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1) Bonobos, like humans, cooperate with unrelated members of other groups By Jake Buehler:

That behavior could help shed light on the evolution of cooperation between groups of people. Humans regularly cooperate and share resources with other, unrelated humans in different social groups, often without any immediate, reciprocated benefits. The phenomenon has been considered unique to our species. But some bonobos appear to share this social trait, a study finds.

This type of cooperation is thought to underpin human civilization. So bonobos’ ability to bond and cooperate with groups of nonrelatives across group boundaries, even when there’s no immediate payoff, may provide some insight into the kinds of evolutionary conditions that led to the development of humankind’s large-scale societies, researchers report November 16 in Science.  Both chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (P. paniscus) live in social groups with individuals that may not be very closely related. But compared with territorial and aggressive chimpanzees, bonobos have a more easygoing, tolerant attitude toward other groups. Bonobos occasionally groom and share food with unrelated individuals from other social groups and have even been known to adopt outsiders’ young (SN: 3/18/21). But the extent of the apes’ cooperative behavior has been unclear.

So behavioral ecologists Liran Samuni of the German Primate Center in Göttingen and Martin Surbeck of Harvard University studied two bonobo groups in the Congo’s Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve. Over two years, the team recorded which bonobos exchanged grooming services and shared food, and when.Conflict and competition are not completely absent among bonobos. So the researchers also recorded when the apes formed alliances with members of the other group, cooperating to attack a third individual.

The two groups encountered each other frequently. They interacted with each other nearly 100 times over the study, sharing 20 percent of the two-year observation period in each other’s company. Some meetings lasted for just an hour, others for multiple weeks, allowing for longer-term bonds to be forged.While the bonobos were together, the researchers documented many instances of cooperative behavior. Of the more than 3,700 grooming interactions observed, 10 percent were between bonobos of different social groups. Of all partnerships formed to attack a third individual, 15 percent were between bonobos of different groups.

“This is not a one-off kind of thing,” Samuni says, where individuals share food very occasionally, for example. In the Kokolopori bonobos, 6 percent of all food shares were across groups.The cooperation wasn’t random. Individuals that tended to engage in cooperative behavior within their group were more likely to interact with bonobos in the other group that had the same tendency. This cooperation doesn’t appear to be solely motivated by immediate reciprocation, the researchers say. For instance, during the study, only 14 percent of bonobos that shared food with a partner in the other group had the deed reciprocated.  

The study’s overall findings build on evidence from bonobos in captivity behaving similarly and raises the possibility that cooperating with nonrelatives across social groups is intrinsic to the species. Many animals will aid and cooperate with relatives, since such behavior encourages the survival and proliferation of one’s own genes, albeit indirectly. When helping nonrelatives, the evolutionary benefit is even more indirect, and doesn’t evolve as readily. Bonobos aren’t the only nonhuman animals known to behave in this way. Male dolphins will cooperate with other unrelated males to guard females, which increases their own chances of mating. But, unlike with a lot of the bonobo cooperation observed in the new study, there’s a clear, self-directed benefit involved in the dolphins’ behavior. 

Food sharing between unrelated individuals, though, is rare, Samuni says. Vampire bats, bonobos and humans are among the few species known to do it. Chimps also do this, but share food only within the social group, Surbeck says. In human evolution, such sharing “is considered one of those behaviors that supported our societies, that allowed us to sustain each other in terms of food shortfalls,” Samuni says.

Our own species’s behavior is what makes the new result particularly interesting, says Shinya Yamamoto, a comparative cognitive psychologist at Kyoto University in Japan.

“Humans sometimes compete or fight with neighboring groups, but other times we cooperate even with outgroup members,” Yamamoto says. Among our primate relatives, it’s been easier to find examples of aggression and competitiveness, especially in humans’ close relatives, chimpanzees. But the evolutionary origins of humankind’s cooperative side remain unclear.Humans are equally related to chimpanzees and bonobos, and the new research doesn’t tell us whether early human ancestors were more like chimps with their universally rigid territories and lethal patrol groups, or like the more relaxed bonobos (SN: 9/17/14). But the finding could lead to insights into the types of conditions in which either side of the coin evolves, Surbeck says.“Under which circumstances do you see this cooperation? Under which circumstances do you see more of a chimpanzee pattern, in permanently hostile relationships between groups?” he asks. “What shifts the needle from one to the other?”The finding also suggests that extensive, long-term cooperation between groups can occur without the heavy influence of cultural factors and social norms. In humans, these have been considered necessary to build and sustain between-group cooperation, Samuni says.“We are showing quite a simple system,” she says. “And we still see it emerging and in a way that is quite similar [to humans].”

There could still be a cultural component at play with these two bonobo groups, Yamamoto says. It’s possible that over generations, some bonobos have learned to be particularly social, similarly to how elements of human culture form.This study looked at just two wild bonobo groups, and other bonobo groups are known to have variable rates of interaction with other groups, Yamamoto says. So studying more of the apes might reveal something akin to social norms.

2) Hunter-gatherer approach to childcare suggests that the key to mother and child well-being may be many caregivers :by University of Cambridge

HUNTERCHILDCARE  A Mbendjele camp in the Congo rainforest  Credit Dr Nikhil Chaudhary

Infants and toddlers may be psychologically wired to thrive with high levels of "sensitive care" and personal attention, according to a study conducted with contemporary hunter-gatherer societies. Research led by an evolutionary anthropologist at Cambridge University found that hunter-gatherer infants receive attentive care and physical contact for about nine hours per day from up to 15 different caregivers.

Dr. Nikhil Chaudhary says that, for the vast majority of our species' evolutionary history, mothers probably had far more support than they currently do in Western countries such as the UK.He argues that recent changes in UK policy show childcare is becoming more of a priority for the government, which is a step forward, but more needs to be done to ensure the well-being of mothers and children.

"For more than 95% of our evolutionary history we lived as hunter-gatherers. Therefore, contemporary hunter-gatherer societies can offer clues as to whether there are certain child-rearing systems to which infants, and their mothers, may be psychologically adapted," said Chaudhary.However, caution should be exercised before jumping to conclusions, argues Chaudhary., "Many aspects of our psychology have evolved to be flexible rather than best suited to one specific way of life . The extent to which this is true for childrearing is still debated."For the latest research, Dr. Chaudhary and his colleague Dr. Salali worked with Mbendjele BaYaka hunter-gatherers who reside in the Republic of Congo, and have been analyzing and interpreting the findings alongside a child psychiatrist, Dr. Annie Swanepoel.

In the new paper, published in Developmental Psychology, the researchers say that children may be "evolutionarily primed" to expect exceptionally high levels of physical contact and care, as well as personal attention from several caregivers in addition to their biological parents.When considering the implications for Western countries, the authors highlight that the provision of affordable high-quality childcare support, which goes beyond effective supervision, should be prioritized. Higher caregiver-to-child ratios, and stability of key caregivers in nurseries and institutional care, may be important for minimizing risks to well-being.

In the observed hunter-gatherer communities, caregiving goes so far beyond the parents, according to the researchers. Children often have 10+ caregivers and occasionally 20 or more, and typically a mother's support system would help respond to more than half of her baby's episodes of crying, which can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenting."Support for mothers also has numerous benefits for children such as reducing the risk of neglect and abuse, buffering against family adversity, and improving maternal well-being which in turn enhances maternal care," said Dr. Swanepoel.The study found that it was common for older children and adolescents to be heavily involved in caring for infants, further supporting mothers and giving these young caregivers valuable experience. The researchers speculate that this might boost their confidence as caregivers, and perhaps offer some protection against the anxieties often experienced by first time parents.The authors also point out that in Western societies it is common for childcare to be used simply to allow parents to work, but insist that childcare needs to give parents an actual break. They argue that throughout human history and prehistory, parents have never been under the pressure they are now in terms of lack of support."The nuclear family system in the west is a world away from the communal living arrangements of hunter-gatherer societies like the Mbendjele," said Chaudhary. He says that changes in UK childcare policy, such as expanding free childcare to include younger children, are an important step.However, both of these schemes are only available for working families and further contribute to childcare only being available for parents to fill the 'freed' time with work, rather than rest.Ratios of caregivers to children were greater than five-to-one in the observed hunter-gatherer groups, whereas in UK nurseries each adult is responsible for numerous children. In fact, regulations on adult-to-child ratios in early years settings have recently decreased for two-year-olds to one caregiver for five children—the opposite of what the researchers observed in the Mbendjele communities.

