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NATIONAL EDITION | Volume 13 • Issue No. 752 December 15 2023 | The Community First - News Update 24X7 | South Asian Views On Global News

US House votes to authorise Biden impeachment inquiry

Page No. 4

US Comedian Kidnapped And Killed In Colombia After Going On A Date With A Woman

Page No. 4

BJP's 2024 Gameplan

Behind Hattrick Of Heartland Surprises Page No. 11

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

USA NEWS

US House votes to authorise Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Raymond Biden impeachment inquiry Captain Holt dies aged 61 HiIndia Newsdesk

Democrats have defended President Joe Biden over what they say is 'an extreme political stunt'

Judge orders pause in Trump election meddling case

The US House of Representatives has voted to formalise its impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

Lawmakers voted along party lines to back a resolution that Republicans say will give them more power to gather evidence and enforce legal demands.

Three Republican-led House committees allege bribery and corruption during Mr Biden's tenure as vice-president.

But they have yet to present evidence of wrongdoing, and Mr Biden says his opponents are "attacking me with lies".

The lower chamber of Congress, which Republicans control by a slim eight-seat margin, approved the inquiry on Wednesday afternoon by a vote of 221 to 212.

Voting to authorise an inquiry is not the same as voting for impeachment, but it advances the likelihood that the House will eventually seek to

"The American people need their leaders in Congress to take action on important priorities for the nation and world," Mr Biden impeach Mr Biden. In a statement, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the chamber "will not prejudge the investigation's outcome" but "the evidentiary record is impossible to ignore". A formal impeachment investigation, that leads to a House vote and a Senate trial, could represent a major headache for the president in the midst of an election year.

But, even if the House ultimately opts to impeach the president, the Democrat-controlled Senate is all but certain to acquit him.

"The American people need their leaders in Congress to take action on important priorities for the nation and world," Mr Biden said in a statement following the vote.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Andre Braugher, the star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street has died aged 61 following a brief illness.

Braugher often portrayed a police officer during his career, performing both in dramatic and comedic roles.

He won two Emmy Awards, from a total 11 nominations across his career, for his roles in Homicide and Thief. Terry Crews, who played Terry Jeffords in Brooklyn NineNine, paid tribute to Braugher's "irreplaceable talent".

Sikh Israel losing global support over American Mayor announces Congressional bid Gaza bombing, Biden says from New Jersey "Israel's security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world," Biden Said

HiIndia Newsdesk

The judge overseeing the federal case accusing Donald Trump of interfering in the 2020 election has ordered that it be temporarily put on hold.

Judge Tanya Chutkan says the pause will allow higher courts to consider an appeal by the former president claiming he is immune from the charges.

She added that the limited gag order against Mr Trump remains in effect.

The 4 March trial date in the case remains in place for now but may need to be moved.

HiIndia Newsdesk

US President Joe Biden has said Israel is starting to lose global support over its "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza.

His comments, made to donors at a fundraising event on Tuesday, marked his strongest criticism yet of Israel's leadership. Mr Biden has offered unwavering public support to the country since Hamas launched its attacks on 7 October. And while he reiterated that Israel could count on US backing, he issued a direct warning to its government.

"Israel's security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the

United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world," he told donors to his 2024 re-election campaign in Washington.

"But they're starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place," he said. Mr Biden, however, added that there was "no question about the need to take on Hamas" and Israel had "every right" to do so. The US leader has faced growing pressure, including from within his own Democratic Party, to rein in Israel's military campaign. His remarks align with his administration's recent approach to the war, with officials urging Israel to "put a premium on human life" and give clearer instructions to allow people to avoid the conflict.

HiIndia Newsdesk

New York: (IANS) Ravi Bhalla, the first Sikh Mayor of Hoboken City in New Jersey, has announced his candidacy from the US state's 8th Congressional district. Bhalla will challenge Representative Rob Menendez Jr, son of Senator Bob Menendez who is facing facing federal corruption charges, in the Democratic primary next year.

If elected, he will be the first turbaned Sikh elected to US Congress.

US Comedian Kidnapped And Killed In Colombia After Going On A Date With A Woman Biden committed to HiIndia Newsdesk

An American comedian and activist was stabbed to death on Monday, December 11, after he was abducted during a trip to Colombia, the New York Post reported.

Tou Ger Xiong, 50, an Asian-American living in Minnesota was on vacation in the South American country when the incident happened. His brother, Eh Xiong, confirmed his death Tuesday morning on Facebook.

"It is with immense sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the discovery of the body of our beloved family member Tou Ger Xiong was a cherished member of our family, and the pain of his loss is indescribable," Mr. Xiong's family wrote in the Facebook statement.

His body was found in the waters of the La Corcovado ravine with multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.

According to Colombian newspaper El Colombiano, Mr Xiong arrived in Medellin, Colombia, on November 29 and planned to spend the holidays in the country. On Sunday, December 10, he decided to meet a woman he met on social media. However, he was attacked and kidnapped by a group of men soon after he met the mystery woman.

The men held him hostage and contacted his family and friends for money.

freeing US hostages in Gaza, families say HiIndia Newsdesk

The families of US hostages held by Hamas say they believe President Joe Biden is doing everything he can to secure the release of their loved ones.

The administration is "completely committed" to getting them home, one relative said after meeting Mr Biden. There are believed to be eight Americans still held in Gaza. The meeting came a day after Mr Biden said Israel is starting to lose global support over its "indiscriminate bombing" of the enclave.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

CoP-28: At UN climate summit, nations Rishi Sunak wins parliament vote on agree to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ Rwanda migrant plan HiIndia Newsdesk

Nearly 200 countries on Wednesday clinched a deal that called for a “transition away from fossil fuels”, the primary reason for the planet’s climate crisis, at the UN climate summit here, a development described as "landmark" by negotiators but criticised by several activists for its lack of clarity.

The words “fossil fuel” became part of the final document of the first Global Stocktake deal, being termed the UAE consensus, at the COP28 for the first time in almost three decades of such negotiations, which called for its transition in a “just and equitable” manner.

Adopted after nearly two weeks of hectic negotiations, it urges countries to accelerate efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power, which is a climbdown after India and China strongly resisted the singling out of coal.

As COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber gavelled through the agreement, the room full of negotiators at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change burst into applause.

Ironically, the decision came at a climate summit that was held in a country which is a global major in terms of

China's debt outlook downgraded as economy slows

HiIndia Newsdesk

United Nations Climate Chief Simon Stiell, from left, COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber and Hana Al-Hashimi, chief COP28 negotiator for the United Arab Emirates, pose for photos at the end of the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit.

producing fossil fuel.

While al-Jaber called the unanimous final decision “comprehensive and historic”, climate experts pointed out that the draft was far too weak compared to what science mandates to save the world and humanity with no real and immediate solution to keep global temperatures within limits.

Israel to continue Gaza war with or without international support, FM says

HiIndia Newsdesk HiIndia Newsdesk

The risks from China's debt pile are mounting as the country grapples with an economic slowdown and property crisis, a leading credit ratings agency has said.

Moody's issued the warning as it cut its outlook on the government's debt to negative, from stable.

The firm is the latest to raise concern about problems facing the world's second-largest economy.

China said it was disappointed by the move, calling the economy resilient.

The country has signalled plans to ramp up stimulus spending, as it battles soaring youth unemployment, weaker global demand hitting its manufacturing industry and deepening woes in the property sector.

Some of the country's largest construction companies are facing insolvency and have stopped building, leaving customers stranded.

Local governments, which have borrowed billions to build infrastructure and relied on land sales to bring in revenue, are also under strain.

The final draft of the Global Stocktake says that fossil fuels need to be replaced with clean energy to reach global net-zero emission by 2050 by tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The text, however, is sketchy on finance.

Israel's foreign minister has said it will continue the war in Gaza "with or without international support".

A ceasefire at this stage of the conflict would be "a gift" to Hamas and allow it to return, Eli Cohen warned.

Israel is facing mounting pressure over the number of Palestinian civilians killed by its military in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis there.

On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

And in his strongest comments yet, US President Joe Biden said Israel was losing support worldwide because of its "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza.

Intense fighting continued in both the north and south of Gaza on Wednesday, while heavy rains worsened conditions for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people who are living in makeshift tents or out in the open.

A senior UN aid official also warned that the Palestinian territory faced a "public health disaster" because of the collapse of its medical system and the spread of infectious diseases in overcrowded shelters.

Israel begins pumping seawater into Hamas' tunnel complex in Gaza

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Israeli military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas' tunnel complex in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday citing unnamed US officials, adding that the process would likely take weeks. Some Biden administration officials have said the process could help destroy the tunnels, where Israel believes the militant group is hiding

hostages, fighters and munitions, the Journal reported. Other officials have expressed concerns the seawater would endanger Gaza's fresh water supply, the newspaper reported.

Israel's military did not immediately provide comment on the report. An Israeli defence ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Joe Biden declined to directly answer a question on the reports, referring only to assertions that there were no hostages in the areas targeted. Responding to a question, Biden said: "With regard to the flooding of the tunnels. I'm not at lib-, well. There (are) assertions being made that ... there's no hostages in any of these tunnels. But I don't know that for a fact."

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency bill to revive his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda avoided defeat in parliament on Tuesday, surviving a rebellion by dozens of his lawmakers that has laid bare his party's deep divisions.

Sunak, who has pinned his reputation on the strategy despite warnings at every stage that it would not work, won the first vote on the plan in the House of Commons by 313 to 269 after a day of last ditch negotiations and drama in parliament.

Statement on Nijjar's killing meant to deter India, says Trudeau

HiIndia Newsdesk

Toronto: (IANS) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that his statement linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was meant to deter India from repeating a similar action in the country. In an interview to Canadian Press, Trudeau said he went ahead with the September 18 revelations in the House of Commons as they were "worried about who could be next or what would happen next" after Nijjar's killing in June this year in British Columbia province.

Former Pak PM Imran Khan's PreArrest Bail Dismissed HiIndia Newsdesk

Islamabad: An accountability court in Islamabad dismissed the pre-arrest bail plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The accountability court's judge Muhammad Bashir announced the reserved verdict on Imran Khan's pre-arrest bail plea in the case.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

INDIA NEWS

Sensex zooms past 70k after US Fed's dovish message

Trinamool's Derek O'Brien Suspended From Rajya Sabha For "Unruly Behaviour" Derek O'Brien had demanded a discussion on Wednesdays' Parliament security breach, in which two men jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha and burst yellow smoke canisters.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) The clear dovish message from the US Federal Reserve has set the stage for a smart Santa Claus rally in the coming days, and this can even trigger a pre-election rally that can take the markets to a series of new highs, says V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

The takeaway from the Fed's message on Wednesday is that the tightening cycle is over and three rate cuts are possible in 2024. The market expects four. The record breaking rally in the Dow will send many indices to new records, he added.

The crash in the US 10-year yield to 4 per cent will trigger large capital flows to India. The main beneficiaries will be the large caps, particularly the fairly valued large caps in banking. IT too is likely to attract buying.

Rijul Maini is Miss India USA 2023

Zofeen Maqsood

An Indian American medical student from Michigan has been crowned Miss India USA 2023.

The pageant was held in New Jersey. Greeshma Bhat of Virginia was the first runner-up and Ishita Pai Raikar of North Carolina was the second runner-up. Sneha Nambiar from Massachusetts was declared as Mrs India USA and Saloni Rammohan from Pennsylvania won the crown for Miss Teen India USA. Maini aspires to be a surgeon and hopes to serve as a role model to women everywhere. She wrote on social media: “I am a third-year medical student in MSUCOM’s class of 2025. This summer, after taking boards, I was able to participate in the Miss India Michigan 2023 pageant. I thought it would be something fun to do before starting hospital rotations,”

New Delhi: Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of this session for "unruly behaviour", as Parliament resumed amid tension over the major security breach in the Lok Sabha last afternoon.

Mr O'Brien had demanded a discussion on the incident, in which two men jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha and burst yellow smoke canisters. An apoplectic Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar named the Bengal politician and directed he leave the House immediately.

"Derek O'Brien is named to leave the House immediately... Derek O'Brien says he will defy the Chair... Derek O'Brien says he will not respect the rules. This is a serious misconduct. This

is a shameful incident," Mr Dhankhar said, ejecting the Trinamool leader for "disorderly conduct".

Despite the warning, Mr O'Brien and other opposition MPs continued to protest, and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah be present in the House to answer for yesterday's incident.

The Rajya Sabha was then adjourned, but before that Mr Dhankhar re-assured MPs a high-level investigation had been opened into the security breach, and

that a police case had been filed.

Earlier today Prime Minister Narendra Modi met senior ministers to discuss the breach; the PM was not in Parliament yesterday as he was attending swearingin ceremonies of the ruling BJP's two new chief ministers - Mohan Yadav in Madhya Pradesh and Vishnu Deo Sai in Chhattisgarh.

At least six people were involved in the smoke scare inside and outside Parliament yesterday; two men popped smoke canisters in the Lok Sabha and a man and a woman did so outside.

All four have been arrested, as have a husband and wife who sheltered them at their Gurgaon home. The four inside have been identified as Sagar Sharma, D Manoranjan, Neelam Devi, and Amol Shinde, while the Gurgaon man has been name as Vicky Sharma. A sixth man is on the run.

Glare on ‘unthinkable’ security breach, A 'Bhagat Singh Fan 18 Months four youths from four states arrested Club', Of Planning Behind Parliament Breach

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Parliament security breach, officials said on Thursday, reports PTI The entry of two youths into the Lok Sabha with smoke-filled canisters was on Wednesday described as an “unthinkable” breach of security that has exposed the glaring gaps in the new Parliament building.

“It is unthinkable how they managed to carry smoke sticks and break into the Lok Sabha despite security checks and scanners inside the building. It is a serious security breach considering that Parliament is

shielded by four layers of security,” an Intelligence Bureau official told. Teams of Delhi police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Parliament Security Service staff are in charge of the complex, he said. The two youths who entered Parliament have been identified as Sagar Sharma, 32, a resident of Lucknow, and D. Manoranjan, 35, who hails from Mysore and holds a bachelor’s degree of engineering in computer science.

