Issue 25

Differences on trade at focus as US secretary of state visits China

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

VOL: 01 • ISSUE: 25

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S Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed points of difference with China regarding unfair trading practices in talks on Thursday with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining, US press reports said.

Blinken pressed, “Chinese officials on a wide range of issues, including its support for Russia, cheap Chinese exports that US officials say threaten American jobs, and Chinese ships’ aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea,” the New York Times reported, citing a senior State Department official.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that China had always implemented economic and trade cooperation in accordance with market rules. Beijing hoped that the US would respect the principle of fair competition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing on Thursday.

“We have an obligation for our people and, indeed, an obligation for the world to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,” Blinken told Chen as reporters looked on. “That is the obligation that we have and one that we take very seriously.”

26 APRIL 2024

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India takes leading role in calling for multilateral bank reforms IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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s the Global South grapples with the ossified structure of the main multilateral development banks (MDBs), India has taken a leading role in calling for the reform of the institutions created after World War 2 reflecting the power structure of that time.

India has also adopted another two-pronged approach to promote change: Setting up a fund with the UN for developing countries and working with the BRICS on the New Development Bank.

The reform of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came into focus again when the institutions held their Spring meeting with the Governors and Finance Ministers of several members.

India’s leadership at the G20 for reforming them has been appreciated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

See Pg. 02

Biden signs bill that could ban TikTok into law, setting up legal battle

The direction from US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping was “to deal directly with our differences as we also seek to build cooperation,” Blinken said, referring to the meeting between the two leaders in San Francisco in November.

Chen responded that since diplomatic ties were launched 45 years ago, the relationship had not always been smooth but also had progressed.

“The constructive interactions and the stable relation between China and the US have not only advanced our cooperation and exchange in all different aspects, and also help address global challenges, and helps promote world peace and development,” he said, according to the US State Department.

Blinken later landed in Beijing, where further talks are to be held.

Economic ties have been under strain for some time, with the two countries trading allegations of unfair trading practices.

Washington has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies for supplying goods to Russia that could find use in its war in Ukraine, and a new US law forcing China’s ByteDance to sell its stake in the TikTok video platform has caused irritation in Beijing.

Commonwealth Secretariat recognizes India’s Public Redress System as global best practice

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S President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a bill forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance to divest ownership of the app or see it banned in the next nine months, extendable by another three months if needed. The bill was signed after the US Senate voted largely in favor of it, along with foreign aid to strategic American allies.

Both Democratic and Republican politicians have shared fears of China’s Communist Party using TikTok through ByteDance in order to manipulate Americans, push propaganda, and carry out espionage. Last year, several US states began banning TikTok in government employees’ work devices, though sweeping bans on private usage were not successful in court.

However, TikTok may not necessarily disappear from the US next year as a company spokesperson confirmed that the company will be taking its fight to the court in order to stop

the ban from taking place, reported The Verge.

Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew posted a video on the platform where he criticized the motion in strong terms and said that the new bill was a ban on American people and their voices.

TikTok reported 150 million users in the US last year. The company claimed that TikTok contributed $24 billion to the US economy in a year, reported CBS on Wednesday.

TikTok has been criticized for its addictive algorithmic feed and for including adult or graphic content on children’s feeds.

A few parents of children who died in a “blackout” choking challenge have alleged the app was responsible for causing significant harm.

In France and Spain, the company announced that it was removing a feature from its TikTok Lite app that would reward users for engaging with its videos. However, the EU will continue to investigate this incident.

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he Commonwealth Secretariat has recognized India’s Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) as a global best practice that can be adopted by other countries to benefit their people.

The presentation on India’s redress system was made by V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms at the biennial meeting of Commonwealth officials with the theme: ‘Institutionalization of SMART Government to enhance public service delivery’ with focus on adopting AI in governance.

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Ms. Patricia Scotland KC said, “CPGRAMS is a state-ofthe-art grievance redressal system and a best practice of SMART government.

The Commonwealth’s remaining 1.2 billion citizens can benefit from the adoption of the technology platform in the same way India’s 1.4 billion citizens have benefited.”

See Pg. 02

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India takes leading role in calling for multilateral bank reforms Contd. from Pg. 01

The push for reforms gained momentum when presiding over the G20 Summit last year in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We need to expand the mandate of multilateral development banks,” “We need to collectively work to strengthen multilateral development banks for meeting global challenges like climate change and high debt levels.”

“Our decisions in this direction should be immediate and effective,” he added.

Taking up his call, the Summit of the leaders of the 20 biggest economies in their joint statement called on the institutions “to undertake comprehensive efforts to evolve their vision, incentive structures, operational approaches, and financial capacities so that they are better equipped to maximize their impact”.

N.K. Singh, the Chairman of India’s

15th Finance Commission, said that at a recent meeting, Guterres told him that he “was very keen on continuing the momentum of MDB reforms initiated during India’s G20 Presidency”.

Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, who was “profusely complimentary about the importance of India’s G20 Presidency (and) its ability to harmonize contradictions”.

At their meeting at the UN, Guterres “agreed that, even though G20 Presidencies may change, the UN has a long-term responsibility in ensuring that the legitimate needs of the countries of the South are adequately met. These involve issues of poverty and shared prosperity in a livable planet,” Singh said in a series of posts on X.

New Delhi is an active member contributing capital and expertise to the New Development Bank of the BRICS is made up of emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which have been joined by Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Guterres said that MDB reforms should be central to “the reforms of the international financial architecture” over the decade following next year’s Conference on Financing for Development Conference to be held in Spain, Singh posted.

He also posted that he met with

Commonwealth Secretariat recognizes India’s Public Redress System as global best practice Contd. from Pg. 01 The Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (CVRS) and identity management systems of Namibia and Human Resource Management and E-Citizen models of Kenya were also received commendation as futureready governance best practices from across the Commonwealth. The forum brought together Commonwealth Heads of Public Service, Secretaries to Cabinet, Senior Public Officials, industry champions, and eminent scholars.

The primary objectives of the meeting, held between April 22-24, were to share contemporary knowledge, ideas and experiences on how technology could be leveraged to support provision of e-services for optimal service delivery and achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across the Commonwealth.

It also aimed at sharing select relevant case studies of some member countries and to identify opportunities for possible partnership and collaboration.

It was observed that there is currently greater appreciation of the importance of digital government, which has added impetus on the roll out of e-services across many jurisdictions.

Member countries affirmed the CHOGM mandate that seeks to eliminate the digital divide and acknowledged the importance of transformative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Member countries also identified the Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium (CAIC) as the platform to lead the way in capacity development work on SMART government to be effectively used for efficient redress of public grievances, improving service delivery, strengthening integrity systems and ushering in procurement reforms.

The meeting was briefed about the Commonwealth Hub for the Business of Government whose aim is to support capacity building initiatives for governments, promote good governance and facilitate achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The meeting agreed and endorsed the following actions: 4 Creation of a community of practice for Commonwealth Heads of Public Service to enhance sharing of knowledge and experiences.

4 Conducting a stocktaking exercise on the status of smart governance within the Commonwealth countries and to identify both the success stories as well as the gaps/ demand for digital services.

4 Charting of a road map to facilitate implementation of agreed actions at country level until the next biennial meeting scheduled for 2026.

4 Sharing the work being conducted by the Commonwealth AI Consortium amongst members and expanding the number of members currently being reached through its activities.

4 Sharing future-ready governance best practices from across the Commonwealth.

4 Continuing provision of technical assistance to support implementation of GAPP principles, including capacity building in government performance management.

The bank is emerging as an alternative to the IMF, World Bank, and other such institutions, funding development projects and helping financial stabilization in the member countries.

The UN Chief has said, “Within a united global economy, I think that many of these institutions (like BRICS) can play an extremely important and complementary role.”

In addition under Prime Minister Modi, India set up in 2017 the India-UN Development Partnership Fund (IUNDPF) using a different model from that bilateral assistance given by other countries, notably China.

The fund that operates in cooperation with the UN allows the recipient countries to choose the projects based on their priorities rather than the interests of the donors and avoids pushing them into a debt trap.

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has said that the IUNDPF has reached “significant milestones making a positive difference in the most vulnerable of our communities”.

New Delhi has also set up a window under the IUNDPF for Commonwealth countries to get funds for projects promoting the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Time for Global South to assume greater role: EAM Jaishankar at ASEAN meet IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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sserting that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or the ASEAN, is at the heart of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the time has come for the Global South to present its perspective and assume a greater role in international affairs.

Addressing the first ASEAN Future Forum - initiated and hosted by Vietnam - virtually, EAM Jaishankar said that the regional grouping also remains a “crucial pillar” in New Delhi’s wider Indo-Pacific vision.

“Today, a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world are increasingly selfevident. This brings to the fore an ever-important role of ASEAN and that of India in dealing with the realities of the emerging world order. It underlies the need for greater cooperation and coordination between India and ASEAN,” the EAM said in his remarks at the opening session of the forum titled ‘Towards fast and sustainable growth of a people-centered ASEAN Community’.

He mentioned that India and ASEAN are neighbors, sharing millennia-old cultural and civilizational linkages with the relationship having now entered its fourth decade, maturing into a comprehensive strategic partnership based on shared values and common aspirations. He also recalled that it was during India’s G20 Presidency last year that New Delhi hosted the Voice of Global South Summit with the participation of several ASEAN member states.

“We support ASEAN unity, ASEAN

centrality, and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific. India truly believes that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar said.

The Minister added that the synergy between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) that is reflected in the ASEAN-India Leaders’ Joint Statement provides a strong framework for cooperation, including addressing challenges to comprehensive security.

“We held the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in 2023 and we aim to hold the second edition at a mutually convenient date.

Our recent operations in the Red Sea have rendered protection and support and evacuation of crew, including that of ASEAN member states.

“As a net security provider and a first responder, India’s initiative of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is aimed at contributing towards peace and stability in the region. It is important that the freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated by all,” said the EAM. Earlier, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the role of the ASEAN Future Forum as a platform for ASEAN and its partners to share new ideas and policy recommendations.

He stressed the timeliness of convening such a forum for thinking through what lies ahead, particularly at this juncture as ASEAN is working on an ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and formulating its strategic plans.

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Hundreds of students arrested across US in surging pro-Palestine protests IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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undreds of students have been arrested on US campuses as protests against Washington’s support for Israel are surging sea to sea. By Wednesday, the protests that started last week at the Ivy League Columbia University campus in New York City where more than 100 students were arrested and their tent encampment cleared had skipped across the nation with more of them detained by police, a rare occurrence in the US where police seldom enter campuses to quell protests.

The students are demanding that the US end its support for Israel, which has been embroiled in a war with Hamas in Gaza leading to the deaths of over 30,000 people, most of them women and children. They also want the universities to cut ties with Israel and divest the investments of their endowments in arms manufacturers.

Students have been arrested at, among others, the University of Texas-Austin, New York University, Yale, Ohio State University, and the University of Southern California.

In addition, protest tent encampments have cropped up in dozens of universities

students.

University administrators are caught in the middle, attacked by both the right that charges them with not doing enough to protect students, and the left that accuses them of being too harsh, especially when disciplinary actions are taken against protesters and police are called in.

Shefak, who was the head of the London School of Economics and is of Egyptian descent, is the first university head in the current wave of protests to call in the police but while Johnson demanded her resignation, university faculty and students have attacked her action.

A disturbing element, though, has crept into the protests with some veering off into communalism targeting Jews based on their religion, leading to a political backlash.

including Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of CaliforniaBerkley, copying the Columbia model.

The protest tents were back at Columbia when Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House of Representatives, came there on Wednesday to denounce the protests and demand the resignation of its president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, asserting that she lost control of the university and lawlessness prevailed.

Johnson, a Republican warned universities

that they could lose federal funding if they did not control the students, threatened that the National Guard could be deployed to quell the protests, and called on President Joe Biden to intervene.

Students chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” -- which has been interpreted as a call to annihilate Israel -- tried to drown him out as he spoke to reporters. The surge in protests has pitted the principle of freedom of expression against university norms and the protection of the rights and safety of

Johnson met with Jewish students at Columbia who said they had been personally threatened because of their religion by some of the protesters. Some protesters have burned both US and Israeli flags and made threats on behalf of Hamas to attack Tel Aviv.

“We just cannot let this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism flourish in our campuses”, Johnson said. In the climate of heightened tensions, Muslims have also faced attacks and the office of the Islamic Life Center at Rutgers was vandalized.

PM Modi discusses global developments with Italian PM Meloni ahead of G7 Summit IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk eaffirming their commitment to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged views on “regional and global developments of mutual interest” with his Italian counterpart Georgia Meloni during a telephone conversation on Thursday.

Presidency, especially that support the Global South, at the G7 Summit under Italy’s Presidency,” a statement released by the PMO stated.

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“They reaffirmed their commitment to continue to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership,” it added. To recall, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with PM Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi last September.

Prime Minister Modi also extended his greetings to PM Meloni and the people of Italy on the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, and thanked her for the invite to the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions to be held in June at Puglia, Italy. The G7 Heads of State and Government Summit will be held at Borgo Egnazia from June 13 to 15.

Meloni had earlier paid a state visit to India in March 2023, during which the bilateral relations were raised to the level of a Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi also appreciated in the past Italy joining the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

“The leaders discussed taking forward the important outcomes from India’s G20

Pakistan rejects US report on human rights practices and politicization of the international human rights agenda, it added. “It clearly demonstrates double standards thus undermining the international human rights discourse,” according to the ministry.

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akistan has “categorically” rejected a report by the US State Department over the human rights violations in the country last year, saying that only a “politically motivated report can ignore the alarming situation in Gaza”.