Despite the high numbers of caregivers, the study suggests that children may be adapted to have a stable set of a core caregivers within this larger network. Mbendjele children benefit from the supplementary care of many people, but retain access to personal attention and consistency from a handful of key caregivers.This is in line with previous research suggesting a potential link between instability of caregivers and issues with emotional and cognitive development, says Chaudhary, who is concerned that many childcare and education settings in the UK currently face a staffing crisis, and rely on ever-changing agency staff."Childcare is finally becoming a priority in the government's budget, but there is much more to do," Chaudhary added. "As a society, from policy makers to employers to health care services, we need to work together to ensure mothers and children receive the support and care they need to thrive."

3) New study reveals surprising insights into feeding habits of carnivorous dinosaurs in North America : by PeerJ

Morrison Formation theropods and their tooth crowns

New research sheds light on the dining habits of ancient carnivorous dinosaurs from Jurassic rocks of the U.S.. A recent study published in PeerJ by Roberto Lei (Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia) and colleagues explores the bite marks left on the ancient bones of the giant long-necked sauropod dinosaurs like Diplodocus and Brontosaurus by carnivorous theropod dinosaurs.

Tooth-marked bones provide invaluable insights into the feeding behaviors of long-extinct carnivorous creatures. While it is commonly thought that the giant tyrannosaurs were the primary culprits behind these tell-tale marks on dinosaur bones, the research conducted by Lei and colleagues takes a closer look at other large carnivores' contributions to this paleontological puzzle.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION

(A) Neural spine summit of the dorsal vertebra of Apatosaurus sp. (AMNH FARB 550) showing (B) extensive bite traces (in dorsolateral view). This region was unlikely to be the site of a predatory attack. Credit: PeerJ (2023). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16327

The study presents the results of an extensive survey of the literature and fossil collections, revealing a striking discovery: 68 sauropod bones from the Upper Jurassic (c. 150 million years old) Morrison Formation of the U.S. bear unmistakable bite traces attributed to theropods.

The team's findings suggest that while bite traces on large sauropods were less common than in tyrannosaur-dominated environments, they are nonetheless abundant in the Morrison Formation and more so than previously realized. A particularly intriguing aspect of their discovery is that none of the observed traces showed any evidence of healing, indicating that these bites occurred either in a single, lethal encounter or more likely were post-mortem feeding traces from scavenging.

Theropod bite marks on limb bones of CM 555, a juvenile individual of Brontosaurus parvus from Wyoming. Credit  Mathew J. Wedel, Western University of Health Sciences

The team also looked at the wear on the teeth of Morrison Formation theropods and found that they similarly show wear associated with biting bones more often than previous realized and are closer to the patterns seen in the large tyrannosaurs. However, attributing bite traces to specific theropod taxa remains a complex challenge due to the presence of multiple credible candidates and so it is very hard to attribute any single bite on the sauropod bones to the predators around like Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus.

Theropod bite marks on limb bones of CM 555, a juvenile individual of Brontosaurus parvus from Wyoming. Credit Mathew J. Wedel, Western University of Health Sciences

Dr. David Hone of Queen Mary University of London, the corresponding author of the study, says, "This new work helps us understand the ecological relationships between dinosaurs in the Jurassic and reveals that the habits of the larger carnivores then were closer to that of the tyrannosaurs than previously thought. It's another important step in reconstructing the behavior of these ancient animals."

This research not only enhances our understanding of ancient ecosystems and the dynamics between predator and prey but also raises intriguing questions about the intricate web of life in the late Jurassic period. By focusing on bite and tooth marks, the authors have opened up a new window of investigation and knowledge, where these remarkable conclusions tell a story of predators and their interactions with some of the largest creatures to ever roam the Earth.

4) Plants that survived dinosaur extinction pulled nitrogen from air, study concludes :by Duke University

A fossilized cycad specimen that was sampled for nitrogen isotopes that would indicate the atmosphere it grew in Credit Michael Kipp—Duke University

Once a favored food of grazing dinosaurs, an ancient lineage of plants called cycads helped sustain these and other prehistoric animals during the Mesozoic Era, starting 252 million years ago, by being plentiful in the forest understory. Today, just a few species of the palm-like plants survive in tropical and subtropical habitats. Like their lumbering grazers, most cycads have gone extinct. Their disappearance from their prior habitats began during the late Mesozoic and continued into the early Cenozoic Era, punctuated by the cataclysmic asteroid impact and volcanic activity that mark the K-Pg boundary 66 million years ago. However, unlike the dinosaurs, somehow a few groups of cycads survived to the present.

A study, "Nitrogen Isotopes Reveal Independent Origins of N2-Fixing Symbiosis in Extant Cycad Lineages," appearing Nov. 16 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution has concluded that the cycad species that survived relied on symbiotic bacteria in their roots, which provide them with nitrogen to grow. Just like modern legumes and other plants that use nitrogen fixation, these cycads trade their sugars with bacteria in their roots in exchange for nitrogen plucked from the atmosphere.

What originally interested lead author Michael Kipp is that the tissues of nitrogen-fixing plants can provide a record of the composition of the atmosphere they grew up in. He combines geochemistry with the fossil record to try to understand the Earth's climate history.

A fossil of a veined leaf from the same strata as an extinct cycad was used for comparison of nitrogen isotopes  Credit  Michael Kipp—Duke University

Knowing already that modern cycads are nitrogen-fixers, Kipp began analyzing some very old plant fossils during his Ph.D. work at the University of Washington to see if he could get a different look at ancient atmospheres. Most of the old cycads revealed that they weren't nitrogen-fixers, but these also turned out to be the extinct lineages.

"Instead of being a story about the atmosphere, we realized this was a story about the ecology of these plants that changed through time," said Kipp, who spent nearly a decade on this finding, first at UW and then as a postdoctoral researcher at CalTech.

Kipp is joining the Duke faculty this year as an assistant professor of Earth and Climate Sciences in the Nicholas School of the Environment to continue using the fossil record to understand Earth's climate history so that we can understand its possible future. Much of what we know about ancient atmospheres comes from chemical studies of ancient sea life and sediments, Kipp said. Applying some of those methods to terrestrial plants is a new wrinkle.

"Going into the project, there were no published nitrogen isotope data from fossilized plant foliage," Kipp said. It took a while for him to fine-tune the method and to secure samples of precious plant fossils that museum curators were reluctant to see vaporized to get the data.

"In the few fossil samples that are of surviving (cycad) lineages, and that are not so old—20, 30 million years—we see the same nitrogen signature as we see today," Kipp said. That means their nitrogen came from symbiotic bacteria. But in the older and extinct cycad fossils, that nitrogen signature was absent.

What is less clear is how nitrogen fixation helped the surviving cycads. It may have helped them weather the dramatic shift in climate or it may have allowed them to compete better with the faster-growing angiosperm plants that flourished after the extinction, "or it could be both.""This is a new technique that we can do a lot more with," Kipp said.

5) Scientists craft a protein-based bandpass filter for synthetic biology by Michael David Mitchell, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

An illustration showing the concept of implementing a bandpass filter within a cellular environment. Credit EPFL Titouan Veuillet - CC-BY-SA 4.0

EPFL scientists have crafted a biological system that mimics an electronic bandpass filter, a novel sensor that could revolutionize self-regulated biological mechanisms in synthetic biology. Synthetic biology holds the promise of enhancing and modifying biological systems into innumerable new technologies for the benefit of society. This engineering approach to biology has already reaped benefits in the fields of drug delivery, agriculture, and energy production.

In a paper published in Nature Chemical Biology, EPFL researchers at the Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering (LPDI) at the School of Engineering have taken an important step in designing more performative biological systems.

By observing complex self-regulating behavior in cells and taking inspiration from electrical engineering, they have engineered a sophisticated biological switch using modified proteins as the hardware.

The goal of LPDI is to develop biological functions that imitate and even go beyond what nature has provided over millions of years of evolution. "We use a number of approaches in terms of protein design, more specifically computational protein design, in order to engineer new molecular hardware," says Bruno Correia, head of LPDI and senior author the paper. This new biological hardware—in the form of engineered proteins—can then be placed in living cells and respond to stimuli that the engineer can closely control.

The lab's methodology begins by observing how cells function and imitating or adapting these functions for other uses. One of the things that nature does extremely well is self-regulation. When a cell needs more ions, for example, it activates mechanisms that allow for the ions to flow into the cell. Once the cell's needs are met and it has reached a certain equilibrium known as homeostasis, it can then turn off the ion flow.

