hi INDiA | April 12, 2024 | The Community First

Arizona Elevates Abortion Issue Ahead of US Election

China's AI Plan to Disrupt Indian Elections Unveiled by Microsoft

The warning comes after China conducted a trial run during Taiwan's presidential election, employing AI to influence the outcome.

PM Modi 'Unstoppable, Inevitable' : Western Media

The Newsweek interview, conducted by the prominent magazine's global editor-in-chief Nancy Cooper, CEO Dev Pragad, and Editorial Director (Asia) Danish Manzoor Bhat, is a case in point, with the cover photo of the magazine featuring PM Modi - only the second Indian Prime Minister to figure on the cover - and the caption reading: "UNSTOPPABLE" and "How NARENDRA MODI is CHANGING INDIA and THE WORLD".

"If You Want To See The Future, Come To India": US Envoy Eric Garcetti

US Ambassador to India

Eric Garcetti praised the developmental strides made by India and its role in shaping the future of the world, saying that if anyone wants to "see the future", they should come to the country. The US envoy said he was lucky to call India his home and described the experience as a "great privilege".

Arizona pushes abortion to centre stage before US election

The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday pushed the abortion issue to centre stage in a state that could be pivotal in deciding who wins November's US presidential election.

It has prompted Democrats to go on the attack, and set many Republicans scrambling to align themselves more closely with the public sentiment.

The court paved the way for a near-total ban on abortion, a law passed in 1864 when Arizona was still a US territory, to go into effect in the coming weeks if there is no further legal action. The law had been pre-empted for nearly a half-century, as a result of the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling in Roe v Wade that guaranteed a woman's right to abortion.

Two years ago, however, the US Supreme Court overturned that abortion precedent. This gave old bans like the one in Arizonawhich became a state in 1912 - new life.

The Arizona court decision prompted quick condemnation from the Biden administration as well as from local Democrats and pro-choice activists. "This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away

At least two people shot near Ramadan celebration in Philadelphia

At least two people were shot near an event celebrating the end of Ramadan in Philadelphia, police said.

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said five people were arrested after "young people actively engaged in gunfire" close to the Eid al-Fitr celebration.No one was killed in the shooting, the commissioner emphasised. He said that the shooting occurred between "two factions" at the outdoor event where 1,000 people were present. An adult was hit in the exchange of gunfire, the police official said, and a 15-year-old suspect was shot in the leg and shoulder by police.

Ex-Trump financial chief sentenced on perjury charges

A judge in New York has sentenced the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization to five months in prison on two counts of perjury. Allen Weisselberg, 76, pleaded guilty to the charges last month, admitting he had lied under oath three times during the company's recent civil fraud trial.

women's freedom," the president said in a statement provided by the White House. While anti-abortion groups heralded the decision, many Republicans have distanced themselves from the state court action, reflecting polls that suggest a majority of the public - in the US and in Arizona - favour abortion rights and oppose strict bans on the procedure.

The party had largely opposed abortion before Roe was overturned, but is now grappling with the fallout from that decision. Kari Lake, the presumptive Republican nominee for an open Arizona Senate seat, provided a vivid illustration of the challenges and contradictions the abortion issue is presenting for conservative candidates.

Biden considering Australian request to drop Assange charges

US President Joe Biden has said that he is considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The country's parliament recently passed a measure - backed by PM Anthony Albanese - calling for the

return of Mr Assange to his native Australia. The US wants to extradite the 52-year-old from the UK on criminal charges over the leaking of military records.

Mr Assange denies the charges, saying the leaks were an act of journalism. The president was asked about Australia's request on Wednesday and said: "We're considering it."

The measure passed the Australian parliament in February. Mr Albanese told MPs: "People will have a range of views about Mr Assange's conduct... But regardless of where people stand, this thing cannot just go on and on and on indefinitely."

Worried About Eclipse, US Influencer Stabs Partner, Kills Baby, Then Dies

Los Angeles: A US astrology influencer worried about the recent solar eclipse stabbed her partner to death, then pushed her two children out of her moving car before fatally slamming the vehicle into a tree, a report said Wednesday.

Danielle Johnson, who peddled weekly "aura cleanses" on her website and offered online zodiac readings, told followers that Monday's total solar eclipse in North America was "the epitome of spiritual warfare."

"Get your protection on and your heart in the right place," she wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on April 4 under her online pseudonym Danielle Ayoka.

US and Japan boost defence ties with eye on China

US President Joe Biden and Japan's prime minister have vowed to strengthen defence cooperation in the face of a potential threat from China. The plans announced by Mr Biden and Fumio Kishida during his Washington visit include an expanded air defence network incorporating Australia. Additionally, Mr Biden said a Japanese astronaut would join Nasa's Artemis programme to put people on the moon. The astronaut will become the first non-American on the moon's surface.

Biden pressure on Israel not enough, say dissenting US officials

Danielle Johnson told her followers that Monday's total solar eclipse in North America was "the epitome of spiritual warfare."

"The world is very obviously changing right now and if you ever needed to pick a side, the time to do right in your life is now." Early Monday morning, she knifed her Air Force veteran partner dead, before taking off in a Porsche Cayenne with her two daughters, the Los Angeles Times reported. Hurtling down the major 405 freeway before dawn, Johnson shoved the children -one nine years old, the other only eight months -- out of the moving vehicle. Only the nine-year-old child survived. Half an hour later police were called to the scene of a horrific crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in which the luxury vehicle had slammed into a tree at 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour. Johnson's body had been so disfigured in the crash that identification was difficult, the Times reported.

President Biden's pressure on Israel after last week's deadly attack on aid workers did not go far enough and will fail to stem the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to current and former US officials who have spoken to the BBC. They said internal dissent in government was growing and called for tougher action on arms transfers. Israel said it would open new aid routes after President Biden threatened to reassess policy following Israeli strikes that killed seven workers from food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), including a US citizen.

One dead as severe storms hit the US Gulf Coast

A severe storm system has caused widespread flooding, tornados and has brought other storm damage to the southern US. Large areas across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were affected, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS said wind gusts of up to 75 mph were possible in some areas. One death was reported in in Scott County, Mississippi, about 200 miles (320km) north of New Orleans.

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No India Interference In 2021 Polls Won By Trudeau: Canada Inquiry

New Delhi: An official investigation into the allegations of foreign meddling in Canada elections has concluded that India didn't try to interfere in the Canadian politics.

A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections in the country were not informed of any attempt by India to influence national polls, the probe found.

"I do not believe during the 2021 election that we saw evidence of Government of India using those tools in the campaign," a poll official told the probe panel. However, the Canadian intelligence agency found that China did interfere in Canada's last two elections, according to testimony in an official probe.

Bulgarian Gang's Rs. 567 Crore UK Benefits Scam

The investigation further revealed a money laundering scheme used to clean up the stolen funds.

Five Bulgarian nationals have been convicted and face jail time for their involvement in a massive benefit fraud scheme, stealing an estimated 54 million pounds (Rs 5,67,1668600)the largest ever recorded in Britain, according to The Metro News.

The group, identified as Galina Nikolova (38), Stoyan Stoyanov (27), Tsvetka Todorova (52), Gyunesh Ali (33), and Patritsia Paneva (26), all pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and money laundering, as per the news outlet.

Microsoft To Launch AI Hub In London

London: Microsoft has announced plans for a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in London, focused on product development and research. The unit will be led by Mustafa Suleyman, the London-born cofounder of Google DeepMind, who Microsoft hired last month. As the primary backer of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Microsoft is a world leader in the rapidly-developing technology. But competition for AI talent has been heating up across Europe over the past 18 months.

A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections in the country were not informed of any attempt by India to influence national polls, the probe found.

This comes days after Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleged that India and Pakistan attempted to interfere in the Canadian elections that

took place in 2019 and 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party won both the elections, held in 2019 and 2021. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference.

Trudeau is scheduled to testify before the probe panel today.

India had earlier refuted the claims and assured its commitment to noninterference in other nations' democratic processes. "We have seen media reports about the Canadian commission enquiring into ...We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in February.

Water levels rise, homes flood in Russia after dam bursts near Kazakhstan border

Russian officials scrambled to help homeowners displaced by floods as water levels rose in the Ural River, authorities said Wednesday. Floods in the Orenburg region near Russia's border with Kazakhstan sparked the evacuation of thousands of people following the collapse of a dam on Saturday. Russia's government has declared the situation a federal emergency. Although President Vladimir Putin is frequently shown on Russian state television meeting officials and travelling across the country, the Kremlin said he is not yet planning to visit the flood-hit region.

Floods in the Orenburg region near Russia's border with Kazakhstan sparked the evacuation of thousands of people following the collapse of a dam

The river's water level in the city of Orenburg was above 10 metres (almost 33 feet) Wednesday, state news agency Ria Novosti reported, citing the regional governor. Photos shared by Russian news outlets showed roads covered in water, submerged fields and partially submerged houses.

The water was approaching high-rise buildings, Ria Novosti said, and more than 300 homes were flooded overnight, according to state news agency Tass.

Zambia uncovers 'sophisticated' Chinese cybercrime syndicate

A "sophisticated internet fraud syndicate" has been uncovered in Zambia, leading to the arrest of 77 people, including 22 Chinese nationals.

It was a "significant breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime", the

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says three sons killed in air strike

Ismail Haniyeh says that three of his sons were killed in an air strike

Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh has confirmed that three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in Gaza. Hamas-linked media said the car his sons were travelling in was hit in Al-Shati camp near Gaza City. Haniyeh said that the incident would not change Hamas's demands in talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire deal.

Israel's military said the sons were members of Hamas's military wing. The group was reportedly on its way to a family celebration to mark the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid.

Hong Kong makes largest-ever gold smuggling bust

Hong Kong authorities have made the city's largest ever gold smuggling bust, seizing 146kg of the precious metal disguised as machine parts. The haul is estimated to be worth more than $10m (£8m) and was intercepted last month on route to Japan. A 31-yearold man has been arrested and released on bail pending further investigations.

China property giant Shimao faces winding-up case

authorities said after a multi-agency raid on a Chinese-run company. The firm employed Zambians who believed they were to be call-centre agents. Among equipment seized were devices allowing callers to disguise their location and thousands of Sim cards. Golden Top Support Services, the company at the centre of the raid, has not commented on the allegations.The swoop on its premises, located in Roma, an upmarket suburb of the capital, Lusaka, was led by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and also involved the police, the immigration department and anti-terrorism unit.

China's crisis-hit property market has been dealt a fresh blow as major real estate developer Shimao Group has been hit with a winding-up petition.

State-owned China Construction Bank (Asia) filed the petition in Hong Kong over Shimao's failure to repay loans worth HK$1.58bn ($201.8m; £159.7m).

It is rare for a Chinese bank to take such legal action against one of the country's developers.

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"If You Want To See The Future, Come To India": US Envoy Eric Garcetti

'Unstoppable, Inevitable': Western media swings to the other side in appraisals of PM Modi

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) It was just a few years ago that a large section of Western media was unstinting in its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but most are now changing their tone to engage with him more and showcase his role in India's transformation and its increasing global influence.

The Newsweek interview, conducted by the prominent magazine's global editor-inchief Nancy Cooper, CEO Dev Pragad, and Editorial Director (Asia) Danish Manzoor Bhat, is a case in point, with the cover photo of the magazine featuring PM Modi - only the second Indian Prime Minister to figure on the cover - and the caption reading: "UNSTOPPABLE" and "How NARENDRA MODI is CHANGING INDIA and THE WORLD".

Anil Ambani Suffers Another Setback

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a ₹ 8,000 crore arbitral award granted in favour of Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt (DAMEPL). The award was in relation to a dispute arising out of a "concession agreement" that was entered into between DAMEPL (a subsidiary of Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure) and Delhi Metro Rail Corp in 2008. The court asked DAMEPL to refund all sums previously paid by the Delhi Metro Rail in accordance with the arbitral award. DMRC had paid ₹ 3,300 crore to the Reliance Infra arm, which now needs to be refunded.

New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti praised the developmental strides made by India and its role in shaping the future of the world, saying that if anyone wants to "see the future", they should come to the country. The US envoy said he was lucky to call India his home and described the experience as a "great privilege". "I often say if you want see the future, come to India, if you want to feel the future, come to India and if you want to work on the future,

come to India. I have the great privilege of being able to do that every single day as the leader of the US Mission," he said.

Reiterating US President Joe Biden's message for the ties between the two countries, he said that the president told him that India “was the most important country in the world” and that Washington's ties with New Delhi were “the most consequential” for shaping the world order in this century.

India-China Border Situation Needs To Be Addressed Urgently: PM Modi

New Delhi: The India-China border situation needs to be addressed urgently to resolve the "abnormality" in the bilateral interactions, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the two countries share an important relationship.

A stable India-China relations are important for the entire world, PM Modi said in an interview with US's Newsweek magazine.

