On Saturday (4th November, US local time), Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the launch of a new Generative AI model called ‘Grok’.
Unlike other Large Language Models (LLMs), Grok is trained on ‘real-time knowledge’ provided via the X (formerly Twitter) platform. As per the press release, the AI model is intended to answer all questions, including those which are rejected by other systems.
“Grok is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit and has a rebellious streak, so please don’t use it if you hate humour! Grok is still a very early beta product – the best we could do with 2 months of training – so expect it to improve rapidly with each passing week with your help,” it read.
The intention behind the development of the Generative AI model is reportedly to assist humanity in its quest for ‘knowledge and understanding.’ As per the press release, the stated objectives behind ‘Grok’ include:
Gather feedback and ensure we are building AI tools that maximally benefit all of humanity. We believe that it is important to design AI tools that are useful to people of all backgrounds and political views. We also want empower our users with our AI tools, subject to the law. Our goal with Grok is to explore and demonstrate this approach in public.
Empower research and innovation: We want Grok to serve as a powerful research assistant for anyone, helping them to quickly access relevant information, process data, and come up with new ideas.
Our ultimate goal is for our AI tools to assist in the pursuit of understanding.
Announcing formation of @xAI to understand reality
Elon Musk on July 12 this year tweeted about the formation of AI team of X (formerly Twitter). Grok prototype is available for access to a limited number of users in the United States. Interested people can join the waitlist by clicking here.
In the wake of the recent explosions at a Christian prayer gathering near Kalamassery in Kochi, Kerala Police have filed 54 cases against individuals for disseminating content on social media that could potentially incite communal tension. Kerala police shared this information in a statement issued on Saturday (4th November).
In a post from the X handle, Kerala police said, “Fake propaganda on social media: 54 cases registered .” The statement in the image attached to this post said, “After the Kalamassery blast, Fake propaganda through social media was busted. 54 cases were registered till November 1. Social media organisations have been instructed to find out the IP address to prevent propaganda from fake profiles. A special team in district-level cyber cells for cyber patrolling of social media is formed.”
The highest number of cases, totalling 26, were filed in the Malappuram district. 15 cases were recorded in Ernakulam, and five in Thiruvananthapuram. Two cases each were reported from Thrissur City and Kottayam, with one case each in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Kozhikode Rural.
The police said, “Requests have been made to Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp and other social media platforms to identify the IP addresses of such fake profiles. The cyber cell in the state is functioning round the clock to identify such handles.”
On 29th October, three persons including a woman were killed, and around 40 were injured in multiple blasts at a Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer meeting at a convention centre at Kalamassery, Ernakulam in Kochi district of Kerala. The injured were rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital.
Around 2,000 people attended the 3-day convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Zamra International Convention & Exhibition Centre in Kalamassery. Eyewitnesses were quoted by Manorama News saying at least three blasts took place inside the hall. The probe was handed over to the NIA.
The investigating officers later discovered that the blast was planned to burn down the whole place. One Dominic Martin, accused of the bomb blast, was also arrested, and he has now been sent to judicial custody. Dominic Martin surrendered after claiming responsibility for carrying multiple blasts. He surrendered at the Kodakara police station in Thrissur.
On the morning of 3rd November, a woman named Riya Devi was injured after a brutal Pitbull attack in North Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar after she confronted her neighbour and asked him not to allow his dog to defecate in front of her house. The entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras.
The woman was bitten five times, including on her face, hands and legs. The local police have registered a First Information Report based on the CCTV footage and they have initiated legal proceedings against the owner of the dog.
The police stated that the victim was a resident of Swaroop Nagar and had been monitoring the man for the past few days as he let his pet defecate in front of her house. It happened again on the fateful day and the victim saw the recording from a security camera placed outside her place.
Riya and her neighbour got into an argument after she confronted him. According to Riya Devi, the man who lives in the neighbourhood let the dog loose in an attempt to frighten her which led to her suffering serious injuries. She was rescued by other people.