“It is deeply concerning that a report purported to highlight human rights situations around the world ignores or downplays the most urgent hotspots of gross human rights violations such as in Gaza,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday.

Titled “2023 Country Reports on Human

Rights Practices: Pakistan,” the contents of the report are unfair, based on inaccurate information and are completely divorced from the ground reality, the ministry said.

This year’s report is once again conspicuous by its lack of objectivity

Issued on April 22, the US State Department’s report stated that there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Pakistan over the past year. It said that the Pakistani government intimidates or seeks reprisal against individuals beyond its borders, including civil society activists, human rights defenders, and journalists. The report also claimed that successive Pakistani governments tacitly approved enforced disappearances.

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Publisher Note www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

Proposed ban on Chinese owners of TikTok in the US the need to safeguard American interests and protect sensitive Letter from Publisheruser data from potential foreign influence. He supports addressing these concerns through diplomatic channels and engaging with international partners to establish clear guidelines for technology governance.

Published Weekly IndoUS Tribune Chicago Office: Lincolnwood, IL 60712 marketing@indoustribune.com

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delhi@indoustribune.com Disclaimer The aim of IndoUS Tribune is to entertain, educate and inform the readers. The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions of IndoUS Tribune or the editors. The information contained in our published work has been obtained by Indous Tribune nor its authors guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein and neither IndoUS Tribune nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages, including exemplary damages, arising out of use, inability to use, or with regard to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information contained in this publication. Neither the editor, nor the publisher or any other party associated with the production of IndoUS Tribune accept the responsibility of any accident or injury resulting from the use of materials contained herein. All the content of the IndoUS Tribune is printed and published in Chicago. All rights reserved. No part of any work published in the paper may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

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he proposed ban on Chinese owners of TikTok in the United States raises significant questions about the intersection of technology, national security, and international relations. The US government’s concerns about data privacy and potential foreign influence through apps like TikTok prompt a broader conversation about the complexities of global technology markets.

While the US considers banning Chinese-owned apps like TikTok, major American platforms such as Google, Facebook, Youtube , Instagram, WhatsApp and X (Twitter) are already banned in China, highlighting the asymmetry in international technology policies and reflecting broader geopolitical tensions.

The impact of a potential TikTok ban on US commerce and youth culture would be profound. TikTok has become immensely popular, particularly among young people, fostering creativity and community. A ban could disrupt this vibrant ecosystem, affecting content creators and millions of users who rely on the platform for entertainment and selfexpression.

Furthermore, a TikTok ban may have implications for US elections and political discourse, given the platform’s role in shaping public opinion.

It could influence voter engagement and outreach strategies during election cycles.

Biden’s Position: Joe Biden has emphasized the importance of data privacy and national security, highlighting

Trump’s Position: President Trump has been vocal about the national security risks posed by Chineseowned apps, including TikTok, and his administration took unilateral steps to ban or restrict TikTok’s operations in the United States. Trump’s approach prioritized executive orders and regulatory measures to address perceived threats without extensive consultation with international partners, focusing on defending data privacy and national security.

In the context of his rhetoric towards the youth, President Trump may portray Joe Biden as responsible for advocating the ban on TikTok, despite Trump’s own administration taking steps towards that direction during his presidency.

This messaging aims to frame Biden as complicit in or supportive of policies limiting access to popular platforms like TikTok, contrasting Trump’s stance as a defender of data privacy and national security.

Overall, while both candidates share concerns about Chinese-owned apps’ security implications, Biden advocates for a more diplomatic and multilateral approach, engaging with international partners to address these issues, whereas Trump’s approach favored unilateral actions and executive orders to mitigate perceived threats. The differing strategies and emphasis reflect broader contrasts in their approaches to technology governance and international relations.

The recent bill signed by President Biden, mandating Chinese owners of TikTok to sell the platform to a nonChinese entity or face a ban, reflects heightened concerns over national security and data privacy. This legislation underscores the complex

interplay between technology governance, international trade, and geopolitical tensions.

The insistence on divesting TikTok from Chinese ownership aims to mitigate perceived risks and safeguard user data. The proposed sale requirement signals a significant shift in US policy towards Chinese technology companies, reflecting efforts to balance economic interests with national security imperatives.

This development also impacts US-China relations, already strained due to various geopolitical factors. The TikTok sale mandate could further exacerbate tensions and complicate broader trade negotiations.

TikTok is already banned in major countries like India, reflecting global concerns about data security and geopolitical tensions. Similar actions and regulatory scrutiny have emerged in other nations, illustrating a trend towards stricter oversight of Chineseowned technology platforms.

As discussions around TikTok’s ownership evolve, it is essential to consider broader ramifications for technology governance, international relations, and digital innovation. Balancing security concerns with principles of openness and fair competition will be key to navigating the complex landscape of global technology policy in the 21st century.

Best Regards, Dr. (H) Avi Verma Publisher, IndoUS Tribune

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

Mexican Prez urges US to alter foreign policy, respect sovereignty

Survey of Americans: Fighting terror top foreign policy task, promoting democracy last By: Yashwant Raj reventing terrorist strikes in the US was cited as the top foreign policy priority by most Americans in a recent opinion poll, and not promoting democracy and human rights around the world, which have been the gratuitous goals of successive presidencies and administrations. Stopping the inflow of illegal drugs and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction were the second and third on the list of top priorities. Limiting the influence of Russia and China and fighting climate change came in the middle, with strengthening the United Nations, and promoting human rights making up the bottom part of the list with promoting democracy being absolutely the last.

38 percent and 37 percent, respectively, but they were counted among foreign policy priorities.

Dealing with climate change, 44 percent, came in between perceived threats from Russia and China on one hand, and North Korea and Iran on the other.

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he US must modify its foreign policy to respect the sovereignty of nations, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said. At his daily press conference on Wednesday, the Mexican President noted that the US government has applied an “arrogant” and “interventionist” foreign policy for at least two centuries since the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine, Xinhua news agency reported.

“They have always acted like this. We have insisted a lot and will continue to do so, that they must change their foreign policy,” Lopez Obrador told reporters. A US State Department report issued earlier this week on the state of human rights around the globe alleges that human rights violations prevail in Mexico.

“How are they going to talk about human rights if they allocate billions of dollars to war for the death of innocent people in countries all around the world where there is conflict?” he questioned.

The findings present an opportunity for Indian policymakers for a more robust and effective engagement with Americans on cooperation against terrorism, which is a top foreign policy objective for India as well. While the two sides have extensive and in-depth engagement in combating terrorism, Indians have felt disappointed by what they view as a lack of adequate response to the growing resurgence in Khalistan militancy by activists based in the US. There have been no arrests of people responsible for two incidents of assault and arson at the Indian consulate in San Francisco in March and July of 2023. Pew Research Center surveyed 3,600 Americans in the first week of April for this poll. With memories of

the devastating September 11, 2001 attacks seared into their minds, most Americans -- 73 percent -- said preventing terrorist attacks should be a top foreign policy priority for the US. Two passenger flights commandeered by Al Qaeda terrorists slammed into the two World Trade Center towers in New York, one into the Pentagon on the outskirts of Washington DC, and the fourth, which was headed for the White House, crashed instead in Pennsylvania. In all 2,996 people were killed in these attacks, including 35 of Indian descent. The second top foreign policy priority cited by American respondents in the survey was sopping the inflow of illegal drugs at 64 percent, followed by preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (63 percent), maintaining US military might (54 percent), and stopping the spread of infectious diseases such as Covid-19 (52 percent).

Limiting the power and influence of archenemy Russia and arch-rival China came in next at 50 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

North Korea and Iran were a lesser priority at

The issue of global warming has not become a bipartisan issue, with Democrats more concerned about it than Republicans, some of whom, such as former President Donald Trump, have dismissed it as a hoax played by China to slow down the US. It was Trump again who pulled the US out of the Paris Accord on climate change, which has since been rejoined by the US under President Joe Biden. But the bottom few priorities displayed the wide chasm, or disconnect, between the high-mindedness of US policymakers and average Americans.

Only 26 percent said the US foreign policy should accord priority to defending human rights around the world which is a far cry from the time, money and effort expended by policymakers in Washington DC. The State Department produces annual country reports on human rights, for instance.

The other part of global policing by the US that received a significant thumbs-down from the respondents was the promotion of democracy around the world. Only 18 per cent of the respondents said it should be a foreign policy priority. Absolutely the last. Yet, both the White House and the State Department push democracy in dealings with foreign counterparts, cutely couched in diplomatese as “frank” discussions.

US Congress approves $61 billion ED files affidavit in SC against CM in aid for Ukraine Kejriwal’s plea challenging arrest IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he US Congress has approved a $61-billion aid package for Ukraine after months of stalling. The US Senate on Tuesday approved the bill with 79 votes in the 100-seat upper chamber days after the US House of Representatives on Saturday approved the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. It now needs the approval of US President Joe Biden.

“I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” Biden said shortly after the vote, adding he wants to start delivering weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.

By passing the legislative package, which also includes billions of dollars in aid for Israel and Taiwan, the US Congress has demonstrated the power of American leadership in the world, Biden said. “We stand resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression.”

There is an urgent need for support for Ukraine, which is being subjected to relentless bombardment from Russia, Biden said.

The bill also contains aid for Israel, which has recently faced unprecedented attacks from Iran.

“This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves

against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin,” Biden said.

The US aid package provides for around $23 billion to increase the US military stockpile. The money will therefore go indirectly to Ukraine, as the US usually provides the country with equipment from its stocks. The remainder is earmarked for further military support and financial aid, which is designed as a loan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US Senate “for approving vital aid to Ukraine.”

“This vote reinforces America’s role as a beacon of democracy and the leader of the free world,” said Zelensky. Earlier on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters in Washington that new military aid could be delivered to Ukraine “within days.”

The deliveries would be “based on Ukraine’s most urgent needs,” Ryder said. “I think it’s a good assumption to expect that it’ll include air defense capabilities as well as artillery ammunition.”

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he Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court in response to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

In the affidavit, the ED has claimed that Kejriwal’s arrest was prompted by extensive evidence tampering, including the destruction of approximately 170 mobile phones during the ‘scam’ period. The agency also stated that Kejriwal had evaded interrogation despite being summoned nine times. Moreover, it refuted allegations of politically motivated timing for Kejriwal’s arrest, saying that it was based on substantial evidence and did not compromise the integrity of elections.

The agency said that the arrest of an

accused individual, regardless of their stature, is justified when supported by evidence.

Furthermore, the affidavit argued against granting immunity from arrest to politicians facing criminal charges, stating that this would undermine the integrity of the electoral process. It said that the arrest of individuals based on evidence does not violate the principles of free and fair elections.

The ED arrested CM Kejriwal on March 21 after questioning him for over two hours at his official residence in Delhi. It has termed CM Kejriwal the “kingpin and the key conspirator” of the alleged excise scam in collusion with other ministers of the Delhi government, AAP leaders, and other persons. A Delhi court had, on Tuesday, extended till May 7 the judicial custody of Kejriwal and BRS leader K. Kavitha in the case. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court had passed the orders upon the expiry of the previously granted judicial custody.

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Won’t divest stake in TikTok: Chinese parent ByteDance tells US

Arizona House lawmakers vote to repeal 1864 abortion ban IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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hina-based internet giant ByteDance on Friday said it will not sell its stake in TikTok as directed by the US government in a new bill passed by President Joe Biden earlier this week to ban the short-video making platform in the country. The Chinese platform’s parent company said in a social media post that it “doesn’t have any plans to sell TikTok”.

The Information earlier reported that ByteDance was exploring the potential sale of TikTok’s operation in the US. “Foreign media reports of ByteDance selling TikTok are not true,” the Chinese company said in the post. TikTok has already stated that it will challenge the “unconstitutional law” in courts. TikTok has also denied claims that China has control over ByteDance. Biden earlier signed a massive foreign aid package bill that will also ban TikTok in the country if ByteDance doesn’t divest its stake within a year. The bill gives TikTok owner Bytedance nine months’ time to force a sale, with a 90-day extension. Meanwhile, on the last day of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China, Beijing has warned of deterioration in relations between the two powers.

US FDA says about 1 in 5 commercial milk samples tested positive for bird flu traces IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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bout one in five samples of commercial milk in the US tested positive for traces of bird flu in a national survey, with a greater proportion coming from areas with infected herds, the US Food and Drug Administration said.

There is no evidence that the milk poses a danger or that a live virus is present, the regulator has said. The FDA said late Thursday that additional testing is required to determine whether the intact pathogen is still present and if it remains infectious.

The agency said earlier this week that if the milk is heated to a specific temperature, it remains safe for human consumption as the process kills harmful bacteria and viruses. Eight states in the US have confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy cattle, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Only one person - a Texas farm worker - has been one confirmed to have bird flu. The patient’s only symptom was eye inflammation, according to the state’s health department.

awmakers in Arizona’s House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to repeal an 1864 ban on abortion that could still go into effect within weeks if not also knocked down by the Senate. House lawmakers voted 32-28 to repeal the law, which provides no exceptions for abortions even in cases of rape or incest.

Three Republicans crossed party lines to join all 29 Democrats in voting for the repeal. The Arizona Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 16-14 majority, could vote on the measure as early as May 1.

“I’m thrilled the House has finally decided to do the right thing and repeal the archaic 1864 near-total abortion ban,” Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, wrote on social media.

Hobbs has said she will sign a repeal of the ban if it passes the House and the Senate.

“The decision to get an abortion, or seek any type of reproductive healthcare, belongs in the hands of patients, their families and their providers, not politicians,” Democratic Representative Oscar De Los Santos told reporters before Wednesday’s session began. For the past two weeks, Republicans in the House had blocked Democrats from repealing the law. Speaker of the House Ben Toma, a Republican, said he was disappointed that “Democrats apparently believe that abortion should occur with no limits and no regulations.”

