Issue 19

EAM Jaishankar calls FTA with four European nations ‘a bold achievement’

Friday, 15 March, 2024

Calling the signing of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) a “bold achievement”, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday that the move reflects a new way of furthering international economic collaboration.

India inked the landmark agreement with the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in New Delhi to usher in increased trade and investment flows, job creation, and economic growth in the country.

“A great day for India’s partnership with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X as he congratulated his colleague and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal for the pact that had been under negotiations for the last 16 years.

“The India-EFTA Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed today is a bold achievement. It reflects a new way of furthering international economic collaboration,” the minister added.

On the sidelines of the India-EFTA meeting, S. Jaishankar also met Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iceland.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 2nd CII India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave last month, S. Jaishankar underlined that “Europe is truly a priority for India”.

Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the pact -- which was Formalized three days after the cabinet approved it on March 7 -- as a “watershed moment” for India, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

The EFTA-India TEPA was signed by Piyush Goyal; Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iceland; Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein and Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Trade and Industry, Norway.

VOL: 01 • ISSUE: 19

US remarks on CAA ‘misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted’: India

India on Friday rejected the US State Department’s “concerns” regarding the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and termed it as “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted”

Asserting that the CAA is about giving citizenship and not about taking it away, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post-partition history are best not attempted”.

“As regards the US State Department statement on the implementation of CAA and comments made by several others, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted,” Randhir Jaiswal said, addressing a weekly media briefing.

“Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which

this step has been taken,” Randhir Jaiswal said in response to questions on the Act.

He added that the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 is an internal matter of India, and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and its longstanding commitment to human rights.

The Act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

BJP-led NDA to breach 400 mark in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, opinion poll predicts

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)led NDA is headed for a historic mandate in the 2024 general elections and is all set to attain the ‘400 paar’ target, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says a poll survey by a leading media house.

The Opinion Poll has predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led NDA, a setback for the INDIA bloc and below-average performance

for regional satraps including TMC, DMK, AIADMK, BJD and more.

According to the Opinion poll, the NDA is set to fetch 411 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha and the BJP could alone bag a record 350 seats.

The News18 Opinion poll conducted survey of more than 1 Lakh respondents in about 518 LS constituencies spread across 21 states.

Randhir Jaiswal further said that there are no grounds for any concerns or treatment of minorities, adding that “vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress”.

India’s tough response came after US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US is “concerned about the notification of the CAA’s rules in India”.

Miller said that the US is closely monitoring how this act will be implemented.

The Central government on Monday implemented CAA, paving way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring nations who entered India before December 31, 2014.

Critics have argued that the law undermines secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution by excluding Muslims from its purview.

Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu take charge as Election Commissioners

Newly appointed Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu took charge of the office on Friday at the ECI headquarters in New Delhi.

CEC Rajiv Kumar welcomed the two newly-appointed Election Commissioners and emphasized the significance of their joining at the historic point when the Election Commission of India (ECI) is all set to conduct the Lok Sabha elections in the world’s largest democracy. He said that their team is set for action-packed weeks ahead.

Earlier, a notification for the appointment of the two Election Commissioners was issued by the Central government on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led three-member committee on Thursday picked bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners. The decision comes days after the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel.

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EAM Jaishankar calls FTA with four European nations ‘a bold achievement’

Contd. from Pg. 01

Addressing the event, Goyal called TEPA a binding agreement for the EFTA nations to invest $100 billion over 15 years in India, the world’s fastest-growing economy. An official readout by the European Free Trade Association said that the agreement enhances market access and simplifies customs procedures, making it easier for Indian and EFTA businesses to expand their operations in the respective markets.

“The signature of this agreement marks a significant milestone in the relationships between the EFTA States and India. It reflects the culmination of dedicated efforts to foster a deeper economic partnership, underscoring the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding,” the readout said.

Since 2014, India has signed three such agreements with Mauritius, the UAE, and Australia, and it is also negotiating trade pacts with countries like the UK, Oman, Peru, and Israel.

Japanese Space One’s maiden rocket explodes after lift-off

The inaugural rocket launch of Japanese company Space One failed on Wednesday as the Kairos rocket exploded seconds after lifting off, marking the first attempt from the country’s private sector to put a satellite into orbit. Shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time at the launch site in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, smoke and fire were seen following the take-off of the 18-metre, four-stage solid-fuel rocket, multiple local media live streams showed, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a statement, Space One said the flight was intentionally terminated, Nikkei Asia reported. “A mid-flight termination procedure was carried out. We are looking into the situation,” the statement read. The Kairos rocket carried a small government intelligence satellite that weighed 100 kilograms. The company founded in 2018 aims to do “space courier services” with 20 annual launches by 2020.

With a series of space launches, Japan is catching up in the space race, along with India, the US, Russia, and China. In February, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its flagship rocket the H3. The cost-efficient rocket aims to make nearly 20 satellites and probes launches by 2030. The agency also effortlessly aced the first-ever “pinpoint” moon landing this year.

India, Singapore sign pact on cooperation in commercial dispute resolution

India and Singapore on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the sphere of Law & Dispute Resolution, according to an official statement. The MoU was signed in a virtual meeting of the Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Singapore’s Second Minister for Law, Edwin Tong. The MoU provides for further cooperation between the two countries in the areas of common interest, such as international commercial dispute resolution; matters relating to the promotion of robust alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the respective countries and establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee to oversee the implementation of the MoU, according to the Law Ministry statement.

Arjun Ram Meghwal said: “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding signifies our collective commitment to deepening collaboration in the field of law and dispute resolution, with a focus on sharing best practices, exchanging expertise, and facilitating capacity building initiatives for the stakeholder.

“Through this partnership, we are aiming to harness synergies between our legal regimes, leverage our respective strengths and explore innovative approaches to address the evolving needs of our citizens and businesses,” he added.

Meanwhile, Edwin Tong said: “Singapore enjoys excellent, broad-based and multifaceted relations with India. Given our strong economic and commercial ties, it is imperative

BJP-led NDA to breach 400 mark in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, opinion poll predicts

Contd. from Pg. 01

The BJP is expected to make a clean sweep in the Hindi heartland including states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh and make significant gains in West Bengal and South India. BJP’s alliance partners including JD (U) and TDP are likely to put together another 61 seats in the NDA kitty.

The survey also sees BJP making big inroads in Down South and springing major surprises by winning 5 seats in Tamil Nadu and 2 in Kerala and increase it’s tally in West Bengal to a whopping 25 seats, a tad higher as compared to its 2019 performance.

As per the Opinion poll, the BJP is likely to bag 77 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 28 in Madhya Pradesh, 38 in Bihar, 12 in Jharkhand and 25 in Karnataka and clinch victory in all 26 seats of PM Modi’s home state Gujarat.

Some other states, where BJP is not looked upon as a formidable force are also seen titling towards it. The party is likely to secure victory in 13 seats in Odisha, 25 in West Bengal, 8 in Telangana and 18 in Andhra Pradesh.

INDIA bloc, a rainbow alliance of Opposition parties, is unlikely to pose any threat to Modi juggernaut and the survey finds it finishing at yet another miserable number. It says that Congress may end up at just 49 Lok Sabha seats, its second-worst eve performance after the humiliating show in 2014 elections.

Forecasting a lacklustre performance by regional satraps, the Opinion poll sees parties like AIADMK, BSP, BRS, BJD, and YSRCP not bagging more than 27 seats.

The survey also found the BJP-led NDA garnering close to 50 per cent votes, which in turn reflects in the projected thumping numbers.

In Uttar Pradesh, the survey sees NDA gaining its biggest clout ever, with a likely vote share of 57 per cent while the SPCongress combine is likely to settle at 26 per cent votes. Out of 80 seats, the BJP is projected to win 77 and the rest three seats could be claimed by the INDIA alliance (2 seats) and Mayawati’s BSP (1).

In Bihar, the BJP-JD(U) alliance is expected to repeat its 2019 performance and win 38 out of 40 seats, though a number less than previous Lok Sabha elections. Here also, the NDA alliance is expected to fetch at least 58 per cent vote share while the INDIA bloc will be settling at a mere 28 per cent.

In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is projected to open its account for the first time and claim victory in 5 seats. The DMKCongress alliance will remain a major force, winning about 30 out of 39 seats, says the poll survey. DMK-Cong alliance had won 38 seats in 2019 elections and AIADMK got 1.

In Maharashtra, the survey forecasts clear victory for NDA as it is likely to win 41 of 48 seats. Opposition is likely to claim victory on the rest of 7 seats.

In West Bengal, the BJP is expected to register a big leap in numbers and it may go from 17 seats to 25 seats. TMC is likely to bag 17 seats while Congress is likely to draw a blank. In the 2019 polls, Mamataled TMC won 22 while BJP settled at 18 seats.

for us to continually deepen our cooperation in the legal and dispute resolution fields. This will enable us to better support our businesses and those doing business with Singapore and India. We look forward to exchanging our experiences and strengthening our relationships with the Indian Ministry of Law and Justice, as well as with the various legal and dispute resolution industry players in India.”

Israel launches probe into failures leading up to Oct 7 Hamas attack

Israel’s military said on Thursday that it launched an internal investigation into the failures that led up to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which caught the country off guard and resulted in the deaths and kidnapping of hundreds of citizens.

The attack “began with a surprise that resulted in a difficult outcome and a significant loss of civilian and soldier lives”, the military’s Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi wrote in a letter to commanders. He acknowledged that the security forces failed in the mission to protect human lives.

The investigation would review the defensive capabilities at the onset of the attack and the events preceding it. This includes the lack of intelligence on the large-scale attack and the absence of preparedness on the eve of the attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

Thousands of Hamas-led militants raided Israeli border communities on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, marking the highest tally in a single day since Israel’s statehood in 1948. A total of 253 individuals were taken hostage.

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CAA rules decoded: How refugees will acquire citizenship & Constitutional immunity in India

The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi notified the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, five years after it was passed in Parliament. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the implementation of CAA would enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to get citizenship in India.

Definitely, it is a big relief given by PM Modiled government to the refugees who have been in the state of uncertainty ever since they migrated to India from the aforesaid nations due to religious persecution. The CAA is going to achieve the objectives that were set by the government when it had got the bill passed in Parliament on December 11, 2019.

In fact, The Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955) was enacted to provide for the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship. Historically speaking, trans-border migration of population has been happening continuously between the territories of India and the areas comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Millions of citizens of undivided India belonging to various faiths were staying in the said areas of Pakistan and Bangladesh when India was partitioned in 1947. What is worth noting is that the constitutions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh provide for a specific state religion. As a result, many persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities faced persecution on grounds of religion in those countries.

The situation was so worse that some of them also had fears about such persecution in their day-to-day life where the right to practice, profess and propagate their religion has been obstructed and restricted. As a result, several such persons fled to India to seek shelter. The problem was that they continued to stay in

India even if their travel documents expired or they had incomplete or no documents.

Under the provisions of the previous act in which amendment was done by the government in Parliament, the migrants from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan or Bangladesh who entered into India without valid travel documents or if the validity of their documents has expired are regarded as illegal migrants and ineligible to apply for Indian citizenship under section 5 or section 6 of the Act. 4.

Considering their problems, the Central government exempted the said migrants from the adverse penal consequences of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946 and rules or orders made thereunder vide notifications, dated 07.09.2015 and dated 18.07.2016. Subsequently, the Central government also made them eligible for long term visa to stay in India vide orders dated 08.01.2016 and 14.09.2016. But PM Modi-led government

has now made the said migrants eligible for Indian citizenship.

The CAA says that the illegal migrants who have entered into India up to the cut off date of 31.12.2014 can acquire Indian citizenship. PM Modi-led government will now begin granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Hindus -- from the above said countries who arrived in India up until December 31, 2014.

The government or an authority specified by it, shall grant the certificate of registration or certificate of naturalization subject to such conditions, restrictions and manner as prescribed. Since many of them have entered into India long back, they may be given the citizenship of India from the date of their entry in India if they fulfill conditions for Indian citizenship specified in section 5 or the qualifications for the naturalization under the provisions of the Third Schedule to the Act. 6.

Remarkably, the CAA further grants

immunity to the migrants of the aforesaid Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities so that any proceedings against them regarding their status of migration or citizenship do not bar them from applying for Indian citizenship. This is being seen as a big relief for the citizenship-seekers.

The competent authority shall not take into account any proceedings initiated against such persons regarding their status as illegal migrants or their citizenship matter while considering their application under section 5 or section 6 of the Act, if they fulfil all the conditions for grant of citizenship. Many persons of Indian origin including persons belonging to the said minority communities from the aforesaid countries were applying for citizenship under section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 but they were unable to produce proof of their Indian origin. Hence, they used to be forced to apply for citizenship by naturalization under section 6 of the said Act, which, inter alia, prescribed twelve years residency as a qualification for naturalization in terms of the Third Schedule to the Act. This denied them many opportunities and advantages that could have accrued only to the citizens of India, even though they were likely to stay in India permanently.

Therefore, the government got the Third Schedule to the Act amended in Parliament to make applicants belonging to the said communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalization if they could establish their residency in India for five years instead of eleven years that was the condition earlier.

The CAA will also protect the constitutional guarantee given to indigenous population of northeastern states covered under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the statutory protection given to areas covered under “The Inner Line” system of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

White House to send new $300 mn weapons package to Ukraine

The US will send $300 million (£234 million) in military weapons to Ukraine, including ammunition, rockets and antiaircraft missiles, the White House has said as quoted by media reports. The surprise announcement on Tuesday comes as a bill in Congress to send further aid to Ukraine stalls amid partisan debate, BBC reported. The US shipment, the first in nearly three months, is intended to prevent Ukraine from losing ground to Russia.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said this aid “is nowhere near enough to meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs. This ammunition will keep Ukraine’s guns firing for a period, but only a short period, adding that it will not prevent Ukraine from running out of ammunition”.

The White House has been appealing to Congress for months to pass a budget that sends aid to Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan, BBC reported. A $60 billion aid bill has already passed the Senate, but has yet to face a vote in the House of

Representatives.

Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has so far refused to consider the Senate bill. Johnson, an ally of Donald Trump, has said the House will vote on its own aid bill, but only after Congress passes a budget that overhauls the US immigration system.

On Tuesday, a group of bipartisan

lawmakers in the House launched a longshot petition -- an attempt to force the House to vote on the Senate bill -using a rare procedural tactic that hasn’t been successfully employed since 2015, BBC reported.