This biological mechanism can be conceptually likened to the selective nature of a bandpass filter in electronics. While a bandpass filter discriminates signals based on a specific range of frequencies, allowing only those within a designated band to pass through, the cell selectively permits ions to enter or exit based on its current needs. Although the comparison is a simplification, as the biological process is governed by complex biochemical feedback rather than binary signals, it similarly achieves selective permeability—akin to how a bandpass filter selectively permits certain frequencies while excluding others.A current limitation in synthetic biology is that no design, up until now, offers this type of functionality—its all or nothing, only "on" or only "off." Think of penicillin delivery. As there is no regulatory system based on biological sensors for drug dosing, a diabetic needs to continuously monitor the insulin level.

Sailan Shui's work at LPDI focused on these types of biological sensors and switches that could drastically improve drug delivery and other biological systems. "Shui was unsatisfied by the on/off paradigm and decided to engineer a switch that could respond to changes in a cell's internal and external environment. So she took inspiration from the functioning of a bandpass filter and engineered its biological equivalent," explains Correia.To create this novel function in biological systems, the team designed proteins and inserted them into living cells. In biology, function flows from form. Correia and Shui observed the structure of folded proteins and their effect on self-regulating functions inside the cell. They then created computational models that could potentially act as a bandpass filter from these observations.

Once the digital design was validated using computer simulations, they started working on building the protein structure by manipulating its DNA and amino acid configuration. Finally, they tested the design in cell cultures. The results are conclusive. Their design, which they share with the research community in the spirit of open research, will most likely be used by researchers around the world in ways yet foreseen.As a hypothetical application in synthetic biology, researchers could create a system that operates similarly to an electronic bandpass filter to regulate insulin delivery based on blood glucose levels. Engineered proteins would serve as sensors, detecting high glucose and triggering insulin release until levels normalize.

This would automate insulin dosing, potentially improving diabetes management and reducing the need for frequent monitoring. Such a system would represent a significant advancement in the use of synthetic biology for therapeutic applications.

This fundamental research is essential for developing the tools, building blocks and hardware of the future of synthetic biology. "We have a clear methodology but also embrace the serendipity of science. It was the scientist Leo Scheller in my lab who had the vision to understand the importance of this work. It was a team effort," says Correia. This team effort brings the field one important step closer to engineering better drug delivery technology, more efficient bioreactors, and even entirely new forms of biological entities.

6) Archaeologists unearth pot of copper coins in first major discovery at Mohenjo Daro in 93 years: M.B. Kalhoro on Dawn Newspaper:

LARKANA: A team of experts on Thursday announced unearthing a pot full of copper coins from the Divinity street on the Western side of Mohenjodaro stupa, which they saw as the first remarkable discovery of artefacts at the 5,000-year-old city remains after 93 years. Director of Archaeology Mohenjodaro, Dr Syed Shakir Shah, who led the team comprising archaeological conservator Ghulam Shabir Joyo, assistant conservator Imtiaz Domki, laboratory assistant Rustam Ali Bhutto and research scholar Sheikh Javed Sindhi resumed digging at the site where the staff busy with preservation work had stumbled upon the pot of coins on Wednesday but reburied it.

The team continued the work for three hours and safely secured the coins buried in the debris along with the jar wherein they were kept. They appeared to be thickly rusted and stuck up with each other, said sources. They said the jar of coins weighing about five and a half kilogram was later shifted to the soil testing laboratory at the site.

Sheikh Javed Sindhi, who was engaged in research at the site, said that previously, 4,348 copper coins were excavated by R.D. Banerji, Sir John Marshall and Mackay from 1922 to 1931. These coins belonged to Kushan Period dating back to 2 to 5 Century AD, he said. “The present discovery is remarkable after 93 years and its credit goes to Mohenjodaro team,” he said.Rustam Bhutto, in-charge of the soil and water testing laboratory, said the treatment process for separating the amalgamated coins would take at least a month to make the figures and language on coins visible.Shakir Shah told journalists later that most probably the coins belonged to Kushan Period. The research on the coins would only take off once they were made visible with special treatment at the laboratory and after completion of the process and research the coins would be kept at Mohenjodaro Museum for the visitors, he said.

“Though we have shifted the coins to the laboratory [for the time being] we will definitely hire experts to confirm the period which could be revealed from the inscriptions on the coins. We have to look for which dynasties of the Kushan Period the coins belong to,” he said.He said that it was good news for everyone as the coins in such huge quantity had been discovered from the site after nearly 100 years. The jar wherein the coins were kept was broken but the coins were intact as they were found buried in between the walls built of unbaked bricks at the height of 15 feet from the street, he said.Mr Banerji first stumbled upon them when excavating the monastery in 1921-22. Between the earliest Buddhist pavement and the lowest point reached within a space, that is to say of 40 feet-seven different strata were revealed, all belonging to the Chalcolithic period, said Ali Haidar Gadhi, senior conservationist at.He said that Mr Banerji discovered nearly 2,000 coins, 338 of which were of the period of Kushan ruler Vasudeva-1 with standing royal figure on obverse and Shiva on the reverse and the bulk comprising 1,823 un-inscribed cast copper coins. “Another nine had fire altar on the obverse and a crude figure on reverse,” he said.

“Although subsequent investigations suggest a break between the end of the Indus occupation and the Kushan phase, it is unlikely that the site was ever totally abandoned due to its high position on the plane and the protection it afforded against floods,” he said.

 

1) Assembly elections 2023 voting HIGHLIGHTS: MP sees over 71% voter turnout, 68% turnout in Chhattisgarh:

MP, Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: All the 230 constituencies in MP and 70 of the 90 constituencies in Chhattisgarh went to polls on Friday. The voting in Madhya Pradesh concluded at 6 pm, while in Chhattisgarh, voting concluded at 5 pm.

Voting for 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh and 70 out of 90 assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh was held on Friday. The polling in MP concluded at 6 pm, while in Chhattisgarh, it concluded at 5 pm.

Chhattisgarh saw the second and last phase of voting on Friday. A total of 958 candidates, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy CM T S Singh Deo, eight state ministers, and four Members of Parliament, are vying for victory in the battle for 70 seats.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, a total of 2,533 candidates are in the fray with the main battle for power between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress. As many as 5,60,60,925 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Friday.The counting of votes will take place on December 3 for both states.MP sees over 71% voter turnout, 68% turnout in Chhattisgarh

Madhya Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 71.64 per cent as of 7:30 pm on Friday. Meanwhile, Chhatisgarh reported 68.15 per cent voter turnout.

The high-decibel five-state assembly election entered its second leg as Madhya Pradesh goes to polls for 230 seats today. Chhattisgarh will also hold the last round of its two-phase elections for 70 seats today.

Voters stand in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth during the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections.

Voters stand in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth during the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections.(ANI)

The electoral narrative in Madhya Pradesh has been dominated by the Congress and BJP as high-octane campaigns pulled off by both the parties were the focal point in the run of to the polls. The state has largely been in command of the BJP for almost 20 years, except for a two years brief rule by the Congress after 2018 polls. While the BJP's aim is to retain the turf for another term, the Congress is vying for wresting power from the saffron party. The BJP went all out in its campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan were at the forefront. Whereas, the Congress placed its chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh to challenge the saffron party from the stage.

While the BJP claimed it had pulled the state out of ‘BIMARU’ (laggard) category and offered a ‘corruption-free’ government, the Congress' poll plank was around performing cast-based survey of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.Over 5.9 crore voters will decide the fate of 2,533 candidates of the state today. The polling started at 7 am at over 64,000 stations and it will end at 6 pm.

2) Violence mars Madhya Pradesh polls, jawan dies in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh:

The second phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, with 958 candidates in the fray for 70 assembly seats across 19 districts, was held on Friday. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, which voted in a single phase on Friday, reported several incidents of violence. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh voted today in a high-stakes battle between the BJP and Congress. Chhattisgarh voted for the second phase of polls, with 958 candidates in the fray for 70 assembly seats across 19 districts. In Madhya Pradesh, more than 2,000 candidates are contesting for 230 seats in the state assembly.

Till 5 pm, the voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh was 71.11 per cent, while Chhattisgarh recorded 67.34 per cent voter turnout in the second phase of polling. Violence was reported at several places during the Madhya Pradesh elections on Friday. Stones were pelted outside a polling station in Manhad village of Mehgaon seat of Bhind during the ongoing polls. In Dimani constituency, two people were injured after clashes broke out during voting.

