No Abnormal Rise In Seasonal Flu Cases In Country So Far: Health Ministry

There has been no abnormal rise in cases of seasonal flu in any part of the country as of now, the Union health ministry said on Monday, underlining that it is keeping a close watch on the situation through its Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme network.

Since the detection of the first case of Influenza-A H1N1 in 2009, India every year witnesses two peaks of this seasonal influenza -- one from January to March and other in the post-monsoon season, the ministry said.

"As of now, there has been no abnormal alarming rise in cases of seasonal flu in any part of the country," it stated in a statement.

A near real-time surveillance of cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presenting in outdoor and indoor patient departments of health facilities is undertaken by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through the Indian Council of Medical Research's network of laboratories across the country.

In view of various media reports regarding detection of avian influenza virus in cattle and milk in the US, a video conference under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services was also held on Sunday to review the current situation of seasonal influenza. It was informed by experts that with use of proper hygienic practices such as boiling of milk and proper cooking of meat at adequate temperatures would help prevent the virus transmission from the product (if the virus is present) to the human beings, the statement said.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally.

Young children and the elderly with co-morbidities are the most vulnerable groups in context of seasonal influenza.

The health ministry has provided guidelines on categorisation of patients, treatment protocols and guidelines on ventilatory management to states and Union Territories. The National Centre for Disease Control has also advised state governments for vaccination of healthcare workers dealing with H1N1 cases.

"As of now, the situation is under control and is being monitored by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for seasonal and avian influenza viruses also," the statement said. 

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Drone From Pakistan Recovered In Punjab's Tarn Taran

In a joint operation, troops of Border Security Forces (BSF) and Punjab police recovered a drone adjacent to village Rajoke in Punjab's Tarn Taran District, officials said on Sunday.

BSF Frontier Punjab, in a post on X, said, "On 28th April 2024, based on information by BSF intelligence set up about the presence of a drone in the border area of Tarn Taran district, a joint search operation by BSF troops with Punjab Police was conducted in the suspected area."

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On 28th Apr' 2024, based on information by BSF intelligence set up about presence of a drone in the border area of Tarn Taran district, a joint search operation by BSF troops with… pic.twitter.com/mdcVQPLIas

— BSF PUNJAB FRONTIER (@BSF_Punjab) April 28, 2024

"During the search operation, at about 11:00 am, troops successfully recovered one drone in broken condition from a farming field adjacent to village Rajoke in Tarn Taran District," it said.

"A reliable information and coordinated efforts of BSF and Punjab police resulted in yet another recovery of an illicit drone from across the border," it added.

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Hyderabad Man Who Tried To Kill Ex Girlfriend Jailed For 16 Years In UK

A 25-year-old Indian man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison in London, UK, for attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend. Sriram Ambarla, who is from Hyderabad, pleaded guilty to the charges and received another prison sentence of 12 months for possessing a knife unlawfully in a public place.

In March 2022, Mr Ambarla, then 23-years-old, brutally attacked his ex-girlfriend, a Malayali student, at a biryani restaurant in East Ham. He slashed her throat before stabbing her nine times, leaving her critically injured for almost a month, reported Daily Mail. 

Court proceedings revealed that Mr Ambarla and the victim met while studying engineering in India in 2016. 

Their relationship turned abusive, leading to their split around 2019, with Mr Ambarla resorting to physical violence and threats of self-harm to control the victim. He used to repeatedly show up at her house unexpectedly and would attempt to blackmail her into marriage. 

He regularly tried to order items from the restaurant in which his ex-girlfriend worked to try to get her to his place. 

Mr Ambarla, after many rejections, finally went to the East London restaurant where she worked. The victim revealed that he threatened to kill her if she did not agree to marry him and said she did not want to live by his rules. It was at this point that he took out a knife and launched a frenzied attack, stabbing her repeatedly, even as she fell to the ground. He told the police that he snapped when he overheard her talking about wanting to celebrate the breakup. 

Court reports revealed that moments before his vicious attack on the woman, Mr Ambarla searched online about “what happens if a foreigner murders someone in the UK”, “how easy is it to kill someone with a knife” and “how to kill a human instantly with a knife.”

He was described as “jealous, possessive, and determined” by the judge and was given a lifetime restraining order from ever contacting the woman again. 

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Ukrainian "Grandpa" Heads Artillery Unit Of Elderlies To Fight Russia

Oleksandr Taran's mobile artillery unit isn't officially part of Ukraine's military, but that hasn't stopped his men from destroying Russian targets on their own dime.

"We ... get by thanks to the pension fund," the 68-year-old commander - whose call sign is "Grandpa" - said with a chuckle.

Mr Taran's all-volunteer unit, the Steppe Wolves, is comprised of dozens of Ukrainian men mostly over 60 years old who are considered too old to be drafted but still want to fight.

Roving behind the front line with truck-mounted rocket launchers, they take orders from field commanders and work with other troops, contributing to the war effort despite lacking official support from the military.

The unit is funded by donations and stocked with faulty rounds they repair themselves as well as weapons captured from the enemy. Both are delivered to them by front-line troops.

When Reuters recently visited their base in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, they were preparing 122mm Grad rocket rounds that were later fired by troops from another unit.

"The commanders that provide us with targets are happy," said a 63-year-old fighter with the call sign "Zorro".

"They give us more targets (and) help us with ammunition however they can."

Taran, the commander, said his unit has been attempting to officially join Ukraine's armed forces to directly receive ammunition - and salaries - but has been unsuccessful.

The unit also includes younger men who have been ruled unfit to fight.

Willing and Able

More than two years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's mobilisation effort is struggling amid flagging enthusiasm.

Russian troops have been advancing in the east, and analysts say Ukraine's shortage of manpower needs to be addressed.

Some prominent Ukrainian and foreign supporters of the war effort have urged Zelenskiy to significantly reduce the mobilisation age.

Earlier this month, Zelenskiy approved new measures allowing the military to call up more troops and tighten punishment for evasion. He also reduced the mobilisation age from 27 to 25.

Mr Taran, who has been fighting since Moscow launched its war in 2014, said coercion would be unlikely to replace genuine enthusiasm from a potential recruit.

"Beat him with a stick if you want, but he won't fight," he said. "If a person wants to, he can go on for 100 years to fulfil his tasks and destroy the enemy."
 

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"No Evidence Whether Rahul Gandhi Would Be Effective Leader": Top Economist

Noted economist Surjit Bhalla believes that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's leadership qualities remain doubtful due to several past instances where he failed to take effective decisions.

"Leadership is a very big thing. There is no evidence regarding Rahul Gandhi whether he would be an effective leader or not. In 2013, he tore the ordinance of his own government in front of everyone. Leaders do not do that," Surjit Bhalla, a former member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, told IANS in an interview.

Surjit Bhalla says that unlike before 2014, the elections are now based on merit.

"Who is the face of the opposition at this time? I don't see anyone. There are 50 faces in the opposition. PM Modi is one face of the BJP. This is another reason why BJP will do well," says the former Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Surjit Bhalla favours conducting an income distribution survey, but only after the elections get over.

"No income distribution survey has ever been conducted in India. I think it should be. Whenever people ask me, I say definitely do it and if you do it after the elections, then it will be a very good thing. This is a matter of ideology. We should see what the data says and make decisions accordingly," he told IANS.

The renowned writer and columnist also expressed his opinion on Congress leader Sam Pitroda's statement on inheritance tax.

"See, there are 50 states in America, out of which inheritance tax is applicable in six. The rest of the states have not implemented this either. The rate quoted by Pitroda as 50 per cent is also wrong as it is only 20 per cent. America is a rich country. It is not necessary that we will also do what the US is doing. It will be discussed when we become a developed country," Surjit Bhalla said.

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"Will Leave No Stone Unturned": Manipur Security Adviser After Militants Kill 2 CRPF Soldiers

Manipur security adviser Kuldiep Singh today warned the group responsible for the attack on a camp of security forces in Bishnupur district, which led to the deaths of two CRPF personnel and injuries to two others.

"Whoever has committed this act will face severe consequences. We are mobilising all necessary resources and agencies to identify and apprehend the perpetrators," Mr Singh told reporters.