"For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us," said the Prime Minister. He also hoped that the two neighbours

A stable India-China relations are important for the entire world, PM Modi said in an interview with US's Newsweek magazine.

will be able to restore peace at its borders through positive engagement. "Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire

Arvind Kejriwal Gave Orders To Atishi From Jail Through Lawyers: Delhi Court

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed an application moved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested in a money laundering case, seeking more time with his lawyers and said relevant rules are equally applicable to him and other inmates and that he allegedly used legal consultations allowed by the court to issue certain administrative directions. Special judge for CBI and ED cases Kaveri Baweja, dismissing Mr Kejriwal's application for five meetings with his

The judge cited a Delhi High Court judgment, which said every citizen of India is entitled to protection of law, which will also equally apply to him.

lawyers every week, said he failed to satisfy the court that he had been using the two permitted legal meetings per week solely for the purpose of discussing the pending litigations with his counsel. “The status report/note filed by the ED indicates that the applicant had dictated certain directions for being passed on to the Water Minister, to one of his lawyers, during the course of a legal meeting. It thus appears that the applicant is not even utilizing the permitted two legal interviews per week with his counsels solely for discussing his pending litigations and has rather used the allotted time for purposes other than legal interviews in the aforesaid manner,” the judge said.

region and world. I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders," he said while speaking to the New York-based magazine. India-China ties deteriorated steeply in 2020 after clashes between their troops in the high-altitude Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region. As many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the clashes while China took an unspecified number of casualties, prompting toplevel diplomatic and military talks. PM Modi also commented on the IndiaPakistan relations, which had taken a hit after the 2019 Pulwama attack that killed 40 Indian soldiers and was traced to terrorists from beyond the border.

BJP replaces Kirron Kher with Sanjay Tandon

The BJP on Wednesday announced Sanjay Tandon as its candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat of Chandigarh, replacing two-time MP Kirron Kher. Tandon, 60, is the party's co-incharge for Himachal Pradesh and is the son of former Chhattisgarh governor late Balramji Das Tandon who was one of the founding members of the Jan Sangh and later also served as Punjab BJP chief. He thanked the party leadership for giving him the ticket from Chandigarh, which will go to polls in the last phase of general elections on June 1, and discounted the electoral challenge posed by the INDIA bloc, saying "Politics works on chemistry, not on mathematics".

"Looking Forward To Meeting PM Modi In India": Elon Musk

New Delhi: Confirming reports of a planned visit to India, Tesla chief Elon Musk has posted on X that he is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country.

"Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister @NarendraModi in India!" Mr Musk posted on the microblogging platform, which is also owned by him, on Wednesday.

The Tesla CEO did not, however, reveal details of when the visit is likely to happen. Earlier in the day, Reuters had reported that the billionaire would visit India later this month and was expected to make an announcement about his

The billionaire executive had met PM Modi in the US last year. (File)

plans to invest in the country and open a new factory here. Mr Musk, who is also the founder of SpaceX, had met PM Modi in the US in June last year and described himself as a "fan". "I am confident Tesla will be in India and will do so as soon

as humanly possible," the CEO of the electric carmaker had said.

The announcement of the billionaire's visit comes less than a month after India had announced a new electric vehicle policy which would cut taxes by as much as 85 per cent on the import of a certain number of EVs to "attract investments by reputed global manufacturers".

Under the policy, companies setting up manufacturing facilities for passenger electric cars would be allowed to import a limited number of units at a reduced customs or import duty of 15 per cent on vehicles priced at a minimum of $35,000 (approximately ₹ 29 lakh) for a period of five years.

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Physicist Peter Higgs, Who Discovered 'God Particle', Dies At 94

British physicist Peter Higgs, whose theory of a mass-giving particle -- the so-called Higgs boson -- jointly earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics, has died aged 94, the University of Edinburgh announced on Tuesday. "He passed away peacefully at home on Monday 8 April following a short illness," the Scottish university, where he had been a professor for nearly five decades, said in a statement. It called him "a great teacher and mentor, inspiring generations of young scientists".

‘We do not accept’: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court then said Ramdev and Balkrishna tried to wriggle out of physical appearance in court and said they were travelling abroad.

New Delhi: Rejecting another set of apologies filed by Patanjali founders Ramdev and Balkrishna for the company's misleading ads, the Supreme Court today said "we are not blind" and that "it does not want to be generous" in this case. The court tore into the Uttarakhand licensing authority for not acting against Patanjali for so long, and also noted that it is not satisfied with the Centre's reply in the matter.

"The apology is on paper. Their back is against the wall. We decline to accept this, we consider it a deliberate violation of undertaking," the bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A Amanullah said.

2 Killed in Canada Shooting: IndianOrigin Victim

Ottawa: Two people, including an Indian-origin man, were killed in a shooting in Canada's south Edmonton on Monday, Canadabased CTV News Edmonton reported. The Indian-origin man has been identified as Buta Singh Gill, the owner of Edmontonbased Gill Built Homes. In a press release, Edmonton police said that Southwest Branch patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting in the area of Cavanagh Boulevard Southwest and Cherniak Way Southwest. It said that the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is investigating the death of two men in southwest Edmonton.

Raj Thackeray extends ‘unconditional’

support to PM Modi

(IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Tuesday extended his ‘unconditional support’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of a strong leadership for the future of the country and its youth. Making the announcement at a Gudi Padva rally here, the MNS chief also said that he had no expectations for any seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls or the Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

Kejriwal Jailed, Minister Quits AAP Over Corruption

New Delhi: Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand has resigned from both his post and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over what he called was the party's downfall from an anti-corruption group to a party "that's involved in corruption", a clear reference to the Delhi liquor policy case and the arrest of key leaders including AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia. Soon after Mr Anand made the huge announcement, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj in a press conference alleged Mr Anand was made to quit "under pressure" by the BJP.

Mr Anand, however, did not indicate or allude to coming under pressure as alleged by Mr Bharadwaj.

"I joined AAP after seeing its strong message on fighting corruption. Today, the party has found itself in the middle of corrupt practices. That's why I have decided to quit," said Mr Anand, who was the social welfare, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes minister. "Today, I am very sad, so I have come to share my sorrow. I came into politics when Arvind Kejriwal had said that rajniti badlegi toh desh badlega (if politics changes, the country will change). Rajniti toh nahi badli, lekin rajneta badal gaye (politics has not changed, but politicians have)," Mr Anand said.

Mr Anand, the MLA from Patel Nagar, is the first Delhi government minister to quit from his post and the AAP as a direct result of the arrest of Mr Kejriwal and the entire liquor policy case.

"I joined AAP after seeing its strong message on fighting corruption. Today, the party has found itself in the middle of corrupt practices. That's why I have decided to quit," said Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand

He also alleged the AAP of discriminatory practices in staffing leadership positions in the party.

BBC India To Transition to New Private Company in Compliance with FDI Rules

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New Delhi: On the radar of the Income Tax department after searches in its offices last year, the BBC has handed over its newsroom publishing license in India to a private limited company called Collective Newsroom, which has been set up by four former employees. The move, a first for the public service broadcaster’s global operations anywhere in the world, will see the Collective Newsroom produce all of the India content for the BBC’s digital services in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu starting next week, reported the Indian Express. “It’s unprecedented for the BBC to grant their license to publish to another entity … We will not compromise our journalism and

Under the new FDI rules, companies exceeding the 26% FDI limit were required to reduce their foreign investment to comply with this regulation by October 2021

the BBC is solidly behind us,” said Rupa Jha, who is chief executive officer of the Collective Newsroom, is one of the four founding shareholders and who has been senior news editor at BBC India. The BJP-led Union government imposed a cap of 26% foreign direct investment

(FDI) for digital news outfits operating in India.

99.99% of BBC World Service India’s shares are owned by its UK-based public broadcaster. Under the new FDI rules, companies exceeding the 26% FDI limit were required to reduce their foreign investment to comply with this regulation by October 2021.

“There were a number of options before us. Considering that the BBC didn’t want to lose its presence in India or cut jobs, and they didn’t want it to become financially unviable, this forced us to think out of the box,” Jha was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. She continued: “Based on the legal advice the BBC was receiving, everyone was veering towards this as the viable option (of setting up the Collective).”

Indian-Origin Student Found In US Days After She Went Missing

New Delhi: An Indian-American student who went missing in the US earlier this week has been found, the police said today.

17-year-old Ishika Thakore had gone missing in Frisco since Monday. The Frisco police had late last evening posted on X seeking the help of the public to trace Ishika Thakore. "Frisco PD is seeking assistance in locating 17-yearold Ishika Thakore, last seen Monday,

April 8 at 11:30 pm in the 11900-block of Brownwood Dr. in Frisco. She is approx 5'4" and 175 lbs, last seen wearing a black, long-sleeve t-shirt and red/green pajama pants," the post said.

Responding to the same post, the police today said the teenager has been located. "The 17-year-old who was the subject of our Critical Missing Alert from earlier today has been located. We'd like to thank everyone for the offers of assistance and words of support," the post further said.

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IPL 2024: Meet the Indian cricket players already emerging as the breakout stars of the year

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In IPL 2024, emerging stars are already leaving their mark, with Mayank Yadav leading the pack.

Yadav, known for his lightning-fast bowling, has made history with two consecutive Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two matches, clocking speeds over 150kmph and drawing comparisons to legendary bowlers like Shaun Tait.

Despite a recent injury scare, the 21-year-old is poised for even greater achievements, with speculation about his inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad.

Riyan Parag of Rajasthan Royals has also seized the spotlight with explosive batting displays, including two halfcenturies and a flurry of sixes. The 22-year-old, from a sporting pedigree, has impressed with his maturity and adaptability, propelling his team to the top of the league standings. Abhishek Sharma's power-hitting

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

Security will be increased at Champions League games this week after a media outlet supporting the Islamic State group published threats against venues.

A pro-IS media channel has published multiple posters calling for attacks at stadiums hosting quarter-final ties on Tuesday and Wednesday. Uefa said it was aware of the threats but said games in Madrid, Paris and London would go ahead as planned. Ministers in both France and Spain have confirmed enhanced security measures.

Indian men's hockey team goes down 1-2 against Australia

Perth: (IANS) The Indian men’s hockey team went down 1-2 against Australia in their neck-to-neck third game of the five-match Test series, here on Wednesday. Jugraj Singh (41’) was the lone goalscorer for India, while Jeremy Hayward (44’, 49’) netted two goals for the hosts. India started the game asserting their dominance through possession.

for Sunrisers Hyderabad has been another highlight, with memorable

innings against Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The 23-yearold's aggressive approach has seen him climb the batting charts with 160 runs in four matches, showcasing his potential for consistent big hits.

Meanwhile, Sai Sudharshan of Gujarat Titans has quietly ascended the ranks, despite his unassuming batting style. The 23-year-old all-rounder, hailing from a family of sports enthusiasts, has surged to the fifth position in the batting charts, underlining his reliability and contribution to his team's success.

These rising stars remind us that early success in IPL is no guarantee of longterm stardom, but their performances offer glimpses of future greatness. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate whether these promising talents can sustain their form and leave a lasting impact on the cricketing world.

Virat Kohli is one

of the few guys who's set a fitness benchmark: Ajit Agarkar

New Delhi: (IANS) Ajit Agarkar, the current India senior men’s chief selector, said talismanic batter Virat Kohli is one of the few players who has set a benchmark in terms of fitness to play the sport and serve the country for long at the international level.

Kohli, who made his international debut in 2008, is currently leading the run-making charts of IPL 2024,

amassing 316 runs in five matches, including an unbeaten 113, for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"The good thing is you have a huge pool to pick from now, there is no dearth of talent in India. One thing that is a big difference, and you can see it over the last 10-15 years, is the progress in the fitness levels of players. Because of this, they can learn much quicker.

Neeraj Chopra to compete in Paavo Nurmi Games in June

New Delhi: (IANS) Reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will return to a high-quality field of competitors at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 in Turku, Finland on June 18, the organisers announced on Wednesday.

The Paavo Nurmi Games, which is held in honour of Finnish long distance runner Paavo Nurmi, is a top-tier World Athletics event labeled as Continental Tour Gold. "Olympic champion @Neeraj_chopra1 returns to Turku in June and will face a high-quality field of competitors. The goal is to host the most competitive javelin competition of the summer before the Paris Olympics," the organisers posted on X. Indian javelin throw ace won a silver medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games in 2022 with a throw of 89.30m. He missed the Games last year due to injury.

Rashid Khan stars as Gujarat beat Rajasthan in a thriller

Jaipur: (IANS) Rashid Khan's quick-fire of 24 runs after skipper Shubman Gill's half-century helped Gujarat Titans win the match by three wickets in a lastover thriller against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, here on Wednesday. Chasing the target of 197, Gujarat Titans went off to a slow start.

Hardik was the glue that kept us together against DC

Mumbai: Ever since he made a surprising shift from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians and was named captain of the fivetime IPL winner, Hardik Pandya has been facing a kind of scrutiny he has never faced in his entire cricket career. However, Mumbai Indians' Australian middle-order batter Tim David said the skipper has played an important role in the team and going by Pandya's performance in the match against Delhi Capitals, he has been like a glue that has held the middle together and allowed the finishers to break free.

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Among the match winners whose white-ball prowess makes them the performers to watch are a Speed King from Delhi, an explosive 22-yearold batter with sports in his genes, and an Amritsar boy who has hit an extraordinary 15 sixes in four matches

Supreme Court Halts UP Madrassa Ban

The Supreme Court order comes as a big relief to about 17 lakh students studying in 16,000 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi: In a big relief to about 17 lakh madrassa students in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court today paused an Allahabad High Court order scrapping the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004. This allows about 16,000 madrassas in the state to continue functioning under the 2004 law. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the high court decision was prima facie not correct and issued notices to the UP and central governments, and the Madrassa board.