The two others who protested at the same time outside the Parliament gate are Neelam Azad from Jind in Haryana and Amol Shinde, 25, from Latur in Maharashtra.

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: The stunning breach in Parliament on Wednesday was a result of at least 18 months of meticulous planning and several meetings among the accused, all of whom hailed from different states but had one common link - a social media page called the 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club', police officials have said. The shocking scenes, which unfolded on the anniversary of the Parliament attack in 2001, saw Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D jumping from the visitors' gallery into the chamber of the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, around 1 pm.

Hindu Americans to light diyas at home to celebrate Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration HiIndia Newsdesk

Hindu Americans are planning to light five diyas in their homes next month to celebrate the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The community has planned a series of events to mark the occasion, including holding car rallies in various cities, live screening of the grand inauguration ceremony, community gathering and watch parties.

"It's a dream come true for all of us.

Never in our life did we think that we would be able to see this day.

That moment has arrived. It's time to celebrate (the inauguration of ) Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," eminent community leader from Chicago Bharat Barai told PTI.

The community has planned a series of events to mark the occasion, including holding car rallies in various cities, live screening of the grand inauguration ceremony, community gathering and watch parties Dr Barai, who is among those invited by the temple authorities to attend the inauguration ceremony on January

22, said a large number of Hindu Americans had participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), which is taking the lead in celebrations here, has launched a website -- https://rammandir2024.org – to facilitate participation of more than 1,000 temples and individuals in these celebrations.

All registered temples will receive prasad from the actual ceremony in India, Amitabh Mittal of the VHPA told PTI. "Arrangements have been made for American Hindus to remotely participate in the ceremony and to become a part of this historic event,” he said.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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DIASPORA NEWS

Indian-American executive sentenced to 24 months in jail for insider trading HiIndia Newsdesk

Amit Bhardwaj violated the trust placed in him by his employer by tipping his associates with valuable, non-public information regarding Lumentum’s planned corporate acquisitions," US Attorney Damian Williams said.

San Francisco: (IANS) An Indianorigin executive was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly a million dollar fine in the US for misappropriating information about impending corporate transactions.

Amit Bhardwaj, 49, former Chief Information Security Officer at Lumentum Holdings, was sentenced last week by US District Judge Gregory H. Woods for committing insider trading based on material, nonpublic information (MNPI) that he misappropriated from his employer.

A resident of San Ramon in California, he previously pleaded guilty to 13 counts relating to the insider trading scheme.

"Amit Bhardwaj violated the trust placed in him by his employer by tipping his associates with valuable, non-public information regarding Lumentum’s planned corporate acquisitions," US Attorney Damian Williams said.

"Today’s sentence should serve as a stark reminder to corporate executives regularly entrusted with confidential business information that if you try to illegally profit from this information,

you will pay a stiff price,” Williams added.

According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings, around December 2020, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was considering acquiring Coherent, Inc. Based on this information, he purchased Coherent stock and call options, then tipped three associates -- his friend Dhirenkumar Patel, another friend, and one of his close family relatives.

As a result, all these individuals traded in Coherent securities.

As per their pact, Patel agreed to pay Bhardwaj 50 per cent of the profits he earned by trading in Coherent based on the MNPI provided by Bhardwaj. When Coherent’s stock

Indian national convicted on multiple counts for visa fraud in US

Indian-origin data scientist wins UK's top rail award

HiIndia Newsdesk

New York, Dec 12 (IANS) A 33-year-old Indian national has been convicted of multiple counts related to visa fraud and conspiracy, following a three-day jury trial in the US state of Pennsylvania.

Vinaykumar Patel was the manager of the Fuel-On convenience store in Lock Haven city, the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced last week.

In June 2019, Patel contacted an associate of his in New Jersey and asked that person to hire someone to stage a robbery at the Fuel-On store.

After the staged robbery occurred, it was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, according to US Attorney Gerard M. Karam. Patel then used the PSP (pre-employment screening program) reports of the robbery to apply for a U-visa. The U-visa is a special visa offered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to non-citizens who are victims of crime and who are cooperative with law enforcement. Patel had no lawful immigration status in the US at the time of the staged robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Patel's case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office.

price increased substantially following the announcement of the Lumentum acquisition, Bhardwaj, Patel and two others, closed their positions in Coherent securities and collectively profited by nearly $900,000.

In October 2021, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was engaged in confidential discussions with Neophotonics Corporation about a potential acquisition. He provided this information to Srinivasa Kakkera, Abbas Saeedi, and Ramesh Chitor, and these individuals all subsequently traded in Neophotonics securities.

In connection with Chitor’s trading, Bhardwaj and Chitor agreed that they would split the profits equally.

ceremony in Birmingham, is intended to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals who are new to rail or who have chosen to take a career change and become an apprentice.

According to Lorna Richardson, Head of Customer Engagement at Alstom, Dhake established collaborative relationships, achieved IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) competence and delivered safety-related works in record time.

"Smital Dhake rapidly applied her Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) expertise and has solely made an enormous impact already in a highly professional manner," Richardson said.

Smital joined the railway specifically Smital Dhake to work on the innovative Modular Advanced Route Setting (M-ARS) HiIndia Newsdesk System.

London: (IANS) An Indian-origin data The UK railway's first M-ARS system scientist has been named 'Newcomer of with machine learning techniques is the Year' in the 2023 RailStaff Awards in applied to use real-time data to predict the UK for displaying "exceptional skill, future events to enable quicker decisiontenacity and professional achievement" making to resolve conflicting train in her field of work. movements and thereby increasing the Maharashtra-born Smital Dhake, 26, efficiency of the railway. who joined the rail industry in July But with no previous rail industry 2022, is the first and only data scientist knowledge, Smital had to undergo at Alstom, the UK and Ireland's leading extensive as well as intensive knowledge supplier of new trains and train services. transfer processes in order to gain a "This award means so much to me. It comprehensive understanding of the will inspire me to keep up the hard rail sector and signalling systems. work, and I hope it also inspires others "Smital achieved these business-critical who are new to the industry. I am objectives in under six months, a task truly grateful for everyone who has which would normally be expected helped me through my journey. I've to take up to three years," Richardson had wonderful mentors, colleagues added. and managers. I am truly honoured," Smital attended Watford Grammar she was quoted as saying in railuk.com. School in England, followed by This award, announced at a recent university at King's College London.

When Neophotonics’s stock price increased substantially following the announcement of the Lumentum acquisition in November 2021, Kakkera, Saeedi, and Chitor closed their positions in Neophotonics securities. They collectively made approximately $4.3 million in realised and unrealised profits. After they were interviewed by the FBI voluntarily and served with federal grand jury subpoenas on March 2022, Bhardwaj took steps to obstruct the federal investigation of their conduct. On the day of the FBI interviews, he drove to the homes of certain of his co-conspirators to encourage them not to tell the federal authorities the truth about their insider trading scheme. Bhardwaj and his associates subsequently met in person on multiple occasions and discussed, among other things, potential false stories that would conceal their insider trading scheme. They also created false documents to buttress lies regarding payments that were, in reality, related to the insider trading scheme.

In addition to the prison sentence, Bhardwaj was ordered to forfeit $547,286 and pay a fine of $975,000.

British-Indian is Conservative parliamentary candidate for Oxford

Vinay Raniga HiIndia Newsdesk

London: (IANS) British-Indian dental surgeon Vinay Raniga has been chosen as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon, a constituency in the South East region of England.

As a NHS dentist, Raniga serves his local community by treating their oral disease and by educating them in prevention. "Public service is an honour and a serious responsibility.

I deliver for my NHS patients; now it's time to deliver for Oxford West & Abingdon," Raniga said, making the announcement on X last week. "I am honoured to be trusted by local residents to fight for the place I live, work and studied in. I look forward to meeting, listening to and serving many more of you," he added. A year after graduating from Barts and the London School of Dentistry in 2018, he worked as a junior head and neck surgeon at Northwick Park Hospital in London.

Halfway through this role, he was redeployed to the Intensive Care Unit due during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a public policy and government affairs consultant for Mydentist -- the largest dental provider of NHS dentistry in the UK -- Raniga's responsibility has been to devise policies to improve access to dental care across the country.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

A

fter nine days of secretive deal-making, the BJP has pulled the trigger three times in as many days, naming Vishnu Deo Sai, Mohan Yadav and Bhajanlal Sharma as the new chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. All three picks were out of left field, but all have been seen as part of the BJP's masterplan to balance caste/class ahead of next year's general election.

For example, in Chhattisgarh - a state where tribal communities form 32 per cent of the population - the BJP has opted for a tribal leader. The party could have also settled on a Chief Minister from an OBC, or Other Backward Class, but a dominant show in tribal-dominated seats made that choice moot.

Over in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP walked a tighter rope and had to factor in two Deputy Chief Ministers, plus the Speaker's chair, to cobble together a leadership structure that (it hopes) will keep various communities, and their political reps, happy and voting saffron through to the 2024 election.

The heartland state now has a Chief Minister from the Yadav community (an OBC), Dalit (Jagdish Devda) and Brahmin (Rajendra Shukla) faces as his deputies, and a Thakur (ex-Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, seen by some as a potential Chief Minister pick too) as the Assembly speaker.

And Rajasthan, where the Brahmin community is around seven per cent of the population, has a Brahmin as its Chief Minister, with Rajput and Dalit deputies in Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa.

That the BJP, or any party, picks chief ministers or ministers with an eye on electorally-important communities is not new. What is significant in these picks, though, is the planning that went into naming Vishnu Deo Sai, Mohan Yadav and Bhajanlal Sharma, and their respective deputies. The point is this - in all three states the BJP's choices are also a nod to the regional spread of communities and castes.

Chhattisgarh

Once it emerged the BJP had won 22 of 26 seats in the state's tribal belt of Surguja and Bastar, the party had little choice but to pick a member of that community as Chief Minister, and so came Mr Sai. The strong showing itself was not a surprise - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sustained outreach in campaigning, including hailing the state's tribal heritage, declaring himself "born to serve" the community and references to President Droupadi Murmu, went a long way to courting those votes.

For the BJP, though, picking Vishnu Deo Sai as the Chief Minister was more than just acknowledging tribal voters. It was, and is, about prepping a cross-border campaign platform for the 2024 election.

Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, two of six states bordering Chhattisgarh, have sizeable tribal numbers - nearly 22 and more than 26 per cent, respectively. In Odisha, another border state and the home state of President Murmu, tribal communities account for over 23 per cent of the population.

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BJP's 2024 Gameplan Behind Hattrick Of Heartland Surprises

paid court so far, the selection of Mr Yadav as the new Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister suggests the BJP is setting its sights on the politically crucial states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which will send a massive 120 MPs to the Lok Sabha next year.

Essentially, if the BJP were to sweep these two states (and assuming it continues to dominate the Hindi heartland), there is realistically little the opposition can do to prevent a third term for Mr Modi.

How might a Yadav as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister play to this? In the central state, the Yadavs account for only six per cent of the overall population. However, they are the largest OBC group in Bihar (over 14 per cent) and are around 10 per cent of the population in UP, for a total of 30 per cent.

A Yadav face as the Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh is a message of empowerment to a community spread across three states that send a combined 149 MPs to Parliament.

It has also been seen as a swipe at Yadavs in the opposition - the Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav in UP and the Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar.

Rajasthan

The point is this - in all three states the BJP's choices are a nod not only to state-centric caste/class arithmetic but also to a regional spread of different communities and castes.

Picking Mr Sai as the Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh allows the BJP to project itself as a tribal-friendly face in these states before the 2024 polls.

These four combined have 75 Lok Sabha seats, of which 20 are reserved for tribal communities that, in dozens more, are a key vote base.

Madhya Pradesh

Across the border too, the BJP has been assiduously tracking tribal votes; that persistence paid dividends in this

election, with the party claiming 24 of 47 Assembly seats reserved for ST candidates.

And the community, less significant within the state's demographic makeup, has been rewarded with a Deputy Chief Minister in Jagdish Devda.

Picking a Brahmin face as the other deputy balances the party's need to keep upper caste voters in the state, which it has dominated since 2003, happy.

So, if tribal communities have been

'People's Princess' Diya Kumari One Of 2 Rajasthan Deputy Chief Ministers

Diya Kumari, one of the frontrunners for the chief minister's post, and scheduled caste leader Prem Chand Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers in Rajasthan.

Diya Kumari is a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family and an MP from Rajsamand, who was asked to contest the Assembly polls from the Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency. She defeated Sitaram Agarwal of the Congress by over 71,000 votes.

The granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Jaipur, Diya Kumari's appeal for votes was made as a "daughter of Jaipur" and the "princess who walks on the streets". The blend of regal heritage and a 'relatable, down-to-earth persona' has made her a popular figure among the people of Rajasthan.

Since joining the BJP in 2013, Diya Kumari has won the three elections she contested. She became an MLA from the Sawai Madhopur constituency in 2013.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, she was elected as an MP from Rajsamand with one of the biggest victory margins of 5.5 lakh votes. She has now won the 2023 Assembly polls from Vidhyadhar Nagar.

The frantic buzz that accompanied the elevation of Mr Sharma - a first-time MLA with no ministerial experience, but links to its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh underlined just how unexpected the appointment was. In fact, in a photo of newly elected BJP MLAs from this morning he was standing, almost hidden, in the third row and oblivious, it seemed, to the looming bombshell.

The obvious pick here was stalwart Vasundhara Raje - a scion of the Scindia royal family, she is a two-time Chief Minister, has enormous sway over local BJP leaders, and is wellliked by the public.

Ms Raje also gave the BJP the chance to select a woman as a Chief Minister - something it still does not have. So, why Mr Sharma? For one, because it allows the party to skip the anti-incumbency factor, for which Rajasthan is notorious. He is a (brand) new face and fits the bill as an upper caste leader.And, as with the other two states, it seems he was picked with a weather eye on next year's election.

Brahmins are not politically influential in Rajasthan. However, the combined figure from neighbouring states makes it a potentially key vote bank to help the BJP corner western and north-western states.

