Focus

San Francisco, Dec 25 (IANS) Apple has halted sale of its Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales at its retail stores in the US and when Apple Stores reopen after Christmas, these two Watches will not be available for purchase.

Apple pulled its latest flagship smartwatches due to an import ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) over a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo.

Following the removal of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s online store last week, the two devices are also no longer available at its physical locations.

“When Apple Stores reopen on December 26, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will not be available to purchase,” reports 9to5Mac.

According to reports, Apple Stores will now promote Watch SE, which remains available because it lacks the blood oxygen sensor.

The ITC ruled in October that the blood oxygen sensor in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 infringes on two Masimo patents.

Following the ITC decision, the case was sent to the Joe Biden administration for a 60-day Presidential Review Period but he has so far chosen not to act.

“The Presidential Review Period officially ends after December 25, so it is still possible that President Biden will choose to intervene and veto the ITC decision at the last minute,” according to the report.

Apple has said that it will “continue to take all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible.”

Apple will file an appeal of the ITC’s final decision with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on December 26.

The long-running patent dispute between Apple and medical technology company Masimo is around the Watch’s blood oxygen sensor (SpO2 sensor) technology.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 25 (IANS) Minimum temperature remained several notches below the freezing point on Monday as intense cold wave swept Kashmir.

A Meteorological (MeT) department statement said, “Minimum temperature was minus 2.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar city today while it was minus 2.6 and minus 4.3 in Gulmarg and Pahalgam respectively.

“Leh town in Ladakh region had minus 6.7 and Kargil minus 8.1 as the night’s lowest temperature.

“Jammu city had 7.3, Katra 8.1, Batote 5.9, Bhaderwah 2.4 and Banihal 6.2 as the minimum temperature.”

The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the ‘Chillai Kalan’ started here on December 21 and will end on January 30.

--IANS

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Beijing, Dec 25 (IANS) Turkiye and China should further enhance cooperation and investment in technology, energy and tourism, given the vast market potential, said a Turkish official.

Chinese companies have increased investment in Turkiye in areas including services, infrastructure and logistics, Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, president of the Investment Office of the Turkish Presidency, told Xinhua News Agency during his visit to Beijing.

During the visit, Daglioglu met with Chinese companies and investors in technology and e-mobility in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

"We're quite excited about this trip, hoping to meet with Chinese investors and entrepreneurs who are looking for investment opportunities in Europe and invite them to invest in Turkiye," Daglioglu said.

China has become Turkiye's third-largest trading partner, with the total value of goods traded between them reaching 38.55 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and China's direct investment in Turkiye exceeding 2.4 billion dollars by the end of 2022, according to Chinese statistics.

Daglioglu said the two sides should expand technology cooperation, which could be the competitive edge of Chinese investments in Turkiye, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, battery supplies and e-mobility.

"Electric vehicles are the most competitive industry in Turkiye, and we believe that Turkiye is the best country to invest in our region for electric vehicles, where there is high purchasing power of the population," he said.

Daglioglu also believed that investments in the energy industry should be increased. "The Chinese companies are quite competitive in energy projects, so we also wish them to invest in energy projects in Turkiye," he said.

He noted that the two countries also have huge potential for cooperation in digitalisation, with Turkiye's relatively mature digital ecosystem.

"We believe that both sides can develop the relations in some different fields like investments, technology, energy and tourism," he added, "and then we can have a more sustainable economic relation in the future."

--IANS

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Beijing, Dec 25 (IANS) The death toll from the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted northwest China on Dec. 18 has risen to 32 in Qinghai Province, while two people are still missing, according to the Qinghai emergency management department on Monday.

The department said these casualty figures applied as of 11 p.m. on Sunday, while also confirming that the search for the two missing people was continuing, Xinhua News Agency.

--IANS

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Sydney, Dec 25 (IANS) At least 23 flights in and out of Australia's Sydney Airport were cancelled on Christmas Day following heavy rain and flash flooding a day prior, local media reported on Monday.

By 7 a.m. on Monday (2000 GMT Sunday), the arrivals and departures board on Sydney Airport's website showed 23 flights had already been cancelled for the day, Xinhua News Agency reported.