Tuesday’s emergency package of weapons and equipment comes from cost savings made in earlier Ukraine weapon contracts. The aid announcement came as President

Joe Biden hosted Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the White House in a show of support for Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Tusk told reporters that he hopes Johnson “is already aware that, on his individual decision, depends the fate of millions of people”.

“This is not some political skirmish that only matters here in America,” the Polish Prime Minister said.

“The absence of this positive decision of Johnson will really cost thousands of lives (in Ukraine). Children. Women. He must be aware of his personal responsibility.”

On Tuesday, Denmark announced that it would ship around $336 m illion in ammunition and artillery to Ukraine, BBC reported.

Ukraine has lost ground in recent months due an “artificial shortage” of weapons, the country’s President, Volodymr Zelensky, said last month.

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As the publisher of this esteemed newspaper, it is my privilege to address the dynamic political landscape of India, particularly in light of the recent Lok Sabha seat distribution among the major political parties. The allocation of seats not only reflects the current political alliances and strengths but also sets the stage for the strategic maneuvers each party will undertake in the upcoming elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holding a significant majority in the parliament, has made a bold move by dropping a number of its sitting MPs. This decision is indicative of the party’s commitment to rejuvenation and accountability, sending a clear message of ‘perform or perish’ within its ranks. While this may cause some internal discontent, it also opens opportunities for fresh faces to emerge and align with the party’s vision for the future.

The Indian National Congress (INC), with a substantial presence in the parliament, faces the challenge of capitalizing on any perceived gaps left by the BJP’s decision. The INC’s strategy will likely focus on strengthening its existing alliances and presenting itself as a viable alternative to the BJP’s governance model.

The impact of seat distribution extends to individual alliances as well, which play a crucial role in shaping the political narrative. These alliances, often regional powerhouses, can sway the outcome of elections by either supporting national parties or asserting their own agendas. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition of over two dozen opposition parties, has emerged as a significant force in the current election cycle. The alliance, which includes the Congress party, has been actively forming seat-sharing deals with other major parties, aiming to present a united front against the ruling BJP.

The INDIA alliance’s significance is underscored by its potential to consolidate opposition votes, which could pose a substantial challenge to the BJP in many constituencies. Despite some initial setbacks, the coalition’s recent moves indicate a strategic approach to maximizing their impact in the Lok Sabha elections.

In conclusion, the seat distribution among major political parties and the BJP’s decision to drop a number of sitting MPs is a transformative moment that could redefine the contours of Indian politics. It is a testament to the evolving nature of democratic processes and the continuous pursuit of political excellence and public service.

We, as a publication, remain committed to providing our readers with insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of these developments, ensuring that the voice of democracy is both heard and respected.

Best Regards,

Dr. (H) Avi Verma Publisher, IndoUS Tribune

IAEA chief stresses further monitoring of Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi has emphasized continued efforts in monitoring Japan’s ocean discharge of nuclearcontaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, local media reported on Wednesday.

The IAEA chief reiterated the organization’s commitment to further monitoring the discharge as he met with local fishermen in Iwaki City of the northeast prefecture of Fukushima during a three-day trip in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Underscoring that the discharge marks merely the initial phase of a long process, Rafael Grossi stated that “much effort will be required in the lengthy process ahead,” national news agency Kyodo reported.

Rafael Grossi, emphasizing the IAEA’s role as an independent observer, reiterated the organization’s stance on maintaining vigilance throughout the process.

The visit to Fukushima Prefecture marks Rafael Grossi’s first since July last year and notably, his first visit following the commencement of the discharge. He is also expected to inspect the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to assess the discharge later in the afternoon.

While the Japanese government and the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have asserted the safety and necessity of the discharge, concerns have been raised by neighboring countries and local stakeholders regarding potential environmental impacts.

Last month, TEPCO started its fourth round of release of the nuclearcontaminated wastewater from the power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

President Murmu urges Mauritian youth to stay connected with India

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday exhorted Mauritian youth to stay connected with India to nourish their proud past and invest in their bright future as the country embarks on its ‘Amrit Kaal’ journey to become a developed nation by 2047.

Addressing students and distinguished guests at the University of Mauritius, President Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to the nation from March 11-13, expressed optimism that the youth in both countries will continue to deepen the special partnership.

“I am confident that these bonds of friendship between our youth will keep our relationship moving upwards, as India embarks on its ‘Amrit Kaal’ journey to become a developed nation by 2047,” President Murmu said as the island nation marked its National day on Tuesday.

“I urge my Mauritian friends to take advantage of their special proximity to India

and tap into the vast economic opportunities it offers,” she added.

Stating that education has been a key instrument in shaping the special relationship between our two countries, she spoke of India’s “forward-looking” new National Education Policy, which she said, “will tap into India’s demographic dividend to become a powerhouse of innovation”.

The President highlighted that in less than a decade, India has set up nearly 400 new Universities, 5,300 new colleges, 75

Biden, Trump clinch nominations, stage set for presidential election rematch

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US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump have secured enough delegates to become their respective party’s 2024 nominee, setting the stage for a presidential rematch. With his win in Georgia’s primary, Joe Biden has cleared the 1,968 delegate mark out of 3,934 total to lock up this year’s Democratic nomination and represent the party on the ballot in November, the US media reported.

Joe Biden will also win the Democratic primaries in the states of Mississippi and Washington, US media outlets projected Tuesday. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has secured enough delegates to become the Republican Party’s presidential nominee after winning primaries in the states of Georgia, Mississippi and Washington.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump have ratcheted up rhetoric against each other after the “Super Tuesday” primaries earlier this month, when they both won by a landslide in their own party’s face-offs. The lengthy, bitter battle for the White House -- poised to deepen the US political divides -- enters a new phase, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Trump and I have a very different value set,” Joe Biden recently told supporters in Atlanta, Georgia, noting that if Donald Trump returns to the White House, the US will be filled with “resentment, revenge and retribution.” Additionally, Joe Biden criticized Donald Trump’s positions on issues such as abortion, taxes, and immigration.

During a rally in Rome, Georgia, Donald Trump attacked Joe Biden on immigration and border security, accusing him of allowing illegal immigration from the southern border of the US, saying that

Joe Biden’s “crime” will never be forgiven. At the rally, Donald Trump also mocked Joe Biden’s mannerisms.

Joe Biden unseated Trump in the 2020 election but the Republicans refused to acknowledge defeat and alleged massive voter fraud.

The Washington Post noted that the 2024 general election, which has kicked off in earnest, is promising to be “the longest, most expensive and, perhaps, most divisive presidential race in recent memory.”

A report from AdImpact, an ad tracking company, predicted the current election cycle will be the most expensive one in US history, as candidates spend an overall 10 billion US dollars, up 13 per cent from the previous record set during the 20192020 election cycle.

Americans are split on who they trust to do a better job leading the country, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll, with 36 per cent trusting Trump, 33 percent trusting Biden, and 30 percent trusting neither.

The US presidential primaries, extending through June, precede the Republican National Convention in July, where the party’s presidential nominee is officially selected by delegates, followed by the Democratic National Convention in August, leading up to the 2024 Election Day on November 5.

new Institutes of National Importance, 14 new AIIMS, seven new IITs and seven new IIMs, with half of the new Universities and a majority of the new colleges located in rural areas.

Each year, 400 Mauritians are trained in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and about 60 Mauritian students receive scholarships to pursue higher education in India. The President further told the gathering that since 2020, more than 500 Mauritian students have also benefited from India’s e-VidyaBharatiand and e-ArogyaBharati distance learning programs.

Taking India’s developmental efforts in the country a step further, President Murmu will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects with the Mauritian PM.

“Our aspiration is that Mauritius continues to progress as a leading economy and as a voice for peace, stability, and prosperity in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region,” President Murmu said.

Bhutan PM arrives in India to expand ‘exemplary ties of friendship’

Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay arrived in India on Thursday to expand the “exemplary ties of friendship” between the two nations. In his first overseas visit from March 14-18 after assuming office in January 2024, PM Tobgay was received at the airport by Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey. During his visit, PM Tobgay will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will meet President Droupadi Murmu, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and several other Indian dignitaries.

PM Tobgay is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, and other senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan. The two nations share warm and cordial ties, based on trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, gave its approval for the signing of three MoUs between the two countries, covering the supply of petroleum products, energy efficiency, and cooperation in food safety measures.

The MoU on the supply of petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) and related products from India to Bhutan will ensure a secured and long-term supply of petroleum products to the Himalayan nation and also give a fillip to bilateral trade in the hydrocarbon sector.

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Hunter Biden rejects House Republicans’ call for public testimony

U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden rejected a request to testify to an open hearing before a Republicancontrolled U.S. House of Representatives committee conducting an impeachment probe of his father, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

“Your blatant planned-for-media event is not a proper proceeding but an obvious attempt to throw a Hail Mary pass after the game has ended,” his attorney Abbe Lowell wrote in a letter to the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, one of the three panels at the center of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry.

House Republicans allege the president and his family have improperly profited from policy decisions Biden participated in when he was vice president from 2009 to 2017, but have not provided evidence of Biden financially benefiting.

The White House has denied wrongdoing and Hunter Biden, in a deposition with congressional investigators, repeatedly said his father was not involved in, and drew no financial benefit from, his son’s business activities.

Michigan school shooter’s

father convicted of manslaughter

AMichigan jury on Thursday convicted the father of a teenager who fatally shot four classmates at a high school near Detroit of manslaughter after prosecutors argued he bore responsibility because he and his wife gave their son a gun and ignored warning signs of violence.

James Crumbley, 47, was found guilty in his trial, carried out a month after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty on manslaughter charges stemming from the shooting. James Crumbley faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the victims at Oxford High School in the 2021 shootings. Jurors began deliberating on Wednesday.

Both James and Jennifer Crumbley will be sentenced on April 9. Manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The Crumbley’s son, Ethan, was 15 at the time of the shooting at Oxford High School involving a semiautomatic handgun. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to four counts of first-degree murder and other charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December.

The U.S., a country with persistent gun violence, has experienced a series of school shootings over the years, often carried out by current or former students. The Crumbleys were the first parents to be charged with manslaughter in a child’s school shooting.

Three face federal gun charges connected to Kansas City Super Bowl shooting

Three men face federal firearms charges in connection with a mass shooting at a Super Bowl victory rally in Kansas City last month, a U.S. prosecutor said on Wednesday. None of the men, charged with firearms trafficking and straw purchases of firearms, are alleged to have taken part in the February 14 shooting that killed one person and wounded more than 20, U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore of the Western District of Missouri said.

She said the three helped facilitate the violence. “At least two of the firearms recovered from the scene of the mass shooting at Union Station were illegally purchased or trafficked,” Moore said as she announced the charges.

Earlier, state prosecutors charged two men with murder for taking part in the gunfight, which started as a quarrel over young men making eye contact as the Super Bowl rally wound down.

Two teenagers were also taken into custody after the shooting and charged as juveniles in family court with firearms offenses and resisting arrest. In the federal cases announced on Wednesday, Fedo Antonia Manning, 22, was charged in a 12-count federal criminal complaint while Ronnel Dewayne Williams, Jr., 21, and Chaelyn Hendrick Groves, 19, were

charged in a four-count complaint, federal prosecutors said in a written statement.

According to court documents, 12 people pulled out guns during the violence at the Super Bowl rally, and at least six people fired their weapons. Prosecutors allege that Manning purchased an AM-15 .223-caliber pistol that was recovered from the scene of the shooting. The charges against him allege he trafficked dozens of firearms.

California city returns sacred tribal land to Indigenous people

The city of Berkeley, California, has agreed to hand over to Indigenous peoples a parking lot built atop a sacred tribal ground dating back more than five millennia. The 2.2-acre site is part of the first human settlement on the San Francisco Bay, according to representatives of the Ohlone people, whose ancestors established a village in the area some 5,700 years ago.

“This is a historic step toward righting past wrongs and embracing a future that honors the diverse history of the entire region,” Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin said in a statement.

Under the agreement, the developers

who own the land will receive $27 million for the property, which will be turned over to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, a group that works to return land to Indigenous people.

The trust provided the bulk of the funds after receiving a $20 million grant from the Kately Foundation, a private foundation run by members of the wealthy philanthropist Pritzker family that seeks to empower Black and Indigenous communities. The city contributed $1.5 million.

The deal ends a years-long battle over the future of the site, after the owners sued the city for blocking a planned mixed-use development of apartments and retail shops.

The complaint against Williams alleges he purchased a Stag Arms .300-caliber pistol also recovered from the scene of the shooting. Williams allegedly purchased the firearm for Groves, who accompanied him to a gun show but was too young to legally purchase the firearm himself. The parade and rally celebrating the Kansas Chiefs’ Feb. 11 Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers brought more than a million fans to the area around the city’s historic Union Station.

US records over 100 pediatric deaths from flu this season

More than 100 flu-associated pediatric deaths have been reported in the US so far this season, according to data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally with increases in some parts of the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

The CDC estimates that there have been at least 28 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths from flu so far this season. More than 10,000 patients were admitted to hospitals with flu in the latest week ending March 2, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine as long as influenza viruses are spreading.

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US VP Harris visits Minnesota abortion clinic in historic first

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday toured a health clinic that offers abortion services while she was in Minnesota, spotlighting growing restrictions on women’s rights that Democrats believe will animate voters in November.

The visit, believed to be the first of a sitting president or vice president to such a clinic, comes as President Joe Biden highlights abortion rights as a key issue ahead of the November presidential election.

Harris arrived for a tour at Planned Parenthood’s St. Paul Health Center-Vandalia facility as some two dozen anti-abortion protesters stood in the street outside holding signs that read, among other statements, “Abortion is not healthcare.”

Florida judge denies Trump’s motion to dismiss classified documents case

The US district judge in Florida overseeing the federal criminal case regarding former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents has rejected one of his two motions to dismiss the case. Judge Aileen M. Cannon issued the ruling on Thursday shortly after the completion of a daylong hearing on Trump’s requests to dismiss the case, which Trump attended Xinhua news agency reported.

A “motion to dismiss charges” is a legal request made by a defendant in a criminal case to have the charges against them dismissed. If the motion is granted by the court, the charges are dropped, and the case does not proceed to trial. However, if the motion is denied, the case will continue through the legal process. Trump’s legal team argued that the majority of the charges should be dismissed based on the Presidential Records Act, a 1978 law which regulates the preservation of information during and after a presidency, contending that the law prevents Trump from being prosecuted. Trump’s lawyers cited other cases where presidents were discovered to have kept classified information and also referenced Special Counsel Robert Hur’s choice not to prosecute President Joe Biden for classified material he retained after his vice presidency. Trump has also asserted that he designated the materials he removed to Mar-a-Lago as personal records while he was still in office, an argument refuted by the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has been investigating Trump.