Another clash broke out between supporters of Congress and the BJP during polling in Indore's Assembly 4 seat. Police lathi charged both parties in order to tackle the situation.

3) New video intensifies row over Union minister Tomar’s son

The Congress intensifies attack against BJP candidate Narendra Singh Tomar after emergence of video claiming his son discussed financial transactions. The Congress intensified its attack against Union minister and BJP candidate from Dimni, Narendra Singh Tomar, after the emergence of a video where a man identifying himself as Jagmandeep Singh, and as a resident of Abbotsford, Canada, claimed he was the voice in two earlier videos that came out this week and last, in which Tomar’s son Devendra Tomar is discussing some financial transactions.

The BJP was quick to dismiss the video as fake. Tomar posted on X terming the video as “conspiracy” against him and his son and demanded a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) examination of the videos to find the truth. “In the past, with regard to such false videos, my son has also submitted a police complaint. This video should be examined by CFSL so that truth comes out and conspiracy become clear,” he posted. HT has seen the three videos but can’t ascertain either their authenticity or the context.

The first video showed Devendra Tomar having a conversation with a man, who informed him about a person identified as ‘Tyagi ji’ , who retired from RBI, would be giving ₹100 crore. The video shows Devendra Tomar asking the man to inform him when the transaction is complete. In the second video, Devendra Tomar is having conversation with the same man, who can be heard telling him about monthly payments of ₹50 crore, ₹100 crore or 500 crore or how much. The video shows Devendra Tomar asking “How much he will give in the first month” to which the man responds, “about 250”.

The third video, which was released on Tuesday showed a man claiming to be residing in Abbotsford, Canada, and identifying himself as Jagmandeep Singh claiming that he was the one speaking to Tomar’s son in the previous two videos . He also claimed in the video that the amount involved was not ₹500 crore but ₹10,000 crore, which was used for purchasing 100-acre land in Canada and farming of cannabis (Ganja). He also provided registration details of the parcelsof the drugs sent to India. He also hinted at corruption in the purchase of seeds and pesticides. Singh displayed what he claimed were images of his conversation with Devendra Tomar and his wife Harshini and further that BJP leader Manjinder Singh Birsa, whom he identified as president of the Delhi Gurudwara Committee (Sirsa was previously president of the body) facilitated the transactions. Sirsa’s personal assistant, Manoj, responded to a text message sent to the leader and said Sirsa would call back once free .

Congress’ national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told reporters in Bhopal that there is nothing left to be said after the third video. She demanded a high-level inquiry into what she termed hawala transactions and purchase of 100-acre land in Canada. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the money involved is of “people and not Tomar” and asked why Modi government has not sent the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department to probe.

Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi dubbed the videos the work of what he called the Congress’ Dirty Tricks Department.

Devendra Tomar lodged an FIR with police in Morena on November 6 after the release of the first video, and said it was fake. “It’s a conspiracy against me…No such money has been received either in my bank accounts or my family’s bank accounts,” he said in the FIR. On Tuesday, before the release of the third video, MP BJP president V D Sharma came out in defence of Devendra Tomar and said the police was investigating the case.

The viral videos have given the Congress ammunition in the campaign that ends on Wednesday with polling in the state on November 17. The party asked why prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were silent on the videos and why no CBI or ED raids have happened.

Narendra Singh Tomar is one of three union ministers who have been fielded by the BJP as candidates in the state assembly elections and is contesting from Dimni assembly constituency, part of Morena Lok Sabha seat, which he represents in the Lok Sabha. Before getting elected to Lok Sabha in 2014, Tomar was a minister in Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet in Madhya Pradesh and is one of the senior most leaders from the state.

4) Moorkhon ke Sardar’: PM Modi mocks Rahul Gandhi over claim of ‘Made in China’ dominance in India, sparks row

The Congress said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was resorting to “foul language” against Rahul Gandhi as he was already aware of the outcome of the Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a no-holds-barred attack against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi by referring to him as “Moorkhon ke Sardar” for the latter’s claim of ‘Made in China’ dominance among mobile phones in India.

Addressing a poll rally in Betul district in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the PM took a swipe at the former Congress president without naming him and said that the Congress suffers from a mental disease of not acknowledging India’s achievements. India, he claimed, has now become the second leading manufacturer of mobile phones in the world. “One wise leader of the Congress said yesterday that everyone in India has ‘Made in China’ mobile phones. Arre Murkhon ke Sardar, (the leader of stupid people) in which world do you live! The leaders of the Congress have this mental disease of not recognising the achievements of their own countrymen,” the PM said. Addressing a rally earlier in Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi had said that Chinese products dominate the Indian market. “we see ‘Made in China’ on shirts, cameras, mobile phones. Have you ever seen ‘Made in Madhya Pradesh’ written on any product? The Congress wants to start factories in Madhya Pradesh so that the youth of the state get job opportunities. We hope a day comes when a youth takes out his mobile phone in China and that phone has been manufactured in Madhya Pradesh,” Rahul said.

The remarks by the Prime Minister have triggered a sharp reaction from the Congress which claims that he used “foul language” since he is aware that the BJP is losing the the assembly elections. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already aware of the results of the elections, and this is the reason why the prime minister of the country is using such foul language and calling Rahul Gandhi a ‘murkh’,” Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the PM had abused the public with his remarks against the Congress leader. “The Prime Minister’s ego has increased so much that now he is abusing the public,” he said.

The BJP, however, has defended the PM’s remark with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stating that what PM Modi said was already “common knowledge”.

“There is nothing new in that. People all over India know what he is. You must have seen him in Parliament how he used to approach the Prime Minister…He keeps talking about ‘Mohabbat’ and ‘Dukaan’. Can ‘Mohabbat’ and ‘Dukaan’ be together? ‘Mohabbat’ means true love and ‘Dukaan’ is for sale and purchase…So love can never have a shop. Someone gives a script to Rahul Gandhi and he just reads it. He is trying to show him as an angry young man. So that’s why I think that what the Prime Minister has said, everyone in India knows it. This is what is in everyone’s mind,” Sarma added.

Modi said he wondered which foreign lens the Congress leaders use as they are absolutely clueless about what is happening in the country. “The leaders of the Congress are flying so high that they can’t see the poor on the ground and are also clueless about the ground realities,” the Prime Minister said, adding that India has now become the second leading manufacturer of mobile phones in the world.

5) Modi calls on voters to press lotus button with vengeance to punish ‘corrupt’ Congress

Slamming the Congress Government in Rajasthan for its alleged failure on all fronts, including law & order, corruption as revealed in ‘red diary’, lockers, and women atrocities, the Prime MInister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed the voters to press ‘kamal ka button’ (lotus on EVM) as if they are hanging them (Congress) in the state’s assembly polls slated for November 25.

“Aisee bhrashtaachaare aur nikkamee sarakaar ko sabse pahle saja dene ka mauka aapako (votar) ko mila hai. kamal ka batan aise dabaayen jaise unhen phaansee de rahe ho, to vaise hee batan dabao (You (voter) have got the first opportunity to punish such a corrupt and inefficient government. Press the lotus button as if you are hanging them, then press the button the same way),” Modi told a huge rally at Baytu in support of eight BJP candidates in the Barmer and Jaisalmer districts.

Invoking the controversial ‘Red Diary’ whose few pages released yesterday by the expelled Congress Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha on social media, Modi lambasted, “These people (the Congress) call Lal Diary fake, but now pages of their own letters have started coming out. The red diary is speaking loudly. Officials were quoted from the diary. Now should even a single Congressman win the election?” He asked the public, “If any Congress candidate comes to you, ask him two more questions, what is the matter of Lal Diary, whose is it, earlier you used to refuse, now you have started coming out of it”.On another disputed private locker seizure by the IT/ED recently, he sarcastically said, “Congressmen no longer say that their victory depends on their luck. Now they say that their locker will not be opened. Modi will definitely notice it. Looted goods are becoming visible. Not only was a lot of money in cash but kilos of gold found in the locker. It is not made of potatoes. It is stolen gold”.

The PM said, “Riots are happening again and again in Rajasthan, curfew is being imposed again and again. People are being harmed due to this. Pro- terrorism slogans are being raised in Rajasthan, wherever Congress comes, courage of terrorists, bullies and rioters increases. The Chief Minister (Gehlot) remained busy saving the chair for 5 years. If Delhi Darbar continues to try to topple its leader, similar anarchy will spread in every village. Congress’ appeasement policy used to raise the courage of terrorists and that put the state’s glory, culture, valour and traditions in danger”.