While Sydney Airport confirmed there were no operational issues at the airport on Monday, the disruptions were likely a knock-on effect from delays and cancellations on Christmas Eve caused by heavy rain and thunderstorms, local news website News.com.au said.

The cancellations on Monday included seven Virgin flights, six Qantas, and three Jetstar, as well as some operated by small regional airlines, the Australian news channel Sky News reported.

Virgin Australia confirmed the cancellations were due to the adverse weather in and around Sydney over the past 24 hours, the report said.

On Sunday, the New South Wales (NSW) State Emergency Service carried out 20 flood rescues across Sydney and responded to reports of 30 homes inundated in the city's southern suburb of Pagewood, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported.

--IANS

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Deoria, Dec 25 (IANS) There was chaos at Masihi Church in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria city when some anti-social elements entered its premises during Sunday prayer service, alleging that poor people were being tempted there to embrace Christianity.

After getting information, the police officials rushed to the spot and controlled the situation.

Confirming the incident, circle officer (CO), Deoria Sadar, Shreyas Tripathi said police have started a probe into the matter but complaints of conversion had no substantial grounds.

Father Rudra, the pastor at the church, alleged that some youths started videography after entering the church premises and also issued threats to those present there.

Meanwhile, the circle officer said police have got a video of the incident from some youths who were part of the chaos.

“We are identifying the miscreants for further investigation,” the cop added. He said no case has yet been lodged in connection with the incident.

--IANS

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Ayodhya, Dec 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow and address a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on December 30 after inaugurating the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport and the redeveloped railway station in the temple town.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the temple town comes weeks ahead of the much-awaited consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla on January 22 and is part of the government’s infrastructure push to make Ayodhya a lucrative religious tourism destination.

According to official sources, the roadshow will cover a distance of about 15 km between the airport and the railway station and pass through Dharam Path, Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, Ram Path, Tedhi Bazaar and Mohabra intersection.

The Prime Minister will be in Ayodhya for two hours from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

“The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Ayodhya airport first and then he will move to the railway station in a roadshow. At the railway station, he will flag off Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, following which he will return to the airport by road and address a public meeting,” Ayodhya District Magistrate Nitish Kumar said.

The facade of Ayodhya airport’s terminal building (both urban and aerial) is said to reflect the architecture of the Ram Temple.

The interior of the new terminal building is being enlivened with local art from across India, art and paintings depicting the life of Lord Ram. It is proposed to be decorated at different heights to convey a feeling of grandeur of the structure.

The state government has allocated a budget of Rs 100 crore for Ramotsav, a series of events that will be held from December 30 to January 22 to mark the consecration of the Ram temple.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 24 (IANS) A day after an undated video of DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran surfaced in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leaders in Bihar criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for their silence on the matter.

"The leaders of Congress, JD-U and RJD should apologise for the way Maran insulted the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar should break their silence. The BJP has made a strong objection to the remarks and asked Dayanidhi Maran to apologize. If he does not apologise, the party leaders will launch an agitation," Bihar unit BJP president Samrat Choudhary said.

Criticising Maran, MoS Home Nityanand Rai said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is building the nation with the concept of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' but the leaders of INDIA bloc are discriminating over North and South India. Their attempt would not be successful. PM Narendra Modi gives respect to sanitation workers. Some people talk like this and create differences. Dayanidhi Maran should apologise to the nation."

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said: "Will the leaders of INDIA bloc keep DMK out of the alliance now? Many people are engaged in the construction sector in Tamil Nadu and Dayanidhi Maran's toilet cleaners remark is highly objectionable. Why Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad are silent over the remarks of Dayanidhi Maran on the basis of state and language? Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should take action against him."

Dayanidhi Maran, during an event, allegedly said that the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh used to come to Tamil Nadu and clean toilets.

"Those who speak Hindi come here and are involved in small-scale construction," he had allegedly said.

--IANS

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According to the sources, the victim Irshad Mohammad's motorbike had hit a man, who was taking part in Dusshera celebrations in Luhari village late on Tuesday night.

The minor accident led to a verbal row which soon turned violent after a group of people beat Irshad Mohammad, who fell to the ground and hit his head a stone.

He was rushed to the local hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the police said.

As news of Mohammad's death reached the village, his family members and locals rushed to the spot.

Both groups attacked each other.