AAP: Sunita Kejriwal Steps Forward

New Delhi: AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita is the best person to keep the party together in the prevailing circumstances and asserted that her presence has had a "positive effect" on the cadre. In an interaction with news agency PTI editors at the agency's headquarters, Mr Bharadwaj, who is also a cabinet minister in the Delhi government, said Sunita Kejriwal has always said that she is the "messenger" of the Delhi Chief Minister who is currently in jail. "She is delivering the messages of Arvind Kejriwal ji. This has had a great impact on our party cadre and among our sympathisers. We want to propagate it. In the present circumstances, she is the best person to keep the party together," Mr Bharadwaj said.

Mumbai Indians get Suryakumar boost

In a big boost for struggling Mumbai Indians, world number one T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav trained with the team here on Friday after a long injury layoff and unleashed his trademark shots without any visible discomfort, raising hopes that he could compete in the team's next IPL match against Delhi Capitals.

Director Recalls Costly Stunt Shoots for 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'

Director Ali Abbas Zafar recently opened up about how he shot the movie in the old school style and in real locations to give the audience an unforgettable cinematic experience. He also shared how the movie has been made on a humungous budget. He added: "There are stunts in 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' where the spend on one day was Rs 3-4 crore, with all the paraphernalia, all the technicians and all the choppers, everything together was very expensive."

India to Export Essentials to Maldives Amid Tensions: Report

New Delhi: India has allowed limited exports of essential commodities, including sugar, wheat, rice, and onions, to the Maldives, the government said on Friday, even as ties between Male and New Delhi remained tense amid rising Chinese influence. India, a leading exporter of rice, sugar and onions, has imposed various curbs on exports of these food commodities to keep a lid on local prices ahead of the general election.nShipments of these commodities in the 2024/25 financial year which started on April 1 to Maldives "will be exempted from any existing or future restriction/ prohibition on export," the government said in a notification. The South Asian country has allowed exports of 124,218

metric tons of rice, 109,162 tons of wheat flour, 64,494 tons of sugar, 21,513 metric tons of potatoes, 35,749 tons of onions, and 427.5 million eggs to the Maldives. India has also allowed exports of 1 million tons each of stone aggregate

Congress' 2024 Manifesto Focuses On Unemployment, Promises Caste Census

New Delhi: The Congress has released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, with jobs creation, development of infrastructure, and a national caste census among the major highlights.

The manifesto was released in Delhi by party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, who was flanked by senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaramwho led the committee that drafted the

US

The party has said that, if voted to power, the party will conduct a nationwide caste census to "identify the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions".

document - was also present. "This manifesto will be 'nyay ka dastavez' (a document for justice) in the political history of the country. From the five pillars of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra' - yuva (youth), kisan (farmers), naari (women), shramik (workers), and hissedari (equity), 25 guarantees will emerge... ," Mr Kharge said.

The overall theme of the manifesto is based on 'work', 'wealth', and 'welfare', the party said. "'Work' means you must provide jobs. 'Wealth' must be created before it is distributed. 'Welfare' means taking care of the poorer sections," the Congress said.

Man Executed

and river sand.

The Maldives, which has traditionally had close ties to India, is pivoting towards Beijing since new President Mohamed Muizzu was elected in October on a promise to end the country's pro-India stance.

Kangana Ranaut Says Subhas Chandra Bose Was "India's First PM"

New Delhi: The Bharat Rashtriya Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao today took a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi seat for the Lok Sabha elections, Kangana Ranaut after she called freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose "India's first Prime Minister". In a post on X, KTR said, "One BJP candidate from North says Subhas Chandra Bose was our first PM!! And another BJP leader from South says Mahatma Gandhi was our PM!! Where did all these people graduate from?"

For Killing Indian And Another Person In Oklahoma In 2002

Houston: A 41-year-old man convicted of shooting and killing two people, including an Indian, in the US state of Oklahoma in 2002 was executed on Thursday.

Michael Dewayne Smith was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in the McAlester town, television station KOCO-TV reported. Smith had been on death row for the murders of 24-year-old Indian store clerk Sharath Pulluru and 40-year-old Janet Moore in separate incidents on

Michael Dewayne Smith was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in the McAlester town, television station KOCO-TV reported.

February 22, 2002.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond released a statement on Smith's execution, saying, "I pray that today brings some measure of peace for the families of Janet Miller-Moore and Sharath Pulluru. It has been a long and difficult 22 years for their loved ones, and my heart aches over the agony they have endured." "I want the people of Oklahoma to know that the victims of Michael Smith were good and decent people who did not deserve their fate," Drummond said.

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Biden Announces Student Loan Debt Reduction Plans

Mumbai Shops Without Marathi Signage Face Double Tax

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Shops and establishments in Mumbai without Marathi nameplates will have to pay double property tax from May 1, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation announced on Monday. Also, the license issued for an illuminated signboard (glow board) not in the Marathi language will be cancelled with immediate effect and a new registration will have to be done. If the glow sign board license is revoked, the establishment owners concerned will be charged a penalty ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. These decisions were taken at the meeting chaired by BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani.

China Claims US Wrongfully Deported Students

"China will take resolute measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens. The US needs to immediately stop unjustifiably harassing," she said.

Beijing: China on Monday accused the US of forcibly deporting Chinese students without any valid evidence and warned of "resolute measures" to safeguard the interests of its nationals.

The US has been overstretching the concept of national security and without any valid evidence, arbitrarily cancelled Chinese students' visas, banned them from entering the US and forcibly deported them, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here.

Washington: US President Joe Biden was unveiling new plans Monday to reduce student loan debt for millions of Americans, in a fresh bid to win over young voters who will be crucial in November's election.

The Democrat's proposals come after his initial, bigger ambitions to cancel several hundred billion dollars of debt were struck down by the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court in June.

Trump: Israel Losing Gaza PR Battle

The former US president, not usually known for biting his tongue on any given topic, has only halfheartedly commented on the issue in two recent interviews. "I'm not sure that I'm loving the way they're doing it," he told a conservative radio host Thursday about Israel's offensive. And in an exchange with Israeli media, Trump warned that videos "of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza" offer "a very bad picture for the world." "Israel is absolutely losing the PR war," the 77-yearold told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Arvind Kejriwal To Stay In Jail, Petition Against Arrest Rejected

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal will remain in jail, the Delhi High Court said Tuesday afternoon as it knocked back the Chief Minister's challenge to his March 21 arrest in the alleged liquor policy scam. The court noted the Enforcement Directorate - which arrested Mr Kejriwal after the High Court refused protection - had submitted material to suggest the Aam Aadmi Party leader had conspired to formulate the now-scrapped policy and was involved in demanding the claimed kickbacks of ₹ 100 crore, some of which was used to fund campaign expenses for the 2022 Goa Assembly election.

The court also noted the ED's submission of statements by approvers (accused

turned government witnesses) and an AAP Goa candidate claiming he had been paid with the alleged kickbacks.

Mr Kejriwal's arrest was therefore ruled valid and his plea dismissed. The court, therefore, upheld earlier remand orders - which sent him to the ED's custody and then to Delhi's Tihar Jail till April 15. In its verdict - scheduled for 2:30 pm and

China can't seize any land under Modi Govt.: Amit Shah

Asserting that China couldn't encroach a "single inch" of land under the Narendra Modi government, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that people will never forget how former PM Jawaharlal Nehru said "bye-bye" to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during the 1962 Chinese aggression.

Addressing an election rally in Lakhimpur, he said the BJP-led government at the Centre secured the

country's border with Bangladesh and stopped infiltration.

"During the Chinese aggression of 1962, Nehru had said 'bye-bye' to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. People of these states can never forget that," Shah said. "But now, China could not encroach even a single inch of our land. Even in Doklam, we pushed them back," he added.

He said that Assam's border with Bangladesh was earlier "open for infiltration".

"Then the Modi government came at the Centre, and the Himanta Biswa Sarma's government here. Now, we can say that infiltration has stopped," Shah said. He alleged that the previous Congress government in Assam did injustice to the state, and scores of youths were killed in different violent movements and insurgency-related incidents.

Arvind Kejriwal - whom the Enforcement Directorate has dubbed the scam's "kingpin" - will remain in Delhi's Tihar Jail till April 15, in line with a city court's order last week.

then delayed to 3:15 pm - the court began by taking a dim view of Mr Kejriwal's arguments from April 3, in which he questioned approvers' statements. The court said doubting grant of pardon to accused (in exchange for information implicating other accused) "amounts to casting aspersions on the judicial process". "The law is over 100 years old... it is not a one-year-old law falsely enacted to implicate the petitioner," the court said sternly.

Last week, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued, "... in first statements there will be nothing against me. Some are arrested and, for first time, they give a statement against me and get bail without objection. Then they get pardon and become approver."

Cash, liquor, freebies valued at Rs 71cr seized so far in Telangana

Hyderabad, April 9 (IANS) The preelection seizure of cash, gold, liquor and freebies in Telangana has reached Rs 71.73 crore, an official said.

The enforcement agencies have seized cash, precious metal, liquor and other items across the state since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect last month. During the previous week, they seized cash, liquor, gold and freebies worth Rs 25.67 crore. According to the office of the chief electoral officer, the police, the Income Tax department and the ED have so far seized cash of Rs 29.31 crore.

"Never Witnessed Anything Like It": Eclipse Leaves North America Spellbound

Eclipse mania gripped North America on Monday as a breathtaking celestial spectacle captivated tens of millions of people, offering a rare blend of scientific interest, commercial opportunity and daytime partying.

The Moon's shadow plunged the Pacific coast of Mexico into total darkness at 11:07 am local time (1807 GMT) then swept across the United States at supersonic speed, returning to the ocean over Canada's Atlantic coast just under an hour-and-a-half after landfall.

Festivals, viewing parties and even mass weddings took place along the eclipse's "path of totality," where the Sun's corona glowed from behind the Moon in a display that left crowds awestruck. "It was spectacular. I had never witnessed anything like it," said Paulina Nava, a

36-year-old resident of the beachside Mexican city of Mazatlan. People "screamed, they applauded, some were taking photos, others were kissing," she added. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who traveled to the city, called the event a "very beautiful, unforgettable day."

Thousands of miles away in downtown Montreal, Canada, office workers spilled out of skyscrapers to snap pictures with their eclipse glasses held to their phones. "My heart was beating really fast," said 26-year-old Erica Park.

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China's AI Plan to Disrupt Indian Elections Unveiled by Microsoft

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Microsoft has warned that China is gearing up to disrupt the upcoming elections in India, the United States and South Korea by using artificial intelligence-generated content. The warning comes after China conducted a trial run during Taiwan's presidential election, employing AI to influence the outcome.

Last month, Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates met Prime Minister Narendra Modi In New Delhi and discussed the use of AI for social causes, women-led development and innovation in health and agriculture.

Across the world, at least 64 countries, in addition to the European Union, are expected to hold national elections. These countries collectively account for approximately 49 per cent of the global population.

According to Microsoft's threat intelligence team, Chinese state-backed cyber groups, along with involvement from North Korea, are expected to target several elections scheduled for 2024. Microsoft said that China will likely deploy AI-generated content via social media to sway public opinion in favour of their interests during these elections.

"With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the United States, we assess that China will, at a minimum, create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests," Microsoft said in its statement.

Threat Of AI In Elections

The threat posed by political advertisements employing AI technology to produce deceptive and false content, including "deepfakes" or fabricating events that never took place, is significant in a crucial poll year. Such tactics aim to mislead the public regarding candidates' statements, stances on various issues,

The warning comes after China conducted a trial run during Taiwan's presidential election, employing

AI to influence the outcome.

and even the authenticity of certain events. If allowed to go unchecked, these manipulative attempts have the potential to undermine voters' ability to make well-informed decisions.

While the immediate impact of AIgenerated content remains relatively low, Microsoft warned that China's increasing experimentation with this technology could potentially become more effective over time. The tech giant noted that China's previous attempt to influence Taiwan's election involved the dissemination of AIgenerated disinformation, marking the first instance of a state-backed entity utilising such tactics in a foreign election.

During the Taiwanese election, a Beijing-backed group known as Storm 1376, or Spamouflage, was notably active, Microsoft said. This group circulated AI-generated content,

including fake audio endorsements and memes, aimed at discrediting certain candidates and influencing voter perceptions. The use of AI-generated TV news anchors, is a tactic also employed by Iran.

"Storm-1376 has promoted a series of AI-generated memes of Taiwan's thenDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai, and other Taiwanese officials as well as Chinese dissidents around the world. These have included an increasing use of AI-generated TV news anchors that Storm-1376 has deployed since at least February 2023," Microsoft said.

AI Influence In US Affairs

Microsoft pointed out that Chinese groups continue to conduct influence campaigns in the United States, leveraging social media platforms to pose divisive questions and gather intelligence on key voting demographics.

"There has been an increased use of Chinese AI-generated content in recent months, attempting to influence and sow division in the US and elsewhere on a range of topics including the train derailment in Kentucky in November 2023, the Maui wildfires in August 2023, the disposal of Japanese nuclear wastewater, drug use in the US as well as immigration policies and

17 Indians, Lured Into Unsafe Work In Laos, On Way Home: S Jaishankar

New Delhi: Seventeen Indian workers, who were lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said today.