In UP, which shares Rajasthan's northeast border, Brahmins make up nearly 10 per cent of the population - the largest among the 'general category' voters. In Haryana they are an even larger chunk - around 12 per cent. And in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, they are about five per cent each. These states send 145 MPs to the Lok Sabha, of whom 114 are from 'general category' seats. This is sizeable chunk of seats that the BJP cannot afford to ignore even if it were not part of its core vote bank. That, possibly, is why it has doubled down on Brahmin community picks in Rajasthan.

CONTENET COURTSY :

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

POLITICS

Massive security breach in Parliament: 2 persons enter Lok Sabha, lob tear gas shells; caught HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: There was a major security breach during Zero Hour in Parliament at 1.02 pm on Wednesday after two men, both carrying smoke canisters emitting an as yet unidentified yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors' gallery and ran into the Lok Sabha chamber. Incredible footage from the House's CCTV system showed one man, wearing a dark blue

India Supports UN Resolution Calling for Gaza Ceasefire

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says second person was dangling from public gallery of LS, sprayed some kind of "gas" which caused eye irritation shirt, leaping across desks to evade capture, while the second was in the visitors' gallery spraying smoke. Both men were overpowered by MPs and security staff. Lok Sabha resumed at 2 pm, with Speaker Om Birla making a brief statement. "We are investigating the

Mahadev App Promoter Detained In Rohit Sharma Breaks Silence On 2023 ODI Dubai, May Be Deported To India Soon World Cup Heartbreak

HiIndia Newsdesk

United Nations: The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution 'Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations' demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

India voted in favour of the ceasefire resolution in the UNGA's emergency session on the Middle East on Tuesday. As many as 153 nations, including India, voted in favour of the resolution, while 10, including US, Israel and Austria, voted against and 23 countries, including Argentina, Ukraine and Germany abstained from voting.

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: In a big development in the Mahadev betting app case, one of the two main promoters, Ravi Uppal, has been detained by the police in Dubai based on a red corner notice issued by Interpol at the request of the Enforcement Directorate. Uppal was detained last week and sources said he is likely to be deported to India soon.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Mahadev app, which reportedly turned over a profit of ₹ 200 crore a day, had also caused a political stir ahead of the elections in Chhattisgarh in November.

The Enforcement Directorate had claimed that a cash courier, Asim Das, had alleged that the promoters of the app had paid ₹ 508 crore to then Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. When he was produced before a court, however, the courier had said he was being framed as part of a conspiracy and he had never delivered any cash to politicians. The other promoter of the app, Sourabh Chandrakar, whose ₹ 200-crore wedding in Dubai had been attended by several Bollywood celebrities in February, is still on the run and efforts are on to trace him, ED officials said.

HiIndia Newsdesk

In a candid yet emotional chat on Instagram, Rohit admitted that he didn't quite know how to overcome the heartbreak of World Cup final loss, especially considering the way India played until the final. In his own words, the India skipper conceded that he found it hard to move on but decided that he needed to go somewhere to take his mind off.

FBI Chief Briefs New Delhi on Progress announces new in US India Consulate Attack Probe BBC entity launched by

Vishnu Deo Sai Takes Oath As Chhattisgarh CM

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mohan Yadav on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Apart with Yadav, Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla took oath as deputy CMs of the state.

matter and have asked Delhi Police to join the inquiry," he told understandably agitated MPs. "Both have been caught and the materials with them have also been seized. The two people (they have been identified as Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan) outside

Parliament have also been arrested."

Earlier, shocking visuals shared by news agency ANI showed a Lok Sabha official reading to the House seconds before the chaos. Suddenly, shouts of "catch him, catch him" can be heard. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anupriya Patel were present at the time. The two Lok Sabha intruders have been identified as Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan.

New Delhi: Visiting Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI Director Christopher Wray has assured India that the US is probing attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco "aggressively" and would be able to share "credible" leads soon, sources said.

Mr Wray met National Investigation Agency Director Dinkar Gupta on second day of his visit on Tuesday.

In March, a group of Khalistan supporters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate. It was again attacked in July. The NIA team had visited San Francisco in August and returned with some leads.

The meeting between the investigating agency chiefs comes on the heels of Washington's allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

"The NIA chief highlighted how the nexus between terrorist outfits and terrorist elements with members of organised criminal syndicates spreading in the US," a senior official said.

Detailed discussions were also held between both agencies on how to share real time intelligence, so that informed decisions can be taken promptly.

Indian staff to comply with FDI rules HiIndia Newsdesk

The BBC on Tuesday said that four of its employees in India have left the organisation to set up an Indian company wholly owned by Indians to produce content for the platform in compliance with the country’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) law.

The new company, the Collective Newsroom Private Limited, will produce content for the BBC in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi. All content for Indian digital platforms and the Indian YouTube channel in English will be created by the CNPL.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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PM Modi tells BJP MPs not to address him as 'Shri or aadarniya Modi ji'

Rajnath Singh, ML Khattar Part Of BJP Team To Help Pick 3 Chief Ministers HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: The BJP has announced nine observers, including three union ministers, to assist in selecting Chief Ministers for the three states it won on Sunday - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Addressing the meeting, PM, however, chooses to credit 'teamwork' and 'team spirit' for the runaway victory in three heartland states Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told the BJP MPs not to address him as “Shri or aadarniya (respected) Modi ji” and said that it was “teamwork” that had led to victory in the Assembly polls, seeking to ironically stress humility amid a clear effort by the ModiAmit Shah duo to consolidate power using the recent electoral success.

“I am a small ‘karyakarta’ (worker) of the party. The people also think that I am a part of their family.

Don’t add honorifics like Shri and aadarniya as people consider me one among them,” Modi was learnt to have said, addressing a BJP parliamentary party meet, the first after the party swept the three heartland states.

RBI retains repo rate at 6.5 per cent for fifth time in a row

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent for the fifth time in a row as it maintains a tight vigil on inflation.

The rate increase cycle was paused in April after six consecutive rate hikes, aggregating to 250 basis points since May 2022.

Announcing the bi-monthly monetary policy, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. He said the MPC will remain "actively disinflationary". According to him, the growth projection has been raised to 7 per cent for the current financial year from 6.5 per cent earlier. The central bank projected the Consumer Pricebased Inflation (CPI) based retail inflation at 5.4 per cent for the current fiscal.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pandey have been sent to Rajasthan.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pandey have been sent to Rajasthan.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and two senior members of the party's national leadership - National

President K Laxman and National Secretary Asha Lakhra - have been sent to Madhya Pradesh.

Agriculture and Tribal Affairs Minister

'Unknown substance' sprayed in theatres showing Hindi films in Canada

HiIndia Newsdesk

Toronto, Dec 7 (IANS) Movie theatres screening Hindi films at three different locations in Canada had to be evacuated after an "unknown substance" was sprayed in the venues, causing hundreds of attendees to suffer from coughing fits.

Police said on Wednesday that the incidents occurred on Tuesday night at multiplexes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), comprising Toronto, Vaughan and Brampton "Investigators are aware that there were two similar incidents at other movie theatres that same evening, with one

in Brampton and one in Toronto. Our investigators are liaising with our neighbouring police partners about those incidents," the York Regional Police said.

In one of these incidents, which happened in Vaughan at around 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday, emergency services were pressed in and roughly 200 people from the theatre were evacuated after they began coughing.

Investigators with the York Regional Police learned that two male suspects wearing masks and hoods entered the theatre after the movie, "an Indian Hindi-language film" began.

They then walked around and sprayed an unknown, aerosol-based, irritating substance into the air, and fled before police arrived. Police said several patrons were treated for exposure to the unknown substance and no serious injuries were reported.

Arjrun Munda, Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and National General Secretary Dushyant Ku m a r G a u t a m w i l l t r a v e l t o Chhattisgarh.

Canada Implements Stricter Measures For International Students

HiIndia Newsdesk

Ottawa: In a move aimed at enhancing the financial preparedness of international students, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced significant reforms to Canada's study permit requirements, according to an official release.

The changes, set to take effect from January 1, 2024, include a substantial increase in the costof-living financial requirement for study permit applicants.

Indian Motel Manager In US Jailed Ban On Women's Education Cause Of Distance With For Human Trafficking, Forced Labour Public: Taliban The man made sexual overtures to the victim and often threatened to evict her from the room he provided her at the motel, the prosecutors said.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Washington: An Indian motel manager in Georgia has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for trafficking a woman for peonage and slavery, and ordered to pay over USD40,000 in restitution to seven people, officials said.

According to court documents, Shreesh Tiwari, 71, an Indian national and legal US permanent resident, began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020.

Tiwari hired the woman to work as a maid at the motel and provided her with a room. He was aware that the

victim had previously experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

Tiwari promised the victim that he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment and an attorney, it said.

However, instead of following through with his promises, Tiwari monitored the victim's interactions with motel guests and employees and forbade her from speaking to them, federal prosecutors alleged.

He also discouraged the victim from communicating with her family and friends, falsely claiming that they did not care about her, they added.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Kabul: Afghanistan's Talibanappointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has said the main reason people are distanced from the Taliban is the continued ban on women's education, TOLO News reported. TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul.

The Taliban appointed Deputy Foreign Minister while speaking at a graduation ceremony, stressed the importance of reopening schools for girl students beyond grade 6 and said a society without knowledge is "dark".

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

SPORT

BCCI Releases Tender for IPL Title Sponsorship 2024-2028 HiIndia Newsdesk

Mumbai: (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (B CCI) has announced the release of Invitation to Tender for Title Sponsor Rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) Seasons 2024-2028. "The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) invites bids from reputed entities for acquiring the Title Sponsor Rights for the Indian Premier League Seasons 2024-2028," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The detailed terms and conditions governing the tender process including eligibility requirements, process for submissions of bids, rights and obligations, etc. are contained in the

South Africa Beat India By 5 Wickets

‘Invitation to Tender’ (“ITT”) document which will be made available on receipt of payment of a non-refundable fee of INR 5,00,000 (Indian Rupees Five Lakh Only) plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax." The procedure to procure the ITT documents is enlisted in Annexure A to

this notice. The ITT will be available for purchase till January 8, 2024.

"Interested parties are requested to email the details of payment made for the purchase of the ITT to ipltitlesponsor2023. itt@bcci.tv, as per the procedure laid down in Annexure A. It is clarified that the ITT documents shall be shared only upon the confirmation of payment of the non-refundable ITT fee. "Any interested party wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the ITT. However, only those satisfying the eligibility criteria set out in the ITT and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing the ITT does not entitle any person to bid," the statement read.

333 players to go under the hammer for Indian Premier League 2024

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Reeza Hendricks scored a quickfire 49 as South Africa defeated India by five wickets (DLS) in a rain-hit second T20I in Gqeberha. With the win, the Proteas took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series, ahead of the series-decider on Thursday. The first T20I was washed out due to rain in Centurion. Earlier, India were 180/7 in 19.3 before rain came pouring down hard on the field. Rinku Singh was unbeaten on 68 off 39 while Gerald Coetzee was on a hattrick. This comes after South Africa had rocked India with the early wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, respectively.

However, captain Suryakumar Yadav set the tone for a big total with his quickfire fifty.

A total of 23 players, including WorldCup winning Australians, have been slotted in the highest bracket of Rs 2 crore, while 13 players are in the Rs 1.5 crore bracket for the IPL 2024 auction to be held in Dubai on December 19.

The IPL on Tuesday announced its final auction pool, which has been reduced from the original list of 991 players.

The final list now includes 333 players.

Of them, 214 are Indians and 119 are

Rishabh Pant expected to return for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024

What Is BCCI's Net Worth? Report Says Indian Board Is Valued At...

HiIndia Newsdesk

overseas players, including two from associate nations. The total capped players are 116, uncapped players are 215.

A maximum of 77 slots are now available with 30 being slotted for overseas players.

Gujarat Titans have the highest auction purse, Rs 38.15 crore, and Lucknow Super Giants the lowest, Rs 13.15 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders, who have a total purse of Rs 32.7 crore, can pick 12 players, including four foreigners.

The BCCI reportedly has a net worth of USD 2.25 billion, which is 28 times more than that of Cricket Australia.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Rishabh Pant is set to return to action for Delhi Capitals, that too as captain, in IPL 2024. ESPNcricinfo understands that the franchise expects Pant, who missed the 2023 season after suffering serious injuries in a car crash in December 2022, to be fully fit by the end of February. It could not be confirmed, however, if Pant will return as a wicketkeeper-batter, his usual role, or as a specialist batter. But the franchise is understood to be happy to have Pant as captain and batter.

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is by far the richest cricket board in the globe. Taking a major chunk of ICC's overall revenue pool, the Indian board is a driving force in the global cricketing spectrum. But, how rich is the BCCI in comparison to other top boards? A report highlighted the gulf between the top-ranked BCCI and second-placed Cricket Australia, with the Indian board earning as much as 28 times that of its Australian counterpart.

To be precise, the BCCI's net worth is

USD 2.25 billion (INR 18,700 crore).

India is called a ‘cricket-crazy nation' for a reason. The market that cricket has in India, remains unmatched all across the globe. In fact, other countries look forward to hosting India because of the revenue the team brings with it.

While the BCCI is valued at over INR 18,000 crore, Cricket Australia's net worth is INR 660 crore (USD 79 million), as per Cricbuzz. Third in the charts is the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which is valued at USD 59 million, as per the report. The BCCI, in fact, accounts for about 85% of the combined net worth of the top 10 boards, as per the board.

Does Rohit Sharma Pass Yo-Yo Fitness Test?

HiIndia Newsdesk

India's strength and conditioning coach Ankit Kaliyar said that Rohit Sharma is as fit as Virat Kohli even though he looks a little bulky.

"Rohit Sharma is a fit player. He has good fitness. He looks a bit bulky but he always passes the Yo-Yo test.

He is as fit as Virat Kohli. He looks like he is bulky but we have seen him on the field. His agility and mobility is amazing. He is among the fittest cricketers," India's strength and conditioning coach Ankit Kaliyar said in a chat.