The Bahadurgarh police reached the spot and had to use force to disperse the crowd.

Hapur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said, "We have identified five people who have beaten Irshad and they will be arrested soon. A first information report (FIR) in this connection has been lodged at the Bahadurgarh police station. Adequate police force has been deployed at Luhari village to ensure that the incident does not lead to further trouble."

--IANS

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Coming from Morena in the Chambal region once infamous for dacoits in Madhya Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Sharma was an IPS aspirant who had put up a brave fight while trying to chase his dreams.

From failing in Class XII to bagging the rank of 121 in the country's most sought-after examination -- the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) -- to becoming an IPS officer in the Maharashtra cadre, Sharma's life is nothing short of an inspirational journey.

Sharma, now a CISF officer, did not have any problem till Class VIII, but in the 9th and 10th he struggled to clear the papers and managed them somehow, but in Class XII, he failed the Board exams. After clearing Class XII in the second attempt, he completed his higher studies, and cleared the UPSC exam in his fourth attempt.

Along the way, he worked as a tempo driver, slept with beggars on the road, worked in a library, and also as a dog walker to pay the coaching class fees and buy books to prepare for the UPSC exam.

Sharma also met the love of his life, Shraddha Joshi, during his days of struggle. In those tough times, she supported him a lot. They'remarried today and Shraddha is an IRS officer.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's movie '12th Fail' is based on the novel of the same name by Anurag Pathak. It narrates the real-life story of the lakhs of students who take the UPSC exam year after year.

It also features how these people come in droves, possess very little and receive next to no encouragement as they pursue their difficult dream.

Speaking to IANS, Vikrant talked about the relatability factor and the nuances of the role as well as the responsibilities that come with it.

He said doing justice to the character was very important for him. The role came with a sense of responsibility."

"But in many ways my job was easier because of Mr [Vidhu Vinod] Chopra," Massey added. "He is such an experienced filmmaker, he has given us some of the best films in Hindi cinema. The idea was to bring the character to life, and to be honest with it. But I was lucky that I got this part, because I could relate with most of the things."

He shared that though he did not face the kind of struggles Manoj Sharma did, he knows personally what it means to be a struggler.

"The responsibility that we are talking about to begin with was to make sure the character is relatable," Massey said.

"We have said in the media, written on the poster, and also said in the trailer that it is based on a true story, but it is inspired by a million true stories. It represents that common man who has faced hardships. And I just had to go out there and represent my own life. I had to go out and do justice to Manoj Sharma's life, and to do justice to Mr Chopra's vision. It was a daunting responsibility,” Massey said.

He noted the role was physically, emotionally and mentally challenging. "But I think today we have a very good film in our hands and we are proud of it," Massey said.

Talking about the relatability factor, Massey pointed out: "My financial status was very much similar to Manoj Sharma's. I come from a regular middle-class family. Many times I feel the conditions we had were of the lower middle class. The lower social acceptance you have because of your financial status, we have also faced that."

Looking back at his own life, Massey said: "We used to travel in a single auto together, and since I was small, I used to sit on the lap of someone. On birthdays we had to think twice before buying a Rs 200 cake. I wore people's castaway clothes. There was no problem with the clothes, but when I had to wear someone's rejected shoes, then it was a problem for me. I could therefore personally relate to many parts of the story."

The actor further said: "Most importantly, even Manoj Sharma in real life wanted to be heard. He had a very strong point of view. And I would want to believe that I as a person and not just an actor have a lot to prove, to present my worldview, and to be wholeheartedly accepted in our society."

On his personally meeting with Manoj Sharma, Massey said: "Vidhu sir was very clear. He did not want to replicate Manoj Sharma. He wanted me to represent Manoj Sharma but in his own way."

He added: "In Manoj Sharma you will also see Vidhu Vinod Chopra also. He has also struggled a lot in his life. He has made this film, and chosen this story because when he was reading this story, he reminisced about his childhood, life and struggles."

Massey concluded by noting: "The idea was to give the role your own touch and not replicate Manoj Sharma. I met him, understood his thought process and worldview, and the things missed by the book or the script. But then it is a creative process, and in it you get the liberty to create life, which is an amalgamation of a lot of things."

'12th Fail' will be released on October 27 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

--IANS

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