He also complimented the Indian embassy in Laos for its successful efforts in the case. In a post on X, he said, "Modi ki Guarantee works for all at home and abroad. Seventeen Indian workers, lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home."

"Well done, @IndianEmbLaos. Thank Lao authorities for their support for the safe repatriation," he added. The external affairs ministry on Thursday cautioned Indian nationals against falling prey to human traffickers

promising lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia.

In an advisory, the ministry called upon Indians looking at job opportunities in the southeast Asian country to thoroughly check the background of the prospective employer.

"It has come to attention that Indian nationals, lured by fake promises of lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia, are falling into the trap of human

In a post on X, he said, "Modi ki Guarantee works for all at home and abroad. Seventeen Indian workers, lured into unsafe and illegal work in Laos, are on their way back home."

traffickers," it said. The ministry said these Indian nationals are "coerced" to undertake online financial scams and other illegal activities. "Indian nationals intending to visit Cambodia for employment are cautioned to do so only through authorised agents. It is also advised that the background of the prospective employer in Cambodia is checked thoroughly," it said.

racial tensions in the country. There is little evidence these efforts have been successful in swaying opinion," Microsoft stated.

The use of AI in US election campaigns is not new. In the lead-up to the 2024 New Hampshire Democratic primaries, an AI-generated phone call mimicked President Joe Biden's voice, advising voters against participating in the polling.

The call falsely insinuated that voters should withhold their votes for the general election in November instead. Upon hearing this message, the average voter could easily have been misled into believing that President Biden himself had endorsed this directive, potentially leading to their disenfranchisement. Although there is no evidence of Chinese involvement in the New Hampshire episode, the incident marks one of many such instances where AI posed a direct threat to democratic practices.

Road Ahead For India

India's general elections are scheduled to begin on April 19, with the results set to be declared on June 4. The electoral process will unfold across seven phases, with the first phase commencing on April 19, followed by the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and culminating with the seventh phase on June 1. The current term of the 17th Lok Sabha Assembly is set to conclude on June 16. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already provided guidelines and protocols for promptly identifying and responding to false information and misinformation.

Last month, representatives from OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, met with members of the ICI and delivered a presentation to the commission members outlining the measures being undertaken to prevent the misuse of AI in the upcoming elections.

Sikhs in Canada observe April as Heritage Month

Chandigarh: (IANS) With eight lakh Sikhs calling Canada their home, April is observed as Sikh Heritage Month to celebrate the rich history and contributions of the community there.

As per the Canadian encyclopedia, Sikhism is a major world religion that arose from the teachings of Guru Nanak. There are about 27 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the fifth-largest religion.

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Sanjay Dutt dispels election rumors, remains independent

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who will be seen in the upcoming Kannada film ‘KD - The Devil’, has cleared the air about reports of him joining politics. The actor took to his X handle on Monday to share that as of now, he has no intention of stepping into the arena of politics. He also requested his followers not to believe in such rumours, saying that if there’s any political development in his career, he will be the first to announce it. “I would like to put all the rumours about me joining politics to rest. I am not joining any party or contesting elections. If I do decide to step into the political arena, I will be the first one to announce it. Please refrain from believing what is being circulated in the news about me as of now," Dutt tweeted.

Akshay, Tiger pray at Abu Dabi BAPS Hindu Mandir

Mumbai: (IANS) Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, who are currently in Abu Dhabi to promote their upcoming action entertainer 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', have sought blessings at the BAPS Hindu Mandir.

It is the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The temple constructed and run by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) was inaugurated on February 14. Taking to social media, Akshay shared a video, wherein he can be seen wearing a white kurta with black motifs on it and paired it with black trousers. Tiger is sporting a green kurta and beige coloured pants. The duo is seen joining hands and touching the feet of the temple's priest. The actors are having an interaction with the priest and taking a round of the temple.

Akshay and Tiger are also seen doing aarti inside the temple. The post is captioned as: "Got the opportunity to visit the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, it was an absolutely divine experience."

Raveena on patriarchy

Still a challenge for women, both at work and

home

Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon, who is receiving lots of positive response for her work in the streaming movie ‘Patna Shuklla’, feels that despite progressive laws and the improved thought process of society, patriarchy is still very much prevalent in the current times. The actress also said that women still face the challenges thrown by patriarchy in both their personal and professional circles.

Elaborating on the same, Raveena, who plays lawyer Tanvi Shukla in ‘Patna Shuklla’, said, “Patriarchy is something that every woman has faced and is still facing, be it at work or at home. ‘Patna Shuklla’ is a journey of a woman commanded by patriarchy and one who breaks away from it."

“Tanvi doesn't see patriarchy as a challenge, she chases justice and breaks the glass ceiling of patriarchy along the way. I want the audience to take in Tanvi's courage, warmth, and determination because no challenge will sustain for long then," she added.

The film dives into the education scam of fake roll numbers that affects the lives of thousands of earnest students in India. Produced by Arbaaz Khan Productions and directed by Vivek Budakoti, the courtroom drama is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

No Toys for Big Boys: Real weapons used in Akshay-Tiger-starrer 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’

Mumbai: (IANS) The makers of the upcoming Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff-starrer action film 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ have used real weapons to amp up the cinematic experience. The film boasts thrilling car chases, intense knife combat, breathtaking arrow fights, dynamic lab action sequences, and a myriad of other jaw-dropping stunts.

Among the arsenal of specialised weapons utilised in the film are - Chinooks, Black Hawks, C-235, Humvees, Oshkoshes, Military trucks, Military Land Rovers, ATVs, and tanks.

Talking about using real weapons for the film, director Ali Abbas Zafar said: "There is nothing more satisfying than shooting real stunts on real locations with real weaponry and equipment. We are thankful to each country for all their support for

letting us use the real military equipment in the film. Guns, tanks, military trucks, chinooks and many other weapons have been used in the movie.”

“We have kept it all real with the best technical team and action crew. The explosion, equipment, and locations are real, and all the actors have performed brilliantly during all the situations. Everything we have attempted is with real safety. So, I think when you watch Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, somewhere or the other, you will feel the thrill.”

The film, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar of ‘Sultan’ and ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ fame, also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Manushi Chhillar, and Alaya F, and promises a cinematic spectacle that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Divyenndu reveals major Mirzapur Season 3 spoiler

In an exclusive interview with Humans of Bombay, actor Divyenndu who plays the fan-favourite character of Munna Tripathi in Prime Video’s Mirzapur revealed the shocking news, “On Humans of Bombay, I shall declare, I am not a part of Mirzapur Season 3.” In an unexpected twist, at the end of the second season of the crime drama, the beloved character was killed. However, fans continue to speculate conspiracy theories that Munna Tripathi is in fact alive. “For me, Munna was a really troubled soul. I knew that this was a banger of a script and it would be iconic. It would explode. But, funnily enough, initially, I was approached for Babloo’s character but then a couple of days later they realised I would be a much better fit for Munna.” “When I was in character, it was affecting my personality a lot. We shouldn’t over-romanticize going too deep into a character because it is not easy. At times it used to get really dark for me. I felt suffocated. It’s so tricky that you don’t even realise that you are in that zone. It’s only when you come out of it you realise how dark it was.”

People are quick to blame the girl Kriti Sanon

Actor Kriti Sanon, who was recently seen in the films Crew and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, said that it would be nicer if the people in the film industry supported each other genuinely rather than just complimenting each other superficially. Kriti said that she has her doubts if people are actually happy when someone does well, but added that things are slowly changing now. In a chat with Zoom TV, Kriti said, “We will be somewhere else if we start uniting and start supporting each other. Genuinely supporting and genuinely feeling good… Not doing it for the heck of it, just being there, clapping and applauding for each other. It’s just going to be much nicer, happier and a much more successful place.” She added, “I don’t see that unity so much here. I don’t know how many people are genuinely happy when a

film does well but I think that’s changing a little bit. At least, I am hoping.”

Kriti said that when one watches something that really moves them, it actually makes a difference when they compliment the actors and the creators for their work. “As actors, we thrive on validation,” she said.

When asked about the sexist narrative where a film’s failure is often blamed on women, Kriti said that the success or failure of a film is not dependent on one person. “I have come across really hurtful comments.

A film, succeeding or not, is not one just person. It’s a whole team,” she said,

Dhanush, Aishwarya

Rajinikanth file for divorce

Actor-filmmaker Dhanush and director Aishwarya Rajinikanth have filed for divorce.

According to media reports, the couple filed a petition seeking divorce at a Chennai family court recently under Section 13B of The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (divorce by mutual consent).

In January 2022, Dhanush and Aishwarya had announced that they are moving their

Kiran Rao

separate ways. Taking to social media, Dhanush had written: “Eighteen years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well-wishers to each other... The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting. “Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better."

Dhanush and Aishwarya, who got married in 2004, are parents to two sons -- Yatra and Linga.

On the work front, Aishwarya made a comeback as a director with 'Lal Salaam', which had her father Rajinikanth playing an extended cameo.

Dhanush’s latest release is 'Captain Miller', an action-adventure film directed by Arun Matheswaran and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films.

Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 announces release in June

Makers of Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 gave an exciting update to fans via social media on Saturday. Lyca Productions announced that the film will release in June. The makers also released a new poster featuring Kamal in his look from the film. Indian 2 is the sequel to the 1996 film Indian, which also starred Kamal as Veerasekaran Senapathy. The franchise brings back Kamal and director S Shankar for the sequel. Lyca Productions took X to make the announcement.

Indian-American comedian Zarna Garg to tour Mumbai and Delhi

Mumbai: (IANS) Indian-American stand-up comedian and screenwriter Zarna Garg is all set to bring her acclaimed comedy show titled ‘Practical People Win’ to India for the very first time. The multi-city India journey will kick off with two performances in Mumbai at Y.B. Chavan Auditorium on April 20 followed by Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir on April 21. The tour will then make a muchanticipated stop in New Delhi on April 25 at the Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium. Garg is “absolutely elated” to be bringing her comedy back to India, which she tagged as “the country of my heritage.”

Marriage can be ‘suffocating’, especially for women

Laapataa Ladies director Kiran Rao and Bollywood star Aamir Khan parted ways in 2021. She recently discussed how they continue to share a great friendship despite the dissolution of their marriage.

Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, who amicably parted ways in 2021, after being married for 15 years, continue to maintain a strong friendship and professional partnership. Co-parenting their son Azad, the former couple was recently seen promoting Kiran’s directorial venture, Laapataa Ladies, bankrolled by Aamir’s production house. In a recent interview with Brut India, Kiran, who candidly spoke about her divorce from the Lagaan actor during the promotion of her recent film, spoke about her marriage and separation from Aamir. “Aamir and I lived together for about a year before we got married, and honestly, we did it more because of our parents. At that time too, we knew that it’s a great institution if you can function as an individual as well as a couple within that institution,” she shared. Kiran also highlighted how a marriage can have a

negative impact on an individual where one is likely to feel trapped. She added, “I think the thing that we don’t talk about enough is how marriage tends to stifle, especially women. So, how do you know you could perhaps find a way to be more yourself within it, is I think something that is up for debate and discussion.” Sharing her own experience and how she dealt with it, she said she “took my sweet time so I didn’t have any worry about it.” She emphasised the role Aamir and their strong relationship played in helping her overcome the situation and deal with it better. “The thing is, Aamir and I were very strong and continue to have a very strong relationship as two humans. We are very connected to each other; we deeply respect and love each other, so that hasn’t changed, and so, therefore, I was not worried. I knew that I needed my space. I wanted to live independently, and I needed that to grow myself.”

Google Cloud CEO announces new capabilities, advanced chips for AI era

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian on Tuesday announced several new capabilities and solutions in the AI era to drive customer success and momentum, including custom silicon advancements, Google Axion which is the company’s first custom Arm-based CPU designed for the data centres, and Gemini 1.5 Pro. Gemini 1.5 Pro offers two sizes of context windows – 128,000 tokens and 1 million tokens, and is now available in public preview.

“In addition, we are announcing the ability to process audio files including videos with audio. Customers can process vast amounts of information in a single stream including 1 hour of video, 11 hours of audio, codebases with over 30,000 lines of code, or over 700,000 words,” Kurian said as the company organised its ‘Google Cloud

Next’ event in the US. The company also enabled “AI anywhere” through Google Distributed Cloud (GDC), allowing the users to choose the environment, configuration, and controls that best suit their organisation's specific needs. Kurian said that ‘Google Axion’ delivers up to 50 per cent better performance and up to 60 per cent better energy efficiency than comparable currentgeneration x86-based instances.

Jamie Dimon: Bank boss warns US interest rates could rise to 8%

The boss of one of the world's biggest banks has warned US interest rates could climb to 8%.

Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan Chase, said his bank has prepared for interest rates to jump because of "persistent inflationary pressures".

Paytm Banking Unit CEO Surinder Chawla Resigns

India's Paytm said on Tuesday that Surinder Chawla had resigned as the chief executive officer and managing director of its banking unit Paytm Payments Bank "on account of personal reasons".

The company said the resignation would be effective from June 26 but did not shed light on any potential successor to Chawla.

The exit follows the stepping down of Paytm's top boss Vijay Shekhar Sharma as non-executive chairman of Paytm Payments Bank, as part of a major board overhaul that followed a central bank clampdown on the digital payments firm's banking unit.

Central banks around the world have been busy raising rates in a bid to dampen rising prices.