The India coach also revealed that Shubman Gill sees Virat Kohli as an inspiration not only from a batter's point of view but also from a fitness perspective.

"Shubman is very fit. Not just fit, he is a very skillful player. There is no doubt that Shubman is inspired by Virat bhai. Be it batting, fitness, or skill, Shubman is following Virat bhai. I am sure Shubman will be doing well for the country in the coming years," he asserted.

Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Mayers turn down West Indies central contracts

HiIndia Newsdesk

Former captains Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, and allrounder Kyle Mayers, have turned down West Indies central contracts for 2023-24. The trio will however be available for T20I series during the year, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement announcing 14 men's contracts and 15 women's contracts. In an age of increasing workloads and T20 franchise leagues providing players options to secure relative financial security, this is not the first instance of key players turning down West Indies contracts; Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle did so as far back as 2010. In a high-profile case more recently, New Zealand's pace spearhead Trent Boult gave up his central contract in August last year.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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BJP picks Vishnu Deo Sai for post of Chhattisgarh CM

SC Upholds Central Government's Decision to Revoke Special Status for Jammu and Kashmir HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

The BJP central leadership on Sunday picked tribal politician and former Union minister Vishnu Deo Sai for the post of Chhattisgarh chief minister, ignoring the claims of the party’s tallest leader in the state, former chief minister Raman Singh.

Raman, a three-term chief minister, may be given the “consolation post” of Speaker of the Assembly, party sources said. They said that Chhattisgarh BJP president Arun Sao (OBC) and Vijay Sharma (Brahmin), both elected as MLAs, will be the two deputy chief ministers.

Centre Bars Gov. Servants from Accepting Monetary Awards

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today upheld the Centre's move to scrap special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ruled that Article 370 was a temporary provision to ease Jammu and Kashmir's merger with India.

The Supreme Court also ordered the Election Commission to hold election in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024.

Jammu and Kashmir did not retain sovereignty when it joined India and its constituent assembly ceased to exist the moment it merged with India, the Supreme Court said, referring to why special status was not needed.

"The J&K constituent assembly was not intended to be a permanent body. It was formed only to frame the Constitution.

The recommendation of the Constituent Assembly was not binding on the President," the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court, however, explained why the state continued to enjoy special

Writing the judgement for himself and Justices Gavai and Surya Kant, CJI Chandrachud said Article 370 of the Constitution was a temporary provision and the President has the power to revoke it status even after its merger with India, despite the state not having "internal sovereignty".

"When the constituent assembly ceased

to exist, the special condition for which Article 370 was introduced also ceased to exist. But the situation in the state remained, and thus the Article continued," the Supreme Court said.

The b ench gave t hre e s ep arate judgments - one authored by Chief Justice Chandrachud on behalf of himself, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sur ya Kant; another concurring judgment by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and a third judgment concurring with the other two by Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Kashmir on High Alert

Despite Ongoing Talks, China Carves Into Before SC Article 370 North Bhutan With Outposts, Villages Verdict; Leaders Under House Arrest

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Centre has directed all ministries and departments to ensure that “government servants” do not accept any awards with a monetary component from private organisations, invoking a 23-year-old rule that it said had remained unheeded. The Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions said in a December 4 office memorandum that government servants may accept awards from any private organisation only after approval from the secretaries of their ministry or department.

13 cr pilgrims visited Kashi Vishwanath Dham in two years HiIndia Newsdesk

Varanasi, Dec 11 (IANS) Nearly 13 crore pilgrims, including 16,000 foreign devotees, have visited the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor in Uttar Pradesh since it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two years ago.

The corridor was inaugurated by PM Modi on December 13, 2021, after its renovation, which was initiated

by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide easy access to the shrine and improve amenities for devotees. KV Dham not only attracted pilgrims from across the globe but also gave a major boost to the hospitality sector.

HiIndia Newsdesk HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: Ongoing border talks between Bhutan and China to formally demarcate their boundary have not prevented Beijing from continuing unsanctioned construction activity in North Bhutan's Jakarlung Valley.

Satellite images of this region, the sharpest to be released so far, suggest that Thimphu may have no option but to accept the fait accompli presented by the Chinese in this area which lies 50 kilometres from Bhutan's Eastern border with Arunachal Pradesh.

"This is a case of China making a claim to an area, based on earlier

Satellite images of this region, the sharpest to be released so far, suggest that Thimphu may have no option but to accept the fait accompli presented by the Chinese in this area. grazing practices by herders, that is very recent and without precedent - and then unilaterally seizing the territory and settling it with villages, military barracks and outposts,'' according to Professor Robert Barnett, an expert on Tibetan history at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London.

After selfie points, UGC issues diktat on PM Narendra Modi’s speech

HiIndia Newsdesk

their students and faculty members to listen to a speech by Narendra Modi on Monday, a week after directing all varsities to set up selfie points with pictures of the Prime Minister.

Modi will speak via videoconferencing at the “Viksit Bharat@2047: Voice of Youth” consultation programme. The universities have been asked to make arrangements for viewing the event from their campuses.

Mehbooba’s daughter Iltija Mufti said they have been placed under house arrest with a posse of policemen deployed at their Khimber residence on the outskirts of the city As the Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Article 370 on Monday, authorities strengthened security arrangements in sensitive parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in summer capital Srinagar and adjoining areas, officials said.

Leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) headed by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed to have been placed under house arrest, while certain restrictions were also placed on Gupkar Road housing the residence of prominent leaders including former chief minister Omar Abdullah. Mehbooba’s daughter Iltija Mufti said they have been placed under house arrest with a posse of policemen deployed at their Khimber residence on the outskirts of the city.

Police, however, neither confirmed nor denied the development which came just a few hours before the expected judgement of the Supreme Court on the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to abrogate controversial Article 370 in August 2019.

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'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' lead at Golden Globe nominations 2024

Los Angeles, Dec 11 (IANS) Margot Robbie-starrer “Barbie” and Cillian Murphy’s “Oppenheimer” lead the nominations at the Golden Globe Awards with nine and eight nominations respectively.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things” have received seven nominations each. Actors Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy and Da'Vine Joy Randolph are among the acting nominees, reports bbc.com.

Among the TV nomination, “Succession” has topped with nine in total, including best TV drama series.

“Only Murders in the Building”, “The Diplomat”, “The Morning Show” and “The Crown” are among other TV shows to be nominated.

Lucknow to host 18-day Bengali drama contest

Lucknow will host the 57th All India Prakash Chandra Ghosh Memorial full length Bengali drama competition which will begin at Bengali Club from December 23. The 18-day event will see teams from New Delhi, Kolkata and other parts of the country. The plays will begin from 7 pm onwards daily and entry will be free.

Plays including – ‘Rabindranath Tagore’s Kabuliwala, Shree Charankamleshu, Bisharjjan and Mahamaya, Vijay Tendulkar’s Kamala and Utpal Dutt Hari Fathebe will be staged during the competition.

Ranbir Kapoor's Film Crosses Rs. 400 Crore Mark

Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal is ruling the box office and how. On day 10, the film, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, minted ₹ 30 crore (across all languages), according to a Sacnilk report. With this, Animal has entered the ₹4oo-crore club at the box office. Its collection stands at ₹ 432.27 crore. In the film, Ranbir plays Ranvijay Singh and Rashmika (Gitanjali) portrays the role of Ranbir's wife. Animal also features Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, Triptii Dimri and Shakti Kapoor.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

I am definitely enjoying my villain era

ENTERTA

Triptii Dimri

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ctress Triptii Dimri is definitely enjoying her villain era courtesy her impactful role in 'Animal' and added she has always been on the good side of things, and for the first time, she was playing a character that was negative. After playing a good girl for years, Triptii gave a smashing performance in shades of grey in 'Animal'. Is she enjoying her shift towards the villainous era, Triptii told IANS: “I am definitely enjoying it.

As an actor, I've always wanted to do different roles. I've always wanted to play characters or be a part of films that are challenging and are out of my comfort zone, and this was exactly like that." “I've always been on the good side of things, and for the first time, I was playing a character that was negative, and it was beautiful to explore her world and explore Zoya," she added. The actress recalled the conversation between her and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga to bring the character Zoya to life.

“I had a chat with my director once when we were just signing the project, and he said, 'I know it's a negative character, but I don't want

New star-kids jodi on screen

Even though Ibrahim Ali Khan’s big-screen debut, Sarzameen, is slated to release next year, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son has apparently bagged his second film.

Like his maiden venture, this one too will be produced by Karan Johar.

Reportedly, the yet-untitled project is being planned as a direct-to-web offering. Talks are currently on with a streaming giant. Shauna Gautam, who was KJo’s associate director on last outing, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and previously assisted Rajkumar Hirani on Sanju, will direct the film. Interestingly, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor’s younger daughter, Khushi, who made her acting debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, will play Ibrahim’s leading lady. So, this marks the second film for both the star kids. The makers are said to be brainstorming for quirky titles for the romantic comedy that is slated to go on floors next year.

to see negativity in her eyes'. You have a certain pattern when you look at negative characters, when you think of negative characters, or when you think of portraying negative characters on screen,” said the 29-year-old actress.

Triptii said: "Because of the way we've always seen negative characters, there's a certain way they do things, a certain way they say things, and he said, 'I want to keep everything out of it, and I want you to have that intention of killing this person or coming here with a plan, all of it inside, but in your eyes, I only want to see love for him; I only want people to see innocence'." She agrees it was a bit challenging.

The actress said: "And that bit for me was challenging and exciting at the same time. And I was like, 'Wow, this is something that will be beautiful to explore.' And yeah, I hope we've managed to do that in the film."

Shekhar Ravjiani collaborates with 17-year-old prodigy for 'Ishq-E-Mareez'

Mumbai: (IANS) Music composer-singer Shekhar Ravjiani has unveiled his 14th single titled 'Ishq-E-Mareez', featuring a 17-year-old prodigy from his school of music.

The song is composed and sung by Shekhar, written by Rajat Arora and features Anuj Danait, Shivam Sengupta, and Zehlin, a student from Global Schools-Sheykhar Ravjiani School of Music (GSSRSM).

Talking about the same, Shekhar said: "Zehlin, who hails from Global Indian International School, one of the 12 institutions under GSG, has been one of my most promising students and I am very proud to see her shine as she features as one of the vocalists in my latest single."

The 17-year-old student said: "I am so grateful to Global Schools Group, Mr Ravjiani, my family, and everyone who supported me in making this happen. It’s truly a dream come true moment and I believe that this amazing opportunity will pave the way for my future in the music industry.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

AINMENT

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cclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi said that he never felt that he has "arrived" in the industry, and shared how he works with equal sincerity and honesty in every project.

Pankaj made his acting debut in 2004.

He was later seen in films such as ‘Apharan’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Omkara’, ‘Raavan’, ‘Chillar Party’ and ‘Agneepath’ to name a few.

However, it was in 2012, that he gained prominence for his acting prowess in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1’, after which there was no looking back for him.

Now that he has been in the industry for almost two decades, does he feel he has finally arrived in the industry?

Pankaj told IANS: "I never felt that I have arrived. I do my work with all my honesty. So, I don't know when I came.

I work with the same sincerity and hard work in every project."

The actor, who is from the Gopalganj district of Bihar, has often stood out with his performances and has given memorable characters such as Kaleen Bhaiya, Madhav Mishra, Bhanu and Pandit.

Portraying his characters come to him naturally, said the actor, who plays one suffering from retrograde amnesia in the latest release ‘Kadak Singh’.

"Such roles come to me naturally. I don't do anything. I am fortunate that I get such good scripts," added the two-time National Film Award-winner.

He went on: "It's a conscious decision. I feel cinema is not only for entertainment. It is more than entertainment. Cinema has its social responsibility. I maintain a balance of commercial, independent and sensible cinema."

With each performance, he ups his own game. How does he play each role with so much conviction?

"Everyone has their own method. So I won't say it is missing in others. My method is this, others have different procedures. I do according to my upbringing and training," said the actor who graduated from National School of

Amitabh Bachchan and grandson Agastya Nanda share joyful moments with fans at Jalsa

Amitabh Bachchan, known for his consistent engagement with fans, took a break from his hectic schedule to share a heartwarming moment with the people gathered outside Jalsa. The photos, shared on X (formerly Twitter), depict a sea of admirers eager to catch a glimpse of the iconic actor. As the megastar graciously waved at his fans, he was joined by Agastya Nanda on the pedestal, both sporting bright smiles that radiated warmth. In one of the pictures shared, the duo's joyful interaction with the crowd was evident, capturing the essence of the special Sunday rendezvous.

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Never felt that I have arrived Drama in 2004.

Pankaj concluded that there are many roles that he still has to play on the screen.

In his latest film ‘Kadak Singh’, the 47-year-old actor is seen sharing screen space with Sanjana Sanghi. In the film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Pankaj plays the character of A.K. Shrivastav, a man suffering from retrograde amnesia who gets caught in a web of lies as he tries to recover his memory.

Pankaj Tripathi

Two Indian-Americans in Hollywood Reporter’s 'Women in Entertainment Power 100'

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Bollywood comedian 'Jr Mehmood' succumbs to cancer at 67

Mumbai, Dec 8 (IANS) Veteran Bollywood comedian, singer, director and character actor Naeem Sayyed – popularly known as ‘Junior Mehmood’ – passed away after a protracted battle with cancer, here on Friday morning. Jr Mehmood had been admitted to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for treatment of stomach cancer and was on the path of recovery at home.

His condition suddenly deteriorated and he was put on ventilator support but failed to make it through early today.

Dancer Mukti Mohan and Animal actor Kunal Thakur tie the knot

Dancer Mukti Mohan and Animal actor Kunal Thakur have tied the knot in a dreamy wedding. The couple took to their Instagram and shared pictures from their wedding day.

While sharing the series of pictures, they wrote, "In you, I find my divine connection; with you, my union is destined. Grateful for the blessings bestowed by god, family and friends.