“I fervently disagree with those who advocate for extremism through unlimited, unrestricted and unregulated abortions,” Toma added. Representative Matt Gress was the only Republican to side with Democrats in last week’s failed effort to repeal the abortion ban, but he was joined by two other Republicans on Wednesday.

Arizona’s fight over the Civil War-era abortion ban is the latest flashpoint on women’s reproductive rights in the United States since the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, leaving it up to states to decide the issue.

Conservative-led states quickly invoked strict bans on abortion within their borders. The old law was revived by a state Supreme Court ruling on April 9, and unless the legislature intervenes, it could take effect within 60 days

US delivered new long-range missiles to Ukraine, says Pentagon IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he US shipped a new long-range missile system to Ukraine after the delivery received a secret sign-off, the Pentagon has said.

The precision weapons were part of an emergency military package for Ukraine announced by the US in March, but were not explicitly listed “in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request”.

President Joe Biden had instructed his team to make the delivery after Russia procured ballistic missiles from North Korea and used them against Ukraine, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The Army Tactical Missile Systems — known as ATACMS - will help Ukraine to deny Russia a safe haven anywhere

of that ruling, the state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has said.

Even if Democrats in Arizona manage to repeal the 1864 abortion ban, restrictions on the procedure would still be in place. In 2022, Arizona passed a law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Democrats across the US, confident that public opinion is on their side in supporting abortion rights, have sought to elevate the issue, especially ahead of November’s presidential election.

Arizona, sharply split between Democrats and Republicans, is a key battleground state in the presidential election.

Republicans who voted to uphold the 1864 law criticized Democrats and the three Republicans who repealed it, saying they did so only for political expediency.

Biden names new special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues

in the occupied Ukrainian territories, the department said. Several US media outlets, citing US government officials, reported that the missiles arrived last week and have already been used. According to reports, further ATACMS missiles are also to be included in the military package announced by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday following approval by Congress.

The Pentagon did not explicitly state on Wednesday if the ATACMS missiles supplied were models with a range of around 300 kilometers or those with a shorter range.

Last October, Ukraine deployed ATACMS missiles that came from the US. At the time, these were models with a shorter range of around 165 kilometers. The Ukrainian government has been pleading for missiles that can strike targets much farther away.

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S President Joe Biden on Thursday appointed Lise Grande as the new special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, the State Department said in a statement.

Grande, who replaces David Satterfield, is currently head of the independent US Institute of Peace.

She previously worked for the United Nations for more than 25 years, a career that included running aid operations in Yemen, Iraq and South Sudan.

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US judge upholds Trump’s $83.3 million defamation loss, rejects new trial candidate in the 2024 election, and also a defendant in four criminal cases, including an ongoing hush money trial.

In the Jan. 26 verdict, jurors agreed with Carroll that Trump defamed her in June 2019 by denying that he had raped her in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan.

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federal judge on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to throw out an $83.3 million defamation verdict in favor of the writer E. Jean Carroll, who said the former US president defamed her after she accused him of raping her decades ago.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan denied Trump’s requests for a new trial, or to have the former Elle magazine advice columnist’s case thrown out altogether. He also dismissed arguments that the jury’s award to Carroll following Trump’s “malicious and unceasing attacks” was too high, and that errors at the civil trial tainted the verdict.

Trump is appealing the verdict, and plans to appeal Thursday’s decision.

“We categorically disagree with Judge Kaplan’s decision,” his lawyer Alina Habba

Jurors awarded Carroll $18.3 million of compensatory damages for emotional and reputational harm, plus $65 million of punitive damages. Trump’s lawyers argued that the judge instructed jurors improperly about the burden of proof needed to show malice, and erred in striking testimony about his state of mind. said in a statement. “It ignores longstanding constitutional principles and is a prime example of the lawfare raging across this country.”

said she was not surprised by the decision, and said the $83.3 million award was “entirely reasonable.” She is not related to the judge.

Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer for Carroll,

Trump is the Republican presidential

US probes Tesla recall of 2 million vehicles over Autopilot IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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S auto safety regulators said Friday they have opened an investigation into whether Tesla’s recall of more than 2 million vehicles announced in December to install new Autopilot safeguards is adequate.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was opening an investigation after the agency identified concerns due to crash events after vehicles had the recall software update installed “and results from preliminary NHTSA tests of remedied vehicles.”

The agency’s new probe comes after it closed its nearly three-year investigation into Autopilot, saying it found evidence that “Tesla’s weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities” that result in a “critical safety gap.”

NHTSA also cited Tesla’s statement “that a portion of the remedy both requires the owner to opt in and allows a driver to readily reverse it.” The agency said Tesla

Last May, a different jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million over an October 2022 denial of Carroll’s accusations, finding he had defamed and sexually abused her. Trump is also appealing that verdict.

‘Negative factors’ up in relationship with US, says Chinese diplomat as Blinken wraps up China visit

has issued software updates to address issues that appear related to its concerns but has not made them “a part of the recall or otherwise determined to remedy a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk.”

n the last day of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China, Beijing has warned of a deterioration in relations between the two powers.

Tesla said in December’s its largest-ever recall covering 2.03 million US vehicles - or nearly all of its vehicles on US roads - was to better ensure drivers pay attention when using its advanced driver assistance system.

Although the two sides are talking to each other again, the “negative factors” in the relationship between the US and China have increased, said China’s chief diplomat Wang Yi on Friday in Beijing.

said that progress had been made in some areas to close the gap between the two countries. However, he wanted to express clearly and directly the issues on which there were differences of opinion with China. In talks on Thursday with the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Chen Jining, Blinken addressed points of difference with China regarding unfair trading practices, US press reports said. During his three-day visit to China Blinken also met students and US business representatives in Shanghai.

The new recall investigation covers Model Y, X, S, 3 and Cybertruck vehicles in the US equipped with Autopilot produced between the 2012 and 2024 model years, NHTSA said. Tesla said in December Autopilot’s software system controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse” and could increase the risk of a crash.

Wang cited China’s right to develop being “unreasonably suppressed” as one of the reasons. According to him, the two countries are faced with the question of whether their relationship will either stabilize or slide into a downward spiral.

According to US media reports, Blinken

After a year of complete radio silence, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in person last November near San Francisco in order to stabilize strained relations. However, since then, new disputes on political and economic issues have continued to boil over.

The auto safety agency disclosed Friday that during its Autopilot safety probe it first launched in August 2021 it identified at least 13 Tesla crashes involving one or more death and many more involving serious injuries in which “foreseeable driver misuse of the system played an apparent role.”

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US Supreme Court justices in Trump case lean toward some level of immunity IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he Supreme Court’s conservative justices signaled support on Thursday for US presidents having some level of protection from criminal charges for certain acts taken in office as it tackled Donald Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution for trying to undo his 2020 election loss.

During about 2-1/2 hours of arguments in the case, most of the justices seemed unlikely to embrace Trump’s most far-reaching argument that presidents have “absolute immunity” for official acts - an assertion that appeared to wilt under hypothetical questions involving selling nuclear secrets, taking a bribe or ordering a coup or political assassination.

But the conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority on the nation’s top judicial body, indicated concern about presidents lacking any degree of immunity, especially for less

egregious acts. The contours of such a ruling, though, were not clear after arguments probing the extent of presidential powers.

Trump, seeking this year to regain the White House, appealed after lower courts rejected his request to be shielded from four electionrelated criminal charges on the grounds that he was serving as president when he took the actions that led to the indictment obtained by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

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First Sikh court opens in UK to deal with family disputes

Singapore’s Indian-origin minister Balakrishnan receives extortion letter with fake obscene photos IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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ingapore’s Indian-origin Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and several members of Parliament have received extortion letters containing fake photos of themselves in obscene situations.

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ritish Sikh lawyers have come together to set up a new court as a dispute resolution forum for the community caught up in family and civil disputes, a UK media report said on Thursday. According to ‘The Times’, the Sikh court was launched last weekend at a ceremony at the Old Hall at Lincoln’s Inn in London accompanied by religious chants.

Balakrishnan said in a Facebook post that several other MPs and himself received letters containing a “fake distasteful image accompanied by a threat”.

“This conduct is deplorable and totally contrary to the values and good practices that we are trying to inculcate in our society.

We have filed police reports and will take appropriate legal action,” he said.

Scottish Sikh artist Jasleen Kaur shortlisted for prestigious Turner Prize

The police said that the letters, which were sent by post to the victims’ workplaces, contained pictures of the victims’ faces superimposed onto obscene photographs of a man and a woman purportedly in an “intimate and compromising position”.

The letters warned of “threatening consequences” unless they contacted the email address provided.

If the victims contacted the email address, they would be asked to transfer money to prevent “compromising photographs and videos” of themselves from being leaked and exposed on social media, the police said.

Balakrishnan said: “In this age of deep fakes and scams, we must take a strong collective stand against such conduct.”

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Glasgow-born artist whose works are inspired by her life growing up in Scotland’s Sikh community is among four artists shortlisted on Wednesday for Britain’s prestigious Turner Prize, celebrating its 40th anniversary of celebrating the visual art form.

Jasleen Kaur, in her 30s, has been nominated for her solo exhibition entitled ‘Alter Altar’ at Tramway contemporary arts venue in Glasgow. The London-based artist used a range of objects associated with her own family life for her artistic creations in the exhibition, praised by the jury for its evocative combination of sound and sculpture to address specifics of family memory and community struggle.

Baldip Singh, a 33-year-old London-based barrister who is one of the court’s founders, told the newspaper that it was not a religious tribunal but aimed at assisting Sikh families in their time of need when dealing with conflict and disputes “in line with Sikh principles”.

The new court will operate remotely and in person, and will comprise around “30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most will be women”. The magistrates will mediate between parties to negotiate a settlement, as well as direct them to a course to help them to work on specific issues, the newspaper report says.

Indian-origin mayoral nominee Tarun Mexico-based Indian scientist leading fight against wheat diseases Ghulati wants to ‘run London like a CEO’ receives Padma Shri IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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avi Prakash Singh, the Mexico-based scientist who received the Padma Shri award, has been hailed for his achievement in making wheat strains resistant to rust diseases, protecting the supply of the foodgrain that is an essential element in diets around the world.

The Padma Shri awards ceremony took place with President Draupadi Murmu on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Singh, who is the head of Global Wheat Improvement at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), is originally from Varanasi.

“Singh has contributed to the development of 649 wheat varieties released in 48 countries, working closely with scientists at national wheat programs in the Global

South,” Mexico-based CIMMYT said. Of them, 224 were developed directly under his leadership and are grown on about 10 million hectares, it added. Singh has worked at the institute since 1983 after getting a PhD from the University of Sydney in Australia.

CIMMYT said, “His scientific efforts protect wheat from new races of some of agriculture’s oldest and most devastating diseases, safeguard the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the most vulnerable areas in the world, and enhance food security for the billions of people whose daily nutrition depends on wheat consumption.”

Rust diseases are caused by fungus and their name is derived from the discoloration of the leaves of the affected plant. He has developed more than 730 climate-resilient, high-yield wheat varieties that benefit small-holder farmers,” according to the institute.

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arun Ghulati, the Indianorigin candidate in the race to challenge Sadiq Khan from winning a third term as Mayor of London, has said that the citizens of the UK capital have been let down by all the major political parties and he wants to run London like a “seasoned CEO” which delivers profits for all.

The Delhi-born businessman believes his investment expertise is what London needs to revive its fortunes as the “global bank of the world” by attracting the investment it needs. The 63-year-old is standing as an Independent candidate among 13 contestants in the fray for the local elections on May 2, when Londoners will vote for their Mayor and also for members of the London Assembly.

“As Mayor, I will build London’s balance sheet. I will transform and run London effectively and efficiently like a seasoned CEO,” he said.

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Two Indian restaurants in Colorado dupe investors of USD 3,80,000, officials say

2 students from Telangana killed in road accident in US state of Arizona

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wo Indian restaurants in Colorado have duped investors to the tune of USD 3,80,000, state regulators have alleged and are now seeking to recover the amount from them.

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wo students from Telangana studying in the United States died in a road accident in the US state of Arizona. Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Kumar Parsi, both 19 years old, were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with another car in Peoria last week, according to information reaching their families. While Nivesh hailed from Huzurabad town in Karimnagar district, Goutham Kumar was from Station Ghanpur in Jangaon district. Both were studying computer science engineering at Arizona State University.

In a lawsuit, the Colorado Division of Securities has alleged that the owners of Indian restaurants Bombay Clay Oven and Saucy Bombay used “half-truths and lies” to sell investors on their grandiose plans for a nationwide expansion before spending the USD 380,000 that shareholders invested on rent, operating costs and Ponzi-like payments, local newspaper “BusinessDen” reported on Wednesday.

The two restaurants were owned

by The Bombay Group (TBG), which entered into an agreement with securities broker Michael Bissonnette. Both defendants declined offers to discuss the allegations with “BusinessDen”, the daily reported. Like many in the restaurant industry, TBG had grand plans to expand its business into a nationwide conglomerate, with hundreds or even thousands of locations. In 2014, TBG owned and operated two restaurants: Bombay Clay Oven, a restaurant that had operated for more than two decades, and Saucy

Bombay, a new endeavor with a single location in a food court.

TBG’s plan was to franchise Saucy Bombay in order to capitalize on the fast-casual restaurant trend, the lawsuit said. “The investors in this case really believed in The Bombay Group and their

restaurant, Saucy Bombay,” Tung Chan, the state’s securities commissioner told the newspaper. “But as we allege, the investors were not told the truth about the investments and they have not been paid back. If you have invested with The Bombay Group, please contact the Securities Division right away,” he said.