But with US inflation gradually easing, the overwhelming expectation is for the Federal Reserve to cut rates this year. Markets are pricing in two quarter-point rate cuts in 2024.

In his annual letter to shareholders, Mr Dimon said that the bank was ready for a "very broad range" of rates, from 2% to 8% or even higher, potentially pushed up because of high government spending and the need to curb price rises. Mr Dimon's comments come as US interest rates rest in the range of 5.25% to 5.5% - higher than they have been for more than 20 years.

“Vertex AI, our enterprise AI platform, sits on top of our world-class infrastructure. It is the only unified platform that lets customers discover, customize, augment, deploy, and manage gen AI models,” he informed. The company is offering more than 130 models, including the latest versions of Gemini, partner models like Claude 3, and popular open models including Gemma, Llama 2, and Mistral.

Indian Surgeon Receives Honorary Fellowship from ASA

Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti (center)

WASHINGTON, DC – Hyderabadbased breast surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has been bestowed with the Honorary Fellowship of the American Surgical Association (ASA). Dr. Raghu Ram, the founding director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, is the third surgeon from South Asia to receive this prestigious honor, which stands as the highest recognition that ASA can bestow upon a surgical colleague from a foreign country. Professor Steven Stain, President of ASA, delivered Dr. Raghu Ram’s citation to the delegates gathered from across the US and the world.

TSMC wins subsidies to expand US chip manufacturing in Arizona

Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has agreed to build a third factory in Arizona, raising its total investment in the United States from $40bn (£32bn) to $65bn (£51bn).

The US government has committed

Ola to Exit UK, Australia, New Zealand; Prioritizes India Operations

Ride-hailing services provider Ola has decided to shut down operations in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and will continue to focus on India business, its promoter ANI Technologies said on Tuesday. The Softbank-backed company said that it sees immense opportunity for expansion in India.

"Our ride-hailing business is growing rapidly, and we remain profitable and segment leaders in India.

The future of mobility is electric - not just in personal mobility, but also for the ride-hailing business and there is immense opportunity for expansion

in India.

With this clear focus, we have reassessed our priorities and have decided to shut down our overseas ride-hailing business in its current form in the UK, Australia and New Zealand," an Ola Mobility spokesperson said.

The company had launched these operations in phases in 2018.

The consolidated revenue from operations increased by about 48 per cent to Rs 2,481.35 crore in FY23 from Rs 1,679.54 crore in the yearago period. On a standalone basis, ANI Technologies, which comprises a ride-hailing business, has reported a narrowing of loss to Rs 1,082.56 crore in FY23 compared to a loss of Rs 3,082.42 crore in FY22.

"We remain very excited and focused on our mission to serve 1 billion Indians. As a technology-first business, leading with innovation, we are confident to spearhead the country's mobility ambitions and lead the next phase of growth in the industry at large," the spokesperson said.

$6.6bn in subsidies and $5bn in possible loans to support the plans. The deal is part of an effort to boost semiconductor production in the US. The US is currently highly dependent on Asia, especially Taiwan, for chips. But it has been pushing to expand local supply amid increased tension with China, citing economic and national security risks.In 2022 the country approved more than $50bn in grants to support manufacturing and research for the industry. The Commerce Department has predicted that the investments will expand America's share of production of the most advanced chips from zero to about 20% by 2030.

USCIS Resolves Work Permit Limbo With Automatic Extension

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In Washington, DC, USCIS announced a significant extension for certain EADs, benefiting nearly 800,000 renewal applicants and preventing work authorization lapses. The revised policy extends automatic extensions to 540 days, up from 180 days previously. USCIS estimates this will protect 60,000 to 80,000 employers from negative impacts.

Director Ur M. Jaddou stressed the importance of this extension in maintaining continuous employment authorizations. Moreover, she highlighted its role in allowing the DHS more time to gather public input for long-term solutions. The temporary final rule applies to eligible EAD renewal applicants filing on or after Oct. 27, 2023, covering asylum, TPS, and adjustment of status cases. This measure aims to ensure eligible noncitizens can maintain their employment authorization benefits.

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CMAA Announces 2024 Annual Gala: ‘Voice & Vision’ Event Set To Inspire And Unite

CHICAGO, IL – Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA), a pan-Asian 501(c)(3) social services non-profit, is excited to announce its upcoming event: the Voice & Vision Annual Gala: Thriving Families, Entrepreneurial Spirit. Scheduled for April 11th at Galleria Marchetti, this gala promises an evening of inspiration and community engagement.

Bringing together 400 supporters, stakeholders, community leaders, and allies from the Chicagoland area, CMAA’s Annual Gala is a testament to solidarity and progress. Guests will enjoy a delightful dinner alongside captivating programming, including heartwarming client stories that underscore CMAA’s profound impact on the community.

This year’s gala theme, Voice and Vision: Thriving Families, Entrepreneurial Spirit, shines a spotlight on the resilience and creativity of local entrepreneurship. Through its Small Business Development Center, CMAA

NY Consul General Opens Thomas Abraham Library at Kerala Center

NEW YORK, NY – On April 7th, the Thomas Abraham Library was ceremoniously unveiled at the Kerala Center in New York, an event graced by the esteemed presence of the Consul General of India, Binay Srikant. This library, envisioned as a pivotal resource hub, marks a significant milestone in fostering Indian diaspora research. Comprising an extensive array of books and historical documents, it stands poised to become a beacon of knowledge and cultural preservation,

as declared by the center.

Christened in honor of Thomas Abraham, whose profound contributions have sculpted numerous Indian American community institutions over the past five decades, the inauguration witnessed an outpouring of admiration and gratitude from the community’s esteemed leaders. They reverently lauded Abraham’s transformative endeavors, acknowledging the indelible mark he has left on the collective narrative of the Indian diaspora. Residing in Stamford, CT, Thomas Abraham finds an unwavering source of support in his wife, Dr. Susy Abraham, a distinguished geriatrician who has left her own indelible mark on the field of healthcare. Together, their legacy resonates not only within the confines of their local community but reverberates across continents, symbolizing the enduring spirit of unity and progress among the Indian diaspora.

Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force 2024 Report

Washington, DC—Since May 2021, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force (CFETF) has been vigilant in holding accountable individuals exploiting pandemic relief efforts. With over 3,500 defendants charged, and more than $1.4 billion recovered from CARES Act fund seizures and forfeitures, CFETF's efforts have been substantial. Additionally, they've secured over 400 civil settlements and judgments.

To achieve these outcomes, CFETF implemented a comprehensive strategy, including the establishment of five prosecutorial COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Forces in California, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida. These teams received dedicated

provides crucial support to small business owners and entrepreneurs, empowering them with the tools and connections necessary for success. Join us in celebrating and championing our community’s network of small business innovators! From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, guests will be treated to CMAA youth cultural performances, a raffle, a silent auction, and the presentation of prestigious awards to deserving individuals and organizations:

Visionary of the Year Award: Grace Hou-Ovnik, Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services CMAA recognizes Grace Hou-Ovnik for her exemplary leadership as the former CMAA executive director, her philanthropic endeavors, and her significant contributions to government and civic engagement.

Tarun Bajaj Named Chair of US-India Tax Forum

Former Indian Revenue Secretary to spearhead forum for discussing key advocacy areas across tax regimes in India

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has announced the appointment of Tarun Bajaj, former Revenue Secretary and former Secretary of Economic Affairs to the Government of India, as the head of US-India Tax Forum.

Officially launched on Feb 25, 2020, US-India Tax Forum is USISPF’s dedicated Tax Policy Forum which enables focused discussion on important advocacy areas across tax regimes in India.

Ohio Police Find Body of Missing Indian Student

Mohammed Abdul Arfath, 25

Disturbingly, on March 19, Arfath’s family received a harrowing ransom call from an unidentified individual, alleging his abduction by a drugtrafficking syndicate and demanding a ransom of USD 1,200 for his release.

funding to tackle pandemic-related fraud. Moreover, a pioneering National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force was formed, utilizing data from state workforce agencies and the Small Business Administration to identify pandemic relief program exploiters. Further aiding CFETF's mission is the Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which employs sophisticated data tools to detect and deter fraud across various government agencies. Despite these achievements, CFETF acknowledges that their work is ongoing. To sustain their efforts and ensure fraudsters are held accountable, legislative action is deemed necessary. Proposed measures include extending the statute of limitations for all COVID-19 fraud-related offenses, prolonging the statutory authorization for thePRAC, and allocating adequate resources for COVID-19 anti-fraud endeavors, encompassing data sharing, lead development, criminal prosecutions, and asset recoveries.

CLEVELAND, OH-A tragic turn of events has unfolded in the case of Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-yearold Indian student who had been missing for several weeks. His lifeless body was discovered in Cleveland, Ohio, following extensive efforts by both law enforcement authorities and the Indian Consulate in the United States, who had been collaborating to locate him.

Expressing profound sorrow, the Consulate General of India in New York shared the distressing news of Arfath’s demise, conveying their deepest condolences to his grieving family. They affirmed their commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, emphasizing their ongoing coordination with local agencies. Additionally, they pledged unwavering support to facilitate the repatriation of Arfath’s remains back to his homeland.

Originally from Nacharam, Hyderabad, Arfath had embarked on a journey to pursue a Master’s degree in IT at Cleveland University, arriving in the United States in May

of the preceding year. Concerns arose when communication with Arfath ceased abruptly, with his family’s last contact with him dating back to March 7. Disturbingly, on March 19, Arfath’s family received a harrowing ransom call from an unidentified individual, alleging his abduction by a drug-trafficking syndicate and demanding a ransom of USD 1,200 for his release.

The Consulate General of India had been actively engaged in the search for Arfath, liaising closely with his family and authorities in the United States since March 21, striving for his swift and safe return. However, the hopes of a reunion were shattered with the heartbreaking discovery of his deceased body.

Tragically, Arfath’s fate adds to a series of distressing incidents involving Indian or Indian-origin students in the United States. Just days prior to Arfath’s demise, the Indian Consulate had mourned the passing of Uma Satya Sai Gadde in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, on March 18, the community was struck by the loss of Abhijeeth Paruchuru, another Indian student, in Boston, Massachusetts. These unfortunate events serve as poignant reminders of the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by international students pursuing their dreams abroad.

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India to pursue terrorists into Pakistan: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's comments come a day after Britain's Guardian newspaper published a report alleging the Indian government killed 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader plan to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil

New Delhi: India will enter Pakistan to kill anyone who escapes over the border after trying to carry out terrorist activities in the country, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told CNN News18 on Friday.

Mr Singh's comments come a day after Britain's Guardian newspaper published a report alleging the Indian government killed 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader plan to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil.

"If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them," Mr Singh told the channel in response to a question about the report.

99-Year-Old Indian Woman Receives US Citizenship

New Delhi: A 99-year-old Indian woman, Daibai, has embarked on a remarkable new journey after being granted US citizenship. Making the announcement, the USCIS described Daibai as a "lively" individual. "They say age is just a number. That seems true for this lively 99-year-old who became a #NewUSCitizen in our Orlando office. Daibai is from India and was excited to take the Oath of Allegiance. She's pictured with her daughter and our officer who swore her in. Congrats Daibai," USCIS said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Iran Prepares to Attack Israel, Tells US to Step Aside

Iran said it asked the US to "step aside" as the country prepares a response to a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Syria while Hezbollah, its main proxy in the Middle East, warned the Jewish state it's prepared for war. In a written message to Washington, Iran "warned the US not to get dragged into Netanyahu's trap," Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, wrote on X.

"Neighbourhood First": S

Jaishankar New Delhi: Responding to Maldivian minister Moosa Zameer remarks thanking India for the decision to export essential commodities to the island nation for the fiscal year 2024-2025, Union minister S Jaishankar has reiterated New Delhi's commitment to its policies of neighbourhood first.

PM Modi Criticizes Congress Manifesto

New Delhi: Launching a volley against the Congress with less than two weeks to go for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the party's manifesto is a bundle of lies and every page of the document reeks of attempts to tear India apart.

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Ajmer on Saturday - with the Congress also holding an event in nearby Jaipur to "publicly launch" its manifesto - the PM said that the party's thoughts in the manifesto resemble those of the Muslim League during the pre-Independence period. "The Congress issued a bundle of lies

in the form of its manifesto which has unmasked the party. Every page reeks of attempts to tear India apart. It reflects the thoughts that the Muslim League had before Independence. The Congress wants to impose the Muslim League's thoughts from that era on the India of today. And what is remaining of the manifesto is dominated by communist and leftist thoughts," PM Modi said in Hindi. The Congress has hit back at the PM and said he "does not know his history". Claiming that the Congress of today is bereft of principles and policies, the Prime Minister said it was apparent that the party has outsourced everything.

Another Indian Student Dies In US, 10th Incident This Year

New Delhi: An Indian student has died in the US state of Ohio, the Indian Consulate in New York said on Friday, adding that an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of death.

The student, identified as Uma Satya Sai Gadde, was pursuing his education in Ohio's Cleveland. The Indian Consulate expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the bereaved

This incident marks yet another episode in a concerning trend of deaths involving Indian-origin students in the United States.

family. They assured that every possible support, including facilitating the transportation of his body to India, is being provided to the family during this distressing time.

"Deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of Mr. Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio," the Indian Consulate in New York wrote in a post on X. "Police investigation is underway. @IndiainNewYork continues to remain in touch with the family in India. All possible assistance is being extended, including to transport Mr Uma Gadde's mortal remains to India at the earliest."

