THE HEADLINES:
- Election Commission asks political parties and candidates for responsible use and disclosure of synthetic and AI generated content during campaigning in Bihar Assembly elections.
- Four-day Chhath Puja celebrations begin in different parts of the country; Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends warm wishes to devotees across the country.
- India calls upon Pakistan to end grave and ongoing human rights violations in its illegally occupied areas, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
- MeT Department forecasts heavy rainfall over Gujarat and coastal areas of southern states today.
- And in Men’s Cricket, Australia set a target of 237 runs for India to win third and final ODI in Sydney.
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The Election Commission of India has issued a fresh advisory outlining stringent rules for disclosure and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic content in political campaigning ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. The Commission has asked political parties, candidates and campaign representatives to label any synthetically generated or AI-altered image, audio, or video used or disseminated for campaigning purposes as AI-Generated, Digitally Enhanced, or Synthetic Content, covering at least 10 percent of the visible display area. Additionally, such content shall prominently disclose the name of entity, responsible for its generation in the metadata or accompanying caption. The commission has also called for restraint on publishing or forwarding any content that is unlawful and misrepresents the identity, appearance, or voice of any person without their consent, and created with the intent to mislead or deceive the electorate.
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In the Bihar Assembly elections, both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan are facing a major challenge from a large number of rebel candidates. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) have denied tickets to several sitting MLAs. On the other hand, many former and current legislators of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are contesting against the officially nominated candidates of the Mahagathbandhan. A report:
In Dinara constituency of Rohtas district former minister and ex-JD(U) leader Jai Kumar Singh is contesting as a rebel candidate against the NDA-supported Rashtriya Lok Morcha nominee. The Rashtriya Lok Morcha has fielded Alok Kumar Singh, while the RJD has nominated Shashi Shankar Kumar. In Dehri constituency of Rohtas district, Fateh Bahadur Singh, upset over being denied a ticket, is contesting against his own party’s RJD candidate Guddu Kumar Chandravanshi. In Chainpur seat of Kaimur district, due to a lack of seat-sharing agreement within the Grand Alliance, Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Govind Bind and RJD’s Brij Kishore Bind are contesting against each other. In Mahua constituency of Vaishali district, the RJD is being challenged by its former leader Tej Pratap Yadav, who was expelled from the party by RJD National President Lalu Prasad Yadav. Tej Pratap is contesting against the RJD’s official candidate Mukesh Kumar Roshan. With many sitting MLAs, former legislators, and ex-ministers entering the electoral fray as rebel candidates after being denied tickets, there is a strong possibility of major upsets in several constituencies. Dharmendra Kumar Rai, Akashvani News, Patna.
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The four-day long Chhath puja celebration has begun today in different parts of the country. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, which symbolises the worship of nature and cleanliness. With a pledge to observe the sacred fast, on first day devotees (Vratis) take a holy bath and eat a simple meal of Arwa rice and bottle gourd curry after offering the prayers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended warm wishes to devotees across the country and around the world on the occasion of Chhath Mahaparv. In a social media post, he paid tribute to the unwavering devotion of all vratis and highlighted the profound cultural significance of this four-day festival. To mark the occasion, the Prime Minister also shared a devotional song dedicated to Chhathi Maiya, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in its spiritual resonance.
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Indian Railways has made extensive arrangements to cater to the extra rush of passengers during Chhath Puja, ensuring smooth and safe travel for festival-goers across the country. Around six thousand 181 special trains have been notified to facilitate passengers returning to their workplaces after the festive season. The Ministry of Railways said that over nine hundred special trains will run in the next three days. It said that additional coaches have been attached, and weather-proof holding areas have been established at 30 major stations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to manage the passenger rush.
Meanwhile, at stations like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Gaya, medical booths have been set up to address any passenger health emergencies.
Railways passengers have lauded the arrangements made by the Railways saying that they did not face any problem while catching the trains.
