SCIENCE
Study decodes how human brain plans before speaking
New York: A team of US researchers has found pauses in speech in the human brain, which indicates how the complex organ that controls thoughts, memory, and speech, makes plans before speaking. The team from NYU Grossman School of Medicine analysed brain-mapping recordings of 16 people undergoing surgery to treat seizures related to epilepsy. The results showed that two regions — the inferior frontal gyrus and the motor cortex — in the folded top layers of the brain or cerebral cortex, play an important role in planning before words are said aloud. Previously, the brain regions were known to control the muscle (motor) movements in the throat and mouth needed to produce speech. It wasn’t clear whether these regions also control “the mix of sounds and words people want to say aloud”, said the team in the paper, published online in the journal Brain. “Our study adds evidence for the role…
Tollywood
Watch: SS Rajamouli shares exciting updates about Mahesh Babu’s SSMB29 in Japan
Hyderabad: Director SS Rajamouli has announced key details about his upcoming film SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu and introduced the star actor to his fans in Japan. In an exciting new update on the highly anticipated film, Rajamouli revealed that the movie has completed the writing phase and is progressing towards the pre-productions stages. In a video clip shot in Japan, SS Rajamouli can be seen attending a special screening of his blockbuster film RRR. Speaking about the upcoming film, he said that only the protagonist has been finalised and casting for the film is yet to be finished. “Only the main hero is locked, the protagonist of the film is locked. His name is Mahesh Babu, he is a Telugu actor. Looks like many of you already know him. He is very handsome,” he added. The movies is rumoured to have a massive budget of around Rs. 1000 Cr.
Telangana
Reach out to farmers hit by hailstorms: Harish Rao
Hyderabad: BRS leader and MLA T Harish Rao on Tuesday demanded that State government immediately reach out to farmers who suffered extensive crop losses due to untimely rains in several districts in the State. Appealing to the government on ‘X’ to extend help to the affected farmers, he said hailstorms had wreaked havoc on paddy, maize and sorghum crops. Even horticultural crops, including papaya and mango, were also damaged in a big way in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Medak, Siddipet and Rangareddy. He wanted the Congress government to rise to the occasion and stand by the farming community. The government should take up immediate enumeration of the crop losses and ensure payment of compensation of Rs.10,000 per acre. He wondered why the government did not respond to the situation even as the rains continued to damage the crops for the last two to three days. When untimely rains caused crop losses in a big way last year, the…
International
Russia-Ukraine war live: Border shelling intensifies after Putin reelected
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will not be intimidated as he cements his grip on power in a landslide election victory. Allies such as China were quick to congratulate Putin but Western countries denounced what they called an illegal election. Ukraine says residents are being evacuated from border settlements in the northeastern region of Sumy due to increased Russian shelling. Russia claims downing eight Vampire, two Alder and one Grad multiple-launch rocket system shells over its Belgorod region.
International
Half-a-dozen people killed in Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan
Kabul: Pakistani military aircraft carried out airstrikes in the Barmal district of Paktika province and the Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district in Khost province. Tragically, these strikes targeted civilian homes, resulting in the loss of six lives and destruction of property, a spokesperson for Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement. Reports indicate that six individuals, including three women and three children, lost their lives in Paktika, while two women perished in Khost due to a collapsed house. “Last night at around 3 o’clock in the Barmal district of Paktika province and in Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district of Khost province, Pakistani planes bombed the houses of civilians, as a result, 6 people including 3 women and 3 children were martyred and a house destroyed in Paktika, as well as, two women were martyred due to the collapse of a house in Khost province,” the statement said. Notably, the purported…
National
EC orders removal of Home Secretaries in six states to ensure fair elections
New Delhi: In a decisive move towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in six states namely Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed. The commission has directed all the State Governments to transfer the officers connected with election-related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. Maharashtra had not complied with the directions in respect of few Municipal Commissioners and some Additional / Deputy Municipal Commissioners in Maharashtra. While conveying displeasure to the Chief Secretary, the Commission directed transfer of BMC and the additional / Deputy commissioners with the direction to report by 6pm today. The Chief Secretary was further directed to transfer all the similarly placed Municipal commissioners…
Telangana
Telangana Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan resigns; might contest Lok Sabha
Hyderabad: Tamilisai Soundarajan has tendered her resignation as Governor of Telangana and Puducherry on Monday and the same has been sent to President Draupadi Murmu’s office. Her resignation came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Hyderabad. She is likely to visit Chennai later in the evening today. Soundararajan would have completed five year’s in office as Telangana governor in September this year and the decision to submit resignation has triggered speculations about her political aspirations, especially contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Political circles are abuzz with speculations that she might contest from Central Chennai or Puducherry. In December last, the Governor had categorically denied any plans to contest the elections. She had said there were no such plans and stated that no request either was made to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.