"The Congress issued a bundle of lies in the form of its manifesto which has unmasked the party. Every page reeks of attempts to tear India apart. It reflects the thoughts that the Muslim League had before Independence. The Congress wants to impose the Muslim League's thoughts from that era on the India of today. And what is remaining of the manifesto is dominated by communist and leftist thoughts," PM Modi said in Hindi.

Manish Sisodia's judicial custody extended till April 18

New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) A Delhi court on Saturday extended AAP leader Manish Sisodia's judicial custody till April 18 in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, was produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court on the expiry of his previously extended judicial custody. On Tuesday, Sisodia's bail application was argued by his counsel alleging delay in completing the investigation in the case. Sisodia's counsel Mohit Mathur had argued that despite 11 months passing since the investigation concluded, there has been no evidence linking his client to the alleged bribe money.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's "War Zone"

Message Day Ahead Of March To Ladakh

Leh: Prohibitory orders, including internet curbs, have been imposed in Ladakh a day ahead of the planned border march being led by climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk to "highlight the ground realities in Ladakh". Mr Wangchuk, who is currently on a hunger fast in Leh, advised people in Ladakh to not carry out the march, and instead raise their voices from wherever they are on Sunday. Thousands were expected to join the 'Pashmina March', which is part of the

agitation for statehood, to the Line of Actual Control on Sunday. Mr Wangchuk, who inspired the Aamir Khan-starrer film '3 Idiots', had also said that the march would highlight the "ground realities in Ladakh". He has claimed that over 4,000 square km of land has been grabbed by China.

Taking to X, Mr Wangchuk said that security forces equipped with smoke grenades, riot gear, and barricades have been deployed in the region even though their protest has been peaceful so far.

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The climate activist and education reformer had hit out at the administration over alleged steps to scuttle the march.

"Lame Excuses": Delhi LG

Kishor's Poll

Prediction: East, South Signal for Opposition

Less than two weeks before the general election, poll strategist Prashant Kishor sounded a red alert for the Congress and INDIA opposition bloc, warning of improved performances - seats + vote share - by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party across six eastern and southern states. Mr Kishorwho has guided the Congress, the Trinamool, and the Aam Aadmi Party to wins over the Prime Minister's BJP - repeated his warnings of the past - that the ruling party is not invincible.

Maldives Ex-Minister Apologizes for Controversial Post Linked to Indian Flag

New Delhi: A suspended minister of the Maldives has apologised after her social media post against opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which had a symbol resembling Ashok Chakra, sparked a row.

"I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism. I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post," Mariyam Shiuna, who belongs to the same party as President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, posted on X today. "It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP bore a resemblance to the Indian flag. I want to make it clear that this was entirely unintentional, and I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused," she added.

New Delhi: Amid the festering AAP vs BJP row - kicked into high gear last month after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest - Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena wrote to the Union Home Secretary to complain of a "lack of seriousness" by Delhi government's ministers when called to meetings at the LG's office. Mr Saxena's office has alleged a lack of cooperation from Delhi's Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, and Public Works Department Minister Atishi.

Bihar Has Maximum Anti-Incumbency

New Delhi: Political strategist Prashant Kishor has said that Bihar has a lot of space for a new party as it has "maximum antiincumbency" following the nearly 35-year rule of ideologically similar formations headed by either Lalu Prasad Yadav or Nitish Kumar. His comments came as his ongoing 'Jan Suraaj' yatra through his home state is expected to end with the formation of a political party before the assembly polls in the latter half of the next year.

Solar Eclipse: Anticipation grows as millions hope for clear skies

Eclipse watchers are keeping a close eye on the weather ahead of a solar eclipse that will plunge a wide strip of North America into daytime darkness on Monday.

Forecasters are predicting cloudy conditions in northern Mexico, Texas and parts of the Great Lakes region. Better weather is expected in western Mexico and parts of the US Midwest. And some of the best viewing is likely to be under clear spring skies in New England and Canada.

Arkansas and neighbouring states into darkness.

As the path crosses over the US Midwest, a phenomenon known as totality - when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon - will cross over the cities of Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo.

At around 15:18 Eastern (19:18 GMT) the eclipse will reach Niagara Falls, where a record crowd of up to a million people is expected to turn out to watch mist from the famous cataract turn a pinkish hue - provided the weather co-operates.

The shadow of the Moon will run across the Earth at a speed of 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h) - tracing a north-easterly arc through the states of Durango and Coahuila before casting parts of Texas,

Starting in the Pacific Ocean, the eclipse will become visible on the coast of Mexico near the city of Mazatlan at about 11:07 local time (19:07 BST).

"Its Best Friend...": M Kharge Responds To BJP's "Muslim League Imprint" Jab

New Delhi: The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party exchanged sharp attacks Monday over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Muslim League imprint" and "bundle of lies" jibe at his rival's manifesto for the Lok Sabha election.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has led the fightback - he said the BJP is aware it is going to lose this election and is acting out of fear - and the party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission.

On Saturday, while addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, the Prime Minister declared the Congress' manifesto "completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League". He repeated that claim at a rally in Chhattisgarh's Bastar this morning, after which BJP President JP Nadda said, "Congress has been repeatedly rejected but they are insistent on politics of appeasement. I saw the manifesto and was surprised. Is it their manifesto or that of the Muslim League..."

The shadow will continue to travel north east through the New England states and into Canada's Maritime provinces before tracking into the Atlantic Ocean and ending at 20:55 BST.

Biden Surveys Site Of Collapsed US Bridge

Washington: President Joe Biden took an aerial tour on Friday of the collapsed Baltimore bridge that is blocking a key East Coast shipping lane, and he pledged federal help in rebuilding the span, an idea some Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have resisted. A cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, sending it splashing into the harbor and killing six people. Work to clear the wreckage and restore traffic through the Mid-Atlantic state's shipping channel is ongoing.

New Zealand Tightens Visa Rules As Migration Hits "Unsustainable" Levels

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand said on Sunday that it was making immediate changes to its employment visa program after a near record migration last year which it said was "unsustainable".

The changes include measures such as introducing English language requirement for low skilled jobs and setting a minimum skills and work experience threshold for most employer work visas. The maximum

continuous stay for most low skilled roles will also be reduced to three years from five years.

"The Government is focused on attracting and retaining the highly

skilled migrants such as secondary teachers, where there is a skill shortage," Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said in a statement.

"At the same time we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages," she said.

Last year, a near record 173,000 people migrated to New Zealand, the statement said. Neighbouring Australia, which has also seen a big jump in migrants, has said it would halve its migrant intake over the next two years.

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Extraordinary tattoos from around the world

Body art has come a long way in the past two decades, from Māori symbolism to the "warm hug" tattoo. Here are nine works by a new generation of tattoo artists who are bringing innovation and diversity to this ancient art.

Tattoos have become the ultimate fashion statement. Barely a week goes by without an actor, pop star, sport star or model making headlines with new body art. Ink always starts a conversation, whether it's British TV and radio presenter Maya Jama's tiny new ankle tattoo, a spontaneous decision made in the fog of a hangover; or US rapper Chrisean Rock's widely criticised face tattoo of her ex-boyfriend Blueface to protest against his incarceration. Today, designs are more varied, and often more detailed, as tools and tastes have evolved; and women, trans and non-binary artists of a range of cultures

now take up space in what was once a predominantly white male profession. From reclaiming flesh scarred by surgery, to promoting the culture of marginalised groups, the tattoo artist of today responds to society's evolving

needs. As Snape writes in the book: "Tattooing is a way to hold power in a world that often feels like it is spiralling out of control." Here are nine extraordinary changemakers: A tattoo should feel like "a warm

Aries

hug", says Singapore-based artist Ian Damien, who sees tattoo art as playing an important role in body positivity. His bold work flits between complex geometric designs and traditional Japanese imagery, and seeks, he says, to "preserve history", as well as "create new, contemporary visual material". Damien, whose aesthetic is influenced by the ornate Buddhist temples that his Chinese parents took him to, is just six years into his career, but his eyepopping style and empathetic approach have set him apart. "Tattooing can help

a customer build a better relationship with their body," he says in the book. "It can help make someone feel better and leave this world a better place… one clean line at a time."

Author Bio:

Chirag Daruwalla is the best celebrity astrologer who is one of the most famous names in the astrology world. Chirag Daruwalla has more than 18+ years of experience. You can ask for any advice related to career, health, finance, business, money, and love marriage. He has complete knowledge, solutions, and guidance to all the problems related to life. If you want to avail his astrological services then you can visit his website chiragdaruwalla.com. For guidance on problems related to your life, you can talk to Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla on Call/ Whatsapp: +91 8141566266 or also mail: info@ chiragdaruwalla.com

12th April 2024 to 18th April 2024

Ganesha says that Aries people should understand this very well this week that love never demands, it always gives, so take special care of your loved one’s feelings and needs this week. If there is any misunderstanding or dispute going on with the love partner, then you can convince him/her by giving a nice gift. Married life will be happy. Contingent money will be received in the middle of the week.

Taurus

Ganesha says that the people of Taurus will be successful only if they plan and work this week. Do not start any work half-heartedly and take special care of your health. Can be a victim of seasonal or any chronic. Businessmen will get the profit of the business with little trouble.

Gemini

Ganesha says that this week will be full of fun for Gemini people. There will be accidental profit. An environment will be created in the workplace to solve the problems that have been going on for some time. This week, on the strength of your work, you will be able to give a befitting reply to your opponents.

Cancer

Ganesha says that Cancerians will have to work harder this week to improve their circumstances. There will definitely be assurances from acquaintances and relatives, but the work will be successful only with your own efforts and hard work.

Leo

Ganesha says that Leo people will have to be more careful with their competitors this week. One has to take a step forward keeping his tricks in mind, otherwise, he may try to let you down. You can go on a religious journey in the middle of the week.

Virgo

Ganesha says that this week will be auspicious and beneficial for the people of Virgo. This week, a favorable environment will be created for your plans of progress and profit. Along with this, suddenly a huge amount of money may have to be spent on comforts

Libra

Ganesha says that the people of the Libra zodiac will have to take full care of this thing this week. Don’t beat your hands and feet in four places at the same time, otherwise, all the opportunities will go out of hand. If you wish, you can achieve the success you want with wisdom and discretion.

Scorpio

Ganesha says that for the people of the Scorpio zodiac, only after the struggle at the beginning of the week, there will be chances of success in the workplace. Start a new plan only after contemplation. If possible, postpone for a few days. Solve family and officerelated problems one by one.

Sagittarius

Ganesha says that the people of Sagittarius will get full support of good luck this week. All your thought works will be completed. New possibilities will emerge in the workplace. Pending cases and transfer-related matters in the court will get the desired success.

Capricorn

Ganesha says that the people of Capricorn should light the torch of light instead of cursing the darkness. Solve family and officerelated problems one by one. Take advice from experienced people and do not postpone today’s work for tomorrow.

Aquarius

Ganesha says that the people of Aquarius will have to tie knots this week that make good use of time and make promises to someone after thinking carefully, otherwise, you may have to repent in the future.

Pisces

Ganesha says that the people of Pisces have to understand one thing very well. Therefore, if you do not know any work, then refuse it clearly, otherwise, you may have to be humiliated. There will be chances for long-distance travel at the beginning of the week. Take special care of both your health and your luggage during the journey, as there will be a possibility of a loss of money.

( Celebrity Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla)

EBT Unlimited: Expand Your Customer Base And Boost Sales

Did you know that over 40 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) to help feed their families? That translates to a significant amount of purchasing power – power that can be channeled into your convenience store or retail business.

By accepting EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) payments, convenience stores and retailers open their doors to a wider customer base, increase overall sales, and gain a competitive edge. Even better, with programs like NRS EBT Unlimited, implementing EBT acceptance is easier and more cost-effective than ever.

In this article, we’ll explore what EBT is, its undeniable benefits to businesses, and why NRS EBT Unlimited is the ideal solution for store owners ready to tap into this growing market. Let me know if you’d like further expansion on the other sections!

The Core Benefits of Accepting EBT

• Expanded Customer Base: EBT acceptance unlocks access to a substantial segment of the local population who depend on these benefits for essential purchases. These individuals might not otherwise shop at your store, missing out on the goods and services you provide.

• Increased Sales: The direct result of a larger customer base is increased sales volume. Customers with EBT benefits can now allocate spending toward your store, boosting your bottom line.

• Competitive Advantage: In areas

with multiple convenience stores or retail options, offering EBT acceptance sets your business apart. Customers relying on these benefits will naturally gravitate towards stores that make their lives easier and allow them to maximize their resources.

• Community Goodwill: Accepting EBT positions your store as a valuable community resource, demonstrating

your commitment to serving all residents of your area. This fosters positive brand perception and increases customer loyalty across all demographics.

Why NRS EBT Unlimited is the Right Choice

NRS EBT Unlimited isn’t just about accepting EBT – it’s about doing so to maximize convenience and minimize costs for your business. Here’s why it stands out:

• Cost-Effective Solution: The flat monthly fee structure eliminates the uncertainty of traditional pertransaction fees, ensuring predictable costs and making budgeting easier. This

transparency allows you to calculate the ROI of EBT acceptance for your store easily.