In the clip, the Pitbull was visible standing calmly next to the woman initially as she approached what appeared to be the house of its owner. The animal then unexpectedly leapt onto her attacking her.
She was attacked and bit by the dog multiple times and was pushed to the ground. As she tried to fend off the dog, onlookers came running to help her. The owner eventually managed to free her from his pet and brought it inside with assistance from other family members. The wounded woman was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Riya Devi remarked, “I am terrified and have not been stepping out of the house. The dog is allowed to roam freely and all the neighbours are scared.” Riya’s husband Rajesh Kumar added that during the dog attack, members of its owner’s family also assaulted his spouse.
Authorities have charged the owner of the dog and his son after they reportedly provoked the dog to bite, and shoved the woman to the ground. Furthermore, they presented the incident’s CCTV footage as proof against the accused. An official from the Swaroop Nagar Police Station said, “A complaint was filed and a case has been registered based on CCTV footage. We are investigating the incident.”
A case has been brought under Section 289 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (careless behaviour toward animals) by the police against the neighbour, who was later released on bail.
According to the victim’s family, the Pitbull is the reason why some people don’t allow their kids to play outside on the street. They insisted that the owner be held accountable for the attack and that the dog be taken out of the locality.
On Saturday (4th November), BJP leader Ratan Dubey was brutally murdered by Maoists in the insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh. The BJP’s district vice-president’s murder comes ahead of the first phase of polling in the state.
Chhattisgarh | A BJP leader (Ratan Dubey) was murdered today in the insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, said Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P.
On being asked about Naxal involvement, the IG said that a team has been dispatched to the location and anything in this…
Ratan Dubey, who was a member of the Narayanpur Zilla Panchayat, had come to Kaushalnar village to campaign for BJP candidate Kedar Kashyap who is contesting against Congress’s Chandan Kashyap. Dubey was first shot and then attacked with sharp weapons, including axes and daggers, in the Dhaudai region after addressing a poll rally.
According to a Times of India report, after the campaign, a cockfight was held near the dais, and a large crowd gathered around it. The Maoist attackers, disguised as villagers, moved away from the gathering and began approaching the dais. Ratan Dubey, however, soon recognised them, got off the dais and started running. The ruckus diverted everyone’s attention away from the cockfight to see Dubey being pursued by several men wielding firearms, daggers, and axes. The chase continued for a few hundred metres until one of the perpetrators shot Ratan Dubey in the back. As an injured Dubey fell on the ground, the Maoist assailants attacked him with axes and daggers.
Notably, Ratan Dubey’s murder came just ten days after the Maoists issued a threat to political candidates and their supporters “not to come seeking votes in Bastar.”
In a statement on Saturday, Sundarraj P, Inspector General of police of Bastar range said, “At around 05:30 pm, Dubey had gone to Kaushalnar village, about 5km east from Jhargati police station, for campaigning, when he was attacked and killed with a sharp weapon by unidentified Maoists. After receiving information about the incident, police and security forces were sent to the spot, and the deceased’s body is being brought to the district headquarters at Narayanpur.”
Later in the evening, the mortal remains of Ratan Dubey were brought to the District Hospital in Narayanpur.
#WATCH | The mortal remains of BJP leader Ratan Dubey who was murdered today in the insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh was brought to the District Hospital in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur. https://t.co/ibZF2HBsIXpic.twitter.com/DBiVQmMggP
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh BJP in-charge Om Mathur said, “While Ratan Dubey was chairing a meeting with the party workers in an interior village, was attacked by the Naxals. I appeal to the party workers & leaders that we will take revenge for this by winning the elections. We are with his family…Target killings are happening continuously. This shows that the law & order situation in the state is worsening…”
#WATCH | BJP Chhattisgarh in charge, Om Prakash Mathur says, "While Ratan Dubey he was chairing a meeting with the party workers in an interior village, was attacked by the Naxals…I appeal to the party workers & leaders that we will take revenge for this by winning the… https://t.co/ibZF2HBsIXpic.twitter.com/N0aFGCuDvT
Ratan Dubey’s heinous murder comes just days after BJP worker Birju Taram was shot deadon October 20 by suspected Maoists in Sarkheda village, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district.
