GK General Knowledge
Elon Musk Says TikTok Should Not Be Banned In US San Francisco:Elon Musk on Friday came out against banning TikTok in the United States, even if it would mean less competition for his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as the initiative sees fresh bipartisan momentum in Congress.
The US House of Representatives is set to vote on Saturday on a bill that would force TikTok to divest from Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban.
The measure, which has the vocal backing by many Democrats and Republicans, has also been written into a massive aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which could ease its passage in both chambers of the US Congress.
North Korea Conducts Cruise Missile Warhead Test
North Korea conducted a cruise missile warhead test and test launch of its new anti-aircraft missile in the West Sea of Korea on Friday, the North s KCNA news agency said on Saturday.
North Korea had conducted a power test of a super-large warhead designed for Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test launch of Pyoljji-1-2 new-type anti-aircraft missile on Friday afternoon, it reported, citing the DPRK Missile Administration.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People s Republic of Korea, the North s official name.
Constitution Was In Danger During Congress Rule : Ravi Shankar Prasad
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Friday that the Constitution was in danger when the Congress imposed an emergency in the country and made all efforts to change it.
He also said that there are indications that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will secure over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The first phase of voting for 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories was held on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference here, he said, We talk of 400 paar, and now there are indications that the figure can go even further...The opposition is showing signs of frustration at defeat; they say only one thing: the Constitution will change. Who is talking about changing the Constitution?
Hamas Chief Arrives In Turkey For Gaza Talks Amid Middle East Tensions
A leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Istanbul Friday evening for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the death toll in Gaza passed 34,000.
A statement from Hamas Friday said Erdogan and Haniyeh would discuss the conflict in Gaza, adding that the head of the group s political bureau was accompanied by a delegation.
Middle East tensions are at a high after Israel s reported attack on Iran and Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive.
Pornhub, XVideos, Stripchat Face Strict EU Rules
Adult content companies Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos will have to do risk assessment reports and take measures to address systemic risks linked to their services to comply with new EU online content rules, the European Commission said on Friday.
The three companies were designated as very large online platforms last December under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires them to do more to remove illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
Pornhub and Stripchat will have to comply with these DSA obligations, among the strictest, on April 21 and XVideos on April 23, the EU executive said.
Lok Sabha Polls: Rajasthan Records Nearly 58% Turnout Vote In 1st Phase
A voter turnout of close to 58 per cent was recorded in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where polling was held in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday.
There was no untoward incident during polling in the state, an official said.
The voting percentage on these seats in the 2019 polls was 63.71.
Those Who Insulted My Mother... : Chirag Paswan Writes To Tejashwi Yadav
After a purported video showed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) workers hurling abuses at Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan s mother Veena Paswan during an election rally, the LJP leader wrote to former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav seeking immediate action in the matter.
In his letter, Mr Paswan said that the particular action has refreshed the memories of Jungle Raj as during that time it was difficult for mothers and daughters to leave their homes.
I never understood any difference between Rabri Devi ji and my mother. In such a situation, I did not expect this from you. I agree that political parties may have different views, and there may be differences of opinions but it is not appropriate to have animosity. Such foul language about one s mother is beyond imagination for me, he said.
Man Sets Self On Fire Outside Court Where Trump Jury Was Selected: Report
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump s historic hush-money trial was taking place, witnesses said.
A witness on the scene said he first heard the man throwing pamphlets into the air, then saw him douse himself from a can and light himself on fire. At that point, I said, Oh shoot, what am I going to see? the witness told Reuters.
The witness, who declined to give his name, said the man burned for several minutes.
Anti-Drugs Agency Appoints New Officer To Probe Sameer Wankhede Case
In a twist to the Sameer Wankhede case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has shifted out the officer who was heading the special enquiry team (SET) and appointed a new central vigilance officer (CVO). The probe agency termed the transfer routine .
A new vigilance officer Neeraj Kumar Gupta was appointed CVO for three months after grave allegations were made by its former Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede following the drugs-on-cruise case of 2021.
The Ministry of Finance Deputy Director General (special wing) Neeraj Kumar Gupta, a Kerala cadre IPS officer of the 2005 batch, was appointed part-time CVO for three months, an order said.
Jury Selection Complete In Trump s Criminal Hush-Money Trial
The jury for Donald Trump s historic hush-money trial was completed on Friday, clearing the way for prosecutors and defense attorneys to make opening statements next week in a case stemming from hush money paid to a porn star.
The 12 jurors, along with six alternates, will consider evidence in a first-ever trial to determine whether a former US president broke the law.
The jury consists of seven men and five women, mostly employed in white-collar professions: two corporate lawyers, a software engineer, a speech therapist and an English teacher. Most are not native New Yorkers, hailing from across the United States and countries like Ireland and Lebanon.
Personal Data Absolutely Safe, Info Stored Only In User s Phone: Digi Yatra
Digi Yatra does not store the personally identifiable information of passengers and the personal data of the Indian users are safe and secure, the Digi Yatra Foundation said on Friday amid persisting concerns over the privacy of user data.
Digi Yatra technology infrastructure is being scaled up with an intention to expand coverage from 15 airports to 28 airports by the end of April 2024, the foundation said in a detailed statement.