Trump, who clinched the Republican presidential nomination earlier this week, is embroiled in four criminal cases, facing about 90 felony charges, and has recently been fined hundreds of millions of dollars in two civil cases. He denies all charges and accuses Biden and the Democratic Party of ongoing “political witch hunts” against him.

Uvalde police chief resigns days after report into school shooting

The police chief of Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman in 2022 invaded a school and killed 19 children and two teachers, said on Tuesday that he was resigning. The resignation, effective April 6, of police chief Daniel Rodriguez, who was not in Uvalde the day of the shooting at Robb Elementary school, comes just days after the Uvalde City Council released an independent investigation into the shooting it commissioned that exonerated responding officers.

Previous reports by the Justice Department and Texas lawmakers offered scathing accounts of officer wrongdoing in the response at Robb Elementary, including that responding officers did not immediately confront the 18-year-old

gunman. They left him in a set of adjoining classrooms with students and staff for 77 minutes until he was killed by a police tactical team.

Rodriguez said in a written statement that he was not forced to resign, saying that “I believe it is time for me to embrace a new chapter in my career.”

In the city council report released last week, independent investigator Jesse Prado, a retired Austin police detective, wrote that responding officers followed the Uvalde Police Department’s policies and he found that they had all acted “in good faith.”

That characterization infuriated the families of the dead children, who heard the results of the investigation from Prado during a city council meeting last week.

Defamation lawsuit against Meghan Markle by half-sister dismissed by judge

Afederal judge in Florida on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit against Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, rejecting claims that the actress had made “disparaging, hurtful and false” claims about her half-sister.

Markle’s half-sister Samantha, with whom she shares a father, had alleged that Markle’s statements in a Netflix documentary series and a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey had implied Samantha was a “deceptive fame-seeking imposter with avaricious intentions.”

The lawsuit specifically took issue with Markle’s remarks that she and Samantha had not been close growing up, and that Samantha had changed her surname back to Markle

when the royal couple first started dating.

U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell of Florida’s Middle District found in her ruling on Tuesday that the statements in question were either opinions, substantially true, or did not plausibly defame Samantha. In the 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey cited in Samantha Markle’s complaint, the couple accused the royal family of racism, neglect, and internal feuds. Asked by Winfrey about a “supposedly tell-all book” her half-sister had authored about her, Markle replied that it would be “very hard to tell all when you don’t know me.”

Their appearance with Winfrey was viewed by 49 million people around the world, according to U.S. network CBS. It caused their popularity to plummet within Britain and triggered the 1,000-year-old monarchy’s biggest crisis of the century.

After completing a tour that was closed to the press, Harris said women in the country are undergoing “silent suffering” because of attacks on their health. The clinic in Minnesota’s state capital provides a range of care, including birth control and preventive wellness services.

“Right now, in our country we are facing a very serious health crisis, and the crisis is affecting many, many people in our country,” the vice president told reporters.

“I’m here at this healthcare clinic to uplift the work that is happening in Minnesota as an example of what true leadership looks like.”

Democrats think personal freedoms could be a key issue for women, independents and other key voters after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade abortion rights in 2022. Harris has held more than 80 public meetings on the topic since then.

Boeing whistleblower found dead of apparent suicide

John Barnett, a former Boeing employee who had reportedly raised concerns about the company’s production issues, was found dead of an apparent suicide, according to authorities in South Carolina. Barnett had worked at Boeing for 32 years before leaving the company in 2017, according to the BBC, which previously reported on his efforts to raise issues about the company’s production issues.

The 62-year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Charleston County coroner’s office in South Carolina confirmed on Tuesday. The Charleston City police are investigating, the coroner’s office said, without giving any other details. Barnett was in the middle of a deposition in an ongoing whistleblower retaliation case against Boeing, according to a statement from his attorneys, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles.

“He was in very good spirits and really looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on. We didn’t see any indication he would take his own life. No one can believe it,” they said. Barnett was a quality manager at Boeing. He had “exposed very serious safety problems with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and was retaliated against and subjected to a hostile work environment,” his attorneys said.

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First Sikh woman

Mayor Neena Singh honored in New York

Neena Singh, first Indian and Sikh woman Mayor of Montgomery township in New Jersey, was among the four prominent Indian and IndianAmerican women honored in New York for their achievements and contributions to society at a function on the occasion of International Women’s Day presided over by the recently posted Consul General of India Binay Pradhan.

Besides Singh, Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad, Indu Lew and Megha Desai were other honorees at the event hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York and the Federation of Indian Associations.

Gaekwad is a visionary committed to education and community empowerment through her philanthropic work and is known for her dedication to mental wellness and community engagement, said a FIA release.

Indian student dies in jet ski mishap in Florida

A27-year-old Indian student died as his watercraft collided with another in the US state of Florida, according to media reports. Venkataramana Pittala from Telangana was driving a rented Yamaha personal watercraft (PWC) that collided with another PWC operated by a 14-yearold boy from the South Florida mainland on Saturday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Pittala, a student at Indiana UniversityPurdue University in Indianapolis, was set to graduate in May, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to send his mortal remains back to his family in Telangana.

Personal watercraft are tandem boats often referred to as jet skis, the name of a popular model manufactured by Kawasaki. It is unclear if anyone else was injured, the Miami Herald newspaper reported.

The teen was listed as “uninjured” in the

FWC report. It lists arrests as “pending”, the Keys Weekly reported. The FWC released an incident report on Monday with the names of the two people involved but no details on what transpired.

“This is a two vessel (PWC) accident

resulting in one fatality,” the report states. “The vessels collided with each other.”

According to FWC, 14 is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft in Florida. The report doesn’t state whether authorities have determined fault. Both personal watercraft were rented, it said.

Hyderabad woman murdered in Australia

Ayoung woman from Hyderabad, who had been living with her family in Australia, has been found murdered, according to reports. The body of Chaitanya Madhagani alias Swetha was found in a bin on the side of a deserted road in Buckley, west of Geelong in Victoria last week.

Swetha was living with husband and their three-year-old son in Melbourne. Local police suspect that the two parties involved are known to one another, and the offender may have fled overseas. Police established a second crime scene at a residential address on Mirka Way, Point Cook in southwestern Melbourne.

They suspect that the woman was murdered at home and her body

some

‘Position unchanged’: New Zeal and after Canada protests remarks on Hardeep Singh Nijjar

lodged objections.

The New Zealand government has clarified comments made by its Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in India on the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case after Canada

“New Zealand’s position on the allegations remains unchanged. If they are proven correct, then that would be of serious concern. The minister’s point is that this is an ongoing criminal investigation. It needs to run its course

before clear conclusions can be drawn,” said John Tulloch, spokesperson for the Deputy PM. In India, Peters had said there was no conclusive evidence or findings from the Canadian Government that validated the involvement of Indian agents in Khalistani terrorist Nijjar’s murder in Surrey in June last year.

Peters said, “Well, I wasn’t here, it was handled by the previous government. But sometimes when you’re hearing Five Eyes information, you’re hearing it and saying nothing. You don’t know the value or the quality of it, but you’re pleased to have it. As a trained lawyer, I look okay, so where’s the case? Where’s the evidence? Where’s the finding right here, right now? Well, there isn’t one.”

was dumped in a bin

82 km away. Swetha’s husband, Ashok

Raj Varikuppala, reportedly flew back to India recently with the couple’s son.

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‘Big win for human rights’: Hindus in Canada, US, UK laud CAA implementation

Calling the government’s decision to offer Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities a “big win for human rights”, Hindu organizations across the US, the UK, and Canada on Tuesday hailed the announcement of the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA -- an integral part of the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha polls manifesto -- will enable the granting of citizenship to people from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi communities, who had migrated to India before December 31, 2014, from neighboring countries because of religious persecution.

“The government’s decision to offer Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan is a commendable move... India, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various other international conventions, has an obligation to provide asylum to persecuted individuals regardless of their religion,” the Hindu Forum Canada said in a statement.

The group hoped that “Pakistan and Bangladesh will consider implementing a similar Citizenship Amendment Act to foster brotherhood among Indian nationals”. USbased advocacy group, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), called the move “a big win for Human Rights for the persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

It further said that CAA has no impact on existing Indian citizens of any faith and that it simply fast-tracks the Indian citizenship process for nearly 31,000 religious minorities who fled to neighboring nations “in the face of extreme and systemic persecution”.

CoHNA pointed out that each year in Pakistan, thousands of minor girls from minority communities are kidnapped, forcibly converted and “married” to their abductors, with support from police and judicial authorities.

“As a result, petrified families with young kids have been fleeing to India for basic safety,” the group, which had run an education and advocacy campaign on CAA in 2020 to counter false narrative on the topic, said.

Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Executive Director Suhag Shukla said that CAA was “long overdue and necessary”, as it protects some of the most vulnerable refugees in India, granting them the human rights they

were denied in their home country. Shukla said that CAA mirrors the long-established Lautenberg Amendment in the US, in place since 1990, which has provided a clear immigration path for persons fleeing a select group of nations where religious persecution is rampant.

“I’m proud to see both the oldest and largest secular democracies in the world -- the US and India -- be a beacon of hope by extending

a pathway to freedom and a new life to those who have suffered gross human rights violations simply because of their religion,” she added. London-based Hindu advocacy group said: “This is a reflection of India’s commitment to religious freedom and equality, integral to its secular fabric.”

The CAA was enacted by the Parliament in December 2019 amid large-scale demonstrations from the Muslim community, backed by Opposition parties, demanding a rollback of the law calling it discriminatory. They claimed that the Muslim community had been excluded from the CAA.

“The CAA does not alter the rights of any Indian citizen nor does it establish any religious test for general immigration or exclude Muslims from immigrating to India, as is sometimes wrongly said and reported,” HAF said in a statement.

“Muslims often have more rights in Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, where there are constitutional discriminations against non-Muslims,” the Hindu Forum Canada said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reiterated in Parliament that Indian citizens of the Muslim community do not need to fear anything, as this Bill would not affect their citizenship in any way. Requesting the Opposition not to do politics on this issue and divide people on communal lines, Shah said that “this Bill aims at granting rather than taking away someone’s citizenship”.

36-year-old Indian-American indicted in ponzi scheme

An Indian-American has been indicted by a grand jury in a ponzi scheme with the FBI urging victims of the investment adviser in Texas to come forward.

Siddharth Jawahar, 36, has been ordered imprisonment until sentencing by the court. The FBI on Wednesday said it is seeking potential Miami-area victims of Jawahar who has been accused of running a multimillion-dollar ponzi scheme.

According to the indictment, from July 2016 through roughly December 2023, Jawahar took in more than USD 35 million from Swiftarc investors but spent about USD 10 million on investments in companies.

Jawahar used the money from new investors to repay older investors and to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included flights on private planes, stays at luxury hotels and expensive outings at lavish restaurants, the indictment says.

In 2015, Jawahar began investing the majority of client funds in a single investment, Philip Morris Pakistan (PMP), the indictment says, and eventually, 99 per cent of client funds were consolidated into the PMP investment.

Jawahar did not tell investors of a dramatic decline in the value of PMP, instead misled investors about the share price and their profits. The indictment says Jawahar also did not tell investors when the Texas State Securities Board revoked Swiftarc Capital’s authority to conduct investment activities on June 7, 2022, and ordered Jawahar to “cease from engaging in fraud”.

Jawahar continued to fraudulently solicit and receive investor funds, including USD 1 million from an investor weeks after the state board’s order, the indictment says.

The wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine, or both.

The investment adviser fraud charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a USD 10,000 fine, or both.

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Strong action initiated against agents who deceitfully sent Indians to Russia: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs said last week that it has initiated strong action against agents and unscrupulous elements who deceitfully sent Indian nationals to Russia under the pretext of providing them with security guard jobs. The remarks came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a ring trafficking Indians to Russia raiding over 10 locations in seven cities associated with the agents.

“Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, said addressing a weekly media briefing.

He informed that India has strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for the early discharge of its nationals stuck there. The CBI raids were conducted in Delhi,

Maharashtra to be first state to own land in J&K, build bhawan

Maharashtra is going to be the first state in the country to own land in J&K. The state will have the Maharashtra Bhawan which will come up in Budgam district to facilitate its tourists in the region. The details of the project were worked out when Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited J&K in June 2023 during his meetings with Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, official sources said.

Reports also said that the state government has allocated Rs 77 crore for two Maharashtra Bhawans, one at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and the other at Budgam in J&K. With the J&K’s approval of land transfer of 2.5 acres, Maharashtra, thus, would be the first state to own land in the union territory.

Before the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, no person, institution or entity belonging outside J&K could buy land here although a provision to allot land on 99-year lease to outsiders did exist before the acts were struck off.

Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Madurai, following which some suspects were detained for questioning, and it reportedly emerged that the number of Indians sent by these firms to Russia is 35.

Spokesperson Jaiswal said that the agency has collected incriminating evidence from the raids and a case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents. He urged citizens to be cautious of the offers made by job agents.

Cabinet gives nod for pact with UAE on IndiaMiddle East Europe Economic Corridor

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, gave its ex-post facto approval to the InterGovernmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) that was signed on February 13 between India and the United Arab Emirates on cooperation for the empowerment and operation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The aim of the IGFA is to enhance bilateral relations and to further strengthen the relations between the two countries in the ports,

maritime, and logistics sectors, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.

The IGFA includes areas of cooperation between the two countries with the objective of exploring the further potential of future joint investment and collaboration in respect of the development of the IMEC.

The agreement contains a detailed framework for cooperation between the two countries. The cooperation will be based on a set of mutually agreed upon principles, guidelines, and agreements consistent with the relevant rules and regulations of the countries’ jurisdiction.

President to confer Bharat Ratna on ex-PMs Charan Singh, Narasimha Rao and three others on March 30

President Droupadi Murmu will confer Bharat Ratna on five eminent personalities on March 30, including two former Prime Ministers and veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, sources said on Thursday.

Among the five personalities to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, except for former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, four others -ex-Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and P.V. Narasimha Rao, eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, would be

awarded posthumously.

Confirming the development, a source said that they will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna on March 30.

