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Showing posts from March, 2023

Ahead Of Arvind Kejriwal's Assam Visit, Himanta Sarma's "Coward" Swipe

Days ahead of the Aam Aadmi Party's mega political conclave in Assam's Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hit out at his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Sarma has challenged Mr Kejriwal to come to Assam and say what he said in the Delhi assembly recently. Mr Kejriwal had reportedly said in the Delhi assembly that there are cases filed against Mr Sarma in other states. "Arvind Kejriwal is a coward who is hiding behind the veil of immunity in Delhi assembly and uttering white lies," Mr Sarma told reporters. "Let him say there's a corruption case pending against me outside the assembly premises and I will sue him in the same manner I did with his colleague Manish Sisodia," the Assam Chief Minister told reporters in Guwahati. Mr Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to attend their first political rally in Assam on April 2. "It's not important where Arvind Kejriwal has said, important is that...

"Should India Be Interested": US NATO Envoy Says Door Open To Region

US NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith, while speaking on NATO and strengthening relationships with South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, virtually said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is ready to engage more with India if it is interested. The Ambassador though stressed that currently there are no plans by the alliance to expand this to a broader global military alliance. "The NATO alliance is open to more engagement should India seek that. NATO currently has 40 different partners around the World and each individual partnership is different. Various countries come to the door seeking different levels of political engagement, sometimes countries are much more interested in working on inter-operability, and standardization questions. So, they vary. But, the message that has already been sent back to India is that NATO alliance is certainly open to more engagement with India, should that country take interest in pursuing that", said Julianne Smith in a virtual press briefing. ...

90 Complaints Of Sexual Abuse At Chennai Arts Academy: Women's Panel Chief

Ninety complaints of sexual abuse and harassment of students at Chennai's Kalakshetra, a prestigious institution for classical arts, were received by the chief of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, she told NDTV on Friday, following a five-hour inquiry on the campus, as students staged protests demanding justice. The complaints include sexual abuse and sexual harassment of female and male students by a faculty member and three repertory artists, AR Kumari told NDTV. "Complaints include sexual abuse of both girls and boys. I met 12 one-on-one, including six via Zoom. Earlier, I addressed all, giving them a sense of confidence to open up. I will give a report to the state government," she said. Asked whether there were attempts by the Kalakshetra Foundation to cover up the issue, she said, "Both the Director and the Deputy Director weren't available. The Principal couldn't give any information." The Kalakshetra Foundation, which runs the instit...

"Religious Sentiments": Indore Temple Allegedly Blocked Civic Body Action

Thirty-six people were killed when a structure at a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Indore collapsed yesterday. The stepwell roof at the Beleshwar Mahadev temple broke due to the sheer weight of the crowds on Ram Navami. A havan was being performed when the incident happened. An NDTV investigation has revealed the tragedy could have been averted had the Indore Municipal Corporation acted on complaints filed by residents. The tragedy hit many families hard, with some losing more than one member. Documents that NDTV accessed clearly show the temple area that collapsed was an illegal structure and the Indore Municipal Corporation had marked the cover of the stepwell for demolition last year. But the municipal body had to back down after the temple trust warned them religious sentiments would be hurt. NDTV has accessed one more letter issued by the then Indore Development Authority (IDA) chief in 1985 - a planning map of the area which has no mention of any temple. The map shows this ar...

Ashok Gehlot's "Cops Should Ask Amit Shah" Retort To "Frame Modi" Comment

Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has dared Home Minister Amit Shah to name the officers of a central agency who the BJP leader alleged had put pressure on him to frame his party colleague and the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a fake encounter case. Mr Gehlot said if the Delhi Police can ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to give details of women in Jammu and Kashmir who have alleged sexual harassment, the same cops can surely ask Mr Shah to give the names of the officers who wanted him to frame Narendra Modi before he became Prime Minister in 2014. During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Mr Gandhi had alleged  "women were still being sexually assaulted" in the Union Territory. After the yatra ended and 45 days later, a Delhi Police team knocked on Mr Gandhi's doors thrice in five days, which the Congress termed unprecedented harassment. The Congress alleged the cops won't do any such thing if BJP leaders gave controversial comments at public even...

Watch: Tamannah Bhatia, Arijit Singh Light Up IPL 2023 Opening Ceremony

Star singer Arijit Singh and well-known actress Tamannah Bhatia thrilled fans with their performances at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 opening ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. The crowd was left spellbound as Arijit performed blockbusters like "Ae Wataan" from the film "Raazi", "Lehda Do" from the movie "83" and "Kesariya" from "Brahmastra". Tamannah also joined the show with a thrilling performance on songs like "Tum Tum" and "Oo Antava" from "Pushpa: The Rise". Rashmika Mandanna was the other star attraction of the event. 𝘿𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧! @tamannaahspeaks sets the stage on 🔥🔥 with her entertaining performance in the #TATAIPL 2023 opening ceremony! pic.twitter.com/w9aNgo3x9C — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2023 Defending champions Gujarat Titans will take on four-time winners Chennai Super Kings in the opening match of IPL 2023. ...

