Centre approves Rs 1,658 crore recovery, reconstruction plan for Joshimath | India News

NEW DELHI/DEHRADUN: The Centre on Thursday approved a Rs 1,658.17 crore recovery and reconstruction plan for Joshimath in Uttarakhand which was affected by landslide and ground subsidence earlier this year. The decision was taken by a high level committee, headed by union home minister Amit Shah, according to an official statement.
The committee approved the Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) plan of Rs 1,658.17 crore for Joshimath, the statement said.
Under this plan, Rs 1,079.96 crore of central assistance will be provided from the recovery and reconstruction window of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The Uttarakhand government will provide Rs 126.41 crore from its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) towards relief assistance and Rs 451.80 crore from its state budget, including land acquisition cost for resettlement of Rs 91.82 crore.
Joshimath was hit by landslide and ground subsidence and the central government has extended all necessary technical and logistical support to the state, the statement said.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all technical agencies under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were put into action and they helped the state government in preparing the recovery plan for Joshimath expeditiously, it said.
The recovery plan for Joshimath would be implemented in three years, following the best practices, Build Back Better (BBB) principles, and sustainability initiatives.
Thereafter, Joshimath will emerge as an excellent example of ecological sustainability, the statement said.
In January this year, cracks and fissures had appeared on houses and on the ground in Joshimath, which prompted the authorities to evacuate a large number of people especially those living in the worst-hit Sunil, Singdhar and Marwari areas of the town to temporary relief centres.
Scientific and technical institutions studying land subsidence in Joshimath in a report made public in September attributed the crisis to the hill town’s location on a slope over morainic deposits or loose sediments, population pressure, construction of multi-storey buildings and the absence of a system for proper disposal of water coming from the upper reaches.
The institutions which studied the problem from different angles included the Central Building Research Institute, Central Ground Water Board, Geological Survey of India, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, National Institute of Hydrology, National Geophysical Research Institute and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.

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Anticipation builds as Indian diaspora awaits PM Modi's arrival in Dubai | India News

DUBAI: The excitement is palpable among the 3.3 million strong Indian diaspora in the UAE as they eagerly await the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai.
PM Modi on Thursday evening emplaned for Dubai to take part in the World Climate Action Summit in the United Arab Emirates.
PM Modi will address the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit in the United Arab Emirates and participate in the three high-level side events, of which two will be co-hosted by India.
Members of the Indian diaspora expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the upcoming visit. A member of an Indian diaspora said, “The 3.3 million strong diaspora in the UAE is excited to welcome, meet, and greet our PM Narendra Modi. Since his last visit in July, the overwhelming positivity and respect for the Indian diaspora have been truly remarkable. We are grateful to have a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi.”
Rishi Chawlaa resident of Delhi who has been in Dubai for the past 18 years, shared his excitement, mentioning his recent visit to Ahmedabad, Gujarat. “There is tremendous anticipation ahead of powerhouse PM Modi’s visit. We are really looking forward to seeing him,” he said.
Students also expressed their excitement for the opportunity to meet PM Modi. Siddhartha, a student, said, “We are extremely grateful to be here. It is motivational for us to meet PM Modi and to represent the future of the diaspora. His visit brings us all together.”
Sanjay Gagrania native of Madhya Pradesh, shared his joy, saying, “It’s a moment of happiness that PM Modi will land today in Dubai. Under PM Modi’s leadership, India is achieving new heights of success. Moreover, bilateral ties between India and the UAE are reaching unprecedented levels.”
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, the atmosphere is filled with patriotic fervour. Visuals showed a group of women singing, “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Humara”. The surroundings echoed with slogans of “Vande Mataram,” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and resounding chants of “Modi-Modi”.
Ahead of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has always walked the talk when it comes to climate action and added that even during the G20 Presidency, climate was a high priority.
In the UAE, PM Modi will also attend an event related to the Green Credits Initiative and the high-level event co-hosted by India and Sweden.
In his departure statement ahead of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, PM Modi also noted that the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration also included concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development.
The visit of PM Modi to Dubai comes at the invitation of the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“I am travelling to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the COP-28 on December 1, 2023. I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, which has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement.
COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 to December 12 this year.
Delegates from almost 200 nations will be present at the summit, including world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive in Dubai later today.