Protesters resort to ‘rail roko’ agitation in Punjab

Protesters in Punjab on Sunday stopped trains for five hours from 12 noon at various places in the state as part of their agitation, leaving commuters harried. The call for the ‘rail roko’ protest was given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP).

The protest ended peacefully with no untoward incident across the state. The agitators staged sit-in protests on railway tracks at 52 locations in 22 districts, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Moga and Bathinda.

The trains were halted at nearly 52 places across Punjab. The farmers, mainly from Punjab, have established camps at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points on the Punjab-Haryana border since February 13 as they were stopped by security forces for moving ahead during their march to Delhi.

NIA makes first arrest in Bengaluru cafe blast case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its first arrest from Ballari, Karnataka in connection with the recent Bengaluru cafe blast. The accused has been identified as Mohammed Shabbir.

Shabbir’s arrest comes following intensive investigative efforts by the NIA, which took over the case on March 3. The anti-terror agency had been meticulously piecing together evidence since the explosion rocked a popular cafe in Bengaluru on March 1.

Sources said that Shabbir is believed to be an accomplice of the prime suspect, who was captured on security camera footage leaving a bag at the cafe premises just before the blast occurred. The blast, caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), resulted in several injuries and caused widespread panic among patrons and residents in the vicinity.

Last week, the NIA released four new photos of the suspected bomber. The photos show the suspected bomber without a cap, walking confidently with a backpack, wearing a pink T-shirt and trousers. He is seen wearing a mask in the photos. In the earlier photographs released by the authorities, the suspect was wearing a cap and dark-colored T-shirt.

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Setback for Kejriwal as Delhi court refuses to stay summons issued on ED complaint

Asessions court on Friday refused to grant a stay on the summons issued to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a magisterial court based on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) complaint. The ED had filed a complaint alleging that CM Kejriwal did not comply with its summons in connection with a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. Special Judge Rakesh Syal of the Rouse Avenue Court said that the Chief Minister can move the appropriate application before the magisterial court itself.

“For exemption, you can move the trial court,” the judge said.

CM Kejriwal has filed two revision petitions against Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra’s orders issuing summons to him on the ED’s complaint. On March 7, the ACMM issued a second summons and listed the matter for hearing on March 16, when she will hear the ED’s first complaint on the same matter.

Kejriwal’s revision petitions against the impugned orders are now listed for March 30. On Thursday, Special Judge Rakesh Syal of the

Rouse Avenue Court heard the arguments at length by both parties in one of the revision petitions.

On Friday, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta and advocate Rajiv Mohan appeared on CM Kejriwal’s behalf and argued on the second revision petition, saying that it was not as if Kejriwal had skipped any summons issued to him on account of personal reasons.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG), S.V. Raju, appeared for the federal agency.

Since CM Kejriwal has to appear before the magisterial court on Saturday, advocate Gupta had urged the court for “exemption of petitioner (CM Kejriwal) through a lawyer or a stay or the court may be asked to adjourn the matter to the date which the sessions court fixes”.

He added, “The summoning order is revisable. Maybe this court only exempts me from appearance. It is a summoning trial case. The maximum punishment is one month or fine or both.”

Centre unveils financial upgradation scheme for 2.56 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks

Union Minister for Communications and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday unveiled a financial upgradation scheme for 2.56 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) working in the Department of Posts. The aim of the government is to improve service conditions and remove stagnation in the service of GDS. The GDS serves as the backbone of the Department of Posts in rural areas and plays a vital role in delivering postal and financial services to the remotest part of the

Ansari gets life term in fake arms licence case

ASpecial MP/MLA Court in Varanasi, on Wednesday, sentenced politician Mukhtar Ansari to life imprisonment in a 36-year-old fake arms licence case. He has been convicted under sections 467 r/w 120B as well as under Sections 420, 468 IPC. He was also convicted under Section 30 of the Arms Act. The court, on Tuesday, had convicted Mukhtar Ansari in the fake arms licence case. During the hearing, Ansari participated in court proceedings via video conferencing from Banda jail, where he is currently incarcerated. In June 1987, Ansari submitted an application to the district magistrate of Ghazipur for a doublebarrel gun licence. Subsequently, the arms licence was acquired using forged signatures of both the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police.

In December 1990, when this fraudulent activity was exposed by the CB-CID, a complaint was filed with the police. Subsequently, based on this complaint, a case was registered at a police station in Ghazipur against five individuals including Mukhtar Ansari.

country. Every Gramin Dak Sevak will get three financial upgrades on completion of 12, 24 and 36 years of service, amounting to Rs 4,320, Rs 5,520 and Rs 7,200 per annum, respectively, the Union Minister announced.

This is in addition to the remuneration provided to GDS in the form of ‘Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA)’, according to the government.

District court extends Sheikh Shahjahan’s CBI custody by 8 days

The Basirhat sub-divisional court in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Thursday extended the CBI custody of Sheikh Shahjahan, the accused mastermind behind the attack on ED and CAPF teams on January 5, by another eight days. The CBI counsel on Thursday also moved a plea seeking the custody of seven other individuals, who were earlier arrested by the district police in connection with the same case. The judge of the sub-divisional court approved the plea and remanded the seven persons to five-day CBI custody. Opposing the

bail plea moved by Shahjahan’s counsel, the CBI counsel argued that if granted bail, the accused can influence the investigation, which will hurt the case.

However, the counsel for the accused argued that the CBI cannot seek an extension of Shahjahan’s custody since he has already spent over 14 days in custody, first under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police, and subsequently under the CBI. After hearing the arguments, the judge of the district court extended Sahjahan’s custody by eight days, instead of the 14 days sought by the CBI.

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Tamil Nadu Police denies permission for PM Modi’s roadshow in Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu Police on Friday denied permission for the road show of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be held in Coimbatore on March 18. The police in a statement said that permission was denied due to security reasons.

The four-kilometre-long roadshow was to culminate in the ground where the Coimbatore bomb blast of 1998 took place in which 58 people died and more than 200 were injured. However, the Madras High Court is hearing a prayer by the BJP unit of Tamil Nadu to revoke the ban.

PM Modi is on a tour of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana. With the party having a strong support base in Karnataka, the party is trying to increase its presence in other southern states as well.

Mamata Banerjee released from hospital after condition turns ‘stable’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was admitted to a hospital on Thursday evening after she reportedly slipped at her home in South Kolkata and injured her forehead, has been released from the hospital after her condition turned stable. The Chief Minister was taken back to her home in Kalighat by her nephew and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee from the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital on Sunday night. Before leaving the hospital, Abhishek Banerjee told mediapersons that the condition of the Chief Minister is stable now, adding that the doctors put four stitches on her forehead.

Party insiders claimed that despite her condition being stable, the doctors had advised her to stay at the hospital for the night. However, the Chief Minister was keen to get discharged and return to her home, the sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, issued a message on X wishing the Chief Minister a speedy recovery.

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Mukhtar

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7 dead in China coal mine accident

Seven miners trapped in an accident in an underground warehouse of a coal mine in north China’s Shanxi Province were confirmed dead, local authorities said. The last body was retrieved early morning on Friday, marking the end of the rescue at the coal mine of the Taoyuan Xinlong coal industrial corporation in Zhongyang County, Xinhua news agency reported citing the county government. The coal pile in the warehouse collapsed late evening on Monday when miners were repairing a malfunctioned coal feeder, burying seven people, said Gao Naichun, head of the mine. The collapsed coal broke the water pipes under the warehouse and led to water outbursts, which hampered the rescue efforts, said Gao. Further investigation is underway.

South Korean, US warplanes stage live-fire drills

South Korean and US warplanes staged a combined live-fire exercise against North Korean cruise missile and longrange artillery threats in waters off the west coast this week, officials said on Friday.

The five-day drills began on Monday, mobilizing some 40 aircraft, including South Korean F-35A, F-15K and F-4E jets, as well as A-10 and F-16 aircraft from the US 7th Air Force stationed in the country, Yonhap news agency reported.

Pilots trained on staging precision strikes against simulated enemy cruise missiles flying at low altitudes with air-to-air missiles and against long-range artillery, using air-to-surface missiles and guided bombs, South Korean Air Force said.

The drills came amid renewed concerns over North Korean cruise missile threats after the country staged five rounds of cruise missile launches this year. North Korea claimed to have test-fired a new surface-to-sea missile off its east coast on February 14.

North Korea also held live-fire artillery drills, involving units capable of striking Seoul, on March 7, its state media reported, in an apparent response to the annual South Korea-US Freedom Shield exercise that ended Thursday.

Post Office scandal: UK to introduce legislation to quash wrongful convictions

The UK government is set to introduce landmark legislation on Wednesday that will see convictions of several British Indians, and many other innocent sub-postmasters, quashed in “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice” in the country.

The Horizon IT Scandal involved hundreds of employees who faced prosecution by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 due to glitches in accounting software developed by a Japanese company. To date, fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned in the case that saw many being financially ruined as they fought for innocence and several others ended up serving prison sentences for fraud they did not commit.

Under this legislation, affected subpostmasters will receive an interim payment with the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of GBP 600,000, so that they can finally begin to rebuild their lives, UK government said in a release on Wednesday.

The “blanket exoneration” -- delivered via the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill -- will quash convictions brought about by erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined, it said. Under the proposed Bill, convictions will be automatically quashed if they were prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and were for offences carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.

They will also be quashed if they were for

relevant offences such as theft, fraud, and false accounting and were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members, or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the postmasters for their “courage and perseverance” in their fierce campaign for justice. He also mentioned the ones deceased, who “tragically won’t see the justice they deserve”.

US court orders Byju’s to freeze $533 million owed to lenders

The steering committee representing term-loan lenders of Byju’s $1.2 billion loan on Friday said that a US judge has ordered to prohibit further movement or use of $533 million by the edtech company, which is owed to lenders.

According to the steering committee’s statement, the company’s co-founders Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath are prohibited by the judge from further transferring or using any of the $533 million in loan proceeds previously held by Camshaft Capital Fund, and subsequently transferred to an unnamed and unknown offshore trust.

Putin critic Navalny’s ally Leonid

Volkov

Leonid Volkov, a long-time ally of the late Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has been attacked outside his home in Lithuania, the media reported. Volkov was assaulted with a hammer and tear gas while in his car in Vilnius on Tuesday night, Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said as quoted by BBC report.

Volkov, 43, also faces various politically motivated charges in Russia, BBC reported. He served as Chairman of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation until last year when he resigned following the revelation he had signed letters calling for the European Union to drop some Russian sanctions.

Despite living outside Russia he has also

The court also found that Raveendran and Gokulnath “are working in concert with the defendants and ordered them to comply with its ruling”.

In its ruling, the court confirmed that the transfer of funds from Byju’s Alpha, the edtech firm’s US subsidiary, and their continued concealment, “likely constitutes a fraudulent conveyance”.

Additionally, the court ordered the arrest of William Morton, the founder of Camshaft Capital Fund, following his repeated refusal to appear in court and provide any of the requested information regarding the transfers of the $533 million in loan proceeds and the current status and location of the funds.

attacked in Lithuania

made sure that the activism of Navalny and his team could continue. This has included anti-corruption investigations, YouTube videos and livestreams during protests and major events in Russia.

Many more activists moved to join Volkov abroad in 2021 after Navalny’s entire political organization was labelled “extremist” and banned in Russia, BBC reported. Several of Navalny’s former team are now in prison, as well as some of his lawyers. With presidential elections this weekend, Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya has called on opponents of Vladimir Putin to turn up at polling stations across Russia at midday on Sunday in an act of peaceful political protest.

It was an idea supported by Alexei Navalny before he died.

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Singapore creates 88,400 new jobs in 2023

Singapore’s total employment grew 88,400 in 2023, including 83,500 for non-residents and 4,900 for residents, according to a labor market report released by the Ministry of Manpower on Thursday. The majority of the new employment for non-Singapore residents was in the construction and manufacturing sectors, and the resident employment growth was seen in higherpaying sectors such as financial services, Xinhua news agency reported.

The number of employed persons in Singapore exceeded 3.7 million as of December 2023, except for migrant domestic workers, according to the report. The total retrenchment numbers in 2023 increased to 14,590 from 6,440 in 2022. The long-term unemployment rate held steady at 0.7 percent.

China urges US to stop ‘suppression’ of TikTok

China on Thursday called on the US to stop the “unreasonable suppression” of companies from other countries, following a US bill targeting the short-video app TikTok. The US side should earnestly respect the market economy and the principle of fair competition, and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for enterprises from all countries, said He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a press briefing, He Yadong said relevant parties should strictly abide by Chinese laws and regulations, and China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Earlier this week, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that would require TikTok to divest from its parent company, Chinese tech giant ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban in the US.

Imran warns of Sri Lanka-like crisis in Pakistan amid high inflation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned of a looming financial crisis and public unrest in the country akin to that faced by Sri Lanka, a media report said. Khan insisted that his previous predictions had come true, reiterating concerns over a Sri Lanka-like scenario unfolding in Pakistan, with inflation rising and the populace bearing the brunt, The Express Tribune reported.

Speaking to the media at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he is presently lodged, Khan criticized what he described as the ongoing “deception” within the country,

China considering military facilities in multiple locations including Pakistan: US intelligence

China is reportedly considering pursuing military facilities in multiple locations, including Pakistan, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE, as per the latest report by US Intelligence Community. These facilities are beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia.

“Beijing will focus on building a fully modernized national defence and military force by 2035 and for the PLA to become a world-class military by 2049. In the meantime, the CCP hopes to use the PLA to secure what it claims is its sovereign territory, to assert its preeminence in regional affairs, and to project

power globally, particularly by being able to deter and counter an intervention by the US in a cross-Strait conflict,” the assessment by the US intelligence said. However, China lacks recent warfighting experience, which probably would weaken the PLA’s effectiveness and leaders’ willingness to initiate a conflict, it said.

“Xi Jinping’s prioritization of security and stability for the CCP is undermining China’s ability to solve complex domestic problems,” it added.

“Beijing’s hardline approach to alleged separatism in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet, as well as broader crackdowns on religion and dissent in China, have generated widespread global criticism of China’s human rights abuses and extraterritorial interference,” it added.

South Korean minister concerned over SNU medical professors’ resignation decision

South Korean Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Tuesday expressed deep concerns over a decision by medical professors to resign unless there is a breakthrough in a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, saying that such a collective action would pose a threat to the safety of patients. On Monday, medical school professors at Seoul National University (SNU) resolved to submit resignations en masse next week if the government fails to present “a reasonable breakthrough” in the prolonged

walkout, Yonhap news agency reported.

