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La Union named most competitive province

La Union has been named as the most competitive province in Ilocos region and placed seventh in the nationwide 2024 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index for two consecutive years.




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Villa Rosa developers say Church criticism based on discarded designs

“The Commission continues to criticise previous designs, despite our clarification that these have been discarded and will be redesigned based on the outcomes of the local plan review”




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Court lifts €20 million freezing order on DF Advocates in Vitals case

Court removes temporary freezing order on DF Advocates after decreeing that the law firm could not be found criminally guilty




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Inquiry expert tells court she could not find Malta Enterprise due diligence report for Vitals concession

Vitals inquiry expert Miroslava Milenović faces heated scrutiny over qualifications and methods for her role in uncovering complex financial links




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Italian Court fully acquits Palumbo Shipyards of waste dumping conviction

Antonio Palumbo, owner of Palumbo Shipyards, fully acquitted by Messina Court of Appeal, which ruled his actions in alleged illegal dumping did not constitute a crime




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MIA posts €39.5 million net profit in nine-month review

Malta International Airport generated €107.8 million in revenue for the first nine months of 2024, posting a net profit of €39.5 million




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Israel visits Paris amid tight security for Nations League soccer clash


"I’m more concerned about France’s attack on the pitch than anything that might happen off it" Ben Shimon said, regarding possible threats to the upcoming game.




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New recordings of Yitzhak Rabin on Arab-Israeli peace talks, role of reservists


Yitzhak Rabin spoke of the importance of manpower and mobilizing reservists following the Yom Kippur War, echoing modern sentiments.




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Why Trump’s victory is a victory over antisemitism - opinion


Donald Trump winning the election is a game-changer not just for America, but for Jews worldwide.




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Noa Argamani marks 400 days of war, remembering time in captivity


In her Instagram post, Argamani shared her frustration that 101 hostages have not yet been rescued from Hamas.




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Expert urges Israel to target civilian infrastructure in Lebanon's 'Hezbollah state'


Hezbollah’s drones were “ultimately,” the terrorist organization’s “trump card,” despite rockets being employed as their “main weapons.”




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PIJ releases video of Gaza hostage Alexander Troufanov


The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, published the video in multiple groups on Telegram.




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Grossi visits Iran, only after Trump's election in first visit since new Iranian president


Grossi highlighted that the Islamic Republic continues to increase its 20% and 60% enriched uranium stock as well as the number of cascades it has for enriching uranium in violation of the 2015 deal.




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Heated debate on Amsterdam violence in Dutch parliament

Dutch parliamentarians clashed on Wednesday in a heated debate to discuss the attacks on Israeli fans after a football match last week, with some lawmakers pointing fingers and others urging unity.

The Netherlands is still dealing with the political fallout from last week’s violence in Amsterdam, when fans of Tel Aviv Maccabi were assaulted by men on scooters in several parts of the capital.

Five Macabi fans were briefly hospitalised after being beaten up following a match with the local Ajax team last Thursday, in what Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof termed an incident of “unadulterated anti-Semitism”.

After the match, groups of men on scooters engaged in “hit-and-run” attacks on Maccabi fans in areas of the city.

Police said the attackers were mobilised by calls on social media to target Jewish people.

Far-right MP Geert Wilders, leader of the biggest party in the coalition government, said the perpetrators of the violence against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were “all Muslims” and “for the most part Moroccans”.

The anti-Islam Wilders called for the attackers to be prosecuted “for terrorism.”

“For the first time since the Second World War there was a hunt on Jews,” Wilders said, adding “I am sick of being criticised when I tell the truth.”

But the firebrand MP drew the ire of opposition parties, who accused him of “adding fuel to fire”.

‘Dividing the country’

While unanimously condemning the violence, left-wing parties have called for dialogue with the Muslim community instead of “dividing the country”.

“I share the condemnation of the violence in Amsterdam and yes, there was indeed anti-Semitic violence,” left-wing opposition leader Frans Timmermans said.

“You are simply stoking the fires while this country has a need for politicians to unite people and find solutions,” Timmermans told Wilders.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema on Tuesday called the attacks a “poisonous cocktail” of anti-Semitism and hooliganism.

