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In Chhattisgarh, lithium deposits draw attention of Adani, other groups

From Adani and Vedanta to CIL and Jindal, everyone has bid for it when lease tenders were put out last week. The bid amounts went 38 times higher than the reserve price.

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By Neeraj Mishra

Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Korba is perhaps the most significant this time round. And this significance has nothing to do with elections. It’s lithium.

Every big business in the country wants to dig into the lithium deposits found in Katghora region in the constituency. Korba is already rich in coal deposits and produces almost 60 per cent of the state’s electricity while almost every North Indian state owns a coal block here.

Naturally with such high stakes in, Adani could not but be here. He is the lone MDO of all coal deposits in the entire Hasdeo Aranya region, as the Korba-Raigarh belt is known. Adani also wants a piece of the lithium pie. The precious mineral has been found spread over 256 heactares area of which nearly 85 hectares is rich forest land. From Adani and Vedanta to CIL and Jindal, everyone has bid for it when the lease tenders were put out last week. The bid amounts went 38 times higher than the reserve price.

Into this mix, so far politically controlled by the Congress’ Mahant family from Sakti region, Saroj Pandey has jumped in on behalf of the BJP. Presently Leader of the Opposition and former Speaker Charandas Mahant has been in state politics for the past 40 years serving as Home Minister in undivided Madhya Pradesh in the 1990s and Union MOS for Agriculture among other things. His father Bisahudas Mahant was close to Arjun Singh and a minister in his government. 

The Mahant family has retained its hold over the Korba region for past several decades. Mahant himself lost twice from Korba and won once in 2009 when he went onto become a union minister at the fag end of Manmohan Singh’s second term. His wife Jyotsna won in 2019 and is again the Congress candidate this time round.

So Congress has not looked beyond the Mahant family in the past 25 years since the state came into existence. The Mahants have won twice and lost twice with every indicator that Jyotsna will lose this time. Charandas is now in his 70s and it is a surprise that Congress still persists with him as LOP. But his record as MLA from the same region has been far better.

Saroj Pandey, who belongs to Durg-Bhilai and had lost in 2014 to Congress’ Tamradhwaj Sahu from there, has been relocated to Korba after two terms in the Rajya Sabha. She does not have many supporters within the state BJP but has solid support from the central leadership which had also made her party general secretary and made her the Maharashtra in-charge. She is expected to win but it may not be a cakewalk considering circumstances in the state BJP more than anything else.

The other constituency in the north coal belt of the state is the reserved seat of Jangir best known for Kanshi Ram. He had fought his first ever election from here in 1984 and launched the BSP thereafter. Former Minister Shiv Kumar Deharia has been given the ticket again from here simply because he is expected to take care of his own election funding. He had lost in 2009 by a margin of more than 10 per cent votes and is not expected to do any better this time round.

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Oppo Find N5 set to launch with 50W wireless charging and IPX9 water resistance

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Oppo Find N5 being tested underwater to showcase its IPX9 water resistance rating.

Oppo has officially confirmed that its latest innovation, the Find N5, will support 50W wireless charging and feature an IPX9 water resistance rating. The announcement comes as part of a series of teases highlighting the capabilities of this next-generation foldable smartphone, set to launch in February.

According to recent leaks, the Find N5 will be the first smartphone to incorporate the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, signaling significant performance enhancements. Pete Lau, Oppo’s Chief Product Officer, has touted the device as the “thinnest foldable phone,” positioning it against leading competitors like the latest iPhone in terms of sleek design.

Zhou Yibao, head of the Oppo Find series, shared insights via Weibo about the Find N5’s advanced features. The device not only matches the wireless charging speeds of newly released models like the Oppo Find X8 Pro and OnePlus 13 but also integrates seamlessly with in-car systems from major electric vehicle brands such as BYD and NIO.

In a compelling demonstration of its durability, a recent video posted by Yibao showed the Find N5 being submerged underwater, showcasing its capability to withstand significant water exposure, evidenced by its IPX9 rating. This test included recording underwater videos, highlighting the phone’s versatile camera capabilities in extreme conditions.

The Find N5 also sports a refined design with slimmer borders and a larger overall form factor compared to its predecessors, which could attract users looking for a sleek yet robust foldable phone.

As anticipation builds, Oppo has begun sharing images of the Find N5, revealing a foldable design as thin as a USB-C port when opened. This device promises to merge aesthetic appeal with functional excellence, setting a new benchmark in the evolving foldable phone market.

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Saif Ali Khan out of hospital six days after stabbing at his residence

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Detained individual linked to the stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan being escorted by police.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has returned to his home after being discharged from the hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained from a stabbing incident at his residence last week. The actor, known for his roles in films such as “Dil Chahta Hai” and “Tanhaji,” was reportedly attacked unexpectedly in his home, leading to his hospitalization.

The incident, which sent shockwaves through the Bollywood community and his fanbase, occurred late at night and resulted in multiple injuries for Khan. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received immediate medical attention. The specifics of the incident, including the motive and the identity of the assailant, have not been publicly disclosed by the authorities.

During his stay at the hospital, Khan was under constant medical supervision and underwent several treatments to address his injuries. His discharge comes after a six-day period of intensive care, indicating a stable recovery.

Family members and representatives of Khan have expressed their gratitude to the medical team for their efforts and to fans for their support and well wishes during this challenging time. While the actor has been released from the hospital, he is expected to continue his recovery at home under the guidance of his personal doctors.

The Mumbai Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.

This troubling event has sparked a conversation about the safety of public figures and the pressures they face. As Khan recuperates at home, the film industry and his supporters worldwide hope for his full recovery and return to the silver screen.

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Delhi Assembly elections: BJP promises free education and student aid, AAP raises concerns

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Arvind Kejriwal addressing media after writing to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on BJP’s alleged electoral misconduct

As Delhi gears up for the upcoming assembly elections on February 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released the second installment of its election manifesto, promising comprehensive solutions to citizen issues and tackling misgovernance and corruption allegations against the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The manifesto, dubbed ‘sankalp patra,’ includes significant pledges such as free education from pre-school to postgraduate levels for needy students at government institutions, and a financial package comprising Rs 15,000 and travel reimbursements for young individuals taking entrance exams. Scheduled Caste students enrolled in technical and professional courses are also promised a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000.

Building on their first manifesto which targeted women voters, the BJP’s latest promises focus on the youth, with over 1.5 lakh set to benefit from a new skills training program. This release follows criticisms by AAP of the BJP’s approach, especially after the tragic incident last July where three civil service aspirants lost their lives due to flooding.

Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister, emphasized the ‘Modi ki guarantee’ assurance, stating these initiatives would be implemented swiftly if the BJP is elected. The manifesto also includes welfare measures for domestic workers and insurance schemes for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, who have traditionally been a strong support base for AAP.

In response, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal critiqued the BJP’s plans, particularly highlighting a clause that, according to him, would limit free education to only “eligible” children, deviating from AAP’s policy of universal free education. Kejriwal also recalled BJP’s earlier statement on discontinuing free healthcare, framing these promises as a threat to the financial stability of Delhi’s households.

The AAP’s counter-campaign warns voters that electing BJP could lead to increased living costs and bureaucratic hurdles in accessing education and healthcare, urging the electorate to consider these factors carefully. With the election results due on February 8, both parties continue to vie for public favor through promises aimed at key demographics.

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