Our families are ecstatic and seek your blessings for our journey forward as Husband and Wife"

Kabir Bedi feted with Italy’s highest civilian honour

New York: (IANS) Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria and actor, writer and producer Mindy Kaling have been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100’ list for 'setting box office records, filling arenas and putting Hollywood back to work'. The two Indian-Americans, along with several other women executives, performers and powerhouses from the industry were honoured on Thursday as "women who over-delivered in 2023, setting the standard for success in the shifting cultural marketplace".

Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 and was named Chief Content Officer of Netflix in January 2023 -- a move that made her responsible for the streaming service’s TV and film output.

She is responsible for hits including 'Bridgerton', 'The Queen's Gambit', 'Lupin' and 'Cobra Kai'.

In her present role, Bajaria manages a $17 billion annual content budget and oversees teams in 27 countries.

Mumbai,: (IANS) Veteran actor Kabir Bedi was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Merito della Repubblica Italiana), the highest Italian civilian award.

After the event in Mumbai, there was a special live musical performance by Niccolo Fabi which set off the celebrations perfectly.

“This is a very emotional award for me,” Kabir said.

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PM Modi Tops Global Leaders' List Again

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TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

13 Arrested In ISIS Case During Massive Raids In Maharashtra, Karnataka HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to be at the top among world leaders with an approval rating of 76 per cent, according to a survey by Morning Consult.

According to the US-based consultancy firm's 'Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker' 76 per cent of people in India approve of PM Modi's leadership, while 18 per cent disapprove of it and six per cent did not give any opinion.

Notably, this is a huge number by a far margin, as the secondbest approval rating is enjoyed by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (66 per cent) and Switzerland President Alain Berset (58 per cent).

"Rejected Charges Of Involvement In Act Of Violence In Canada": Government

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: In calling for India's cooperation into its allegations of a potential Indian link to the killing of a Khalistani leader on its soil, Canada has not provided any "specific and relevant information" to New Delhi for it to act upon, the government informed Parliament on Friday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in Lok Sabha that the government has conveyed to Canada its "concerns" over activities of antiIndia elements in that country and requested Ottawa to take action against such elements besides denying space to them.

The government has rejected the allegations of its involvement in "any act of violence" in Canada, he said replying to a question.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive allegation of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18. India has strongly rejected the charges.

"The government has rejected the allegations of the government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada.

The central anti-terror agency raided 40 locations in Maharashtra this morning and arrested 13 people in connection with an ISIS terror module case. National Investigating Agency also raided another place in Karnataka in the case.

The 40 different places being raided in Maharashtra include Thane, Pune, Mira Bhayandar, sources said. Most of these places are in Thane Rural (31) and Thane city (9), right next to Mumbai. In Pune, two places are being raided and one in Mira Bhayandar, they added.

A suspect - Aakif Ateeque Nachan allegedly involved in making explosives was arrested last August, the sixth accused to be ever arrested in an ISIS terror module case.

Five others -- Tabish Nasser Siddiqui from Mumbai, Zubair Noor Mohammed

NIA raids: The 40 different places being raided in Maharashtra include Thane, Pune, Mira Bhayandar.

Shaikh alias Abu Nusaiba and Adnan Sarkar from Pune, and Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala from Thane -- were arrested by the agency last month.

403 Indian Students Died Abroad Since 2018, Most Deaths In Canada: Centre HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: At least 403 Indian students have died abroad since 2018 due to various reasons including natural causes and accidents, the government said in the Parliament.

Out of the 34 nations, the most deaths occurred in Canada.

The data was presented in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister V Muraleedharan, who said that 403 Indian students have died abroad since 2018.

According to data submitted by the ministry, Canada has reported 91 deaths of Indian students since 2018 followed by the United Kingdom (48), Russia (40), the United States (36), Australia (35), Ukraine (21), Germany (20), Cyprus (14), Italy and the Philippines (10 each).

He also emphasised the Centre's commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Indian students abroad, pledging to address individual cases and work toward preventing any untoward incidents in the future. He said that heads of mission and senior officials regularly visit colleges and universities to interact with Indian students studying there.

The deaths occurred due to various reasons including natural causes, medical complications and accidents.

"The safety and security of Indian students abroad is one of the foremost priorities for the Government of India," he said.

"In case there is any untoward incident, it is immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that the incident is properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished, he added.

The distressed students are also offered comprehensive consular

"Divorced From Reality": US Vetoes UN Resolution On Gaza Ceasefire

HiIndia Newsdesk

United Nations: An extraordinary UN bid to call for a ceasefire in Gaza was blocked by the United States on Friday while Israeli forces continued a relentless offensive to destroy Hamas after its deadly attack two months ago.

The fighting has left 17,487 people dead in the Palestinian territory, mostly women and children, according to the latest count from the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas over its unprecedented attack on October 7 when militants broke through Gaza's militarised border to kill around 1,200 people and seize hostages, 138 of whom remain captive, according to Israeli figures.

Vast areas of Gaza have been reduced to a wasteland. The UN says about 80 percent of the population has been displaced, facing dire shortages of food, fuel, water and medicine, and the growing threat of disease.

assistance, including emergency medical care, boarding, and lodging when needed, he said.

When asked about the high number of deaths of Indian students, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that a high number of students were also going abroad to study.

"I don't know if this is an issue that merits taking up with the government. There are individual incidents where there has been foul play and others... Our consulates do reach out to families, we also take it up such cases with the local authorities," Mr Bagchi told reporters at the weekly briefing.

Indian-origin motel owner shot dead by homeless trespasser in US HiIndia Newsdesk

New York, Dec 8 (IANS) A 46-yearold Indian-origin motel owner in the US state of North Carolina died after being shot at by a homeless trespasser, who barricaded himself inside a room, before killing himself, police said.

Satyen Naik, who was allegedly killed by 59-year-old Troy Kellum, was found lying outside a room of Hostess House in Newport with a gunshot wound.

Newport Police Chief Keith Lewis said they got a call just after 10.00 a.m on Wednesday about a person trespassing on the Hostess House motel, the Fox News reported.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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BUSINESS

Indian consumertech industry likely to reach $300 bn by 2027: Report

US jobless rate falls to lowest level since July

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Bengaluru: (IANS) Driven by an urge for personalised This has resulted in an increased focus on personalisation, a experiences among people, the Indian consumertech industry rise in experiential retail and a growing influence of social is likely to reach $300 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR media, the report mentioned. of 25 per cent, a report showed on Tuesday. The “The Indian Consumertech sector is current total addressable market (TAM) of the experiencing swift rise of over-the-top By 2027, fashion is consumertech industry is valued at $100 billion, (OTT) services on the subscription side, an expected to overtake with the dominant sectors being mobility (30 per increasing involvement of women in gaming, entertainment as the cent share of the market) which includes ridecommerce and social media, and a notable second leading sector hailing apps, automobile marketplace and online rise in green mobility solutions such as EV with apparel and car rental market followed by entertainment accessories, beauty and sales, said the report. “The rapid evolution (25 per cent) which includes print, digital, and personal care, footwear, of AI presents an incredible opportunity for television media. By 2027, fashion is expected businesses to engage with their consumers jewellery and watches, to overtake entertainment as the second leading in newer, more meaningful ways that deliver according to the report sector with apparel and accessories, beauty and effective purchase outcomes whilst also

by Chiratae Ventures, personal care, footwear, jewellery and watches, responding to their need for privacy," said in collaboration with according to the report by Chiratae Ventures, in consulting firm 1Lattice Roma Datta Chobey, Managing Director collaboration with consulting firm 1Lattice and and powered by Google Digital First Businesses, Google India. powered by Google.

Consumers, on average, dedicate over four “We have, till date, invested $450 million into the hours daily to their smartphones. The sector. Key winners backed by Chiratae include fintech apps dominates usage, with 77 per Flipkart, Myntra, Cult.fit, Firstcry, Lenskart, GlobalBees, cent of respondents leveraging it, primarily due to robust Policybazaar, PlaySimple, Curefoods, Fibe and Rentomojo, security features and a user-friendly interface. to name a few,” said Sudhir Sethi, Founder and Chairman of Following closely, entertainment apps capture a significant Chiratae Ventures. share at 70 per cent, with on-demand services being perceived “We continue to invest in companies such as Agrostar, as essential expenses in the daily lives of about 70 per cent of Healthifyme, Miko, Artium, and a new breed of consumer consumers, the findings showed. deeptech companies such as KBCols and Aether as well,” he Gaming, e-commerce, and healthtech are also gaining traction informed.Over 500 million Indians now seek entertainment among Indian digital consumers. “This growth potential is and gaming services on a daily basis, Over 1.2 billion people underscored by the ambitions of Indian homegrown startups, in India need good healthcare, and 1.1 billion people have a driven by robust revenue growth and eyeing global expansion, bank account and seek to invest in financial services. fuelled by an ever-growing digital native user base,” said Roma About 880 million people aspire to spend on fashion and Dixit, Director, Financial Services, 1Lattice. apparel, and 220 million seek to spend on on-demand services.

Netflix: Users spent 812m hours watching The Night Agent

Netflix has released viewer data on 99% of its catalogue for the first time.

Users watched The Night Agent for 812 million hours, making the political thriller its most viewed show in the first half of this year.

The streaming giant has been criticised for not being transparent about how content performs on its platform.

Google loses monopoly case to Fortnite maker Epic Games

HiIndia Newsdesk

The maker of popular video game Fortnite has won a US court battle against Google, with a jury deciding that the search giant had operated an illegal monopoly.

Epic Games sued Google in 2020, accusing it of unlawfully making its app store dominant over rivals.

Hundreds of millions of people use the store to install apps for smartphones powered by Google's Android software.

Google said it would challenge the outcome. However Epic chief executive Tim Sweeney welcomed the verdict.

"Victory over Google! After four weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts," Mr Sweeney wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said the court would start considering the issue of compensation in January.

The lawyers for the two companies made their final arguments on Monday in a trial that lasted more than a month.

Jobs growth in the US was stronger than expected last month, in part boosted as striking workers in Hollywood and the car industry returned to work.

Employers added 199,000 jobs in November, the Labor Department said. That helped to push down the jobless rate to 3.7% - the lowest level since July.

The monthly report is being closely watched as the US central bank tries to cool the economy to reduce inflation, the rate at which prices rise.

RBI issues warning on ads offering loan waivers

HiIndia Newsdesk

Mumbai: (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday issued a warning on misleading advertisements enticing borrowers by offering loan waivers.

There are reports of such entities charging a service/legal fee for issuing ‘debt waiver certificates’ without any authority.

These entities seem to be actively promoting many such campaigns in the print media as well as social media platforms, the RBI said.

Members of the public are cautioned not to fall prey to such false and misleading campaigns and report such incidents to law enforcement agencies, the central bank stated.

Adar Poonawalla Secures London's Priciest Home Sale in 2023 HiIndia Newsdesk

L ondon, :(IANS) I n d i a’s b i l l i o n a i r e "vaccine prince" Adar Poonawalla has reached a deal for London’s most expensive home sale of the year, agreeing to pay about 138 mn pound for a 25,000 square foot Mayfair mansion, media reports said. Aberconway House, a vast 1920s home near Hyde Park, will change hands after a sale was agreed by Dominika Kulczyk, daughter of the late businessman Jan Kulczyk, who was Poland’s richest man, Financial Times reported.

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Man arrested in threat to kill Ramaswamy, candidate for Republican presidential nomination HiIndia Newsdesk

Ne w York: (IANS) A man who threatened a mass shooting to kill Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, has b een arrested, according to the federal prosecutor's office in New Hampshire.

Tyler Anderson, 30, was charged on Monday with transmitting a threat to injure a person, whom the prosecutor's office identified as a "presidential candidate" without naming Ramaswamy.

Responding to a text message from the "victim's" campaign about a political event in Portsmouth, Anderson responded on Friday, "Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out"! and "I'm going to kill everyone who attends and then (expelitive) their corpses," the office said.

He is scheduled to be produced in court later on Monday.

Although the prosecutor did not name Ramaswamy, his campaign was informed of the threat and his

Vivek Ramaswamy

Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, "We are grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling this matter and pray for the safety of all Americans."

Documents filed in court by the office of Prosecutor Jane Young said that Anderson had also written to another candidate, "Fantastic, now I know where

to go so I can blow that (expletive)'s head off " and he hoped "you have the stamina for a mass shooting!"

That candidate was not named and no other candidate has publicly spoken of the threat.

Asked by an ABC News reporter last week if threats had been made to his life, Ramaswamy said, "We don't take anything for granted, but I'm confident that the team around us and our family is on this journey together. And I'm praying for our family and our country."

The Prosecutor's Office said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation into the threat against Ramaswamy.

Ironically, the FBI has been one of Ramaswamy's targets and he has said that he would eliminate it if he is elected President. Ramaswamy is running fourth nationally in the aggregation of polls by RealClear Politics, which shows him with five per cent support in Republican primaries.

Indian Women’s Club Of Northshore IL Celebrates Grand Launch HiIndia Newsdesk

NORTHSHORE, IL– December 3, 2023 – The Indian Women’s Club of Northshore IL officially launched on December 3rd, 2023, marking a momentous occasion for the vibrant and diverse community of Northshore, Illinois. The launch event, held at Usha Kamaria’s residence, brought together enthusiastic women to celebrate the establishment of this empowering organization.

Club’s activities were divided in to two groups Nine women will lead the activities of women over 40 with the support of 11 other women. Younger group under 40 will work together to creat thier own agenda according to The Indian Women’s Club of their needs.

Northshore IL is a dynamic The Indian Women’s Club of Northshore and inclusive community IL is a dynamic and inclusive community dedicated to fostering connections, dedicated to fostering empowerment, and cultural enrichment connections, empowerment, among women of Indian origin with a and cultural enrichment vision to create a supportive network, among women of Indian the organization aims to provide a origin with a vision to create platform for women to exchange ideas, share experiences, and celebrate their a supportive network, the heritage while making a positive impact organization aims to provide in the society. a platform for women to The launch event commenced with a exchange ideas, share warm welcome address by Founder, experiences, and celebrate Usha Kamaria, who expressed her their heritage while making excitement about the establishment of the club and emphasized the significance a positive impact in the of creating a space where women can society. come together to inspire and uplift one another.