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Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda highlighted country’s progress in medical education, stating that the country now has 819 medical colleges. He said that undergraduate medical seats in the country have now increased from 51 thousand to 1 lakh 29 thousand. Addressing the 50th Convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, the Minister also noted that the number of postgraduate medical seats has also increased to nearly 78 thousand.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani, at 11 AM tomorrow. It will be the 127th episode of the monthly radio programme. The programme will be broadcast across the entire Akashvani and Doordarshan network, the AIR News website, and the Newsonair mobile app. It will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of AIR News, DD News, the PMO, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Akashvani will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast.
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India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish has called upon Pakistan to end the grave and ongoing human rights violations in the areas illegally occupied by it, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. He said this while addressing the United Nations Security Council during the open debate organised on the 80th UN Day yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has warned Pakistan that its removal from the grey list in October 2022 does not make it immune to money laundering and terrorist financing. During a press conference in France, FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo emphasised that countries, including Pakistan, must continue implementing measures to prevent and deter crimes.
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India Day was celebrated at the 7th Bund Summit in Shanghai today, highlighting the country’s development and reform path as well as technological advancement. The event was attended by Indian Consul General in Shanghai Pratik Mathur alongside Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog Suman Bery, and global leaders from financial services, technology and education sectors.
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The Life Insurance Corporation of India has denied false reports by The Washington Post alleging LIC of creating a roadmap for infusing its funds into the Adani Group of Companies and making its investment decisions under the influence of external factors. The corporation reaffirmed that all investments are made with integrity and due diligence.It termed allegations leveled by daily as false and baseless.
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The GST Bachat Utsav kicked off on 22nd September as the Narendra Modi government slashed GST rates in many sectors, benefiting citizens across the country. Today, our correspondent brings a report on how the next gen GST reforms are boosting the economy of Haryana.
The Next-generation GST reforms have provided a significant boost to Haryana’s economy. The GST has been reduced across diverse sectors including automobiles, textiles, fertilizers, steel, dairy, and renewables. Under the revised tax structure, the GST on automobiles and their parts has been reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent. With these tax cuts, vehicles are now cheaper, resulting in an increase in domestic sales and enhancing the state’s export potential. Along with this the tax on farm machinery and fertilizers has been brought down to 5 percent, lowering farmers’ costs, promoting farm mechanization, and generating rural employment. Talking to exclusive Akashvani News, Bhim Malik, a farmer from Haryana has welcomed the GST cut, saying he saved around 1 lakh 25 thousand rupees on his new tractor purchase.
The new GST reforms have strengthened Haryana’s economy by lowering costs, boosting production, and creating jobs across key sectors. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka, Gujarat. Heavy rainfall is also predicted over Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for next two days. The Met Department also predicted thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds today over Kerala, Mahe, Karnataka, Lakshadweep and Telangana and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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The Regional MeT Department in Tamil Nadu has predicted a depression which lays centered over South East Bay of Bengal about 990 kilometers of Chennai and 990 kilometers southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is likely to intensify into a deep depression tomorrow and further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Monday. It is likely to move northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh coast during 48 hours. More from our correspondent:
Named as Cyclone Mondha, the cyclonic disturbance is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over coastal districts including Chennai, Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Coastal South Andhra for till 29th of this month. Widespread heavy to very heavy rains are likely to lash the northern districts of the State. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the seas and those who are out at sea have been advised to return to coast immediately. The state disaster Minister K.K. S Ramachandran said that situation is being monitored closely round the clock. Joy, Akashvani News, Chennai.
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In Men’s Cricket, India were 104 for 1 in 16.3 overs against Australia in the third and final match of the three-match ODI series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, when reports last came in.
Earlier, hosts Australia were bowled out on 236 in 46.4 overs setting a target of 237 runs for India. Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Election Commission asks political parties and candidates for responsible use and disclosure of synthetic and AI generated content during campaigning in Bihar Assembly elections.
- Four-day Chhath Puja celebrations begin in different parts of the country; Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends warm wishes to devotees across the country.
- India calls upon Pakistan to end grave and ongoing human rights violations in its illegally occupied areas, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
- MeT Department forecasts heavy rainfall over Gujarat and coastal areas of southern states today
- And in Men’s Cricket, Australia set a target of 237 runs for India to win third and final ODI in Sydney.
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