The duo was returning home along with their friends from the university when the car coming from the opposite direction rammed into their vehicle. Nivesh and Goutham died on the spot while the drivers of both cars were injured. Nivesh is the son of doctor couple Naveen and Swathi. The families of the two students have appealed to the Indian government to help in bringing the bodies home.

Amritdhari Sikh booked in Punjab man stabbed to death in Canada’s B.C. Italy for carrying Kirpan IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have strongly condemned the action of booking an ‘amritdhari’ (initiated) Sikh Gurbachan Singh for carrying kirpan (sword) in Milan city of Italy in the recent past.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said that the Kirpan is one of the five Kakaars (symbols of faith) of Sikhs, which as per Sikh code of conduct, an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh always keeps on his body. He said that separating the kirpan from the body of an initiated Sikh is against the religious freedom of Sikhs.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami

appealed to the Sikh community of Italy to strongly oppose the case registered against Gurbachan Singh and asked them to communicate the entire information of his case to the SGPC. Dhami said that in order to get this case cancelled, the Ambassador of Italy in India and the Ministry of External Affairs of India will also be written to intervene and information about the rights of Sikhs and the importance of kirpan will be sent.

“Sikhs live in many countries of the world where they have made great achievements with their hard work and honesty. Even in developed countries like the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, Sikhs are allowed to wear kirpan,” the SGPC president added.

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27-year-old man from Tollewal village in Malerkotla was allegedly stabbed to death at White Rock city in Canada’s British Columbia

province.

The victim, Kulwinder Singh Sohi, had gone to Canada on a student visa in 2018 and was recently granted permanent residency Investigations revealed Sohi was allegedly stabbed by unknown assailants, who had called him to a waterfront at White Rock late on Tuesday night.

A pall of gloom descended on Tollewal village when Sohi’s parents, Gurpreet Singh

and Manpreet Kaur, received news of their son’s killing. “I sent my both sons abroad by borrowing money from friends and relatives, but had no idea about the poor law and order situation in Canada,” said the aggrieved father, adding that the family was not in a position to meet expenses to bring Sohi’s body back to India.

Villagers have called upon NRIs from the Amargarh constituency to help bring the body to India and impress upon the Canadian authorities to bring the killers to justice. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) staff sergeant Rob Dixon said a police team had reached the spot within minutes of the incident, but Sohi succumbed to his injuries.

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Should re-election be held with fresh candidates if NOTA gets a majority? SC issues notice to EC IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

year, issued a letter stating that even if, in an extreme case the number of votes against NOTA is more that the number of votes secured by the candidates, the candidate who secures the largest number of votes among the contesting candidates shall be declared to be elected.

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he Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to frame guidelines or rules, if in any election, all the contesting candidates individually do not surpass NOTA.

The PIL stated though the poll body incorporated and gave directions to include ‘NOTA’ in the ballot paper but failed to recognise NOTA as a valid vote, adding that when the apex court contemplated the NOTA button, it had in mind a system where a voter is simply refusing to vote for any of the listed candidates and thereby demanding fresh election, with a new set of candidates.

Issuing notice, a bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud sought the response of the ECI in the matter.

The plea filed by a motivational speaker Shiv Khera stressed on framing of rules to the effect that if NOTA gets a majority, the election held in the particular constituency be declared null and void and a fresh election be conducted.

It referred to various orders passed by diverse State Election Commissions providing that NOTA shall be treated as a “fictional candidate” and fresh elections were to be conducted in-case NOTA received the highest number of votes.

Delhi court grants 30-day extension to police to conclude probe in Parliament security breach case IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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court on Thursday granted the Delhi Police a 30-day extension to complete its probe in the December 13, 2023 Parliament security breach case. This is the second time that the court has given time to the Delhi Police Special Cell to conclude the probe. Earlier, in March, 45 days were granted, and now the extension is until May 25. An application by the Delhi Police, who originally sought a 45-day extension to complete their probe, was moved before Delhi’s Patiala House Courts. Special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, representing the Delhi Police, stressed the necessity for the extension, citing pending reports and the need to question witnesses, including those from Parliament, before finalising the charge sheet. All the six accused persons were also presented before the court as their judicial custody ended. The court extended their custody till May 25, allowing the police additional time to complete its investigation.

SC orders immediate cleaning of Yamuna river bed in Agra IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he Supreme Court has ordered authorities to immediately clean the river bed of the Yamuna in Agra.

A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the application moved by an NGO seeking directions for the restoration of the river bed to its natural state and removal of the silt, sludge, and garbage up to a depth of 5-6 meters.

The Bench has asked the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Agra Development Authority to file compliance affidavits by the end of June 2024.

Paying for uniform implementation of the NOTA vote option, the petitioner sought directions that the candidates who poll fewer votes than NOTA be debarred from contesting all elections for a period of 5 years.

As per the petition, the ECI, in July last

In 2013, the Supreme Court had directed the poll body to provide the option of “None of the Above” (NOTA) in all EVMs saying that a provision of negative voting would be in the interest of promoting democracy as it would send clear signals to political parties and their candidates as to what the electorate thinks about them.

EC sends notice to BJP over PM Modi’s speech in Banswara IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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aking cognisance of the alleged Model Code of Conduct violation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission of India (ECI), on Thursday, sought a response from the BJP by April 29, on the complaints raised by Congress, CPI and CPI-M(L).

In its complaint to the ECI, the Opposition parties accused PM Modi of committing blatant violations of electoral laws, as well as of the Indian Penal Code, while addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara on April 21.

Congress said that the speech delivered by the Prime Minister, the ‘star campaigner’ of BJP for the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections, was “highly objectionable, divisive and exfacie illegal.”

During the rally, PM Modi had said: “The Congress manifesto says that they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom... Manmohan Singh’s government had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets.”

“When their government was in power earlier, they had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets. This means to whom will this property be distributed?

It will be distributed among those who have more children and to the infiltrators. Will your hard-earned money be distributed to the infiltrators and do you really approve of this?” PM Modi had added.

Directing BJP president J. P. Nadda to respond to the complaints by 11 a.m. on April 29, the Election Commission asserted that the role of political parties in an electoral democracy, particularly after the notification of the general elections, is pivotal and hence stands clearly recognized in the formal statutory framework of the Representation of the People Act. The ECI said that the grant of the status of the ‘star campaigner’ statutorily lies entirely within the realm of the political parties under Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the ‘star campaigners’ are expected to contribute to a higher quality of discourse, inter alia, by way of providing an all-India perspective, which sometimes gets distorted in the heat of the contests at the local level.

Two terrorists killed in encounter in J&K’s Sopore

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wo terrorists were killed while a civilian and two soldiers were injured in a gunfight between the security forces and holed-up militants in Sopore town of J&K’s Baramulla district on Friday.

Security forces, including the local police, Army and the CRPF started a cordon and search operation in the Nowpora locality of Sopore town on Thursday after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there. Officials said as the security forces closed on the hiding terrorists, they fired at the surrounding security forces triggering an encounter.

“Two soldiers were initially injured when the terrorists fired at the security forces. One civilian also received a shoulder gunshot injury.

“The injured were immediately shifted to hospital where doctors said that their condition was stable.

“Two terrorists have been killed in this ongoing gunfight. Their identity is yet to be ascertained. The operation is going on against the terrorists in the area,” officials said.

IAF’s remotely piloted aircraft crashes in Jaisalmer, probe ordered IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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n Indian Air Force aircraft crashed in Jajia village near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, confirmed officials.

“One Remotely Piloted Aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident near Jaisalmer on Thursday during a routine training sortie. No damage to any personnel or property has been reported.

A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident,” said Indian Air Force officials on Thursday.

The aircraft crashed 30 km from Jaisalmer near Rozaniyon Ki Dhani at around 10 a.m. However, there is no news of any loss in the accident.

As soon as the information about the incident was received, the district administration along with the Air Force officials reached the place and the fire brigade also rushed to the spot. Air Force officials are investigating the causes of the crash.

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Festival of democracy enters second leg with 88 Lok Sabha seats across India set to vote IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he election festival is gathering pace in the world’s largest democracy with the stage set for the second phase of voting in the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, covering 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories, spanning the hills of West Bengal to the lush green landscapes of Kerala to the sandy deserts of Rajasthan.

While 89 constituencies were slated to go to polls in the second phase, as per the initial announcement by the Election Commission, voting in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul was advanced to the third phase on May 7 following the death of the BSP candidate in

the fray. Out of the 88 constituencies in the second phase, 73 are general seats, while 6 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 9 for Scheduled Castes (SC).

The voting commenced at 7 a.m. on Friday and continued until 5 p.m. However, in some places, the polling time for voting varied as per the local weather. Due to the hot weather conditions, the polling time at several polling centers in several Bihar constituencies was extended until 6 p.m. to facilitate the voters.

Among the notable candidates contesting in this phase are Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Kerala’s Wayanad, where he faces the CPI’s Annie Raja and state BJP chief K. Surendran, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor vs BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram, Hema Malini from UP’s Mathura, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from the state’s Rajnandgaon, Congress leader D.K. Suresh from Bangalore Rural, and BJP youth leader Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, his ministerial colleague Kailash Choudhury from Barmer, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota.

This phase will mark the completion of elections in Kerala, where polling will be held for all 20 seats, Manipur, where the remaining part of Outer Manipur will vote, as well as

India’s 1st bullet train set to run in 2026, says Railways Minister Vaishnaw IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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ignificant progress has been made in the construction of various stations for India’s first bullet train and we are geared up to run the first train in one section in 2026, Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday. In an interview, the Union Minister said the work on bullet trains is progressing very well on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

“More than 290 kms of work has already been done. Bridges have been built over eight rivers. Work is going on at 12 stations. The stations have also come at the same level so that the work is nearing completion,” Ashwini Vaishnaw informed. “The work is going on at two depots. The work is going on at a very fast pace with the complete target of opening its first section in 2026,” said the Union Minister.

The Bullet Train is a very complex project. The work on it started in 2017 and it took almost two-and-a-half years to complete just the design.

Tripura and Rajasthan, where polling was also held in the first phase on April 19.

It will mark the commencement of elections in Karnataka, where half of the state’s 28 seats, mostly in the southern part of the state, will vote. The seats going to polls in the first phase of elections in the state are Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South,

CBI recovers huge cache of arms, explosives from house of Shahjahan’s relative at Sandeshkhali IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he CBI on Friday afternoon conducted a raid at the residence of a relative of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District and seized a huge cache of firearms and explosives. Sources said the CBI got a tip off about the cache of arms and crude bombs at the residence of Shahjahan’s relative Hafizul Khan, who is also an elected Panchayat member from the ruling party.

Soon after getting the information, a CBI team escorted by personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces conducted the raid at the residence that was located within a pisciculture farm. Till the time of filing of the report the CBI team was engaged in a search

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ndia and Japan on Wednesday exchanged a wide range of views on major current issues in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation, including nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, during the 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control held in Tokyo.

“The two sides exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons

Elections will continue in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura’s Tripura East, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Polling was also be held in J&K’s Jammu seat.

According to the Election Commission, in this phase, more than 1.6 lakh polling officers have been deployed at 167,000 polling centers to facilitate the casting of ballots by 15.88 crore voters.

In Russia, NSA Doval pledges India’s cooperation to counter terrorism, terror funding IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

N operation at the house. It is suspected that the firearms, explosives and crude bombs were stocked there for use on polling day in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sources said, following Shahjahan’s arrest and increased movement of different central agency sleuths and CAPF personnel at Sandeshkhali, those responsible for stocking the arms were unable to shift them.

India and Japan hold disarmament and nonproliferation talks in Tokyo IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

Chikballapur, and Kolar.

and export control,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Katsuro Kitagawa, Director General, Department of Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant officials participated from the Japanese side while the Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs, in the MEA. The two sides also discussed export controls, efforts against conventional weapons, and other regional issues and agreed to deepen cooperation between the two countries in multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations.

ational Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday emphasized that India will continue cooperation for countering misuse of information and communication technologies by terrorists and criminals, as also for countering terror funding.

Speaking at the plenary session of the ‘12th International Meeting of High Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters’ in Saint Petersburg, NSA Doval also underscored India’s policy to use digital technology for inclusive economic development and called for international cooperation for an open, stable, secure, reliable and inclusive framework for ensuring information security.

In his intervention at the plenary session on ‘Ensuring Information Security in the Polycentric World’, NSA Doval laid out a roadmap for such cooperation that should include all the stakeholders, from governments to the private sector, academia, technical communities, and civil society.

He also stressed the need for holding regular institutional dialogues to help develop a common understanding of critical issues; capacity building of like-minded nations through training, education, awareness programs, and development of security standards for emerging technologies besides the creation of mechanisms for cooperation at domestic and international levels.

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Ukraine suspends passport service for military-aged men abroad

Fears grow over medical professors’ mass resignations in South Korea

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he Ukrainian government has suspended issuing and renewing passports for overseas military-aged men, Ukrayinska Pravda, a Ukrainian online newspaper, reported. According to a government decree, male Ukrainians aged 18 to 60, who are eligible for military service, now can receive Ukrainian passports only inside Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.

The new rules, which are valid till May 18, do not apply to Ukrainian men who are permitted to cross the Ukrainian border during martial law. Previously, Ukrainian men were allowed to receive ID documents in Ukrainian embassies and from the stateowned passport service Document of the State Migration Service.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law to tighten military mobilization rules, which introduces some penalties for evaders, including restrictions on consular services.

As of January 2024, about 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in European Union countries, including 8,60,000 adult men, according to Eurostat.

esignations by medical professors in South Korea in protest against the government’s medical school quota hike plan were supposed to take effect from Thursday, sparking concerns over its impact on the medical system already reeling from the months long walkout by trainee doctors.