Distinguished guests in attendance future initiatives including getting included over 40 some women young and involve in various charity options. not so young who shared encouraging “We are thrilled to introduce the Indian words about the importance of cultural Women’s Club of Northshore IL to preservation, community engagement, our community,” said Manali Kamaria, and the empowerment of women. The Founder of the Youth Wing. “This event featured networking opportunities, organization is a testament to the and a showcase of the organization’s strength and resilience of Indian women

In the New Hampshire state primary, RealClear Politics places him fifth with seven per cent.

On January 23, that state will be the second to hold intraparty elections for the Republican Party nomination, which can enable it -- and Iowa, which will be the first on January 15 -- to influence the primaries that follow in determining who stays on in the race where former President Donald Trump holds an overwhelming lead.

No other information immediately was available about Anderson's political affiliations or his ideology.

In New Hampshire on Monday, Ramaswamy had a lunchbreak event scheduled for Monday in Nashua and two in Manchester.

One was a "Standup with Crypto" forum and the other was a town hall with American Conservation Coalition Action and with youth and college Republican organisations.

On Tuesday, he moves to Iowa.

Inspiring Afternoon With Samosa Caucus Congressmen In Lexington, Massachusetts

Congressman Shri Thanedar HiIndia Newsdesk

in Northshore. We are excited about the positive impact we can make together and look forward to creating a close-knit community that supports each other in various aspects of life.”

The Indian Women’s Club of Northshore IL plans to host a variety of events and programs throughout the year, including cultural celebrations, Health and wellness workshops, and community outreach initiatives. Membership is open to all women of Indian origin in the area who are interested in joining this enriching community.

For more information about the Indian Women’s Club of Northshore IL and to inquire about membership, please contact Usha Kamaria at (219) 928-6835.

About Indian Women’s Club of Northshore IL: The Indian Women’s Club of Northshore IL is a newly established organization dedicated to connecting and empowering women of Indian origin through a range of events and initiatives, the club aims to foster a sense of community, celebrate cultural diversity, and promote the personal and professional growth of its members.

LEXINGTON, MA- On a rainy yet inspiring afternoon in Lexington, Massachusetts, Congressman Shri Thanedar (U.S. Representative from Michigan’s 13th Congressional District) and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 8th Congressional District), both esteemed members of the Samosa Caucus, captivated a diverse audience with their compelling stories and insights.

Arranged under the guidance of Mr. Ramesh Kapur, President of the US India Security Council, and hosted by Amar and Deepika Sawhney, the event provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.

Additional Co-chairs included Abhishek Singh, Ashok Patel, Vickram Rajadhyaksha, Nar Koppula, Priya Samant, Sanjay Gokhale, and Vivek Sharma.

Congressman Thanedar shared his poignant American journey, emphasizing resilience and determination that propelled him forward from a young student with aspirations.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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Winter Nights & Retail Safety: How NRS Solutions Transform Store Security

W

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security and loss prevention.

This setup is crucial in deterring external and internal theft, providing retailers with comprehensive footage linked directly to transaction data. This not only enhances overall store safety but also aids in resolving disputes and investigating incidents.

inter’s extended darkness presents a unique challenge for retailers, heightening the need for effective safety measures. National Retail Solutions (NRS) offers a cuttingedge POS system with an integrated panic alarm button and advanced camera systems to fortify stores against winter’s security risks.

Smart Store Design for Enhanced Visibility

Enhancing Store Safety Through Lighting and Awareness

Good lighting is essential for deterring crime during the winter months. Bright lights around your store, including at entrances, parking areas, and surrounding zones, help keep criminals at bay. Well-lit exteriors make your store less appealing to those looking for cover in the dark and make your customers and employees feel more secure. Inside, proper lighting is crucial for staff to monitor the store effectively. Placing lights strategically helps eliminate shadows and dark corners, making it harder for theft to occur unnoticed.

At the same time, the vigilance of your employees plays a key role in in-store safety. Teaching your staff to be observant and proactive is vital in combating retail crime. Simple actions, like greeting customers as they enter, can discourage shoplifters. Training your team to spot and appropriately respond to suspicious behavior is important. This approach isn’t about confrontation; it’s about being attentive and ready to help customers, which can deter theft non-threateningly.

Regular safety practices and scenariohandling training boost your employees’ confidence and ability to keep the store

being obtrusive to customers.

Elie Y. Katz, President & CEO of National Retail Solutions

Enhanced Safety with NRS POS and Panic Alarm

With NRS’s advanced solutions, retailers can optimize their store layout for maximum safety. The visibility provided by strategic camera placement, coupled with the assurance of having a panic alarm, allows for a store design that deters theft while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for customers.

The NRS POS system stands out with its integrated panic alarm button, a Investing in NRS: A Step feature that brings retailers a new level Towards a Secure Future of security. In threatening situations, Choosing NRS’s POS system with employees can discreetly trigger the integrated safety features is a wise alarm, immediately alerting authorities investment for retailers, especially without escalating the danger. This during the challenging winter months. integration is particularly valuable during winter’s long nights, responding Retailers who adopt NRS solutions Elie Y. Katz, President & CEO of National can expect increased customer footfall, swiftly to security threats.

Retail Solutions “At NRS, we recognize retailers’ higher staff retention, and a strengthened unique challenges during the winter bottom line, all while contributing safe. positively to the community’s sense of months. Our POS system integrated Optimizing Store Layout for security. panic alarm button is more than Enhanced Security Elie Y. Katz, President & CEO of just a technological solution; it’s a National Retail Solutions, concludes, Creating a store layout that maximizes commitment to empowering retailers visibility and minimizes hiding spots with the tools they need to enhance “Our aim at NRS is to provide retailers is key to preventing retail theft. By safety and build a trusting environment with advanced yet user-friendly security features. Through our POS systems, arranging shelves and displays at lower for their customers and employees,” says we’re dedicated to improving store heights, you ensure an unobstructed Surveillance Made Smarter with safety and strengthening community view across the store, aiding surveillance trust, ensuring retailers can confidently and creating an open, welcoming POS Camera Integration navigate the winter season.”

Alongside the built-in panic alarm atmosphere for shoppers. The strategic use of mirrors further extends visibility, button, the NRS POS includes your own For more information about enhancing security camera integration, allowing your store’s security with the NRS Point allowing staff to discreetly keep an real-time transaction data to overlay of Sale system, call (877) 202-8112 or eye on difficult-to-see areas, thereby visit the NRSplus website. onto store DVR footage for enhanced enhancing overall store security without

Oakton College Empty Bowls Event Raises $32,000 For Local Food Pantries

HiIndia Newsdesk

DES PLAINES, IL- Oakton College’s Ceramics Club successfully raised over $32,000 for local food pantries during the 20th annual Empty Bowls event on December 2. Attended by several hundred community members, the event featured more than 1,200 handcrafted soup bowls and art pieces created by the Oakton Ceramics Club,

comprising students pursuing degrees and enthusiasts like club president Sharon Angelini. The club works throughout the year to contribute to the community.

Participants in the event were able to select and keep their preferred artwork, crafted by local professional and student potters. Attendees enjoyed live music, soup, and bread, reminiscent of meals served at soup kitchens. Larger and

unique art pieces were also available at discounted prices, with all proceeds benefiting local food pantries.

Sponsored by Oakton’s Ceramics Club, Empty Bowls is part of a global nonprofit movement that raises awareness and funds for local and worldwide hunger.

Since 2004, the event has raised over $428,000. The entirety of Oakton’s proceeds will support organizations

such as Des Plaines Self-Help Closet and Pantry, Interfaith Action of Evanston, Maine Township Food Pantry, New Trier Township Food Pantry, Niles Township Food Pantry, and Northfield Township Food Pantry.

Oakton College provides credit and noncredit courses for traditional-aged and adult students, with many enrolling in art classes for personal enrichment.

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Motel Manager Sentenced For Trafficking And Forced Labor Of Victim HiIndia Newsdesk

CATERSVILLE, GA- A 71-year-old motel manager in Georgia, Shreesh Tiwari, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for trafficking a victim in relation to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor. Tiwari, an Indian national and U.S. permanent resident, managed the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, where he exploited a vulnerable victim. Despite promising the victim pay, an apartment, and legal assistance to regain custody of her child, Tiwari subjected her to control, isolation, and sexual exploitation.

Ti w ar i m on it ore d t h e v i c t i m’s interactions, forbidding her from communicating with guests, employees, and even her family. He threatened eviction, reported her drug use to law enforcement, and manipulated her fear of homelessness. Ultimately, Tiwari forced the victim into performing sex acts to stay at the motel. The court sentenced him to prison and ordered $42,648 in restitution to seven

Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia

Shreesh Tiwari, 71, Exploits Vulnerable Situation, Promising to Assist a Formerly Homeless Maid Regain Custody of her Child

individuals.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen C l arke e mphas i z e d t he Just i c e D e p a r t m e n t’s c o m m i t m e n t t o prosecuting those exploiting their power, highlighting the need for restitution for victims. U.S. Attorney

Ryan K. Buchanan praised law enforcement efforts, emphasizing the severity of penalties for such crimes. Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard emphasized holding predators accountable for their actions.

The case was investigated by HSI Dalton Office with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Annalise Peters, along with Trial Attorney Kate Hill from the Justice Department’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, prosecuted the case.

To rep or t human traf f icking, individuals can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888373-7888. Additional information on human trafficking and the Justice Department’s efforts can be found at www.humantraffickinghotline. o r g a n d w w w. j u s t i c e . g o v / humantrafficking, respectively.

Fatal NJ Collision: Taxi Runs Red Light, Claims Two Lives

HiIndia Newsdesk

ELIZABETH, NJ- Two taxi passengers lost their lives in the aftermath of an early morning collision in New Jersey, reportedly triggered by one of the involved cars running a red light, as confirmed by officials on Sunday.

The collision occurred shortly before 6 a.m. at the intersection of East Grand and Spring streets in Elizabeth, according to city officials. It was revealed that the other car involved appeared to be “fleeing from an earlier incident when they ran the red light,” as stated by a city spokesperson to News 4.

Tragically, both occupants of the taxi succumbed to their injuries sustained in the crash.

State Department Praises Nikhil Illinois Enforces Mask Mandate Dey's Anti-Corruption Advocacy Amid COVID Resurgence MKSS, a grassroots organization established in 1990, collaborates with workers and peasants in the villages of Central Rajasthan, aiming to strengthen participatory democratic processes and ensure that ordinary citizens can lead lives of dignity and justice.

Indian social activist Nikhil Dey HiIndia Newsdesk

WASHINGTON, DC- Indian social activist Nikhil Dey has been honored as an International Anti-Corruption Champion by the US State Department.

The US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs has commended Dey for his pivotal role in various social movements dedicated to transparency, accountability, public audits, and participatory democracy.

His efforts have been particularly impactful in countering corruption within government welfare programs in India.

As a co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Dey’s i n it i at ive s have brou g ht ab out significant transparency and anticorruption reforms in India. His work has been instrumental in Rajasthan pioneering public policies that enhance transparency and accountability. MKSS, a grassroots organization established in 1990, collaborates with workers and peasants in the villages of Central Rajasthan, aiming to strengthen participatory democratic processes

and ensure that ordinary citizens can lead lives of dignity and justice. The organization originated from a struggle to reclaim community land illegally held by a landlord.

The International Anti-Corruption C h a m p i o n Aw a r d s ( A C C A ) acknowledge individuals dedicated to promoting accountability and transparency. State Secretary Antony Blinken, on December 7, emphasized the State Department’s commitment to countering corruption and promoting integrity as a foreign policy priority and core national security interest.

“On the eve of International AntiCorruption Day, December 9, the United States takes pride in honoring individuals and institutions that champion transparency, accountability, integrity, and good governance worldwide,” stated Blinken during the recognition of Global Anti-Corruption Champions.

In total, 11 International AntiCorruption Champions for 2023 were acknowledged. The honorees include Stanislau Ivashkevich of Belarus, JeanClaude Mputu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Arturo Torres of Ecuador, Nikhil Dey of India, Ali (Mukhammedali) Toktakunov of Kyrgyz Republic, Marc N. Kollie of Liberia, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru of Moldova, Vladimir Novovic of Montenegro, Annette Planells of Panama, Francisco Belo Simoes da Costa of Timor-Leste, and May De Silva of Seychelles.

Dr. Sameer Vohra, IDPH Director HiIndia Newsdesk

CHICAGO, IL The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has reported an increase in respiratory viruses across the state ahead of the holidays. According to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, 44 counties are experiencing elevated levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 39 at a medium level and five at a high level. Statewide, there were 1,039 new hospitalizations, marking a 20% increase from the previous week.

Data also reveals a rise in acute respiratory hospitalizations, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, prompting concern about limited pediatric ICU (PICU) capacity in many areas.

To address the growing challenges, IDPH is launching a weekly Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard on December 8, providing the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity, and demographics.

Dr. Sameer Vohra, IDPH Director, emphasizes the importance of public cooperation during this surge. He urges residents to utilize COVID-19 testing, enhance ventilation, practice good hand hygiene, stay home when sick, wear masks in crowded places, and get vaccinated against COVID-19, flu, and

Forty-Four Illinois Counties now at Elevated Level for COVID-19; Public Health Department is Launching a New Respiratory Virus Dashboard to Keep Illinoisans Informed

RSV, especially for high-risk individuals.

Dr. Vohra advises holiday hosts to prioritize indoor ventilation, hygiene, and encourage sick guests to stay home.

Healthcare settings are encouraged to consider masking in patient care areas, following CDC recommendations.

Residents can monitor respiratory virus data on the CDC’s national dashboard and access four free at-home tests through COVID.gov. For the uninsured, the Bridge Access Program covers COVID-19 vaccine costs, and the Vaccines for Children Program supports eligible children.

Pregnant individuals are recommended to receive the RSV vaccine Abrysvo during weeks 32-36, and those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can access no-cost telehealth services.