Events ahead of the match heightened tensions, including anti-Arab chants by Maccabi fans, who also set fire to a Palestinian flag on the city’s central square and vandalising a taxi.

After the match, which passed off peacefully, reports emerged of social media calls to attack Jews, Amsterdam police said.

The violence took place against the backdrop of an increasingly polarised Europe, with heightened tensions following a rise in antisemitic, anti-Israeli and Islamophobic attacks since the start of the Gaza conflict.

The Dutch PM indicated that the government would present concrete steps to tackle antisemitism on Friday.

Eight people remained in custody over the violence.




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Previous financial pledges on climate change yet to materialise, PM Shehbaz tells COP29 summit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted on Wednesday that financial pledges made at the previous two United Nations’ annual climate summits — COP27 and COP28 — were yet to materialise.

He made the remarks during the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP29, that is being held in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku. The premier presented Pakistan’s case on the second and final day of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit.

Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. It has faced increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as unprecedented floods, intense monsoon rains, devastating heat waves, rapid glacial melting and glacial lake outburst floods.

Addressing the summit, PM Shehbaz asserted that COP29 should “make this understanding loud and clear that we will have to fulfil those financial pledges” committed at COP27 and COP28.

“And yet, I think, those huge financial commitments have to be materialised.”

The prime minister said the event was aimed at understanding the “calamities which, unfortunately, some of the countries have already faced and some will if we do not act”.

At COP27 in 2022, which was also attended by PM Shehbaz, countries had adopted a hard-fought final agreement to set up a “loss and damage fund” to help poor countries battered by climate disasters.

At COP28 last year, then-caretaker premier Anwaarul Haq Kakar had called for immediately executing the $100 billion in commitments for climate finance.

According to the UN, around $700 million have been pledged so far for the loss and damage fund, with France, Italy, Germany and the UAE being the biggest contributors.

At COP29 today, PM Shehbaz also spoke about the devastating monsoon floods of 2022, highlighting they had resulted in 1,700 deaths, massive displacement, destruction of houses and crops, and $30 billion loss to the country’s economy.

He called on the international community “to take measures which are so important at this point in time to have a conducive environment” to combat climate change.

The prime minister stressed that Pakistan was one of the countries that “hardly contribute” to global emissions, yet it was vulnerable to climate change and listed as one of the “10 countries which can, God forbid, face this kind of devastation again”.

“My memories are still fresh,” he said, recalling a meeting with flood affectees in Balochistan, including a boy named Ikramullah who had “lost everything”.

“His entire village was erased from the face of the earth, his home was completely demolished, and his school was also submerged. And we had arranged his education [in] another part of Pakistan,” he said.

PM Shehbaz stated he would not want “other countries to face the plight Pakistan faced back in 2022”.

Describing Pakistan as a “resilient, hard-working and responsible nation”, the premier affirmed his country was “fully committed to being part of the global climate solutions”.

Concluding his speech, the prime minister expressed the hope that under Azerbaijan’s leadership, COP29 can transform into a “finance COP by restoring confidence in the pledging process and scaling up climate finance”.

“I strongly feel that climate finance must be grant-based and not add to the debt burden of vulnerable developing countries,” he said, reiterating his remarks from yesterday on the sidelines of the summit.

“Two years ago, I warned, and I warned at the top of my voice, that the future would never forgive our inaction. Today, I echo the same warning with greater urgency,” PM Shehbaz asserted.

‘We shouldn’t brave impact of emissions by others’

Referring to the 2015 Paris Agreement, PM Shehbaz said: “Ten years ago in Paris, we had failed to stop the rise in emissions and catastrophic global warming, and those pledges in Paris 10 years ago, which were made have yet to see the light of the day.”

“As the minus-one emitters, we should not brave the impact of emissions realised by others without even the tools to finance resilience,” he emphasised.

“Without climate justice, there can be no real resilience,” the prime minister asserted.

The premier further said Pakistan would “go through a renewable energy revolution”, noting that the country last year presented a “comprehensive National Adaptation Plan”.

He continued: “This year, we have developed our National Carbon Market Framework. But we cannot do it alone. Pakistan needs international support to deliver on its climate ambitions.”

“My government has taken concrete actions to deliver on its commitment of producing 60 per cent of all energy from green sources and shifting 30pc of our vehicles to EVs (electric vehicles) by the end of this decade,” he told the summit.