Officials said most professors, who work as senior doctors at major hospitals, appeared to have continued to serve on the first day of resignations coming into force and no issues had been reported at hospitals regarding the resignation submission, Yonhap news agency reported.

Since March 25, medical professors nationwide have submitted their resignations, which would begin to take legal effect after the lapse of one month. The professors have taken the step in support of junior doctors who have left their worksites since February 20 in protest of the government’s plan to boost the number of medical students by 2,000 starting next year.

“Each professor designated their own resignation date given their work schedules

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stadium ban for women is to be reintroduced in Iran, multiple local news reports said on Wednesday. The reports said that the Iranian FA has ordered the ban to be imposed in the northwestern city of Tabriz in the wake of “repulsive incidents” at a home game of local top flight club Tractor-Sazi. It was not clear whether the stadium ban only applies in Tabriz or for all matches. Tractor-Sazi is one of the most popular clubs in Iran, with a large fan base including many women. Observers believe that a female pitch invader at a match last week is a reason for the latest decision by the FA. A woman ran onto the pitch during the Pro League match between Tehran club Esteghal and Aluminium Arak and embraced Esteghlal and national team goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini. The player was fined around $7,500 and suspended for one match after he reportedly briefly held her. In Iran, it is forbidden to touch women who are not a part of the close family.

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and other things,” an official of the emergency committee of Seoul National University’s medical school said.

The Turkish government designated the IS as a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015. Turkish police have been regularly conducting counter-terrorism operations against its members across the country.

The government has said that no resignations have been accepted so far and “not many” professors have submitted resignations.

The situation, however, is feared to be taking a turn for the worse, as there have been no signs of medical staff backing down amid their standoff with the government.

Nepal, Qatar agree to increase cooperation in various sectors IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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Stadium ban for women to be reintroduced in Iran

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urkish police detained at least 11 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group in Turkey’s western province of Izmir on Wednesday, local media reported. The state-run TRT broadcaster said anti-terror teams launched simultaneous operations against 13 sites across the province to capture 13 suspects. During the raids, 11 suspects were apprehended, while arrest operations are ongoing against the remaining two individuals, Xinhua news agency reported. Many digital materials were found and confiscated at the suspects’ premises, according to the TRT.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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Turkish police detain 11 suspected IS members

he governments of Nepal and Qatar on Wednesday reached agreements on bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

The two countries sealed the deals, two agreements and six memorandums of understanding, after an hour-long meeting between the delegations led by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, according to Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for Nepal’s Foreign Ministry. Media, business, culture and arts, education, scientific research and youth and sports are the areas on which the two countries agreed to focus their cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported. The emir arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday for a two-day state visit.

Fire brigade ends operation at Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he fire brigade has ended its operation following the devastating fire at the Old Stock Exchange in the Danish capital Copenhagen, news agency Ritzau reported on Monday. The news agency cited the head of operations of the fire brigade who said the cause of the fire is still unclear.

The police can now begin their investigations into the partially burnt-out historic building where a fire broke out on Tuesday. About half of it was burnt out, leaving only the outer walls. These collapsed on Thursday.

The Old Stock Exchange, which now houses the Danish Chamber of Commerce, is home

to a large art collection. The 400-year-old building has not been used as a stock exchange in the true sense of the word for a long time.

According to the head of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, 99% of the art objects were saved from the fire.

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North Korea touts ties with Russia on Kim-Putin summit anniversary The official said the two nations have strengthened their cooperation and extended full support to each other on the “common front to smash the military threats and provocations, and high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialists.”

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orth Korea on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening ties with Russia on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the first-ever summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kim and Putin held their first summit in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on April 25, 2019, and also met at Russia’s Vostochny spaceport in September last year, Yonhap news agency reported.

develop the tradition of deep-rooted friendship,” North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il said in an Englishlanguage statement uploaded on the ministry’s website.

“The DPRK-Russia relations rooted in comradeship and militant unity will steadily develop into invincible comradely relations and eternal strategic relations,” Im Chon-il said.

Im Chon-il also reiterated the North’s support for Russia in its war with Ukraine and pledged to stand aside the Russian military.

Ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have significantly deepened following last year’s summit, spawning speculation over their arms deal for Russia’s use in the war.

“It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to attach utmost importance to the DPRK-Russia relations and invariably

DPRK stands for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Russia warns NATO nuclear facilities in Poland, says, ‘could become military target’

UK PM Sunak makes first official visit to Germany

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ussian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday warned that NATO nuclear facilities, if permanently located on the Polish territory, will become a military target for Russia.

“The expansion of the practice of joint NATO nuclear missions - regardless of who becomes that country or those countries that can join those already participating in this practice - is of a purely destabilizing nature.

And in fact, threatening,” Ryabkov said, Xinhua news agency reported.

In an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency, he said that the approach of joint nuclear missions by NATO countries near Russian borders exacerbates security threats.

Ryabkov referred to the ongoing discussion about deploying NATO nuclear facilities in Poland as an “evolving story.” Moscow closely monitors how Warsaw addresses this topic, he said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, in an interview with the Fakt newspaper on Monday, stated that the Polish authorities have repeatedly discussed with the US the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in Poland within the framework of NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements and expressed readiness for it if necessary.

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K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Berlin for the first time on Wednesday, 18 months after taking office. His meeting with his German counterpart Olaf Scholz focused on military aid for Ukraine and the war in Gaza. The controversial British asylum pact with Rwanda, which was approved by the British parliament on Tuesday, was likely discussed too.

Although Britain has not been a member of the European Union for more than four years, it is still one of Germany’s most important allies in NATO, the G7 and the G20.

Alongside Germany, the country is Ukraine’s most important European arms supplier and has just pledged a large amount of new military aid.

In the Middle East, the British air force was recently involved in the defence against the major Iranian attack on Israel, unlike Germany. The British asylum pact has also attracted a great deal of attention and criticism

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even juveniles were arrested across Sydney in a joint counter-terrorism operation on Wednesday, after the stabbing of a religious leader in a Wakeley church. “Seven people, all juveniles, have been arrested and a further five are assisting police with our inquiries,” Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

“As part of our JCTT (Joint Counter Terrorism Team) investigation into the alleged Wakeley stabbing, we identified links between the alleged offender and the network of associates and peers who we believe shared a similar violent extremist ideology,” she noted.

Negotiations on global plastics treaty open in Ottawa in Germany. Asylum seekers who arrive in the UK without valid papers could be deported immediately to the East African country in future and apply for asylum there. There are also calls from the opposition in Germany to transfer asylum procedures to countries outside the EU.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk he fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), opened in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. The session aims to advance negotiations so that the Committee can finalize, at its fifth session (INC-5) in November, the text of the instrument.

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Members will also decide on inter-sessional work -- informal INC sessions taking place between the official meetings -- required between the INC-4 and INC-5, to support the further development of the text.

ranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian has condemned “planned” sanctions against his country over the major drone and missile attack on Israel earlier this month as “unlawful” and “regrettable.”

These should make it possible to impose further trade restrictions on Iran in order to make it more difficult for the country to build and develop drones and missiles. There are also plans to impose sanctions on individuals, organizations and companies involved in the production of drones and missiles and their

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

On April 15, police were called to a Wakeley church in Sydney at about 7:10 p.m. local time, following reports of a stabbing, where a 53-year-old religious leader was found with significant injuries to his head. A 16-year-old was arrested at the scene and later charged with committing a terrorist act, an offense which could carry a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.

Iran condemns ‘planned’ EU sanctions as ‘unlawful’

Iran had exercised its right to self-defence with the attack, Amirabdollahian wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. He called for sanctions to be imposed against Israel. At a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, the foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states instructed EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell to submit concrete proposals for sanctions.

Seven teens arrested in counter-terrorism raids after Sydney church stabbing

delivery to Iran’s allies in the Middle East.

The moves are in response to Iran’s unprecedented direct missile attack on Israel 10 days ago. It followed a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus at the beginning of the month.

In the latter incident, two generals and five other members of the powerful Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were among those killed.

Israel carried out a retaliatory strike in the province of Isfahan on Friday, reportedly hitting an air base.

INC-4, which began on Tuesday, is the penultimate stage of the negotiations; it follows three earlier rounds of negotiations: INC-1, which took place in Punta del Este, in November 2022; INC-2, which was held in Paris in June 2023; and INC-3, which happened in Nairobi in November 2023.

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PM Modi has lifted 400 million people out of poverty, says JP Morgan CEO

Air India, All Nippon Airways sign codeshare agreement

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rime Minister Narendra Modi has taken 400 million (40 crore) people out of poverty and is doing an “unbelievable job” in India, Global banking giant JP Morgan Chase chief executive officer (CEO) Jamie Dimon has said.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday, Dimon lauded the economic reforms implemented by the Modi government and said some of them could be introduced in the US as well.

“Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he’s taken 400 million people out of poverty,” Dimon remarked.

He complimented PM Modi for his resilience in challenging outdated bureaucratic systems, calling him “tough”.

The leading banker referred to PM Modi as a “tough” administrator for breaking outdated bureaucratic systems in India and said, “We need a little bit more of that

Walmart’s longest-serving director Rob Walton to retire from board

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T here (in the US).”

citizens having bank accounts.

The 68-year-old banker also lauded India’s GST regime, which he said has removed corruption emanating from the disparity in tax systems followed by different states.

Dimon highlighted India’s advancements in technology and finance, noting the widespread adoption of digital identification and banking services, with over 700 million

“Every citizen by hand or eyeball or by finger is recognized. They’ve bank accounts for 700 million people.

Their transferred payments are going through,” he pointed out. The banker also praised India’s education system and infrastructure, describing them as “unbelievable.”

UK begins probe into AI partnerships

by Microsoft, Amazon IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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he UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday launched a preliminary probe into partnerships between tech giants over artificial intelligence (AI), like Microsoft and Mistral AI, and Amazon and Anthropic.

The anti-trust regulator has asked interested third parties to give their views on whether these AI partnerships (including Microsoft’s hiring of former employees and related arrangements with Inflection AI) fall within UK merger rules and the impact that these arrangements could have on competition in the country.

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almart said on Thursday that Rob Walton, the longest serving member on its board and eldest son of founder Sam Walton, would retire from his position of the big-box retailer at the end of his term on June 5.

Walton served as the company’s chairman of the board of directors after his father died in 1992 and held the post until June 2015. He was replaced by his son-in-law Greg Penner, who remains chairman of world’s largest retailer.

Walmart also disclosed seven shareholder proposals in the regulatory filing, including some repeated calls for conducting an independent racial equity audit and human rights impact assessment in its supply chain.

The board recommended shareholders vote against all seven proposals.

“We will assess, objectively and impartially, whether each of these 3 deals fall within UK merger rules and, if they do, whether they have any impact on competition in the UK,” said Joel

Bamford, Executive Director of Mergers at the CMA. Competition authorities around the world are actively looking into AI. “While we remain open-minded, and haven’t drawn any conclusions, our aim is to better understand the complex partnerships and arrangements at play,” Bamford added.

The anti-trust regulator is inviting views by May 9. The CMA said it is also considering feedback received earlier this year on Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and is currently waiting for information it has requested from the firms.

It has not yet opened a formal Phase 1 review of the Microsoft-OpenAI deal.

The authority said it remains vigilant against the possibility that incumbent technology firms could use partnerships and investments to shield themselves from competition.

ata-owned Air India and Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways have signed a codeshare agreement connecting their networks, enhancing flight selections between India and Japan. With this agreement, effective for travel from May 23, Air India and All Nippon Airways guests will fly to their desired destination by combining those flights between India and Japan with a single ticket.

In addition, guests of both airlines flying on codeshare flights will enjoy premium services such as lounge access and priority boarding that Star Alliance offers to its premium members. Available for sale from 23 April 2024, Air India will add its ‘AI’ designator code on ANA’s flights between Tokyo Haneda and Delhi as well as Tokyo Narita and Mumbai, while All Nippon Airways will add its ‘NH’ designator code on Air India’s flight between Tokyo Narita and Delhi.

US blacklists 3 Chinese firms for supplying missile parts to Pakistan

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he US has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and one from Belarus for supplying missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programs, including its longrange missile program.

“The entities we are designating today, Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant; Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited; Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd; and Granpect Co. Ltd., have engaged in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery, including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan,” the US State Department said.

The United States, in close cooperation with other partners, is committed to strengthening the global non-proliferation regime by deterring and disrupting proliferation networks of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) wherever they occur.

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President of QS University Rankings lauds India for highest performance growth among all G20 nations

Indian pharma major Lupin launches new generic drug in US market IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

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harma major Lupin Limited announced on Monday that it has launched Mirabegron extended-release tablets, 25 mg, in the United States market, after having received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration.

“This year, Indian universities showed the highest performance improvement among all G20 nations -- a significant 14 percent (year-on-year) improvement in their average ranking,” Quacquarelli wrote.

The company develops and commercializes a wide range of branded and generic formulations, biotechnology products, and APIs in over 100 markets in the US, India, South Africa, and across the Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, and Middle East regions, the statement added.

resident of QS University Rankings Nunzio Quacquarelli has praised India for leading all G20 countries in the QS subject rankings performance growth this year. In a LinkedIn post, Quacquarelli shared some results from the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject related to the Indian Higher Education system.

“India’s HE progress on the global stage has undoubtedly been aided by visionary policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he added. Quacquarelli also mentioned that he had met the Prime Minister to discuss global higher education trends. “During our engaging conversation, it was evident that PM Modi has a passionate commitment to revolutionise Indian education, reflected in the ambitious targets within the NEP,” he said.

