VIMAL N. UPADHYAYA +91 98676 26290 | vimal@hiindia.com
Hemant Brahmbhaatt
Hemant Brahmbhaatt
ADVERTISING Hemant Brahmbhaatt
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Yogesh Brahmbhatt
Ibrahim Keriwala
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Yogesh Brahmbhatt Ibrahim Keriwala Jitendra Kumar
Jitendra Kumar
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Yogesh Brahmbhatt | Ibrahim Keriwala Jitendra Kumar
PHOTO
Jinesh Modi / Vijay Shah
PHOTO / WEB SITE Jinesh Modi / Vijay Shah
PHOTO / WEB SITE Jinesh Modi / Vijay Shah
ACCOUNTS
ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE Purnima Brahmbhatt
Purnima Brahmbhatt
ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE Purnima Brahmbhatt
hi INDIA is published weekly by hi INDiA, Inc. 3152 W. Devon Ave, C-3 Chicago, IL 60659
hi INDIA is published weekly by hi INDiA, Inc. 3152 W. Devon Ave, C-3 Chicago, IL 60659 hi INDiA, Inc.
All right reserved as to the entire content. hi INDiA is a trademark of hi
All right reserved as to the entire content.
hi INDiA is a trademark of hi INDiA Inc. Copyright 2022
INDiA makes no
or representations as to the
of the
and assumes no liability or responsibility for any error or omission in the
hi INDiA is not responsible or liable for any claims made in advertisements. Any questions or comments concerning advertisements or classifieds in this newspaper should be directed to the advertiser. The views, advice, opinions and information in letters to the editor, analysis section, legal section or any other article in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of hi INDiA, Inc.
hi INDiA makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy of the content and assumes no liability or responsibility for any error or omission in the content. hi INDiA is not responsible or liable for any claims made in advertisements. Any questions or comments concerning advertisements or classifieds in this newspaper should be directed to the advertiser. The views, advice, opinions and information in letters to the editor, analysis section, legal section or any other article in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of hi INDiA, Inc.
hi
hi INDiA weekly newspaper distribute free
is available in the stores near to your area, However if you
Kamala Harris: Trump Wants to Take Us Backward
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has gone on the offensive against Donald Trump in the first rally of her White House campaign, portraying November’s election as a choice between a former prosecutor and a convicted felon.
Speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 in the battleground state of Wisconsin, Ms Harris likened her Republican opponent to fraudsters she said she had prosecuted.
Trump, meanwhile, assailed her record on the border, and posted on social media: “Lyin’ Kamala Harris destroys everything she touches!” It comes a day after she secured the support of a
majority of Democratic delegates, paving the way for her to become the party's nominee.
On Sunday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race and endorsed his vice-president amid mounting pressure from top Democrats and donors following his disastrous debate against Trump in late June. The fledgling Harris campaign raised a staggering $100m plus (£77m) in the 36 hours after Mr Biden’s exit.
Adding to her momentum, a new national poll from Reuters and Ipsos shows her with a two-point lead over Trump, 44% to 42%.
Kamala Harris Leads Donald Trump 44%
To 42% In US Presidential Race: Survey
Vice President Kamala Harris opened up a marginal two-percentage-point lead over Republican Donald Trump after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign and passed the torch to her, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
The poll, conducted on Monday and Tuesday, followed both the Republican National Convention where Trump on Thursday formally accepted his party's nomination and the Biden announcement on Sunday he was
US Sanctions China Network for Aiding North Korea
Washington: The United States unveiled sanctions Wednesday against a network of half a dozen people and five firms in China it accuses of supporting North Korea's ballistic missile and space programs.
The network is alleged to have helped North Korea with procuring items for its ballistic missile programs, which the US Treasury Department said were being operated in "flagrant violation" of UN Security Council resolutions. North Korea's continued development of its ballistic missile technologies "is both irresponsible and destabilizing for both the region and the international community," Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.
leaving the race and endorsing Harris. Harris, whose campaign says she has secured the Democratic nomination, led
Trump 44% to 42% in the national poll, a difference within the 3-percentage-point margin of error.
Harris and Trump were tied at 44% in a July 15-16 poll, and Trump led by one percentage point in a July 1-2 poll, both within the same margin of error.
While nationwide surveys give important signals of American support for political candidates, just a handful of competitive states typically tilt the balance in the U.S. Electoral College, which ultimately decides who wins a presidential election.
George Clooney Backs Kamala Harris, Praises Biden For "Saving Democracy"
Washington: Hollywood star George Clooney -- one of the first high-profile Democratic activists to urge Joe Biden not to seek reelection -- on Tuesday announced his backing for Kamala Harris, while hailing Biden's exit.
"President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He's saving democracy once again. We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice
President Harris in her historic quest," Clooney said in a statement to CNN.
A major fundraiser for Democratic candidates and longtime Biden booster, Clooney broke ranks two weeks ago by openly calling on the 81-year-old president to give way to a younger candidate so that the party would have a better chance of beating Donald Trump in November.
"I love Joe Biden," Clooney wrote in The New York Times, shocking many. "I consider him a friend, and I believe in him... But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time."
With Biden at the top of the ticket, the Oscar-winner said, Democrats "are not going to win in November," will lose control of the Senate, and won't gain a majority in the House of Representatives.
Donald Trump To Host Netanyahu In Florida Amid Strained US-Israel Ties
Washington: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said on Tuesday, a sign the two men are looking to improve ties.
"Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida," the former U.S. president said in a post on Truth Social, using Netanyahu's nickname.
The meeting will be their first since the end
of Trump's presidency, during which the two forged close ties, and comes at a time of strains also between Netanyahu and Democratic President Joe Biden over Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza. Late on Tuesday, Trump posted a letter written to him by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from a day after the former U.S. president had been shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. Abbas wished Trump "strength and safety," according to the letter Trump posted.
Netanyahu to Meet Biden, Harris Separately Tomorrow: White House
Washington: U.S. President Joe Biden will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday to discuss progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release, the White House said. Promoted. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet separately with Netanyahu, it said on Wednesday. The Israeli leader is addressing the U.S. Congress later on Wednesday amid protests and discontent among some U.S. lawmakers over the conduct of the war in Gaza.
American rapper Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch
American rapper Snoop Dogg has been named as one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame before Friday's opening ceremony in Paris.
The 52-year-old will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis in the north of Paris, which is home to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium, on Friday. The Saint-Denis stretch is the penultimate leg of the flame's journey before the relay ends at the Eiffel Tower.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
US Vice-President Kamala Harris
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Plane With 19 On Board Crashes At Kathmandu Airport, Pilot Lone Survivor
The bodies of 18 out of the 19 people on board a Kathmandu flight were recovered after the plane crashed at a Nepal airport on Wednesday, the country's civil aviation authority said.
The passengers, comprising two crew and 17 of Saurya Airlines staff, were on board the Pokhara-bound plane when it caught on fire around 11 am, Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki told news agency AFP.
The flight was being conducted for either technical or maintenance purposes. The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to a hospital, a security official deployed at the airport told news agency PTI.
The plane burst into flames after it skidded off the runway as it began to take off, a spokesperson of the airport told.
The CRJ200 plane, which can seat 50 passengers, did not gain any altitude on
China to raise retirement age as population gets older
China will gradually raise its statutory retirement age in the next five years to try to cope with its ageing population and buckling pension system.
Life expectancy in the country has now risen above the United States, to 78 years, from just 36 years at the time of the Communist revolution in 1949. But China's retirement age remains one of the lowest in the world - at 60 for men, 55 for women in white-collar jobs and 50 for working-class women. The plan to raise retirement ages is part of a series of resolutions adopted last week at a five-yearly top-level Communist party meeting, known as the Third Plenum.
Plane Crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport: The plane burst into flames after it skidded off the runway within minutes of taking off, a spokesperson of the airport told.
takeoff, slipped off the runway and fell down an embankment and caught fire.
Videos from the spot show a large fire with plumes of smoke rising near the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Fire fighters and the Nepal army are at the spot. The cause of the fire is not known yet.
The Tribhuvan International Airport is a tabletop airport located on the top of a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys on all sides. Its among the riskiest airports in the world.
Nepal air industry has some of the worst air safety records in the world, plagued by poor safety due to insufficient training and maintenance.
In 2023, a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed on Pokhara killing all 72 people on board, including five Indians.
It was Nepal's deadliest crash since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport.
Hong Kong is global trade hub for world’s most brutal regimes: report
Hong Kong has become a global trade hub for “the world’s most brutal regimes”, according to a report examining the city’s role in facilitating the flow of goods to countries under sanctions by the west, including Russia, Iran and North Korea.
A report published on Monday by the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, a campaign group, found that between 2021 and 2022, exports of semiconductors from Hong Kong to Russia roughly doubled to $400m (£310m), second only to shipments from mainland China. Semiconductors
are vital to Russia’s war effort as they are a component in weaponry such as drones and cruise missiles.
The report analysed Hong Kong’s exports in a five-month window in 2023, with a particular focus on items from the Common High Priority List (CHPL), a list developed by the US government to identify items sought by Russia for its weapons programme.
The researchers found that between August and December 2023, Hong Kong exporters shipped nearly $2bn worth of goods to Russian buyers. Nearly 40% of those exports, by value, came from items on the CHPL, including various categories of semiconductors.
One of the companies featured in the report is Piraclinos Limited, a charcoal and fertiliser supplier. According to the report, in December 2023, Piraclinos shipped more than $2.5m of electronic integrated circuits and other CHPL items to VMK, a Russia-based company that has been targeted by US sanctions. Piraclinos has been approached for comment.
Bangladesh's Top Court Cuts Job Quotas After Deadly Student Protests
Bangladesh’s top court has scaled back the quotas on government jobs that led to widespread student-led protests and violent clashes that killed more than 100 people. On Sunday afternoon the supreme court overturned a ruling that had reintroduced quotas for all civil service jobs, meaning that 30% were reserved for veterans and relatives of those who fought in the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971.
Netanyahu to arrive in Washington
Benjamin Netanyahu is due to arrive in Washington on Monday at a moment of historic political tumult, as he is scheduled to meet the outgoing US president, Joe Biden, and address a divided Congress amid fears of a growing regional war in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters from the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, Netanyahu said he was due in the US as “Israel is fighting on seven fronts and when there’s great political uncertainty in Washington”. The Israeli prime minister’s arrival will come just a day after Biden bowed out of the presidential race, and will be a major test of Biden’s ability to project US influence and restraint on Israel in the lame duck period of his presidency.
King to receive extra £45m of public money as crown estate income soars
King Charles is set for a huge £45m pay rise with an increase of more than 50% in his official annual income, official accounts reveal. Profits of £1.1bn from the crown estate – a percentage of which funds the monarchy – mean the sovereign grant, which supports the official duties of the royal family, will rise from £86m in 2024-25 to £132m in 2025-26. The monarchy currently receives 12% of the crown estate profits to fund its work as well as to fund the 10-year,
£369m renovation of Buckingham Palace. Royal aides said the increase will be used to complete the palace reservicing programme by 2027.
The sovereign grant will be reviewed in 2026-27 to reassess the amount handed over to the palace and ensure it is an “appropriate level”. Royal accounts also show that the Prince of Wales received £23.6m income from the Duchy of Cornwall in his first full year after inheriting the land and property owning estate from his father.
The duchy surplus meets the costs of the
official, charitable and private lives of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. As his father did, William pays a standard rate tax on the amount once official costs have been deducted, aides said.
The significant increase in the sovereign grant in 2025-6 and 20267 “will be used to fund the final stages of the Buckingham Palace reservicing programme, enabling it to be complete both on time and on budget,” said Michael Stevens, the king’s Keeper of the Privy Purse.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
US State Dept. Revises India Advisory: 'Avoid Manipur'
Washington: The US has asked its nationals not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the IndiaPakistan border, and parts of central and eastern parts of the country where Naxalites are active. In a revised travel advisory for India, the State Department said it has updated to reflect information on the northeastern states.
"Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk," it said. Overall India has been placed at Level 2. But several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India.
Australian Woman Gang-Raped in Paris Before Olympics
New Delhi: An Australian woman was allegedly gangraped by five men in Paris just days before the city is set to host the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games. According to France's Le Parisien newspaper, the "disoriented" 25-year-old woman entered a local restaurant on the famed Boulevard de Clichy in Paris' Pigalle neighbourhood on Saturday, wearing her dress backwards. Authorities in Paris confirmed that a "gangrape" likely took place between Friday and Saturday, and an investigation is currently underway.