"The militants came and fired at the IRB (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in Moirang police station area in the early hours of Saturday. Though it was dark, the forces retaliated. Out of the four injured, two succumbed to injuries," Mr Singh said.

"These forces have come from distant places to maintain peace in this region," Mr Singh said.

"Starting today, we have instructed all security forces, including Assam Rifles and the army, to intensify operations. We are formulating strategies for day-to-day operations. We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

Reacting to a recent IED (improvised explosive device) explosion that damaged a bridge in Kangpokpi district, Mr Singh expressed concern over attacks on national infrastructure and central forces.

"I have seen that groups are now targeting national infrastructure such as roads and bridges. They are also attacking central forces. This cannot be tolerated. We will probe everything and take action against the culprits," he said.

Expressing surprise at the attack on security forces, Mr Singh said, "We did not anticipate such assaults, especially considering that both Meitei and Kuki militants have historically refrained from targeting forces engaged in maintaining peace."

"We have always strived to maintain neutrality between both communities. In the past, both communities have welcomed the presence of central forces, so why attack neutral forces now?" he added.

The CRPF soldiers who died in action were identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar, a resident of Assam's Kokrajhar district, and head constable Arup Saini, a resident of Bankura district in West Bengal.

The injured are inspector Jadav Das and constable Aftab Das, police said, adding they have splinter wounds.

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Mumbai Court Rejects Petition Seeking DNA Test Of BJP Candidate Ravi Kishan

A civil court in Mumbai on Friday rejected the interim plea of a 25-year-old woman seeking a DNA test on BJP's Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan to prove her claim that the actor-politician is her biological father.

Shinova had filed a suit before a civil court here urging it to declare that she is the biological daughter of Kishan born out of his relationship with Aparna Soni.

The suit, filed through advocate Ashok Sarogi and Jay Yadav, as an interim measure had also sought DNA test to prove the woman's claim that Kishan is her father.

However, the court on Friday refused to grant any interim relief. It then issued summons to the respondents, seeking their response on the main suit of the woman.

The matter will be next heard on July 23.

The woman, in her suit, said Soni came across various people belonging to the film fraternity, including Ravi Kishan, in her capacity as a journalist.

As per the plea, Soni and Kishan entered into a relationship and got married in 1991, though they could not reside together for long due to some personal problems.

Shinova, in the plea, said she was born on October 19, 1998, by which time it had come to light that Kishan was already married.

Considering these facts, it seems Kishan and Soni decided among themselves that their child would call the actor 'uncle', the plea said, adding that the duo took necessary care of her.

However, recently when Shinova and Soni visited the BJP leader to offer best wishes for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he misbehaved and refused to meet them, the plea alleged.

Following this, they held a press conference to tell the public about the rights of Shinova in her capacity as the biological daughter of Kishan, the plea said.

Nothing incriminating was mentioned in the press conference, despite which Kishan's wife Shukla filed an FIR against them, Shinova said in the plea.

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RBI Issues Alert Against Prepaid Payment Instruments By Illegal Entities

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday cautioned the public against Prepaid Payment Instruments issued by unauthorised entities.

"Members of public are urged to exercise utmost caution while using websites/ applications, and parting with their money to any such unauthorised entity," the RBI said. Members of the public should verify and satisfy themselves that the website/ application used or the entity they are dealing with is authorised to carry out the activity it performs, it said.

The list of authorised payment system providers/ authorised payment system operators is displayed on RBI website.

The RBI has issued a red alert against TalkCharge Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a company having its registered office at Sohna Road, Sector 48, Gurgaon in Haryana which is issuing Prepaid Payment Instruments (Wallets) through its website and app without obtaining the required authorisation from RBI.

It has come to the notice of the Reserve Bank that the entity has issued a legal notice to its customers demanding the return of Cashback, failing which the matter will be reported to the RBI.

Thus, the entity has created an impression in the minds of its customers that demand for repayment of cashback amount is being made as per the directions of the RBI. The RBI clarified that it has only directed TalkCharge Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to refund the prepaid amount lying in the wallets, to the customers.

The entity was issued directions dated April 2, 2024, to stop issuance and operation of its Prepaid Payment Instruments or Wallets and refund the balances held in the wallets within 15 days, which was later extended on the entity's request to 45 days to May 17.

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Hockey Ex Captain Prabodh Tirkey Joins BJP Days After He Quit Congress

Former Indian hockey captain Prabodh Tirkey on Thursday joined the BJP, days after resigning from the Congress which withdrew his election nomination.

Mr Tirkey was fielded by the Congress in the Talsara assembly seat in Sundergarh district, but the party later withdrew his nomination and named Devendra Bhitaria in his place.

He was welcomed to the BJP by its state president Manmohan Samal. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra and Bolangir MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo were also present on the occasion.

Mr Tirkey joined the BJP on a day Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to kick-start the party's campaign for the twin polls.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Ajoy Kumar said the party withdrew his candidature because he was not active in the constituency despite being named as a candidate.

"Tirkey is a gentleman, but he was not active in his constituency," he said.

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Salman Khan Leads Celeb Roll Call At Brother-In-Law Aayush Sharma's Ruslaan Screening

It was a star-studded night on Thursday as some of the biggest stars of Bollywood assembled under one roof to attend the screening of Ruslaan. At the screening, the film's lead actor Aayush Sharma was seen posing with his brother-in-law and superstar Salman Khan. The Tiger star was seen attending the screening in a pink shirt and jeans. He also posed with Aayush and his nephew Ahil on the red carpet. The other Khan brothers Arbaaz and Sohail were also spotted at the screening. While Arbaaz was seen arriving solo for the screening, Sohail was spotted with his younger son Yohan.

Take a look at some pictures from the night:

The other attendees at the screening included Tusshar Kapoor, Zaheer Iqbal, Abbas–Mustan, Vidya Malvade among others.

Here are some pictures from the night:

An inside picture from the screening was also shared by Salman Khan on his Instagram feed. In the picture shared, he can be seen posing with his sister Arpita, Ruslaan star Aayush, nephew Ahil and niece Ayat.

A few days back, Aayush Sharma opened up on the journey behind his physical transformation in the film. Talking about his fitness regime, the actor said: "This is what happens when the director says we shoot the bare-body fight in 25 days. It's supposed to be in Azerbaijan, and we shoot at -6 degrees. Abs, which are cinematically important in reality, are the muscles that can betray you very soon. It takes time to come, a slight oversight, and your tummy is back out. Though it's not healthy to constantly be in a six-pack condition, I try my best to stay in shape. Contrary to popular opinion, maintaining the shoot condition throughout the year is neither healthy nor advised."

Produced by Sri Sathya Sai Arts, and directed by Karan L Butani, the film is set to release on April 26.

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2 Men Pose As Officials, Dupe Men Of Rs 50,000 In Delhi, Arrested: Cops

Delhi Police has arrested two men who allegedly impersonated as RTO officials and duped a person of Rs 50,000 on the pretext of providing duplicate NOC of his vehicle, officials said on Wednesday.

The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Mishra and Sarvesh Kumar Sharma, they said.

According to police, a person reported at South Cyber police station that on April 11, he sent a request to the RTO, Sarai Kale Khan, requesting to issue a duplicate NOC of his vehicle.

"Subsequently on April 15, he received a call from an unknown person who impersonated as a working clerk in RTO at Janakpuri and told him that he can help him," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan said.

The officer further said the accused duped Rs 7,500 from him as NOC cancellation fees. After some time, the complainant received another call from another person who impersonated as RTO inspector and defrauded the complainant of Rs 43,300 on the pretext of issuing duplicate NOC.

"After taking the money none of them answered the calls of the complainant. An FIR was registered and further investigation was launched," said the DCP.

Police said they checked the bank account of the accused. The police team got to know that the numbers used by the fraudsters were being used in Lucknow and identified one person.

"A raid was conducted at Lucknow and Ajay Mishra was arrested along with Sarvesh Kumar Sharma. During interrogation, the two accused disclosed that they both were jobless. They said they discussed it with co-accused Sumit Mehra who is a friend of Sharma and brother-in-law of Mishra. They planned to dupe innocent people by impersonating themselves as RTO agents," said the DCP.