PM Shehbaz stated that developing countries would need an estimated $6.2 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

“The same goes for adaption and loss and damage,” he added, recalling the efforts at COP27 led by then-climate change minister Sherry Rehman.

Early warning systems for all

Addressing the COP29 summit, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted the utility of early warning systems for climate-induced disasters and extended his gratitude to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for launching the ‘Early Warning for All’ initiative.

“Today, the threat is not limited to floods, we are facing rising temperatures, more intense and frequent heatwaves, and erratic rainfall patterns,” Dar said. “Early warning systems for various climate-induced hazards including floods, glacial lake outbursts, droughts and extreme heat are essential for resilience, not just for Pakistan but for all vulnerable nations worldwide,” he added.

The deputy PM thanked the UN Secretary-General for the early warning initiative, which “aims to protect every person on earth with an early warning system by 2027”.

Dar added that the threat of extreme heat emphasises the necessity of multi-hazard early warning systems, which he said were “critical to saving lives and supporting sustainable development in the face of climate adversity”.

“Despite our limited resources, Pakistan is committed to climate action and has set very ambitious goals,” the deputy PM said. “Our pledge to reduce projected greenhouse gas emissions by 50pc by 2030 comprises a 15pc reduction through national efforts and an additional 35pc contingent on international support.”

Dar named the Green Pakistan Project, an “electric vehicle policy”, a large-scale project to rehabilitate mangroves and implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mass transit systems in Pakistan’s major cities.

“These efforts aim to fulfil our nationally determined contributions and to balance our global mitigation role with local adaptation needs,” Dar said. “However, we must acknowledge that national efforts alone are insufficient.”

The deputy PM highlighted that accessible climate finance is essential for Pakistan to meet these targets. “We urgently call on developed nations to honour their $100bn climate finance annual pledge and establish a new collective quantitative goal that reflects today’s needs with funding reaching the trillions,” he stated.

He added that this funding must be “accessible, grant-based and reflective of the historical responsibilities of industrialised nations”, adding that the burden “cannot rest solely on developing countries”.

“While Pakistan is ready to do its part, we look to the international community for support, particularly in accessing climate finance for early warning systems and climate resilience projects,” he said. “We need mechanisms that ensure easy, direct access to funds that can bolster national programmes rather than piloting isolated projects.”

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “being part of the solution” to the shared climate crisis and stressed that through shared partnerships and support from global allies, “we can bridge the early warning gap, enhance resilience and build a safer, more sustainable future for generations to come”.

‘Debt cannot be new normal’

Speaking at a Pakistan-organised conference at COP29 yesterday, PM Shehbaz had said debt cannot become the “acceptable new normal” in climate financing.

He had explained that finan­c­ing in the form of loans pushes developing nations towards “mounting debt traps”, which he ref­erred to as “death traps”.

Speaking at Glaciers 2025: Actions for Glaciers, the prime minister had also linked humanity’s survival with the health of glaciers, saying Pakistan was ready to work with the world on the matter.

Participating world leaders and delegates pose for a group photo during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on Nov 12, 2024. — AFP

PM Shehbaz also met with various world leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including UAE President Sheikh Moha­m­med bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UK PM Sir Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as those from South and Central Asia.

Dozens of world leaders convened in Azerbaijan for COP29 but many big names skipped the UN climate talks where the impact of Donald Trump’s election victory was keenly felt.

US President Joe Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s PM Narendra Modi and France’s President Emmanuel Macron were among the G20 leaders missing the event.

Pakistan witnessed devastating floods during the 2022 monsoon season, induced by climate change, resulting in the loss of at least 1,700 lives.

With 33m people affected and swathes of agricultural land washed away, the damage incurred losses worth $30bn, according to government estimates.

In June 2024, a heat wave brought record-high temperatures, severely impacting public health and agriculture.






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Predicting paediatric asthma exacerbations with machine learning: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Background

Asthma exacerbations in children pose a significant burden on healthcare systems and families. While traditional risk assessment tools exist, artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for enhanced prediction models.

Objective

This study aims to systematically evaluate and quantify the performance of machine learning (ML) algorithms in predicting the risk of hospitalisation and emergency department (ED) admission for acute asthma exacerbations in children.