Bishnoi Gang Wanted to Kill Me and My Family: Salman Khan
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Salman Khan has told police that he believed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang carried out the firing at his residence in Mumbai in April this year with the intention to kill him and his family members. The actor's statement is part of the charge sheet filed by Mumbai Police in a court here in connection with the incident.
"Khalistanis Have Polluted Canada," Says Indian-Origin MP After Threats
Amidst rising Hinduphobia in Canada, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was vandalised with alleged hateful and anti-India graffiti on Monday morning in Edmonton in Alberta state
Ottawa: A prominent Canadian MP of Indian origin on Wednesday said the country was being "polluted" by Khalistani extremists who were "abusing" the freedoms guaranteed under the Charter of Rights, days after a Hindu temple was vandalised in Edmonton.
Amidst rising Hinduphobia in Canada, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was vandalised with alleged hateful and antiIndia graffiti on Monday morning in Edmonton in Alberta state, about 3,400 km west-northwest of here.
Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament from Nepean in the House of Commons, said in a post on his X account that separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice released a video demanding that Arya and his HinduCanadian friends go back to India after
he (Arya) condemned the vandalism of the Hindu temple and other acts of hate and violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada. "We Hindus have come to our wonderful country Canada from all parts of the world. From every country in South Asia, many countries in Africa and Caribbean, and many other parts of the world, we have come here and Canada is our land," Arya, a member of Canadian Prime Minister Justin
India Successfully Tests Phase 2 Ballistic Missile Defence System
Phase-II
The test demonstrated India's indigenous capability to defend against ballistic missiles of 5,000 km class, it said.
"The Target Missile was launched from LC-IV Dhamra at 1620 hrs mimicking adversary Ballistic Missile, which was detected by weapon system radars deployed on land and sea and activated the AD Interceptor system," it said.
"The Phase-II AD Endo-atmospheric missile was launched from LC-III at ITR, Chandipur at 1624 hrs. The flight test fully met all the trial objectives validating complete network centric warfare weapon system consisting of Long Range Sensors, low latency communication system and MCC and Advance Interceptor missiles," it added.
Trudeau's Liberal Party, wrote.
"We have made and continue to make immense positive and productive contributions to the socio-economic development of Canada. With our long history of Hindu culture and heritage, we have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada," he said.
"Our land is being polluted by Khalistani extremists abusing our freedoms guaranteed by our Canadian Charter of Rights," Arya added.
Arya's statement comes against the backdrop of severe strain in IndiaCanada ties over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of
Lammy aims to reset UKIndia ties with early trip
David Lammy arrived in a warm and damp New Delhi on Wednesday morning, a newly-minted foreign secretary stepping away for the first time from the more familiar turf of Europe and the United States. His words in interviews were safe and measured, eulogising India as a “superpower” and “indispensable partner”. Mr Lammy held talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Delhi Man Scams US Woman Out of $400,000: Probe Agency Reveals How
A US woman, Lisa Roth, fell victim to a cyber fraud on July 4, 2023, when she received a call from someone claiming to be a "Microsoft agent."
The caller convinced her to transfer $400,000 to a cryptocurrency wallet, which was later found to be a scam, costing her Rs.3.3 crore.
The investigation led the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest Lakshya Vij, a bookie from Dilshad Garden in East Delhi, along with a cryptocurrency handler. Vij's name had surfaced in March 2022, when he was arrested by the Gujarat Police but allegedly released due to the intervention of a senior Delhi Police officer. The scam involved the money being transferred from Ms. Roth's account to wallets owned by Praful Gupta and
his mother, Sarita Gupta. Karan Chug, another accomplice, then moved the funds to various wallets and eventually to different Indian accounts by selling cryptocurrency. The proceeds were used for betting on apps like Fair Play 24.
The ED registered a money laundering
The probe agency registered a case of money laundering and raided several places last month and recovered digital evidence. Statements of those who owned the crypto wallets that were used in the crime were also recorded.
case and conducted multiple raids, gathering digital evidence and recording statements from the owners of the implicated crypto wallets. The investigation revealed that the fraudulent transfers were orchestrated by Lakshya Vij, identified as the mastermind behind the scheme. Vij was presented in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court and has been remanded to a 5-day ED custody for further investigation.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
The main accused was produced in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court.
Canadian MP Chandra Arya said he received threats from Khalistanis
Balasore, Odisha: India on Wednesday successfully flight-tested
Ballistic Missile Defence System from off the Odisha coast, the government said in a statement.
Musk says Tesla to use humanoid robots next year
Tesla boss Elon Musk says the electric car maker will start producing and using humanoid robots from next year.
In a social media post, Mr Musk said the robots will first be used by Tesla, which will start making them to sell in 2026.
The technology billionaire had previously said he expected the robot, called Optimus, to be ready for use in Tesla factories by the end of this year.
Other firms, including Honda and Boston Dynamics, have also been developing their own humanoid robots. "Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026," Mr Musk said on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
It came just a day before Tesla was due to release its latest financial results. The company's shares ended Monday's trading session in New York up by more than 5%.
Japan drugmaker bosses quit as firm probes deaths
Two top executives at Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical are stepping down as an investigation continues into 80 deaths that could be linked to some of its products. The company says president Akihiro Kobayashi and chairman Kazumasa Kobayashi, both members of the firm's founding family, have resigned. The decision was made "to clarify executive responsibility" over the issue involving its beni kōji fermented rice products, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said. In March, the company recalled five of its products, saying it had received reports of kidney problems from customers. The company began an investigation after a doctor alerted them to reported health problems in January. It also opened a hotline for customers seeking advice. Affected customers reported symptoms such as changes in the colour of their urine, swelling in their limbs and fatigue.
Cyber-security firm rejects $23bn Google takeover
Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport told staff they company was "flattered by offers" it had received
Israeli cyber-security firm Wiz has rejected a $23bn (£17.8bn) takeover offer from Google parent company Alphabet, in what would have been its largest-ever acquisition.
In an internal memo to staff seen by the BBC, Wiz founder and chief executive Assaf Rappaport said he was "flattered" by the offer. He said the company would instead seek to reach $1bn (£775m) in revenue before selling shares to the public. A source close to the deal told the BBC the offer was "very tempting", but Wiz believed it was big enough to go it alone and attempt to become the biggest cyber-security company in the world. Earlier this year, the firm reported an
annual recurring revenue of $500m (£387m). And it claimed itself to be the fastest-growing software company in history in 2022, when it reached $100m (£74m) in annual revenue in its first 18 months. Wiz and Alphabet have been approached for comment. “I know the last week has been intense, with the buzz around a potential acquisition," said Mr Rappaport in the memo sent to staff. “While we are flattered by offers we have received, we have chosen to continue on our path to building Wiz.”
In turning down Google's offer, Wiz will look to make an initial public offering (IPO) - a major step which would see the firm debut on a stock exchange.
CrowdStrike shares hit again as IT disruption continues
Shares in cybersecurity firm
CrowdStrike have plunged more than 13% as the company reckons with the aftermath of causing a global IT outage.
Chief security officer Shawn Henry said the incident had been a "gut punch" for the firm, which had previously been one of the most trusted names in the industry.
"We let down the very people we committed to protect, and to say we’re devastated is a huge understatement,“ he said.
Many businesses are still recovering after a faulty "content update" last week crashed 8.5 million Microsoft Windows computers around the world.
The issue has required manual reboots in some cases.
Mr Henry, a former FBI executive assistant director, said the weekend had been “the most challenging 48 hours” of his 12 years at the company.
Delta faces probe as CrowdStrike disruption lingers
The US has opened an investigation into Delta Airlines as it struggles to recover from last week's global IT outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Delta must provide passengers with refunds and other compensation for disrupted travel as required by law.
A day earlier, Delta, which has cancelled more than 5,000 flights since Friday, signalled it could take several more days for operations to return to normal. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike's boss George Kurtz, whose cybersecurity firm sparked the chaos with a faulty overnight update, has also been called to testify in Congress.
UK government debt highest since 1962
He promised it would use the incident as an opportunity to “emerge better and stronger than ever”.
“The confidence we built in drips over the years was lost in buckets within hours, and it was a gut punch,” he said in a LinkedIn post on Monday.
“But this pales in comparison to the pain we've caused our customers and our partners."
Delta Airlines, one of the most affected firms, had cancelled more than 4,000 flights since Friday, including more than 800 on Monday, according to outside tracking firm, Flight Aware.
That was far more than any other airline.
Delta on Monday said more than half of its IT systems were Windows-based and required manual repair. It said the software it uses to direct staffing for flights was requiring the most time and manual support to fix.
“We’ve got everyone around the company working around the clock to get this operation where it needs to be,” Delta boss Ed Bastian said in a video message to employees on Monday.
A day earlier, he apologised to customers, as US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned the government had received complaints about "continued disruptions and unacceptable customer service" at the firm.
Other entities, such as the UK's National Health Service, have said their systems were operating more normally.
The UK's national debt has reached its highest level since 1962, according to new official figures. The total stock of government debt was worth 99.5% of the value of the economy in June, exceeding the highs reached during the coronavirus pandemic for the first time. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures also showed that the amount the government borrowed was more than expected in June. A statement on the state of the public finances is expected from the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, by the end of the month.
Google U-turn over long-running plan to ditch cookies
In a surprise move Google has abandoned a plan it first announced four years ago to block third-party cookies from its Chrome internet browser. The UK's data privacy watchdog said it was "disappointed" by the decision. Cookies are small files stored on your computer which allow advertisers to track internet activity and target advertising.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Gambhir takes charge as India hit the ground in Sri Lanka ahead of white-ball series
HiIndia Newsdesk
Jul : (PTI) The new head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday took charge of the Indian men's cricket team as the visitors hit the ground running in their first practice session here, ahead of threematch T20I series against Sri Lanka. Gambhir, who replaced the legendary Rahul Dravid at the helm, led the team to the ground and oversaw the training session which included fielding drills and sessions with the players. The training session was mostly around running, catching and one-on-one interactions. The new T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was also involved in an interaction with the players. Gambhir was seen giving some batting tips to Sanju Samson and had a chat with all-rounder Shivam Dube.
Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and the Netherlands batter Ryan ten Doeschate are part of Gambhir's coaching staff for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Khelo India gets Rs.900 crore in Rs. 3,442 crore sports budget
Khelo India, which is the government's flagship project to promote sports at the grassroots level, was once again the biggest beneficiary in the union budget for the sports ministry as it was assigned Rs 900 crore from the overall allocation of Rs 3,442.32 crore on Tuesday.
Kehlo India's share, announced in the budget presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman here, is Rs 20 crore more than the revised allocation of Rs 880 crore during the previous financial year.
With the Olympic cycle set to come to an end in Paris in August this year, and the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games still two years away, the budget for the Sports Ministry has seen only a marginal increase of Rs 45.36 crore from the previous cycle. The budget for the previous cycle was Rs 3,396.96 crore for the previous financial year.
The government has invested heavily in Khelo India over the years as the programme continues to unearth talent from all parts of the country. While Khelo India's actual allocation in 2022-23 stood at Rs 596.39 crore, it was increased by more than Rs 400 crore, to Rs 1,000 crores, in the 2023-24 budget, before being revised to Rs 880 crore. The government has continued to add programmes ever since the inaugural Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) were held in 2018.
The trio had recently collaborated to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL 2024 title.
Their first assignment with the national team will commence on July 27 with T20I series followed by three ODIs.
T Dilip, who was a part of Dravid's support staff, will continue as the fielding coach. Additionally, Sairaj Bahutule, associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will serve as the interim bowling coach.
Rahul Dravid Set To Seal His IPL Return With This Franchise: Report
After successfully guiding the Indian team to T20 World Cup 2024 triumph as head coach, Rahul Dravid is reportedly gearing up for a new adventure in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since his tenure as the head coach of the Indian team came to an end, Dravid has been linked with multiple franchises in the T20 league. Earlier, reports suggested that the batting great could decide to
join Kolkata Knight Riders, especially as the franchise saw their mentor Gautam Gambhir leave the team to fill the void left by Dravid in the Indian team as head coach. But, it has now been reported that Dravid is in talks with his former IPL side Rajasthan Royals. "Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner," Times of India quoted a source as saying. As Dravid hunts for a new adventure, Gambhir has begun his stint as the Indian team's head coach. He flew to Sri Lanka with the other members of the Indian team ahead of the white-ball assignment. Before the team's departure, Gambhir did admit he has some big shoes to fill, considering what Dravid has done with the Indian team as head coach.
Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj: First Indians in Tennis Hall of Fame
Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. The first inductees from India were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans in enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes recounted his youth playing football
and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his hockey-captain father as an Olympic medalist. "It's my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these legends of the game, people who have inspired me every single day of my life -- not because you've only won Grand Slams, not because you've shaped our sport but every single one of these people have shaped the world we live in," Paes said. "I would like to thank you so much for giving this Indian boy hope." Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked as high as 18th in the world and helped India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987. "I am humbled and honored to join this incredible and exclusive group that have brought glory to our sport," Amritraj said.
I
Am
Going All-Out To Win Gold In Paris: PV Sindhu
Badminton ace PV Sindhu says she is "going all-out" in her quest to become the first Indian to win an unprecedented third individual Olympic medal in Paris, drawing on her experience from a successful past. Sindhu stands on the brink of history as she pursues the gold medal in the upcoming Games, having won a silver and bronze in 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo edition respectively. In an exclusive conversation on JioCinema's 'The Dreamers,' Sindhu spoke about her unwavering focus on making history at Paris, though it is going to be an extremely difficult task for the Indian star.
"That third medal at Paris definitely motivates me, and I am going all-out to get that gold medal. For me, the Olympics is where I give my 200%," Sindhu said.
"The journeys in 2016 and 2020 were wonderful, filled with immense effort and unforgettable moments. "As I prepare for Paris 2024, it's a fresh start, and I have to give my 100% no matter what."
Ranked among the world's top players, Sindhu draws from her past experiences to fuel her quest for gold.
"There are a lot of experiences from my previous outings at the Olympics that I will take into Paris 2024, but I don't want to get overconfident thinking about the medals.
"I hope I can fulfil the hope of the nation and get the third medal because getting three consecutive medals is not a joke. My mindset is focused on winning the gold and this gives me a lot of motivation and confidence." She spoke at length about her preparation for the mega event, which will run from July 26 to August 11. "The Olympics is extremely competitive, and all the athletes are at their peak. The top 10-15 players in the world are of the same standard, be it the likes of AN Se Young, Akane Yamaguchi, Carolina Marin, or TAI Tzu Ying.
"It is my fortune that Prakash sir is my mentor and a part of my journey, and I hope his support can help me win that medal."
Currently ranked 13th in the world, Sindhu's illustrious career boasts of numerous accolades.
Her Commonwealth Games achievements include gold in 2022, silver in 2018, and bronze in 2014 in the women's singles event, along with gold in 2018 and silver in 2022 in mixed teams.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Trump Says Kamala Harris Will Be Easier To Defeat
Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Sunday he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat in November's election than Democratic President Joe Biden, who earlier in the day stepped aside as his party's candidate. "Harris will be easier to beat than Joe Biden would have been," Trump told CNN. Trump and his campaign later also attacked Biden and Harris on social media while saying Biden was unfit to continue serving as president.
Riots Break Out In London, Bus Set On Fire
London: A riot has broken out in UK's Leeds after police were called to attend an incident involving some agency workers and children, officials said on Thursday night.
According to West Yorkshire Police, they were called to an ongoing incident at Luxor Street, Harehills, at 5 p.m. on Thursday. On arrival, officers "found an ongoing disturbance which involved some agency workers and some children."
BJP Criticizes Mamata for Sheltering Bangladesh Violence Victims
The BJP on Sunday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for offering shelter to anyone coming in distress from Bangladesh and called it an "evil plan" of the INDIA bloc to settle illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country to Jharkhand to win elections.
BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya also questioned Banerjee's authority to offer shelter to anyone coming from other country, saying immigration and citizenship are exclusively in the Centre's domain, and that states have no locus-standi in such matters.
Biden ends election campaign and endorses Harris as Democratic nominee
Embattled US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election in 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee, saying "it is in the best interest of my party and the country".
Biden's decision to nominate Harris, who is of both Indian and African origin, follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after his disastrous presidential debate performance against his Republican rival and former US president Donald Trump last month.
Biden said in a post on X. Harris, 59, was the running mate of Biden.
Earlier, Biden announced that he has decided not to contest the presidential election.
term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said.
The 81-year-old president's decision comes four months before Americans go to the polls on November 5.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,”
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my
India Won't Abandon Russia: US NSA on PM's Moscow Visit
There is no tangible evidence of India deepening its military and technology relationship with Russia, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said, asserting that Moscow, which has become a "junior partner" to China, is not necessarily going to be a "great and reliable friend" to India in a future
contingency. Sullivan made remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado while responding to questions about the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia for bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin.
"I think the biggest question is: Do we see tangible evidence that India is deepening its military and technology relationship with Russia? And I did not see tangible evidence out of that visit that it was deepening; I didn't see deliverables in that space," Sullivan said. "How concerned were you when Prime Minister Modi met President Putin, essentially at the same time that President Joe Biden was hosting the NATO leaders in Washington?" he was asked.
Indian-Origin Newlywed Killed in US Road Rage Incident
A 29-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead in a suspected road rage incident in the US state of Indiana on Tuesday, the police said.
Newly-married Gavin Dasaur was on his way home with his Mexican wife when he was shot dead by the accused after an argument at an intersection on Indy city's southeast side.
Dasaur was from Agra. He and Viviana ZaMora had just got married on June 29, a little over two weeks before his death. A video of the incident has gone viral on
Newly-married Gavin Dasaur was on his way home with his Mexican wife when he was shot dead by the accused after an argument at an intersection on Indy city's southeast side.
social media. The video shows Dasaur getting out of his car at the intersection and yelling at the driver of the pickup truck. He then punches the truck's door with the gun in his hand. The driver of the pickup truck responds by shooting him. Dasaur was rushed to the hospital but died during the treatment. "I held him as he bled out and I was waiting for the ambulance," the victim's widow, Viviana ZaMora told police.
Police said the accused, who has been detained, may have acted in self-defence. "Upon further investigation and after consultation with Marion County Prosecutor's Office, that individual was released," the police spokesperson said.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden, said in a message to fellow Americans in a six-paragraph open letter posted on social media. Such a decision from Biden comes amid a visible deterioration in his health. The president is currently in self-isolation at his Delaware residence after he tested positive with COVID-19.
BCCI to Give Rs 8.5 Crore to IOA for Paris Olympics: Jay Shah
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced financial assistance to the Paris Olympics-bound Indian athletes, contributing Rs 8.5 crore to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for their campaign.
The Paris Games will begin from July 26.
Geoffrey Boycott
Readmitted To Hospital
England
and
Boycott
be readmitted to the hospital just days after undergoing surgery for throat cancer. An official statement was issued on social media from Boycott's family that he has developed pneumonia after he was released from the hospital and his condition has taken "a turn for the worse". The statement further stated that the legendary batter was unable to eat or drink and will have to use a feeding tube for the "foreseeable future".
“Thank you all for the well wishes, we've been blown away by the sheer number of them! Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse and my Father has developed pneumonia and is unable to eat or drink so is back in hospital on oxygen and a feeding tube for the foreseeable,” read a statement that was issued from Boycott's official X account.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Legendary
cricket team batter
captain Geoffrey
had to
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
• Indian space industry excited about Rs 1,000 crore fund
• Gold, silver prices fall by up to Rs 4,000 after budget cuts custom duty
• Finance Minister unveils Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture
• Two Bihar temples will be made into 'world-class' tourist sites: Centre
• Rs 1,000 crore fund announced to boost space economy
• India to boost nuclear energy, develop Bharat Small Reactors
• Schemes worth Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling
Kharge Calls Budget 'Copycat,' Says It Saves Modi Government
Congress chief Kharge said, "The Modi government's 'copycat budget' could not even copy the Congress' Nyay Patra properly! The Modi government's budget is distributing half-hearted 'rewadis (freebies)' to dupe its coalition partners so that the NDA survives." "This is not a budget for the 'progress of the country', it is a 'save Modi government' budget!" he said.
Modi 3.0 first Budget: Tax relief for middle class, Rs 2 lakh crore job scheme
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced income tax relief for the middle class, a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay for job creation schemes over the next five years and a spending splurge for states run by her party's new coalition partners as she unveiled Modi 3.0 government's first budget after the general elections.
With rural distress and unemployment being blamed for BJP losing its majority, Sitharaman in her seventh straight budget provided Rs 2.66 lakh crore for rural development and maintained spending on long-term infrastructure projects at Rs 11.11 lakh crore to boost economic growth.
She abolished 'angel tax' for all classes of investors in startups, cut customs duty on mobile phones and gold and simplified capital gains tax. She, however, raised the securities transaction tax (STT) on futures and options of securities, which led to tanking of stock markets.
"India's economic growth continues to
be the shining exception (in a world that is gripped by policy uncertainties) and will remain so in the years ahead," she said. "In this budget, we particularly focus on employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class." Besides Rs 2 lakh crore provided over a five year period for schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth,
"I have made a provision of Rs 1.48 lakh
INDIA Bloc to Protest 'Discriminatory' Budget Tomorrow
The opposition INDIA bloc has decided to stage a protest at Parliament on Wednesday over the Union Budget, with many parties calling it "discriminatory" against opposition-ruled states.
Top leaders of INDIA bloc parties assembled at 10 Rajaji Marg residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the Opposition's strategy after
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her seventh consecutive budget.
The leaders who attended the meeting at Kharge's residence were Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant, DMK MPs TR Balu and Tiruchi Siva, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, among others.
According to sources, the opposition MPs will begin their protest at 10.30 am on Wednesday near the stairs of Parliament.
Kamala Harris Wins Support Within Democractic Party To Face Donald Trump
days after Joe Biden, who was seeking re-election, announced to bow down.
"When I announced my campaign for President, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination. Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party's nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state's delegation helped put
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman abolished 'angel tax' for all classes of investors in startups, cut customs duty on mobile phones and gold and simplified capital gains tax
crore for education, employment and skilling," she said.
For Bihar, where assembly elections are due next year, the finance minister announced spending of Rs 60,000 crore on infrastructure projects like expressways, power plant, heritage corridors and new airports.
The support to Bihar, whose ruling party and BJP's partner JD-U has been demanding an economic package and special category status for the state, is in the form of capital projects but not subsidy or cash dole. Similarly, for Andhra Pradesh, whose ruling TDP recently joined BJP-led NDA, she allocated Rs 15,000 crore in financial aid through multilateral agencies. A similar request for support to Bihar will be expedited, she said.
Budget will steer India towards sustainable path: Experts
New Delhi: (IANS) The Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday included several key initiatives like energy transition pathways, climate finance, improving water resources management, and measures related to irrigation and flood management that will boost India's fight against impacts of climate change, say climate and energy experts.
While the budget lacked details on crucial announcements related to carbon pricing, the use of nuclear power or even how its plan the PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 will help build heatresilient cities, they say.
West Bengal Boosts Durga Puja Aid to Rs. 85,000
our campaign over the top. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon," she said in a statement.
Joe Biden, who was seeking a rematch against Republican candidate Donald Trump in the November 5 US elections, announced to step aside on Sunday.
The 81-year-old ended the reelection bid amid mounting pressure over his health concerns and pledged to remain in office until his term ends in January 2025. He has now thrown his support behind 59-yearold Harris.
"I am grateful to President Biden and everyone in the Democratic Party who has already put their faith in me, and I look forward to taking our case directly to the American people," Kamala Harris, the first Black American and first Indian-American to be elected vice president, said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced government assistance of Rs. 85,000 for each community Durga Puja organiser in the state. Last year, the state government gave Rs. 70,000 to each community Durga Puja organiser in West Bengal. The Chief Minister also said that next year the amount will be hiked by another Rs. 15,000, which will take it to Rs. 1 lakh.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
New Delhi: US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday said she has earned the support needed to become the Democrat presidential nominee, two
Priyank Kharge on 14-Hour Workday Proposal
Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said Monday he’s unaware of any proposal from IT firms to extend employee work hours from 12 to 14 hours. He noted that while a draft bill from the Labour Department is under discussion, there’s been a misconception about it. Kharge stated, “We will review the bill, and once more discussions are held, we’ll brief the media.” His comments follow concerns from the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees' Union (KITU), which decried the proposed extension as an attack on workers' rights. Reports suggest IT firms seek to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act to allow up to 14-hour workdays or 12 hours plus two hours of overtime.
"We Failed, I Take Full Responsibility": US Secret Service Chief
Kimberly Cheatle rebuffed the demands she resign
US Secret Service Director
Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged on Monday that the agency failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. "The Secret Service's solemn mission is to protect our nation's leaders," Ms Cheatle said during testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. "On July 13, we failed," she said. "As director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse." But she rejected a wave of bipartisan calls for her resignation. Ms Cheatle said the attack on Trump, who was slightly wounded in his right ear while speaking at a campaign rally, was "the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades."