He said they created a profile on a website in the name of RTO office to cheat people. Efforts are being made to arrest him. 

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Sonali Bendre On Shooting For Bombay Song Humma Humma: "Sundar Master Ji Gave Me 100 Bucks"

Actor Sonali Bendre says she had decided to pack her bags and leave the film industry if she was unable to do a good performance in the song Humma Humma from Mani Ratnam's 1995 movie Bombay.

Bendre, who was barely five films old in the industry, said she was often "slammed" by choreographers for her moves until she got a breakthrough for her stint as the female dancer in the superhit track Humma Humma alongside Prabhu Deva's brother Raju Sundaram.

According to the actor, it was a common perception at the time that one couldn't become a heroine if they didn't know how to dance. The 49-year-old said she wanted to give it a shot as the song was choreographed by the legendary Prabhu Deva.

"I'm not a trained dancer. When I got into movies, I really got slammed by dance directors for my dancing. Badi heroine banne chali hai, dancing nahi aata. So, if you couldn't dance, you couldn't be a heroine. I was going through all of that so whatever time I would get before and after the shoot, I started to train in 'Bollywood dancing', as it's called.

"This was more like, ‘Let's do this'. This is with Prabhu Deva because if I can do it, I have a right to be here and if I can't do it, pack your bags and leave. At that point of time, it was like, ‘(At least) My team would earn their per-day (money)'" Bendre told PTI in an interview here.

The actor, who later went on to feature in '90s hits such as Diljale, Major Saab, Sarfarosh, Zakhm and Hum Saath Saath Hain, said Prabhu Deva's father and choreographer master Mugur Sundar was so impressed by her skills that he gave her a reward of Rs 100.

"The best part was I was dancing with Prabhu Deva's brother Raju and Sundar master ji, their father was (also) on the set. Mani Ratnam sir always did huge long shots, so we did everything in one go. After we did one of the things (shots), Sundar master ji took out 100 bucks and gave it to me and said, ‘You did so well'. I was like, ‘I don't need a certificate from anybody else, I'm here'." Bendre said she was not even part of the main cast of Bombay, which was led by Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala, and yet Humma Humma is remembered as her song.

"It had the actors who were fantastic, they had once-in-a lifetime kind of roles, and those actors were part of the song. Today, when I look back, I feel that I had to be stupid and or really ignorant to do a song like this. This turned into something and became what it became. It's not my film song... and today, it's my song," she added.

The actor is set to reprise her role of Amina Qureshi, editor of Awaz Bharti news channel, in the upcoming second season of ZEE5 series “The Broken News”.

With new voices coming in, she hopes she is offered more "age-appropriate" roles. "Putting it out in the universe," she added.

In cinema, female actors have to still battle patriarchy in terms of work opportunities and Bendre said change is happening but slowly.

“It's a patriarchal society and that's the reality of life and that's the way it works. I'm happy that things are changing slowly, but they are changing from where I've seen it come from.

“Conversations have started. I hope I can do my bit in seeing that this conversation doesn't stop and it just grows. But to expect a 360-degree turn is not realistic and I am a realistic person,” she said.

The actor, whose big-screen outing was 2013's Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobaara, said she has stayed away from films as she didn't want to be stereotyped in glamorous roles.

“It's great to have an image and that brands you and it always puts you out there and you get work. You work hard to make that but there comes a point where that image starts becoming like an anchor and starts pulling you down. No regrets about the image I had, but I had grown (out of it).” Bendre, who is married to producer Goldie Behl, took a break from work after the birth of her son in 2005 and later appeared as a judge on reality TV shows like “India's Got Talent”, India's Best Dramebaaz and television series Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye.

She went on a seven-year hiatus when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and returned to acting with the first season of “The Broken News”, which premiered in 2022. The second chapter of the newsroom drama will premiere on May 3.

“I felt that ‘The Broken News' was the character where I played my age and the moment you play a woman of my age, somehow, they have to be deglamorised... But I didn't want to do that.

“You can be glamorous in certain kinds of clothes. When you look at Amina, she is glamorous in her cottons. And, I was playing my age,” she added.

An adaptation of the popular 2018 British series “Press”, “The Broken News” also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indraneil Sengupta, and Kiran Kumar. It is directed by Vinay Waikul. 

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/sonali-bendre-says-she-almost-packed-bags-and-left-films-before-humma-humma-became-a-hit-5513423#publisher=newsstand

Chinese Woman Diagnosed With 'Love Brain' After Calling Boyfriend 100 Times Daily

An 18-year-old woman in China, identified only as Xiaoyu, has been hospitalised after exhibiting obsessive behaviour towards her boyfriend. Doctors believe she may be suffering from borderline personality disorder, according to The South China Morning Post.

Xiaoyu's behaviour began during her first year of university, according to local reports. She reportedly became overly dependent on her boyfriend, demanding constant communication and updates on his whereabouts. This behaviour caused significant strain on the relationship, leaving the boyfriend feeling stifled.

The situation escalated when Xiaoyu called her boyfriend over 100 times in a single day and he did not answer. She became extremely upset and began damaging household objects. Fearing for her safety, the boyfriend contacted the police.

The officers arrived just as Xiaoyu was threatening to jump from their balcony. She was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, The South China Morning Post reported.

While not a medical term itself, "love brain" is used colloquially to describe this type of obsessive behaviour in romantic relationships. Dr Du Na, a doctor at the hospital where Xiaoyu was treated, explained that borderline personality disorder can sometimes co-occur with other conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Dr Du also suggested that such conditions might be linked to unhealthy childhood attachments.

"He was expected to reply to her messages immediately," Du said.

Du did not disclose the cause of Xiaoyu's illness, but said it often occurred in people who had not had a healthy relationship with their parents during childhood.

While some mild cases may improve with emotional management techniques, Dr Du emphasised that severe cases, like Xiaoyu's, require medical intervention.

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Ayushmann Khurrana Reveals He Broke Up With Tahira Kashyap After Winning Roadies: "Lost My Mind"

Ayushmann Khurrana in a recent interview with Mashable India opened up about the time when he had broken up with his then girlfriend Tahira Kashyap after winner reality show Roadies. Ayushmann Khurrana said, "It is very difficult to deal with fame when you are 16-17. I remember I broke up with my girlfriend then. I was getting a lot of attention for the first time apart from my girlfriend. I lost my mind. I went through that journey when you are in your teens, and you have a gawky image, you are blooming and flowering and becoming a man."

"I was the most popular guy in Chandigarh at that time. So, I broke up with Tahira saying, 'See I am getting a lot of attention, I have to live life now.' But I got back to her in six months and told her 'I can't do this, I can't be a 'f*****'," Ayushmann added.

For the unversed, Ayushmann emerged as the winner of the second season of the adventure reality series Roadies.

Ayushmann Khurrana is known for his roles in hit films like Badhaai Ho, the Dream Girl series, Bala, Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Bareilly Ki Barfi, among others. He has also featured in critically-acclaimed films like Article 15, Gulabo Sitabo, Doctor G, Anek and An Action Hero. The actor received a National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2018 film AndhaDhun. He stepped into the Indian entertainment industry with the reality show Roadies and in 2012, he made his Bollywood debut with Vicky Donor.

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/ayushmann-khurrana-reveals-he-broke-up-with-tahira-kashyap-after-winning-roadies-lost-my-mind-5507633#publisher=newsstand

Wallets, Mobiles Stolen During BJP Candidate's Ramayan Roadshow

A Meerut businessman raised both his hands and chanted the Jai Shri Ram slogan as a BJP roadshow featuring Ramayan stars crossed his shop. The downside: he lost Rs 36,000 as someone from the crowd picked his pocket.

Along with the businessman, Kulbhushan, a dozen people, including some journalists, and a BJP leader were mugged and mobiles were stolen during the roadshow.

"Jai Siyaram my dear ones of Meerut. Today, Sita, Ram and Laxman who acted in Ramayana, will be among you from 3:00 onwards at Nandan Cinema Kailashpuri, New Road, Shastri Nagar, Surajkund, to have your darshan. I will be fulfilled by seeing you all," Arun Govil, of Ramayan fame, BJP's Meerut candidate posted on X.