National
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Take a look at state-wise schedule of the 7-phase polls
Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. In a press conference, the ECI has stated that the polls will be held in seven phases, with the first phase being held on April 19 and the seventh phase on June 1. Counting of the votes has been announced to take place on June 4. Following the press conference, the ECI has shared a map depicting 7 phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
Tollywood
Jawan’ to be telecast in Telugu on March 17 on Zee Telugu
Hyderabad: Bollywood Blockbuster ‘Jawan’ is all set to hit the television screens in Telugu this Sunday, March 17, at 5:30 pm, only on Zee Telugu. Directed by Atlee and produced by Gauri Khan, this movie promises an adrenaline-pumping experience for viewers across the Telugu-speaking States. ‘Jawan’ is a gripping tale of courage, redemption, and the fight against injustice. The story revolves around Vikram Rathore, played by Shah Rukh Khan, an Indian soldier who takes matters into his own hands to combat the evils in the society. When he takes control of a subway train and demands justice against the weapon dealer, Khaali Gaikwad, played by Vijay Sethupathi, it starts a series of exciting events that will keep viewers engaged. The movie also has Nayanthara playing NSG officer Narmada. The movie also has an emotional aspect as it shows the intricate relationship between a father and a son. With energetic music by Anirudh…
Hollywood
Get ready for Double Fun: Save The Tigers season 2 is out
The second installment of Save The Tigers is out and is really an impressive watch. Written by Pradeep Advaitam and Mahi V Raghav and, directed by TejaKakumanu, Save the Tigers-2 comes with an impressive cast that include Priyadarshi Pulikonda as Ghanta Ravi, Abhinav Gomatam as Rahul, Krishna Chaitanya as Vikram, and talented actresses like Deviyani Sharma, Pavani Gangireddy, and Jordar Sujatha. The first part of Save The Tigers was released in April 2023, and the just released second season kicks off with a gripping interrogation scene. Our three friends find themselves in trouble, accused of kidnapping an actress played by Seerat Kapoor. But hold tight as things quickly take a hilarious and intriguing turn in the following episodes. The series keeps you hooked with its witty humour and twists. And just when you think it’s all over, the season finale hits you with a wave of surprises. In terms of performances, Abhinav steals the show with his comedictiming especially in his scenes with Rohini, who plays the house help. Their chemistry is fantastic, adding an extra layer of humour to the series. Priyadarshi and Krishna Chaitanya also deliver…
Telangana
Telangana: ENT surgeon supplying drugs to addict in Hyderabad nabbed
Hyderabad: An ENT surgeon who runs a hospital in Jagtial town was arrested on charges of supplying narcotic and psychotropic drugs to an alleged addict using courier services, a press release from the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) said here on Saturday. Officials of different wings involved in combating drug menace raided a place in Sainkpuri and seized huge stocks of drugs stored in a house. The DCA in association with local police units, TS Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB) raided different places in Hyderabad and Jagitial to expose what was being described as most clandestinely run drug racket involving Dr Madanmohan, the ENT surgeon who operated Mamatha ENT Hospital in Jagitial. The official teams initially raided a residential building in Sri Saibaba Officers Colony in Sainikpuri where they found huge stocks of narcotic drugs, which included different brands of Morphine injections and tablets in addition to psychotropic drugs in the form of injections and tablets.…
National
Is India part of Apple’s Vision Pro global roll out plan? Find out
Apple is may soon make its Vision Pro available in more regions outside America. The tech giant is planning to introduce 12 new languages to the virtual keyboard ahead of the launch, according to a report on MacRumors. While the virtual keyboard currently supports only English (US) and Emoji, limiting it to the United States now, the addition of more languages suggests the expansion of the Vision Pro’s reach to other countries. Will India be a part of the expansion plan? The list of 12 languages that may be supported by the Vision Pro are Cantonese, Simplified Chinese, French, French for Canada, German, Japanese, Korean and English variants UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Japan. Going by the speculated list of language options being made available on the device, an Indian launch does not seem to be a part of the scheme at this point of time. That said, Apple may launch their…
Health
AIIMS Delhi performs first dual kidney transplant of 78-year-old woman
New Delhi: The Department of Surgical Disciplines and Department of Nephrology of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in collaboration with ORBO performed the first dual kidney transplant of a 78-year-old lady on December 22, last year. Additional Professor of Surgery AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Asuri Krishna who performed the surgery said that the donor was a 78-year-old lady who was admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre on December 19 with a severe head injury from falling a fall from stairs and was declared brain dead. When asked about the challenges she faced during the surgery Dr Asuri Krishna said that the major challenge was placing two kidneys on the patient’s right side. The challenge was that because of her extreme age (She was the second oldest organ donor at AIIMS, New Delhi) her single kidney would not have been sufficient for a patient on dialysis. We had to clamp…
International
US Senator asks social media companies about preparations for elections in India