“The decision threatens the lives and health of patients, which is a source of grave concern.

Another mass resignation will put the lives of the patients at risk and will not be able to win the public’s understanding,” Cho Kyoo-hong said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

More than 90 per cent of the country’s 13,000 trainee doctors walked off the job in the form of mass resignations more than three weeks ago to protest the government’s decision to increase enrollment at medical schools by 2,000 spots starting next year to address a shortage of doctors. The current quota is 3,058.

condemning the recently-held general elections as fraudulent and alleging compromise within institutions.

“Institutions have been destroyed. The PTI was not allowed to compete in the elections. Although voters expressed their discontent on polling day, they did not accept the change through votes. By snatching the mandate, they have dashed the nation’s hopes,” Khan alleged, the report said. As Pakistan is going to seek the final tranche of loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the PTI founder said the nation would take to the streets after a new wave of inflation, Geo News reported. Khan also said that the voters took revenge on the polling day but the “change via vote was not accepted”.

Rishi Sunak rules out UK general election on May 2

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that there will not be a general election on May 2, ending months-long speculation that he would call an early election.

Sunak made the statement when talking to ITV News on Thursday. Previously, he said an election would be held in the second half of this year but didn’t rule out an election in May, Xinhua news agency reported.

“In several weeks’ time, we’ve got elections for police and crime commissioners, for local councils, for mayors across the country,” he said.

The UK local elections are due to take place on May 2. Asked if there would also be a general election at the same time, the Prime Minister said, “There won’t be a general election on that day.”

By UK’s law, the last possible date for a general election is by the end of January 2025. The ruling Conservative Party has been lagging behind its main opposition Labor Party in the polls, with some Tory lawmakers rooting for an early election to keep the situation from worsening, and others advising election in the second half of the year to give the party more time to improve economy and win voter support.

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Microsoft singles out Google’s competitive edge in generative AI

Alphabet unit Google enjoys a competitive edge in generative artificial intelligence due to its trove of data and AI-optimized chips, Microsoft has told EU antitrust regulators, underscoring the rivalry between the two tech giants.

The comments by Microsoft were in response to a consultation launched by the European Commission in January on the level of competition in generative AI. The growing popularity of generative AI, which can generate human-like responses to written prompts and is exemplified by Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s chatbot Gemini, has triggered concerns about misinformation and fake news.

“Today, only one company - Google - is vertically integrated in a manner that provides it with strength and independence at every AI layer from chips to a thriving mobile app store. Everyone else must rely on partnerships to innovate and compete,” Microsoft said in its report to the Commission.

It said Google’s self-supply AI

United Airlines close to leasing Airbus jets

United Airlines is close to securing three dozen or more Airbus A321neo jets from aircraft lessors, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday citing people familiar with the matter.

United has been looking for alternatives to Boeing’s uncertified MAX 10 planes, which were due for delivery this year and were expected to be the cornerstone of its fleet.

However, a mid-air emergency in January on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 has raised new doubts over its certification. United had ordered 277 MAX 10 jets with options for another 200. United had approached Airbus about buying A321neo jets as possible alternatives to its MAX 10 order but the planemaker’s order book is full through 2030.

On Tuesday, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline wants A321 jets but would not be willing to overpay for them. The airline declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

semiconductors would give it a competitive advantage for the years to come, while its large sets of proprietary data from Google Search Index and YouTube enabled it to train its large language model Gemini.

“YouTube provides an unparalleled set of video content; it hosts an estimated 14 billion

videos. Google has access to such content; but other AI developers do not,” Microsoft said. It said AI-powered voice assistants such as Google’s Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri give both companies an advantage.

“They are well-positioned to evolve and leverage their respective existing voice assistants

Airbnb fined over unfair biz practices in South Korea

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South Korea’s antitrust regulator on Monday announced to impose a fine and corrective measures on Airbnb Ireland UC, for its failure to properly verify information of short-term rental hosts for customers. The home rental platform was fined 500,000 won ($379.6) for the violation of the country’s electronic commerce act as it simply provided information about rental hosts just as they have uploaded without due verification procedures, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).

Airbnb has also failed to appropriately

mark detailed information about the company, such as the phone number for customer service, on its website in an act that even goes against its own identity information rules, reports Yonhap news agency.

The FTC ordered the company to take steps in accordance with the e-commerce law, saying the act is applied equally to foreign operators in case they do business here targeting domestic customers. Airbnb is the fifth-largest accommodation service platform in South Korea with 1.04 million members here as of 2021, according to government data.

into leadership positions in generative AI. New entrants and competitors of Google and Apple will not enjoy the same advantages,” Microsoft said.

Google hit back at Microsoft.

“We hope the Commission’s study will shine a light on companies that don’t offer the openness of Google Cloud or have a long history of locking-in customers - and who are bringing that same approach to AI services,” a Google spokesperson said.

Microsoft, whose more than $10 billion investment in OpenAI is now in EU antitrust regulators’ crosshairs, also sought to fend off regulatory worries about such partnerships between Big Tech and start-ups.

“All of these start-ups relied on different forms of investments and partnerships that enabled them to enter and expand in the space,” it said.

It pointed to Anthropic which has Google and Amazon as investors, France’s Mistral in which Microsoft has invested 15 billion Euros and Canada’s Cohere which has Salesforce and Nvidia as investors.

Qualcomm opens new chip design centre, 6G research program in India

Chip-maker Qualcomm on Thursday announced the inauguration of its new chip design centre in Chennai. The centre, made with an investment of Rs. 177.27 Crore, will specialize in wireless connectivity solutions, with a focus on innovations that complement Wi-Fi technologies. It is also expected to generate jobs for up to 1,600 skilled technology professionals, open new doors for semiconductor design in alignment with the government’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and unlock growth opportunities for a strong indigenous design ecosystem. Further, in line with the government’s Bharat 6G Vision, the company also announced its program supporting 6G University Research in India.

US sanctions against country caused $700 bn GDP loss, says Venezuelan VP Rodriguez

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has said the US sanctions against the country have caused losses of nearly $700 billion in GDP. At an international seminar in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra on Monday, the Vice President said Venezuela’s oil industry sustained losses of almost 232 billion dollars due to the sanctions, which have in addition frozen more than 22 billion dollars Venezuelan assets in international banks, Xinhua news agency reported.

The US, she said, has failed to comply with the lifting of sanctions as established in the Barbados Agreement reached between the government and Venezuelan opposition parties in October 2023. The agreement brought a relief, known as General License 44, from the US on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government in October 2023, but the Joe Biden administration reimposed sanctions on Venezuela in January, saying the move was in response to Maduro’s decision to ban a leading opposition candidate from running for president.

In view of US unilateral policies, Latin

America “essentially” needs a new financial architecture, Rodriguez said. “If we want to think about a new financial architecture, we must carry out trade in our own currencies,” said the Venezuelan vice president.

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US House passes TikTok crackdown law

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The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation with an overwhelming bipartisan vote that could lead to the banning of the popular social media platform TikTok. The fate of the app, which is used monthly by 170 million Americans, now rests with the Senate where some lawmakers have vowed to prevent the law’s speedy passage. President Joe Biden, who will have the final say, has said he will sign it into law. The legislation passed with 352 affirmative votes to 65 negative and one vote marked as present. It was introduced by the bipartisan duo of Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, who head the select committee on China as the chair and ranking member, respectively.

“Today we send a clear message that we will not tolerate our adversaries weaponizing our freedoms against us,” said Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Republican chair of the House Commerce Committee who advanced the TikTok bill. The legislation requires TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, which is based in China and is alleged to have links to the

Chinese giant Alibaba plans to invest $1.1 billion in South Korea

China’s Alibaba Group plans to invest $1.1 billion in South Korea over the next three years, as it seeks to build a logistics centre and expand businesses. As part of the investment plan, the Chinese e-commerce giant plans to spend $200 million this year to build the logistics center, according to a business strategy document of Alibaba, obtained by Yonhap News Agency. Alibaba also plans to spend $100 million to help small and midsized South Korean firms sell their products overseas, the document showed. AliExpress, an e-commerce platform of Alibaba, has been under scrutiny in South Korea over growing consumer complaints. Alibaba said it will invest some 100 billion won to help bolster consumer protection in South Korea.

Chinese government, to divest its stake in the company within 180 days of the enactment of the law. Failure to meet the deadline would bar TikTok from the app stores of Apple and Google.

The app had mounted a vigorous campaign to defeat the legislation through appeals from its users and influencers. Former President Donald Trump, who had met an American investor in TikTok, famously changed his position and came out in opposition to any effort to ban the app arguing it would make Facebook stronger, which he believes is a bigger threat.

But he did not canvass the lawmakers, which he has done in the past to defeat proposed legislative measures that he does not like. TikTok is considered a security threat because of its links to the Chinese government and lawmakers and officials have said that Beijing can access data on Americans through the app.

TikTok has argued that the data on Americans is stored in the US.

“So long as it is owned by ByteDance and thus required to collaborate with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), TikTok poses critical threats to our national security. Our

bipartisan legislation would protect American social media users by driving the divestment of foreign adversary-controlled apps to ensure that Americans are protected from the digital surveillance and influence operations of regimes that could weaponize their personal data against them. Whether it’s Russia or the CCP, this bill ensures the President has the tools he needs to press dangerous apps to divest and defend Americans’ security and privacy against our adversaries,” Krishnamoorthi had said while introducing the bill on March 5.

The bill garnered bipartisan support and speedily made it to the floor vote with a 50-0 clearance by the Commerce Committee. Its passage through the Senate may not be as swift.

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, has said he will block any effort to clear the bill speedily. Other Senators, on both sides, have also expressed opposition citing, one, its popularity with young Americans, especially so in an election year. Other opponents have cited creating a precedent for banning companies and platforms by name.

US agency probes risks of foreign satellite use by handheld devices

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The Federal Communications Commission said Thursday it is investigating if the use of Russian and Chinese foreign satellite systems by U.S. mobile phones and other devices poses security threats. The FCC has concerns U.S. handheld devices are receiving and processing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals from satellites controlled by foreign adversaries in violation of commission rules.

The FCC is seeking answers from handset manufacturers Apple, Google,

Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and others that collectively cover over 90% of the U.S. smartphone marketplace. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Representative Mike Gallagher, chair of the House Select China Committee, wrote FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel earlier this week raising concern about reports that U.S. cell phones were receiving and processing signals from Chinese and Russian satellites.

The FCC has only approved U.S. phones to receivers to receive and process signals from the U.S. Global

Positioning System (GPS) and only the European Galileo GNSS has been approved. Gallagher said U.S. devices are receiving signals from the PRC BeiDou and Russian GLONASS GNSS constellations.

Rosenworcel in 2018 raised concerns saying U.S. phones have chips designed to operate with global navigation satellite systems of other countries. “Many devices in the United States are already operating with foreign signals,” she said in 2018.

The FCC wants to know “whether their devices are in compliance with FCC rules and what vulnerabilities” may exist in how they process GNSS signals.

Piyush Goyal highlights India’s potential as global supply chain hub at 14-nation Indo-Pacific meet

Commerce & Industry Piyush

Goyal on Thursday highlighted India’s potential for providing global supply chain diversification opportunities, at the 14-nation Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) meeting. He joined US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and the ministers from the 11 other IPEF countries in their first ministerial meeting this year. Addressing the virtual ministerial meeting, Minister Goyal called for an expeditious implementation of all the action-oriented collaborative elements under various IPEF Pillars. On the Pillar-II (Supply Chains Resilience) Agreement, which entered into force on 24 February 2024, he highlighted India’s global production capacities in many critical sectors, which provide supply

diversification opportunities for IPEF partners.

During the virtual ministerial meeting on Pillars II-IV, IPEF partners welcomed the significant progress made since the substantial conclusion of the negotiations for the proposed IPEF Clean Economy Agreement (Pillar III), the IPEF Fair Economy Agreement (Pillar IV), and Agreement on IPEF in November 2023.

The IPEF partners also discussed the ongoing cooperative work ahead across the three proposed agreements, according to an official statement released after the meeting.

Additionally, IPEF partners welcomed the coming into force of the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement with effect from 24 February 2024.

The texts of the proposed Clean Economy Agreement, Fair Economy Agreement, and Agreement on IPEF were also made public.

Highlighting the ‘Prime Minister Surya Ghar

Muft Bijli

a project that not only furthers clean economy objectives but also generates large socio-economic multiplier effects, Minister Goyal invited investors from IPEF partners to invest and benefit from the trillion-dollar-plus opportunity that India provides in the clean economy domain.

The IPEF partners also discussed the next steps to deliver concrete outcomes under the Framework over the next several months. This

includes several new lines of effort under the Clean Economy pillar, including the launching of four new Cooperative Work Programs (CWPs), announcing that the inaugural IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum will be held in Singapore on June 5-6, and providing more details on the IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund.

The IPEF partners further announced that the Ministers will next meet in person in Singapore on June 6 to discuss the Supply Chain Agreement, the Clean Economy Agreement, the Fair Economy Agreement, and the Agreement on IPEF. IPEF was launched in May 2022, bringing together 14 regional partners – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam – in a new model of economic cooperation.

Yojana’ as

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India return to top in ICC Test team rankings after series win over England

Following a 4-1 series win over England India reclaimed the top position in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, taking over defending Australia.

India now has 122 rating points in the rankings table. Australia are second with 117 rating points, while England are at the third place with 111 rating points. India secured a massive victory by an innings and 64 runs in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, propelling them to a 4-1 series win over England on Saturday.

After losing the first Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs, India fought back in style to win the remaining four Tests against England.

Vinicius Jr calls on UEFA to punish Atletico fans for alleged racist abuse

Vinicius Jr called on UEFA to punish Atletico Madrid fans for alleged racist chanting ahead of their team’s Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday. A video posted on social media appears to show Atletico fans outside the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid chanting racist abuse targeting the Real Madrid forward. “I hope you’ve already thought about their punishment Champions League, UEFA,” Vinicius said on social media platform X on Thursday.

“It’s a sad reality this happens even at matches I’m not at.” The Real Madrid winger has been the target of racist abuse on a number of occasions, sparking a series of local and international campaigns, including the creation of a special FIFA anti-racism committee. Brazil will play a friendly match against Spain at the Bernabeu on March 26 as part of an anti-racism campaign in support of the Real Madrid forward.

Wins in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and now Dharamsala have helped the side to overtake Australia return and reclaimed top position in the ICC Test Team Rankings.