Workers at VW’s Tennessee plant to unionize after key vote

In the latest subject rankings, Indian higher education institutions have improved their rankings in the STEM subjects, Biological Sciences, and Business Studies. As mentioned in the report, the NEP largely drove the positive changes in higher education in the country.

“In approving the NEP 2020, the Union Government, under PM Modi’s leadership, defined the vision for India’s new education system,” the report noted.

Across Asia, India now holds the secondhighest number of featured universities in the QS subject rankings.

It is time to reorganize Tesla, says Musk as company logs slow growth to introduce new and more affordable products.

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orkers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant in the US state of Tennessee have voted overwhelmingly to unionize at the third attempt, the company and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have announced. The ballot, which ended on Friday, saw 73 percent of the workers backing the move. The result has yet to be confirmed by the National Labor Relations Board, an agency of the United States federal government.

The UAW, which is seeking to expand its presence in the US automotive sector, sees the outcome as a significant victory. Two attempts to unionize the plant over recent years failed.

But the union has scored major successes recently. In the autumn, it secured better conditions and a pay rise of around 25 per cent at the main US automotive companies, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (formerly Chrylser), following a lengthy strike.

Until now, the union has had little success in the southern states and the plants of non-US vehicle makers. It has also failed to unionize Tesla workers. A total of 3,613 workers, equivalent to 83.5 percent of the labor force, cast their ballots, with 2,628 voting to be represented by the UAW. Germany’s powerful IG Metall union said on Saturday that Chattanooga was the VW brand’s sole plant without union representation. Daniela Cavallo, head of the VW works council, said the Chattanooga workers had “rewritten US trade union history.”

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lon Musk on Wednesday said it is time to “reorganize” Tesla as the electric car company registered $1.1 billion in net income and $21 billion in revenue, down 9 per cent from $23.3 billion from the year-ago period.

Tesla laid off over 10 per cent of its workforce this month and Musk said the move was necessary for the company’s “next phase of growth”. “EV adoption rate globally is under pressure and a lot of other auto manufacturers are pulling back on EVs and pursuing plug-in hybrids instead,” Musk told analysts over the earnings call.

“We believe this is not the right

The company said that it has “updated future vehicle line-up to accelerate the launch of new models ahead of our previously communicated start of production in the second half of 2025”.

Musk said the company will showcase its purpose-built robotaxi or Cybercab in August. strategy. And electric vehicles will ultimately dominate the market,” the billionaire added. In the shareholder note, Tesla said it’s focused on leveraging its existing manufacturing footprint

“Regarding AI computing, over the past few months, we’ve been actively working on expanding Tesla’s core AI infrastructure. For a while there, we were training constrained in our progress,” he told analysts.

Hyundai Motor signs 174-MW renewable energy deal for EV plant in US IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

Mobis’ North American business and Hyundai Steel’s production plant in Georgia, reports Yonhap news agency.

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yundai Motor Group said on Monday it has signed a 174-megawatt power purchase agreement (PPA) with a solar energy project led by Spain’s Matrix Renewables to power its envisioned electric vehicle (EV) plant in the United States with renewable energy.

The 15-year PPA with the Matrix Renewables-led Stillhouse Solar Project from 2025 to 2040 will be used to operate Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the South

According to Hyundai, the deal marks the biggest PPA signed by a South Korean company for the use of renewable energy at its US facilities. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Korean auto giant’s first dedicated EV mass production plant in the North American country, currently under construction in the state of Georgia.

The energy will also be used in the electrification-related operations of Hyundai

Hyundai said the expected carbon reduction effect through the deal amounts to approximately 140,000 tonnes annually, which roughly amounts to the carbon emissions from around 84,000 midsize sedans over the course of one year.

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Sana Mir and Usain Bolt named ambassadors of ICC T20 WC Qualifier 2024

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ormer Pakistan skipper Sana Mir and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt have been named as the ambassadors of women’s and men’s ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024.

bassador of the tournament, believing that besides being a route to qualify for the T20 World Cup, the Qualifier will also provide a competitive cricketing spectacle. A longtime friend of West Indies great Chris Gayle, Bolt said he was looking forward to playing a part in the tournament that will run in the USA and Caribbean from June 1-29.

Sana Mir represented Pakistan in 226 international games, 137 of them as skipper.

Sana will keep a keen eye on the tournament which will see 10 sides battle it out for two spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The teams have been divided into two groups of five, with the top two from each group entering the semi-finals. The winning semi-finalists confirm a trip to Bangladesh for the T20 World Cup later this year.

“I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Bolt told the ICC recently. Coming from the Caribbean where Cricket is a part of life, the sport has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honored to be part of such a prestigious tournament. I look forward to bringing my energy and enthusiasm to the World Cup and contributing to the growth of cricket globally.”

Sana was delighted with her role as the am-

Ohtani breaks record for most home runs by a Japanese player

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hohei Ohtani surpassed Hideki Matsui to become the Japaneseborn player who has hit the most home runs in Major League Baseball history after the Dodgers slugger launched to right field in the third inning on Sunday.

Ohtani stood and watched as his 176th home run went deep into the stands and smiled as he crossed home plate to break the tie with Matsui and open the scoring against the visiting New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Known as a “modern day Babe Ruth” because of his dominance as both a power hitter and pitcher, Ohtani’s record-breaking homer left his bat at 110 miles per hour and traveled 423 feet.

Justice Department to pay $138.7 million to settle with ex-USA gymnastics official Larry Nassar victims

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he Justice Department and more than 100 victims of former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar reached a civil settlement over allegations that FBI agents failed to properly investigate the gymnasts’ claims of abuse against the now-convicted doctor.

Superstar Olympian Simone Biles and fellow US gold medalists Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney are among the victims who claimed the FBI did not pursue allegations that Nassar was abusing his patients.

The US will pay $138.7 million to settle 139 claims against the FBI, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

A 2021 Justice Department watchdog report confirmed that FBI agents did not take the proper investigative steps when they first learned that Nassar was sexually abusing young gymnasts in 2015. Those failures, according to the Justice Department inspector general, left the physician free to continue abusing patients for months. The FBI agents were either fired or retired, and in May 2022, federal prosecutors said they would not pursue criminal charges against the agents involved in those missteps.

The victims sued the FBI in 2022 alleging negligence and wrongdoing. The final settlement in this case resolves the victims’ claims against the federal government.

Djokovic, Bonmati win top honors at Laureus Sports Awards World no. 1 Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year at a ceremony held in Madrid to tie another all-time record, with his fifth Laureus Award (he won in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019). Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati won the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year and in doing so became the first footballer to win the prestigious Award.

Archery World Cup: Indian men’s recurve team secures spot in final

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ith three consecutive wins, the Indian men’s recurve team of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Ramesh Jadhav, secured a spot in the final of the Archery World Cup in Shanghai on Thursday.

The Indian trio lost the first three ends of the pre-quarterfinals match against Indonesia 1-3, but they rallied to win the next two ends, sealing the victory 5-3. After that initial scare, they didn’t look back, winning easily 5-1 against Spain and Italy in the ensuing stages.

India maintained their form going into the knockout stages, finishing second overall and averaging a score of above 55 to reach the final.

On April 28, they will compete for the title against the formidable South Korean squad in the final.

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WADA to review Chinese doping case

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nder-fire World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it would launch an independent review over its handling of a case that allowed 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance to avoid punishment.

The investigation will be led by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, a former attorney general of the canton of Vaud, who WADA said will have access to all files and documents related to the case and be free to consult any independent experts.

Calls for an independent investigation have grown since the New York Times reported on Saturday that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine (TMZ) months before the COVIDdelayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The swimmers avoided sanctions after an investigation by Chinese authorities ruled the adverse analytical findings, or AAFs, were the result of being inadvertently exposed to the drug through contamination.

A report determined all the swimmers who tested positive were staying at the same hotel where traces of trimetazidine (TMZ), which is found in heart medication, were discovered in the kitchen.

WADA has defended its handling of the case, saying it had no evidence to challenge China’s findings and that external counsel had advised against appealing them.

Madrid Open: Raducanu suffers early exit, Osaka into second round with first clay-court win since 2022

UWW suspends referees involved in SF bout of European OG Qualifiers

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ritish tennis player Emma Raducanu suffered a firstround exit against World No. 82 Marie Lourdes Carle in a straight-set 6-2 6-2 at the Madrid Open.

Despite a valiant effort to stage a comeback after trailing early in the match, Raducanu found herself grappling with unforced errors and the relentless pressure from Carle’s calculated game. She trailed 3-0 before breaking through but lost 5-1 as her Argentine opponent—who had just won

the WTA 125 championship at La Bisbal d’Emporda earlier this month—used her clay-court skills to control the rallies and move her opponent around.

Earlier, Naomi Osaka breezed into the second round of the Madrid Open with a 6-4 6-1 win over Belgian Greet Minnen and won her first clay-court match after 2022 in 1 hour and 19 minutes long play.

Osaka had managed just eight wins from 15 matches after returning to tennis in January following an extended break from the sport.

he United World Wrestling (UWW) Disciplinary Chamber has decided to suspend the refereeing body and refereeing delegates for the alleged violations during 74kg semifinal bout between Italy’s Frank Chamizo and Turan Bayramov of Azerbaijan at the European Olympic Games Qualifier, the world wrestling body said.

The European qualifiers were held in Baku from April 5-7.

Bayramov won the semifinal bout 8-8 on criteria and earned a Paris Olympic quota for Azerbaijan. However, the Italian Wrestling Federation complained about several refereeing mistakes during the bout and a controverted challenge decision which are deemed to have caused an incorrect final score and outcome of the match.

Milik’s late strike sends Juventus into Italian Cup final

J

uventus sealed a berth in the Italian Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Lazio in the semifinal. Arkadiusz Milik scored seconds after coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute to send the Old Lady through at the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night.

The Bianconeri’s two-goal first-leg advantage was wiped out by the 49th minute as Taty Castellanos’ double gave Lazio a two-goal advantage. However, with seven minutes to play Arek Milik pounced to reduce the deficit on the night and restore Juve’s advantage over the two legs as he finished off a cross from Timothy Weah, Juventus reports.

The players celebrated at the final whistle knowing that their cup final appearance on May 18 not only keeps the dream of a trophy this campaign alive but also guarantees access to the Italian Super Cup next season.

USA Track & Field expands maternity support for athletes

PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball India to make debut in 2025

USA Track & Field (USATF) is expanding maternity benefits for athletes, the national governing body said on Thursday, offering more support for women returning to elite level competition. The announcement came after years of advocacy by retired American sprinter Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, and other athletes for greater maternal support.

The United Pickleball Association (UPA) inked a deal with Global Sports to bring the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball to India, the world’s most populous country. As a part of the partnership, the organization aims to launch key initiatives in the country, promoting the rapidly growing sport to a young market. Top PPA Tour players will hold a marquee exhibition at the PPA Tour India Monsoon Pickleball Championships in Mumbai in August 2024.

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Entertainment www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

Emma Stone reveals she wants to be known by her real name - Emily

Priyanka talks about her documentary ‘Womb’: Rallying call to action for women

O

scar-winning actress Emma Stone has expressed her preference to be called by her given name, Emily, rather than the name she adopted at the beginning of her career. The 35-year-old star shared with The Hollywood Reporter: “That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily.” Although the actress initially adopted her stage name when she registered for the Screen Actors Guild, she actually prefers when her colleagues use her birth name, as reported by femalefirst.co.uk. She explained: “When I get to know them, people that I work with do. It’s just because my name was taken (by another actress in SAG).

“Then I freaked out a couple of years ago. For some reason, I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore. Just call me Emily.’ Nathan calls me Em, which is easier.” Stone previously disclosed that her stage name was inspired by Spice Girls star Emma Bunton.

Aamir Khan explains to Kapil Sharma why he doesn’t attend award shows: Time’s precious

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he Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who was last seen in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, is set to appear on the streaming comedy show ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’. The makers of the show unveiled a new promo of the show on Wednesday, which shows the actor having a gala time with the cast of the show.

The actor also narrated several stories.

This is the first time Aamir is appearing on the show. Welcoming him, Kapil seemed elated as Aamir is known to pay visits to limited places.

During the episode, Aamir also spoke about why he doesn’t attend Award shows; he said that time is “very precious,” and it should be invested correctly. He then opened up on the iconic radio scene of ‘PK’ where he ran on the railway track bare-bodied.

Like every parent, Aamir too experiences the challenge of his kids not listening to him. The actor spoke at length about it during the show, and also mentioned that he intended on coming to the show in shorts but his team told him to wear jeans.

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riyanka Chopra Jonas, who has produced the streaming documentary ‘Women of My Billion’ (WOMB), has said that women have borne the brunt of gender bias for a very long time.

The actress shared that her documentary is a call for solidarity and action to help women rise above the odds.

‘Women of My Billion’ (WOMB), directed by Ajitesh Sharma, is a stark and touching chronicle of the fight against all forms of violence faced by women in India. It follows the journey of Srishti Bakshi as she embarks on a walking pilgrimage from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, spanning 3,800 km over 240 days, with a mission to find and share stories about women, their

struggles, dreams, and rights.

Discussing the documentary, Priyanka said in a statement: “Women have borne the brunt of gender bias for far too long, enduring a silent struggle against entrenched social injustices that seek to suppress their voices. With ‘WOMB’, the aim is to transcend these struggles - to be a beacon of hope.” “ ‘WOMB’ is not merely a depiction of pain and suffering but a rallying cry and call for solidarity and action. We hope this film takes us a step closer to a world where every woman is appreciated, honored, and empowered to soar,” she added.