“When there were terrorist attacks during the Congress government, they used to go to foreign countries and say that they were attacked. Bagged before the foreign nations. Used to ask for help. But the Modi Government killed terrorists after entering their houses”, he recalled.

Beginning his 50 minutes speech, Modi draw attention of the crowd by saying “People in Rajasthan are saying, Congress is going out, and BJP is coming to power. After Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Congress will be completely wiped out from Rajasthan too. There is fun in cleaning only when Congress gets cleaned from the polling booth also. Congress has brought Rajasthan to the forefront in the matter of corruption. Even innocent daughters are not safe here, my mission is to save the sisters from the problem”.

Referring to his Jharkhand/Ranchi meeting in which the Centre decided a plan of ‘Viksit Sankalp Yatra’, Modi said now the government would reach every village and every household to ensure that the Centre’s welfare schemes’ were reaching to beneficiaries. “It is Modi’s guarantee that means Guarantee up to fulfillment of the scheme”, he added.“I don’t know where the claws of Congress (party symbol) go and loot. I send money to provide tap connections to homes, Congress people also work to earn money in a noble cause like water. Claws have become habituated to hitting anywhere. Jal Jeevan Mission work was not done in Barmer-Jaisalmer and payment was also done”, he alleged.The PM assured the Petro-Chemical Refinery at Pachpadra would be developed as a hub in the western Rajasthan, Barmer-Jaisalmer’s artisan would be promoted and business would be flourished, and every village on the border would be developed like an urban city, if voted to power.He concluded his speech asking voters to turn on flash lights of mobile phones and say ‘Kamal Chunega Rajasthan’ (Rajasthan will elect Lotus).He shared dias with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, BJP State President C P Joshi, and BJP contestants of 8 districts.

6) 'Jitna paisa Narendra Modi Adani ko deta hai...’: Rahul Gandhi's retort to PM's 'moorkh' jibe:

Rahul Gandhi said the fact that Narendra Modi was using "abusive words" against him proved he had been doing something right.

In a strongly worded retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "moorkhon ke sardar" (the leader of stupid people) jibe, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that PM's “abusive words” against him betray his exasperation. Accusing the Modi government of giving money to Gautam Adani-led Adani Group, Gandhi said his goal was to dole out as much money to the poor sections of the country. "Wherever PM Modi goes, he uses bad words against me, he abuses me, talks nonsense. I don't care much about this. I have told you my goal already. He can call me any name, I don't really care. My goal is -- jitna paisa Narendra Modi Adani ko deta hai utna paisa me gareebo ko dunga (I will give as much money to the poor people of the country as Narendra Modi gives to Adani)," he said.

Gandhi said the fact that Modi was using "abusive words" against him proved he had been doing something right.

"I will show you that real politics is not about helping billionaires. True politics happens by helping the unemployed, farmers, small businesses -- I will show you. You can say what you like. You can abuse me as much as you want. Your abuses prove that I am doing the right work. 'Chid machti hai na, isliye to gali dete hain (He abuses out of exasperation)," he added. What PM Narendra Modi said against Rahul Gandhi

Referring to Gandhi's Monday remark that Indians use 'Made in China' mobile phones, PM Modi called him the leader of stupid people.

"Yesterday, a Congress's wise man was saying that the people of the country only have made in China mobile. Arre 'moorkhon ke sardar', which world do you live in? Congress leaders are afflicted with the mental disease of ignoring India's achievements. I wonder what foreign glasses they have worn that they are not able to see in India," he said without directly naming Gandhi. Congress slams PM Modi

The remark hasn't gone down well with the Congress party, which launched a counterattack against PM Modi.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said today that PM Modi had abused the people of Madhya Pradesh.

"He has verbally abused the public, verbally abused our leader. PM Modi has become so arrogant that he doesn't consider anyone before him. Even Ravan couldn't carry on with such arrogant, what would be the fate of Modi," he said.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said PM Modi should remember the dignity of the post he is holding before making such remarks. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said the remark showed he knew about the results of the ongoing elections.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already aware of the results of the elections, and this is the reason why the prime minister of the country is using such foul language and calling Rahul Gandhi a moorkha,” he said.

7)U’khand tunnel collapse: After 6 days, mission to rescue 40 trapped workers stalls

Rescuers haven’t been able to make any progress since Friday early afternoon because they were clearing rocks, which have come in the way of the machine.

Silkyara (Uttarkashi): Rescuers who have been racing against time to evacuate the 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel for over 130 hours faced another setback on Friday after the high-power auger drilling machine stalled after drilling 22 metres through the debris after its bearings were “damaged”. The drilling couldn’t make any progress after 9 am in the morning and remained stalled at 22 metres, at the time of writing the copy. The machine was pressed into service on Thursday at around 10.30 am after the previous machine got damaged after a boulder came its way. It was able to make progress of three metres in half and hour of its operation, nine metres in first six hours, 12 metres in nine hours and 22 metres in 20 hours.

Meanwhile, rescuers have also called for an additional auger machine as a backup, which is being airlifted from Indore and is expected to arrive at the accident site by Saturday morning.

The machine has capacity to penetrate through the rubble at 5 metres per hour, however, the impediments on its way is now allowing it to operate at the standard pace.In a press release, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDC) said, “As of now 22 metre pipe-pushing has been completed. Positioning of Fifth pipe is under progress. The machine is not able to push further as the machine is getting lifted and bearings of machine are getting damaged. Now they are anchoring machines to the platform by providing anchors. The progress of work is being monitored by experts...”

The NHIDC director Anshu Manish Khalkho said rescuers haven’t been able to make any progress since early afternoon because they were clearing rocks, which have come in the way of the machine.

Khalkho mentioned that as part of ‘plan C,’ a group of geological experts was exploring the option of creating a parallel entrance to the tunnel by drilling from the outside. However, he emphasised that their primary focus remains on the current plan, and they are only considering the third plan as a potential alternative.

“A survey team is currently assessing the area to determine suitable locations for potentially creating either a parallel vertical tunnel followed by a horizontal one or vice versa. Once the survey data is available, we will incorporate it into our plans. Initially, we did not conduct this survey as we believed we could navigate through the 60 meters of debris,” Khalkho said. However, based on a previous survey, we identified that a minimum drill depth of 103 meters would be required for Plan C. Implementing a 103-metre vertical drill poses risks as it may lead to additional debris falling. Nevertheless, if the current plan proves ineffective, we may consider exploring this alternative option,” he said. The length of the section of the tunnel where debris had caved in has increased from 50-55m initially, to 60-70m after repeated cave-ins, said a Railway official who didn’t wish to be named.

On the rescue operation being delayed, an NHIDCL official, who also did not wish to be named, said trapped workers have been supplied food, oxygen, and water.

“A person can survive six days without food. But, the trapped workers are getting regular food and water and are mentally strong. We are constantly talking to them,” he said.

Asked about the slow pace, Khalkho acknowledged the fact but expressed confidence that as the workers gain more experience, the pace will naturally increase. “To expedite the process, four-five welders are concurrently deployed,” he said, adding that they want to be “extra cautious” and ensure that the pipes are not misaligned by even by a centimetre In the current process, the rescuers will drill through the piled up debris to push 800 mm and 900 mm diameter pipes – one after the other — to create a passage through which trapped workers can come out.

“The pipes, each 6 meters in length, are aligned on the machine and pushed forward, with the auger efficiently drilling through debris and pushing muck backward. While this part of the process is relatively quick, the complexity arises during the alignment and welding of the pipes. The meticulous approach is intentional to prevent any misalignment, even for a centimetre,” he said.

Khalkho said they were expecting a breakthrough after drilling using the machine for around 35 more metres “We have the consideration in mind that machine runs on diesel and it is being operated in an enclosed space. In this scenario, continuous ventilation through a compressor is mandatory,” he said.

“Diesel machines ideally shouldn’t operate in such confined spaces but there is no other option . The vibrations from the machine and the need for continuous ventilation pose a risk to the equilibrium. That’s why it is important to operate at an optimal speed without rushing,: he said.

In the first four days of operations, two rescue attempts to cut through the wall of rock blocking the tunnel had failed – to the despair of the workers’ families and colleagues.

In the first attempt, rescue workers had tried to dig through the rubble using heavy excavator machines and sought to prevent more debris from falling using the “shotcrete method” (shotcrete is a construction technique that involves spraying concrete onto surfaces using air). However, loose rock and sand kept collapsing, rendering in the strategy unsuccessful. In the second attempt, they tried to create a “safe” passage using an auger machine and fitting in large pipes inside which workers can crawl out. This plan failed as the drilling machine being used was rendered useless as it got damaged after the drill hit a boulder on Tuesday night.