INS Brahmaputra Severely Damaged In Fire, Lying On Its Side; Sailor Missing
HiIndia Newsdesk
Mumbai/New Delhi: An Indian Navy warship which was undergoing maintenance at the naval dockyard in Mumbai caught fire today. The navy said a junior sailor is missing and rescue teams are looking for him. All other personnel have been accounted for, the navy said.
The fire broke out on board the multirole frigate INS Brahmaputra on Sunday evening while she was undergoing refit at the Mumbai naval dockyard, the navy said, adding the ship is lying on its side.
"... The fire was brought under control by the ship's crew with assistance of firefighters from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai and other ships in harbour, by [Monday] morning. Further, follow-on actions including sanitisation checks for assessment of residual risk of fire were carried out," the navy said in a statement. The navy said that subsequently, in the afternoon, the ship started listing to one
The fire broke out on board the multirole frigate INS Brahmaputra while she was undergoing refit at the Mumbai naval dockyard, the navy said, adding the ship is lying on its side
"All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the accident," the navy said.
side. "Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought to an upright position. The ship continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side," the navy said.
PM Modi Praises Economic Survey: Highlights Indian Economy’s Strengths
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying that it highlights the prevailing strength of Indian economy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Economic Survey identifies areas for further growth and progress (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said
the Economic Survey identifies areas for further growth and progress (PTI)
“The Economic Survey highlights the prevailing strengths of our economy and also showcases the outcomes of the various reforms our Government has brought. It also identifies areas for further growth and progress as we move towards building a Viksit Bharat,” the prime minister posted on social platform X.
According to the economic survey tabled in Parliament, India's GDP is likely to grow at 6.5-7 per cent in the current fiscal year. The growth projected for 2024-25 is lower than the economic growth rate of 8.2 per cent estimated for the previous financial year.
Kamala Harris says her aim is to defeat Donald Trump in November
Kamala Harris has said she plans to "earn and win" the Democratic presidential nomination to defeat Donald Trump after President Joe Biden decided not to seek re-election, putting her on the path to become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major political party's ticket. Vice President Harris, 59, said she was “honoured” to receive Biden’s endorsement and voiced her appreciation for his
Several prominent Indian Americans on Sunday welcomed the prospect of Harris becoming the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee and described it as a historic moment for this small ethnic community
extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and his decades of service to the country. “I am honoured to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said in a statement on Sunday.The historic endorsement came after Biden, 81, announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the race following weeks of disarray within the Democratic Party. Biden's disastrous first presidential debate with his Republican rival and former president Donald Trump called into question his ability to win a second term and govern for another four years.
The INS Brahmaputra is the first of the indigenously built 'Brahmaputra' class guided missile frigate. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 2000. The ship is manned by a crew of 40 officers and 330 sailors.
The ship is fitted with a medium range, close range and antiaircraft guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and torpedo launchers.
The ship has a wide array of sensors covering all facets of maritime warfare and is capable of operating Seaking and Chetak helicopters.
The INS Brahmaputra has a displacement of 5,300 tonnes, a length of 125 metres, a beam of 14.4 metres and is capable of speed in excess of 27 knots.
Russia
Jails USRussian Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva for 6+ Years
A Russian court has sentenced US-Russian journalist Alsu Alsu Kurmasheva to more than six years in prison for violating military censorship laws, a court spokesperson said Monday, a ruling her employer slammed as a "mockery of justice".
Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, was convicted on Friday -- the same day a separate Russian court sentenced US journalist Evan Gershkovich for 16 years on espionage charges, also rejected as baseless -- but the details were not made public until Monday.
ICC Suffers Loss Of More Than Rs 165 Crore For T20 World Cup USA Leg
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday formed a threemember committee to "review the delivery" of the T20 World Cup which was co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies last month. The committee features former New Zealand batter Roger Twose and two other directors Lawson Naidoo and Imran Khwaja, who is the deputy chair of the ICC. "The ICC Board confirmed that there will be a review into the delivery of the ICC T20 World Cup. This will be overseen by three directors, Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo and Imran Khwaja.
Kamala Harris.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Priyank Kharge HiIndia Newsdesk
Nobody "Took Her Seriously" Until She Was Cast As Fareedan In Heeramandi Sonakshi Sinha
Sonakshi Sinha, who recently married her longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal in an intimate wedding, shared that "nobody" took her seriously before Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast her as Fareedan in his debut web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Sonakshi Sinha said, “I am so glad that somebody visualised me, Sanjay sir saw me in a role like that. I am truly grateful to him. Also I have been saying since when that I am interested in playing a negative, villainous, or psychotic character."
She added, "Nobody took me seriously until he cast me in Fareedan's role, so I am truly grateful to him. Because, as an actor, it's so nice to take up a challenge like that and do something different. Till when will you play the girl-next-door, sweet girlfriend, sweet wife? So it was just so much fun for me to play a role like that.”
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal exchanged wedding vows on June 23. Since then, the couple have been actively sharing snippets about each other on their respective social media profiles. Soankshi shared beautiful pictures from her vidaai ceremony and wrote an emotional note, "At the wedding, maa started crying when it hit her I would be moving out of the house, I told her 'Maa, don't worry... Juhu to Bandra only 25 mins' Missing them a lil extra today, so I'm telling myself the exact same thing."
She added, "Hope there's Sunday Sindhi curry made at home...See you soon... zoom zoom zoom."
Janhvi Kapoor said, "The way you look at yourself is more important"
SS Rajamouli Admits Being A "Slave" To His Story In Modern Masters: S. S. Rajamouli
The trailer of Netflix's documentary Modern Masters: S. S. Rajamouli is out. The project is based on ace director SS Rajamouli. In the video released by the makers on YouTube, the filmmaker shares how he is a “slave” to his story. He states, "The only thing that I am a slave to is to my story." SS Rajamouli emphasises his goal of having the audience “invested”. He says, "I want to tell an incredible story. I just want the people to get invested in the movie." The trailer begins with shots of SS Rajamouli walking through the streets, setting the tone for an intimate look at his journey. Then, we see Prabhas, the lead actor in SS Rajamouli's Baahubali series, giving a shout out to the director's dedication. He says, "I never met someone like that. He is a mad person, that is all."
Jr NTR, who featured in SS Rajamouli's RRR, also talks about the filmmaker's determination. The actor says, "This person is born to make films. He is born to tell stories, which have not been told." He adds, "You start feeling there is no empathy at all. He is a mad man. There is no point arguing with him. Just deliver what he wants."
New Delhi: Janhvi Kapoor, who is busy with the promotions of her espionage thriller Ulajh, opened up about being victims to trolls on social media as a star kid in an interview with Mashable India. When asked how she deals with trolls and online hatred, Janhvi Kapoor said, "Apne aap ko serious mat lo (Don't take yourself too seriously), ye jo social media ke culture mai if you are a public figure or not a public figure ye trolling hona logo ka comment karna nahi karna ye hote raheta hai (even if you are not a public figure, people will troll you on social media). Apko apne aap ko itna importance dena hi nahi chahiye (Don't give yourself too much importance). Aap hi ik lote insaan ho is duniya mai sab log mere piche pade hai. Mere pe comment kar rahe hai it's not that serious (People are passing comments on me... it's not like that)."
"He Should Get All The Awards Including The National Award: Shatrughan Sinha
Shatrughan Sinha said, "What a sincere hardworking boy! Kartik deserves all the success he is getting. He is so dedicated and passionate in Chandu Champion. Ek junoon hai uss bachche mein. [There's a passion in that child.] Please convey my congratulations to him.” Shatrughan Sinha also mentioned that Kartik should be awarded a National Award for his performance. He added, "He should get all the awards for this including the National award." Every ten years the film industry gets one outsider who takes over the industry. After Akshay Kumar it is Kartik Aaryan."
New Delhi: Laapataa Ladies director Kiran Rao recently shed light on her divorce from Aamir Khan. In a recent interview with Faye D'Souza, Kiran Rao admitted that parting ways was a tough decision to take but mentioned that she is happy they divorced. “It's been a very happy divorce. I feel relationships need to be redefined from time to time because we change as human beings as we grow. We need different things and this is what I felt would make me happy and has made me very happy, honestly.”
Kiran Rao On Her Divorce From Aamir Khan
Vicky Kaushal's 'Gangs of Wasseypur' Shoot: Nearly Attacked by Sand Mafia
Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal, who is currently on a promotional spree for his latest release ‘ Bad Newz’ recalled his entry to films as an Assistant Director for the 2012 masterpiece 'Gangs of Wasseypur'.
He said, “The coal smuggling that was shown in the film was real. I was baffled because that was the first time I realized that this happens so openly that you wouldn’t feel that this is actual smuggling going on; you would feel that it is a properly run business because there weren’t just two trucks standing there, there were 500 trucks.” “We were shooting them secretly and some people came. 500 people were surrounding us. So, the camera attendant was an old man, some 50 plus. That guy called the unit saying that the camera wouldn’t come on time because we were caught up in a situation here.
Ajay Devgn wraps 'Singham Again' schedule
Ajay Devgn is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’, co-starring Tabu. Alongside this, Ajay was also busy filming for Rohit Shetty’s cop drama. Now, Ajay Devgn has finally wrapped up his shoot for the film. The ace director Rohit Shetty took to Instagram to share that the team has finished filming Ajay Devgn’s part. Rohit Shetty, while sharing behind-thescenes photographs and videos from the set, celebrated 13 years of ‘Singham’ and shared that this sequel will be his 13th film with Ajay.
Zakir Khan's television debut ‘Aapka Apna Zakir’ set to premiere on August 10
India’s very own ‘Sakht Launda’, comedian Zakir Khan, is set to take over your television screens with ‘Aapka Apna Zakir,’ launching on August 10 on Sony Entertainment Television.
From India’s heartland to etching a place in the hearts of millions with his ‘infectious andaz,’ Zakir Khan has been a name to reckon with. Zakir has seamlessly carved a niche for himself with his unique style of comedy, highlighting elements and emotions of everyday life and delivering
waves of laughter. The nation’s beloved ‘Sakht Launda’ will soon turn into a household name as he marks his presence on your TV screens with ‘Aapka Apna Zakir’ on Sony Entertainment Television. This distinctive offering promises ‘Khushiyon ki guarantee’ and ‘manoranjan ka wada’ with Zakir’s relatable sense of humor and zindagi ke nushke, providing wholesome and delightful family entertainment that will resonate from bachas to dadas.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Denies Arrest Reports: "Came to Dubai to Record Music"
Well-known Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was reportedly arrested in Dubai over a defamation complaint filed by his former manager Salman Ahmed. According to reports, Rahat's former manager had submitted complaints against him to the Dubai authorities. However, the singer quickly dismissed the reports by posting a clarification video through his social media handles.
Sharing a video of himself sitting comfortably in the balcony of his room, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan dismissed the reports as rumours and asked fans to not believe them. Speaking in Hindi he said that he is in Dubai to record some songs which will be released soon. He also assured that he will be back to his country soon after his finishes his work assignments. The singer stressed that the reports of arrest are baseless and that it is spread by his 'enemies'.
"Ranbir Kapoor Is Secure and Brilliant": Kill Star Lakshya Lalwani
New Delhi: Lakshya Lalwani, who impressed fans and critics alike for his performance in the recently released Kill, opened up about his admiration for Ranbir Kapoor, describing him as a secure and down-to-earth actor. Talking to News18, he said, "He has no inhibitions at all. I remember that I hung out with Ranbir and interacted with him a couple of times and there is not even an iota of insecurity. He doesn't give an f* about who is doing what in their lives. He's just happy with his own space,” Calling him a gem of a guy, Lakshya further added that he loves hanging out with the Sanju actor. “I love his energy and he is very secure and a brilliant actor.”
Richa Chadha And Ali Fazal Welcome A Baby Girl
New Delhi: Congratulations are in order for actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. The couple welcomed a baby girl on July 16, reported news agency IANS. In a joint statement, the couple said, "We are tickled pink with joy to announce the arrival of a healthy baby girl on 16.07.24! Our families are overjoyed, and we thank our well-wishers for their love and blessings! Love, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal." Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal got married in 2020. They are co-stars of Fukrey, also shared screen space in Fukrey Returns. They also had extended cameos in the Netflix series Call My Agent: Bollywood.