Big B on being honored with Mangeshkar Award: ‘Abhaar aur mera param saubhagya’

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egastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was feted with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for his remarkable contributions to the field of cinema, has expressed his gratitude for the honor.

Amitabh took to X (formerly called Twitter) and shared a picture of himself receiving the award from Usha Mangeshkar, sister of the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

“Aabhaar aur mera param saubhagya,”

Producer Apoorva Bakshi said, “Women of My Billion” sheds light on the many heartbreaking atrocities faced by women in India, but at the same time, it showcases the many opportunities for change brought about by digitization. Srishti’s audacious initiative is a significant step in the right direction, and we need more such champions to herald change.”

“It’s through empowering women that we can collectively shape a future where every woman is appreciated, honored, and able to chase her dreams without constraints. I believe that the documentary ignites the fervor for advocating women’s safety and rights throughout the country,” he added.

Kareena Kapoor shares glimpses of her Tanzanian holiday with ‘Savannah’ boy Taimur

he wrote in the caption.

Actor Randeep Hooda, actress Padmini Kolhapure, and music composer A.R. Rahman were also seen sharing the stage with Amitabh, who received the honour on the memorial day of Deenanath Mangeshkar, the theatre-music veteran and father of the Mangeshkar siblings.

Rahman was also feted with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for his contributions to the field of music, along with Randeep, Ashok Saraf, and playback singer Roopkumar Rathod.

B

ollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a sneak-peek from her recent vacation in Tanzania. Kareena took to Instagram, where she shared a motley of pictures from the holiday. In the first image, Kareena is seen sitting in a car for a jungle safari. In the image, she is sporting an all denim outfit paired with sneakers and sunglasses.

Another image shows Taimur looking at a deer standing at a close distance from the jeep. However, Taimur’s younger brother Jeh and his father Saif Ali Khan are not present in any pictures.

Kareena captioned the images: “SAVANNA GIRL AND BOY”, “TANZANIA 2024.”

Talking about her work, Kareena’s latest release is ‘Crew’, which also features Tabu and Kriti Sanon. She will next be seen in Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham Again’ as Avni Kamat.

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

Tiffany Haddish uses an undisclosed X account to troll her trolls

NatGeo rolls out 5 Earth Day videos to inspire people to become changemakers

I

n less than 50 years, our planet has lost 69 percent of its wildlife population. To highlight this loss, and celebrate Earth Day, National Geographic India is back with its ‘One For Change’ initiative, which is now in its third season.

The brand initiative, according to a press statement issued by the channel, advocates for positive environmental impact through small individual actions, highlighting how just one small act by everyone can have an enormous impact.

A

ctress and comedian Tiffany Haddish talked about how she felt the need to give her army of critics a taste of their own medicine.

Haddish, who revealed last month she had been sober for more than two months after being charged with driving under the influence in November 2023 when she allegedly fell asleep at the wheel in Los Angeles, shared the details during an appearance at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California.

She talked about the motivation behind her bogus X account: “The Internet came out and people got the freedom to talk about whatever they want to talk about. And now I wish I was back to illiterate again. “So, people talk about me. I don’t know why y’all talking about me so damn much, but that’s okay. I like to talk about you too. (I) made me a fake page and now I’m talking about (stuff) – how about that?

As a part of this initiative, National Geographic India is presenting five narratives emphasizing the need for change in our lives from the animal kingdom’s perspective. These videos highlight the struggles of wildlife species against deforestation, climate change, plastic pollution, water scarcity and air pollution.

Each video raises awareness about pressing global issues, such as the staggering amount of plastic in our oceans, the loss of millions of hectares of forests, the melting of trillion tons of ice, droughts and the deteriorating air quality around the world.

The idea behind these films is “to take viewers on an emotional journey, inspiring

them to act now and adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives”.

In the previous seasons of ‘One For Change’, the channel focused on inspiring stories of real-life changemakers to educate people about how one change can create

a big impact. This season, National Geographic India is urging people to work for change towards a greener planet by putting into practice in their daily lives a series of 30 sustainability tips that are being shared on the channel’s social media platforms.

Gory, funny ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ trailer promises fireworks at box-office

“‘Why is this lady attacking me?’ You talk about what goes around comes around, don’t worry.” Haddish added she had restricted her secret account to X. The actress said: “I don’t know about fake Instagram, but I definitely got fake Twitter… I mean a fake X – a fake X.”

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he ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ trailer is here, and the two titular superheroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the greatest healing powers, promise an absolute carnage of epic proportions at the box office.

The 2-minute and 38 seconds-long trailer begins with Hugh Jackman’s character of Logan asking for a drink at a bar when Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool interrupts him and asks him to come along with him. Logan, not one bit impressed with the unwelcome interference, politely asks him to leave until things start to escalate and claws start to draw out

only to be treated with the barrel of Deadpool’s gun resting on Logan’s forehead. The interior scene then cuts to the vast expanse of the snow-capped landscape where the ruins lay.

show the frenemies fighting between themselves and the common enemy with a healthy dose of Deadpool constantly ‘punching’ the fourth wall to break it open.

The viewers are then treated with the visuals of both of them engaging in a fight drawing out each other’s blood. But, since both can heal from practically anything (remember Wolverine once regenerated from a single drop of blood, in the comic book universe), the sheer volume of blood spilled hardly makes any difference.

For the fans of core Hindi cinema, imagine ‘Karan Arjun’ but in fancy superhero suits as they constantly try to one-up each other yet have a gala time-fighting in the field when they join forces.

The following sequences in the trailer

The Merc with a mouth and Weapon X promise to arrive in cinemas in slow motion and high-speed heroic shots on July 26, 2024.

20

Dharam - Karam www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

Unveiling Maa Durga’s Shakti Peeths and the Nine Forms of Navadurga

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n Hinduism, Maa, the Maha Shakti, is celebrated as the Destroyer of Evil and is revered by various names, ultimately being recognized as the ‘Mahadevi’ or ‘Great Goddess.’ “Devi Durga” is familiar to many during their upbringing, with Maa Durga’s Shakti Peetha holding immense significance in Hinduism. A Shakti Peetha is a sacred shrine where Goddess Durga is worshipped in her Shakti form.

Significance of Shakti: Shakti, the female principle of divine energy, personifies as a supreme deity. A Shakti Peetha represents the holy abode of Maa Durga. ‘Maa’ signifies a woman with her child or children (Bhakt), while

‘Durga’ embodies divine forces and positive energy.

History: The history behind Maa Durga Shakti Peeths is rooted in Hindu mythology and legends, narrating the divine events associated with the goddess Durga and the formation of these sacred sites. According to the Puranas, especially the Devi Bhagavata Purana and the Kalika Purana, the story unfolds with the great yajna (sacrificial ritual) organized by King Daksha, the father of Goddess Sati.

King Daksha organized a grand yajna but intentionally excluded his daughter Sati and her husband Lord Shiva, whom

Daksha disapproved of. Despite Shiva’s warning, Sati attended the yajna but faced humiliation from her father. Unable to bear the insult, Sati self-immolated in the sacrificial fire.

Upon learning of Sati’s tragic end, Lord Shiva was consumed by grief and rage.

He performed the Tandava, the cosmic dance of destruction. To calm Shiva and prevent further chaos, Lord Vishnu intervened. Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra severed Sati’s body into 51 pieces, 52 pieces by some counts, which fell across various locations on Earth, forming the Shakti Peeths.

Each Shakti Peeth is associated with a

specific part of Sati’s body, symbolizing the divine feminine energy. The places where her body parts fell became sacred sites dedicated to different forms of the goddess Durga. These locations are believed to be potent sources of spiritual power and divine energy.

Importance and Worship: The Shakti Peeths hold immense significance in Hinduism, and millions of devotees visit them to seek the blessings of Maa Durga. The goddess is worshipped in various forms and manifestations at these temples. Pilgrimages to these sites are considered spiritually enriching, and the devout believe that visiting these Peeths fulfills their desires and grants them protection.

Navadurga - Nine Forms of Durga: The concept of Navadurga, the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is closely related to the Shakti Peeths. Each Peeth is associated with a specific form of the goddess. Devotees often undertake the Navadurga pilgrimage, visiting these nine significant temples to seek blessings and spiritual fulfillment.

The tradition of pilgrimage to the Shakti Peeths has been deeply ingrained in Hindu culture. Pilgrims undertake journeys to these sacred sites, often following specific routes and rituals. These pilgrimages are not only a means of seeking divine blessings but also an expression of deep devotion and reverence towards the goddess.

The history behind Maa Durga Shakti Peeths weaves together tales of sacrifice, divine intervention, and the creation of sacred sites that continue to inspire the faith and devotion of millions of Hindus. These Peeths stand as symbols of the eternal feminine energy, embodying the strength, compassion, and power of the goddess Durga.

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

Laughter Echoes: UP Association’s vibrant Hasya Kavi Sammelan lights up Chicagoland

By Dr Avi Verma, Vandana Jhingan

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n April 21, 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Association (UPA) orchestrated a lively Hasya Kavi Sammelan at the Ashiana Banquet in Downers Grove, Chicagoland. UPA is the only organization that organizes this very popular Kavi Sammelan every year and brings acclaimed poets from India to promote and celebrate the richness of our motherland language through Kavi Sammelan.

The success of this event owes much to the dedicated efforts of the key organizers mainly Subhash Pandey, Rajkumar Upadhyay, Taruna Gupta, Vivek Varma, Rani Trivedi, Rameshwar Prasad, and Sanjeev Pandey.

The artists captivated the audience with a captivating array of poignant and patriotic compositions. Arun Gemini, renowned for his humor, delighted the crowd with his witty anecdotes, especially expressing the joy and excitement of his suitcase for the first program after Covid. His unique style infused lightheartedness into the atmosphere, creating a sense of joy and celebration.

Shambhu Shikhar, a masterful satirist, mesmerized the audience with his sharp wit and clever humor. His jokes, like “Cheeni ko jama ke phir se ganna bana doon” (turning sugar back into sugarcane), elicited laughter and applause, showcasing his knack for blending humor with social commentary.

Mumtaz Naseem, a distinguished lyricist,

enchanted everyone with beautiful and soulful couplets and poems, such as “Azizo.” Her poignant verses resonated deeply with the audience, evoking emotions of love, nostalgia, and patriotism.

Together, these talented artists showcased their exceptional skills, each leaving a memorable impression on the audience. The Sammelan was a resounding success, with over 400 guests attending from across Chicagoland and neighboring areas, testament to the enduring appeal of their artistry.

The Uttar Pradesh Association (UPA) of Greater Chicago started in 1991 with a vision of bringing together people interested in Uttar Pradesh by promoting Indian music, art, and culture globally. Their website www.upassociation.com is dedicated to all the people interested in these objectives. It provides a platform for dissemination of the information for the people in Chicago land under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Chicago. Their cultural programs, Kavi Sammelan, and picnics are

big attractions in Chicagoland and draw participants from all over the country and India as well.

The team at IndoUS Tribune, including the Publisher, Avi Verma and Senior Journalist Vandana Jhingan, feels immensely honored

to have the opportunity to cover the Hasya Kavi Sammelan, a dynamic celebration of culture and art. We eagerly anticipate covering more events like this that foster cultural exchange and community engagement, enriching our readers with diverse perspectives and experiences.

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Dharam-Karam www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

Giving the traditional shawl to the Mayor of Naperville by past President Vinita Gulabani, along with Founder Chairman Sunil Shah and President Pratibha Jairath

Chief Guest and other dignitaries with FIA Founder Chairman, Past and Present Presi and Board Members

FIA

organizes a grand Holi celebration with immense fervor and enthusiasm The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Chicago, a 501(c) (3) organization, hosted a spectacular, vibrant, and colorful Holi celebration marked by a beautifully decorated stage and premises filled with music, dance, delicious food, and singing that depicted glorious Indian culture at the Mall of India, Naperville, Illinois, on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Mayor of Naperville Scott Wehrli, Founder Chairman Sunil Shah, FIA Te

By Vandana Jhingan

Applying the traditional ‘Gulal’ on Mayor of Naperville Scott Wehrli by President Pratibha Jairath, with Founder Chairman Sunil Shah, Advisory Board Members Pinky Thakkar and Dr. Bhupinder Beri

Larry Herman (Mayor of Oak-Brook), playing Holi with Pratibha Jairath (President), Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman), Shweta Baid (Alderwoman), Michelle Mussman (Congresswoman-IL), Vinita Gulabani (Past President) and other FIA Team members.

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Community

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

T

he grand event kicked off with an ensemble by Maharashtra Mandal called ‘Dhol Tasha’. This rhythm got the entire crowd, including the mall visitors, to join in the fun and dance together. The mayor of Naperville, Scott Wehrli, joined in the traditional dance and learned a few steps. This was followed by the emcees Nilabh Dubey (Secretary-General) and Sanskriti Sharma taking over the program by inviting FIA Chairman and Founder, Sunil Shah, President Pratibha Jairath, and Past President Vinita Gulabani on the stage.

ident and other key FIA Executive Directors

Chairman and Founder Sunil Shah welcomed on the stage the Chief Guest for the day, Consulate General of India, Somnath Ghosh. This was followed by welcoming the Mayor of Naperville, Scott Wehrli, Congresswoman Michelle Mussman, Mayor of Oakbrook, Larry Herman, and the Alderwoman of Aurora, Shweta Baid.

On the stage, the dignitaries were joined by Advisory Board members Pinky Thakkar, Sushma Bhanot, and Dr. Bhupinder Beri.