8) 'Israel's action genocidal, India should...': Congress' new statement on Gaza war:

Congress earlier issued two statements after the October 7 attack on Israel – one condemning the attack and the second supporting Palestine. The Congress on Friday issued a new statement on the Israel-Hamas war and condemned Israel's actions terming them genocidal. The top Israeli leadership are making statements making the genocidal intent clear and PM Benjamin Netanyahu himself called for turning parts of Gaza "to rubble", the Congress statement noted, urging the Indian government to pressurise the governments of the US, Israel and the EU to stop the violence.

In a statement issued by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, the party said it is shocking that many influential countries are lending their "unstinting support" to Israel's actions. "The double standards being applied in Ukraine and in Gaza is apparent," the statement said.

The need of the hour is to de-escalate and to declare a ceasefire immediately. The world cannot watch in silence as a second Nakba unfolds and the ethnic cleansing and dispossession of the Palestinians, as was done in 1948, is carried out once again with impunity," the statement read.

Before Friday's statement, the Congress issued at least two statements on the Israel-Hamas issue after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. In its first statement, Congress condemned the attack on Israel and said violence never provides any solution. After a Congress Working Committee meeting, the party issued another statement in which it underlined its support of the Palestinian people's right to "land (and) self-government, and to live with dignity and respect". Friday's statement came Gaza's largest hospital Al Shifa hospital was bombed and the Israel Defense Forces started raiding the hospital suspecting a command centre of the Hamas underneath the hospital. The IDF claimed it had uncovered a Hamas tunnel shaft and a vehicle with weapons at the Al Shifa hospital complex. Gaza health ministry said 24 patients died in the hospital in the last two days owing to power cuts as the IDF was combing through the hospital looking for Hamas hideouts.

PM Modi condemned the October 7 attack on Israel and assured Palestine of India's long-standing principles position on the Israel-Palestine issue. At the Global South Summit on Friday, PM Modi said, "India has condemned the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7. Along with restraint, we have also emphasised on dialogue and diplomacy. We strongly condemn the deaths of civilians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas".

9) Kerala blasts: Toll rises to six as 24-year-old man succumbs to burn injuries

During the blast at the international convention centre in Kalamassery, over 50 people were injured.

The death toll from the blast at a Christian religious gathering in nearby Kalamassery in October has risen to six, government sources said on Friday. Malayatoor resident Praveen (24) died at a private hospital on Thursday, authorities at the hospital, where he had been treated, said. "He was in the ICU. He passed away at 10.40 PM on Thursday," a hospital source told PTI.

His mother, who suffered serious wounds in the blast, had died on November 11, while his younger sister Libina had succumbed to injuries on October 30, a day after the blasts occurred at the gathering of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The medical board, responsible for treating those wounded in the incident, is yet to release the medical bulletin indicating the number of patients under treatment following the blast. The blast took place during a gathering of Jehovah's Witnesses on October 29. They had gathered for the final day of a three-day-long prayer meeting.Libina had passed away on October 30 at the Kalamassery Government Medical College Hospital, and two women who were part of the gathering lost their lives on the day of the blast.Subsequently, 61-year-old Moly Joy from Kalamassery died at a private hospital on November 6.During the blast at the international convention centre in Kalamassery, over 50 people were injured, some seriously.

A few hours after the incident, a man named Dominic Martin, claiming to be an estranged member of Jehovah's Witnesses, surrendered before the police in Thrissur district, asserting that he carried out the multiple blast.

The police later recorded his arrest.In addition to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (punishment for murder) and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have also been invoked against Martin.

10) Subrata Roy, founder of Sahara Group, dies at 75 after prolonged illness:

Subrata Roy Passes Away: Subrata Roy was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute on Sunday following a decline in health.

Subrata Roy, the founder of the Sahara Group, died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. He was 75. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute (KDAH) on Sunday following a decline in health. Subrata Roy, the founder of the Sahara Group, died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. He was 75. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute (KDAH) on Sunday following a decline in health.  Sahara India Pariwar said in a statement, “It is with profound sadness that Sahara India Pariwar informs the demise of our Hon’ble ‘Saharasri’ Subrata Roy Sahara. Saharasri ji an inspirational leader and visionary, passed away on 14th November 2023 at 10.30 pm due to cardiorespiratory arrest following an extended battle with complications arising from metastatic malignancy, hypertension, and diabetes.”

Born on June 10, 1948, in Bihar's Araria, Subrata Roy established a vast empire that spanned various sectors including finance, real estate, media, and hospitality.

Subrata Roy completed his degree in mechanical engineering from the Government Technical Institute in Gorakhpur. He then ventured into business in Gorakhpur before taking over Sahara Finance in 1976. By 1978, he transformed it into Sahara India Pariwar, which became one of India's largest conglomerates. The Sahara group launched Rashtriya Sahara- a Hindi language newspaper- in 1992 and later entered the television space with Sahara TV which was renamed Sahara One. “His loss will be deeply felt by the entire Sahara India Pariwar. Saharasri ji was a guiding force, a mentor, and a source of inspiration for all who had the privilege to work alongside him,” the group said.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India ordered Subrata Roy's detention for failing to appear in court in connection with a dispute with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This led to a prolonged legal battle, which resulted in him spending time in Tihar Jail. He was eventually released on parole. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), "The demise of Subrata Roy ji is an emotional loss for Uttar Pradesh and the country because along with being a very successful businessman, he was also a very sensitive person with a big heart who helped countless people and became their support."Subrata Roy is survived by his wife, son and brother.

 

 

 1) India vs Netherlands Highlights, Cricket World Cup 2023: IND tame NED by 160 runs, end group stage unbeaten:

Cricket World Cup 2023: India (410/4) beat Netherlands (250) by 160 runs in Bengaluru, end group stage unbeaten

India dished out another clinical show and defeated Netherlands by 160 runs in the World Cup encounter in Bengaluru on Sunday. Tons by Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul powered India to 410/4 batting first. Netherlands in response could only manage 250 in 47.5 overs.The proceedings kicked-off with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill giving India a strong start. The pair added 100 runs together before Gill fell for 51(32) in the 12th over. Rohit scored 61(54) before getting out to Bas de Leede. Virat Kohli, who is in red-hot form, also chipped in 51, following which Rahul and Iyer took charge. Rahul in particular showed more aggression between the two and was dismissed in the penultimate ball of the innings. He scored 102 off 64 balls, while Iyer returned unbeaten for 128(94).

Mohammed Siraj then gave India an early breakthrough but Colin Ackermann and Max ODowd helped Netherlands recover from the early blow. They added 50-plus stand for the second wicket and took Netherlands to 62/1 at the end of first powerplay. Kuldeep Yadav then removed Ackermann for 35(32) and shortly after Ravindra Jadeja got rid of ODowd for 30(42). Virat Kohli removed Scott Edwards to get his first ODI wicket in nine years.India continued to make inroads at regular intervals before wrapping the show in 47.5 overs.

2) Shami, Kohli lead India to thrilling win over New Zealand, into World Cup final

The pacer captured 7/57 after Kohli’s record 50th ODI century as India won the semis by 70 runs despite Daryl Mitchell’s 134 Knockout games are all about handling pressure. New Zealand are masters of it. On Wednesday, however, at the Wankhede Stadium the Indian batters didn’t give them the chance to bring the game to a juncture when the Black Caps start to prey on the opposition players’ nerves.

In a perfect display of batting, India posted a total of 397/4, leaving their bowlers enough margin for error even if things turned difficult while defending under the lights.

It proved to be the difference in the semifinal game. During their third wicket partnership of 181 (149 balls), Darryl Mitchel and skipper Kane Williamson showed the Black Caps are always in the game no matter the target.

But the total proved too daunting even for their big-hearted effort.

India were well served by their sultan of swing, Mohammed Shami, who captured seven wickets, as they won the game by 70 runs and enter their fourth final. Winning their 10th game on the trot, they will play the winners of the second semi-finals between South Africa and Australia at Ahmedabad on Sunday. The home team owed it to their batters though. In one of their most dominant displays in a high-stakes game, the entire Indian top-order clicked. Led by Virat Kohli's record-breaking 50th century, everyone played their roles to perfection. After Rohit Sharma came out and again provided a blistering start with a 29-ball 47, Kohli anchored the innings with a 113-ball 117.