"I Have No...": Union Minister Nitin Gadkari On Quitting Politics

 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday dismissed the claims of getting retired from politics. The senior BJP leader made the statement while referring to a media report. "I have no intention of retiring from politics," the senior BJP leader said while speaking to media in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri. "The media must uphold responsible journalism in their reporting on this matter," he added. Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also conducted an aerial inspection of the construction work of the Mumbai-Goa highway. Industries Minister of Maharashtra Uday Samant was also present on occasion, said a press release on Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Union Minister Gadkari said that the much-awaited construction work of Mumbai-Goa National Highway No 66 would be completed by December 2023 and the road will be open for traffic in January 2024. He further said that the Mumbai-Goa highway has been divided into 10 packages. Out of these, two pac...

"Going To Other Country To Run Down India": Veep's Dig At Rahul Gandhi

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday cautioned against a "virtual intense warfare" on India's integrity by well-orchestrated global machinery and said their narratives are disseminated in such a high decibel that "activities of Goebbels pale into insignificance". Addressing Network 18's Rising India Summit, he also said it was "unfortunate" that "legally sanctified crusade" against corruption is sought to be combated by partisan stance and individual concerns. How can the issue of corruption be seen from political prism, he wondered. His remarks came in the backdrop of allegations by Opposition leaders that the government was targetting them using central investigation agencies. Mr Dhankhar said India is proud of its judicial system. "Where on planet you'll get a Supreme Court which can act with lightening speed and grant relief when someone is accused of defamation? Where will you get a Supreme Court which will sit o...

For Zeenat Aman, Life Would Have Been "Colourless" Without Step-Mom

Zeenat Aman has been trending ever since she made her Instagram debut in February. Now, in her recent post, the veteran actress spoke about the lack of visibility of "older women in the public eye." In her long post, the Amar Akbar Anthony actress shared some stories about how her mother and friends supported her in her life. She also mentioned her stepmother, who doted on her sons. She started her note with these words, "We see very few older women in the public eye. It's not something I thought about when I was young, but now that I myself am silver-haired, I feel their absence. It's a puzzling phenomenon, simply because older women mould, protect and nurture us in so many ways worthy of celebration. There is just no substitute for the wisdom of experience and years."   "My entire life I have known older women who have anchored me. My mother, yes, but others too. My friend Khadija whose generosity towards me was unsurpassed and who, being widowed yo...

YouTuber MrBeast Gives A New Car As 'Tip' To Waitress, Divides Internet

Youtuber MrBeast is getting several reactions to his latest viral video on Instagram, in which he claimed to gift a waitress at a restaurant with a brand-new car wrapped with logos promoting his business ventures. With 139 million subscribers, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is the most-followed YouTuber in the world. He inquired about the largest tip a waitress named Amy had ever received in the 42-second video that was uploaded on Monday, to which she responded that the highest tip she had ever received was $50. Watch the video here:  View this post on Instagram A post shared by MrBeast (@mrbeast) "Has anyone ever tipped a car?" As he handed her the keys to a black Toyota vehicle, Donaldson asked again. MrBeast then asked her that before bringing her to the brand-new car he was going to give her. His chocolate company's Feastables emblem is imprinted on the side of the car. This video received nearly 11 m...

"Right Now There Is Only One": Jonty Rhodes Picks 'World's Best Fielder'

Former South Africa player and star fielder Jonty Rhodes has picked the world's best fielder and it is none other than India's  Ravindra Jadeja . While his all-round abilities with the bat and the bowl are just amazing, Jadeja is a gun fielder and stands out from the crowd in that domain. From pulling off breathtaking catches to effecting some sensational and crucial run-outs in the game, the star all-rounder has impressed one and all with his fielding on the ground. Jadeja rarely has have an off day in that beat. When asked about the top three fielders in world cricket, Rhodes took only one name. "Right now there is only one - Ravindra Jadeja," said the former South Africa star to Times of India in an interview. Meanwhile, Rhodes credited the Indian Premier League for raising the standard of fielding. The mega event started in the year 2008. So far, 15 editions of IPL have taken place and players have shown great level of fielding over the years. From boundary l...

Why Kalyan Jewellers Share Price Is Falling

In 2022, the Indian gems and jewellery industry witnessed an upsurge in demand following a prolonged period of muted sales due to pandemic-induced restrictions. This trend was particularly evident in the gold segment that contributed to the noteworthy performance of the jewellery sector's stocks . One of the beneficiaries was Kalyan Jewellers, with the stock delivering returns of more than 70% in a year. 2022 proved to be an exceptional year for Kalyan Jewellers. The company's revenue grew 26% YoY, the highest in the company's history at Rs 108 billion (bn). It also posted a net profit of Rs 2.2 bn. However, the stock's rising tide changed with the onset of 2023. The company's shares have experienced a decline of over 12% so far this year, with a loss of 6% in just the past two days. Let's find out why Kalyan Jewellers share price is under pressure. Block Deal Highdell Investment, owned by private equity major Warburg Pincus, on Tuesday, divested a 2.3% st...