जय सियाराम मेरे मेरठ के प्रियजनों
आज आपके बीच रामायण में अभिनय करने वाले सीता राम और लक्ष्मण आपके दर्शन करने के लिए आपके बीच 3:00 से नंदन सिनेमा कैलाशपुरी नई सड़क शास्त्री नगर सूरजकुंड पर पहुंचेंगे आप सभी दर्शन से में कृतार्थ हो पाऊंगा आपकी प्रतीक्षा में आपका अरुण गोविल pic.twitter.com/MYW29xkRWt

— Arun Govil (@arungovil12) April 22, 2024

The roadshow featured his other co-stars from the iconic show - Dipika Chikhlia, who played Sita, and Sunil Lahri, who essayed the role of Lakshman.

ऐसे ही मेरठ को नहीं कहा जाता क्रांतिधरा जब यहां से ज्वाला उठाती है तो वह पूरे राष्ट्र में जाती है रामराज्य की ज्वाला जल चुकी है लिए आप भी अपनी आहुति अधिक मतदान कर प्रदान करें pic.twitter.com/EyrcMS3qQr

— Arun Govil (@arungovil12) April 22, 2024

"I was at sitting at my shop. I raised my hands and chanted Jai Shri Ram. There was a big crowd. As I got back and searched my pocket, there was no money. I fainted right there. I lost Rs 36,000," said a crestfallen Kubhushan.

Businessman who lost Rs 36,000 during the roadshow

 Police have detained at least 3 people and are questioning them

An investigation is underway. 
 

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"People Of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Will Demand To Be With India": Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that considering the development taking place in India, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will themselves demand to be with this country.

Mr Singh also said India was taking giant strides in the defence sector, maintaining that the country is fast turning into a defence-equipment exporting nation from that of an importer.

"PoK was, is and will remain ours," Mr Singh said, addressing a rally at Siliguri in Darjeeling constituency, where the BJP has renominated sitting MP Raju Bista.

"The way the country is developing and its economy growing, the people of PoK will themselves demand to be with India," he claimed.

The senior BJP leader said India has attained a stature where no one can browbeat the country.

Mr Singh also asserted that India does not interfere in the matters of others, "but if we are interfered with... you understand what will happen".

India will be among the top three economies in the world in a few years, he added.

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Polling Official, Security Personnel Die Due To Cardiac Arrest During Voting In Arunachal

A polling official and a constable of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) died due to cardiac arrest during simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Arunachal Pradesh on April 19, a top poll official said.

Three others have been admitted to hospitals after suffering heart attacks, he said.

Polling Officer Changdam Yangchang, deployed at Balupothar polling station in Bordumsa in Changlang district, died while being taken to a hospital after suffering a heart attack during polling, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain told reporters here on Saturday.

Passang Dondup, a constable in the fourth IRBn, died at Tamen in Kamle district while on naka duty, he said.

Three other polling personnel also suffered cardiac arrest and have been hospitalised.

S K Paul, a presiding officer deployed in Upper Siang district, suffered a heart attack during polling and was admitted to a hospital in Dibrugarh in Assam, the CEO said adding that his condition is stable.

"Dinesh Kumar Panda, a central police force personnel from Odisha, who was deployed in Kurung Kumey district on election duty, also suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), where he is in ventilation," Sain said.

The CEO said that Kesang Goiba, a returning officer of Rumgong in Siang district, also suffered a heart attack and is presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in East Siang district.

"An amount of Rs 15 lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased, while others will be paid as per the prescribed norms of the Election Commission," Sain said.

Polling for simultaneous elections to two Lok Sabha seats and 50 assembly constituencies in the northeastern state was held on Friday. The ruling BJP has already won 10 seats in the 60-member assembly unopposed.

The CEO added that the state recorded 76.44 per cent polling for assembly polls, while the turnout in the Lok Sabha polls to East and West seats were 76.37 per cent and 70.11 per cent respectively.

The CEO said that re-polling is likely to be held in five polling stations, including four in Upper Subansiri and one in Kurung Kumey district. 

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"Whole World Has Seen...": PM Modi's Praise For Mohammed Shami In UP Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised Team India pacer Mohammed Shami during an election rally here. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "The whole world has seen the amazing feat that bhai Mohammed Shami did in the Cricket World Cup. The central government has given Arjuna Award to bhai Mohammed Shami for his excellent performance in sports." "Yogi ji's government has moved two steps forward. Yogi ji is also building a stadium for the youth here. I congratulate the people of Amroha very much for this," PM Modi said.

Shami had grabbed seven wickets in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai. He is currently ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) owing to a left ankle injury.

The prime minister also praised the 'dholak' (a musical instrument) of Amroha.

Situated on the banks of Mother Ganga, this land has witnessed the footprints of Lord Shri Krishna, PM Modi said.

"This is the land of brave people like Raja Gaj Singh and Thakur Jairam Singh. I have been given dholak, another identity of Amroha and the beat of the dholak here resonates far and wide. Due to the efforts of our Yogi ji, the BJP government has given the GI tag to Amroha's dholak and given it an identity in the entire world," PM Modi said.

Voting in the second phase will take place on April 26 and it will cover eight parliamentary constituencies of Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambuddh Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh and Mathura.

In Amroha, the main electoral contest is between Kanwar Singh Tanwar of the BJP and Kunwar Danish Ali of the Congress. BSP's Mujahid Husain is also in the poll fray. There are a total of 12 candidates contesting from Amroha. 

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Man Harasses Woman, Tries To Kill Her In Mumbai Shopping Centre Washroom

A man was arrested for allegedly molesting and attempting to kill a 35-year-old woman lawyer inside the washroom of a shopping centre in south Mumbai, a police official said on Friday.

The incident occurred at 8 am on Thursday in Ashoka Shopping Centre on Lokmantya Tilak Marg, where the victim has her office, the official said.

"At around 7:30 am, she went to the common toilet at the shopping centre. When she found a 21-year-old man inside, she asked him to leave. The accused behaved as if he was leaving, after which she entered the washroom," he said.

"When she came out, she found the man standing at the door. He had locked the main door of the toilet from inside. He molested her and then tried to kill her even as she cried for help. The victim managed to escape after kicking him in the stomach," the official said.

After Azad Maidan police station was alerted, the accused, identified as Ramashankar Gautam alias Sandeep Pandey, was apprehended, he said.

"He works as a security guard in a nearby office. We have charged him with an attempt to murder, wrongful restraint, assault and other offences. He has been remanded in police custody till April 23," the official said. 

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Israel Bombs Gaza As West Sanctions Iran Drones Over Attack

Israel launched more deadly strikes on besieged Gaza on Thursday as Western governments unveiled sweeping sanctions against Iran's military drone programme in response to the country's unprecedented attack on its arch-enemy Israel.

World powers have been watching nervously since Israel vowed to retaliate against Iran for the weekend assault, with fears soaring that escalating tit-for-tat attacks could push the region towards wider war.

Further stoking tensions, Iran warned on Thursday that if Israel struck Iranian atomic sites during its expected retaliation, Tehran would in turn target Israeli "nuclear facilities".

And more than six months into the bloodiest-ever Gaza war, the Israeli army said it had bombed dozens of targets in the territory, as Qatar said efforts to broker a truce have stalled.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to destroy Hamas over its October 7 attack that started the war, has stressed that Israel "reserves the right to protect itself" against Iran.

The Islamic Republic last weekend carried out its first-ever attack to directly target its regional foe but Israel, backed by its allies, intercepted most of the 300 missiles and drones and suffered no deaths.

Iran's attack was retaliation for an April 1 air strike, widely blamed on Israel, which levelled its consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards.

'Middle East on a precipice' 

The international community has urged de-escalation since Iran's attack, which came after months of violence involving Israel and Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

"The Middle East is on a precipice," UN chief Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday. 

"One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable --- a full-scale regional conflict that would be devastating for all involved," he told the UN Security Council.

The United States, Israel's top ally and military supplier, has made clear it won't join any Israeli attack on Iran, instead unveiling new sanctions on Thursday against the country's military drone programme.

"We are holding Iran accountable," US President Joe Biden said, adding that he had discussed ramping up economic pressure on Tehran with other leaders at a G7 meeting in Capri, Italy.