Shubman Gill maintained the momentum with 80 of 66 balls; Shreyas Iyer came down the order and put the game beyond New Zealand with a blistering 70-ball 105 and KL Rahul proved his versatility by straightaway coming and playing his strokes in the slog overs for a 20-ball 39 not out.

Defending the target, Shami raised hopes of repeating his show against Sri Lanka at Wankhede in the league stage. He removed Devon Conway off his first delivery and reduced New Zealand to 39/2 in 7.4 overs by inducing an edge off Rachin Ravindra too. But Mitchell and Williamson invoked their famous fighting spirit to get back into the game by taking the total to 220. As panic started to set in the stands, Shami came back for his second spell and provided the breakthroughs. He got Williamson caught at deep square leg. It brought an end to his 181-run association with Mitchell. Two balls later, Shami trapped Tom Latham for zero to make it 220/4.

India were back in control at 224/4 with the Kiwis needing 174 off 90 balls at a run rate of 11.60. Mitchell continued to blaze away, but ran out of partners before getting out on a heroic 134 (119 balls). BATTING SHOW

The star of the evening was undoubtedly Kohli. By getting to a record 50th ODI century -- one more than Tendulkar's 49 -- in a World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, Kohli only lived up to his penchant for the sense of occasion. And in a way only Kohli can. Tendulkar was looking on from the stands when Kohli slumped to his knees and broke away from the man he grew up adoring. It was a moment to remember for football icon David Beckham too, who was enjoying his first cricket World Cup game.

Coming in at the fall of Rohit in the ninth over after India were off to a swift and statement-stamping start, Kohli did what he does best and has done for a major part of his ODI career: drive India’s innings along. Playing almost risk-free and near perfect for over 100 balls in the sweltering Mumbai heat that tested even the physical specimen that he is, Kohli stood out there like a rock as the other batters belted away.

It’s the kind of solidity and consistency that has personified Kohli’s 290-match ODI career as well as his 10-match World Cup so far. In eight out of those 10 outings, Kohli has scored fifty or more, going on to make three hundreds. Itis the most fifty-plus scores by a batter in a single men’s World Cup, going past Tendulkar (7, 2003) and Shakib Al Hasan (2019).

In a high-pressure home World Cup where there’s a lot more riding than a mere trophy, he’s scored a whopping 711 runs, the most by any batter in a single men's World Cup.

FLYING START

The toss has been a big factor at Wankhede with batting first being easier. Once their captain did them the favour by calling correctly, New Zealand felt the full might of the home team's batting. The beauty of this line-up is how they complement each other. The big hitting of the openers has helped Kohli come into his own during this tournament. Not that he needs a lot of support, but it has helped him play to his strength of pacing the knock. They all played to the script. Gill had switched gears to jump to 74 off 57 balls and bring the 150 of the innings in 19.4 overs. It gave Kohli the time to play himself in, getting to 26 off 32 balls.

The challenge for India came when Gill started suffering from cramp. When in full flight, Gill had to retire at the score of 80 in the 23rd over. Their 93-run association had taken the total to 164/1. It was a crucial juncture of the match. Given the batting friendly surface, the pressure was on India to put up a total which would be beyond the reach of the chasing side.

All eyes were on Iyer. To the delight of the home crowd, the Mumbai batter played the most impactful innings of his international career. Sharing a partnership of 163 runs off 128 balls with Kohli, he went on a six-hitting spree after taking some time to enter his 20s. Both the pacers and spinners were treated with disdain. Pacer Tim Southee was hit over midwicket and off-spinner Glenn Phillips smashed over long-on to raise his fifty off 35 balls. After left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner bowled a maiden over, 35th of the innings, Iyer and Kohli plundered 17 runs off Boult to make up. He went on to smash eight sixes in a 70-ball 105.

3) India beat Kuwait 1-0 in second round opener

India’s Manvir Singh scored the only goal of the match. The Indian men’s football team will play Qatar next on Tuesday. The Indian men’s football team kicked off its FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers second round campaign with a 1-0 victory against Kuwait at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City on Thursday.

Indian winger Manvir Singh (75)’ scored the only goal of the match. Faizal Zaid Al-Harbi of Kuwait, on the other hand, was sent off in second-half stoppage time.India, 102nd in the FIFA Rankings, were restricted to their own half early on in the match as the world No. 136 Kuwait kept ball possession. However, as the game progressed, the Indian midfielders pressed higher and created a few chances for the forwards.

India’s Sahal Abdul Samad had the first big chance in the 18th minute but was closed down inside the box before he could shoot. Seconds later, Nikhil Poojary crossed onto an unmarked Sunil Chhetri, whose shot flew just over the crossbar.Mahesh Naorem, in the 27th minute, created a shooting opportunity for India from a freekick which Akash Mishra failed to direct towards the Kuwait goal. The hosts, meanwhile, also failed to convert from a long-range effort towards the end of the half.The Indian defence, marshalled by Sandesh Jhingan, was resilient in the first half, not allowing the Kuwait attackers to penetrate into the penalty box.

Kuwait kicked off the second half with greater endeavour as Fahad Alhajeri headed over the crossbar from a freekick by Mohammad Abdullah. Despite their consistent efforts, the precision in the final third, however, was lacking.

suresh Singh received the first promising shooting opportunity for India in the second half after Lallianzuala Chhangte’s enterprising ball recovery in midfield. The Indian midfielder shot from range in the 71st minute but it flew off target.The deadlock, meanwhile, was finally broken by Indian winger Manvir Singh in the 75th minute. He smashed a half-volley in Abd Al Rahman Kameel’s goal from Chhangte’s cross to give the visitors the lead.Kuwait ramped up their attacking play in the final minutes of the match. However, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, aided by a sturdy backline, kept a clean sheet in Kuwait City. Faizal Zaid Al-Harbi received a red card in stoppage time as Kuwait finished the match with 10 players.

The Indian football team, thus, registered its first victory against Kuwait this year. They had beaten Kuwait 5-4 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw at full time, in the 2023 SAFF Championship final in July.India will take on world No. 61 Qatar on Tuesday, November 21, in the second Group A match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

The Indian football team is placed alongside Asian champions Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan in Group A. The four teams will play each other in the home and away round-robin format. The top two teams in the group will make the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers third round while also earning a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

4) ATP Finals 2023: Alcaraz faces Djokovic in semifinals after finishing as group topper

 group stage match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev at ATP Finals in Turin, Italy,

Carlos Alcaraz topped the Red Group with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Daniil Medvedev on Friday in Turin to set up a blockbuster semifinal clash with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in his maiden ATP Finals campaign.

World No. 2 Alcaraz needed a win over 2020 champion Medvedev to ensure a semifinal spot without depending on the outcome of the final group-stage match between Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev. Medvedev, who had already qualified with wins over Zverev and Rublev, will be up against local favourite and Green Group topper Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal Medvedev looked the more dangerous player in the early exchanges but failed to convert break points in the fourth game.

Alcaraz, who lost to Zverev in his opening match, found another gear at 3-3 as he played four stupendous points to break to love.

He then pounced again at 4-4 in the second set as some errors by Medvedev helped him secure the break of serve. He then completed victory in emphatic fashion.

“I had to stay strong mentally, I was struggling a little bit on serve and his return game is amazing,” Alcaraz said on court. “I stayed calm and strong.”

Alcaraz and world number one Djokovic will meet for the first time since he lost to the Serb in the Cincinnati final.

5) ATP Finals 2023: Bopanna-Ebden pair seals semifinal spot

Bopanna-Ebden pair won 6-4, 7-6(5) over Koolhof (the Netherlands) and Skupski (Great Britain) in a Red Group qualification decider that lasted 84 minutes.India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden advanced to the semifinals of the ATP Finals men’s doubles event after defeating Wesley Koolhof-Neal Skupski pair in straight sets in Turin on Friday.

Bopanna-Ebden pair won 6-4, 7-6(5) over Koolhof (the Netherlands) and Skupski (Great Britain) in a Red Group qualification decider that lasted 84 minutes.While Bopanna, 43, is making his fourth year-end appearance, Ebden is playing at this stage for the first time. The duo first teamed up at the start of this season and enjoyed an impressive year together, winning tour-level trophies in Doha and Indian Wells.

The third-seeded duo won their 40th tour match of the season to join defending champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the knockout stages from Red Group.

Indo-Australian pair won 88 percent serve points duo produced a strong performance on serve, winning 88 per cent (35/40) of points behind their first delivery to improve to 2-1 in Red Group play.