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Pulkit Samrat: 36yr old Israeli woman found dead in Kerala; police suspect murder | India News

KOLLAM: A 36-year-old Israeli woman was on Thursday found dead at her residence in this southern Kerala district, police said. Police suspect that the woman’s 70-year-old live-in partner killed her and have lodged an FIR under section 302 of the IPC against him.
An officer of Kottiyam police station narrated the statement given by the man, who claims to be a yoga acharya’, that the couple decided to commit suicide and as part of that, the woman slit her throat.
The man claimed that he also stabbed his own neck and later his stomach, police said.
However, the woman had several stab wounds on her body besides the fatal injury to her neck, it said.
The man was also booked under section 309 (suicide attempt) of IPC and is presently hospitalised and under police surveillance, the officer said.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, came to light when the accused’s relative found the couple in their room in an injured state.
As the relative shouted for help, the man, who was still conscious, got up and shut the door, police said.
The door was broken down after police arrived, but by then the woman was dead, the officer said.
The couple were living in the house of the accused’s relative, police said.
The woman had been in Uttarakhand for 15 years and was in Kerala for the last one year, he said.
According to the accused, the woman was depressed and despite yoga lessons from him, she was not feeling better, the officer said.
The accused claimed that he was suffering from psoriasis and did not want to continue to live and hence, the couple decided to end their lives, the police said.
A suicide note was found in the room, but it has not been analysed yet, the offier said.

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10 love-filled moments of Alia-Ranbir

10 love-filled moments of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor

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Animal Review: Ranbir Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga are set to shake up the box office heirarchy |

The clock is finally ticking down to the highly-anticipated release of the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial, ‘Animal‘ starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Scheduled for release on December 1, the action film will premiere nationwide, across 4000 screens.
Ranbir, who has made a name for himself as the desi romantic hero, is set to peal away that image for a transformative bloody, bold and buff role, alongside Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deoland Rashmika Mandanna.The film’s plot revolves around Ranbir’s character, and his unquenchable desire to earn his father’s (Anil Kapoor’s) approval. The major twist in this father-son story begins to take shape when we see this sacred bond begin to fracture and watch as the son becomes consumed with the spirit of vengeance.
The trailer that dropped online early this month gave us a tease of all the violence, bloodshed and gore set to play out on the big screen. Hence, when the CBFC awarded the film with an A – Adults Only certificate, it came as no surprise to the makers or the fans. According to reports, despite the rating, the makers were asked to make a few changes and modifications for its theatrical release.
Director Sandeep announced last week that ‘Animal’ will boast of a runtime of 3 hours and 21 minutes (201 minutes). This is now, not only one of the longest films made in Bollywood but also the longest film in Ranbir’s filmography.
Animal’s box office prospects are generating immense excitement among trade experts and even fans. The film which was off to a flying start with its advance bookings, has already amassed an estimated Rs 20 crore in ticket sales. The great audience response and the buzz around the movie have helped boost box office business. The film is now anticipating a huge Rs 100 crore weekend.
Early box office reports predict that the film will open in Hindi to a staggering collection ranging between Rs 46 crore to Rs 52 crore.
However, it won’t be smooth sailing for the film at the box office at it will have to share business with the Vicky Kaushal starrer, ‘Sam Bahadur‘. The release of the Meghna Gulzar directorial on the same date has reportedly impacted the screen count and its business at large.
The film is a non-holiday release and its clash with another major release makes its advance collection numbers even more remarkable. Reports claim that the demand for tickets is so overwhelming that theatre chains and distributors are considering lowering the count of Kaushal’s films to cater to the growing demand by the audiences.
With unprecedented pre-sales figures and the promise of unheard-of box office success, ‘Animal’ is poised to etch its name in the record books and redefine the boundaries of box office triumph.