Notably, Narayanpur is one of the 20 Assembly seats that will hold the election on the 7th of November. The second phase of voting for the state assembly will take place on 17th November, with results to be announced in December.
Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav shared a video from his YouTube channel on Saturday (4th November) in which he said that he would file a defamation case against Maneka Gandhi.
Notably, the BJP MP had demanded the arrest of the social media influencer in connection with a rave party bust case where snake venom was allegedly supplied.
In his video, Elvish Yadav said, “I was accused by Maneka Gandhi ji and she called me the head of the snake supplier. I will file a defamation case against her. I will not spare her. Now, I am active in all these things. Earlier, I used to think that I didn’t want to waste my time but now my image is being affected.”
Elvish Yadav further said, “Those who are watching please don’t judge me on this basis of this. Please wait. When the Police investigation starts, I will share the main video as well. I will show you everything. I am saying this with a lot of confidence. A press statement will also be released that Elvish Yadav had zero involvement in this case. Please watch that and share that also.”
Elvish Yadav has previously addressed the case, and on Friday (3rd November), he said that the allegations against him are unfounded and lack substantiating evidence. He said, “I woke up in the morning and saw how news against me is spread in the media. All the allegations levelled against me are baseless, fake and there is not even a per cent truth in them.”
The Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav slammed Maneka Gandhi saying that she should be prepared to tender an apology for the allegations levelled against him.
Elvish yadav confirms that he will file a defamation case against Maneka Gandhi and his Ngo ?.
Elvish Yadav was accused of supplying snake venom to rave parties. Former Union Minister and BJP MP Maneka Gandhi issued a statement demanding the arrest of Elvish Yadav in the Rave Party busting case. She revealed that her NGO had kept an eye on Elvish Yadav for some time as he used poisonous snakes in his videos.
On 3rd November, Noida police registered an FIR against Elvish Yadav for allegedly supplying snake venom to rave parties in Noida. The Drugs Department, the Forest Department and the Noida Police jointly busted the event and arrested five people identified as Jaikaran, Rahul, Titunath, Narayan and Ravinath. Some unmanned individuals are also named in the report.
The culprits are reportedly close aides of the social media star and revealed that they used to supply snakes for his parties. A video showed him playing with and holding a snake. His involvement came to light when they were questioned. The group that supplied illegal snake poison was the target of the raid. The offenders admitted that Elvish Yadas was a member of their gang.
However, Elvish Yadav issued a clarification saying that all the videos in which he was seen with snakes were 5-6 months old. He pointed out that these were used for shooting songs. Now, he is going to file a defamation case against Maneka Gandhi.
On Saturday (4th November), Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky lamented that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas somehow took the focus from the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on since February 2022.
He made this statement in a press conference with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on her tour to Ukraine to assess the war-torn country’s preparations to join the European Union.
Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Of course, it’s clear that the war in the Middle East, this conflict, is taking away the focus. We have already been in tough situations when there was almost no focus on Ukraine. I am sure we will overcome this challenge.”
We will continue to support and promote a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Zelensky was also prompted to provide a response regarding the recent evaluation from Ukraine’s top military commander, Valery Zaluzhny, who stated that the conflict was transitioning into a phase of static positioning. This shift was seen as advantageous for Moscow, as it could facilitate the reconstruction of its military capabilities.
In response to this, Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Today, the time has passed and people are tired and there are different opinions. But this is not a stalemate.” He acknowledged that Russia had gained aerial control and emphasised the pressing need for US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets and sophisticated anti-aircraft defences to alter the current state of affairs.
