1. Cyclone Ockhi Kills 9, Palaniswami Announces Rs 4 Lakh Ex-Gratia
Cyclone Ockhi, which has hit the southern coast, is expected to intensify into a severe storm in the next 24 hours. Currently, it is headed towards Lakshadweep Islands. Chennai will experience only intermittent rain for the next 24 hours, the Met said.
Cyclone Ockhi intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea today even as the Navy rescued eight fishermen caught in choppy waters and intensified search for 30 others missing.
Rains, which left nine persons dead in Tamil Nadu and Kerala yesterday, continued to lash parts of the two states.
A defence spokesperson today said 13 boats with 38 members of crew from Kerala and one boat from Tamil Nadu with four persons onboard were missing. A Navy aircraft rescued eight of them.
Get more updates on the cyclone here
2. At Least 12 Dead in Peshawar University Terror Attack
Burqa-clad Taliban militants stormed an agriculture training institute in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar and opened indiscriminate fire, killing at least 12 people, half of them students, before being shot dead by security forces.
The three heavily armed militants, who arrived on an auto rickshaw, attacked the students' hostel of the Directorate of Agriculture Extension on the University Road in the city, the capital of the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
The institute was closed for the Eid-e-Milad holiday, but about 70 students were present in the hostel.
The militants stormed the building by firing automatic weapons, creating panic, officials said.
For more updates on the attacks, click here
3. Can’t Be a Purist If You Want to Make Change: Obama at Town Hall
Former US President Barack Obama addressed his Obama Foundation’s Town Hall in New Delhi. Ahead of the Town Hall, Obama spoke at the HT Leadership Summit on Friday, 1 December.
He spoke about the changing nature of information due to technology and the need to leave behind a planet that’s habitable for future generations.
Obama said that both prime ministers, Manmohan Singh and Modi, value strong relations with the US.
Read all about Obama’s visit on The Quint.
4. This World Aids Day, Let’s Thrive for Inclusiveness
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, as many as half of all HIV-positive people in long-term relationships have HIV-negative partners – forming what are known as serodiscordant couples. The Quint gets you a few adorable love stories of people with HIV+.
What’s it like to live with HIV? Pradipkumar Singh of Manipur has been asked this question almost every other day. The typical image of a person who is HIV positive is of someone who looks sick, emaciated and fragile, but Pradip just doesn’t look like that. With his ripped muscles and imposing physique it’s hard to believe that he has been carrying the virus for the last 18 years.
Watch the full story of Pradipkumar Singh here.
5. The Quint’s Review of This Week’s Friday Releases Firangi and Tera Intezaar
At best, Firangi looks like a cheap imitation of Lagaan. A desi underdog who takes on the mighty British and registers a small but decisive victory, which got lost somewhere in the annals of history.
While the supporting cast has some strong names like Kumud Mishra, Rajesh Sharma, Innamul Haq and our resident angrez Edward Sonnenblick, there is precious little that they can do with such badly etched characters.
Overall, Firangi is boring and its humour quotient is abysmally low.
Arbaaz Khan and Sunny Leone starrer Tera Intezaar has also hit the screns
Read our full review of both movies on The Quint.
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