Methods

We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias and applicability for eligible studies was assessed according to the prediction model study risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST). The protocol of our systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.

Results

Our meta-analysis included seven articles encompassing a total of 17 ML-based prediction models. We found a pooled area under the curve (AUC) of 0.67 (95% CI 0.61–0.73; I2=99%; p<0.0001 for heterogeneity) for models predicting ED admission, indicating moderate accuracy. Notably, models predicting child hospitalisation demonstrated a higher pooled AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.76–0.82; I2=95%; p<0.0001 for heterogeneity), suggesting good discriminatory power.

Conclusion

This study provides the most comprehensive assessment of AI-based algorithms in predicting paediatric asthma exacerbations to date. While these models show promise and ML-based hospitalisation prediction models, in particular, demonstrate good accuracy, further external validation is needed before these models can be reliably implemented in real-life clinical practice.




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Association between second-hand smoke exposure and lung cancer risk in never-smokers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Lung cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There is evidence that second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer in never-smokers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide the most accurate quantification of the association between SHS exposure and lung cancer risk in never-smokers.

Materials and methods

Through the use of an innovative method to identify original publications, we conducted a systematic review of the literature, with corresponding meta-analysis, of all epidemiological studies evaluating the association between SHS exposure and lung cancer risk among never-smokers, published up to May 2023. Pooled relative risks were obtained using random-effects models. Dose–response relationships were derived using log-linear functions or cubic splines.

Results

Out of 126 identified eligible studies, 97 original articles were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled relative risk for lung cancer for overall exposure to SHS was 1.24 (95% CI 1.16–1.32, number of articles, n=82). Setting-specific relative risks were 1.20 (95% CI 1.12–1.28, n=67) for SHS exposure at home, 1.38 (95% CI 1.28–1.62, n=30) at a workplace, 1.37 (95% CI 1.22–1.53, n=28) at home or a workplace and 1.27 (95% CI 1.11–1.44, n=24) in nonspecified settings. The risk of lung cancer significantly increased with the duration, intensity and pack-years of SHS exposure.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis shows that exposure to SHS increases by more than 20% the risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, providing definitive evidence of the association between SHS exposure and lung cancer risk.




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Harmonising cellular conversations: decoding the vital roles of extracellular vesicles in respiratory system intercellular communications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by various cells play crucial roles in intercellular communication within the respiratory system. This review explores the historical context and significance of research into extracellular vesicles. Categorised into exosomes (sized 30–150 nm), microvesicles (sized 50–1000 nm) and apoptotic bodies (sized 500–2000nm), based on their generation mechanisms, extracellular vesicles carry diverse cargoes of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Respiratory ailments are the primary contributors to both mortality and morbidity across various populations globally, significantly impacting public health. Recent studies have underscored the pivotal role of extracellular vesicles, particularly their cargo content, in mediating intercellular communication between lung cells in respiratory diseases. This comprehensive review provides insights into extracellular vesicle mechanisms and emphasises their significance in major respiratory conditions, including acute lung injury, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma and lung cancer.




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Spencer: Xbox Working on Prototype Handhelds, Any Device is a Few Years Out

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer speaking with Bloomberg confirmed Xbox is working on prototypes for a handheld Xbox, however, any device is at least a few years away from release.

Spencer wants the Xbox hardware team to analyze the handheld market, which includes the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck, and more. He wants the team to "develop its vision based on what it learns."

In the short term, Spencer wants Xbox to focus on making its app work better on current portable devices and to partner with hardware manufacturers to ensure Xbox products sync.

"Longer term, I love us building devices," he said. "And I think our team could do some real innovative work, but we want to be informed by learning and what’s happening now."

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463056/spencer-xbox-working-on-prototype-handhelds-any-device-is-a-few-years-out/




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HEAVEN SEEKER: The Savior of This Cruel World Releases December 5 for PS5, PS4, and Switch

SUCCESS Corporation announced the twin-stick roguelite shooter, HEAVEN SEEKER: The Savior of This Cruel World, will launch for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on December 5.

Read details on the game below:

HEAVEN SEEKER: The Savior of This Cruel World is a twin-stick roguelite shooter where you take your own shot at the castle in the sky! A dungeon with a different structure each time you enter, a variety of magic bullets—and a formidable barrage of bullets—await you.