India had slipped to second place in Test Team Rankings after a drawn 1-1 series against South Africa this January with Australia overtaking Rohit Sharma-led side at

Teenager Yamal gifts Barca narrow win over Mallorca in La Liga

Teenager Lamine Yamal scored the only goal of the game to give FC Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win at home to Mallorca to keep their slim hopes of this season’s title alive. Yamal, born in July 2007, produced a moment of magic to move Barca to within five points of Real Madrid, who entertain Celta Vigo on Sunday, reported Xinhua

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez produced a surprise in his starting line-up, with Robert Lewandowski rested and young striker Marc Guiu given a chance, ahead of January signing Vitor Roque. With Pedri and Frenkie de Jong both injured, Joao Felix was picked to play in midfield, while 17-year-old Marc Cubarsi was also selected in defense, with Andreas Christensen again playing in midfield.

A close opening 20 minutes were interrupted when Barcelona were awarded a penalty after Copete clipped Raphinha’s heel in the penalty area. Without Lewandowski on the pitch, Ilkay Gundogan took responsibility from the spot, but his kick was too central and comfortably saved by Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic.

Yamal cut inside and hit the crossbar in the 57th minute, with Rajkovic getting his fingertips to the shot, before Xavi made a double change with Lewandowski and Vitor Roque on for Guiu and the ineffective Felix. Yamal broke the deadlock with 18 minutes left when he cut in from the right of the area and curled a shot into the far corner of the net beyond Rajkovic’s reach.

Qatar to hold next five editions of FIFA U17 WC, FIFA announces

Qatar will be host of the next five editions of the U-17 World Cup from 2025. In the same period, Morocco will stage the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup from 2025 to 2029. The two competitions will be held annually rather than biennially from 2025, as part of the football governing body’s commitment to youth football. The FIFA Council also announced that the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be expanded to 48 teams, and the women’s counterpart will be expanded to 24 teams.

the top of the Test rankings, after sweeping the three-Test series at home against Pakistan. India will remain at the top regardless of the outcome of the second New ZealandAustralia Test in Christchurch, ICC reports. The ICC World Test Championship 2023 winners Australia currently lead the two-Test series 1-0 following their 172-run victory in Wellington.

After returning to top in Test rankings, India are now at the summit of rankings in all three formats. They have 121 rating points in the ODI rankings, with Australia sitting a close second with 118 rating points. In the T20Is, India have 266 rating points, with England (256) at the second place.

Indian Wells: Navarro stuns Sabalenka, Gauff enters quarters

American tennis sensation Emma Navarro defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 3-6 6-2 to secure her spot in ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Paribas Open for the first time in her career. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff celebrated her 20th birthday in style, dominating her opponent to advance with ease. Navarro, known for her composed demeanor on the court, faced the formidable challenge of Sabalenka’s powerful serve. However, she remained unfazed, capitalizing on four of her five break-point opportunities to clinch victory in windy conditions. The opening six games of the match were tight with neither player getting a break point chance until Navarro made the breakthrough to go 5-3 up after a string of errors from Sabalenka.

Despite Sabalenka’s resurgence in the second set, Navarro maintained her composure, sealing the win with a crucial service hold and a fourth break point conversion on match point. The victory is Navarro’s best by ranking and boosted into a fourth quarterfinal on the season and first of her career at the WTA 1000 level. As if those milestones were not enough to underline just how good the Charleston native’s 2024 season has been, she now leads the Hologic WTA Tour with 18 wins.

“It’s a little bit unnatural for me to be in the spotlight and be playing on a court like that with a ton of fans and TVs and eyes on me. It’s not my natural way,” she told reporters.

Sports

Olympic Games 2024 are on track, IOC committee informed in final meeting

The organizing committee for the Paris Olympic Games 2024 has informed the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission that everything is on track for the Olympic Games to be held in the French capital from July 26 to August 11 this year. Just like athletes around the globe who are preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games, the organizing committee for Paris 2024 is diligently working towards reaching peak performance this summer. This was the final Coordination Commission meeting before the Games, during which it was confirmed that the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will begin at 19:30 local time (CEST) on July 26.

Following the conclusion of meetings, the Coordination Commission Chair, Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, reflected on progress. He said: “Paris 2024 is on track to deliver their exceptional Games vision. With the continued support of stakeholders, they are incredibly focused on what’s ahead and on the ultimate goal of delivering spectacular, impactful and sustainable Games.”

Throughout this week’s discussions, there was acknowledgement of the important progress achieved so far, but also recognition of areas of focus over the coming weeks. Final testing is underway, with 15 test events and activities remaining, putting all the people who will deliver

Appeals could further delay awarding of figure skating gold to US

Awarding of the 2022 Beijing Olympic figure skating team gold to the United States after Russia was stripped of the medals for doping could be delayed by appeals, said U.S. Olympic officials on Thursday, putting plans for a Paris celebration in jeopardy. After two years of legal wrangling the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in January that teenager Kamila Valieva, a member of the Russian squad, receive a four-year doping ban that elevated the U.S. to gold and Japan to silver. Fourth place finishers Canada believed they would move up from fourth to bronze but when International Skating Union (ISU) removed Valieva’s result Russia took third.

Darren Gough quits as

the Games, as well as processes and infrastructure, to the test. Other key tasks remaining include training the Games-time workforce and around 45,000 volunteers, as well as finalizing detailed operating plans to ensure the seamless enjoyment of the Games and the smooth functioning of the host and co-host cities.

While the Commission expressed strong confidence in Paris 2024’s preparations, there was also an opportunity to reflect on the wide-reaching Games legacy initiatives which are already delivering results. These include Paris 2024’s flagship “30 minutes” project, which now sees two million French primary schoolchildren doing 30 minutes of physical activity every day and

the 1,100 sports-led social impact projects throughout France that have benefitted from around EUR 50 million from the Paris 2024 Endowment Fund.

In addition to attending meetings at Paris 2024’s headquarters, members had the opportunity to tour two facilities – the Olympic Village and the Arena Porte de la Chapelle, which was holding a badminton test event in conjunction with the French Open. This first-hand experience offered insights into the high level of operational and team readiness within these newly-completed venues, which are the exception for a Games where 95 per cent of the facilities being used are existing or temporary.

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Ex-cricketer Kaneria supports CAA, says ‘Pakistani Hindus will now be able to breathe in open air’

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has come out in support of the Indian government notifying the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), paving the way for granting of citizenship to people of certain faiths facing persecution in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Though the notified rules related to refugees who have moved to India before 2015, Kaneria hailed it as good for all Pakistani Hindus.

“Pakistani Hindus will now be able to breathe in open air #CAA,” Kaneria said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Leg-spinner Kaneria, the second Hindu cricketer to represent Pakistan after his cousin Anil Dalpat and who got embroiled in matchfixing towards the end of his career, is a big supporter of the Indian government’s announcement of bringing in CAA. The Union Home Ministry on Monday notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), paving the way for granting of citizenship to people of certain faiths facing persecution in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and having moved to India before 2015.

“Those immigrants qualifying for citizenship under CAA will have to submit applications in an online mode, for which a web portal has been created,” an MHA spokesperson said. The CAA was an integral part of the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha polls manifesto.

Olympian Vishnu Saravanan wins gold at Europa Cup 2024 sailing event in Spain

India’s Olympian sailor Vishnu Saravanan, who has already bagged a quota place for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, has won the gold medal in the men’s one-person dinghy (ILCA7) category at the Europa Cup 2024 sailing meet held in Mallorca, Spain.

Saravanan, who represented the country in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and finished 20th, topped the 91-boat race with 17 net points. The Netherlands’ Willem Wiersema also accrued the same points but Saravanan won the category on technicality. Australia’s Lawson McAullay won the bronze with 22 net points at the event, organized by

managing director of Yorkshire County Cricket

Club

Darren Gough, the former Yorkshire and England fast bowler, has announced that he is stepping down as managing director of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Taking on the role in December 2021 amidst the aftermath of the Azeem Rafiq racism crisis, Gough assumed the helm during a tumultuous period for the club. After the departure of Gough, Colin Graves will return as Yorkshire chairman.

year’s Europa Cup saw a huge turnout with 334 sailors competing under challenging conditions with wind speeds ranging from 15 to +30 knots throughout the three-day competition.

In January this year, Saravanan became the first Indian to secure a sailing quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics, doing so at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship 2024 in Australia this January. The ILCA7 is a category within the ILCA (International Laser Class Association) sailing class. The Laser Standard is a small, lightweight boat with a single mast. Last year, he also secured the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Dutch footballer Promes arrested in Dubai at request of Netherlands

Dutch professional footballer Quincy Promes, convicted for drug trafficking and stabbing his cousin, was arrested in Dubai at the request of Dutch authorities. The arrest was made based on a Red Notice issued by the Netherlands. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

the Reial Club Nautic Port de Pollenca.

Saravanan finished first in two of his seven races at the meet. In the Olympic year, this

Friday, 15 March, 2024

SRK, Ed Sheeran strike Bollywood star’s iconic pose, and it’s just ‘Perfect’

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, is set to perform in Mumbai on March 16. However, the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker, who is currently in the maximum city, is soaking in all the colors of the city. After grooving with Armaan Malik to the song ‘Butta Bomma’ from the Allu Arjun-starrer ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ and striking the iconic pose of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, Ed Sheeran met SRK. The two also struck SRK’s signature pose and set the social media on fire. Both SRK and Ed Sheeran took to their respective Instagram accounts and shared a joint post.

Incidentally, Farah Khan’s picture from Ed Sheeran’s last outing in India, back in 2017 went viral leaving netizens in splits as the ‘Main Hoon Na’ director was seen in high spirits along with her ‘Happy New Year’ actor, Abhishek Bachchan. Earlier, the ‘Perfect’ singer visited a school in Mumbai and swapped performances with his young fans at the school and also strummed his guitar for them as they performed.

Beyonce to debut in country music; announces album with ‘Cowboy Carter’

Singing legend Beyonce is making her foray into Country music. The singer-songwriter has announced the name of her latest album, ‘Cowboy Carter’. The album is set to drop on March 29. Beyonce took to the Stories section of her Instagram to post the album cover which consists of a brown and white saddle with a red white and blue sash draped over it that bears the album’s name, reports Mirror.co.uk. It also included a preorder link that takes fans to her merch store. Her store is offering limited edition vinyls available in red, white, blue, and black. There are also limited edition CDs with four different covers bearing the artiste’s face.

As per Mirror.co.uk, ‘Cowboy Carter’ will be Beyonce’s first full country album, already evident by the two singles she has released - ‘16 Carriages’ and ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’. The two songs reached the top of the Apple Music US Country charts, making her the first black female artiste to do so. Beyonce has already thrown herself into the country lifestyle, embracing her Houston heritage. Last month, she wore a black bolo tie and a white cowboy hat to the Grammy Awards, which she attended with her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy.

Entertainment

Daler Mehndi’s son Gurdeep gets ready to walk on his father’s lyrical path

Gurdeep Mehndi, the son of Punjabi music legend Daler Mehndi, is set to take a flight into the mainstream music space. The young singer said that he is eager to start creating his own music as he embarks on a new journey. Gurdeep is known for his ability to deliver electrifying live performances and enthral audiences.

The singer has been signed by music label Saregama India Ltd. as part of their artiste management roster, and is set to release his

originals in May 2024.

Talking about the same, Gurdeep shared:

“This marks a pivotal moment in my career. I’m eager to start creating my own music with a label that’s not only revered for its historical significance but also for its reliability and credibility in the music industry. This collaboration opens up new avenues for growth and creativity, and I am looking forward to what we will achieve together.”

Speaking on the announcement Siddharth Anand

Kumar, Senior VP of Films & Events

at Saregama shared: “We are thrilled to welcome Gurdeep to the Saregama family. Our extensive network in the music industry and expertise in artist management will most definitely help us in charting out a new growth trajectory for him. We are committed to not only investing in content for such artists who have great potential across various genres and languages, but also have dedicated teams to build their brand, grow business potential through brand endorsements, more live shows and tours. We look forward to Gurdeep’s pioneering journey with us.”

Michelle Yeoh clears air on Oscars stage confusion between her and Emma Stone

The Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh has issued a clarification on what led to the confusion between her and ‘Poor Things’ actress Emma Stone at the 96th Oscars stage, when the latter won the Best Actress honor.

Michelle along with fellow past Oscar winners and actresses Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Sally Field, and Jessica Lange were on hand at Sunday’s ceremony to present the award for Best Actress, reports ‘People’ magazine.

Each actress gave a short speech about this year’s nominees -- Emma Stone, Annette Bening, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Huller, and Carey Mulligan -- before the ‘Poor Things’ actress

was pronounced the winner.

Michelle handed Emma Stone’s Oscar statuette to Jennifer Lawrence on the Oscars stage causing confusion. As Emma Stone walked onto the stage, she told the women that her custom Louis Vuitton gown had ripped before walking over to Michelle, who was holding onto the statuette.

As per ‘People’, Michelle, still holding onto the Oscar, walked over to Lawrence, who took it from her hands and presented it to Emma.

After Emma said, “Thank you”, she and Lawrence laughed before hugging each other. The exchange caused moviegoers to voice their confusion online, causing Michelle to clear the air in an Instagram post.

The actress wrote: “Congratulations Emma!! I confused you, but I wanted to share that glorious moment of handing over Oscar to you together with your best friend Jennifer!! She reminded me of my Bae Jamie Lee Curtis, always there for each other.”

The post included a picture of Michelle smiling from ear to ear as Lawrence handed the Oscar to Emma. Michelle won the award for Best Actress in 2023 for her work on ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

Curtis also starred in the film and took home the win for Best Supporting Actress. Emma and Lawrence have also been long-time friends, who first met through Woody Harrelson.

Entertainment

Alec Baldwin asks judge to dismiss charges in ‘Rust’ shooting A

ctor Alec Baldwin’s lawyers on Thursday asked a judge to dismiss manslaughter charges against him for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming of the Western movie “Rust,” alleging prosecutorial misconduct. Trial is set for July 10 in New Mexico.

“Enough is enough. This is an abuse of the system, and an abuse of an innocent person whose rights have been trampled to the extreme,” said the motion, filed eight days after a jury found the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a separate trial.

Hutchins died when the reproduction Colt. 45 revolver Baldwin was rehearsing with fired a live round that also wounded director Joel Souza.