The US sanctions target 16 people and two entities involved in producing the drones used in Iran's attack, as well as companies providing parts to the country's steel industry. 

Washington added that the United Kingdom would impose sanctions on Iran's drone and missile programme, which was also the target of promised sanctions announced by the European Union on Wednesday.

Israel has yet to reveal how or when it will carry out its promised retaliation against Iran.

US broadcaster ABC News, citing three unnamed Israeli sources, reported that Israel had "prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week".

Among the range of possible responses considered by Israel were an attack on Iranian proxies in the region or a cyberattack, the sources told ABC.

A high-ranking Iranian general warned Israel against attacking Iran's nuclear sites.

If this did happen, then "the nuclear facilities of the regime will be targeted and operated upon with advanced weaponry," said Ahmad Haghtalab, the head of Iran's Nuclear Protection and Security Corps.

However, Tehran has also sought to calm tensions through indirect diplomatic channels with its other major adversary, the United States.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in New York for a UN meeting, said Iran had "tried to tell the United States clearly" that it is "not looking for the expansion of tension in the region".

Focus turns away from Gaza  

Israel has faced growing global opposition to the relentless war that has reduced vast areas of Gaza to rubble, while its 2.4 million people have suffered under an Israeli siege that has blocked most water, food, medicines and other vital supplies.

Guterres said Israel's offensive had created a "humanitarian hellscape" for civilians trapped in Gaza. He said that Israel had made "limited progress" on allowing more aid into the territory, calling for more to be done.

Yet Iran's attack on Israel "is succeeding in taking the focus, particularly the media spotlight, off of the Gaza famine and the Gaza war," Roxane Farmanfarmaian, a Middle East and North Africa specialist at Cambridge University, told AFP.

The war started after Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The militants also took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,970 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

UN Security Council vote 

Gaza's civil defence said Thursday it had recovered 11 more bodies in the southern city of Khan Yunis during the night.

Also bombed by Israel was the far-southern city of Rafah, where Gaza rescue teams recovered the corpses of eight family members, including five children and two women, from a single house, the civil defence service said.

A separate strike hit Rafah overnight, killing at least 10 people, relatives and neighbours told AFP as they searched for the remains of victims.

"All of a sudden, a missile hit them," said neighbour Abdeljabbar al-Arja, who spoke of finding the arms and feet of women and children.

"This is horrifying, it's not normal," he said. "The entire world is complicit."

Talks toward a ceasefire have stalled, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, despite months of effort also involving US and Egyptian mediators.

Qatar is undertaking "a complete re-evaluation of its role" as mediator because the country had been targeted by "point-scoring" by politicians, he said.

The UN Security Council was expected to vote soon on the Palestinians' bid to become a full member state of the United Nations.

However, the veto-wielding United States has repeatedly expressed opposition to such a move.

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Complaining About Spouse To Employer Using Derogatory Terms Cruelty: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court ruled that making derogatory complaints to the spouse's employer with intent to harm professional reputation and financial well-being amounts to cruelty.

A bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, while dissolving the marriage between a couple, stated that making such complaints demonstrates a lack of mutual respect and goodwill, which is crucial for a healthy marriage.

The appellant husband challenged a family court order refusing to grant him a divorce, saying he endured severe mental torture and anguish in the relationship. He alleged that the wife sent complaints to his employer intending to embarrass and humiliate him in front of his colleagues.

"Whether the complaints were false or true, irrespective of this fact, making derogatory complaints to the employer of a spouse, with intent to harm the professional reputation and financial well-being, is nothing but cruelty," observed the bench, also comprising Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, in an order passed earlier this month.

"Making such complaints demonstrates a lack of mutual respect and goodwill, which is crucial for a healthy marriage, and merely by stating that such complaints were made after the parties have separated, in no manner absolves a spouse from the guilt of committing cruelty," stated the court.

The marriage between the parties was solemnized in January 2011 according to Hindu rites and ceremonies and the two parties have been living separately since September 2011.

In the order, the court considered the husband's allegation that the wife sent a message using defamatory language for her father-in-law and opined that it showed a lack of respect and consideration within the relationship.

It said the wife's conduct leads to the inevitable conclusion that her behaviour caused serious concern in the husband's mind, disturbing his mental peace and making it untenable for the parties to sustain their marital relationship.

"The respondent's admission to sending a message containing derogatory language towards the appellant's father and filing of complaints with his employer can be considered as cruelty. Such incidents create an atmosphere of tension and instability within the marital relationship, causing emotional harm to both parties involved," the court stated.

Further, the prolonged litigations between the spouses undermine the potential for amicable resolution as it exacerbates animosity and impedes their ability to move forward constructively, added the court.

The persistent engagement in litigation - including over guardianship of their son and allegations of domestic violence - over an extended period can be viewed as a form of cruelty, spanning over a decade, can be construed as cruelty, it said.

"The respondent (wife) has lived for a short span of less than even one year with the appellant and has deliberately chosen to stay away with his parents and son of the parties, thereby depriving the appellant of marital bliss and fatherhood," it remarked.

The court also said that filing a petition for the restitution of conjugal rights by the wife and then not pursuing it was a deliberate attempt to delay the divorce proceedings, causing further harassment to the husband.

"The present appeal is accordingly allowed and the appellant is granted a divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955," the court said.

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"If Anything Happens To My Wife...": Ex Pak PM Imran Khan Warns Army Chief

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday alleged that Army chief General Asim Munir was directly responsible for the imprisonment of his wife Bushra Bibi.

Bushra Bibi, 49, was convicted in a corruption case as well as in the case of illegal marriage with Mr Khan, 71, and is currently held in detention at their Bani Gala residence in the suburbs of Islamabad.

The PTI leader in a conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail where he is currently incarcerated hurled allegations on the army chief, according to a long post uploaded on Mr Khan's official X account.

"General Asim Munir is directly involved in the sentence awarded to my wife," Mr Khan said, adding that the judge who convicted her said that he was forced to make the decision.

"If anything happens to my wife, I will not leave Asim Munir, I will not leave Asim Munir as long as I am alive. I will expose his unconstitutional and illegal steps," he threatened.

Mr Khan said there was a law of the jungle in the country and all was being done by the "king of the jungle". "If the king of the jungle wants, all the cases of Nawaz Sharif are forgiven, and when he wants, we are punished in three cases in five days," he alleged.

Mr Khan also said that the economy would stabilise not through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans but by investment. "Due to the law of the jungle, there will be no investment in the country. It is good that Saudi Arabia is coming but investment will come once there is rule of law in the country," he said.

He also referred to the recent reported clash between police and army in Bahawalnagar area of Punjab and said that the "police were thrashed" by violating the law, but the IG (inspector general police) and Viceroy, who oppressed our people, apologised from those who had thrashed the police.

Mr Khan said the Viceroy said after the incident that "they (police) are our brothers". He went on to say that "such treatment is done to slaves and not to brothers" because those having power thrashed the police and also forced to apologise.

He also said that PTI was being stopped from contesting in the by-elections. "At this time, standing in front of oppression is Jihad. Our workers have to protect each vote, guard the vote," the former premier said.

So far the army has not responded to the serious allegations.

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"Congratulate All Security Personnel": Amit Shah On Big Op Against Maoists

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday congratulated security forces for the successful operation against Maoists in Chhattisgarh and said the Modi government is determined to free the country from the scourge.

Mr Shah said that due to the offensive policy of the government and the efforts of security forces, Maoism has been confined to a small area now and soon Chhattisgarh and the entire country will be completely Maoist-free.

"Today, a large number of Naxalites have been killed in the operation of security forces in Chhattisgarh. I congratulate all the security personnel who made this operation successful with their bravery and wish for the speedy recovery of the brave policemen who have been injured," Mr Shah wrote on 'X' in Hindi.

आज छत्तीसगढ़ में सुरक्षा बलों के ऑपरेशन में बड़ी संख्या में नक्सली मारे गये हैं। इस ऑपरेशन को अपनी जाँबाज़ी से सफल बनाने वाले सभी सुरक्षाकर्मियों को बधाई देता हूँ और जो वीर पुलिसकर्मी घायल हुए हैं, उनके शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ।

नक्सलवाद विकास, शांति और युवाओं के…

— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 16, 2024

The home minister said it is the biggest enemy of development, peace and the bright future of youth.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism," he said.