Notably, Zelensky’s recent remarks came during a period when the United States House of Representatives passed a Republican-sponsored bill granting $14.3 billion in aid to Israel on Thursday (2nd November). This move contradicted the request made by US President Joe Biden to allocate supplementary funds for Ukraine and other pressing issues. Ukrainian forces are already contending with fatigue and uncertainties surrounding the future of US military aid.
The Ukrainian leader also dismissed the notion that Western nations were pressuring Kyiv to engage in negotiations with Russia. He said, “Today, no one among EU, US leaders and others – our partners – is putting pressure on us to now sit down to negotiate with Russia and give away something to it. This will not happen.”
Good to be back in Kyiv for my 6th war time visit.
I’m here to discuss Ukraine’s accession path to the EU.
The EU’s financial support to rebuild Ukraine as a modern, prosperous democracy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen landed in Kyiv on Saturday ahead of the imminent presentation of a European Union report next week, which assesses Ukraine’s advancements in its quest for EU membership. She posted from her X handle, “Good to be back in Kyiv for my 6th wartime visit. I’m here to discuss Ukraine’s accession path to the EU. The EU’s financial support to rebuild Ukraine as a modern, prosperous democracy. And how we will continue to make Russia pay for its war of aggression.”
Ukraine and Russia have been at war for more than a year now. In 2014, Russia captured Crimea from Ukraine and has been controlling it ever since. The war started after Russia felt provoked by Ukraine’s inclination to join NATO which is largely an anti-Russia coalition of Western nations. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the battle is being fought on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine has received immense support from the West but the support is gradually fading. Ukraine has seen massive losses in men and territory.
Israel’s all-out war on the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is a resolute retaliation to the 7th October attacks. More than 1,400 people, mostly Israelis, lost their lives and at least 220 were taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza after the brutal terrorist attack. The terrorist group had also launched 5,000 rockets on Israel.
On 4th November, a YouTube news channel, News Galley, published a video on the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 where an Islamist identified as Ayaan Qureshi called Hindus insects. Qureshi also claimed that it would get difficult for Hindus once their [Muslims] government is formed at the centre. After the video sparked controversy on social media, Ghaziabad Police took cognisance of the matter and detained Ayaan Qureshi for questioning.
In a statement, ASP Naresh Kumar said, “A video has been brought to our notice of Ayaan Qureshi, who lives in Masoori, Ghaziabad. He used derogatory language against a specific religion. An FIR is being registered against the accused. Qureshi was detained and questioned. Further investigation is underway.”
सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल वीडियो जिसमें अयान कुरैशी द्वारा धर्म विशेष के खिलाफ आपत्तिजनक टिप्पणी की जा रही है, जिसका तत्काल संज्ञान लेकर आरोपी के खिलाफ अभियोग पंजीकृत किया जा रहा है एवं आरोपी की हिरासत में लेकर पूछताछ की जा रही है । अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही प्रचलित है~एसीपी मसूरी। pic.twitter.com/b6FnwLuMZ0
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) November 4, 2023
‘Hindus will get crushed like insects’
Qureshi, who lives in Rafiqabad, which is a small locality in Ghaziabad, said he runs a meat shop. Using derogatory language about Hindus, he said, “You keep saying Hindu-Hindu, tell me where are Hindus. The real fight is between Jews and Muslims. What are Hindus? They will get crushed like insects when the time comes.” It appeared he was referring to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
He continued, “You can change the names of the places like Prayagraj and keep doing that. However, when our government comes, it will all be reversed.” He added, “Inshallah Islam zinda tha zinda hi rahega (Islam is thriving, and it will remain forever).”
‘They will be thrown in jails’
Qureshi did not stop there. He accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Hindu appeasement and working against Muslims. He added, “When our government comes, they [CM Yogi and other Hindu leaders] will be thrown in jails.” Qureshi claimed there has been no development in the past nine years since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the centre.