Based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various checkpoints at airports.
Whole World Has Seen... : PM Modi s Praise For Mohammed Shami In UP Rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised Team India pacer Mohammed Shami during an election rally here. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, The whole world has seen the amazing feat that bhai Mohammed Shami did in the Cricket World Cup. The central government has given Arjuna Award to bhai Mohammed Shami for his excellent performance in sports. Yogi ji s government has moved two steps forward. Yogi ji is also building a stadium for the youth here. I congratulate the people of Amroha very much for this, PM Modi said.
Shami had grabbed seven wickets in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai. He is currently ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) owing to a left ankle injury.
The prime minister also praised the dholak (a musical instrument) of Amroha.
Excited To Vote For 1st Time : Finance Commission Chief Arvind Panagariya
Sixteenth Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya on Friday said that he would be casting his vote for the first time when Delhi goes for poll on May 25.
The young are not the only first-time voters. 50 years after becoming eligible, I am excited to be voting for the first time this election season. Can t wait for the day Delhi votes!!, he said in a post on X.
The young are not the only first-time voters. 50 years after becoming eligible, I am excited to be voting for the first time this election season. Can t wait for the day Delhi votes!!
— Arvind Panagariya (@APanagariya) April 19, 2024Mr Panagariya, a Professor of Economics and the Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University (USA), served as the first vice chairman of the NITI Aayog between January 2015 and August 2017.
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Man Harasses Woman, Tries To Kill Her In Mumbai Shopping Centre Washroom Mumbai:
A man was arrested for allegedly molesting and attempting to kill a 35-year-old woman lawyer inside the washroom of a shopping centre in south Mumbai, a police official said on Friday.
The incident occurred at 8 am on Thursday in Ashoka Shopping Centre on Lokmantya Tilak Marg, where the victim has her office, the official said.
At around 7:30 am, she went to the common toilet at the shopping centre. When she found a 21-year-old man inside, she asked him to leave. The accused behaved as if he was leaving, after which she entered the washroom, he said.
Dubai Faces Persistent Flooding Due To Lack Of Storm Drains
When record downpours sent water flooding into his Dubai home, Riaz Haq expected the levels to drop once it stopped raining. But instead of falling, the water kept rising higher.
We went to bed, the water was half-a-metre (half-a-yard), the British lawyer said, recalling Tuesday s tempest that flooded homes, malls, offices and roads.
We woke up and it was one metre. My cars were submerged, water to our waist. Everything is ruined.
Great Response, People Voting For NDA In Record Numbers : PM On Phase 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the BJP has received a great response in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which saw a national average voter turnout of 60 per cent.
In a post on the microblogging website X, PM Modi said the people of India are voting for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in record numbers.
First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today. Getting EXCELLENT feedback from today s voting. It s clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record numbers, PM Modi said.
First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today.
Getting EXCELLENT feedback from today s voting. It s clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record numbers.
Polling took place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories in the first of the seven-phase elections. The Election Commission (EC) described the turnout as high , noting that voting remained largely peaceful .
2,500 People Cross India-Bangladesh Border Fencing To Cast Votes In Tripura
Around 2,500 voters crossed fencing on the India-Bangladesh border to cast their votes in Tripura on April 19.
The barbed wire fencing might have cast a shadow on their lives but none of them want to miss the opportunity to exercise their franchise in the biggest festival of democracy. A substantial number of voters in Tripura for historical reasons, had to stay beyond the barbed wire fencing.
Those who have attained the legal age for voting are now enrolled in the electoral rolls of Tripura. Since morning, the border gates have been opened to facilitate the voting.
Watch: As Crowd Shuts Train Door, Passenger s Unexpected Move To Board
A video showing a train passenger breaking the glass of a coach to enter the coach has gone viral on social media, prompting the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to react. The clip, posted on X by a popular handle Ghar Ke Kalesh, has been viewed more than two million times. The accompanying caption gives the name of the train as Kaifiyat Express, and claims that the glass was broken as a passenger was not able to enter the coach since it was crowded.
The video shows a packed third AC of the train, with passengers standing in the vestibule area of the coach. There is no space to move due to which the door, presumably, couldn t be opened.
People are seen running on the platform, trying to get into their coach. Suddenly, one person notices a crack on the glass and asks a man sitting close to the door to move.
After India Delivered BrahMos Missiles To Philippines, PM Modi Said...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated countrymen after India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines as part of the $375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.
Addressing a rally in Domah, PM Modi said, Now we are also exporting BrahMos missiles. The first batch of this missile is going to the Philippines today. I congratulate all the countrymen on this.
India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines on Friday, as part of the USD 375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.
US Couple Get Shocking $143,000 Phone Bill After Using Mobile Data Abroad
A Florida couple, Rene Remund, 71, and his wife Lynda, 65, were hit with a massive phone bill after returning from a trip to Switzerland. The bill, totaling a staggering $143,442.74, stemmed from using mobile data while abroad, according toABC Action News.
Remund, a loyal T-Mobile customer for nearly 30 years, claims he informed the company about his travel plans before their trip.
They said you re covered. Whatever that meant. You re covered, Rene told ABC Action News.