Criminal defendants routinely seek to dismiss charges, which judges rarely do. But charges against Baldwin were dropped once already and the trial of Gutierrez was Hollywood’s first for an on-set fatal shooting in nearly 30 years. She is due to be sentenced on April 15 and faces up to 18 months in state prison.

Baldwin’s lawyers argued that prosecutors

Cate Blanchett stresses on society’s need for ‘tough conversations’

Hollywood star Cate Blanchett said that society “needs” to have “tough conversations,” even if people are scared to share their views. “Culturally, we are terrified of tough conversations. Boss to employee. Employee to boss. Friend to friend. But we need them,” said Blanchett. “We talk about radical candor, but when there’s a trigger warning in front of something, you are implying that there is a lack of mutual respect or that the subject hasn’t been properly interrogated,” she told Sunday Times Culture magazine. The actress found it “thrilling” when her movie ‘Tar’ was tagged offensive in some quarters because she isn’t interested in “happy agreement” and only positive feedback about her work.

She said: “That was the most thrilling thing. You don’t want a film about which everybody is going to say, ‘Well done.’ When people debate it, it’s absolutely thrilling. ‘Tar’ was challenging, but travelled on the wave of the audience and not all the conversations were positive.”

“They don’t need to be, just respectful. I don’t want happy agreement.” Despite seeing the highs of highs in her career, Blanchett feels that she is always at risk of “failure” with every new project, reports femalefirst.co.uk. “(Films like ‘The Good German’ were seen by) about two and a half people … Clooney and me, speaking German? And that opening the Berlin Film Festival? Mistake.”

“There are films millions see, but then simply move on to the next thing. Some films are a slower burn, but you always have to risk failure — that’s the case with every project.”

have “publicly dragged Baldwin through the cesspool created by their improprieties.”Apart from those broadsides, defense lawyers offered legal arguments including that the state withheld “substantial exculpatory and favorable evidence” from the grand jury.

Baldwin faces two counts of manslaughter, one for negligent use of a firearm and another for failure to exercise due caution. The fourthdegree felonies carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

Baldwin was first charged with involuntary manslaughter in January of 2023. The charge

was dismissed three months later when his lawyers presented evidence the revolver Baldwin was using had been modified and it could fire without the trigger being pulled.

The “30 Rock” actor has denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death, saying the gun went off without him pulling the trigger.

Morrissey in January called a grand jury to indict Baldwin after an independent test of the gun found it would not fire without the trigger being pulled. The test confirmed a previous FBI examination.

Raspberries frontman Eric Carmen, best-known for ‘All by Myself’, dies at 74

Eric Carmen, the frontman of the American pop band Raspberries, has passed away at the age of 74. Eric became an icon of early 1970s power pop and later achieved solo success with hits like ‘All By Myself’ and ‘Hungry Eyes’.

His wife, Amy Carmen, wrote on his website, “It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Eric Carmen,” reports ‘Variety’.

It further read, “Our sweet, loving and

talented Eric passed away in his sleep, over the weekend. It brought him great joy to know that for decades, his music touched so many and will be his lasting legacy. Please respect the family’s privacy as we mourn our enormous loss. ‘Love Is All That Matters… Faithful and Forever’.”

As per ‘Variety’, the latter quote from Carmen’s wife is a callback to the song ‘Love Is All That Matters’, from his 1977 solo album ‘Boats Against the Current’. However, no cause of death or exact date of death has been shared by the singer’s family.

Eirc, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, was the primary singer and songwriter of the Raspberries, who rebelled against the heavy, glam and progressive-rock scenes of the early 1970s and threw back to the Beatlesesque pop they were raised on.

The group was often lambasted at the time for being too pop or wimpy, but the Raspberries could be a powerhouse rock band when they chose to. Along with kindred spirits Badfinger, Big Star and Todd Rundgren, they created a model that has been revived multiple times over the decades, most vividly in the early 1990s with bands like Teenage Fanclub, the Posies and even Nirvana: Kurt Cobain was a fan, as well as Bruce Springsteen.

96th Academy Awards: ‘Oppenheimer’ wins Best Picture, clocks 7 wins

Emma Stone, Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling and other stars gathered on Sunday to celebrate the best performances in film at the 96th Academy Awards, a ceremony that turned into a toast to blockbuster atomic bomb drama Oppenheimer. It nabbed seven wins out of 13 nominations. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel returned for the fourth time to emcee the film industry’s highest honors from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

As stars began arriving to walk the red carpet, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters angered by the Israel-Gaza conflict shouted and slowed traffic in the blocks surrounding the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Oppenheimer, the three-hour drama directed by Christopher Nolan, led the field with 13 nominations. The movie won the prestigious best picture prize, capping its sweep of other major awards this year.

Cillian Murphy, the Irish actor who played physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer as he led the race to build the first atomic bomb, won best actor. Murphy’s main competition, according to awards pundit, was The Holdovers star Paul Giamatti.

Best actress went to Emma Stone for Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. The film also picked up a bunch of other awards. Oscar-winning siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell made Oscar history by becoming the youngest-ever two-time winners of the Best Song trophy. Billie and Finneas took home the award for the song What Was I Made For?

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

20

www.indoustribune.com

Chicago Andhra Association celebrates Women’s Day with great fervor

By Vandana Jhingan

The Chicago Andhra Association (CAA) celebrated the International Women’s Day on March 9, 2024, at the National India Hub. The event attended by more than 400 women was coordinated by Gitika Mandala, Anuradha Gampala and Soumya Bojja under the leadership of President Swetha Kottapalli, Chairman Srinivas Pedamallu, and Vice President Srikrishna Matukumalli.

The theme for the event was ‘Purple color.’ All the ladies dressed up in Purple arrived enthusiastically for the event and had a memorable Women’s day!! The event comprised special contests like enacting advertisements from the 90s, making jewelry out of waste, decorating a doll, and fashion show. The competition created a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among the contestants. Prizes were distributed to all the winners of the contests.

Krishna Jasthi from Occassions by Krishna with the help and guidance of Tamishra Konchada decorated the venue beautifully. Stage Decor and the Photo Booth were the highlights of the evening.

Malathi Damaraju and Dr. Saini Narwade hosted the event and ensured

that the audience were engaged and entertained throughout the evening. Board of Trustees Sujatha Appalaneni, Dr. Uma Katiki, Dr. Bhargavi Nettem, Pavitra Karumuri, Malleswari Pedamallu, Sivabala Jatla also actively participated in the event.

Surya Datla and Aruna Datla from Cosmos digital provided photography and videography services for the event. The program concluded with an open dance floor, which was led by Mayuri from Nache Mayuri. She made all the women dance effortlessly with her instructions and foot tapping numbers. All the women rocked the dance floor for long, tirelessly.

Overall, the celebration was a grand success. The organization’s efforts in planning and executing the event was commendable, and they succeeded in creating a joyful celebration for all those who attended.

President Swetha Kottapalli expressed her gratitude to all the board members, Savitha Munaga, Anusha Bestha, Sri Smitha Nanduri, Anvitha Panchagnula, Sailaja Sappa, Padmarao Appalaneni, Murali Reddivari, Narasimha Rao Veerapaneni, Girirao Kothamasu, Prabhakar Mallampalli, Kavyasri Challa, Manasvi Thumu, Trustees and volunteers who helped for a smooth execution of this

OFBJP Chicago Chapter launches ‘Ab Ki Baar 400 Par’ campaign for Indian elections

By Jayanti Oza

The Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) Chicago chapter kicked off their Indian election campaign with a spirited meeting titled ‘Ab Ki Baar 400 Par.’ held at the Swaminarayan Sokhda Temple in Schaumburg, Illinois. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from community members and political leaders.

The program commenced with the ceremonial Deep Prajavalan, led by Acharya Rohit Joshi, and was attended by core group members of OFBJP. Among the prominent figures present were Dr. Bharat Barai, Ramesh Chokshi from United Sr Parivar, Smitesh Shah from ICNT, Dr. Rashmi Patel from FIA, Ashok Poddar from Silver Senior Parivar, Nirav Patel from VHPA, and Dr. CM Patel from Swaminarayan Sokhda Mandir. Amar Upadhyay, a key member of the OFBJP Chicago chapter, outlined the organization’s upcoming activities for the next two months and encouraged active participation and support from everyone.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. C.M. Patel, President of Swaminarayan Sokhda Mandir, highlighted the achievements of the BJP-led government under Narendra Modi Ji. He urged attendees to rally behind the BJP in the upcoming elections. Subsequently, Rakesh Malhotra Ji and Nirmala Reddy Ji, both core group members of OFBJP Chicago, eloquently presented the Modi government’s accomplishments across various fronts, including infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, national security, the abrogation of Article 370, and India’s aspiration to become a global leader.

The event also featured presentations by other OFBJP members: Srinivas Bodige discussed Modi Ji’s achievements in Telangana

and Andhra Pradesh, Shreyash Ji highlighted accomplishments in Karnataka, and Hemant Patel shared insights into Gujarat’s progress.

Dr. (h) Avi Verma, a prominent businessman and President of Jagran TV Chicago (the first-ever non-commercial religious channel), emphasized the significance of the campaign slogan, ‘Aab Ki Baar 400 Par.’ He called upon the NRI community to actively contribute, both financially and physically, to the electoral campaigns, emphasizing the goal of achieving 400+ seats.

Keynote speaker Dr. Bharat Barai shared his personal experience visiting the Ram Mandir Ayodhya inauguration ceremony on January 22, 2024. He also recounted his role as a “Kar Sevak” during the historic events at Ram Janma Bhumi in Ayodhya back in 1992. Dr. Barai passionately explained the significance of winning 400 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections, invoking the spirit of “Ab Ki Baar 400 Par.”

The program concluded with a vote of thanks from OFBJP Core Karya Karta Rakesh Malhotra. At the end of the event, Rakesh Malhotra expressed gratitude to media partners Bhailal Patel (Parikh Worldwide Media), Dr. (h) Avi Verma (Indo US Tribune), and Jayanti Oza (News Media Photo/Video Journalist).

Jalaram Temple Chicago celebrates ‘Jalaram Punya Tithi’

By Jayanti Oza

Jalaram Temple in Hoffman Estate, Illinois, celebrated ‘Jalaram Punya Tithi’ on March 5, 2024. More than 300 devotees took part in the celebration and enjoyed singing devotional bhajans and kirtan.

Seven couples engaged in the ‘Punya Tithi ‘ Puja. The Priest of Mandir explained

the meaning behind ‘Punya Tithi’ and educated the attendees about Jalaram Bapa, who died on February 23, 1881, at the age of 81.

Some of his devout followers believe that even after his death, Jalaram Bapa would make unusual miracles happen. One of these being that he fed one of his sisters water, a few hours after he breathed his last. At the end, all the devotees sang Aarti to conclude the event, which was followed by dinner prashad.

Dharam Karam

Rudrashtakam:

Its significance and benefits of chanting

Although there are many hymns and stotras of Lord Shiva in the religious books, but in all these, Rudrashtakam composed by Sri Gowswami Tulsidas Ji holds its own place. Rudrashtakam is a great hymn of 8 verses to please the God Shiva for the removal of sorrows and sufferings. The lyrics of this popular hymn explain several qualities of great God Shiva at the same time requesting him to remove the sorrows in life and to bestow happiness and joy. Several of the words in the Rudrashtakam lyrics have a great and in depth meaning. This divine stotram is also popular with its first words of the lyrics ‘Namamishamishana nirvana rupam’.

Whenever we are happy or sad, any time, any day we can recite it. But, if we recite Rudrashtakam on Monday, it gives many times benefit than the normal occasion since Monday is the special worship day of Lord Shiva. If any particular day we may recite it nine times for additional benefits.

³f¸ff¸feVf¸feVff³f d³fUfʯføY´fÔ dU·fbÔ ½¹ff´fIÔY ¶fišfUZQÀUøY´f¸f d³fþÔ d³f¦fb¯fÊÔ d³fdUÊIY»´fÔ d³fSXeWXÔ d¨fQfIYfVf¸ffIYfVfUfÀfÔ ·fþZWX¸f

Namaamee Shameeshaana

Nirvaana Rupam

Vibhum Vyaapakam Brahma

Veda Svarupam

Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Nireeham

Chidaakaasha Maakaasha Vaasam Bhajeaham

Meaning – O Ishaan ! I bow to the Lord who is in the form of liberation, capable, omnipresent, Brahma, form of the Vedas, situated in his own form, devoid of qualities, without any choice, innocent, infinite knowledgeable and ubiquitous like the sky

d³fSXfIYfSX¸fû‚SX¸fc»fÔ °fbSXe¹fÔ

d¦fSXfÄff³f¦fû°fe°f¸feVfÔ d¦fSXeVf¸f Ü

IYSXf»fÔ ¸fWXfIYf»fIYf»fÔ IÈY´ff»fÔ

¦fb¯ff¦ffSXÀfÔÀffSX´ffSXÔ ³f°fûWX¸f

Niraakaara Monkaara Mulam Tureeyam Giraa Gyaana Goteeta Meesham

Gireesham

Karaalam Mahaakaala Kaalam Kripaalam Gunaagaara Sansaara Paaram Natoaham

Meaning – I salute the Lord who is formless, is Omkaararupa and the root cause of everything, is beyond the three states of consciousness, is beyond the path of speech, intellect and senses, is Kailasanath, is formidable and the Kaala of the Mahaakaala, is graceful, is the storehouse of virtues and the savior from the world

°fb¿ffSXfdQiÀfÔIYfVf¦füSXÔ ¦fd·fSXÔ ¸f³fû·fc°fIYûdMX´fi·ffßfe VfSXeSX¸f Ü ÀRbYSX³¸füd»fIY»»fûd»f³fe ¨ff÷Y¦f„f »fÀfòf»f¶ff»fZ³Qb IY¯NXZ ·fbþ„f

Tushaaraadri Sankaasha

Gauram Gabheeram

Manobhuta Koti Prabhaa Shree Shareeram

Sphuranmauli Kallolinee Chaaru Gangaa

Lasadbhaala Baalendu Kanthe Bhujangaa

Meaning – Whose complexion is as white as the Himalayas, who is calm and serious, who is as radiant as millions of Cupid, on whose head the beautiful Ganges is waving, on whose forehead the moon is adorned and a garland of serpents adorns the neck 3