Athiya Shetty-KL Rahul
Buy Rs. 20 Crore Pali Hill Apartment
Actress Athiya Shetty and her husband, cricketer KL Rahul, have purchased an apartment in Bandra, Mumbai, reported IndexTap.com. As per the property registration documents obtained by the real estate portal, the luxury apartment is located in the Pali Hill district. Priced at Rs. 20 crore, the property measures 3,350 square feet. The couple will be living on the second level of the ground-plus-18-floors Sandhu Palace building. They have paid a stamp duty of Rs. 1.20 crore and a registration fee of Rs. 30,000, the report added. The transaction was registered on July 15, the report added. Athiya and KL Rahul have also received the partial occupation certificate from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
I Have No Man In My Life: Sushmita Sen
New Delhi: Sushmita Sen talked about her current relationship status and the rumours of her dating ex-boyfriend Rohman Shawl on the debut episode of Rhea Chakraborty's Chapter 2. The former Miss Universe clearly said she has been single for two years and she is not ready to date anyone right now. Speaking to Rhea Chakraborty, Sushmita Sen said, "I have no man in my life. I've been single for a while.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Thinking of a Tattoo?
New Research Might Make You Rethink
The study found that 26 out of 75 ink samples had bacterial contamination, with some showing counts as high as 100,000 CFUs (colony-forming units) per gram. Earlier FDA studies reported bacterial counts as high as 100 million CFUs per gram in some unopened inks.
New research by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed that sealed bottles of tattoo and permanent makeup ink, including those labeled as sterile, contained millions of potentially harmful bacteria. The study tested 75 samples from 14 unnamed manufacturers, finding that 35% of the samples had bacterial contamination. Some samples had bacteria counts as high as 100,000 per gram, far exceeding safe levels.
Seong-Jae (Peter) Kim, a microbiologist at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research, emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of these products to ensure their microbial safety.
Linda Katz, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, warned that contaminated ink, injected deep into the skin, can lead to serious infections and complications. Pathogens from contaminated ink can spread through the blood and lymphatic systems, causing life-threatening conditions like endocarditis and septic shock, which may result in multi-organ failure. Less severe but common symptoms include rashes, impetigo, erysipelas, and cellulitis. People with multiple or large tattoos, as well as those receiving permanent makeup, are at a higher risk of infection. Permanent makeup, especially around the eyes, can be particularly dangerous as it may introduce microbes into sensitive areas.
John Swierk, an assistant professor of chemistry at Binghamton University, noted that contamination in tattoo inks is a known issue due to the lack of standardized sterilization methods.
He stressed the need for improved manufacturing processes. Tattoo artist Selina Medina from the Alliance of Professional Tattooists reported that manufacturers are increasingly investing in advanced sterilization and quality control technologies to address contamination risks. Tattoo artists are advised to conduct their own microbial testing, use proper sterilization techniques like autoclaving, and ensure inks are handled carefully to minimize contamination. The study found that 26 out of 75 ink samples had bacterial contamination, with some showing counts as high as 100,000 CFUs (colony-forming units) per gram. Earlier FDA studies reported bacterial counts as high as 100 million CFUs per gram in some unopened inks. Infectious disease expert Dr. Robert Schooley criticized these findings, stating that bacterial contamination levels in injectable materials should be non-detectable. He also pointed out that the potential for viral infections like hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV is a concern, though not directly studied in this report. To address these issues, experts recommend regulatory measures requiring testing and certification of tattoo inks before they reach the market. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022 is expected to bring significant regulation to the tattoo ink industry, focusing on manufacturing processes and safety. The FDA’s draft guidance released in June 2023 aims to improve quality control, including sterilization practices for manufacturers.
Earlier studies have found high levels of bacterial contamination within sealed and sterile bottles of ink.
Ask your tattoo artist about ink safety before getting a tattoo, experts say.
Experts Warn of New Crime Wave Amid Chaos
Cyber-security experts warn of a second wave of disruption from cyber criminals exploiting current chaos.
The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) issued an alert about hackers distributing fake software fixes posing as CrowdStrike. The notice states, "A number of malicious websites and unofficial code are being released claiming to help entities recover." The ASD urges IT responders to source information only from CrowdStrike's official website.
This follows a warning from the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) for heightened vigilance against phishing emails or calls impersonating CrowdStrike or Microsoft support.
The NCSC has already observed an increase in phishing attempts linked to this outage, as malicious actors seek to capitalize on the situation.
PM Modi, NZ PM to Boost Bilateral Ties
PM Modi thanked Christopher Luxon for
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a congratulatory call from his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon on his re-election as the two leaders agreed to advance their bilateral ties in sectors such as trade and economic cooperation, animal husbandry, pharmaceuticals, education and space among others.
Air India Announces Full Refund
New Delhi: Following a 30hour delay in its flight to reach San Francisco, the Air India team has announced that they will fully refund the fare to the passengers and will also "incrementally" provide a voucher for future travel with the airline. The letter from Air India mentioned, "Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience that you have undergone enroute your journey to San Francisco. We completely understand that the past 24 hours were difficult and thank you for your patience during this period. Your safety was our prime consideration throughout and governed our pilots' decision to make a precautionary landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport [KJA], Russia."
Amit Shah Accuses Soren of 'Land and Love Jihad'
Promises 'white paper' on demography
Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren of being involved in ‘land jihad’ and ‘love jihad,’ which are allegedly leading to demographic changes in the state. "Being a chief minister from the tribal community, he (Hemant Soren) doesn't care for his people. Instead, he is propagating land jihad and love jihad in the state dominated by tribals, which are causing demographic changes," Amit Shah said while addressing party workers at Prabhat Tara Ground in Ranchi. Shah claimed that thousands of illegal immigrants are marrying tribal women, obtaining certificates, and buying land
in Jharkhand, which will reduce the population of tribals in the future. “If anywhere in the country the population of tribals is reducing, it is only in Jharkhand. If the people of Jharkhand vote the Bharatiya Janata Party to power, a white paper will be brought in to secure their land, population, and reservation. The manner in which illegal immigrants are entering the state is directly affecting the employment of the youth,” the home minister said. He alleged that Hemant Soren has turned a blind eye to all the problems in Jharkhand and has been worried only about vote bank politics, adding that his idea of progress for tribals means “progress of his own family.” “It is our government that is concerned about the welfare of tribals. It was the BJP that appointed Babu Lal as the first tribal chief minister of the state. We appointed a tribal woman as the President of India. It is our government that made sure announcements are made in the Santhali language at the railway station,”
Uddhav Thackeray to Cancel Dharavi Redevelopment Tender
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said the Dharavi slum redevelopment project tender awarded to industrialist Gautam Adani's firm will be scrapped if his party comes to power in Maharashtra. Addressing a press conference, Thackeray said his party will ensure Dharavi residents and businesses are not
uprooted, adding that people staying there must be given 500 square feet houses in the locality itself.
"We will scrap Dharavi slum redevelopment project tender after coming to power. The government should give an answer as to why it should not be scrapped now itself. We will not allow Mumbai to be turned into Adani city," the former chief minister said. Additional concessions that are not specified in the contract are being given to the Adani Group in the project to redevelop Dharavi, one of the world's densest urban sprawls, Thackeray claimed. "We will not give additional concessions. We will see what is good for residents of Dharavi and if need arises we will issue a fresh tender,"
Donald Trump To Hold First Campaign Rally After Assassination Attempt
Grand Rapids: Donald Trump will hold his first campaign rally on Saturday since he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt one week ago and fresh from his nominating convention where his takeover of the Republican Party was cemented. Trump will appear in Grand Rapids, in the battleground state of Michigan, along with his new vice presidential pick, Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance. It will be their first campaign event together as the now official Republican presidential ticket. Republican Party officials said
500 Commandos Deployed to Hunt Terrorists in Jammu
The Indian Army has deployed around 500 Para Special Forces commandos in the area to hunt down the 50-55 terrorists from Pakistan who have entered the region to revive terrorism there, defence sources told news agency ANI. The intelligence agencies have also bolstered their apparatus in the area and are working to take out the terrorist support infrastructure there including overground workers who support terrorists, they said. The Army has already brought in troops to the area including one brigade strength of around 3,500-4000 personnel to counter Pakistan's proxy aggression here, they said.
Russia Jails US Reporter Evan Gershkovich For 16 Years
US reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced by a Russian court on Friday to 16 years prison for "espionage", a verdict slammed as "despicable", "disgraceful" and a "sham" by Western governments and his employer. Gershkovich was sentenced after just three court sessions in a secretive closed-door trial in the Urals City of Yekaterinburg, the city where he was arrested while on a reporting trip in March 2023.
Nearly 1,000 Indians return from violence-
Bangladesh: MEA
during Trump's nominating convention in Milwaukee this week that his brush with death last Saturday had changed him, and that when he made his acceptance speech on Thursday night he would call for national unity. While Trump began the address with a call for unity and national healing, much of his speech was his well-known list of grievances and attacks on opponents. It is unclear what type of a speech Trump will deliver on Saturday, but his diehard supporters typically flock to such events to hear Trump's more traditional inflammatory rhetoric. Trump and Vance will take the stage in Grand Rapids with the Republican Party unified behind them after this week's nominating convention. In contrast, the Democrats are in turmoil and it is no longer certain that President Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee facing Trump in the Nov. 5 election.
Nearly 1,000 Indian nationals, mainly students, have returned home via land border crossings or flights from Bangladesh, where violent protests against job quotas have left more than 100 people dead.
Curfew has been imposed across Bangladesh since Friday, and the army has been deployed following clashes between protesters opposing the quotas in government jobs and progovernment student groups and police.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
looking after the interests of Indians in New Zealand (File)
What you need to know
• Global outages: Tech disruptions worldwide have hit airlines, banks, businesses and even emergency services.
• Critical services affected: 911 services are down in several states in the US. Major US airlines, including Delta, United and American Airlines, have had flights grounded, and airlines in Europe and Asia are also seeing disruptions. Banks in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Britain have been impacted, as have health services in Israel, Germany and the UK.
• What’s behind this? The outages appear to stem at least partly from a software update for Microsoft Windows operating systems issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, experts tell CNN.
• Fix deployed, but impacts remain: CrowdStrike’s CEO said that a fix has been deployed. And Microsoft said the “underlying cause” has been fixed, but that the outages are still affecting some services.
NY Magazine Cover of Trump and Biden Sparks Outrage
The cover of New York magazine's latest Health Issue included a Photoshopped picture of former president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in their shorts, which sparked a flurry of criticism. The image, which compares the two political rivals on medical scales, has drawn criticism for being improper and immoral. The magazine defended the cover, arguing that it was a statement on the candidates' ages and health-a subject that the public is becoming more interested in. Social media users and critics have, however, voiced anger over the photograph, denouncing it as exploitative and insulting.
Global Microsoft Outage Disrupts Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange
A global technology outage on Friday disrupted flights, banks, hospitals, and media outlets worldwide, showcasing the dependence on software from a few providers. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike confirmed the issue was not a security incident but a faulty Microsoft Windows update. Despite efforts to fix it, chaos continued and escalated.
Airports in the US, Europe, and Asia faced long lines as airlines lost access to check-in and booking systems. In Australia, media outlets were off-air for hours due to severe telecommunications disruptions. Hospitals and doctors' offices struggled with appointment systems, and banks in South Africa and New Zealand reported outages in their payment systems and apps.
At Hong Kong's airport, Yvonne Lee, 24, faced a flight delay, affecting her short vacation plans. Some athletes and spectators heading to Paris for the Olympics were delayed, but ticketing and the torch relay were not impacted.
“This is a very uncomfortable illustration of the fragility of the world’s core internet infrastructure,” said Ciaran Martin, a professor at Oxford University. DownDetector reported disruptions across airlines, payment platforms, and online shopping sites using Microsoft cloud services. Cyber expert James Bore warned that the outage could cause real harm, with hospitals struggling to sort appointments and care potentially delayed.
US Ambassador: India Key to Ukraine-Russia Conflict Resolution
US ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on Friday asserted that India, which has strong ties with both Russia and Ukraine, can play a "great role" in resolving the conflict between the two countries, but maintained that "it is for the world's largest democracy to decide on the matter".
Welcoming India's increasing role in
international relations and lauding its Navy's daring seizure of cargo ships hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean, the US ambassador said it was also doing great work in empowerment of the global south.
"We welcome any role that India will seek to play to bring greater resolution to any wars in our world," he said.
"Incredibly strong relations India has had with both Ukraine and Russia in the past and so they (India) could play a great role," he said.
Stating that it is for India to decide on the issue, he said, "We welcome any nation that will stand against unwarranted invasion that impedes the sovereignty of the borders of another country and causes great suffering to civilians who are innocent."
US Cop Fired After Laughing at Indian Student Jaahnavi's Death
Daniel Auderer was heard laughing about the deadly crash.
New York/Seattle: A US police officer, whose insensitive comments and laughter following the horrific death of a 23-yearold Indian student had caused outrage, has been fired from the Seattle Police Department.