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Mumbai court sentences 50-year-old man to life term for raping niece | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: In a significant verdict, a POCSO court in Mumbai has handed down a life sentence to a 50-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting his niece and causing her pregnancy.
The court emphasized the gravity of the man’s actions, stating that the severity of the offense warranted the maximum sentence, and no leniency was deemed appropriate given the nature of the crime.
“The accused is relative of the prosecutrix (survivor) who has committed sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix and repeatedly committed rape on her. Further, he impregnated prosecutrix. The prosecutrix had her abortion and currently she has to reside in the shelter home of CWC (child welfare committee),” PTI quoted the court as saying in its order.
Special Judge TS Bhogte pronounced the man guilty of rape on November 24.
The comprehensive order detailing the judgment was released on Thursday.
The case against the man was filed in July 2017 in this jurisdiction.
According to the prosecution, the survivor hails from Uttar Pradesh, where she had pursued her education until Class 6.
In 2012, she relocated to Mumbai for further studies and resided with her uncle and his family.
The survivor informed the court that over a span of two years, her uncle subjected her to sexual harassment by inappropriately touching her whenever there were no other individuals present in the house.
Following Holi in March 2017, she asserted that her uncle sexually assaulted her and subsequently threatened her, warning against disclosing the incident to anyone.
The man refuted the allegations, contending that his niece was not a minor at the time.
He asserted that their relationship was consensual.
Dismissing his defense, the court stated, “The accused’s relationship with the prosecutrix falls within the prohibited degree of relationship. Given these circumstances, it is unlikely that the prosecutrix (survivor), who is the niece of the accused, willingly engaged in a sexual relationship with him.”
The court placed reliance on medical evidence indicating that the girl was between the ages of 19 and 20.
Furthermore, it asserted that there was a lack of evidence demonstrating that the girl was a minor at the time of the incident.
In convicting the man, the court affirmed that the prosecution successfully demonstrated his involvement in “forceful sexual intercourse,” repeatedly committing rape, and intimidating the survivor to refrain from disclosing the assaults to anyone.
With agency inputs
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault.)

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Manipur CM Biren Singh meets home minister Amit Shah | India News

NEW DELHI: Manipur chief minister N on Thursday met union home minister Amit Shaha day after the central government signed a peace pact with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the northeastern state’s oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community. Singh said he was extremely grateful to Shah for the peace agreement and stressed that the home minister’s leadership and efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation and paving the way for a more peaceful and united future in the Northeast.
“The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri @NBirenSingh called on Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah,” Shah’s office wrote on ‘X’.
Separately, the Manipur chief minister said it was an honour to meet the home minister here.
“I am extremely grateful to him for his commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur and playing an instrumental role in bringing the UNLF to the mainstream through peace talks,” he said.
The central government on Wednesday signed a peace agreement with the UNLF, Manipur’s oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community, under which the rebel group has agreed to renounce violence. The development comes days after the ban on the group under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was extended for five years earlier this month.
Representatives of the UNLF signed the agreement here with senior officials of the union ministry of home affairs and Manipur government, an official spokesperson had said.

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Telangana Assembly Cliffhanger: 64 per cent polling by 5pm, Voters seal the fate of candidates | India News

HYDERABAD: Telangana voters have sealed the fate of contesting candidates in EVMs in a closely fought poll battle between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the opposition Congress in most seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party engaging in a triangular fight in specific constituencies.
While voting trends and exit polls indicate a hung assembly, the counting will be conducted, and results will be declared on December 3.The ruling BRS which campaigned with welfare and development, and the opposition Congress which said ‘Marpu Kavali’ and six guaratnees, expressed confidence in winning the polls with a comfortable majority.
The Polls were peacefully conducted on Thursday, with minor skirmishes and tensions reported. Telangana recorded a 64 percent polling percentage by 5 pm. Indicating urban apathy Hyderabad’s vote percentage was 40 per cent lower than the rest of Telangana. Voters are still waiting in long queues to cast votes, and the voting percentage is likely to increase as those standing can vote until late in the evening.
The 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly polls, the state witnessed a 73.4 percent polling percentage. Election officials concluded operations in 13 assembly constituencies in Maoist-impacted areas at 4pm and shifted the EVM’s to the reception centers and strong rooms.
Political pundits believe that the BJP factor is crucial in several constituencies, which may have helped BRS withstand the rise of the Congress party. Political analyst and former MLC Prof K Nageshwar says, “Though the exit polls indicate a hung assembly, I predict that Congress may scrape through narrowly. There is a polarization of SC, ST voters for Congress. Muslims were divided between Congress and BRS. A certain portion of BC and upper-caste votes went for BJP. While rural areas voted for BRS, the urban areas may have voted for Congress. Farmers and women stood with BRS in sizable numbers. Wherever there is a strong BJP candidate, it has impacted the polls.”
The BC Chief Minister, SC reservation categorization for Madiga, and campaigning by Modi and Shah, among other top leaders, helped BJP to split voters and if it gets more than ten seats, it may turn kingmaker on part with AIMIM which is likely to get 6 to 7 seats. Telangana state intelligence and Central Intelligence Bureau reports indicated a slight edge for BRS in a hung scenario with no magic figure for any party.
Despite a generally peaceful atmosphere, tensions arose in several locations. In Jangaon, BRS and BJP workers clashed. Bodhan in Nizamabad also experienced tension at Vijayamary’s polling booth, where Congress and BRS supporters clashed, requiring police intervention. Khanapur in Ibrahimpatnam saw a scuffle between BRS and Congress activists, heightening tension. Similar incidents were reported from Mulugu, Yakutupura in Hyderabad and Narsapur.
Prominent figures from politics, film, and sports exercised their voting rights for the polls.
CEO Vikas Raj said, “Voting went on peacefully except for minor skirmishes. We hope the polling percentage increases by the time all those standing in queues finish polling. In urban areas, it picked up later in the evening. We are hoping for a better percentage.”
Elections witnessed an unprecedented cash, liquor, and freebies seizure worth Rs 759 crore. Top politicians of the country, including Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul GandhiPriyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and others, have campaigned.