Story

In this world, Pentagaia, there were five countries that had been transferred from five different worlds.

Magi Province, the land of wizards, where magical technology flourished. A land of priestesses and samurai, a land of warriors and the four seasons. A land of elves, with the blessings of the World Tree. A land of mechanical ingenuity, where super-science rules the world. A land of wilderness and dust, ruled by demons.

The rulers of each nation sent explorers to the Castle of Heaven, where the secrets of Pentagaia were said to lie. They did so with the longing to return to the original world. These explorers were called Heaven Seekers.

Explore a Dungeon That Changes Each Time You Enter

In this title, you move with the left stick and aim with the right stick. This is a bullet hell shooting game where you freely control your character and explore random dungeons. When your HP reaches 0, you will lose all the items you have gained during this exploration. The player gains experience by exploring many times and learning the patterns of the rooms and the nature of the enemies.

Create Your Own Magic Shot!

The shot fired by the player character can be modified by freely combining over 20 customizable items to change its properties. Since items are randomly acquired during each quest, players will fight with a different personalized shot each time they dive into a dungeon.

Dot Art Style Game Visuals

All in-game elements in this title, including player characters, enemies, and dungeons, are rendered in high-quality dot art.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463057/heaven-seeker-the-savior-of-this-cruel-world-releases-december-5-for-ps5-ps4-and-switch/




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Pesto is growing up: The viral fluffy penguin is molting his baby feathers

The fluffy chick’s chunky form is slimming down as he starts to fledge






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'Massive downsizing': Vivek Ramaswamy reveals how he will ensure government efficiency under Trump - The Times of India

  1. 'Massive downsizing': Vivek Ramaswamy reveals how he will ensure government efficiency under Trump  The Times of India
  2. DOGE days are coming for the US under Trump's two Musketeers  The Times of India
  3. Trump picks Musk, Ramaswamy to run new dept of govt efficiency  Hindustan Times
  4. When Vivek Ramaswamy was 18: School speech emerges as he readies for DOGE role  India Today
  5. Explained: How Musk's US Government Efficiency Panel Might Work  NDTV




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‘Emilia Pérez’ interview: Director Jacques Audiard on Karla Sofía Gascón and the operatic influences of writing a musical

Following its Cannes-winning run, French director Jacques Audiard talks about how ‘Emilia Pérez’ reshapes the musical genre, with its lead star’s dazzling spectacle of contradiction and rebirth




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‘Mahavatar’: Vicky Kaushal looks fierce as Parashurama in Amar Kaushik’s next

Produced by Maddock Films, the action epic will release in theatres on Christmas, 2026 




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Shivarajkumar interview: On ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’, working nonstop and battling tough times

Kannada star Shivarajkumar opens up on playing a character with two shades in ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’, his upcoming films and ‘Fire Fly’, produced by his daughter Niveditha Shivarajkumar




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Vroooom, an interactive virtual reality film festival in Hyderabad

Experience interactive storytelling at Vroooom, the virtual reality film festival presented by Goethe Zentrum Hyderabad and Annapurna College of Film and Media




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Shivarajkumar in talks to star in Vijay’s ‘Thalapathy 69’

Shivarajkumar, who will next be seen in ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’, said that the makers of Vijay’s ‘Thalapathy 69’ has approached him with an interesting character




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‘The Rana Daggubati Show’: Prime Video announces new unscripted Telugu series with Rana Daggubati 

The unscripted Telugu Original eight-episode series will feature a host of guests, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Sree Leela, Nani, S.S. Rajamouli and Ram Gopal Varma




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‘Bandish Bandits’ Season 2 to premiere on Prime Video in December

Created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, the romantic drama show features actors Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry as Radhe and Tamanna, two musicians who come from different worlds of music




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Singapore-Tamil rapper Yung Raja on why he loves visiting India, and his single ‘Podu Mike’

Dialects, aspirations, collaborations and sounds of his motherland are keeping Singaporean-Tamil rapper Yung Raja going this year




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‘Emilia Pérez’ movie review: Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña’s narco-musical melange is an acquired taste

The feverish Cannes-winning spectacle dazzles with audacity but stumbles under the weight of its own ambition