At least 29 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Tuesday, police officials said.

Three security personnel suffered injuries in the fierce gun-battle and a large quantity of weapons was also seized from the spot, they said.

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2-Month-Old Child, Found On Rail Tracks In Delhi, Reunited With Parents

The Delhi Police has reunited a two-month-old child found abandoned on the tracks near the Shakur Basti Railway Station here with his family members, officials said on Monday.

The couple had lost their child while they were travelling from Gwalior to their home in Agra via Delhi, they added.

The infant was reunited with his family after adopting the due procedure of law, they said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) K P S Malhotra said the infant was found abandoned on the railway tracks on April 9.

An FIR was lodged under Section 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years, by parent or person taking care) and an investigation was taken up, Malhotra said.

There was no CCTV camera in the area where the child was left abandoned, the officer said, adding that the spot was also inspected by the crime and forensic teams to find clues regarding the infant.

"The team investigating the matter shared pictures and other details of the infant with all DCPs, SSPs across the country and all SHOs of Delhi through social media," the DCP said, adding that information was also uploaded on ZIP Net.

During the investigation, various child centres were also checked to confirm whether any query had been made by any person regarding the infant and follow-up was taken daily.

"Our team was contacted by one Anil Kumar Rajavat from Agra who informed that he had seen the photographs and details of the infant circulating on a WhatsApp group," the DCP said.

Mr Rajavat told the police that he was the father of the infant. On April 13, he came to Delhi with his wife and confirmed that the infant was their son after meeting him, the officer said.

The man said the child got lost in the crowd at a railway station here when they were travelling from Gwalior to Agra.

After due process of law, the infant was handed over to the parents, he added. 

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Ex Google Executive Reveals How Sikhs Are Mistaken For Bengalis In Malaysia, Explains Reason

Parminder Singh, former Managing Director of Google and Twitter, recently took to X, to share an interesting observation about ethnicity. In a tweet posted on April 14, Parminder Singh noted how Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis in Malaysia. Not just Bengalis, everyone from North India are essentially referred to as Bengalis in the country. Mr Singh also shared a detailed historical reason behind this confusion. 

The Ex-Google MD said that he got to know about this during a recent meditation retreat in Malaysia from fellow Malay Indians. 

''British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the Calcutta port, the majority of whom were Sikhs recruited for army, police, and security jobs. To the Malay people, everyone who didn't come from Madras, essentially everyone from North India, was a Bengali,'' he explained. 

''In a lighter vein, some of them insisted on calling me Parry Dada (the Bengali term for elder brother). I suppose this is the opposite of how many of us North Indians tend to label everyone from the South as "Madrasis", Mr Singh added. 

See the tweet here: 

In Malaysia, Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis! I recently learned this fact and the fascinating history behind it. British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the…

— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) April 14, 2024

Internet users were also fascinated with the observation and shared stories of how their cultures and ethnicities were perceived by people of different nationalities. 

One user wrote, ''That is so amusing. Reminds me of what a salwar-kurta/kameez is called in Odisha. It is called, believe it or not, Punjabi!!! Imagine telling the shopkeeper there "Show me colourful Punjabis".

Another commented, ''Yea all over the world we are undersrood differently as per their own perception, based on lack of knowledge but in reality we the Sikhs carry values of of each one of those. We are like a VIBGYOR of the world communities and hence all names are acceptable.''

A third stated, ''Interesting. In East Africa, Sikhs are called Kala Singha. An earliest immigrant Sikh was one Kala Singh and Indians with beard and similar turban like Kala Singh got the same name tag.''

A fourth added, ''This is why colloquially many south Asians used to refer to every white person as “Angrez” (Angrez means English, not French/German/Scottish etc). And it's the reason the name for Sind/Hind/Indus became a mistaken label for all South Asians - Panjab Sind Gujarat Maratha.''

A fifth said, ''This was fascinating - thanks for sharing. We have family married into Sikhs and can't wait to spring this.''

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Coming Soon, An Online Educational Platform For Poor By Super 30 Founder Anand Kumar

Expanding of his pioneering Super 30 initiative, noted mathematician Anand Kumar has said that he would soon launch a new online platform to take education to the doorsteps of the poor and underprivileged students in India.

Mr Kumar, in his speech at the 2024 Kellogg India Business Conference on the theme "Reimagining India: Shaping the Global Economic Landscape, said that the time has come to tap into the available technology to reach out to more students.

"Time has come to embrace the available technology to reach out to more and more students. Super 30 helped the poor to change their lives and many of the students who were successful did bring about a generational shift due to the power of education," said Mr Kumar at the event organized by the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

"A new online educational platform will be launched soon to take education to the doorsteps of the poor," he said.

Maintaining that the disruption caused by the pandemic taught him a lot, Mr Kumar said he was connected through social media with students stuck in home, underlining how one could learn a lot from adversities.

"The world is full of talented people. Even in the present scenario, there are so many children hidden from the eyes of the world due to poverty. They have ability to become Newton and Ramanujan but perhaps their talent gets lost due to a lack of opportunity. My online initiative is aimed at giving them the platform to excel," he added.

आज पूरी दुनिया में मशहूर #Chicago अमेरिका स्थित @KelloggSchool में मेरे स्पीच के दरमियान तालियों की लगातार गड़गड़ाहट ने मुझे बहुत उत्साहित किया | मैंने लोगों को अपने अनुभव के आधार पर समझाने का प्रयास किया कि तमाम मुश्किलों और प्रलोभनों के बावजूद अपने उद्देश्य से कभी भटकना नहीं… pic.twitter.com/C6I6V0kSxj

— Anand Kumar (@teacheranand) April 14, 2024

Mr Kumar said it has been his dream to see every underprivileged student educated. "The poorest also deserve quality education. Time has come to move out of the labs to get a feel of poverty in nations and villages, where people don't even get electricity, clean water and proper food. Now the time has come and technology is also there to connect with the poor irrespective of region," he said.

The best use of technology, said Mr Kumar, would be to ensure that opportunities must reach the have-nots, as this was the responsibility of the society.

"I am not a big personality, just an ordinary teacher but today, I am telling you from the core of my heart on the basis of my feelings, and my experiences if you have keen desire for certain goal and you continue hard work, you will achieve it. It is possible that it will take a longer time. More time than you thought. But success will come definitely," Mr Kumar said.

(With PTI inputs)

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Parties From These Nations Accept BJP Invite To Witness Its Poll Campaign

Diplomats posted in the country and 25 political parties across the globe have been invited by the ruling BJP to come and witness first-hand the party's campaign for the all-important Lok Sabha polls.

India starts voting in a seven-phase general election on April 19. Votes will be counted on June 4.

Confirmations to witness BJP campaign have come from 15 countries, which includes Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and some African countries.

"For the first time in the history of electoral politics of the country, BJP has invited various political parties across the globe to come to India and have a first-hand experience of BJP's campaign. We have invited more than 25 political parties and there's confirmation from 15 of them, mostly in the neighbourhood but also in some far-east Asian countries as well as from African countries," says Vijay Chauthaiwale, who leads the BJP's foreign affairs department.

Unemployment and inflation are the main concerns of Indian voters but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong leadership and India's rising global stature will likely help his re-election bid, says The Hindu newspaper citing Lokniti-CSDS survey.

"Entire idea is to show the breadth and depth of BJP campaign that has resulted in the success of party in consecutive elections, be it assembly of Lok Sabha. We are looking forward to welcome them to India. They will be going to various parts of the country and we will show them various facets of BJP campaign," says Mr Chauthaiwale, who was part of PM Modi's 2014 election war room.

"In addition, we will also will be taking various diplomats in India from various countries and again we will show them BJP campaign. We had done this in past during assembly elections. But it will be first time for the Lok Sabha polls," he adds.

PM Modi's BJP, which is aiming to win a third term, won 303 of 543 seats in the 2019 general elections.

The BJP's push faces serious headwinds in the south. Holding repeated rallies across the south, PM Modi has sought to win new voters, offering his "topmost respect" to the south's Tamil culture and language.