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Koffee With Karan 8: Kajol reveals how her marriage works with Ajay Devgn; says 'I definitely don't believe in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai's 'Pyaar ek baar hota hai' theory. Hindi Movie News

The recent episode of ‘Koffee With Karan 8‘ featured the iconic leading ladies of the 1998 hit film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ Kajol and Rani Mukerji, gracing the ‘Koffee couch.’ Hosted by the film’s director, Karan Johar, the trio delved into their experiences on the sets of the beloved movie, which also starred Shah Rukh Khan.
In a candid moment, Kajol shared her thoughts on love and marriage, the central themes of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.’ During the rapid-fire round, Karan asked Kajol if she believes in the film’s famous dialogue, ‘love happens onceshaadi bhi ek baar hoti hai (You fall in love only once, and you get married once).’ Kajol responded with a firm ‘Bilkul nahi- I definitely don’t believe it.’

Rani Mukerji reveals Karan Johar ‘snatched’ food and ‘hit’ her during the shoot of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’; this is how the filmmaker reacted

Later in the discussion, Kajol opened up about her marriage to Ajay Devgnan actor with a career spanning since 1991.She revealed the need for coordination to spend time together, stating, ‘We have to match our dates.’

Ajay Devgn and Kajol got married in 1999 after dating for a few years and are proud parents to 20-year-old daughter Nysa and son Yug. In a previous interview, Ajay emphasized that love alone isn’t the sole factor for a successful marriage. He shared that It’s sustaining very well. In every marriage, there are moments of highs and lows, and it’s common to encounter disagreements. But everyone has to manage those disagreements.Two minds can’t be alike but then they discuss, and that’s how it works.

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I haven't given up on Tests: Glenn Maxwell | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Thursday said that he hasn’t ‘given up’ on Test cricket yet after putting up a spectacular show at the recently concluded ODI World Cup.
Maxwell, who fired double century against Afghanistan in World Cup and recently cracked a T20I ton against India, remains resolute about his aspirations to play the longest format.
“I haven’t given up on Tests,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald upon his arrival here after being released from the T20I squad.
“I think I’ve just got to be realistic about the timings of the way I’ve been playing my white-ball cricket.”
Having made his Test debut against India in Hyderabad in 2013, the white-ball specialist has only played seven matches in his career and his last appearance was in 2017.
He has a batting average of 26.07 and has taken eight wickets at 42.62.
It remains to be seen if Maxwell is named in their Test squad for the three-match home series against Pakistan beginning at Perth on December 14.
“You play a World Cup and then you don’t play any Shield cricket, you play at the back end of summer in white ball and don’t play any Shield cricket, so it’s just the way it’s gone over the last 10 years of my career really.
“The two runs in the final were pretty cool. I don’t think anything’s going to top that. Even though there were moments during the tournament individually, I think that final… Nothing’s going to top that,” he added.
Matthew Wade, who is leading Australia in the ongoing T20 series against India, backed Maxwell to shine in the longest format of the game.
“I think it is just mentally and a little bit physically, he’s come back from quite a bad injury and 50-over cricket tends to take it out of you,” Wade said of Maxwell’s state of exhaustion after his century in Guwahati.
“He’s ready to go home, and a performance like that maybe didn’t happen if he didn’t know he was getting the opportunity to go home and rest. I’m really happy for him, his hundredth game. He found a way to bring his best and we’re happy he can go home and be with his family.”
(With inputs from PTI)