Jaahnavi Kandula was struck by a speeding police vehicle driven by Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave as she was crossing a street on January 23 last year. Dave was driving at more than 119 kmph on the way to a report of a drug overdose call. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when
she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle. Rahr noted that at the root of this case lies an extremely difficult judgment call of how to fairly balance "intent versus impact." "There is no doubt that the named officer's cruel comments and callous laughter about the tragic death caused deep pain to Ms Kandula's family, but also immeasurable damage to the public trust of police in the Seattle community, across the nation, and around the world," she said in the email. Noting that it is unusual for a Chief to explain a disciplinary decision to an entire organisation, Rahr said this is an unusual enough circumstance and the "case has been covered extensively in the public, has garnered international media and diplomatic attention." Rahr added that it has been "quite striking" to her that a number of people, even those known to be very "pro-police," feel the "dehumanizing laughter heard on the video is more outrageous and disturbing" than Kandula's death.
Microsoft 365 posted on social media that they were rerouting impacted traffic to alternate systems to restore service. CrowdStrike confirmed they were working on a fix for the faulty update. The Nasdaq-traded company’s shares were down nearly 15% in premarket trading. Global governments and companies scrambled to respond, with widespread delays and cancellations reported at airports, stock exchanges, and other critical systems.
"Attack On Constitution": Priyanka Gandhi
New Delhi: The police order to display the names of eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has been strongly criticised by Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who said it was against the Constitution.
"Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution. This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it," read her post on X, formerly Twitter. The police had ordered that all food joints display their owner's name prominently to avoid confusion during the religious procession.
Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja Out Of ODIs
The Team India squad announcement for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka was a bitter-sweet moment for Suryakumar Yadav. While the attacking batter would've been jubilant to get the team's captaincy in T20Is, he was also dropped from the ODI squad, with the selectors and new head coach Gautam Gambhir making their stance clear. Suryakumar was a part of India's ODI World Cup squad in 2023 but failed to repay the trust that selectors showed in him. Hence, the 360-degree batter was snubbed for a spot in the Indian team for the ODIs in the island nation.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Hardik Pandya, Natasa Stankovic Split; Son Agastya To...
India star cricketer Hardik Pandya in an Instagram post on Thursday announced that he and wife Natasa Stankovic have 'mutually parted ways'.
Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic wrote: "After 4 years of being together, Natasa and I have decided to mutually part ways. We tried our best together and gave it our all, and we believe that this is in the best interest for the both of us. This was a tough decision for us to make, given the joy, mutual respect and companionship we enjoyed together and as we grew a family.
"We are blessed with Agastya, who will continue to be at the centre of both our lives and we will co-parent to ensure that we give him everything that we can for his happiness. We sincerely request your support and understanding to give us the privacy during this difficult and sensitive time. Hardik/Natasa"
US Tycoon J Michael Cline Dies in 20th Floor Fall
James Michael Cline, the finance executive who launched the Fandango movie ticketing business in 2000, died by suicide at the age of 64 in Manhattan on Tuesday morning after jumping from the Kimberly Hotel's 20th floor, as per a report in Variety. According to a statement by the New York Police Department, the officials reached the hotel at 10:19 am and found "an unconscious and unresponsive male with injuries indicative of a fall from an elevated position. The investigation remains ongoing." According to TMZ, he left a suicide note in his room.
After leaving Fandango, which is now owned by NBC Universal and Warner Bros, in 2011, Mr Cline founded Accumen, Insureon, and Accolade through his Accretive company, which had also made an investment in Fandango. He also ran a number of tech companies and venture capital businesses, including the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
PM Modi Meets Party Staffers At BJP Headquarters
PM Modi was welcomed at the party office by
BJP President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda. Party General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, and General Secretary Arun Singh were also present at the programme.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the BJP headquarters to interact with the officials working there and thank them for their contribution to the party's return to power for a third term.
The programme, named 'Sneh Milan', was the Prime Minister's first interaction with the party staffers after he assumed office for the third time. He was welcomed at the party office by BJP President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda. Party General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, and General Secretary Arun Singh were also present at the programme which lasted for two and a half hours. In his remarks, PM Modi
told the party staffers that all of them are members of the same family. Recalling his past stint in the party organisation, both in his home state Gujarat and at the national level, he shared his experiences and revealed how the party functioned with limited resources at its disposal.However, he noted that the shortages did not prevent the party and its officials from giving their best.
Thanking the party staffers for dropping everything else to work for three months without any holiday during the Lok Sabha elections, he stressed that there is nothing bigger than the party organisation, and all the staffers are its centre points.
32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters
Dhaka: Bangladeshi students set fire to the country's state broadcaster on Thursday, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared on the network seeking to calm escalating clashes that have killed at least 32 people. Hundreds of protesters demanding reform of civil service hiring rules fought back and overwhelmed riot police who had fired at them with
rubber bullets.
The incensed crowd chased the retreating officers to BTV's headquarters in the capital Dhaka, then set ablaze the network's reception building and dozens of vehicles parked outside.
"Many people" were trapped inside as the fire spread, the broadcaster said in a Facebook post, but an official from the station later told AFP that they had safely evacuated the building.
"The fire is still going on," the official said. "We have come out to the main gate. Our broadcast has been shut down for now."
Hasina's government has ordered schools and universities to close indefinitely as police step up efforts to bring the country's deteriorating law and order situation under control.
Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report
Washington: Former US president Barack Obama has told allies that Joe Biden needs to reconsider his reelection bid, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Obama believes that Biden's path to victory has diminished and that the 81-year-old should "seriously consider the viability of his candidacy," the newspaper said, citing people briefed on his thinking.
"Avoid Travel": Advisory Issued For Indians In Bangladesh
Dhaka: Indian High Commission in Dhaka has issued an urgent advisory for Indian citizens and students in Bangladesh to avoid non-essential travel and minimise movement outside their residences due to the escalating unrest in the country.
The advisory comes in response to recent violent clashes between students and police in Dhaka, following the Bangladeshi government's decision to close all public and private universities.
The protests have been driven by demands for reform of the country's quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of those who participated in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
Indian Fintech Sector
To Reach $420 Billion By 2029
New Delhi: The Indian fintech industry is projected to reach $420 billion by 2029, at a cumulative annual growth rate of 31 per cent from around $110 billion this year, Ajay Kumar Choudhary, non-executive chairman and independent director, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said today. "NPCI has also set an ambitious target of achieving 1 billion UPI transactions per day in the coming years," he added.
Suryakumar Yadav To Lead In T20Is
It said there was no immediate comment from Obama, who was in office while Biden was vice president from 2009 to 2017 and who remains hugely influential in the Democratic party. Obama would be the most heavyweight Democrat so far to join a growing chorus in the party calling for Biden to drop out, following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
Biden, who is isolating with Covid at his beach house, has rejected concerns about his age and fitness and insisted that he is staying in the race for the White House.
Pressure is mounting, though, with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also both reportedly meeting with Biden in recent days to warn that his candidacy threatens his party's prospects in November's election.
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed to lead the Indian team in T20Is against Sri Lanka while Shubman Gill has been named his deputy for the three-match series. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been named in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka with the former also captaining the side. Gill is the vice-captain in the ODI series as well. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for the series.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
L.L. Bean's 80-YearOld Staple Becomes Trendy Bag
L.L. Bean created it 80 years ago to haul heavy blocks of ice. Now it’s a must-have summer fashion accessory. The simple, sturdy canvas bag called the Boat and Tote is having an extended moment 80 years after its introduction, thanks to a social media trend in which they’re monogrammed with ironic or flashy phrases.
New Yorker Gracie Wiener helped get it started by ordering her humble bags from L.L. Bean monogrammed with “Psycho” and then “Prada,” the pricey Italian luxury brand, instead of just her name or initials, and posting about them on Instagram. Then others began showcasing their own unique bags on TikTok.
The tote’s revival came at a time when price-conscious consumers were forgoing expensive handbags, sales of which have weakened, and L.L. Bean’s bag fit the bill as a functional item that’s trendy precisely because it’s not trendy, she said. L.L. Bean’s regular bags top out at about $55, though some fancier versions cost upward of $100.
Aries
groceries, books, beach gear, travel essentials and other common items.
Those snarky, pop-oriented phrases transformed them into a sassy essential and helped them spread beyond Maine, Massachusetts’ Cape Cod and other New England enclaves to places like Los Angeles and New York City, where fashionistas like Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Jessica Parker are toting them — but not necessarily brandished with ironic phrases.
Soon, it wasn’t enough to have a bag monogrammed with “Schlepper,” “HOT MESS,” “slayyyy” or “cool mom.” Customers began testing the limits of the human censors in L.L. Bean’s monogram department, which bans profanity “or other objectionable words or phrases,” with more provocative wording like “Bite me,” “Dum Blonde” and “Ambitchous.”
L.L. Bean's 80-year-old Boat and Tote is now a
“There’s a trend toward the utilitarian, the simple things and more accessible price points,” she said, and the customization added to the appeal: “Status items don’t have to be designer price points.”
L.L. Bean’s tote was first advertised in a catalog as Bean’s Ice Carrier in 1944 during World War II, when ice chests were common. Then they disappeared before being reintroduced in 1965 as the Boat and Tote.
These days, they’re still made in Maine and are still capable of hauling 500 pounds of ice, but they are far more likely to carry laptops, headphones,
Social media fueled the surge, just as it did for Stanley’s tumblers and Trader Joe’s $2.99 canvas bags, which were once selling on eBay for $200, said Beth Goldstein, an analyst at Circana, which tracks consumer spending and trends.
The tote’s revival came at a time when priceconscious consumers were forgoing expensive handbags, sales of which have weakened, and L.L. Bean’s bag fit the bill as a functional item that’s trendy precisely because it’s not trendy, she said. L.L. Bean’s regular bags top out at about $55, though some fancier versions cost upward of $100.
“There’s a trend toward the utilitarian, the simple things and more accessible price points,” she said, and the customization added to the appeal: “Status items don’t have to be designer price points.”
Ganesha says that people of the Aries zodiac sign will have to take care of both their money and minds this week. Be it at home or outside, avoid following your whims and ignoring the advice of others. At the beginning of the week, you may have to travel long distances for work.
Taurus
Ganesha says that the people of the Taurus zodiac will get better opportunities to move ahead in life this week, but keep in mind that both your behavior and your health can become a big reason for losing it. This week, irritability will be seen in your nature.
Gemini
Ganesha says that this week will bring auspiciousness and good fortune for the people of the Gemini zodiac sign. At the beginning of the week, you may get a big opportunity to move ahead in life.
Cancer
Ganesha says that people of the Cancer zodiac sign will need to avoid both debt and marriage this week. At the beginning of the week, you may have to face physical pain due to the re-emergence of some old disease or due to seasonal illness.
Leo
Ganesha says that this week can be very hectic for the people of Leo zodiac sign. At the beginning of the week, you may have to undertake long-distance journeys related to a job or business. During this time, for the health of a family member, one may have to visit the hospital or the court due to matters related to land and property.
Virgo
Ganesha says that this week is going to be very auspicious for the people of the Virgo zodiac sign. At the beginning of the week, good luck will be seen knocking at your door. You may achieve some major achievements related to your career and business.
Libra
Ganesha says that the people of the Libra zodiac sign should avoid doing distant losses in exchange
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
for nearby gains this week. Avoid adopting shortcuts for any work in the workplace, otherwise, even the work done may get spoiled, due to which you may have to become a victim of your boss’s anger.
Scorpio
Ganesha says that this week will bring some challenges for the people of the Scorpio zodiac, to overcome which they will need to make extra hard work and efforts. At the beginning of the week, you may have to visit the hospital regarding the health of an elderly member of your family.
Sagittarius
Ganesha says that people of Sagittarius zodiac sign may have to run around more this week to complete their planned work on time. At the beginning of the week, you may have to travel long or short distances for work. The journey will prove to be tiring but will bring the desired success.
Capricorn
Ganesha says that this week is going to have some ups and downs for the people of Capricorn sign. This week, sometimes your work will seem to be completed very easily and sometimes you may have to run around even for a task that seems very easy.
Aquarius
Ganesha says that people of the Aquarius zodiac sign will be successful in finding solutions to long-standing problems this week with their intelligence and wisdom. This week, your planned tasks will be completed on time, due to which you will see a different kind of enthusiasm and energy.
Pisces
Ganesha says that the people of Pisces will get full support of good fortune this week. At the beginning of the week, you may get to hear some good news related to your career and business. The wish of expanding business will be fulfilled. Unemployed people who have been wandering for a long time will get the desired employment. Obstacles to acquiring an ancestral property will be removed.