‘Don’t shut meat shops in Muslim areas’
Qureshi lashed out at the government for shutting meat shops during Hindu festivals. He claimed that for six months, his shop remained closed due to Hindu festivals. He said, “Why do you shut meat shops in Muslim areas? We don’t ask to shut liquor shops during Ramzan. You should let meat shops run in Muslim areas uninterrupted. If you want to close them, do it in Hindu-dominating areas.” He further claimed Hindus and Muslims who run the abattoirs are unnecessarily named in it.
Qureshi, who finds Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a promising candidate for the position of Prime Minister, sparked controversy specifically because of his Hinduphobic language. Netizens called for strict action against him.
X (formerly Twitter) user Chandan Mishra said, “This is Ayaan Qureshi from Rafiqabad, Masoori in Ghaziabad. See what he is saying openly. He is calling Hindus insects and threatening to crush them when their government comes to power.”
ये अयान कुरेशी है रफीराबाद मसूरी गाजियाबाद में रहता है।
X user Sunanda Roy said, “He is Jihadi Ayaan Qureshi and lives in Rafirabad, Ghaziabad. See how openly he is threatening Hindus. I request Up Police to take strict action against this kind of venomous unsocial elements.”
उक्त सम्बन्ध में एसीपी मसूरी व प्रभारी निरीक्षक मसूरी को विधिक कार्यवाही हेतु निर्देशित किया गया है ।
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) November 4, 2023
X user Bala questioned how much time will it take for the police to take action against him.
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a Jewish woman was stabbed at her residence in Lyon city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
As per reports, the unidentified attacker stabbed the victim twice in the abdomen. He also drew the Nazi symbol (also called Hakenkreuz or hooked cross) on the door of the apartment. The assailant, who was wearing all black, managed to flee the crime scene.
The victim was later rushed to the local hospital and was treated for mild injuries. The woman is said to be in her 30s and was attacked after she opened the door on hearing the doorbell.
A 30-year-old Jewish woman was stabbed in her home in Lyon. A swastika was discovered on her front door.
Deeply disturbing. Jews have the right to exist without being attacked.
We wish her a speedy recovery and hope the police can bring this cowardly individual to justice. pic.twitter.com/ZczzEfKZQw
The victim’s lawyer, Stéphane Drai, told BFMTV, “The victim, her family and the Jewish community are shocked… When we opened the door, we did not know that we could be the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, which could amount to an attempted murder.”
While reacting to the incident, Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet tweeted, “Such an act of violence is unthinkable. I offer all my support to the victim and her relatives.”
Une femme de confession juive a été poignardée ce samedi. Une inscription antisémite a été retrouvée sur la porte de son domicile.
Un tel déferlement de violence est inqualifiable. Tout mon soutien à la victime, à ses proches.
A complaint is expected to be filed for ‘attempted homicide.’ There has been a surge in anti-Semitic crimes across the globe since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprovoked terror attack on Israel and killed 1400 people in the process.
A group of farmers in Punjab’s Bathinda district courted controversy after they allegedly forced a government official, who was part of a team to prevent farm fires, to burn the stubble lying in a field on Friday.
The incident came to light after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann posted a purported video of the entire incident on his X handle.
Condemning the incident, Mann said that an FIR has started being registered in the matter.
Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana said that the incident took place under the Nahian Wala police station limits in Mehma Sarja village.
“(A team of officials) had gone to Mehma Sarja village to convince the farmers not to burn the stubble. During this, the farmers there called their union and forced our civil administration’s officer, Harpreet Singh, to burn that stubble (lying on the field),” the police officer said.
SSP Khurana said that an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been lodged in the matter.
“We have registered an FIR in this matter. A total of 7 persons have been named in the FIR and action is being taken against other persons. The farm was owned by Ram Singh. Besides, the other members of the union present at the spot are being identified and raids are being conducted in the matter,” he added.