Scott Wehrli spoke about why Naperville gets constantly ranked as the number one city to live in the USA and the contributions of the Indian diaspora in building Naperville into a great city. Larry Herman very well articulated the fun involved in applying the colors to each, bringing us all together as part of one family. Michelle Mussman, who was attending the Holi festivities with FIA for the eighth time, spoke about how FIA brings the West and East together and truly proves there is unity in diversity. Shweta Baid spoke about the vibrant Indian community and the welcoming nature that ensures smooth integration, wherever they live. CG Somnath Ghosh spoke about how the Indian

diaspora brings vibrancy and economic development to wherever they live. He also spoke about the world’s great democracy, starting the election for the new government, where 1.4 billion people will decide their representatives. The transition of applying colors to the forehead was done by Chairman Sunil Shah and Pratibha Jairath to all the dignitaries. Specially made Holi T-shirts were gifted to all the dignitaries.

Thanks to our sponsors, Ghoman Group (Marriott) and Naresh Shah (Rely Care Services).

This was followed by the cultural program. The mic was handed to Richa Chand, the emcee for the entertainment segment. Culturals were kicked off by Jitendra Bulasara and Shaila Khedkar, signing patriotic and special Holi songs.

We had great performances from many dance schools: Prerna, Kabita, Trusha (Pika Munshi), Bollywood Beatz (Anita Rotiwar), and Suhani Dance Academy (Falguni Rana). The surprise was an amazing dance performance by our very own FIA directors, Falguni Rana, Dolly Bansal, Sonika Khandelwal, Sanskriti Sharma, and Falguni Sukhadia. This was followed by amazing Garbha singing by Jigna Pathak and Jitendra Bulsara. All the dignitaries could not resist themselves from joining the dance when the Garbha team sang ‘Dholida Pankhida’ hit songs and hundreds of people from the audience jumped in. The culturals were brought to an end by another surprise, when Richa Chand and Nilabh Dubey called on stage Chairman Sunil Shah and Executive Director Rita Shah to sing a foot-tapping duet. The dancing continued with greater fervor and full josh.

The last segment of the program was the actual playing of colors, which was done outside in the open. On the way, as everyone moved from indoors to outdoors, Vandana Jhingan, representing the press and media in Chicagoland, interviewed CG Somnath Ghosh and Founder Chairman Sunil Shah for the TV News segment.

CG Somnath Ghosh spoke eloquently to the press about how FIA is at the forefront of bringing Indian culture to the USA. The surprises did not end here. Anu Malhotra (Executive Vice President) prepared Thandai (a special milk and dry fruit-based drink) for all the folks who joined the Holi.

Dinesh Kapoor, Anu Khetarpal, Smitesh Shah, and Hemendra Shah ensured everyone got the Indian snacks and a special Holi Tshirt before the folks went out to play Holi.

The impeccable stage and the outside set-up were done by Neelam Jai. Suresh Bodiwala from Asian Media ensured each memory was well captured on his camera.

The color play of Holi kicked off with Sunil Shah, Pratibha Jairath, Vinita Gulabani, and Sudhir Agrawal blasting the colors 25 feet up in the air. DJ and the Dhol team revved up the spirits with their music, and thanks to Pratibha Jairath for sponsoring the colors, which were free for all the 600 people who joined the sweet celebrations. It was such a colorful moment; amidst the chaos of colors, there were countless moments of joy and camaraderie.

FIA thanked and truly appreciated all its attendees, esteemed guests, sponsors, supporters, and media partners for their unwavering support and trust in FIA. The question remained in everyone’s mind: ‘What next from FIA, Chicago!!’

Team with the Dhol Tasha Team

Left to Right – Dignitaries Congresswoman Michelle Mussman, Alderwoman Shweta Baid, Mayor of Oak-Brook Larry Herman, Chief Guest Consul General Somnath Ghosh, Founder Chairman Sunil Shah

Mayor of Oak-Brook Larry Herman dancing with the Founder Chairman Sunil Shah and other key FIA Executive Members and Advisory Board Member – Pinky Thakkar

Dance performance by Bollywood Beatz Dance School

Chief Guest Consulate General Somnath Ghosh addressing the audience with Standing from Left to Right – Rita Shah (Executive Director), Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman), Sushma Bhanot (Advisory Board), Consulate General Somnath Ghosh, Larry Herman (Mayor of Oak-Brook), Michelle Mussman (Congresswoman-IL), Shweta Baid (Alderwoman)

Standing from Left to Right – Richa Chand (Vice President), Nilabh Dubey (Secretary-General), Larry Herman (Mayor of Oak-Brook), Pratibha Jairath (President), Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman), Shweta Baid (Alderwoman), Michelle Mussman (Congresswoman-IL), Vinita Gulabani (Past President)

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Highly anticipated Thumri Concert to delight Chicagoland this weekend

T

he wait is almost over!

The Chicago Kali Bari Temple is set to host its inaugural fundraising event, the highly anticipated Thumri Concert, on April 28, 2024, at the Glenbard South High School Main Auditorium in Glen Ellyn, IL. This event marks a significant step for the temple in raising funds to support its mission of spiritual enlightenment and cultural celebration within the Hindu diaspora in the Chicagoland area and the US Midwest.

Founded in 2018, the Chicago Kali Bari Temple, also known as the Chicago Kali House of Spirituality & Worship (CKB), aims to share and encourage spiritual enlightenment while fostering peace and unity among its congregation.

The temple has quickly established a presence within the Hindu diaspora in the Chicagoland area, serving as a place of worship and cultural celebration.

It aims to build a holistic house of spirituality and worship where all are welcome to enhance their spiritual lives through meditation and guidance.

The Temple strives to be a place where our youth can gather, to listen, to question, and to continue and incorporate cultural ideals and heritage in their daily life.

The upcoming Thumri Concert represents an opportunity for the Chicago Kali Bari Temple to raise funds towards its vision of providing a dedicated space for spiritual exploration and cultural festivities.

The concert will feature renowned artists Kaushiki Chakraborty, a classical artist, and Ambi Subrmaniam, a violinist, promising an evening of captivating musical performances.

The event will take place at the Glenbard South High School Main Auditorium, located at 23W200 Butterfield Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, starting at 5PM, CDT. Chicago Kali Bari Temple invites all members of the community to join this event and contribute towards the growth of a vibrant cultural and spiritual hub within the Chicagoland area.

For more information about the Chicago Kali Bari Temple and the upcoming Thumri Concert, please visit Chicago Kali Bari at 2s511 IL Route 53, Glen Ellyn IL 60137, USA

Email: Info@chicagokalibari.com www.facebook.com/chicagokalibari

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

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Health & Fitness www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

Seven tips to get started with your fitness journey

S

tarting a fitness routine is a tough and overwhelming choice.

Especially if you are a beginner and can barely differentiate between a bench press and a cross trainer, let alone know what goals you can achieve with either. Staying motivated to work out may very well be hard, but not impossible. A personal trainer may be able to help you on this journey, yet the motivation comes from no one but yourself.

you need to spring up and get back into the routine. You need not do the same exercise every day, instead could try brisk walking or doing 5-10 Suryanamaskars to keep the momentum going.

Find a friend A workout buddy who has similar fitness goals like yours can be of great support in this journey. They can be your cheerleaders when you feel low and demotivated, and you can also hold each other accountable to your fitness goals. After all, who doesn’t like a partner- in-fitness.

If you want to see the change in your body and are ready to make serious changes to your lifestyle, follow some of these cardinal rules and see your fitness expedition take off.

Eating right Now that you have started on your fitness journey and have gotten the motivation to exercise, it’s time to watch what you eat. Without the right kind of food, your fitness routine will go for a toss. Healthy food and plenty of water is the fuel that your body needs. It is essential to consume carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats in equal amounts.

Self-commitment You need to understand that this is a process that will require full commitment at your end. You need to be absolutely ready for taking on this challenge since fitness is all about finding the perfect balance. It will get difficult to reach your desired goals with a lack of self-commitment.

Set a clear goal The first step before getting into a fitness routine is to understand what your aim is. Whether it is to lose weight, improve cardiovascular health, build flexibility or build muscle power. Determining what you want will lead you to taking up a fitness routine in alignment with your goal.

Start small While your body is very capable of change,

it is impossible to expect that you will be able to do 3 repetitions with heavy weights on the very first day that you begin your fitness journey. You could try a class that will help you find the best exercise routine based on your fitness goals. It may not necessarily

be working out in the gym but could also be Pilates, yoga or even Zumba.

Keep it going The process of fitness can be tiresome and may even make you give up. That is when

Be kind to yourself This project you have taken up is just for yourself. It is important to celebrate the small wins like increase in the number of sets you do or the number of miles you ran and treat yourself. You could even buy those cool athleisure outfits that you were eyeing to sustain the excitement and make it a fun experience. You must reward yourself for all that hard work that you put in.

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Friday, 26 April, 2024

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Beauty & Fashion www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 26 April, 2024

your individuality while maintaining a polished appearance.

Ways to style your

Feminine Elegance: For a sophisticated and feminine look, pair the white shirt with a pencil skirt or a dressy pair of pants. Tuck in the shirt and cinch your waist with a slim belt to accentuate your silhouette. Consider adding a statement necklace or a silk scarf for an extra touch of elegance along with heels or pointedtoe flats for a polished and professional appearance.

white shirt A

classic white shirt is a wardrobe staple that exudes elegance and versatility. Its versatility knows no bounds, making it a must-have piece for any style-conscious individual. From formal occasions to casual outings, this timeless piece can be transformed into various stylish ensembles.

Here are a few ways that discover the myriad of possibilities that lie within

your white shirt and unleash its potential for creating unique and fashion-forward looks.

Effortless Tunic: Transform your white shirt into a chic tunic by leaving it untucked and unbuttoned. Layer it over a pair of leggings or skinny jeans for a comfortable and trendy ensemble. To add a pop of color, accessorize with a waist belt or a vibrant handbag. Finish the look with ankle boots or sandals for a stylish and relaxed vibe.

Classic and Chic: The classic combination of a white shirt and black trousers never goes out of style. This evergreen combination is perfect for numerous occasions ranging from formal events to business meetings and job interviews. Tuck your crisp white shirt into tailored black pants, add a sleek belt,

and complete the look with a pair of polished black shoes. An oversized blazer in a complementary shade can also add a touch of sophistication and enhancement.

Casual Style: While a white shirt is a perfect option for formal occasions, it can also be effortlessly transitioned into casual and comfy attire. Simply pair the shirt with well-fitted jeans for a relaxed yet stylish look. Complete the outfit with sneakers or loafers for a comfortable and trendy vibe. Additionally, a white linen shirt teamed up with chinos or rolled-up sleeves with shorts is another style for a casual and contented look.

Playful Patterns and Colors: Don’t be afraid to infuse some personality into your white shirt by experimenting with patterns and colors. Opt for a white shirt with subtle stripes or polka dots for a playful touch. Consider pairing it with chinos or colored trousers to create a stylish contrast.

This combination allows you to express

Bohemian Style: Embrace a bohemianinspired look by layering your white shirt with a flowing maxi skirt or wide-leg pants. Furthermore, tie the shirt at the waist for a cropped effect and pair it with a statement belt for another classy look.

Experiment with textured fabrics, such as lace or crochet, to add a boho touch.

Complete the ensemble with strappy sandals, beaded jewelry, and a floppy hat for a whimsical and free-spirited style.

The white shirt is a versatile and essential piece that can be styled in numerous ways to suit various occasions and personal preferences. Whether you opt for a classic and chic look, a casual and cool ensemble, playful patterns and colors, or layered sophistication, the possibilities are endless. By experimenting with different bottoms, accessories, and layering techniques, you can breathe new life into your white shirt and create a fashion-forward statement. So, embrace your white shirt as a canvas for your personal style and unleash your creativity with confidence.

Beauty & Fashion Friday, 26 April, 2024

31 www.indoustribune.com

6 easy to make face packs for a flawless skin Simple kitchen ingredients like Papaya, egg white, banana, cucumber and yogurt are all you need.

A

chieving flawless skin is a common goal for everyone, and one aspect of this goal is skin tightening.

Natural face packs can be a great way to tighten the skin and improve its overall health and appearance. Dr. Neha Khuraana, MD, a Board-certified Dermatologist shares six effective skin-tightening face packs to achieve that dreamy flawless skin.

Egg White Face Pack Egg whites are rich in proteins that can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. To make this face pack, simply whisk an egg white until it becomes frothy, apply it to your face, and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Then, rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Banana Face Pack Bananas are packed with nutrients that can nourish the skin and improve its elasticity.

Mash a ripe banana and mix it with a teaspoon of honey to create a skin-tightening face pack.

Apply this mixture to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash off with water.

Cucumber Face Pack Cucumbers have a cooling effect on the skin and can help tighten pores. Blend a cucumber into a smooth paste and mix it with a tablespoon of yoghurt. Apply this pack to your face. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off with cold water for refreshed and tightened skin.

Aloe Vera Face Pack Aloe vera is known for its skin-tightening and hydrating properties. Take out some fresh aloe vera gel using a spoon/knife and apply it directly to your face. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes before washing off with water.

Regular use can help improve skin elasticity and firmness.

Papaya Face Pack Papaya contains enzymes that can help tighten the skin and promote a youthful glow. Mash a ripe papaya and mix it with a teaspoon of honey to create a skin-tightening face pack.

Apply this mixture to your face, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

Gram Flour Face Pack Gram flour, also known as besan, has skintightening and exfoliating properties. Mix gram flour with rose water or yoghurt to form a paste. Apply this pack to your face, let it dry for 15-20 minutes, and then gently scrub off while rinsing with water for tightened and glowing skin.

Incorporating these natural skin tightening face packs into your skincare routine can help you achieve a firmer, more youthful complexion. Remember to patch test any new ingredients to ensure they suit your skin type, and enjoy the benefits of these simple yet effective treatments for flawless skin.

32 Friday, 26 April, 2024

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