( Celebrity Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla)
Ashfaq Syed Reelected As Naperville Public Library Board President For Second Term
HiIndia Newsdesk
NAPERVILLE, IL- Ashfaq Syed
is honored to have served on the Naperville Public Library Board of Trustees since 2020 and is humbled to be reelected today as the Board President for his second term. He expressed his excitement for the year ahead, eager to conceptualize and implement numerous innovative activities to elevate the Naperville Public Library to new heights. Syed also took this opportunity to thank the Board of Trustees for their confidence and trust in him to carry this important responsibility.
The Naperville Public Library Board of Trustees is a governing board of
Ohio Doctor of Indian Descent Jailed for Health Care Fraud
Newsdesk
HiIndia
TOLEDO, OH– Ankita Singh, 42, formerly of Maumee, Ohio, was sentenced to 26 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary for her role in a durable medical equipment (DME) fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare. She was also ordered to pay $4,470,931.02 in restitution, serve two years of supervised release, and pay a $600 special assessment fee.
In February 2024, Singh was found guilty of six counts of health care fraud. She signed false orders for orthotic braces that patients never requested or needed. From 2019, Singh worked for companies providing fake “telehealth services.” Telemarketers cold-called Medicare beneficiaries, falsely offering orthotic braces at no cost. Singh never consulted these patients, either in person or via telehealth. Telemarketers prepared fake orders, which Singh signed, falsely certifying medical necessity. Singh signed over 11,000 prescriptions for orthotic braces for about 3,000 Medicare beneficiaries she had never met or examined. Her false orders led to more than $8 million being billed to Medicare, with approximately $4.47 million paid out.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Angelita Cruz Bridges and investigated by the HHS Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
To report suspected health care fraud, visit https://oig.hhs.gov/ fraud/report-fraud/contact/ or call 1-800-447-8477.
Ashfaq Syed
community volunteers, appointed by the Mayor of Naperville with the approval of the Naperville City Council. The Board is composed of nine Trustees who can
each serve up to two consecutive threeyear terms. The Board’s responsibilities include overseeing the Library’s budget and policies.
The Naperville Public Library has been named the No. 1 Public Library in the U.S. in the 100,000 – 250,000 population category for the last 10 years and has been a beacon of pride for the entire community. It was also named a 2022 five-star library by Library Journal, an award the library has earned 14 times since its inception in 2009. Additionally, the library was ranked number one in the country in its expenditure range ($10-$29.9 million) for the year.
Cook County Treasurer to Issue
$22M in Property Tax
CHICAGO, IL- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced that more than 10,000 property owners who overpaid their property taxes last year will receive automatic refunds totaling over $22 million.
“Many senior citizens and others have tax exemptions that exceed their billed property taxes,” Pappas explained.
“Having made their First Installment payment in March, they are now eligible for automatic refunds, simplifying the process for taxpayers.”
Most recipients will not need to file applications or complete any paperwork. Refunds will either be directly deposited into bank accounts or mailed as checks.
Refunds
Out of the 10,099 properties due refunds, 5,813 will receive direct deposits, and 4,286 will get checks by August 9.
To check for an automatic refund, visit cookcountytreasurer.com, select the purple box labeled “Your Property Tax Overview,” and enter your address or 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN). The majority of these refunds will go to homeowners benefiting from property tax exemptions, which reduce the total taxes due in the Second Installment tax bill. Exemptions include Homeowner, Senior Citizen, Senior Freeze, and Disabled Persons. The Second Installment 2023 bills are due on August 1.
Since the automatic refund program’s inception in 2018, Pappas has issued approximately $143.2 million in refunds to over 165,114 property owners without requiring applications.
Property taxes are due in two annual installments. The First Installment bill is an estimate of 55% of the previous year’s total bill and was due on March 1.
Monmouth University Lockdown Ends; Email Threat Not Credible
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ
Monmouth University was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after students and faculty received a threatening email, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor.
The email, sent shortly after midnight, claimed that an armed individual was hiding on campus and had placed a dangerous device there. In response, campus police initiated a lockdown, instructing everyone on campus to shelter in place.
The Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, the Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force, and the Monmouth County Sheriff conducted a thorough search of all university buildings. Police from Asbury Park, Deal, Long Branch, Manasquan, Marlboro, Ocean Township, and West Long Branch also assisted in the search.
After a campus-wide search, no evidence was found to support the claims made in the email. “There was no indication of validity to either claim outlined in the email,” said the prosecutor’s spokesman.
An all-clear was issued at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and classes and activities at Monmouth University resumed as scheduled at 10 a.m. The Monmouth County Prosecutor continues to investigate the source of the email. Anyone with information about this matter is asked to contact MCPO Detective Daniel Chernavsky at 800533-7443 or Monmouth University Police Department Detective Tracy Carretta at 732-571-4444.
Indian American Billionaire Vinod
Khosla
And Elon Musk Lock Horns On X
A verbal spat on social media between Indian American venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Tesla CEO Elon Musk had the netizens riveted. The two men argued over the upcoming elections and Musk tried to sway Khosla into supporting Trump. Khosla however stood his ground and did not shy away from writing that Trump “lies and demands women.”
Here’s how the exchange went. Khosla took to X to ask for an open convention to select a more moderate democratic candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. “Time to have an open convention and get a more moderate candidate who can easily beat @realDonaldTrump. @GovWhitmer and @GovernerShapiro would be a great thing for America not held hostage between MAGA extremists and DEI
extremism. Unique opportunity for a better moderate path. Every socially, liberal, climate and fiscal voter should want it to balance our approach.”
Khosla’s post caught the attention of Elon Musk who tried to persuade him to vote for Trump. Musk wrote: “”Come on, Vinod. Trump/Vance LFG!!” Khosla wrote a lengthy reply. He said: “Hard for me to support someone with no values, lies, cheats, rapes, demeans
women, hates immigrants like me. He may cut my taxes or reduce some regulation but that is no reason to accept depravity in his personal values. Do you want a President who will set back climate by a decade in his first year? Do you want his example for your kids as values?”
Musk in turn also had a long reply to Khosla’s view. He wrote: “He doesn’t hate you. In fact, I think he likes you. Meet him and find out for yourself. How many times have you read something in the media where you know the real story, but what they printed was diabolically false? Well, it’s way worse in politics, which is a blood sport. I’m not suggesting that Trump is without flaws, however we need an administration that is more likely to be meritocratic and promote individual freedoms over the heavy hand of government.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Hindu Mandir Of Lake County’s Grand Celebration: Guru Purnima And Samohik Satya Narayana Katha
GRAYSLAKE, IL- The Hindu Mandir of Lake County in Grayslake, IL, celebrated Guru Purnima and Samohika Satya Narayana Katha on Saturday, July 20, 2024, with over 300 devotees attending. Fifty sponsors participated in the Pujan of Lord Satya Narayana, with the temple providing all necessary Puja Samagri. The rituals were led by temple priests Pandit Anil Joshi Ji and Pandit Radha Krishna, who chanted Vedic Mantras and explained the puja procedures.
Pandit Joshi Ji delivered a discourse on Bhakti and detachment from Karma, emphasizing the importance of commitment to one’s duties towards family, community, nature, nation, and the world. The event highlighted the significance of overcoming ignorance and egoism through spiritual enlightenment.
The temple also honored about 35 senior citizens for their role in preserving Sanatana Dharma and Vedic culture. Young devotees worshipped these
elders, offering Anga Vastram and gifts. Special guest Amitab Mittal, General Secretary of VHPA, was recognized for his efforts in distributing Ayodhya Ram Mandir Prasadam across the USA.
Students from Kiran Chauhan’s IRadha Kathak dance school performed a Guru Naman dance, showcasing spiritual grace. The evening concluded with a Maha Mangala Aarati and the serving of Maha Prasadam, leaving devotees blessed and joyous.
Undocumented Spouses Of U.S. Citizens To Receive New Legal Protections Under Biden Plan
‘WASHINGTON, DC- On June 18, 2024, the Biden administration announced a new policy granting temporary legal status and a potential path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. Known as “parole in place” (PIP), this initiative by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aims to promote family unity, aligning with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to keeping families together.
Under PIP, noncitizen spouses who have lived in the U.S. for at least ten years can apply for parole, allowing them
Middle District of Florida
Intensifies Fight Against COVID-19 Fraud
TAMPA, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced significant progress in combating COVID-19 related fraud in the Middle District of Florida. Since forming the COVID-19 Fraud Task Force in March 2020, the USAOMDFL, alongside federal, state, and local agencies, has prosecuted 89 defendants for attempting to exploit federal programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Unemployment Insurance (UI). These schemes aimed to defraud the government of over $84.5 million. Notable cases include Barrett Purvis, found guilty in April 2024 of wire fraud and money laundering after misusing a $500,000 EIDL loan for personal expenses. Additionally, Evan Graves was sentenced in June 2024 to 18 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining $1.35 million in EIDL funds, which he used to buy properties and settle personal debts.
to seek lawful permanent residence without leaving the country. This policy is expected to protect around half a million spouses and approximately 50,000 undocumented children under 21.
To qualify, applicants must have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least a decade, be married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, and have no disqualifying criminal history. DHS may also consider noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens. USCIS will start accepting applications after August 19, 2024. Successful applicants will receive an I-94 travel record, enabling them to apply for a green card and, eventually, U.S. citizenship. Detailed eligibility criteria and application processes will be published in an upcoming Federal Register notice.
Indian American Student Wins National Academic Pentathlon
ANAHEIM, CA – Nikita Pramod, a middle school student from Fairmont Schools, achieved national recognition for her outstanding performance in the
National Academic Pentathlon. Pramod secured first place in Honors Science both in Orange County and at the national level, showcasing her academic excellence.
The National Academic Pentathlon, held early this year in Phoenix, AZ, is a prestigious competition that tests students in five subjects: mathematics, science, social studies, literature, and fine arts. Pramod’s exceptional performance in these areas has earned her top honors.
“We are thrilled to see Nikita’s hard work and passion for learning recognized at such a high level,” said her parents, Suja and Pramod. “Her dedication and enthusiasm for learning have always been evident, and this achievement is well-deserved.”
In addition to her academic pursuits, Pramod is actively involved in extracurricular activities, including club volleyball and performing arts, demonstrating a well-rounded approach to her education.
Oak Lawn: Dozens of Vehicles, Garages Tagged with ‘BLM’ Graffiti
OAK LAWN, IL. – A recent vandalism spree in Oak Lawn, IL has resulted in extensive damage to vehicles and garages, with “Black Lives Matter” or “BLM” graffiti found on dozens of properties. The incident took place overnight, affecting around 80 vehicles, including cars and SUVs, primarily along Cook Avenue and Tomcin Trail.
Oak Lawn Police Chief Vincent Bertucci stated that a suspect was tracked moving down Cicero Avenue and possibly through a nearby wildlife preserve, but no arrests have been made so far. “It’s unsettling,” Bertucci remarked. “We’re investigating this seriously.”
The graffiti also appeared at the residence of Genesis Del Real on 109th Street, as well as on neighboring properties. Investigators are currently reviewing footage from doorbell cameras after reports of a masked individual canvassing the area. Oak Lawn Police have urged residents to check their security footage and report any information that could assist in the investigation.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Nikita Pramod
‘Mass Deportation Now!’ GOP Convention Focuses On Border Security And Illegal Immigration
HiIndia Newsdesk
WASHINGTON, DC- Calls for additional border security and mass deportation of illegal immigrants were a prominent theme at the Republican National Convention’s third night. Signs reading “Mass Deportation Now!” were visible, and former acting ICE chief Tom Homan emphasized that a new Trump term would bring tougher enforcement and more deportations.
“I’ve got a message to the millions of illegal aliens that Joe Biden has released in our country in violation of federal law: You better start packing now,” Homan declared to cheers.
Trump supporters claim his 2016 focus on restricting illegal immigration and
building a border wall was successful. In contrast, they blame President Biden’s policy reversals for a historic crisis at the
southern border.
“Biden is the first president in American history to come into office and unsecure
AAPI’s Women’s Leadership Forum Focuses On “Celebrating Women Of Excellence”
NEW YORK, NY- Women are emerging as key figures in global economic empowerment, education, and politics, demonstrating unprecedented achievements. The AAPI’s Women’s Leadership Forum, themed “Celebrating Women of Excellence,” highlighted this trend. Moderated by Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan and Dr. Mamta Singhvi, and led by Dr. Anjana Samadder, the forum featured prominent women leaders. Speakers included Smriti Irani, a former federal minister from India and Bollywood star, who shared her journey of breaking glass ceilings in politics and entertainment. Irani emphasized India’s role in promoting women’s leadership globally and highlighted the need for women’s voices to be heard.
Yoshita Singh, Chief Correspondent
for the Press Trust of India at the UN, discussed her experiences transitioning from India to an international stage, noting significant changes in global relationships.