• Seamless Integration: NRS EBT Unlimited is designed to integrate effortlessly with NRS POS systems. This translates to a quick and painless setup process, minimizing downtime and swiftly getting you up and running with EBT acceptance.

• Customer Support: NRS understands that implementing a new payment method can sometimes raise questions. That’s why they prioritize excellent customer support, providing you with guidance and assistance throughout the setup process and for any ongoing EBT-related needs.

• Beyond the Basics: NRS is committed to providing value beyond processing EBT transactions. They may offer insights, best practices, or marketing resources to help you make the most out of this expanded customer base.

Real Results: Hear from NRS Clients Small business owners like Ramesh Patel are experiencing tangible benefits from accepting EBT with NRS Unlimited.

Texas Hindu Temple Sued For Million Dollars Allegedly Branding Kid With Hot Iron

SUGAR LAND, TX- An incident that happened in a temple in Texas has been the talk of town for the Indian American community. A father in Sugar Land, Texas, has sued a Hindu temple for a million dollars. According to the father, his 11-yearold son was branded with hot metal during a religious ritual.

According to father, Vijay Cheruvu his child was burned as part of a ceremony at the Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land. The temple is run by Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET) USA Inc. The lawsuit was filed on April 1. The incident allegedly occurred Aug 5. Cheruvu has joint custody of his son. He said he discovered infected burns on both of the boy’s shoulders a week after he’d visited the temple. Cheruvu said he discovered burn marks and by then the injuries were infected according to the

lawsuit alleges.

According to Harris County court records the child told police his mother had taken him to the temple for a ceremony for a new statue. At one point, the child said, men and women were divided into two lines. He said the religious leader picked up a metal brand that had been in charcoal, placed it onto a leaf before applying it to one shoulder, then repeated the process for the other shoulder, according to court records.

The lawsuit claims employees of the temple were negligent and should have stopped the boy from participating. Medical care was also not provided, the suit states. According to the report, when the father booked an appointment with the child’s pediatrician, the doctor insisted that the injuries be reported to police. Charges of injury to a child were brought against the child’s mother. A grand jury declined to indict her in January, Harris County court records show.

Since implementing EBT Unlimited with NRS in my c-store at the gas station, I’ve seen a real difference,” says Ramesh Patel, owner. “There’s been an increase in traffic – more customers coming in to use their EBT benefits. Because of that, I’ve seen a boost in sales for other convenience items, too. NRS made the whole process easy, and the flat monthly fee is straightforward. It’s been a win-win for my business and my customers.

Ready to Grow Your Business? Accept Unlimited EBT with NRS

By accepting EBT, convenience stores and retailers open themselves to a wider market, increase revenue potential, and strengthen their positions within their communities. The benefits are undeniable, and with solutions like NRS EBT Unlimited, the process has never been more streamlined or cost-effective. Take advantage of the opportunity to grow your business and better serve your neighborhood. Embrace the power of EBT and see its positive impact on your bottom line and your store’s reputation.

Are you ready to accept EBT in your store? Call NRS today at (833) 2892767 for a personalized consultation, or learn more about our “EBT Unlimited!” on our website. Our team can guide you and help you get certified and set up for EBT as well as eWIC acceptance.

99-Year-Old Indian Becomes US Citizen

ORLANDO, FL – The USCIS recently celebrated a remarkable milestone as 99-year-old Daibai achieved American citizenship. In a touching announcement shared on X, USCIS lauded Daibai’s vivacity and resilience, emphasizing that age is merely a number in her case. The official post read, “In a heartwarming moment at our Orlando office, we welcomed a spirited 99-year-old as a #NewUSCitizen. Daibai, hailing from India, radiated joy as she took the Oath of Allegiance.” The USCIS not only conveyed the significance of Daibai’s achievement but also captured the poignant scene for posterity. In the snapshot, Daibai, seated in a wheelchair, beams proudly, clutching her citizenship certificate. Standing beside her are her daughter and the USCIS officer who administered the oath, symbolizing the culmination of a lifelong dream and a testament to the enduring spirit of the American dream.

Elie Y. Katz, President & CEO; National Retail Solutions (NRS)

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Ceremony at the Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, TX

Iowa’s Immigration Policy Stays Soft: Tough Measures Remain Absent

CBP Expands Mobile Passport Control to All Preclearance Airports

IOWA- Listening to Iowa Republicans express their dismay over President Joe Biden’s border policies is evident, with many believing that contrasting Biden with Donald Trump on immigration is key to victory in upcoming elections. Despite this, Governor Kim Reynolds is set to sign a bill that appears tough on immigration but is unlikely to yield significant change for months. The proposed legislation, Senate File 2340, introduces the crime of “illegal reentry” and imposes penalties aimed at deportation. However, its practical implications raise concerns, such as heightened distrust of law enforcement among undocumented immigrants and potential burdens on local police. Moreover, the bill’s requirement to designate an official to oversee deportations strains resources and lacks support from law enforcement lobbyist

Legally, the bill faces challenges as states

are prohibited from enforcing their immigration policies, as affirmed by the US Supreme Court in 2012. Texas’ similar law has been stalled in court, underscoring the constitutional limitations on state immigration initiatives. Despite arguments for stronger state intervention, such measures risk disrupting federal enforcement efforts and straining diplomatic relations. Ultimately, Iowa’s Senate File 2340 represents political posturing rather than effective policy. Instead of challenging federal authority, constructive avenues such as voting and legislative action should be pursued to address immigration concerns within constitutional bounds.

Heroic Air And Marine Operations Crew Rescues Migrant Facing Peril At Sea

LAREDO, TX — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations agents swiftly came to the aid of a distressed migrant on April 1, 2024, approximately 25 miles northeast of Laredo, Texas.

Responding to reports from Laredo Sector Border Patrol Dispatch about four lost migrants in the vicinity, a Laredo Air Branch AS-350 aircrew sprang into action, noting that one migrant potentially required urgent medical attention. Conducting an aerial search, the aircrew successfully located the group, with one individual observed lying unresponsive on the ground. Upon landing, an Aviation Enforcement Agent (AEA), equipped with Air and Marine Emergency Medical Services (AMEMS) certification, promptly engaged at the scene. Working alongside the migrants, they carefully extricated the unresponsive individual from dense

DOJ Settles Immigration Discrimination Claims With Security Firm

WASHINGTON, DC- The Justice Department announced a settlement with Securitas Security Services USA Inc. over allegations of Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) violations. The agreement resolves claims that certain Securitas locations discriminated against non-U.S. citizens regarding work authorization verification. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, “Employers must not limit the documents workers can use to prove work permission.” The settlement addresses practices at Securitas’ East Bay area locations in California from Feb. 3, 2020, to Dec. 20, 2021, and similar actions company-wide until June 23, 2022. Securitas will pay $100,000 in civil penalties and establish a $75,000 backpay fund for victims. Additionally, it will train staff on INA compliance, review policies, and undergo departmental monitoring.

vegetation, placing him onto a nearby road for assessment.

During their interaction with the migrants, the AEA discovered that the individual had depleted their water supply, resorting to drinking from nearby ponds and cattle tanks, potentially exposing themselves to contaminants. As a result, the group began experiencing symptoms of illness, culminating in the

distress of the incapacitated individual. Recognizing the severity of dehydration and heat exhaustion, the AMO agent, functioning as an EMT, initiated immediate treatment, applying ice to key areas and administering fluids. Through these interventions, the individual gradually regained consciousness and exhibited signs of coherence.

Jonathan B. Taber, Director of Air and Marine Operations, Laredo Air Branch, emphasized the significance of their agents’ adaptability, seamlessly transitioning from enforcement duties to life-saving operations. He highlighted the critical role played by their rapid response in preserving lives. Following initial treatment, the AEA transferred the patient to a U.S. Border Patrol EMT for further evaluation and care. Benefiting from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle, the migrant received ongoing attention to ensure their well-being.

Manoj Bhargava Faces Lawsuit From Sports Illustrated

Manoj Bhargava

NEW YORK, NY- Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Sports Illustrated, initiated legal action against Indian American energy drinks mogul Manoj Bhargava on Monday, alleging his failure to fulfill financial obligations amounting to millions of dollars for the rights to publish the renowned

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today that Abu Dhabi has joined the roster of Preclearance locations offering U.S. citizens and select non-U.S. travelers the convenience of using the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) mobile application to streamline the CBP inspection process before boarding U.S.-bound flights. This addition means MPC is now accessible at all 14 Preclearance airport locations managed by CBP’s International Field Office, spanning from Aruba to Winnipeg, Canada, and including popular destinations like Dublin, Ireland, and Nassau, Bahamas. CBP’s Executive Director of International Operations and Advisory Directorate, Donald Conroy, emphasized, “Mobile Passport Control is an integral part of enhancing travelers’ arrival experience, offering additional options to expedite entry into the U.S.”

magazine.

According to reports, the 51-page lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. It claims that Bhargava and Arena Group, the publisher under his control, are in arrears of $48.75 million in payments and are also liable for damages due to copyright and trademark infringements against Sports Illustrated. This legal confrontation marks the latest episode in the ongoing feud between Authentic Brands Group and Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy drink. Bhargava’s attempts to gain control of Sports Illustrated’s parent company have triggered a series of litigations and turmoil within the sports publication.

At present, Sports Illustrated is under the management of Minute Media, a sports-media company based in New York. Minute Media secured the rights to operate the magazine by forming a new agreement with its owner, thereby superseding Arena Group’s involvement.

The MPC mobile app is free to download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Travelers can input their passport and travel details in advance, reducing congestion and streamlining processing upon arrival. Each household can submit a single MPC transaction for up to 12 family members. Upon arrival at participating locations, travelers can use the app to submit their information and take a selfie for each member of their group. Then, they can proceed to the designated MPC queue for processing by CBP officers.

As travel volumes rebound postpandemic, CBP remains pivotal in facilitating trade and travel.

The MPC program, initiated in August 2014, now operates in 51 locations, serving over 1.8 million travelers in Fiscal Year 2023. For comprehensive information on MPC, including user eligibility, visit the CBP MPC website.

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Indo-American Community Federation

Marks 30 Years Of Unity And Achievement

MILPITAS, CA – In a jubilant gathering on March 29th, the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF), founded by Jeevan Zutshi, celebrated its 30th anniversary with the annual Unity Dinner at the India Community Center. This year’s theme, “Unity through Diversity: Breathing Life into Education,” highlighted the importance of social and emotional learning in enriching the education system and equipping youth to tackle contemporary challenges.

The focal point of the event was a panel discussion moderated by attorney Anjali Zutshi, spotlighting the SKY Schools program. This initiative trains educators and youth worldwide in managing their minds, emotions, and stress through wellness practices such as yoga and meditation. The panel featured prominent figures like Bill Herman, Director of SKY Schools, and Kasturi Basu, a school principal who successfully implemented the program. Notable panelists also included Dr.

Parachute Saves Lives in Florida Plane Crash

(L-R) Jeevan Zutshi & Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni

Nilima Sabharwal, founder of Home of Hope, Vivek Prasad from the Fremont Unified Board of Education, and Elaine McDonald from the Alameda County Board of Education.

Distinguished messages were delivered, including one from Alam Khydeeja, Executive Director of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, representing the fastest-growing ethnic group in California. The Chief Guest was the esteemed Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, Founder President of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti. Assemblymember Ash Kalra delivered a keynote address emphasizing unity in diversity. The sold-out event attracted over

350 community members, including prominent figures such as mayors, council members, and supervisors from various Bay Area cities. Notable attendees included Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, and Congressman Ro Khanna. The Unity Dinner also garnered extensive support from Bay Area community organizations, including the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), FIA/FOG, Foundation for Excellence, Kashmiri Overseas Association, BAPS, Jain Center, Association of Indo-Americans (AIA), IbadatKhana led by Tasawar Jalali, and the Hindu American Foundation.

USCIS Issues Updated Guidelines Regarding Form I-693 Validity Period

IIFA Utsavam 2024 returns with Sheikh Nahayan's patronage

The esteemed celebration of South Indian cinema, IIFA Utsavam, is set to embark on its global tour, starting on September 6th and 7th, 2024, in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. With the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan

Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance & Coexistence, this two-day extravaganza promises to showcase the immense talent and cultural richness of South Indian cinema against the vibrant backdrop of Yas Island. In collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Miral, IIFA Utsavam will captivate audiences with a stellar lineup of performances, awards, and cinematic experiences. This prestigious event serves as a unifying platform for the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries, highlighting their global contributions to entertainment.

SEFFNER, FL- An airplane parachute was instrumental in averting a tragedy when a small plane crashed into a residential backyard in Florida last week. Witness accounts, captured on camera, vividly depict the harrowing descent of the aircraft, drifting and twirling with the aid of its deployed parachute.

The shock of the event is palpable in the witnesses’ voices as they react to the unfolding scene. “Oh my god,” they exclaim, realizing the severity of the situation. “That’s an actual plane.” Florida’s first responders, briefed by local Tampa authorities, revealed that the aircraft came down in close proximity to an unoccupied residence. Remarkably, the parachute became entangled with a tree during descent, potentially mitigating a catastrophic collision with power lines, as highlighted by fire officials.

Despite the gravity of the crash, the occupants—a pair of adults— sustained injuries but were fortunately listed in stable condition following their transport to a nearby hospital.