Assam Congress Files Privilege Notice Against Himanta Sarma

The Congress on Wednesday filed a complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for breach of privilege in the state Assembly for one of his remarks during a debate on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha. The Congress Legislature Party filed the complaint with the Principal Secretary of Assam Assembly, following which Mr Sarma withdrew the comments inside the House. The Congress, however, has not withdrawn the privilege notice yet and demanded an apology from the chief minister instead of a mere withdrawal of the statement. "Today in the House, the Leader of the House Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that he is aware of the discussion held in the ACLP (Assam Congress Legislature Party) room. Further, he has also stated that some Hon'ble Member of the ACLP has informed him about the decision taken in the CLP meeting held on 28th March, 2023," said the complaint letter, which is accessed by PTI. "We the Member of ACLP feel that this is ...

Indian-Origin Ajay Banga Set To Become World Bank Chief Unopposed

Ajay Banga, the US pick to head the World Bank, appears almost certain to become the anti-poverty lender's next president after nominations closed Wednesday with no country publicly proposing an alternative candidate. The former Mastercard Inc. chief executive was tapped by President Joe Biden last month after current president David Malpass announced plans to step down almost a year early. Mr Malpass, nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2019, won the top spot unopposed. The institution's top job has always gone to a US candidate.  While no countries besides the US have announced candidates, World Bank rules allow member nations to make nominations during the window that closed on Wednesday afternoon without making them public. While Mr Banga has built a long career in the private sector, especially in finance and banking, he's highlighted the perspective he could bring to the job from his upbringing and education in India, as well as his commitment to climate...

Mehbooba Mufti's Daughter Moves Court For Passport, Kashmir Police's Reply

Seeking dismissal of the writ petition filed by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter for issuance of a passport, the criminal investigation department wing of police has informed the High Court here that her final verification report was forwarded to the concerned department last month. Iltija,35, sought the intervention of the High Court in February, wherein she stated that her passport was due to expire on January 2 and therefore she had applied for a fresh one in advance on June 8, last year. "The Passport as per the instruction manual is expected to be dispatched within approximately 30 days…the inaction is discriminatory in nature and unconstitutional," she said in her writ petition before the court. She said the passport is required immediately by her as she intends to apply for obtaining a master's degree in sustainable development from outside the country. In his response through the counsel, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), headquarters, CID ...

Supreme Court Clears 5,000 Crores From SEBI-Sahara Fund To Repay Depositors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a plea by the Centre seeking allocation of Rs 5,000 crore out of Rs 24,000 crore deposited by the Sahara group with market regulator Sebi to repay dues of the depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies.  The direction came on an application filed by the Centre in a PIL by a person named Pinak Pani Mohanty, who sought a direction to pay the amount to the depositors who invested in several chit fund companies and Sahara credit firms. A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar noted that the amount was lying in the "Sahara-SEBI Refund Account" unutilised. The top court said the prayer sought in the present application seems to be reasonable and which shall be in the larger public interest and interest of the genuine depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies. "Out of the total amount of Rs. 24,979.67 crore lying in the 'Sahara-SEBI Refund Account', Rs. 5000 crore be transferred to the Central Reg...

PS 2 Trailer: Aishwarya AKA Nandini Is Back To Seek Revenge From Cholas

Finally, the much-awaited trailer of magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan 2 was released on Wednesday. The 3-minute-long trailer, starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi and Trisha Krishnan, offers a sneak peek into the sequel with some breathtaking visuals and action sequence. The trailer starts with the news of Arunmozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Selvan's (played by Jayam Ravi) death. In the next frame, we can see some power-packed action sequences led by Aditha Karikalan (played by Vikram), who has been offered to rule the other half of the Chola Kingdom.  However, it seems Arunmozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Selvan is alive as Kundavai (played by Trisha) questions him about who saved his life, to which he answers, "Nandini". Next, we see Nandini planning to avenge the death of her father as she can be heard saying, "We will destroy the Cholas." Towards the end of the trailer, Nandini, who plays the love interest of Aditha Karikalan, comes face to face him....

Is Rahul Gandhi Victim Of Congress Conspiracy, Asks Minister Anurag Thakur

Why no eminent lawyer of the Congress came to the aid of Rahul Gandhi when he was convicted in a defamation case leading to his disqualification from Parliament, Union Minister Anurag Thakur asked on Tuesday and wondered if it was deliberate and part of a conspiracy within the party. Mr Thakur, addressing the 'Times Network India Digital Fest', also described Gandhi as a "loose cannon" and a "serial offender" who has seven cases of defamation in various courts even after being cautioned by the apex court. The Information and Broadcasting Minister made it clear that neither the government nor the Lok Sabha secretariat had any role to play in the former Congress president's disqualification from the Lok Sabha. Mr Thakur said that according to the Representation of the People Act, Rahul Gandhi stood disqualified the moment he was sentenced to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case. The senior BJP leader wondered why none of the eminent lawye...