¨f»f°IbY¯OX»fÔ ·ficÀfb³fZÂfÔ dUVff»fÔ ´fiÀf³³ff³f³fÔ ³fe»fIY¯NXÔ Q¹ff»f¸f Ü ¸fȦff²feVf¨f¸ffʸ¶fSXÔ ¸fb¯OX¸ff»fÔ d´fi¹fÔ Vf‚SXÔ ÀfUʳff±fÔ ·fþfd¸f

Chalat Kundalam Bhru

Sunetram Vishaalam

Prasannaa Nanam Neela Kantham

Dayaalam

Mrigaadheesha Charmaambaram

Munda Maalam

Priyam Shankaram Sarva Naatham Bhajaami

Meaning – Whose earrings are shaking, whose eyes and forehead are beautiful and huge, whose face is happy and throat is blue, who is very kind, who wears tiger skin and garland of skulls, I worship that most beloved and master of all, Shiva

´fi¨f¯OXÔ ´fiIÈYáÔ ´fi¦f»·fÔ ´fSXZVfÔ

AJ¯OXÔ AþÔ ·ff³fbIYûdMX´fiIYfVfÔ Ü Â¹f:Vfc»fd³f¸fcÊ»f³fÔ Vfc»f´ffd¯fÔ ·fþZWXÔ ·fUf³fe´fd°fÔ ·ffU¦f¸¹f¸f

Prachandam Prakrishtam

Pragalbham Paresham

Akhandam Ajam Bhaanu Koti Prakaasham

Trayah Shula Nirmulanam Shula Paanim

Bhajeaham Bhavaanee Patim Bhaava Gamyam

Meaning – I worship the consort of Bhavaani, who is fierce, the best, the argute, the supreme, the perfect, the unborn, radiant like the millions of Sun, destroyer of the world’s sorrow and the one who holds the trident in his hand

IY»ff°fe°fIY»¹ff¯f IY»´ff³°fIYfSXe ÀfQf Àfªþ³ff³f³QQf°ff ´fbSXfSXe Ü d¨fQf³f³QÀfÔQûWX ¸fûWXf´fWXfSXe ´fiÀfeQ ´fiÀfeQ ´fi·fû ¸f³¸f±ffSXe

Kalaateeta Kalyaana Kalpaanta Kaaree

Sadaa Sajjanaa Nanda Daataa Puraaree

Chidaananda Sandoha Mohaa Pahaaree

Praseeda Praseeda Prabho Manmathaaree

Meaning – Oh, Lord ! You are devoid of growth and decay. You are benevolent and the destroyer of creation. You always give joy to the virtuous. You destroyed Tripurasura. You are the destroyer of fascination and enlightened God. You are the enemy of Kaamadeva, be pleased with me

³f ¹ffUQÐ CX¸ff³ff±f´ffQfSXdU³QÔ ·fþ³°feWX »fûIZY ´fSXZ Uf ³fSXf¯ff¸f Ü ³f °ffU°ÀfbJÔ Vffd³°f Àf³°ff´f³ffVfÔ ´fiÀfeQ ´fi·fû ÀfUÊ·fc°ffd²fUfÀfÔ

Na Yaavad Umaa Naatha

Paadaa Ravindam

Bhajam Teeha Loke Pare Vaa Naraanaam

Na Taavat Sukham Shaanti

Santaapa Naasham

Praseeda Prabho Sarva Bhutaa

Dhivaasam

Meaning – As long as human beings do not worship the feet of Umakanta Mahadeva ji, they never get happiness and peace in this world or in another world, nor their anguish go away. O Lord Shiva, the abode of all the substances ! Be pleased with me

³f þf³ffd¸f ¹fû¦fÔ þ´fÔ ³f`U ´fcþfÔ ³f°fûWXÔ ÀfQf ÀfUÊQf Vf¸·fb°fb·¹f¸f Ü þSXfþ³¸fQb:Jü§f °ff°f´¹f¸ff³fÔ ´fi·fû ´ffdWX Af´f³³f¸ff¸feVf VfÔ·fû

Na Jaanaami Yogam Japam Naiva Pujaam Natoaham Sadaa Sarvadaa

Shambhu Tubhyam

Jaraa Janma Dukhaugha Taatapya Maanam

Prabho Paahi Aapanna Maameesha

Shambho

Meaning – Oh, Lord ! O Shambho ! Oh Isha ! I know nothing of yoga, chanting and worship. O Shambho ! I always bow to you. I am tormented by old age, birth and sorrows, protect me from all these sorrows 8 øYQifáIÔY BQÔ ´fiûöYÔ dU´fiZ¯f WX¿fûÊ°f¹fZ ¹fZ ´fNXd³°f ³fSXf ·föY¹ffÔ °fZ¿ffÔ VfÔ·fû ´fiÀfeQd°fÜÜ

Rudraashtaka Midam Proktam Viprena Hara Toshaye

Ye Pathanti Naraa Bhaktyaa Teshaam Shambhuh Praseedati

Meaning – For the satisfaction of Lord Shankar, who recite this Rudrashtak with devotion spoken by a Brahmin, Shankar ji is pleased on them

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Astrologer Krishana Vyas. Phone: 9811 646746

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Growing businesses need cash flow. We can help.

Together, we’ll put together a loan structure for your business that can get it done—the right way—for your bottom line. SBA 7(a) loans help small businesses grow by offering longer, more flexible terms and lower-equity contributions.

Together, we’ll put together a loan structure for your business that can get it done—the right way—for your bottom line. SBA 7(a) loans help small businesses grow by offering longer, more flexible terms and

contributions.

Benefits to Business

Benefits to Business

• Longer amortization allows for lower loan payments

Size of Loans

• Longer amortization allows for lower loan payments

• No future balloon payment (fully amortizing loan)

Size of Loans

• Up to $5 million

• No future balloon payment (fully amortizing loan)

• Non-collateral dependent loans available

• Non-collateral dependent loans available

• Closing costs can be included in loan

• Closing costs can be included in loan

Typical Customers/Use of Funds

Typical Customers/Use of Funds

• Real estate acquisitions or refinancing—up to 90% financing available (51% owner-occupied)

• Up to $5 million

Terms of Loans

Terms of Loans

• Up to 25 years for real estate debt

• Up to 25 years for real estate debt

• Up to 15 years for non real estate debt (term can be blended if the debt includes both real estate and non real estate debt)

• Real estate acquisitions or refinancing—up to 90% financing available (51% owner-occupied)

• Construction Loans—up to 90% financing available

• Up to 15 years for non real estate debt (term can be blended if the debt includes both real estate and non real estate debt)

Interest Rates

• Construction Loans—up to 90% financing available

• Franchise financing

• Franchise financing

• Business acquisitions

• Business acquisitions

• Insurance Agency Acquisitions

• Insurance Agency Acquisitions

• Machinery & equipment acquisitions or refinancing— up to 100% financing available

Interest Rates

• Variable and fixed rate options

Loan Fees

• Variable and fixed rate options

Loan Fees

• The SBA Guarantee fee ranges from 2% to 3.5% of the guaranteed portion of the loan

• Machinery & equipment acquisitions or refinancing— up to 100% financing available

• Line of credit restructuring

• Line of credit restructuring

• Lease refinancing

• Lease refinancing

• Business Expansion Loans

• Business Expansion Loans

• The SBA Guarantee fee ranges from 2% to 3.5% of the guaranteed portion of the loan

• Other fees include packaging fees, third party reports, lien filings, title charges, etc. (closing fees can be incorporated into the loan)

• Other fees include packaging fees, third party reports, lien filings, title charges, etc. (closing fees can be incorporated into the loan)

Health & Fitness

Ayurveda’s role in enhancing kidney health

In recent years, India has become a global hub for medical tourism, attracting people from all corners of the world seeking high-quality and holistic healthcare solutions. One significant contributor to this success is Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine.

Understanding Ayurveda’s Approach to Kidney Health

Ayurveda, rooted in the principles of natural healing, focuses on maintaining the balance of three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – within the body. Kidneys play a crucial role in eliminating waste and toxins from the body, maintaining a delicate equilibrium. Any disruption in this balance can lead to kidney-related ailments. Unlike modern medicine, which often emphasizes symptomatic treatment, Ayurveda seeks to identify and address the root cause of the problem.

Herbal Remedies for Kidney Health

Ayurvedic treatments for kidney health primarily involve the use of herbs and natural substances that have been proven effective over centuries. Herbs like Punarnava, Gokshura, and Varuna are known for their diuretic properties, promoting healthy urine flow and aiding in the removal of toxins from the body. These herbs are carefully combined in Ayurvedic formulations to create medicines that not only address kidney issues but also

enhance overall renal function.

Dietary Guidelines for Kidney Health

Ayurveda places immense importance on dietary habits to maintain optimal health. For kidney health, Ayurvedic

principles recommend a diet that balances the doshas and supports the kidneys’ natural functions. This involves reducing the intake of certain foods that may strain the kidneys, such as excessive salt and protein, while promoting the consumption of hy-

drating foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and herbal teas. This holistic approach not only addresses existing kidney problems but also prevents future complications.

Panchakarma Therapy

Panchakarma, a cornerstone of Ayurvedic treatment, involves a series of detoxification procedures that aim to eliminate accumulated toxins from the body. In the context of kidney health, Panchakarma therapies can help in cleansing and rejuvenating the kidneys. Basti, a specific Panchakarma treatment involving medicated enemas, is particularly beneficial for detoxifying the colon and promoting kidney health.

Personalized Treatment Plans

One of the unique aspects of Ayurveda is its emphasis on individualized treatment plans. Ayurvedic kidney specialists take into account the patient’s unique constitution, lifestyle, and specific kidney condition to tailor a treatment regimen. This personalized approach enhances the effectiveness of the treatment and ensures that the patient receives the most suitable care for their needs.

Contributions to Medical Tourism

As India establishes itself as a prominent medical tourism destination, Ayurveda’s role in kidney health contributes significantly to this success. Drawn by the system’s natural and holistic approach, patients from around the world are increasingly seeking Ayurvedic treatments for kidney ailments such as kidney failure, kidney stones and infections. The effectiveness of Ayurveda in managing kidney conditions, coupled with the serene and healing environment provided by Ayurvedic retreats, makes India an attractive choice for those seeking comprehensive kidney care.

Ayurveda’s invaluable contributions to kidney health not only benefit the people of India but also position the country as a leader in medical tourism. Embracing Ayurveda’s holistic approach to kidney health can pave the way for a healthier and more balanced life, making India a beacon of hope for those seeking natural and effective solutions to kidney-related concerns.

Beauty & Fashion Entertainment

Remolding hair health through onion juice

Hair struggles are a universal warfare, in which you have to make consistent efforts to keep the hair under control and in good condition. One can experience flaking, thinning, dandruff, and hair loss and all these conditions are manifested in different ways. Fortunately, we have simple routines that we can apply regularly to achieve healthy hair.

And what if the solution to your hair dilemma is always hiding there in your kitchen pantry?

Who would have thought that a common vegetable used for adding flavor to foods is capable of remolding the health of your hair? Although the potent odor is not the prettiest of smells, but the advantages of using onion juice topically are much more than just a temporary olfactory problem.

Onion juice is highly appreciated as a natural and effective treatment for a wide array of hair ills. Here are some of the benefits of onion for your hair:

Unleash the Power of Hydration: The refreshing moisturizing properties of onions target dry and dull hair as well as a weary, dry scalp. They are the ones that refresh the hair and provide it with the needed moisture, leading to a look that has a smooth, lustrous appearance. The vitamins and minerals utilized in these MVPs transport nutrients straight to the follicles and nourish them from the inside, allowing for the best possible hair condition, and establishing a good environment for hair growth.

Nourishing from the Inside Out: Speaking of nutrition, hair follicles, the essential components of healthy hair growth, receive increased nourishment from onions. They are recognized for their role in facilitating

the circulation of blood through the hair follicles. This increased blood circulation guarantees a consistent supply of oxygen and nourishment. The vitamins and minerals utilized in these MVPs transport nutrients straight to the follicles and nourish them from the inside, allowing for the best possible hair condition, and establishing a good environment for hair growth.

Keeps Your Natural Hair Color Vibrant: Conversely, early greying might result from a lack of some micronutrients, health problems, stress factors and even genes. Onion oil for hair benefits is especially felt through enzymes, which can be used as anti-radicals to resist free radicals damage on hair. This way can also get the hair back to its original colour, even dark it can. For instance, the formulas combining Amla and Bhringraj, the natural ingredients, are aimed to prevent hair color fading even before its time.

Soothes and Fights Dandruff: From an antiseptic and anti-inflammation point of view, onion can treat scalp infections that include redness, dandruff and itchiness of the scalp. These onion extracts contain essential minerals and vitamins that help hair stay hydrated at the root level, making it unbreakable which adds strength from the roots to the tips of the hair. It does that too, being an excellent stimulator of blood circulation, an effective prevention of itchy scalp and a marvelous hair growth inducer.

Prevents Hair Fall: Onion juice is one of the best-known remedies essential because it has a high amount of sulphur that makes it effective in reducing hair loss. Sulphur improves collagen production which is essential for the formation of hair follicles and also cleanses the skin. Moreover, with onion juice or oil a massage activates hair growth by increasing the blood flow to the scalp.

Slaying in sequins

Be it a party, a cocktail, a wedding, or a soiree, it’s time to sparkle and shine in sequins. Don’t be afraid to go from head to toe, and take inspiration from Bollywood names like Kajol, Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, and others for the perfect sequin saree styling. Here’s how these B-town divas slayed in the latest fashion fad.

Deepika Padukone

A while ago, Deepika took to her Instagram stories and dropped some amazingly beautiful photos slaying in a Sabyasachi sequin saree with a matching sleeveless blouse. She flaunted her perfectly toned back making everyone’s jaws drop.

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Kareena chose an ocean green Sabyasachi, mermaid-inspired shimmering gown, and a piece of jewellery that wonderfully suited the look. She left her earrings exposed and arranged her short hair in free waves giving a uber glam look.

Kriti Sanon

No one could have worn it better, Kriti Sanon sparkled in a Cerulean Blue sequin saree and made jaws drop.

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

Classic Gold handwoven Tissue saree teamed with a gold gilded top is a match made in heaven.

Alia Bhatt

Alia chose to shine bright in a maroonhued sequin maxi dress with light makeup, a look that was just perfect.

Janhvi Kapoor

The Golden Girl Janhvi looked stunning in a gilded metallic sequin lehenga.

Ananya Panday

The millennial icon was spotted in an electric blue crystal jumpsuit with a headband, channeling 70s style.

Kajol

All glittering this ensemble ensures Kajol stays in the spotlight.