Lagevrio and Paxlovid treatments are available through assistance programs for eligible patients, and resources for masks, treatment, vaccines, and testing are accessible on the federal government’s COVID toolkit website: https://www.covid.gov/.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023

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Culinary Maestro Chef Kuldeep Singh's Journey from Uttarakhand's Hills to Global Palates HiIndia Newsdesk

Chef Kuldeep Singh, hailing from the picturesque mountainous region of Uttarakhand in northern India, is a true son of the soil, born into a farmer's family in Tehri Garhwal. His early years were immersed in the cultivation of grains, lentils, and millets, providing him with a profound connection to the land and its bountiful offerings.

From Village Kitchens to Global Gastronomy Chef Kuldeep's culinary odyssey commenced in the bustling streets of New Delhi, where he honed his skills before embarking on an international journey. His expertise in modern Indian cuisine with a touch of traditional ingredients led him to the vibrant culinary scenes of San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.

Fusion Feasts for Festivals Back home in Uttarakhand during American and Indian festival seasons, Chef Kuldeep crafts delectable dishes that embrace vegan and gluten-free options. Notably, during the recent G20 Summit in India, the government served guests dishes featuring millets and grains, a testament to the rising

Raja Krishnamoorthi honored for Contributions to Asian American Community

A Taste of Health: Ragi Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Chef Kuldeep Singh

appreciation for these nutritious ingredients.

Culinary Philanthropy and James Beard Foundation Chef Kuldeep's commitment to culinary excellence extends beyond the kitchen as he actively serves the James Beard Foundation. Here, he prepares unique dishes such as mandwa ki roti and bhaang ki chutney, showcasing the diversity of India's culinary heritage.

Advocacy for Millets and Sustainable Agriculture

In a passionate appeal, Chef Kuldeep encourages the youth, especially those from Uttarakhand, to incorporate millets into their daily diets. He envisions sustainable agricultural development, crop diversification, and financial gains for producers through increased cultivation of coarse grains.

Chef Kuldeep Singh's culinary journey serves as an inspiring testament to the transformative power of traditional ingredients and the potential of local cuisine to create a lasting impact on the global culinary stage.

Generous Contribution

Modi Couple Donates $800K for Jain Studies at CSUN

Chef Kuldeep generously shares one of his delightful and healthy recipes: the Ragi Chocolate Brownie. This wholesome treat combines the goodness of ragi flour, cocoa powder, and cocoa chips for a guilt-free indulgence.

Ingredients: • Whole Eggs 200g • Brown Sugar 180g • White Sugar 140g • Butter (Melted) 280g • Ragi Flour 150g • Cocoa Powder 50g • Salt 2g • Cocoa Chips 240g Method: (1) Whisk the butter and sugars until creamy and pale.

(2) Gradually add half of the sifted flour, cocoa powder, salt, and melted butter, and whisk.

(3) Add the remaining half of the flour and butter, and whisk until well combined.

(4) Gently fold in the cocoa chips.

(5) Bake at 175°C for 15 minutes.

Partial Collapse Of 7-Story Building Shakes New York City

Zofeen Maqsood

Raja Krishnamoorthi, the U.S. representative for Illinois’ 8th congressional district has been awarded for his outstanding contributions to the Asian American community.

Krishnamoorthi, was honored by the organizers of the Conference on Social Progress Since Repealing the Chinese Exclusion Act (CRCEA) Krishnamoorthi addressed the conference and spoke of the progress made by the Asian American community since the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act 80 years ago. He said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have joined with members of the Chinese American and broader AAPI community to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, a critical milestone in American history which highlights our progress as a nation.” The Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted in 1882 was the first federal legislation in American history to explicitly suspend immigration for people of a specific nationality. It is still widely regarded as a central pillar of the history of anti-Chinese and antiAsian hate. He added, “This bigoted law robbed countless people of Chinese heritage the opportunity to pursue their American dream while laying the foundations for the anti-Asian hate our nation still battles today.”

HiIndia Newsdesk

Dr. Jasvant Modi HiIndia Newsdesk

NORTHRIDGE, CA -California State University, Northridge (CSUN) proudly announces a generous donation of $800,000 from Dr. Jasvant Modi, a retired gastroenterologist, and philanthropist, along with his wife, Dr. Meera Modi.

This substantial contribution is specifically earmarked to bolster the Bhagvan Ajitnath Endowed Professorship in Jain Studies within the Department of Religious Studies in the College of Humanities. The Modis express their commitment to advancing the understanding of Jainism, a significant yet often less-explored religion originating from early India.

Dr. Jasvant Modi shares, “I take immense pride in my heritage and the fundamental principles that Jainism espouses. The establishment of a professorship at CSUN represents a pivotal stride in enlightening others about Jainism’s core tenets of nonviolence, non-possessiveness, and pluralism.”

This philanthropic endeavor aligns seamlessly with CSUN’s dedication to fostering an enlightened and inclusive society by exposing students to diverse cultures and faiths. The endowed professorship will have a primary focus on teaching the religions of Southeast Asia, with a special emphasis on Jainism. The Modis’ generous gift not only reflects their unwavering commitment to higher education and Jain studies but also stands as an inspiration for the Jain community, according to a press release.

Born in Godhra, India, in 1951, Jasvant Modi completed his medical education at B.J. Medical College before immigrating to the United States in 1975. Subsequently, he completed his residency in Chicago. The couple’s philanthropic contributions extend beyond academia, as they have established four small hospitals, serving as vital support systems for their respective communities, as mentioned in the press release.

NEW YORK, NY- A seven-story building in The Bronx experienced a partial collapse, resulting in a heap of debris at the corner of 1915 Billingsley Terrace in Morris Heights. Fortunately, officials reported that there were no serious injuries, offering a sense of relief amid the potential danger.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, as stated by Zach Iscol, the city’s emergency management commissioner. Swiftly responding to the emergency, firefighters were on the scene within two minutes, initiating an immediate search for any individuals who might be trapped beneath the rubble that spilled onto the intersection of West Burnside Avenue. FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh provided updates during the hour-long search, highlighting the fortunate outcome. After the thorough search, Kavanagh expressed gratitude on social media, tweeting, “Miraculously, no one was severely injured at the partial building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace. From examining the scene and reviewing surveillance footage, it is evident that the situation could have been much more severe.” The acknowledgment of the potential severity underscores the fortunate outcome and emphasizes the importance of the rapid response by emergency personnel.

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Dunki Drop 5, O Maahi OUT NOW! End The Year With This Musical Treat!

HiIndia Newsdesk

After the release of Dunki Drop 4 – The trailer, the audience’s finally got to see a glimpse of an endearing world created

by Rajkumar Hirani. Capturing the heart of millions, the trailer went on to become one of the most watched trailer in Hindi cinema in 24hours.

Capturing the next chapter in this enchanting saga, Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee unveil a symphony of unconditional Love with Dunki Drop 5, O Maahi. This melodious track delves into the profound power of selfless love between the characters Hardy and Manu, who embark on an arduous yet life-changing journey as their hearts become intertwined forever. The beauty of their love story is eloquently captured in the soul-stirring melody of the song, resonating deeply with listeners.

With Arijit Singh’s mesmerising vocals, a beautiful composition by the musical maestro, Pritam, heartfelt lyrics penned by the poetic Irshad Kamil and the dance sequences, choreographed by

Dulles CBP K9 Detects $56k, Seizes Unreported Currency

the renowned Vaibhavi Merchant, Dunki Drop 5 – O Maahi is a visual and musical treat!

The song unfolds against the backdrop of beautiful desert locales, symbolising the everlasting romance between Hardy and Manu while underscoring the struggles inherent in their transformative journey.

The visuals seamlessly complement the evocative lyrics and the enchanting

melody, creating a cinematic experience that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.

The Dunki Drop series has been a musical journey, starting with Dunki Drop 1 on Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday, followed by the melodious voice of Arijit Singh in Dunki Drop 2 titled Lutt Putt Gaya. Dunki Drop 3 continued to tug at heartstrings with Sonu Nigam’s soul-

stirring song Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se, echoing the emotions of being away from home. Now, Dunki Drop 5 adds another layer to this endearing tale, bringing a heartfelt melody that promises to captivate audiences.

As Dunki Drop 5, O Maahi stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and the magic that unfolds when stellar performances, evocative music, and captivating visuals come together.

Dunki features an ensemble cast, with colourful characters portrayed by exceptionally talented actors Boman Irani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover, along with Shah Rukh Khan. A JIO Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Rajkumar Hirani Films presentation, produced by Rajkumar Hirani and Gauri Khan Written by Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani, and Kanika Dhillon, Dunki is slated to release on 21st December 2023. https://x.com/iamsrk/status/17341786 75971772440?s=46&t=PusltWkTns46 RNMqjWxAeA

Indian-American convicted on 11 counts for healthcare fraud HiIndia Newsdesk

New York, Dec 12 (IANS) An Indianorigin financial advisor from New York has been found guilty on 11 counts of defrauding public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million and STERLING, VA -U.S. Customs and transacting in the criminal proceeds.

Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Kaival Patel, 54, who underwent an 11day trial before US District Judge Robert Airport seized $56,400 from an Iraq-bound man and his mother on B. Kugler, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10, 2024.

December 7, 2023. The seizure occurred during outbound inspections for a flight He was convicted last week of one to Doha, Qatar, when the CBP currency count of conspiracy to commit wire and healthcare fraud, four counts detector dog Fuzz alerted to the man’s of healthcare fraud, one count of carry-on baggage. Despite reporting only $30,000 initially, a subsequent conspiracy to commit money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds, and inspection revealed an additional $42,000 on their persons and in carry- five counts of money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds. on bags, with $14,400 found in the man’s checked baggage. In total, CBP “This defendant lined his own pockets by taking advantage of health insurance seized $56,400 and allowed the family plans for New Jersey state and local to continue their trip. government employees, defrauding Earlier the same day, CBP officers them of millions of dollars by conspiring seized $68,000 from a Nigeria-bound to obtain reimbursements for medically family who falsely reported possessing unnecessary compound prescription only $10,000. CBP emphasizes the medications," US Attorney Philip R. importance of truthfully reporting Sellinger said. all currency to avoid consequences such as flight delays, currency seizure, According to documents filed in this and potential criminal prosecution. case and the evidence at trial, Patel created and operated a company called Unreported currency may be linked to illegal activities, and travelers are ABC Healthy Living LLC to market encouraged to complete the FINCEN compound prescription medications.

105 form before CBP inspections. In Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to 2022, CBP officers seized an average of meet the specific medical needs of an approximately $217,700 in unreported individual patient. or illicit currency daily along the nation’s borders. CBP’s border security These medications, such as vitamins, scar creams, pain creams, libido creams, mission involves screening travelers and and acid reflux medications, require a cargo for various illicit items to protect prescription from a physician. public safety, U.S. businesses, and the nation’s economic vitality.

Patel and his conspirators learned that certain state and local government employees had insurance that would reimburse up to thousands of dollars for a one-month supply of certain compound medications.

They approached a medical doctor, a family member of Patel who owns and operates a clinic in Newark, and convinced him to authorise prescriptions for the compound medications for patients who had no medical need for the prescriptions.

Patel received commissions for the compound medication prescriptions.

Patel and his conspirators paid a group of corrections officers to go to Patel’s family member’s medical practice for the purpose of receiving fraudulent prescriptions.

He conspired with a compounding pharmacist to add unnecessar y i n g r e d i e nt s t o t h e c o mp o u n d medications to further increase their cost and augment his illicit profits.

Patel engaged in a series of financial transactions to receive proceeds from the healthcare fraud and wire fraud conspiracy.

"The defendant enriched himself by defrauding the New Jersey public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million,” Tammy L. Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said.

To date, approximately 47 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the overarching conspiracy.

On the count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud, Patel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary loss from the offence, whichever is greatest.

On each of the remaining 10 counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, Union County Tackle Healthcare Inequities E L I Z A B E T H , N J - R it e s h S h a h Charitable Pharmacy (RSCP) is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Union County, marking a significant milestone in our mission to enhance healthcare access for uninsured and underser ved residents. This memorandum of agreement signifies a crucial moment in our dedication to reducing healthcare disparities within the community.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on November 21, 2023, at the Union County Health Department, attended

by RSCP Board Members and County Officials. The County of Union is initiating a new pharmacy program at the Union County Immunization Center in Elizabeth, focusing on providing medication for chronic conditions. Operating on weekdays, the program will collect and distribute prescriptions to participants who

Community Alert

By Skokie Police Department

Board members of RSCP and Union County Commissioners and Department of Health officials at the ribbon cutting ceremony

must obtain their prescriptions from a designated medical center. Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy will fill prescriptions at no cost, offering remote pharmacist consultations for guidance

and support. Additionally, RSCP will host educational events to empower patients with health-related knowledge.

The mission of RSCP is rooted in creating a healthier and more equitable

community, aiming to increase access to medications, immunizations, health education, and pharmacy services for uninsured and underserved patients.

The genesis of Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy is a story of love, dedication, and a profound desire to make a difference. It began with Ritesh Shah, a renowned pharmacist and CEO of the Legacy Pharmacy Group, inspired by the memory of his sister Rena.

Her untimely passing due to health complications and COVID became the driving force behind the creation of New Jersey’s first charitable pharmacy.

Rena’s brother, Ritesh, transformed his grief into a lasting tribute to his sister, supported by his wife, Asha, who returned from retirement to assist in this noble endeavor. The Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy opened its doors to serve the community in the Spring of 2022.

Ritesh Shah, Founder of the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, shared his thoughts on this partnership, stating, “Honoring the memory of Rena is always at the forefront of this undertaking. This partnership with Union County is a significant step in our commitment to make healthcare accessible to all.”

CBP & HSA Officials Large Amount Of Anxiety Pills Against Holiday Seized At The Falfurrias Checkpoint Warn Counterfeit Threats HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

SKOKIE, IL- Detectives, in collaboration with the NORT. AF.BTF (North Regional Major Crimes Burglary Task Force), have successfully identified a group of offenders with a distinctive pattern of targeting Asian business owners in residential burglaries. Through thorough investigation, multiple instances have been connected where the perpetrators specifically sought out Asian business owners. They executed sophisticated surveillance on their residences and subsequently returned to carry out break-ins, primarily seeking cash and jewelry.