In the last polls, the BJP won just over a fifth of seats -- 29 out of 129 -- across the five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

In wooing the south, the BJP hopes to wrest the credentials of being a truly pan-India party from its already humbled rival, the opposition Congress Party.

PM Modi's image, bolstered by India's presidency of the G20 last year, has rested widely on his claims of steering the country into becoming one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

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This Italian Town Uses Giant Mirror To Bring Back Winter Sun

Viganella, a small village nestled in a valley on the Italian-Swiss border, faces a peculiar problem. Surrounded by mountains, the town is plunged into darkness for three months every year, from November to February.

This lack of sunlight has led to a dwindling population, with many residents seeking sunnier climes. In 1999, in an attempt to reverse this trend, then-mayor Franco Midali proposed a bold solution: a giant mirror to reflect sunlight down into the town square, according to Vice News.

Architect Giacomo Bonzani took on the challenge and, with the help of engineer Gianni Ferrari, designed an eight-metre-wide, five-metre-tall mirror. Installed in 2006, the mirror is programmed to track the sun's path, reflecting sunlight for six hours a day.

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A post shared by Johannes Weigel (@lostwordspoet)

While not as strong as direct sunlight, the reflected light warms the square and provides much-needed natural light to homes. The mirror is only used during the winter months and remains covered for the rest of the year.

The project has not only brought practical benefits but also garnered international attention. Silvia Camporesi, a multimedia artist, visited Viganella in 2020 and documented the mirror.

"The idea behind the project doesn't have a scientific basis, but a human one," former mayor Midali said in a 2008 interview. "It comes from a desire to let people socialise in winter when the town shuts down due to the cold and the dark."

Viganella's success story has inspired similar projects elsewhere. In 2013, a similar mirror was installed in Rjukan, located in a valley in south-central Norway, after a group of engineers came to Viganella to study the mirror on site.

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Congress Fields Vikramaditya Singh Against Kangana Ranaut In Himachal

The Congress on Saturday announced a list of 16 more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and fielded former Union minister Manish Tewari from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency.

The party also pitted Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh against BJP candidate and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut in the state's Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

Vikramaditya Singh is the son of the Congress' Himachal Pradesh unit chief Pratibha Singh.

The candidates were announced during a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee here on Saturday evening.

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Meet Megha Engineering Founder, Farmer's Son Who Lives In A 'Diamond House'

Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd, which has emerged as the second-biggest buyer of electoral bonds and is the subject of a bribery case filed by the CBI, is owned by a billionaire who is the fifth child of a farmer from Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district.

Refusing to let his humble beginnings prevent him from sowing the seeds of what would become a behemoth valued at Rs 67,500 crore, Pamireddy Pitchi Reddy himself commands a personal net worth of $2.3 billion (approximately Rs 19,230 crore), according to Forbes. He also now lives in a house in Hyderabad which is shaped like a diamond.

PP Reddy started the company with a capital of just Rs 5 lakh from a shed at Balanagar in Hyderabad under the name of Megha Engineering Enterprises and built pipes for municipalities. His nephew, PV Krishna Reddy, joined the company two years later and the two men slowly branched out into building roads and taking up small infrastructure projects, eventually changing the company's name to Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) in 2006.

With the elder Reddy as the chairman of the company and the nephew as the managing director, MEIL started making a name for itself in a crowded industry filled with competitors with deep pockets, and went on to become one of India's top-performing unlisted companies.

The company slowly began taking up major projects like highways and power plants and then expanded to over 20 states and multiple countries, including Bangladesh and Kuwait. 

One of the company's most talked-about projects is the construction of the Zojila tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass in Kargil. The cost of the project is around Rs 25,000 crore.

Other key contracts include the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project in Telangana and the construction of the Bandra-Kurla Complex Station for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, which is being carried out in collaboration with another company.  

PP Reddy now lives in a house built to look like a diamond in Hyderabad, which is now one of the city's landmarks. He also has a golf course in his farmhouse. 

MEIL had bought electoral bonds worth Rs 966 crore and emerged as the second-biggest buyer after Future Gaming, owned by 'Lottery King' Santiago Martin. 

The CBI has registered a bribery case against the company and some government officials. The eight officials are accused of receiving a bribe of Rs 78 lakh in exchange for clearing MEIL's bills of Rs 174 crore related to the Jagdalpur integrated steel plant in Chhattisgarh. 

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After 5 Years With Congress, Former MP Manvendra Singh Rejoins BJP

Former BJP MP Manvendra Singh, son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, returned to the party on Friday following a five-year stint with the Congress.

Mr Singh, who had switched to Congress in October 2018, joined the BJP ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Barmer. He also shared the stage with other leaders of the BJP during the PM's rally.

"Today I rejoined the BJP family and party workers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi at Adarsh Stadium in Barmer. We are all committed to realising the public welfare policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the resolution of 'Vikshit Bharat'," he said in a Facebook post.

Mr Singh was elected as the BJP MLA from Barmer's Sheo assembly constituency in December 2013.

When the BJP denied a ticket to Jaswant Singh, who then contested the Lok Sabha election as an independent and lost, Manvendra Singh turned rebel and campaigned against the party's candidate in support of his father.

Manvendra Singh was suspended from the party ahead of the 2018 assembly elections.

He joined the Congress, which gave him a ticket for the Jhalrapatan assembly seat against the then-chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He lost the election.

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Study Reveals Hidden Mechanism In Asthma Attacks, Offering Hope For Prevention

Scientists at King's College London have discovered a new mechanism behind asthma attacks that could lead to entirely new preventative treatments. The study, involving researchers from the US, UK, and Spain, found that airway constriction during an attack damages cells in the lining, triggering inflammation and mucus production.

The new study, published in the journal Science, sheds light on why asthma episodes can last for weeks or months, even after the initial attack subsides. The damaged cells continue to cause problems, putting people at risk of further attacks.

The research team also identified a promising compound that prevents this cell damage in mice. While human trials are needed to ensure safety, this finding suggests a whole new approach to preventing asthma attacks, not just managing them.

Asthma is a chronic condition affecting 300 million people worldwide. Common triggers include allergens, exercise, and cold air. Symptoms can range from mild wheezing to life-threatening shortness of breath. This new research offers hope for a future with fewer and less severe asthma attacks.

Professor Jody Rosenblatt from the School of Basic and Medical Biosciences said, "Our discovery is the culmination of more than ten years of work. As cell biologists who watch processes, we could see that the physical constriction of an asthma attack causes widespread destruction of the airway barrier. Without this barrier, asthma sufferers are far more likely to experience long-term inflammation, wound healing, and infections that cause more attacks. By understanding this fundamental mechanism, we are now in a better position to prevent all these events."

As per a statement by King's College London, despite the disease's commonality, the causes of asthma are still not understood. Current medications treat the consequences of an asthma attack by opening the airways, calming inflammation, and breaking up the sticky mucus that clogs the airway, which helps control asthma but does not prevent it.

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British Man Grows Cannabis On Terrace In Goa Home, Arrested

A British national, Jason, was arrested in Goa today for growing cannabis in his house. After receiving a tip, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raided his house in Socorro, Goa. During the search, 33 newly grown cannabis plants, 10 grams Ganja and Rs 40,000 cash were recovered from his house.

The accused, Jason, had grown cannabis plants in flower pots among other plants on his terrace. 

This was not the first incident of Jason being arrested by the NCB. Earlier, in November 2022, he was arrested after seizure of a variety of narcotics such as - 107 ecstasy tablets, 40 grams MDMA powder & 55 grams charas.

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Portugal's Catholic Church To Compensate Victims Of Child Sexual Abuse

Portugal's Catholic Church said on Thursday it will financially compensate victims of child sexual abuse within the Church, setting the amounts to be paid on a case-by-case basis, an approach survivors' groups have criticised.

Members of Portugal's Bishops' Conference (CEP) have been meeting since Monday at the Shrine of Fatima in central Portugal to discuss the compensation, among other issues.

A report in February 2023 by a Church-funded Portuguese commission found that at least 4,815 minors had been sexually abused by clergy - mostly priests - over seven decades.

The report's authors said their findings were the "tip of the iceberg", and commission head Pedro Strecht added that more than 100 priests suspected of child sexual abuse remained active in Church roles.