Washington: An influential American Senator on Friday asked the US social media companies as to what preparations they have made for elections in India, where social media platforms, including Meta-owned WhatsApp, have a long track record of amplifying misleading and false content. The letter, written by Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence and Rules Committees, which has oversight over US elections, comes on the eve of the announcement of elections in India by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The letter by Bennet to the leaders of Alphabet, Meta, TikTok, and X is addressed to seeking information from these companies about their preparations for elections in various countries, including India. “The dangers your platforms pose to elections are not new – users deployed deepfakes and digitally altered content in previous contests – but now, artificial intelligence (AI) models are poised to exacerbate risks to both the democratic process…
Health
Passive smoking exposure nearly doubles stroke risk, says new study
Researchers have explored in detail how varied smoking habits influence the risk of getting a stroke, in a new study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine. t found that current smokers are at a higher risk of getting a stroke compared to those who never smoked, with the association being stronger for ischaemic stroke, the most common kind and caused when blood fails to reach the brain. The international study included researchers from St John’s Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore. Both filtered and non-filtered cigarettes were linked with an increased stroke risk and passive smoking – exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) – for more than ten hours a week was found to nearly double the stroke risk, especially that of ischaemic and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). ICH is caused by bleeding of a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. The team also found that in young heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes a day) under 50…
ASTROLOGY
Horoscope Today: Astrological prediction for March 16, 2024
All zodiac signs have their own characteristics and traits which define someone’s personality. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about what’s going to come your way? Read on to find out whether the odds will be in your favour today. Aries (March 21-April 20) Investing in a scheme that seems lucrative will be a step in the right direction, as it brings good profits. Taking up a sporting discipline may become your key to good health. A project will be completed to the complete satisfaction of seniors at work. Giving a helping hand on the domestic front will be fun. Vacation beckons those who look forward to having a good time. House owners can expect to demand good rent for their property. Going in for higher studies is possible and will be a step in the right direction. Hindustan Times – your fastest source…
HYDERABAD
Hyderabad: Two traders held for using ethylene ripening powder; artificial ripener, mangoes seized
Hyderabad: Two traders who were ripening fruits using ethylene ripening powder were caught by the Commissioner’s Task Force (southwest) team on Saturday. The police seized five packets of FYK ethylene fruit ripener and mangoes from them. Acting on a tip off, the Task Force team nabbed Irfan Khan (35) and Mohd Hussain (47), at MJ Market were found to be adopting artificial ripening methods to ripen mangoes. “Both the persons purchased the fruit ripening powder sachets from some people and used it. Consumption of the substance is harmful to the human body,” said DCP Task Force, S Rashmi Perumal.
Hollywood
‘Squid Game’ actor convicted of sexual misconduct
Los Angeles: Actor O Yeong-Su, best known for his role in ‘Squid Game’, has been convicted of sexual misconduct over allegations he hugged and kissed a woman on the cheek against her wishes. O was sentenced to up to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, by the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court, Deadline reported, citing information from Korean reports. The 79-year-old was charged in 2022 over allegations that he hugged a woman and kissed her on the cheek in 2017. However, he denied the charges. After leaving the court on Friday, he told reporters that he would appeal the ruling, which included attending a 40-hour sexual offender treatment program. O has previously said he held the woman’s hand to guide her around a lake. “I apologized because (the person) said she wouldn’t make a fuss about it but it doesn’t mean that I admit the charges,” he…
International
Gaza ceasefire on cards as Israel likely to agree release of Palestinian prisoners
Tel Aviv: A six-week ceasefire is on the cards in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel after both sides communicated to the mediators on stepping down from their earlier demands. While Hamas has agreed to climb down from the demand for a permanent end of the war to a pause for six weeks, Israel has almost agreed to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners including 100 charged with grievous crimes including murder. There were a series of meetings in Doha, Cairo, and Paris in the last two days with different negotiators brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas Sources in Israeli intelligence agencies told IANS that Qatar has communicated to the Hamas leadership that it would “not hesitate to deport them from Qatar if they do not come down from unreasonable demands”. According to sources, the strong position taken by Qatar and Egypt to prevent any Gazan refugees on its soil if…
National
Lok Sabha Election in Telangana on May 13
Hyderabad: The Election Commission on Saturday announced dates and the full schedule for the Lok Sabha election 2024. The Lok Sabha election will be held in seven phases. Voting in the first phase will be conducted on April 19. Counting for all elections, including by-elections, assembly elections, and general elections, is slated for June 4. Phase one of the elections will be held on April 19, phase two on April 26, phase three on May 7, phase four on May 13, phase five on May 20, phase six on May 25 and phase seven on June 1. In Telangana, the elections will be held in a single phase along with 19 other States on May 13. Simultaneously, elections will also be held to the assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha. The results for the Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha assembly elections will be out on June 4 along…