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Maharashtra: Crop damage from unseasonal rain spreads to 3.9 lakh hectares | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: The crop damage caused by the unseasonal rains over the last few days has climbed to 3.9 lakh hectares, according to preliminary estimates.
The maximum damage has been in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district in Vidarbha where 1.3 lakh hectares of cop has been affected.
The district is known for its high rate of farmer suicides.
The next highest district is Hingoli in Marathwada, where 79,402 hectares of crop has been affected.
In total, the damage is spread over 22 districts. The crops affected include grapes, onions, bananas, wheat, rice, cotton, papaya, vegetables and tur dal.
This is a double whammy for the farmers in the state who are already grappling with the impact of a drought which is spread over 40 talukas. The rains and hailstorms will impact the rabi or winter crop, which had already seen a dip in sowing. The rabi sowing this year is 25 lakh hectares or 45% of the 5-year average. The sowing area of the kharif or monsoon crop is thrice that of rabi.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the administration to prepare panchamanas for the damaged crop and said that the government would provide compensation upto 3 hectares, instead of the earlier 2 hectares.
However, while the crop damage is extensive, it is much lower than that faced by farmers in 2022. The state had faced unseasonal rains, hailstorms and pest attack by snails last year. These calamities damaged crops spread over 67 lakh hectares, data shows. Compensation worth Rs 9,981 crore was expected, of which Rs 8,613 crores has been provided so far.
Earlier this year, between March and September, unseasonal rains affected 16.4 lakh hectares of crop. So far, compensation worth Rs 1,533 crore of the total Rs 1,701 crore has been paid to farmers.
According to the NDRF norms, unirrigated crops are entitled to compensation worth Rs 8,500 per hectare, irrigated crops to Rs 17,000 per hectare and horticulture crops to Rs 22,500 per hectare. The compensation limit according to these norms is 2 hectares.

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Bathinda cadet captain gets Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy, Commandant’s Silver Medal for standing first in order of merit in academics | India News

BATHINDA: Division Cadet Captain Vikram Singh of Bathinda got the Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy and Commandant’s Silver Medal for the cadet standing first in order of merit in academics in arts at the National Defence Academy’s 145th course at Pune on Wednesday. The family is elated over the achievement.
A total of 353 cadets were conferred their degree and course completion certificates from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the convocation of the 145th course of the NDA.
The passing out cadets included 77 cadets in science stream, 87 cadets in computer science and 55 cadets in arts stream. The 137 cadets of Navy and Air Force from the B Tech stream received their three year course completion certificates. The Naval and Air Force cadets will be conferred their degree after completion of one year training at their respective pre-commissioning training academies.

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Newlyweds Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram make their FIRST public appearance at the airport after their mythology-themed wedding in Manipur - See photos | Hindi Movie News

After getting married in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony in Manipurnewlyweds Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram made their first public appearance at the Mumbai airport.
Check out the photos here:

Pic: Yogen Shah

Pic: Yogen Shah
Randeep Hooda looked dashing as ever in his all-white outfit while Lin looked stunning in a red traditional outfit. The newlyweds were seen holding hands and posing for the paparazzi at the airport.Needless to say, they looked absolutely made for each other together.

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram’s wedding took place at the Chumthang Shannapung resort in Imphal following a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony. It was attended by their close friends and family members.

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram get trolled for their wedding outfit; Netizens say ‘Kafan ke ke kaun shaadi karta hai’

In an interview with ANI, Randeep revealed that he and Lin have known each other for a very long time and met when they were in theatre. Revealing the specifics, Lin shared that the two met at Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group known as Motley where Randeep was her senior.

The couple officially revealed their relationship during last year’s Diwali when Randeep posted a picture with her on Instagram. Since then, they’ve been openly affectionate, frequently sharing pictures on special occasions. Upon reaching Imphal, Randeep and Lin sought blessings at Ipudhou Marjing Khubamlen and Shri Shri Govindajee temples ahead of their wedding. Expressing his wish for a joyful married life and peace for Manipur, the actor mentioned that the guest list comprises only himself when asked about the attendance of big celebrities.

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