The following month, the Church announced a handful of steps to tackle child sexual abuse, but it was heavily criticised for not adopting tougher measures.

CEP head Bishop Jose Ornelas said the organisation's assembly unanimously approved the granting of compensation, with requests to be filed from June to December this year. Twenty-one people have already requested compensation.

A committee will then determine the amount to be given to each victim and a newly created CEP fund will be used to make the payments, Ornelas said.

The criteria for deciding the amounts is still being worked on, Ornelas said, explaining that no maximum amount has been set and the gravity of cases would be taken into consideration.

Antonio Grosso, co-founder of church sexual abuse survivors' group Coracao Silenciado (Silenced Heart), pointed a finger at CEP's case-by-case approach.

"I don't know what measuring tape they will use to evaluate people's suffering, people who will have to tell their stories again to see if they deserve more or less cents," he told Reuters, arguing all victims should receive the same.

Grosso also said CEP should be proactive and reach out to the victims directly instead of waiting for them to request compensation.

"By waiting for requests, CEP is showing a passive attitude," Grosso said. "We are not beggars."

Sexual abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic Church in a number of other countries, including the United States, Ireland and France.

In neighbouring Spain, the Church said in November it would compensate victims of sexual abuse even in cases that have not been concluded because the offending priest has died, in a shift from its previous position on the matter.

Ornelas said compensation would also be given to Portuguese victims accusing priests who are now dead.

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Sweden's Earliest "Summer" On Record As Temperatures Cross 10 Degree Mark

Sweden has posted its earliest ever start to what it considers to be "summer", with three southern towns posting average temperatures above 10 degrees C (50F) for five straight days, the country's meteorological service said Thursday.

"A Swedish weather record was broken on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Each day from April 6th to 10th, the average daily temperature was at least 10 degrees at SMHI's stations in Malmo, Kristianstad and Karlshamn," SMHI said on its website.

"The condition was thereby met for meteorological summer at these three stations," it said.

"This is the earliest arrival date for summer ever observed in Sweden, with statistics that date back to the end of the 1800s," it added.

The previous record was set in 1906 when summer was officially recorded as arriving on April 10th.

"Inevitably, as global warming progresses, the likelihood of summer arriving ever earlier increases," SMHI said.

Despite the official arrival of summer, balmy weather was expected to elude much of Sweden through next week, with temperatures forecast to remain in the single digits.

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3 Sons, 2 Grandchildren Of Hamas Chief Killed In Israeli Airstrike On Car

Three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Wednesday, the Palestinian Islamist group and Haniyeh's family said.

The three sons - Hazem, Amir and Mohammad - were killed after the car they were driving in was bombed in Gaza's Al-Shati camp, Hamas said. Two of Haniyeh's grandchildren were also killed in the attack and a third was wounded, Hamas media said.

"Our demands are clear and specific and we will not make concessions on them. The enemy will be delusional if it thinks that targeting my sons, at the climax of the negotiations and before the movement sends its response, will push Hamas to change its position," Haniyeh told pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV.

"The blood of my sons is not dearer than the blood of our people," said Haniyeh, who is based abroad in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar.

Haniyeh has been the tough-talking face of Hamas' international diplomacy as war with Israel has raged back in the Gaza Strip, where his family home was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike back in November.

Hamas said on Tuesday it was studying an Israeli ceasefire proposal but that it was "intransigent" and did not meet any of the Palestinian demands.

In the seventh month of a war in which Israel's air and ground offensive has devastated Gaza, Hamas wants an end to Israeli military operations and a withdrawal from the enclave, and permission for displaced Palestinians to return home.

Haniyeh's eldest son confirmed in a Facebook post that his three brothers were killed. "Thanks to God who honoured us by the martyrdom of my brothers, Hazem, Amir and Mohammad and their children," wrote Abdel-Salam Haniyeh.

Appointed to the group's top job in 2017, Haniyeh has moved between Turkey and Qatar's capital Doha, avoiding Israeli-imposed travel restrictions in blockaded Gaza and enabling him to act as a negotiator in the latest ceasefire negotiations, or communicate with Hamas' main ally Iran.

Israel regards the entire Hamas leadership as terrorists, accusing Haniyeh and other leaders of continuing to "pull the strings of the Hamas terror organisation".

But how much Haniyeh knew about the Oct. 7 cross-border attack on Israel by Gaza-based operatives beforehand is not clear. The attack plan, drawn up by the Hamas military council in Gaza, was such a closely guarded secret that some Hamas officials abroad seemed shocked by its timing and scale.

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Tamil Nadu Politician, Film Producer R M Veerappan Dies At 98

One of the pioneers of the Dravidian movement and prominent Tamil film producer R M Veerappan died due to age-related ailments at a corporate hospital here on Tuesday, a source at the hospital said.

He was 98. Veerappan had served as a minister in the former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran's Cabinet and was also in the Cabinets of late Chief Ministers: Janaki Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

This Dravidian leader born on September 9, 1926, enjoyed good ties with DMK stalwart and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi too. He launched the MGR Kazhagam party after quitting the AIADMK.

He breathed his last at around 2 pm today.

"I was very shocked and saddened to hear the news of Veerappan's demise. He was one of the pioneers of the Dravidian movement and founder of MGR Kazhagam," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said.

Recalling his visit to Veerappan's residence on September 9 last year to wish him on his 98th birthday, Stalin said "not only in politics but also in the film industry, Veerappan left an indelible mark." It was sad that he could not live a full life to complete 100 years, the Chief Minister added.

Affectionately known as RMV, Veerappan had a close and friendly ties with several leaders including rationalist Periyar Ramasamy, and former Chief Ministers: C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran and M Karunanidhi, Stain said. "He showed me the same love and affection," the CM said.

As a prolific producer, Veerappan ensured several hits in the Tamil film industry. His passion for Tamil made him president of the Chennai Kamban Kazhagam and he left his mark in literature too. In addition, he was also involved in spiritual activities, Stalin said.

"R M Veerappan's death is a loss not only to the political world but also to those in other fields in which he worked, including cinema, literature and spirituality. My deepest condolences and sympathies to his bereaved family, relatives and friends," Stalin said in his message.

Expressing profound sadness over the demise of the leader, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said Veerappan was supportive of M G Ramachandran's efforts in launching the AIADMK.

"He had served as a Minister under late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and had been the party's joint general secretary and a Minister under late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa," he said in a statement here.

"I express my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, relatives and friends," the former Chief Minister said.

AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinarakan too was among those who condoled Veerappan's death.

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8-Year-Old Girl Drowns In Swimming Pool In Hyderabad: Cops

An eight-year-old girl drowned in a swimming pool located in a gated community at Petbasheerabad area here, police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday when the girl's father took her to the swimming pool. After swimming, her father went into a room to change clothes, but did not find his daughter on returning. On searching for her, he found her in the pool, they said.

With the help of some people nearby, the girl was taken out of the swimming pool and shifted to a hospital where the doctors declared her brought dead, police said.

The girl jumped had into the pool and drowned, a police official at Petbasheerabad police station said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is on, police added. 

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Man Poses As Air Force Officer, Extorts Rs 4 Lakh From Woman: Cops

A 36-year-old woman from Nagpur has accused a man of posing as an Indian Air Force official and extorting nearly Rs 4 lakh from her after taking her intimate photos and videos, an official said on Sunday.

Based on a complaint by the woman, the police on Sunday registered a case against accused Shyam Supatkar for rape, extortion and a few more charges under the Indian Penal Code.

The woman told the police that she met the accused, who had created a fake profile in the name of Shyam Verma, on Facebook about four years ago.

The accused claimed he was an Indian Air Force official posted in Gujarat but lived in Nagpur. Both decided to meet eventually.

During the meeting, Supatkar allegedly gave her a sedative-laced drink, knocking her unconscious. He then shot her intimate photos and videos, she said.

Supatkar allegedly threatened to release the woman's photos and videos on social media unless she complied with his demands, the official from Ajni police station said.

The accused took Rs 4 lakh cash and some gold and silver jewellery from her, alleged the woman.

The woman approached the police after learning that the man was not an Air Force official, he said, adding that Supatkar was yet to be arrested.

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