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Yellowstone star Kevin Costner isn’t happy about how John Dutton left Paramount series

Actor said he won’t be ‘rushing’ to watch it after hearing about scene




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Jason Sudeikis says Ted Lasso viewers who disliked season 3 ‘don’t have imaginations’

‘Some people want to judge—they don’t want to be curious,’ said Sudeikis in a new book about the hit show




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The Penguin achieves incredibly rare viewership and Rotten Tomatoes feat

The series has transcended expectations in a huge way




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'I want to leave a beautiful memory of them': Jack Neo's parents cameo in new CNY movie I Want To Be Boss

Wedding bells rang at Trinity Methodist Church yesterday afternoon (Nov 12) as couples renewed their vows — but it was all for a scene in local director Jack Neo's upcoming movie, I Want To Be Boss. Among them, however, was an actual couple who have been married for more than six decades — Jack's very own parents. "I want to leave a beautiful memory of them in the movie," the 64-year-old actor-director told local media on the set. His mum, 86, was dressed in a white wedding gown with tulle sleeves, while Jack's father, 91, looked sharp in a black suit with a matching bowtie. Jack added: "I especially requested that my mum put on a wedding dress today for this scene, because the first time they wore their wedding outfits, I only got to see them in photos. I can see them now."




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Visibility drops in parts of Delhi as pollution surges

NEW DELHI — A toxic haze enveloped India's national capital on the morning of Nov 13 as temperatures dropped and pollution surged, reducing visibility in some parts and prompting a warning from airport authorities that flights may be affected. Delhi overtook Pakistan's Lahore as the world's most polluted city in Swiss group IQAir's live rankings, with an air quality index (AQI) score of more than 1,000, considered "hazardous", but India's pollution authority said the AQI was around 350. Officials were not immediately available to explain the variation. Vehicles drive on a highway on a polluted smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, Nov 7, 2024. PHOTO: Reuters file The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the pollution had reduced visibility to 100 metres in some places by around 8am local time.





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Immigrant Activist to Biden: Close Deportation Cases Now to Take a Weapon Away from Trump

Arizona voters on Election Day approved a sweeping ballot measure that would allow state and local law enforcement to arrest immigrants suspected of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border outside of ports of entry, while empowering state judges to order deportations. Proposition 314, which creates a series of state crimes targeting immigrants, is modeled after a similar measure in Texas known as S.B. 4 that is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Only certain portions of Prop 314 are scheduled to go into effect later this month, while the most harmful parts won’t be enforced until the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Texas law. The measure has drawn comparisons to Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070, a 2010 law that also gave local police authority to arrest immigrants suspected of being undocumented, though large parts of it were later struck down by the Supreme Court. For more, we speak with Tucson-based activist Alejandra Pablos, who was targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for her activism and has been facing deportation proceedings for years. “People who are speaking out are the first to feel the chills,” Pablos says of Trump’s looming anti-immigrant crackdown. She urges the Biden administration to do what it can to mitigate the harm, including by closing deportation cases against people like her.




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Trump Taps Fossil Fuel Ally Lee Zeldin to Head EPA, Push "Anti-Environmental Agenda"

Environmental defenders are raising alarm over Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, former New York Congressmember Lee Zeldin, who has a history of opposing critical environmental protections and clean energy job investments. Zeldin’s nomination comes as Trump is reportedly discussing moving the EPA headquarters outside of Washington, D.C., which could lead to an exodus of staff and expertise from the agency. “I really don’t think this is about government efficiency. I think this is about terrorizing the career staff,” says Judith Enck, who served as a regional administrator of the EPA in the Obama administration.




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Vivad se viswas scheme 2024

Whether assessee is eligible for 50% for dispute tax where his file is in appeal and similar issue was settled in favour of other assessee by the Karnataka High Court case




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Clinton Wins Dixville Notch Midnight Vote

Hillary Clinton on Tuesday beat Republican rival Donald Trump in Dixville Notch, a small town in New Hampshire that traditionally votes just after midnight before the Presidential election balloting starts elsewhere in the US later in the day




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Indian-Americans Celebrate Their Impressive Victory

With four Indian-Americans, including two women, elected to the US Congress, euphoric community members said that the unprecedented victory shows they have become part of the mainstream political landscape.