Additionally, investigators discovered that this group utilizes online data to identify the names of residents, employing fake deliveries during the time of these offenses. The identified areas of criminal activity include Northbrook, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Morton Grove, Skokie, Niles, Des Plaines, Oak Brook, Orland Park, Aurora, Montgomery, Elmhurst, Woodbridge, Elmwood Park, Shorewood, Round Lake, Countryside, Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Channahon, Sun Prairie, WI, Elkhorn, WI, Lake Geneva, WI, Angola, IN, and Kokomo, IN.

FALFURRIAS, TX – On December 5, 2023, Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrested a U.S. citizen at the Falfurrias Checkpoint for attempting to smuggle 110 bottles of unprescribed alprazolam, equivalent to Xanax, on a northbound bus. Agents noticed nervous behavior during an immigration inspection and found the

pills concealed in potato chip bags. A total of 3,300 pills were seized, and the individual was taken into custody. This incident follows a November 21, 2023, seizure of 9,420 Xanax pills. Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez commended the agents for their vigilance in preventing the illicit transportation of these medications.

Ohlone College Names Rakesh Swamy Dean of Language and Deaf Studies earning acclaim for his expertise in

Rakesh Swamy HiIndia Newsdesk

FREMONT, CA – Ohlone College proudly announces the appointment of Rakesh Swamy as the new Dean of Language, Communication, and Deaf Studies, effective January 1, 2024.

With a tenure at the college dating back to 1998, Swamy brings a wealth of experience, having served in various capacities. As a seasoned faculty member, he has imparted knowledge across all levels of English courses,

teaching the transfer-level English elective in World Mythology, with a specific focus on Polynesian and Indian mythologies, as stated in the college’s official announcement. A native of the Fiji Islands, Rakesh Swamy hails from Fijian Indian descent and completed his Master’s Degree at CSU Hayward before embarking on his journey with Ohlone College as an Instructional Assistant in the English Learning Center. Over time, he ascended to the role of a full-time English faculty member.

Residing in Fremont, Swamy is not only dedicated to his academic role but also deeply committed to both his local community and the college. Beyond the classroom, he actively engages in attending community events, exploring and celebrating his dual heritage, and participating in a variety of activities.

Ohlone College, situated in the heart of the Bay Area, California, welcomes Dean Rakesh Swamy to lead the Language, Communication, and Deaf Studies department into a new era of academic excellence.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials recently convened at Laredo's World Trade Bridge, issuing a holiday season caution against purchasing counterfeit goods. Port Director Albert Flores highlighted collaborative efforts in identifying, intercepting, and penalizing entities importing and selling unsafe or counterfeit products, posing threats to consumers, U.S. trademark holders, and national economic security.

At the World Trade Bridge event, CBP import specialists and HSI agents showcased seized counterfeit items, emphasizing risks in handbags, wallets, apparel, footwear, watches, jewelry, and electronics. They stressed that counterfeit goods not only originate from unregulated environments abroad but also contribute to organized crime.

In FY2022, CBP and HSI jointly seized 20,812 shipments containing nearly 25 million counterfeit goods valued at $2.98 billion. HSI's actions led to 255 arrests, 192 indictments, and 95 convictions related to intellectual property crimes.

To raise awareness, CBP launched the "Truth Behind Counterfeits" initiative, urging direct purchases and providing an E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide. Online shoppers are advised to check seller reviews, verify U.S. contact details, and exercise caution with seemingly unrealistic prices.

Counterfeiting violates trademark rights, impacts small businesses, and poses financial risks to consumers. To report violations, individuals can contact the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www. iprcenter.gov/referral/ or 866-IPR-2060.

Updates on HSI’s efforts in central and south Texas can be found on X at @ HSI_SanAntonio, and news related to CBP’s Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and @CBPSouthTexas.

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HEALTH

Similar to doing an MOT on a car, scientists believe they can run a blood test to check how fast a person's internal organs are ageing, and even predict which ones might soon fail.

T

he Stanford University team say they can monitor 11 major body parts, including the heart, brain and lungs. They tried it on thousands of adults, mostly middle-aged or older. One in five reasonably healthy adults aged 50-plus might have at least one fast-ageing organ, the results suggest. And one to two in every 100 might have several organs that test older than their birthday years.

While the idea of the check-up might be scary, it could be an opportunity to intervene and change course, the researchers say.

Knowing which organs are in rapid decline could help reveal what health issues may be looming, the researchers say in the journal Nature. NHS to try out Alzheimer's disease blood tests

Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly

Organ age gap

For example, an "old-for-its-time" heart increases the risk of heart failure, while a rapidly ageing brain might be more prone to dementia.

In the study, having one or more organs ageing fast was linked with a higher risk of certain diseases and death over the next 15 years.

The body parts they checked include: * Brain * Heart * Liver * Lung * Intestine * Kidney * Fat * Blood vessels (arteries) * Immune tissue * Muscle * Pancreas The blood test looks for levels of thousands of proteins to give clues on which organs are ageing at different rates. The pattern of proteins detected appeared to be specific to particular organs. Researchers trained a machine-learning algorithm to make the predictions using lots of blood test results and patient data.

One of the investigators, Dr Tony Wyss-Coray, explained: "When we compared each of these organs' biological age for each individual with its counterparts among a large group of people without obvious severe diseases, we found that 18.4% of those aged 50 or older had at least one organ aging significantly more rapidly than the average.

rather than proteins. He said the latest findings by Dr Wyss-Coray were impressive, but needed validating in more people, particularly younger ones from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

"Is this ageing or a new way to detect early age-related disease biomarkers? The authors favour the former, I don't think the latter is ruled out," he said.

Dr Wyss-Coray said: "If we can reproduce this finding in 50,000 or 100,000 individuals it will mean that by monitoring the health of individual organs in apparently healthy people, we might be able to find "And we found that these individuals are at heightened organs that are undergoing accelerated ageing in risk for disease in that particular organ in the next people's bodies, and we might be able to treat people 15 years." The university has now submitted the before they get sick." paperwork to patent the test, in case it can be used and Prof Paul Sheils, an expert in the biology of ageing at sold in the future. More studies are needed to check Glasgow University, said it was still important to look how good it really is at predicting organ age and health at the whole body, not just individual organs, to build before that though. the most accurate picture of a person's health.

Some of Dr Wyss-Coray's earlier work suggests the Caroline Abrahams from the charity Age UK said it biological ageing process is not steady but comes in while it was great that science was exploring earlier bursts, with some rapid accelerations in people's mid- detection of serious age-related diseases, consideration 30s, early-60s and late-70s. was needed about how people might feel living with the Prof James Timmons, an expert in age-related health knowledge. Should it become a reality, she said people and diseases at Queen Mary University of London, would want emotional and clinical support alongside has also been studying blood markers of biological the test results and that the NHS would need to be age. His work focuses on detectable gene changes, ready for that - and have the funding to provide it.

One in five reasonably healthy adults aged 50-plus might have at least one fast-ageing organ, the results suggest.

And one to two in every 100 might have several organs that test older than their birthday years.

US pharma start-up to manufacture artificial retina in space New York: IANS) In a bid to find cure for blindness on Earth, a US-based pharma start-up aims to leverage microgravity on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to manufacture artificial retina in space.

The company LambdaVision will use the microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS) to develop a synthetic retinal implant that will restore sight to humans with degenerative eye diseases.

“LambdaVision is designing and developing an innovative, protein-based artificial retina that utilises a light-activated protein, bacteriorhodopsin, to restore functional sight to those who would otherwise be blind due to retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP),” said the company on its website.

No cure exists for these diseases, and currently available treatments only slow their progression.

The company will use microgravity to improve upon layer-by-layer deposition to produce the first protein-based artificial retina.

The layer-by-layer assembly methodology -- a process traditionally done on Earth -- is believed to be more beneficial when done in a LEO environment where reduced gravity improves homogeneity, stability, and performance of thin films like the

In space, “you get nice even layers” of the protein with less wasted material, Nicole Wagner, LambdaVision’s CEO, was quoted as saying to B

protein-based artificial retina, the company said.

In space, “you get nice even layers” of the protein with less wasted material, Nicole Wagner, LambdaVision’s CEO, was quoted as saying to Bloomberg.

“The goal is to be one of the first products manufactured in space that would be used here on Earth,” he added.

Since 2018, LambdaVision and its partner Space Tango have conducted eight missions to the ISS and have developed and validated space-based lab techniques and manufacturing methods.

The company has also met the goal of manufacturing multiple 200-layer artificial retina thin films in microgravity. It will undertake its 9th mission to the ISS in 2024, and aims to start human testing in three to four years.

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LIFESTYLE

Author Bio:

Decoding the wrong shoe theory trending on social media According to the wrong shoe theory, individuals intentionally opt for mismatched or unconventional footwear combinations. Here is how you can improve your personal style based on the theory HiIndia Newsdesk

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media trends, a curious and unexpected phenomenon has taken centre stage – the wrong shoe theory.

From fashion enthusiasts to casual internet users, this peculiar trend has sparked conversations, debates, and a flood of creative expressions across various platforms.

According to the wrong shoe theory, individuals intentionally opt for mismatched or unconventional footwear combinations. This departure from conventional fashion norms has captured the attention of netizens, leading to a surge in posts tagged with #WrongShoeTheory on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. The appeal lies in the deviation from traditional fashion standards, encouraging a celebration of personal style that challenges the notion of ‘matching.’

Designer Shilpi Gupta said an ensemble can look excellent without having to match. In fact, she asserted, “By intentionally avoiding a perfectly matched look, you can infuse flair and uniqueness into your style.”

This trend can be seen as a metaphor for embracing imperfections and celebrating individuality. In a world where societal pressures often dictate standards of beauty and fashion; this trend encourages people to break free from the shackles of conformity and boldly express their unique identity.

The intentional mismatching of shoes becomes a symbolic act of rebellion

against perfectionism, fostering a sense of liberation and selfconfidence.

How do you improve your personal style based on the wrong shoe theory?

Shipi Gupta emphasised that embracing the wrong shoe theory will ensure that your sense of style becomes more self-assured while encouraging your uniqueness and ingenuity. But she warned that you have to make sure your appearance doesn’t seem absurd or outlandish. ” Here are some ways you can stand out without looking too out of the box. * Strive to choose mismatched styles for a more distinctive and diverse look. * Choose fun fabrics and patterns to give your outfits more visual dimension while maintaining the harmony of your own style. * Combine colours that contrast or complement one another and can draw attention to certain pieces of your ensemble. * Seek for striking accessories, bespoke coats, or a pair of shoes that really stand out as statement items. * Incorporate colour blocking and layering. * Adding layers of varying lengths gives your outfit shape and complexity. * Deviate from the conventions of matching by breaking up a monochrome outfit.

Astro Friend Chirag

Celebrity Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla is the son of famous astrologer Bejan Daruwalla.

He is known for his detailed astrological predictions on career, health, love, finance, and business. You can visit their website bejandaruwalla.com for guidance on problems related to your life and solve your problem with the help of expert astrologer Chirag Daruwalla. For guidance on problems related to your life you can talk to Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla on Call/Whatsapp: +91 9825470377 or also mail on: info@bejandaruwalla.com

(Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla)

15th December 2023 to 21th December 2023 Aries Ganesha says people of Aries zodiac sign will be successful in impressing the world with their ability and strength this week. They will also get full support of luck in achieving their desired success in every field of life. Those who were worried about something for some time will get relief from their worries this week.

Taurus

Ganesha says this week, people of the Taurus zodiac sign will need to think carefully before taking any step forward in life. This week you will have to avoid getting misled by others, otherwise, you may have to give up. Be careful of secret enemies in the workplace, they may create obstacles in your work

Gemini

support from both seniors and juniors in the workplace.

Libra

Ganesha says this week, the dreams of Libra zodiac people will be seen coming true. At the beginning of the week, you will heave a sigh of relief if a big problem is solved with the help of a special person. Whatever direction you take this week, you will get full support from your friends and relatives.

Scorpio

Ganesha says people of the Scorpio zodiac will be successful in achieving whatever they want this week due to their intelligence, discretion, and speech. This week you will get full support of good luck. At the beginning of the week, you can make a big decision to resolve any family-related issue.

Sagittarius

Ganeshasays this week is going to bring some problems for the people of the Gemini zodiac in terms of health and relationships. Due to the emergence of seasonal or any chronic disease at the beginning of the week, you may have to face not only physical but also mental suffering.

Ganesha says this week brings auspiciousness and good fortune for the people of the Sagittarius zodiac sign. At the beginning of the week, you may hear some big good news related to your career or business. This will increase your enthusiasm and bravery.

Ganesha says people of Cancer zodiac sign will heave a sigh of relief if a solution to a major problem is found at the beginning of the week.

If you have any dispute going on in the court, then the decision may be in your favor or your opponent may take the initiative to compromise with you.

Ganeshasays people of Capricorn sign will need to think carefully before taking any step this week.

Be it career or business, even a little carelessness on your part can prove to be a disaster for you. The workload and responsibilities of employed people may suddenly increase, while opponents may try to create obstacles in their work

Cancer

Leo

Capricorn

Aquarius

Ganesha says people of the Leo zodiac sign will get many opportunities this week to move ahead in life and achieve the desired success, but they will have to avoid losing them due to laziness and pride. Unemployed people will get new employment opportunities at the beginning of the week.

Ganesha says people of the Aquarius zodiac will get the full results of their efforts and hard work done earlier this week. At the beginning of the week, you will heave a sigh of relief when the dispute related to land and building is resolved.

Ganesha says this week will bring auspiciousness and desired success for the people of the Virgo zodiac sign. From the beginning of the week, your planned tasks will be completed on time, due to which you will feel amazing enthusiasm.

Employed people will get full

Ganesha says that to get the desired says from the beginning of the week, they will see good luck working in every area of their life.

This week, you will be successful in completing your pending work with the help of officials associated with power and government.

Virgo

Pisces

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