also added that he was present at the foundation stone laying event a few weeks ago.

India is also buying or selling power with many of its neighbours, Mr Jaishankar said, adding that it recently started buying power from Nepal.

Going forward, the country is also mulling to up its focus on education and healthcare spending in the neighbourhood, Mr Jaishankar said.

He also assured that India will also be using its G-20 presidency to give a voice to the problems of the 'global south' and asserted that India is the best-placed country to do that.

The prime minister and his top ministers have spoken to 125 countries in the past month in India's effort to be an effective voice of the global south, Jaishankar said.

Speaking at the same event, Maldives' Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said climate finance is a big challenge and expected help to flow through on the commitment at the earliest. His counterpart from Bhutan, Lyonpo Namgay Tshering said an easing of global financial conditions is also the need of the hour.

Mr Jaishankar said there are multiple second and third-order impacts of the major world events and policy decisions, which India will be flagging to the world as part of its G-20 presidency.

The EAM also said that the G-20, with nearly 200 events across the country, is a marketing of India to influential people across the world by exposing them to cultural and socio-economic changes taking place in the country.

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

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/if-its-basic-industry-is-terrorism-s-jaishankar-on-helping-pakistan-3808959

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, Indian-American running for US President

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and US right-wing media favorite, has announced his bid to run for US President in 2024. He is the second Indian-American to enter the race for US Presidential elections. Ramaswamy, who is known for his criticism of "wokeism", believes that it is a threat to the US and has warned against the incorporation of ESG practices in corporate structures. In his campaign announcement video, he stated his belief in the existence of the ideals that united Americans 250 years ago and his intention to revive them if elected.

from IndiaTV World: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/OxiNvB2

China Clamps Down On Access to ChatGPT As AI Race Intensifies: Report

OpenAI's ChatGPT, which was launched in November last year, has exploded in popularity worldwide and has become the fastest-growing consumer application in history. The chatbot has been grabbing eyeballs with its ability to have natural conversations with users and answer a range of questions.

Needless to say, the software's success has already ruffled some of the biggest technology firms, prompting Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp to hastily debut new functions in Google and Bing. As the AI race heats up, major tech companies in China are also scrambling to create their own homegrown version. Meanwhile, authorities are now clamping down on the usage of the chatbot, with several popular Chinese apps removing access to ChatGPT, as per a CNN report. 

Though ChatGPT is not officially available in China, residents have been using virtual private networks and foreign phone numbers to help bypass restrictions. However, over the weekend, things seemed to have changed.

Searches for ChatGPT on Chinese platforms no longer returned results, while workaround programs had been disabled or replaced with a notice saying they had been suspended for “violating relevant laws and regulations”, the South China Morning Post reported.

Apps called ChatGPTRobot and AIGC Chat Robot said their programs had been suspended due to ''violation of relevant laws and regulations.'' Even Shenlan BL and AI Duihua told their users that their ChatGPT access services had become “unavailable” without specifying a reason. Other apps, like ChatgptAiAi and Chat AI Conversation, also met with the same fate.

A user told SCMP that his personal WeChat account was blocked last week, three days after he embedded a ChatGPT API. 

As of now, it's not really clear what prompted these closures. However, the CNN report says that there might be some political reasons. State-run media on Monday released a video in which it is claimed that the chatbot could be used by US authorities to ''spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion.'' 

Recently, a team from China's Fudan University developed a ChatGPT-like chatbot platform but it crashed hours after it launched to the public, due to a sudden surge of traffic.

Apart from China, OpenAI does not allow users in Hong Kong, Iran, Russia and parts of Africa to sign up.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/SqwelHZ

China Clamps Down On Access to ChatGPT As AI Race Intensifies: Report

OpenAI's ChatGPT, which was launched in November last year, has exploded in popularity worldwide and has become the fastest-growing consumer application in history. The chatbot has been grabbing eyeballs with its ability to have natural conversations with users and answer a range of questions.

Needless to say, the software's success has already ruffled some of the biggest technology firms, prompting Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp to hastily debut new functions in Google and Bing. As the AI race heats up, major tech companies in China are also scrambling to create their own homegrown version. Meanwhile, authorities are now clamping down on the usage of the chatbot, with several popular Chinese apps removing access to ChatGPT, as per a CNN report. 

Though ChatGPT is not officially available in China, residents have been using virtual private networks and foreign phone numbers to help bypass restrictions. However, over the weekend, things seemed to have changed.

Searches for ChatGPT on Chinese platforms no longer returned results, while workaround programs had been disabled or replaced with a notice saying they had been suspended for “violating relevant laws and regulations”, the South China Morning Post reported.

Apps called ChatGPTRobot and AIGC Chat Robot said their programs had been suspended due to ''violation of relevant laws and regulations.'' Even Shenlan BL and AI Duihua told their users that their ChatGPT access services had become “unavailable” without specifying a reason. Other apps, like ChatgptAiAi and Chat AI Conversation, also met with the same fate.

A user told SCMP that his personal WeChat account was blocked last week, three days after he embedded a ChatGPT API. 

As of now, it's not really clear what prompted these closures. However, the CNN report says that there might be some political reasons. State-run media on Monday released a video in which it is claimed that the chatbot could be used by US authorities to ''spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion.'' 

Recently, a team from China's Fudan University developed a ChatGPT-like chatbot platform but it crashed hours after it launched to the public, due to a sudden surge of traffic.

Apart from China, OpenAI does not allow users in Hong Kong, Iran, Russia and parts of Africa to sign up.

source https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/chinese-apps-remove-access-to-chatgpt-as-country-scrambles-to-launch-own-version-report-3809160

Man Receives Wrong Book From Amazon Along With A Sorry Note From Seller

Mix-ups and misplacements are known to happen when it comes to online product delivery. More often than not, people end up receiving different items instead of the things they ordered. In yet another incident of confusion by an online shopping site, a man complained that he got a random book instead of the one he ordered. However, that was not it. The customer also received a note from the seller requesting him not to give a negative review.

The Twitter user who goes by the name @kashflyy shared the picture of the book and wrote, ''I ordered a certain book from Amazon but they sent me this random book called looking for laddoo along with this letter like bhai what is going on.''

Check out the tweet here:

I ordered a certain book from Amazon but they sent me this random book called looking for laddoo along with this letter like bhai what is going on 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/90D19KIl9k

— Kashish (@kashflyy) February 21, 2023

In the tweet, the user said that he ordered a book from Amazon, however, he received a random children's book called ‘Looking for Laddoo'. Interestingly, the seller also sent him a note and explained the reason for the confusion. The seller requested him several times not to give negative feedback.

The note reads, ''Dear customer, apologise for the order. Sir, you ordered this book..We have stock, but damaged condition. We will send you other book. Please return back that book. Don't give negative feedback. Please cancel order your self. Don't give negative feedback Sir. Please help this order Sir. Thank You Sir.''

Internet users were amused with the tweet and many sympathised with the seller. One user wrote, ''That's a v good gesture on the seller's part. The best the person could have done!'' Another commented, ''This is really cute! If I were you, I'd return the book, and not leave a negative feedback. Possibly, it's a small mom-and-pop bookshop trying their luck on Amazon.''

A third said, ''I know you wanted a particular book but this is just way too sweet an apology  Please don't leave negative feedback and give them a chance to give you the book you ordered.''

However, some were not convinced by the note and said that the seller needs to do better. A fourth commented, ''Why so?? Do you think returning an amazon order is that easy? He could have waited for a few days, arranged the book from somewhere and sent it. It is a dangerous gesture to be true.''

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/man-receives-wrong-book-from-amazon-along-with-a-sorry-note-from-seller-3806062