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has made an announcement regarding the validity of Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. As of November 1, 2023, any Form I-693 properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon will not expire and can be used indefinitely to demonstrate that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. This decision, made in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is based on advancements in public health electronic notification. Consequently, the evidentiary value of Form I-693 is no longer restricted to a specific timeframe if it meets the criteria of proper completion and signature by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023. However, USCIS officers retain the discretion to request additional evidence or a new Form I-693 if they suspect changes in the applicant’s medical condition since the form’s signing, or if they believe the submitted

form does not accurately reflect the applicant’s health status, potentially rendering them inadmissible on healthrelated grounds. For individuals who underwent immigration medical examinations prior to November 1, 2023, the previous policy remains applicable. Before this date, civil surgeons were not required to electronically share or report certain information to the CDC. USCIS, in consultation with the CDC, has determined that a Form I-693 properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon before November 1, 2023, remains valid for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature. However, it’s important to note that this provision does not extend to Forms I-693 filed by Operation Allies Welcome parolees, as their forms retain evidentiary value for three years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature, as outlined in policy and consultation with the CDC. For further details, refer to the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part B, Chapter 4.

Andre Timmins, Founder/Director of IIFA Utsavam, expressed his excitement for the event, stating, “We are thrilled to return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, under the honorable patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan. Together, we aim to create an electrifying celebration of South Indian cinema, showcasing its finest talents and stories to a global audience.”

Taghrid AlSaeed, Executive Director Group Communications & Destination Marketing at Miral, remarked, “We are incredibly proud to host this celebration of talent and diversity on Yas Island. This event underscores Yas Island’s position as a top global destination for entertainment, attracting world-class events and shining a spotlight on its spectacular offerings.”

The two-day celebration will feature a diverse array of cinematic experiences, with day one dedicated to Tamil and Malayalam cinema, and day two focusing on Telugu and Kannada cinema. Attendees can expect exclusive screenings, performances, and immersive experiences, ensuring an unforgettable journey for cinema enthusiasts.

Pre-registration for early bird access and special ticket offers is now open, offering enthusiasts the chance to fully immerse themselves in this unique celebration of South Indian cinema. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable cinematic journey!

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Diabetes patients to be offered artificial-pancreas technology

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Tens of thousands of people with type 1 diabetes in England are to be offered a new technology, dubbed an artificial pancreas, to help manage the condition.

The system uses a glucose sensor under the skin to automatically calculate how much insulin is delivered via a pump. Later this month, the NHS will start contacting adults and children who could benefit from the system. But NHS bosses warned it could take five years before everyone eligible had the opportunity to have one. This is because of challenges sourcing enough of the devices, plus the need to train more staff in how to use them. In trials, the technology - known as a hybrid closed loop system - improved quality of life and reduced the risk of long-term health complications. And at the end of last year, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said the NHS should start using it.Nearly 300,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes, including about 29,000 children. It means their pancreas fails to produce insulin, an important hormone that helps turn food into energy.They have to closely monitor levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood and give themselves insulin every day of their lives, via either injections or a pump. And this new technology does that automatically, virtually mimicking the function of a pancreas - although it still requires information on food intake to be inputted at mealtimes to work accurately.

The new technology is intended to help prevent people with type 1 diabetes experiencing life-threatening low or high blood glucose levels, which can lead to unconsciousness

and can even be fatal.

And it also helps to improve overall blood sugar control, which means the chance of complications - like heart disease, eyesight problems and kidney

disease - decreases.

Scotland is also offering the technology, and Wales and Northern Ireland could soon follow suit.

Gemma Lavery, 38, from Plymouth,

who is using the device after being part of an NHS pilot scheme, says it has transformed her life.

"I no longer have to worry about workrelated stress affecting my bloodglucose levels, as the closed loop helps to sort this out before it becomes a problem," she says.

"I can have a full night's sleep without worrying about regular low glucose levels hindering my morning routine and I have found that my diabetes is more stable."

'Incredibly exciting'

Prof Partha Kar, NHS national speciality advisor for diabetes, said the move was "great news for everyone with type 1 diabetes".

"This futuristic technology not only improves medical care but also enhances the quality of life for those affected," he added.

NHS England diabetes clinical director Dr Clare Hambling said the technology "holds the power to redefine the lives" of people with type 1 diabetes.

She added: "Type 1 diabetes is an easily missed diagnosis, so if you are concerned about symptoms - the four 'T's - going to the toilet, passing urine more frequently, with thirst, feeling tired and getting thinner, please come forward for support."

Diabetes UK chief executive Colette Marshall said: "It's incredibly exciting to see this technology being rolled out. "This really is a landmark moment." Nice approved the NHS roll-out of the system last December, with the NHS later setting out a five-year plan for how to provide it for those eligible. Nice recommends its use for those with type 1 who are in certain categories, including children and under-18s, pregnant women, and those with a HbA1c reading - a way of recording long-term blood sugar levels - of 58 mmol/mol, or 7.5%, or higher.

Become custodian of your health, do annual checkups: Cardiologist Devi Shetty

On the occasion of World Health Day, top cardiologist Devi Shetty on Sunday advised people to become custodians of their health and take preventive health checkups every year.

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7 to raise awareness on health and related issues. This year's theme 'My Health, My Right' focuses on equal access to quality health care. "You should become custodian of your health. You should feel responsible for your health and do the right things. You have only one body that God has given you. You can change your car or house, but you cannot change your body. Once you ruin, it's very difficult to reverse," Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, told IANS.

He said this even as India is seeing

According to a recent 'Health of the Nation' report by Apollo hospitals, more younger Indians are facing the challenge of cancer

mounting cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes,

hypertension, and cancer, among a host of others like obesity and mental health issues.

According to a recent 'Health of the Nation' report by Apollo hospitals, more younger Indians are facing the challenge of cancer. About three in four people were found either obese or overweight and, obesity incidence has increased from 9 per cent in 2016 to 20 per cent in 2023.

Hypertension incidence increased from 9 per cent in 2016 to 13 per cent in 2023, while two of three Indians or 66 per cent are in the pre-hypertensive stage. In addition, the data also showed that one in 10 people have uncontrolled diabetes and one in three are prediabetic.

"You go out in major cities around seven o'clock or eight o'clock and just look around what people are doing. Everyone is eating, and it has become an entertainment. And then you see

young people struggling with obesity. The root cause of most of the problems is sedentary life and exotic food, which is available at low cost," the doctor said. Recently, India has been witnessing a spate of heart attack cases and related deaths, ranging from school students and even among the seemingly-fit celebrities.

"The fit athletic people, unfortunately, do not know their fitness, and the heart cases have nothing to do with how fit the people are. It is because more than 50 per cent of heart patients do not have symptoms. And the first thing they know is a major heart attack and a small percentage of them even die," Shetty said.

The cardiologist said that the rising heart attack cases are not related to Covid-19 and that in most cases, the people had a pre-existing disease.

The technology automates the release of insulin into the bloodstream

Devi Shetty

USCIS Widens Automatic Extension for Work Permits

The temporary measure will benefit nearly 800,000 EAD renewal applicants, including those eligible for employment authorization under various categories.

USCIS has introduced a temporary final rule extending the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. The aim is to prevent work-authorized noncitizens from experiencing a lapse in their employment authorization while awaiting USCIS adjudication of their pending EAD renewal applications. This measure supports uninterrupted operations for U.S. employers and aligns with the BidenHarris Administration's efforts to integrate work-authorized individuals into the workforce.

USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou highlighted the agency's strides in reducing EAD processing times and acknowledged the strain on renewal mechanisms due to increased application volumes. The temporary measure will provide relief and allow time for exploring longterm solutions.

Key achievements include halving EAD processing times for green card applicants, processing a record number of EAD applications, and simplifying processes for various categories of applicants. The temporary measure will benefit nearly 800,000 EAD renewal applicants, including those eligible for employment authorization under various categories. The rule also addresses concerns about individuals crossing the Southwest Border, with over 617,000 individuals removed or returned by DHS from May 2023 to March 2024. USCIS invites public feedback to inform potential future regulatory actions. In summary, the temporary final rule extends the automatic extension period for certain EADs, aiming to prevent disruptions in employment authorizations and support U.S. employers while USCIS explores long-term solutions and seeks public input for potential regulatory actions.

Dev Darshan Senior Center Celebrates OneYear Milestone With Spectacular Gala Event

CHIICAGO, IL- 1st Annual Gala of

the Dev Darshan Senior Center was a truly memorable and successful event, celebrating the organization’s commitment to uplifting the lives of senior citizens. Here’s a summary of the key highlights and moments from the gala:

Venue and Guests: The gala took place at the National India Hub in Schaumburg, IL, and featured special performances by famous Bollywood Star Singers Sammy & Gautam from Dallas.

Mission Statement: Richa Chand, the Master of Ceremonies, introduced the mission of the Dev Darshan Senior Center, emphasizing its dedication to providing various programs and activities for seniors, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Recognition of Hema Shastri: The President and Founder of the center, Hema Shastri, was honored for her extensive community work and dedication to senior care. Her grandson, Darshan, spoke warmly about her contributions, highlighting her achievements and recognitions over

the years.

Inaugural Ceremony Commemoration: A commemorative ceremony was held to honor the late Dr. C.L Shastri, a well-known figure in Chicago, and the inspiration behind the Dev Darshan Senior Center.

Deep Lighting Ceremony: A traditional deep lighting ceremony was conducted by various members of the Shastri family and other distinguished guests.

Special Guests and Speakers: The gala featured speeches and remarks from notable figures such as the Hon. Consul General Somnath Ghosh and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with other prominent speakers from the community.

Recognition and Awards: Several individuals and organizations were recognized and honored for their support and contributions to the Senior Center’s success.

Entertainment: The evening was filled with entertainment, including musical performances, dances, and a Bollywood Musical Extravaganza by special guest artists.

Global Entry Enrollment On Arrival Expands to 5 Texas Airports

HOUSTON, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to offer Enrollment on Arrival (EoA), a program that allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States, including those entering via a designated CBP Preclearance location. The EoA program eliminates the need for Global Entry applicants to schedule an interview at an enrollment center, which often takes weeks or even months to schedule.

Five Texas airports feature the Enrollment on Arrival program: Houston George Bush Intercontinental, William F. Hobby Houston, San Antonio International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Passengers with conditional approval

No months-long wait for appointments for conditionally approved travelers

can proceed directly to CBP officers who can conduct their Global Entry interviews upon their return in an international terminal during the admissibility inspection. Travelers who require assistance for their Global Entry interview due to a disability may immediately inform the interviewing CBP officer of the need for a reasonable modification or auxiliary aid or service to participate in the interview. To complete the interview via Enrollment on Arrival, you must be in possession of the following documents:

• A valid passport. If you travel using more than one passport, please bring all passports to the interview so that the information can be added to your file.

• Documents providing evidence of residency. Examples include a driver’s license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc. This is not required for minors.

• A permanent resident card (if applicable).

Vote of Thanks: The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Vice President Neelam Desai, expressing gratitude to sponsors, supporters, and participants.

Dev Darshan 2024 Team:

Advisory committee: Dr Bharat Barai, Dr Ashok Shah, Dr Kamlesh Amin, Jasbir Singh, Suga Builders, Dr Vijay Prabhakar, Ajeet Singh, Ajit Pant, Vandana Jingan, Rita Shah, Kadar Sodagar, Manish Gandhi

Executive committee member: Devesh Shastri, Neelam Desai, Bhavna Thakkar, Pritesh Desai, Rajubhai Patel, Umesh Patel, Mayank Shukla, Rajendra Patel, Mitesh Modi

Executive Volunteer: Hetal Shukla, Jignaben, Kokila Patel, Malvika Patel, Jigishaben, Raksha Modi, Lata Patel

Overall, the gala served as a meaningful celebration of community, compassion, and the importance of supporting senior citizens in their golden years. For those interested in joining the Dev Darshan Senior Center Group, contact information was provided for further inquiries.

DOJ Enhances Web and Mobile App Accessibility

Attorney General Garland finalizes ADA rule, emphasizing web and app accessibility for individuals with disabilities. It clarifies state and local governments' obligations, ensuring vital access to public services. Failure to comply risks excluding people with disabilities, opposing the ADA's equal participation promise. Garland reaffirms DOJ's commitment to accessibility, with collaborative efforts recognized. Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer highlights the rule's role in equal participation, while Assistant Attorney General Clarke emphasizes its historical significance. The rule sets technical standards, offering clarity and fostering inclusivity. Note: The provided link leads to an advance copy; the official version will publish in the Federal Register.

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Parents invite alliance for Physician daughter, 37 years, 5’7” tall, sleek and beautiful. US born and raised. Seeking a well-educated groom brought up in the US. Please send bio-data and recent pictures.

Email: dmmt0407@gmail.com Or Call: 630-915-2839

Gujarati Patel family invites matrimonial correspondence for their Son, 37 years, Divorced, No kids, holds a business degree, currently in Hotel Business in Chicago area. The family is seeking a suitable match for him. Call: 630-957-8180

Gujarati (Darji) 46 years, Ht 5’-5”, owner of Convinence store and house in Austin, TX, Devorcee, no childrens, invites matrimonial corrosspondance form suitable Gujarati match. Caste no bar. Please send biodate and recent picture at: P.O.BOX 11912, Austin, TX 78653

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with: WAREHOUSE HELP

Warehouse help needed full time in Skokie,IL. Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm

Email: ken1001@gmail.com