Stubble burning is widely prevalent in parts of the agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana. It is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble left after the harvesting of grains like paddy, wheat, etc. The process of burning farm residue is one of the major causes of air pollution in parts of north India, deteriorating the air quality around this time of the year. Combined with vehicular emissions, it adversely affects the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Amidst media reports that popular YouTuber Elvish Yadav was detained or is in custody, Rajasthan Police official has cleared the air regarding the incident. Elvish is named in a case of snake venom use in a rave party, and several media houses today reported he was detained by Rajasthan police at Kota. However. A Rajasthan Police official stated that YouTuber Elvish Yadav was only stopped briefly during a routine border security check in the wake of the assembly election in the state, and he was let go as he is not wanted in the case.
DSP Kailash Chand, Anti Corruption Bureau, Hisar Range, said when a vehicle was stopped at a check post set up for the upcoming polls, one of the persons in the car said that his name was Elvish Yadav. As Rajasthan Police had learned that he was named in some cases in Noida, they contacted their counterparts in Noida. However, Noida Police officials informed them that the case was still being investigated, and Elvish Yadav is currently not a wanted or absconding person in the case and could be called in for questioning at a later stage if need be. After the Noida Police said that there was no need to detain him Rajasthan Police released Yadav.
VIDEO | "During routine checking in view of the Assembly polls (in five states), Elvish Yadav, along with his friends, was stopped at a check post on his way to Kota. After interrogation and confirmation from Noida police that he isn't wanted and the case against him is under… pic.twitter.com/IhOo4DrSnA
The DSP also said that nothing objectionable was found in the car, and they were let go after Noida police said that Elvish Yadav is currently not needed in the snake venom case. He also said that it was just a routine security check, and there was nothing illegal with their journey.
While speaking with a Times Now Navbharat reporter, another Police official confirmed that YouTuber Elvish Yadav was neither arrested nor detained. Regarding media reports that he was grilled by Rajasthan Police, the Police official rejected it and noted that he was not questioned. The police officer said that when they contacted Noida police, they were told that Elvish was not needed by Noida police at present, and therefore he was not detained and let go. Noida Police further told Rajasthan Police that Elvish Yadav will be called for questioning when it will be required.
The cop also said they didn’t question Elvish around the allegations of selling snake poison, as the case is with not with them. Elvish Yadav was not taken to any police station, and was let go after he was stopped briefly at the checkpoint, the police officer said.
It was reported in the media that his car was stopped near a checkpoint in Rajasthan’s Kota. Subsequently, media reports started claiming that he was detained. The reports further added that he was questioned by the Rajasthan Police in connection with the alleged Snake Venom Case. The media reports, however, added that he was released shortly after getting detained by the Police at a checkpoint in Kota.
It is important to note that these reports have turned out to be fake as Rajasthan Police officials confirmed that they only stopped him during a routine security check in the wake of upcoming assembly elections in the state. When they learned about his identity, they briefly stopped him to ascertain the facts of the alleged snake venom case in Noida which had come to their knowledge and Yadav was linked with the case.
However, after learning the details of the case and being told that he is currently not wanted in the case and not needed by Noida Police at present, he was released.
Earlier on Friday (3rd November), the Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav slammed Maneka Gandhi saying that she should be prepared to tender an apology for the allegations levelled against him. Yadav also denied involvement over allegations of him supplying snake venom at a rave party busted by Noida Police.
However, he issued a clarification saying that all the videos in which he was seen with snakes were 5-6 months old. He pointed out that these were used for shooting songs. It was even claimed in the media that he was trying to escape, but he was arrested. This action was taken by the police of Ramganj Suket police station located in Kota rural. Noida Police were searching for him in connection with the rave party and snake venom intoxication cases.
Yadav is the subject of a First Information Report (FIR) over a rave party that took place in Noida, Sector 51. The Drugs Department, the Forest Department, and the Noida Police jointly busted the event and arrested five people identified as Jaikaran, Rahul, Titunath, Narayan, and Ravinath. Some unmanned individuals are also named in the report.