Bopanna and Ebden can still finish the season with year-end ATP Doubles No. 1. They must reach the final to pass already-eliminated Dodig and Krajicek, who are in top spot.

6) Messi's Argentina loses first match since World Cup title, falling to Uruguay; Colombia beats Brazil

Uruguay beat Argentina 2-0 at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying match

Lionel Messi could not help Argentina extend its unbeaten streak since its World Cup title.Uruguay beat Argentina 2-0 at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying match, its biggest victory so far under new coach Marcelo Bielsa. Argentina hadn't lost a competitive match since its group-stage opener against Saudi Arabia during last year's World Cup in Qatar. Brazil continued its so far poor campaign in qualifying with a 2-1 loss at Colombia, its second consecutive defeat in the round-robin competition. Striker Luiz Diaz scored twice on headers to lead an impressive turnaround at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla, with his father celebrating in the stands only days after being released by kidnappers.

Argentina still leads the 10-team South American qualifying group with 12 points from five matches. Uruguay is second with 10 points. Colombia has nine and Venezuela eight. Brazil will host the World Cup champions at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in fifth position, with seven points. Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have five points each. Bolivia has three and Peru one.

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams from South America. The seventh-place team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoff.

URUGUAY 2, ARGENTINA 0

Uruguay was aggressive from the start against the World Cup champions. Darwin Núnez nearly opened the scoring with a crossed shot in the 10th minute after a mistake by defender Nicolás Otamendi.

For the first time since Argentina's World Cup title, coach Lionel Scaloni looked jittery as his midfielders struggled to block Uruguay's wingers. His players didn't heed the call and their punishment came in the 42nd minute, when Matias Viña easily stole the ball from Nahuel Molina and gently made a low cross into the penalty box. Ronald Araújo smashed it into the back of the net. Argentina came close to leveling the scoring on a free kick by Messi and a close-range shot by Otamendi, which forced goalkeeper Sergio Rochet to make a key save near the end of the first half.

After the break, Uruguay kept the pressure on Argentina, which once again counted on Messi and substitute Angel di Maria to find its best chances. Messi hit the bar with a free kick in the 57th minute.

Núnez scored in the 87th minute on a counter after the Uruguayan defense stopped Messi at the edge of its box.“We never felt comfortable in this match,” Messi said. “Uruguay is a physical team, they have good teamwork. It is always like that against them.”

Messi's close friend Luis Suárez, who just returned to the Uruguayan national team, did not play. In the previous round of World Cup qualifying, Uruguay beat Brazil by the same score in Montevideo. Its next match will be against Bolivia.

COLOMBIA 2, BRAZIL 1

With Neymar and Casemiro out with injuries, Brazil coach Fernando Diniz had some major restructuring to do ahead of what he called “a physical encounter” at Colombia. Gabriel Martinelli and midfielder André were picked as substitutes.

Martinelli opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a quick exchange of passes with Vinicius Júnior. Brazil's momentum stalled after the Real Madrid winger left in the 25th minute with a left thigh injury.

Colombia's game up front depended almost exclusively on Diaz. The striker nearly scored after dribbling past several Brazilians in the 30th minute and was stopped by goalkeeper Alisson on two more dangerous shots in the second half. Diaz equalized with an easy header in the 75th minute; he didn't even need to jump. He added a second goal four minutes later. His father, Luis Manuel Diaz, fell on top of some people next to him in the stands as his son celebrated.

“He is a friend, he suffered a lot these days. This is beyond soccer,” Alisson said. “But we are leaving here in disappointment.” OTHER MATCHES

Bolivia won its first match of this round-robin, beating Peru 2-0 on Thursday. Henry Vaca scored in the 20th minute and Ramiro Vaca in the 86th. The game in La Paz marked the farewell on home soil for veteran striker Marcelo Martins. The 36-year-old is Bolivia's top all-time scorer with 31 goals. Venezuela and Ecuador played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday, as did Chile and Paraguay.

7) Australia won by three wickets against South Africa in their World Cup semi-final fixture, in Kolkata on Thursday and play with India in Final:

Chasing 213, Australia reached 215/7 in 47.2 overs. Travis Head's (62) half-century proved to be crucial for Pat Cummins and Co

For the Proteas, Tabraiz Shamsi and Gerald Coetzee took two wickets each respectively. Initially, South Africa posted 212 in 49.4 overs, courtesy of a ton from David Miller (101)

Khichdi 2

 Story Khichdi 2 has been directed and written by Aatish Kapadia and produced by Jamnadas Majethia,

 it cast Supriya Pathak Kapur, Rajeev Mehta, Anang Desai, Vandana Pathak, Jamnadas Majethia, and Kirti Kulhari in lead roles.

Plot: Khichdi 2 is a comedy-drama family movie, the time-crazy Parekh family is on a mission to save the country with their unique style.

Releasing Date: Khichdi 2 was released on November 17, 2023 in theaters.

Apurva

Apurva Story Apurva is a 2023 Bollywood thriller movie, directed and written by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Murad Khetani.

The movie stars Tara Sutaria, Dharlrya Karwa, Abhishek Banerjee, Rajpal Yadav, Madhvendra Jha, and many more.

Plot: Apurva is a thriller drama film based on some real incidents and showcases the story of a girl, "who survives a dangerous night, using her wits and strength in this high-stakes game of life and death".

Budget: Apurva has been crafted with a budget of 50 crores including production cost and advertisement.

Released Date: Apurva was released on November 15, 2023, only on Disney+ Hotstar.

The Railway Men

The Railway Men is a web series drama, Starring R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu, and Babil Khan in the lead roles.

 Directed by Shiv Rawail, written by Aayush Gupta, and produced by Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra.

Plot: The Railway Men will be a tribute to the railway workers at Bhopal station who were the unsung heroes of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

 Releasing Date: The Railway Men is set to release on November 18, 2023 as season one, only on Netflix.

BOOK OFTHIS WEEK:

Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel have won the International Booker Prize 2023 for the novel Time Shelter

Time Shelter: Winner of the International Booker Prize 2023 :

Time Shelter becomes the first novel originally published in Bulgarian to win the prize. In the book, a ‘clinic for the past’ offers a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s sufferers: each floor reproduces a decade in minute detail, transporting patients back in time. But soon the past begins to invade the present.

A ‘clinic for the past’ run by an enigmatic therapist offers a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s sufferers: each floor reproduces a decade in minute detail, transporting patients back in time to a familiar, safer, happier moment.

An unnamed narrator is tasked with collecting the flotsam and jetsam of the past, from 1960s furniture and 1940s shirt buttons to scents, and even afternoon light. But as the rooms within the clinic become more convincing, an increasing number of healthy people seek refuge there, hoping to escape the horrors of modern life - a development that results in an unexpected conundrum when the past begins to invade the present. Soon, entire countries want to emulate the idea, with referendums taking place to decide which particular version of the past will shape each nation’s future.

Intricately crafted, and eloquently translated by Angela Rodel, Time Shelter cements Georgi Gospodinov’s reputation as one of the indispensable writers of our times, and a major voice in international literature. 

The main characters

Gaustine

The enigmatic Gaustine is a therapist who specialises in memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Described as a ‘vagrant in time’, he creates a radical clinic of the past in Zurich, where those with such disorders can take refuge in the comfort of their memories, but soon realises that his idea has much broader potential.

Narrator

The first-person narrator leads Time Shelter. Initially unnamed, as the story evolves it becomes clearer that the narrator is likely a fictional version of the author, Georgi Gospodinov, himself. In time, the narrator becomes Gaustine’s assistant, travelling across countries to acquire 20th century artefacts for the clinic that help recreate the past.

Georgi Gospodinov(Writer of Book Time Shelter)

Georgi Gospodinov is the author of Natural Novel translated into more than 20 languages, The Physics of Sorrow which won the 2019 European Angelus Award and the 2016 Jan Michalski Prize, and the most recent novel, Time Shelter, winner of the 2021 Premio Strega Europeo. Smuggling poetry into fiction, his style is both poetic and philosophical yet readable, funny, and self-ironic. According to Olga Tokarczuk, Time Shelter is the most exquisite kind of literature.

About the Translator:

Angela Rodel is a musician and literary translator who lives and works in Bulgaria. Rodel holds degrees from Yale and UCLA, and has received NEA and PEN translation grants. Her translation of Georgi Gospodinov’s Physics of Sorrow won the 2016 AATSEEL Prize for Literary Translation. In 2014, she was awarded Bulgarian citizenship for her translation work and contribution to Bulgarian culture.