Dr. Soumya Vishvanathan, a physician and corporate leader, spoke about her path to leading 17 hospitals in Florida and the importance of a well-rounded education and leadership training.
Dr. Anjana Samadder praised the contributions of women in various fields, emphasizing their indispensable roles in family, society, and beyond. The forum celebrated the achievements of these women and highlighted the ongoing need to support and uplift women’s voices globally. For more information, visit www.aapiusa.org.
Chicago Residents Targeted By Parking Ticket Scam Via Fraudulent Text Messages
CHICAGO, IL- A new scam is preying on Chicago residents, sending fraudulent text messages that claim recipients have unpaid parking tickets. These messages contain a link to a fake website designed to steal personal information.
Treveyon Kinnard, a resident of Chicago, recently received one such suspicious text from a phone number with a 343 area code, which originates from Ontario, Canada. The message alleged he had an unpaid parking ticket and included a link for payment. Upon clicking the link, Kinnard noticed some red flags.
“I noticed that the dollar sign was placed after the amount, reading ‘35.00$’ instead of the correct format, $35. That raised my suspicion. But, I thought, everyone makes mistakes,” Kinnard remarked.
The fraudulent website, infractionpark.com, uses the City of Chicago’s seal and falsely claims users have unpaid parking invoices from the “City of Chicago Department of Infraction,” a non-existent department. The site asks for personal information such as name, address, ZIP code, email, date of birth, and credit card
details.
An investigation revealed that entering fictitious names like Jane and John Doe with various ZIP codes consistently resulted in claims of unpaid parking tickets.
Steve Bernas of the Chicago Better Business Bureau warns that providing personal information through such scams can lead to identity theft. “The information they’re asking for can significantly aid in stealing your identity. Your birthdate and email address are particularly valuable. Once they have a live victim, it’s a commodity. It’s actually worth more to scammers once someone falls for it,” Bernas explained.
In Chicago, legitimate parking tickets are managed by the Department of Finance. Residents who receive these scam texts and are unsure about the authenticity of their parking tickets are advised to verify their status through the official city website.
the border. Who the hell does that?” Homan said, as Republicans pledged to address the issue if Trump is re-elected.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott criticized Biden’s handling of the border, praising Trump’s previous efforts. The convention featured testimonials from individuals affected by the border crisis, including the family of a murder victim and Arizona ranchers facing security threats.
The Biden administration has defended its actions, highlighting significant reductions in illegal entries and increased deportations since new executive orders were implemented, while stressing the need for congressional action to secure lasting solutions.
CALEXICO, CA.- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico East Port of Entry intercepted $756,980 in unreported currency during an outbound vehicle examination on July 10. The discovery occurred at approximately 4:02 p.m. when CBP officers encountered a 35-year-old man driving a 2024 pickup truck heading southbound into Mexico. The vehicle and driver were referred for a secondary examination.
Using non-intrusive inspection technology, officers found the hidden currency within the vehicle’s spare tire. “This discovery underscores the ongoing efforts of our dedicated CBP officers to enforce federal regulations and prevent illicit activities,” said Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico. The currency was seized, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents have initiated a criminal investigation. While carrying over $10,000 is not illegal, failing to declare it upon entry or exit from the U.S. is a federal offense. Concealing such amounts with the intent to evade reporting requirements can lead to currency seizure and potential arrest. Individuals can petition for the return of seized currency by proving its legitimate source and intended use.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Fake parking tickets scam on rise
Usha Chilukuri’s Immigration Speech Called Hypocritical
At the Republican National convention on Wednesday, Usha Chilukuri, the wife of newly announced VP candidate JD Vance’s wife, made her stage debut. Chilukuri Vance spoke with great pride about her Indian immigrant parents. However, Vances’ speech was soon criticized because of the general mood of the convention, where people held signs of mass deportation.
There were also regular chants of “Send them back” from the audience which were heard multiple times when her husband JD Vance, spoke about “illegal aliens” entering the country. Social media was abuzz pointing out this stark contrast between her speech and people holding deportation signs. But touching upon her Indian upbringing Chilukuri said, “My background is very different from JD’s. I grew up in San Diego, in a middleclass community, with two loving parents, both immigrants from India, and a wonderful sister. That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country.”
Harmeet Dhillion Called Names After RNC Ardas
Sikh Republican leader Harmeet Dhillon’s ardas prayer at the Republican National Convention sparked backlash online, with critics calling it blasphemous. Intended to showcase religious diversity, the prayer drew negative reactions from Christian fundamentalists and ultra-conservatives on social media. Conservative commentator Behizy condemned the prayer, insisting only Yahweh should be invoked. Political activist Lauren Witzke labeled it witchcraft and suggested deportation. Despite this, Dhillon told the New York Post her prayer was respectful, noting positive reactions from attendees who hugged her and took selfies, with no criticism inside the room.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams Inaugurates AAPI's First World Health Congress
NEW YORK, NY- New York City Mayor
Eric Adams inaugurated the first-ever World Health Congress of Physicians, organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square on July 18, 2024. In his address, Adams praised the contributions of Indian American physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting their sacrifices and dedication.
Recalling his visit to India, Adams emphasized the importance of following Gandhi’s principles and the unity and service of Indian American physicians.
Dr. Anjana Samadder, President of AAPI, welcomed the delegates, emphasizing the significance of the event.
Sri Brahmrishi SiddhGuru Gurudev blessed the organizers, lauding Indian
American physicians for their virtues of “learning, earning, and returning.”
Other speakers included Dilip Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner for Trade, and Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South AsianAmerican woman elected to a state office in New York.
Key speakers at the Congress include Dr. Mehmet Oz, Smriti Zubin Irani, Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, Dr. Jesse Menachem Ehrenfeld, and Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy. Dr. Achintya Moulik and Dr. Sumul Raval highlighted the event’s diverse activities, including research sessions, wellness workshops, entertainment, and authentic Indian cuisine. Amit Chakrabarty, AAPI Vice President, noted AAPI’s evolution and contributions over 42 years, representing over 120,000 Indian American physicians in the US.
Illegal Crossings Plunge, Nearing Level to Lift Biden’s Border Crackdown
WASHINGTON, DC- Illegal crossings at the U.S. southern border have markedly decreased in July, nearing levels that may lift a partial asylum ban enacted by President Biden. Internal government data obtained by CBS News shows this is the fifth consecutive monthly drop, hitting the lowest levels since late 2020.
President Biden’s June order, invoking presidential authority to suspend most illegal entries, has significantly reduced border crossings. If the 7-day average of daily apprehensions falls to 1,500, the asylum restrictions will be lifted. Recently, this average has been around 1,650.
Despite the decline, officials do not
expect an immediate deactivation of the partial asylum ban. CBP aims to continue expedited deportation proceedings even if the proclamation is suspended. The Biden administration’s asylum restrictions remain in effect for those not seeking refuge in third countries before entering the U.S. The significant drop is also attributed to Mexico’s increased efforts to curb migration, alongside the perilous summer heat. While some migrants, including unaccompanied children and those medically vulnerable, are exempt from the ban, the overall reduction in releases under Biden’s policy is influencing migrant decisions. The legality of Biden’s actions remains contested, with ongoing challenges in federal court.
WASHINGTON, DC- USCIS is updating its Policy Manual regarding children’s acquisition of citizenship based on public feedback and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sessions v. Morales-Santana (2017). Key updates include:
• Applicants denied a Certificate of Citizenship due to previous policies can now file a motion to reopen their application.
• A U.S. citizen parent can meet the physical presence requirement in the U.S. before the child’s birth regardless of their immigration status.
• If a child is born out of wedlock to two U.S. citizen parents and cannot acquire citizenship from the father, the mother needs one year of continuous physical presence in the U.S. before the child’s birth.
• For citizenship at birth, the parent must be legally recognized at the child’s birth.
• A child can acquire citizenship if the final condition is met on their 18th birthday.
• Valid U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad are accepted as evidence of citizenship but may be subject to verification.
• Processes for adjudicating citizenship claims involving parents or grandparents are clarified. For naturalization applications under provisions for children abused by U.S. citizens, the stepchild relationship need not exist at the time of application. These updates are effective immediately and apply to pending or new applications.
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
Usha Chilukuri
Guru Purnima Celebrated by Dada Bhagwan Pariwar Chicago with Pujya Deepakbhai Desai
HiIndia Newsdesk
SCHAUMBURG, IL- The Dada Bhagwan Pariwar of Greater Chicago celebrated a five-day spiritual seminar focused on “Self Realization” and “Guru Purnima” in the suburbs of Greater Chicago. The event, which began on July 17, 2024, was hosted at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Each day saw more than 3,500 participants, including local attendees and visitors from across the United States and Canada, who came to seek spiritual guidance and knowledge. During the event, participants engaged in question-and-answer sessions with Pujya Deepakbhai Desai, the current spiritual leader of the Dada Bhagwan Foundation. Questions ranged from profound philosophical inquiries about the meaning of life, the life-death cycle, achieving peace and happiness, the afterlife, and overcoming negative thoughts, to more light-hearted queries from children about
daily habits and personal preferences.
Pujya Deepakbhai provided scientific and rational responses to all questions,
Dr. Mehmet Oz Keynote on ‘Living The Good Life’ at AAPI Congress NYC
NEW YORK, NY- Dr. Mehmet Oz, renowned surgeon and television personality, delivered the keynote address at the inaugural World Health Congress, organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Marriot Marquee in New York City on July 19, 2024. Speaking to over 1,000 delegates, Dr. Oz emphasized wellness and health optimization in his talk “Living the Good Life,” and discussed advancements such as the MitraClip, an implantable device for treating leaky heart valves. The World Health Congress, which commenced on July 18 with a ribboncutting by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, featured over 80 speakers, including industry leaders and CEOs from healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and IT. A notable presentation was by Pramukh Swami Dr. Swami Gyanvatsal on “Physician Burnout,” highlighting personal development and spirituality. Dr. Achintya Moulick, Chair of the AAPI World Health Congress, emphasized the event’s goal to unite healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. AAPI’s Legislative Day addressed regulatory issues in healthcare and featured discussions with lawmakers including New York
City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang and NY Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. The event concluded with a performance by Aditya Narayan and a traditional Garba Night. Dr. Anjana Samadder, President of AAPI, highlighted the significant contributions of Indianorigin physicians to the American medical community. For more information, visit www.aapiusa.org.
emphasizing the importance of living a peaceful life by avoiding harm to others through mind, speech, thought,
Cook
and action. He elaborated on Dada Bhagwan’s spiritual teachings, which offer a master key to resolving life’s problems by separating the soul from the body and stopping the accumulation of karma to achieve ultimate liberation.
Key events included:
• July 17, 2024: A Q&A session on “Aptavani Book-2.”
• July 18, 2024: A general Q&A and “Parayan” session.
• July 19, 2024: “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony, followed by Q&A and Garba.
• July 21, 2024: Guru Purnima Darshan and “Pad Bhakti.” The seminar emphasized the ultimate goal of all seekers: Knowledge of the self (Atma-Gyan). The Gnanvidhi ceremony, a highlight of the event, aimed to destroy the belief that “I am this body-mind complex” and establish the conviction that “I am a pure soul,” a crucial step towards liberation.
County Donates Clothing Items To New Life Center
CHICAGO, IL- The Cook County Department of Facilities Management donated nearly 1,000 new articles of clothing to New Life Center for the “New Vecinos” team, which supports new arrivals. This donation included 866 pairs of shoes and 81 pairs of pants, sourced from salvage efforts at the Oak Forest Campus Long-Term Care Facility, closed in 2011. Over the years, the department has been removing salvageable materials from the campus, which is scheduled for partial demolition later this year. Earlier this year, employees found a surplus of new clothing at the facility. After assessing and inventorying the items, they contacted New Life Center to receive the donation. The New Vecinos team provides essential clothing and hygiene items to new arrivals, particularly at “landing zones” where buses first stop in Chicago.
“When we discovered the clothing—
Cook County donates nearly 1,000 new articles of clothing from the former Oak Forest Campus to New Life Center to support migrant relief efforts
most of it still in the original packaging and unworn—I saw an opportunity to give back,” said Evadne Garth, Business Manager and head of the Cook County Salvage Program. President Preckwinkle praised the Salvage Program’s efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials, highlighting the importance of giving back to the community.
Last month, more than 200 pairs of pants were also donated to the Stroger Hospital Inpatient Care Coordination program.
Pujya Deepakbhai Desai prays to Dada Bhagwan ( Photos by Jayanti Oza)
HiIndia Newsdesk
HiIndia Newsdesk
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
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:
