hi INDiA | April 19, 2024 | The Community First

A MAMMOTH ELECTION

The general election is the largest democratic exercise ever - almost one in eight people in the world can vote

Alejandro Mayorkas: Senate votes to dismiss impeachment charges

NASA's Ingenuity Chopper's Farewell Message

Washington: NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter has transmitted its final message to Earth and will now serve as an immobile data-gathering unit on the red planet's surface, the space agency said on Tuesday. The tissue box-sized aircraft made history by achieving the first powered flight on another planet after hitching a ride under the belly of the Perseverance rover, which first lifted off the surface on April 19, 2021. "A long goodbye," NASA said on social media site X. "Ingenuity's team received their final message from the #MarsHelicopter, which will now serve as a stationary testbed, collecting data that could benefit future explorers of the Red Planet." Originally intended only to prove flight was possible in the ultra-thin Martian atmosphere through five test runs, Ingenuity defied all expectations.

The US Senate has voted to kill impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas, sparing him a trial in the chamber.

It was the first time in almost 150 years, and only the second time in US history, the Senate had considered the impeachment of a cabinet secretary. If two-thirds of the chamber had approved, Mr Mayorkas would have been removed from office. He was accused of refusing to enforce

US,

immigration law. Mr Mayorkas was also charged by the US House of Representatives with breaching "the public trust" by making false statements during congressional testimony. In near-party line votes on Wednesday, senators dismissed the two articles of impeachment filed by the House two months ago. The Department of Homeland Security welcomed the result. The agency's statement said the vote to dismiss "proves definitively that there was no evidence or Constitutional grounds to justify impeachment".

China Defence Chiefs Hold

Talks For First Time In 18 Months

Washington: US Defence Secretary

Lloyd Austin spoke with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun via video teleconference Tuesday, in the first substantive talks between the superpowers' defence chiefs in nearly 18 months.

The United States has been working to strengthen defence cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China's growing influence but also wants to maintain lines of communication with Beijing to prevent tensions from spiralling out of control.

"The two officials discussed US-PRC defence relations and regional and global security issues," the Pentagon said in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China.

"Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of continuing to open lines of military-to-military communication between the United States and the PRC" following talks between the two sides in

The United States has been working to strengthen defence cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China's growing influence.

recent months, the statement said. Austin also "reiterated that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate -- safely and responsibly -wherever international law allows," and "underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea." Beijing, in turn, said Dong had used the talks to call for greater "trust" between the two powers.

"China and the United States should... take peace as the most precious, stability as the most important," Dong told Austin, according to a Beijing readout. "The military sphere is the key... to stabilizing the development of the relationship and preventing major crises from occurring," Dong said. But he also warned the US over the selfruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.

"Dong Jun emphasized that the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests," the defence ministry readout said.

USC student's graduation speech cancelled in Israel-Gaza hate row

The University of Southern California (USC) has cancelled a student's graduation speech amid backlash over her social media activity on Israel. USC cited "substantial risks" to campus security in the decision to halt the Muslim student's address.

But Asna Tabassum said she was the target of "a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice".

Ms Tabassum is the 2024 valedictorian, a student picked out for high academic scores and involvement in campus life.

The decision to cancel her speech came after claims that her social media

Asna Tabassum accused USC of abandoning her

activity was antisemitic. A debate about free speech on US college campuses has intensified since the Israel-Gaza war erupted last October.

Ms Tabassum's Instagram account links to a website that criticises Israel and calls for its "complete abolishment", instead

US Woman, 40, Admits Poisoning Husband's Coffee

A woman in the United States has pleaded guilty to poisoning her husband by pouring bleach into his coffee. According to Fox News, Melody Felicano Johnson, 40, pleaded guilty last week to two counts of adding poison or harmful substance to food or drink. She was originally charged with attempted firstdegree murder and pleaded not guilty in August 2023. But she has now pleaded guilty to the lesser crimes and faces a sentence range of four months to two years in prison for each count.

The 40-year-old admitted to putting trace amounts of bleach in her husband's coffee pot on July 11 and July 18, 2023, as per Fox News. The husband, Roby Johnson, said he believed his wife was trying to kill him to collect death benefits.

US Welcomes Indian Students: Academician

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arguing for a "one-state solution... in which both Arabs and Jews can live together".

The website also claims that "Zionism is a racist settler-colonial ideology that advocates for a Jewish ethnostate built on Palestinian land".One campus group, Trojans for Israel, said that although it "strongly supports the right to free expression - including informed criticism of the Israeli government... rhetoric that denies the right of the Jewish people to self-determination or calls for the destruction of the only Jewish state in the world must be denounced as antisemitic bigotry".

Washington: The United States continues to offer a welcoming environment to students from India, an eminent Indian-American academician said Monday amid reports of deaths of 11 students from India or of Indian origin this year, a development that has caused concerns. While no pattern has been established yet on these deaths, the Indian diplomatic missions here has proactively started engaging with the Indian students. This includes regular open house, interaction with students' associations, coming up with updated guidelines for the students.

“It's unfortunate this year that these incidents have happened … and there's been this surge. So, parents are rightfully concerned. I mean, if I were a parent and my child was in another country where I see a certain spike, I would definitely be concerned about that. But from what I see is that I have not seen any underlying issue of any kind that suddenly there is no reason for any hate crime to happen,” Gurdip Singh, Divisional Dean, School of Computing at the George Mason University in Virginia told PTI in an interview.

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Mr Mayorkas

Russia's meat grinder soldiers - 50,000 confirmed dead

Russia's military death toll in Ukraine has now passed the 50,000 mark, the BBC can confirm.

In the second 12 months on the front line - as Moscow

Indo-Canadian Men Arrested in Canada's Largest Gold Heist

Toronto: (IANS) Two Indo-Canadian men are among five South Asians arrested for Canada's largest gold heist at Toronto airport.

On April 17, 2023, in the largest gold heist at Canada's biggest airport, 6,600 gold bars valued at over (Canadian) $20 million and foreign currency amounting to about (Canadian) $2.5 million were stolen from an Air Canada storage depot at Pearson International Airport here.

Australian Defence Minister: $50B Funding Over Decade

Sydney: (IANS/DPA)

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday announced a $50 billion Australian ($32 billion) defence funding boost over the next 10 years.

The spending package includes an additional $5.7 billion over the next four years and an immediate injection of more than $1 billion to speed up the development of long-range missiles and targeting systems, as well as fuel resilience and robotic and autonomous systems, Marles said.

pushed its so-called meat grinder strategy - we found the body count was nearly 25% higher than in the first year.

BBC Russian, independent media group Mediazona and volunteers have been counting deaths since February 2022. New graves in cemeteries helped provide the names of many soldiers.

Our teams also combed through open-source information from official reports, newspapers and social media.

More than 27,300 Russian soldiers died in the second year of combat - according to our findings - a reflection of how territorial gains have come at a huge human cost.

Russia has responded to the BBC's report saying only the defence ministry in Moscow can give this kind of information. The term meat grinder has been used to describe the way Moscow sends waves of soldiers forward relentlessly to try to wear down Ukrainian forces and expose their locations to Russian artillery.

The overall death toll - of more than 50,000 - is eight times higher than the only official public acknowledgement of fatality numbers ever given by Moscow in September 2022.

The actual number of Russian deaths is likely to be much higher. Our analysis does not include the deaths of militia in Russianoccupied Donetsk and Luhansk - in eastern Ukraine. If they were added, the death toll on the Russian side would be even higher.

Dubai airport chaos as UAE and Oman reel from deadly storms

Heavy rain has been battering Gulf states, causing flash floods that have killed 20 people and disrupted flights at the world's second-busiest airport.

Dubai International Airport says it is facing "very challenging conditions". It advised passengers not to turn up as runways were inundated with water.

Further north, a man died when his car was caught in flash floods. In Oman, rescuers found the body of a girl in Saham, bringing the death toll in the country to 19 since Sunday.

About 290 flights to and from Dubai International Airport on Wednesday have been cancelled, according to Flight Aware data at 21:00 GMT (22:00 BST).

There have been a further 440 delayed flights, the data showed. The airport, which serves as a major hub for connecting flights to every continent, warned "recovery will take some time".

Emirates, a major international airline that is headquartered in Dubai, has suspended check-in for passengers departing from the city until Thursday.

Maldives President Muizzu Accused Of Corruption In Leaked Report

Male: Ahead of the parliamentary polls in the Maldives, the opposition parties have demanded a probe and impeachment of President Mohamed Muizzu following the leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, a charge dismissed by him.

Elections to the Majlis are to be held on Sunday and the atmosphere has been vitiated by the trading of charges between the main opposition the

Raisi warns of 'massive' response if Israel retaliates

Iran's president has warned that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response, as the region braces for potential Israeli retaliation after Iran's attack over the weekend. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke Wednesday at an annual army parade that was relocated to a barracks north of the capital, Tehran, from its usual venue on a highway in the city's southern outskirts. Iranian authorities gave no explanation for its relocation, and state television didn't broadcast it live, as it has in previous years.

Amsterdam Bans

New Hotels As Part Of Its Fight Against Mass Tourism

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC).

Local media reports have highlighted that the political storm started on Monday with an anonymous handle 'Hassan Kurusee' posting on social media X leaked intelligence reports, including documents prepared by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Maldives Monetary Authority and the Maldives Police Service that allegedly linked President Muizzu to corruption. "These reports, dated circa 2018, claim irregularities in money transfers to President Muizzu's personal bank account, highlighting 10 critical red flag indicators of financial misconduct. These indicators suggest involvement with politically exposed persons, embezzlement, structured transactions, and the use of corporate entities to hide fund origins," news portal Maldives Republic (mvrepublic.com) reported.

Amsterdam: The Netherlands' Amsterdam will no longer allow new hotel buildings to be built as part of its fight against mass tourism, the local government said on Wednesday. "We want to make and keep the city liveable for residents and visitors. This means: no overtourism, no new hotels, and no more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year", it said in a statement. A new hotel in Amsterdam can only be built if another hotel closes. If the number of sleeping places doesn't increase, and if the new hotel will be better, for example, more sustainable. However, the rule does not apply to new hotels that have already secured a permit.

The city has been actively trying to limit tourist numbers, which run into the millions per year, mainly by discouraging sex and drug-related tourism to the redlight district.

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Ebrahim Raisi

Enchanting

ISRO: Lunar Mission Until Indian Moon Landing

The Indian Space Research Organisation will continue its Chandrayaan series of lunar probes until an astronaut from the country lands on the Moon, said ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday.

Last August, the premier space agency’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft made a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface, making India the first country to achieve the feat. “Chandrayaan 3 has done very well. Data has been collected and scientific publication has just started. Now, we want to continue the Chandrayaan series till an Indian lands on the Moon. Before that, we have to master many technologies, such as going there and coming back. That we are trying to do in the next mission,” he told reporters.

BCCI Sets Strict Hardik Pandya T20 World Cup Selection Condition

An already-troubled Hardik Pandya could be in for a big setback if things don't go his way in the ongoing Indian Premier League (PL) 2024. While the batter Hardik is yet to fire, having only scored 131 runs in 6 matches at an average of 26.20 this season. With the ball, Hardik has been fairly inconsistent to even take up the responsibility. He has barely bowled in the last 4 matches, and when he has, the opponent team's batters have ripped him apart. With a place in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, Pandya has reportedly been sent a clear message from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee.

on Ram Navami

Terrorists Kill Migrant Worker From Bihar In Targeted Attack In J&K

The attack took place in Anantnag district, which will vote in the Lok Sabha polls on May 7.

A migrant worker from Bihar has been shot dead by terrorists in a targeted attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said on Wednesday.

The Kashmir Zone Police posted on X that the worker, identified as Raju Shah, was rushed to a hospital but died during treatment. "The injured person, who was shot at by #terrorists, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Search #operation underway in the area. Further details to follow. @

JmuKmrPolice," the post read.

An earlier post from the handle had said Shah was shot in Zablipora in Anantnag's Bijbehara. The attack comes barely a week after a resident of Dehradun was shot at by terrorists in

Bengal Governor says will be in Cooch Behar on polling day, EC opposes move

Kolkata, April 17 (IANS) West Bengal

Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has announced his intent to camp in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency in north Bengal on April 19, the day the constituency goes to polls in the

first phase, but the poll panel has urged him to refrain.

Sources said that the Governor took the decision after considering the record of poll-related violence in previous elections.

As per the schedule, said Raj Bhavan sources, the Governor will start for Cooch Behar from Kolkata on Thursday morning and will leave the constituency in the evening after the elections are over. However, later in the day, a communique was sent from the Election Commission to the Governor's office, suggesting he refrain from being in Cooch Behar on the polling day, since that would amount to a violation of the model code of conduct.

Trump-Biden rivalry intensifies to win over 5 million Hindu voters in America

Former US President Donald Trump is placing increased focus on IndianAmericans, particularly Hindu Americans, in his 2024 presidential election campaign. This targeted approach aims to garner support from a significant segment of voters, potentially resulting in substantial political shifts in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, current US President Joe

Biden is also incorporating a "Hindu page" into his vision document. Shalabh Kumar, the chairman of Trump's Hindu and Indian-American campaign and a Chicago-based businessman, stated, "We are making our appeal widespread for the benefit of the large community of Hindu Americans." Kumar emphasized that there are over 5 million Hindus in America, originating not only from India but also from Caribbean countries, South Africa, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Among them, there are 3.3 million registered voters, with approximately 60% actively participating in elections. This concerted effort reflects the growing significance of Indian-American and Hindu-American voters in shaping the political landscape of the United States.

south Kashmir's Herpora last Monday. Dilranjeet Singh survived the attack. Two workers from Punjab had also been shot dead in Srinagar in February and a Pakistan link had emerged later, following the arrest of a terrorist.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Applauds PM Modi, Appeals to First-Time Voters

New Delhi: (IANS)

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and the founder of Art of Living Foundation on Wednesday heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for setting new benchmarks of governance and also made a fervent appeal to first-time voters to cast their vote for making the democracy more vibrant. Addressing the Viksit Bharat Ambassadors in Bengaluru, Ravi Shankar said that today was a moment of pride for the nation as the Ram Navami festival was being celebrated at the birthplace of Ram Lalla.

Insurgents Abduct BJP Leader in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: Hours after a BJP leader was kidnapped in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain on Wednesday said no interference in the poll process by underground elements will be tolerated and stringent action will be initiated against such activities.

Mr Sain's assertion came following abduction of the BJP leader by insurgents in Longding district and the alleged use of underground elements by a poll contestant in the same district which falls under the Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat.

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pictures of divine coronation and adornment of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya

Huge Blow To India's 156.7 Kmph Pace Sensation Mayank Yadav

Pace sensation Mayank Yadav is unlikely to play the next two games for Lucknow Super Giants as he continues his recovery from tightness in his hip, said head coach Justin Langer on Thursday. LSG face Delhi Capitals here on Friday before travelling to Kolkata for the away game on April 14. Langer and Co. is hoping that Mayank regains full fitness before the home game against Chennai Super Kings on April 19.

Israel on High Alert Following Iran's Threats After Embassy Attack

Palestinian Territories: Israel was on alert Thursday after its archfoe Iran threatened reprisals over a strike in Syria this month that killed two Iranian generals, and as the war against Hamas ground on in Gaza.

Days after Israel strengthened its air defences and paused leave for combat units, the United States also warned of the risk of an attack by Iran or its allied groups at a time when Middle East tensions have soared.

Iran is "threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel", US President Joe Biden said Wednesday, pledging "ironclad" support for its top regional ally despite diplomatic tensions over Israel's military conduct in Gaza. Israel was widely blamed for an April 1 attack that destroyed Iran's consulate building in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including two generals.

Vietnamese Billionaire Faces Death for Multi-Billion Dollar Fraud

The court ordered Lan, 67, to pay almost the entire damages sum in compensation

Ho Chi Minh City: A top Vietnamese property tycoon was sentenced to death on Thursday in one of the biggest corruption cases in history, with an estimated $27 billion in damages.

A panel of three hand-picked jurors and two judges rejected all defence arguments by Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, who was found guilty of swindling cash from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) over a decade.

Asian Development Bank Raises India's Growth Forecast To 7%

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday raised India's GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7 per cent, from 6.7 per cent earlier, saying the robust growth will be driven by public and private sector investment and improvement in consumer demand. In its April edition of the Asian Development Outlook, ADB said India would remain "a major growth engine" in the Asia and Pacific region.

LS polls: PM Modi to campaign in J&K, Rajasthan today

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday will address an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur followed by a public meeting at Barmer and a roadshow at Dausa in Rajasthan for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Prime Minister will address a public meeting at 11 a.m. at the Modi Ground in Udhampur followed by a roadshow there. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Jitendra Singh for the third time from the Udhampur Parliamentary seat.

After Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Modi will also address a public meeting at the Adarsh Stadium in

Barmer at 2:45 p.m. to campaign for the BJP candidate from the Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency, Kailash Choudhary. Later, the Prime Minister will hold a roadshow in Dausa at 4.45 pm. This roadshow will start from Gandhi Tirahe and conclude at Gupteshwar Darwaza where a large number of people from this Lok Sabha constituency will be present. Major political events that will unfold

4-Member Panel To Probe Haryana Schoolbus Crash, Police Files Case

New Delhi: A four-member government-appointed panel will probe the school bus crash that killed six students and injured around 20 in Haryana's Mahendragarh on Thursday. The accident took place near Unhani village in Kanina, when the bus, carrying around 40 students from primary to secondary classes to the GL Public School, collided with a tree and overturned, police said. An FIR has been registered in connection with the case.

The Haryana Education Department has called for a meeting regarding vehicle safety policy at 3 pm today. All District Education Officers, Elementary Education Officers, and Block Education Officers of the state will participate in the meeting from various areas of the state via video conferencing. Initial investigations revealed disturbing details about the circumstances leading to the crash. School bags, shoes, and study materials were scattered amidst the wreckage following the accident. Some children lay in pools of blood, while others cried out in agony.

According to the police, the driver, identified as Dharmender, was allegedly drunk and driving recklessly when he lost control of the vehicle. Despite attempts by concerned villagers to intervene, the bus continued its journey, ultimately meeting with an accident.

across the country today:

*Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday will address two public meetings in Tamil Nadu. He will first address an election rally at 3:15 p.m. at the Bell Ground in Tirunelveli district. Later, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK National President M.K. Stalin along with Rahul Gandhi will hold a joint election rally in Coimbatore at 6:15 p.m.

*Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting at Buddhi Vihar from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad at 11:15 a.m. This public meeting will be held to campaign for BJP candidates -- Sarvesh Singh from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and Parmeshwar Lal Saini from Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency.

"The Largest Investor In Nepal Is India", Says Nepal Envoy

New Delhi: The Ambassador of Nepal to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, has called for the Indian business community to consider investing in Nepal and added that New Delhi is the number one place to promote investing in the Himalayan nation. While speaking to the news agency ANI at an "Industry Outreach Meet" organised in New Delhi, the envoy said, "The largest investor in Nepal is India. One-third of the total investment is from India... India is the number one place to promote investing in Nepal."

Aroh Barjatya, Indian-Origin Researcher

Who Led Recent NASA Mission

New Delhi: Aroh Barjatya, an Indiaborn researcher, led NASA's mission that launched sounding rockets during the recent total solar eclipse. The US space agency launched three sounding rockets during the total solar eclipse on April 8 to study what happens to the Earth's upper atmosphere when sunlight dims momentarily over a part of the planet. In 2021, he moved to the US for a master's degree in electrical engineering at Utah State University. He later did his PhD in spacecraft instrumentation from the same

university. "In addition to leading an externally funded research enterprise, as a tenured faculty I have mentored and engaged young minds through inquiry-based learning tactics, created a new area of concentration within the Engineering Physics programme at ERAU... My mission is to advance the state of the art in space research and education and to inspire the next generation of space engineers and scientists," he wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

Aroh Barjatya moved to the

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A MAMMOTH ELECTION

The general election is the largest democratic exercise ever - almost one in eight people in the world can vote.

On 19 April, Indians will begin choosing a new parliament for the next five years, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a third consecutive term. Opinion polls put Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies ahead. They are up against the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (India), which groups more than two dozen opposition parties including Congress, which was dominant for decades until the BJP took office in 2014. The election to the lower house (Lok Sabha) is taking place in a bitter atmosphere. The opposition say they have been denied a level playing field, with many leaders raided by federal law enforcement agencies. Congress said tax authorities had frozen its bank accounts for six weeks, hampering its campaign finances. Some opposition leaders, including popular Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, have been jailed on corruption charges they deny. The opposition has appealed to India's electoral authorities to intervene but the Election Commission itself has faced questions over its independence. The commission says it is providing a level playing field for all parties and candidates and treating them equally.

With 1.4 billion people, India is the world’s most populous country and the numbers around the election are mindboggling. Polling to elect 543 MPs will run in seven phases over six weeks, ending on 1 June. Results are on 4 June. Some 969 million citizens are eligible to cast their ballot. To give you an idea, if you add together the populations of the US, Russia, Japan, Britain, Brazil and France - that comes close to how many Indians are on the electoral rolls. Since we are still a bit short, let's also throw in Belgium.

Who are the voters?

Voting is staggered for security and logistical reasons. For the first time, the Election Commission has said elderly and disabled people can vote from home by postal ballot.

Nearly 1.5 million polling booths have

been set up across the country, with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar vowing to “take democracy to every corner of India”.

“Our teams will walk the extra mile to reach every voter, whether they are in jungles or on snowy mountains. We will go on horseback, elephants, mules or helicopters. We will reach everywhere.”

Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner

Courtesy:

A MAMMOTH ELECTION

Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Modi, who is eyeing a historic third term, remains the frontrunner, with early opinion polls predicting his return. If the 73-year-old wins, he will equal the record of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first premier. A polarising figure, Mr Modi remains a mass leader with millions of supporters who credit him with good governance and improving India’s standing internationally. But critics say his brand of muscular Hindu nationalism excludes minorities and he is out to change the secular fabric of the country.

Amit Shah

The man powering Mr Modi’s election juggernaut is Home Minister Amit Shah. He’s charted numerous successful election campaigns for the BJP. Like his mentor, he’s a polarising figure. Supporters say he defends the Hindu faith. He is seen as the driving force behind controversial laws, from scrapping Kashmir's partial autonomy to citizenship legislation that critics call anti-Muslim.

Yogi Adityanath

Mr Adityanath, the shaven-headed, saffron-robed Hindu monk-turned-chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, is considered the biggest mass leader in the BJP after PM Modi. He’s not standing in the general election but is playing a major role in the campaign in the bellwether state.

Rahul Gandhi

Mr Gandhi, who has never won a national election or been a minister, is the most prominent opposition leader. Most of this is down to his lineage: his greatgrandfather Jawaharlal Nehru was independent India’s first PM and his grandmother and father both later served as prime ministers.

Sonia Gandhi

When Congress was last in office a decade ago, Mr Gandhi’s Italian-born mother Sonia was considered the most powerful woman in India. But the 77-year-old has been in poor health and has lost much of her political influence.

Arvind Kejriwal

One opposition figure looming over the election is Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s firebrand chief minister who is currently in jail. He made his name as an anti-corruption crusader whose relatively young Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) beat both the BJP and Congress three times in a row to control the capital. It's also in power in Punjab. But in March he joined several of his senior party leaders when he was arrested. He's denied corruption charges and accuses the government of being vindictive. Supporters fear his arrest will dent the AAP’s election campaign.

Ram temple

Electoral bonds

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United Airlines says Boeing blowout cost it $200m

United Airlines has blamed Boeing for a $200m (£161m) hit to its earnings in the first three months of this year.

The carrier was forced to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet for three weeks after a mid-air cabin blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

United said that pushed it to a pre-tax loss of $164m for the first quarter. The airline said it "would have reported a quarterly profit" otherwise. However, the loss was smaller than Wall Street expected and United's shares rose by more than 5% after the announcement.

United has 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9s in its fleet, more than any of its rivals, and second only to Alaska Airlines.

United and Alaska were forced to cancel thousands of flights as inspections were carried out in January before the US aviation regulator cleared the planes to resume flying.

US Green Energy Thrives with Federal Funding

In February US company LanzaJet, which produces sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from ethanol, announced that it intended to build a second, larger plant on US soil.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was a "big influence", says Jimmy Samartzis, its chief executive. The second plant would add to its facility in Soperton, Georgia - the world's first commercial scale ethanolto-SAF plant. "We have a global landscape that we are pursuing…[but] we have doubled down on building here in the United States because of the tax credits in the IRA, and because of the overall support system that the US government has put in place."

Paytm speeds up user shift to PSP Banks

New Delhi: (IANS) One 97 Communications Limited (OCL) which owns the brand Paytm, India’s leading payments and financial services company and the pioneer of QR, soundbox and mobile payments, received go ahead, on Tuesday from the NPCI to start the user migration to new Payment System Provider (PSP) bank handles immediately.

Following NPCI's approval on March 14, 2024, to onboard OCL as a TPAP on the Multi Payment Service Provider API Model, Paytm has expedited the integration with Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), and YES Bank.

Earlier this month, Boeing paid $160m to Alaska to make up for losses the airline has suffered.

And speaking at a conference in March, the firm's chief financial officer Brian West said that its customers like United Airlines had been "supportive of everything we're trying to do to enhance

Elon Musk likely to meet chiefs of Indian space companies: Report

safety and quality for the industry". Referring specifically to the pay out due to the events on 5 January, he added: "We continue to stand behind our customers with that responsibility.” United told investors that its operations were also impacted by delays to deliveries of Boeing planes.

Russia to grow faster than all advanced economies says IMF

An influential global body has forecast Russia's economy will grow faster than all of the world's advanced economies, including the US, this year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year, significantly more than the UK, France and Germany.

Oil exports have "held steady" and government spending has "remained high" contributing to growth, the IMF said.

Overall, it said the world economy had been "remarkably resilient"

"Despite many gloomy predictions, the world avoided a recession, the banking system proved largely resilient, and major emerging market economies did not suffer sudden stops," the IMF said. The IMF is an international organisation with 190 member countries. They are used by businesses to help plan where to invest, and by central banks, such as the Bank of England to guide its decisions on interest rates.

US signals Venezuela oil sanctions relief at risk as deadline looms

The Biden administration has signaled that it could reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela on Thursday in response to what U.S. officials see as President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to meet his commitments for free and fair elections this year.

Barring any last-minute concessions by Maduro, the U.S. has made clear it is not likely to renew a six-month license that granted the OPEC member partial sanctions relief from October, following an election deal reached between the government and the Venezuelan

opposition. It expires just after midnight EST (0400 GMT on Friday). Washington had repeatedly threatened in recent months to reinstate punitive measures on Venezuela’s vital oil and gas sector unless Maduro made good on his promises, including allowing the opposition to run the candidate of its choice against him in the July 28 election. Maduro’s government has complied with some of the terms of the deal, signed in Barbados. The withdrawal of the most significant element of U.S. sanctions relief would mark a major step back from the U.S. President Joe Biden’s policy of re-engagement with the Maduro government.

But the Biden administration is expected to stop short of a full return to the “maximum pressure” campaign waged under the former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter.

New Delhi: (IANS) SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will likely meet representatives of Indian space companies during his visit to the country next week, according to media reports. Earlier this month, the tech billionaire in a post on X.com confirmed his visit to India.

“Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister @NarendraModi in India!” Musk said.

The Tesla CEO will reportedly meet PM Modi "in the week of April 22 in New Delhi". As per media reports, prominent space startups including Dhruva Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, and Bellatrix Aerospace have received requests from the government for a meeting with Musk in the national capital.

Biden calls for tripling tariffs on Chinese metals

US President Joe Biden is set to call for a tripling of tariffs on some steel and aluminium from China.

It is the latest protectionist policy to be embraced by Mr Biden as he campaigns for re-election against Donald Trump, who was known for his tough trade stance against China. The White House said the proposal was aimed at protecting US jobs against "unfair" competition. China has previously denied claims of dumping steel and aluminium overseas.

Dumping is selling excess product in another country for a very cheap price price and can often decimate the local industry's own market of that product. The International Monetary Fund warned yesterday that this kind of geopolitical tension risked damaging global economic growth and pushing inflation in the wrong direction.

The White House has denied that the tariffs - which would lift a key border tax rate from an average of 7.5% to 25% on a tiny fraction of importswould raise prices in the US.

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African Runners Allegedly Let Chinese Win Beijing Race

Beijing authorities are investigating the recent Beijing half-marathon following online footage suggesting three African runners intentionally slowed down near the finish line, allowing China's He Jie to overtake them and claim victory. He completed the race in 1:03:44, just a second ahead of Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, who all finished tied for second place. Videos circulating online showed the African runners gesturing for He to pass them and indicating towards the finish line. The runners had stayed together for the entire 13-mile race. He, a member of China's marathon team and the

national marathon record holder, is at the center of the controversy. The event's organizer, the Beijing Sports Competition Management and International Exchange Center,

directed inquiries to the half-marathon's organizing committee. The Beijing Sports Bureau, responsible for sports in the municipality, confirmed an ongoing investigation, with findings to

be disclosed later. The state-controlled Global Times highlighted skepticism over He's performance, noting the apparent deliberate slowing down of the African runners.

Social media reactions ranged from criticism to embarrassment, with many users questioning the integrity of the race. China has seen a surge in interest in distance running, yet incidents of cheating and organizational lapses persist. Notably, the 2018 Shenzhen half-marathon saw 258 participants caught cheating, including shortcuts, fake bibs, and imposters. The Beijing half-marathon controversy underscores the challenges facing the sport's integrity and organization in China.

Organizers are investigating the results of the Beijing Half Marathon, after three runners from Kenya and Ethiopia appeared to wave a Chinese competitor past them before the finish

Zimbabwe Hires

Courtney Walsh for Women’s T20 Qualifiers

Abu Dhabi: (IANS) Zimbabwe have brought in legendary West Indies fast-bowler Courtney Walsh as a coaching consultant for the women’s team ahead of their participation in the ten-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, to be held in Abu Dhabi from April 25. The Zimbabwe women’s team, coached by Walter Chawaguta, recently became the African Games gold medallists, and are now seeking to qualify for the main Women’s T20 World Cup event, to be held in Bangladesh later this year. Zimbabwe are in Group B alongside hosts UAE, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Vanuatu.

Rafael Nadal bows out of Barcelona Open

Barcelona: (IANS) Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Barcelona Open after suffering a straight sets defeat against Alex de Minaur, here on Wednesday. Fourth-seeded de Minaur advanced to the third round after beating Nadal 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 51 minutes long battle. The 22-time Grand Slam champion subsequently sat out scheduled appearances at the BNP Paribas Open and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Masters 1000 tournaments he previously won thrice and 11 times, respectively.

Olympian Sakshi Malik on Time's 100 most

influential people list

On Malik, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja writes that she was among India’s “most celebrated wrestlers” who had gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in early 2023 to demand the immediate arrest and resignation of chief of the Wrestling Federation of India Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female athletes.

“What began as a small, targeted protest to demand decisive government action in favour of the wrestlers ballooned instead into a yearlong battle unprecedented in

The protest, which began in January last year, became a year-long battle against Singh drawing support and attention both in India and abroad

Indian sport, drawing support from across the country and attention from across the world,” Pahuja writes in her profile of Malik for Time. “This fight is no longer only for India’s female wrestlers,” she said, of the movement Malik helped spark, “it is for the daughters of India whose voices have been silenced time and again”. “Shortly after Singh’s successor, a close ally and business partner, was elected to oversee the Wrestling Federation of India, Sakshi Malik — in an emotional, public, and very brave act of defiance — quit the sport. She did not, however, quit the battle. Her light, and the light of all those standing against harassment, continues to shine,” Pahuja said.

Buttler Scripts Highest Successful

Chase

Jos Buttler slammed a sensational century as Rajasthan Royals defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 2 wickets in their IPL 2024 match. Buttler remained unbeaten on 107 as he clinched the win on the last ball of the match. Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana took two wickets each while Vaibhav Rana scalped one.

I would have Rishabh Pant in Indian team every day of the week: Ricky Ponting on T20 WC selection

In Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting's Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Rishabh Pant will feature "every day of the week" despite some established keeper-batters staking claim with their exploits in the ongoing IPL.

Ponting was not sure whether Pant would be able to play again after the horrific car accident in December, 2022. But seeing the manner in which Pant has been making an impact since returning to action on the back of his remarkable resilience, the DC head coach is left with no doubt about who should board the plane to New York at the end of the IPL.

"Do I believe whether Rishabh should be there in the World Cup squad?

"I think we have seen Rishabh play the way we have seen him play in last five or six years in IPL, and now back playing for India": Ponting

Absolutely I do. He deserves to be in that WT20 squad by the end of the IPL," Ponting told PTI in an exclusive interview.

"I think we have seen Rishabh play the way we have seen him play in last five or six years in IPL, and now back playing for India," added the Australian batting great.

While he acknowledged that there are lots of options for Indian selectors as far as choosing a keeper-batter goes, Pant remains the No.1 choice for him.

"One thing we certainly know that there is lot of depth around Indian cricket. With keeper-batters, I feel some guys are in really good form at the moment.

(Ishan) Kishan is playing well, (Sanju) Samson is playing well and KL Rahul is playing well.

"There are a lot of options but if I was picking a team, I would have Rishabh Pant in it every day of the week," the 'Punter' made his call.

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13 Indian Americans In Inc. 2024 Female Founders List

Inc. magazine’s seventh annual Female Founders list, honoring 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world, features 13 Indian American figures.

Indian Americans on the 2024 Female Founders list are:

Sadhna Agrawal:

Astor & Sanders, IT Services, Rockville, Maryland: Partnered with the Department of Labor and played an important role in securing insurance benefits for the victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Ishviene Arora:

Vested, Advertising & Marketing, New York, New York: Launched the Finance Studio, a creative online tool for finance companies, and Media Maps, a tool businesses can use to spot industry trends.

Svanika Balasubramanian:

rePurpose Global, Environmental Services, Miami, Florida:

For achieving a feat by taking on global plastic pollution and growing revenue by 150 percent from 2022 to 2023

Purva Gupta and Sowmiya Narayanan:

Lily AI, Software, Mountain View, California: For expanding its proprietary AI for retailers to better connect with customer shopping preferences.

Leena Joshi:

CloseFactor, Software, Palo Alto, California: For helping customers deliver 3-4X increases in qualified sales pipeline

Garima Kapoor:

MinIO, Software, Redwood City, California: For helping companies repatriate their data from public clouds and saving as much as 20-50X of their operating expenses for storing digital data.

Neha Palmer:

TeraWatt Infrastructure, Logistics & Transportation, San Francisco, California: Expanded access to electric vehicles through initiatives such as building out charging ports across a major U.S. highway.

Pallavi Pande:

Dtocs, Consumer Products, Portland, Oregon: For bringing sustainability to the home and kitchen

Indian American Financial Planner Gets Prison for Tax Scheme

Rao Garuda

CLEVELAND, OH- A Cleveland-based financial planner, Rao Garuda, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the United States through an illegal tax shelter scheme centered around false charitable deductions.

Court documents and statements revealed that Garuda, the president and CEO of Associated Concepts Agency Inc., actively promoted a fraudulent tax shelter named the “Ultimate Tax Plan” or the “Advanced Legacy Plan,” orchestrated and marketed by his co-conspirator, Michael Meyer.

The scheme falsely promised highincome clients a means to decrease their taxes by claiming deductions for charitable donations, fully aware that these claims were illegitimate. Garuda and his cohorts falsely assured clients they could retain ownership and control of the assets they claimed to donate while still benefiting from the deductions.

In April 2018, the Justice Department filed a civil suit against Meyer to cease promoting the Ultimate Tax Plan, eventually leading to a federal court permanently restraining Meyer from organizing or marketing the scheme in April 2019. However, Garuda’s involvement extended to falsifying documents and advising clients to submit them to the Justice Department in response to civil subpoenas.

Apart from the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan ordered Garuda to undergo three years of supervised release and pay $1,506,399 in restitution. Cullen Fischel, the chief operating officer of Associated Concepts, received a four-month prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and a restitution order of $268,605 for his part in the conspiracy.

goods sector through compostable palm leaf tableware.

Avni Patel:

Thompson, Milo, Software, Palo Alto, California: For designing and building an AI tool that organizes household information. There is a 15,000 family waitlist

Charu Raheja:

TriageLogic, Health Services, Jacksonville, Florida: Developed an intelligent medical scripting system that improved the accuracy of urgent message relays by over 30 percent.

Surbhi Rathore:

Symbl.ai, Software, Seattle, Washington: For building a language learning AI model that helps Fortune 500 companies create better online customer service.

Navrina Singh:

Credo AI, Software, Palo Alto, California: For working with more than 2,000 clients to help ensure the outputs of artificial intelligence systems are transparent, trustworthy, and legal.

Six Indian American Helmed Firms on Forbes’ AI 50 List

Maqsood

Forbes’ sixth annual AI 50 list recognizing the most promising privately-held artificial intelligence companies is out and six firms led by Indian Americans made it to the prestigious list.

These companies on the AI list are –Abridge (CEO Shiv Rao)

A practicing cardiologist, Dr. Shiv Rao founded the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniabased Abridge in 2018. Abridge records patients’ conversations and uses AI to summarize them. Ten thousand clinicians are already using it and the startup is worth $850 million.

Baseten (CEO Tuhin Srivastava)

CEO Tuhin Srivastava helms San Francisco based Baseten which helps companies to integrate AI into their

business practices. They just raised a $40 million Series B at a $220 million valuation

Codieum (CEO Varun Mohan)

CEO Varun Mohan’s Codeium in Mountain View, California, can autogenerate chunks of code in more than 70 languages. Early traction on the business model has nabbed for the company $93 million and a $500 million valuation by investors.

Glean (CEO Arvind Jain)

AI-based search engine Glean, a startup with $2.2 billion (valuation) has Canva, Duolingo, and Grammarly among its customers.

Perplexity (CEO Aravind Srinivas)

Perplexity AI in San Francisco is a conversational search engine that uses a medley of AI models to provide answers on any topic on the internet. Perplexity was last valued at $520 million and has crossed $10 million in annual recurring revenue.

Together AI (CEO Vipul Ved Prakash)

The largest open resource available for training the company’s valuation is now $1.3 billion.

Indian-Origin Principal Wins UK Legal Challenge Over School Prayer Ban

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London: An Indian-origin school principal, often referred to as “Britain's strictest headmistress”, on Tuesday welcomed a UK High Court ruling that upheld her ban on prayer rituals after a Muslim pupil sought to legally challenge it as discriminatory.

Katherine Birbalsingh, of IndoGuyanese heritage, had told the court that Michaela School – a “secular” secondary school for boys and girls in Wembley, north London – did not allow religious prayers in keeping with its ethos of promoting an “inclusive environment”.

While half of the pupils at the school are Muslims, it also has large numbers of Sikh, Hindu and Christian pupils.

Katherine Birbalsingh

“As the Governing Body is aware, the School does not provide a prayer room for use by pupils, for various reasons. These reasons include that a prayer room would foster division amongst pupils, contrary to the School's ethos,

In a statement following the ruling, Ms Birbalsingh said it was a "victory for all schools" and of the "robust yet respectful secularism" principles on which the school she founded in 2014 is run.

lack of available space and available staff to supervise pupils and that pupils would miss important School activities, including during the lunch break if they were to spend time in a prayer room,”

Ms Birbalsingh told the court.

“Unacceptable segregation or division, contrary to the whole ethos of the school, was taking place as a result of permitting prayer. An intimidatory atmosphere was developing. Our strict disciplinary policies, on which the ethos

and great success of (the) School is based, were at risk of being undermined,” she said.

Justice Thomas Linden, in an 80-page judgment following a hearing in January, ruled in the school's favour.

“In my judgment, the starting point is that the School was right to take the view that the issue was whether to permit and facilitate ritual prayer indoors: in effect, to reverse its longstanding policy of not providing a prayer room,” it reads.

“She (the unnamed pupil) knew that the School is secular, and her own evidence is that her mother wished her to go there because it was known to be strict… Her evidence has focussed on her preferences and what she supposes the position would be elsewhere,” it notes.

Zofeen Maqsood

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"You Are Not So Innocent...": SC To Ramdev

The Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Patanjali founders during the previous hearing last week. It had also pulled up the Uttarakhand government for not acting against the Haridwar-based company.

New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna are in the Supreme Court today as it hears the contempt case against Patanjali Ayurved in connection with its misleading ads and Covid cure claims. The court said it will consider the matter in the light of all the earlier developments. "We have not decided whether to forgive you or not. You have violated (directives) thrice. The earlier orders are under our consideration. You are not so innocent that you did not know what's happening in court," the court said, adding that the next hearing will be held on April 23. Ramdev and Balkrishna have been asked to appear in the court again and take steps to demonstrate their intent.

"Will Finish Lawrence Bishnoi": Eknath Shinde After Meeting Salman Khan

New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met actor Salman Khan this afternoon days after shots were fired outside the actor's home in Mumbai's Bandra. Security around the actor's home was tightened as the Chief Minister arrived.

"The government is with you, I have told Salman Khan. Both the accused have been arrested. They will be interrogated. We will get to the root of the case. Nobody will be spared. Nobody should targeted this way," Eknath Shinde told reporters outside the actor's home. "No gang or gang war will be allowed. We won't allow this to happen. We will finish (Lawrence) Bishnoi," he added. On Sunday at around 5 am, two men came on a bike and fired four rounds outside Bandra's Galaxy Apartments, where the actor lives with his family.

Top Maoist Leader Among At Least 29 Killed In Big Chhattisgarh Encounter

New Delhi: Twenty-nine Maoists, including a senior rebel leader - Shankar Rao, who had a bounty of ₹ 25 lakh on his head - were killed by security forces during an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Tuesday afternoon.

A huge quantity of weapons, including Ak-47 and INSAS rifles, were recovered. Three security personnel were injured in the gunfight, which took place in forests near the village of Binagunda after a joint team of District Reserve Guard and Border Security Force were attacked.

Two of the three injured are from the BSF. Their condition is stable but the third - from the DRG - is in critical care. All three received treatment at a local hospital and are to be shifted to a larger facility.

Sources said the fighting began at around 2 PM, when a joint DRG-BSF team was conducting an anti-Maoist operation. The DRG was set up in in 2008 to combat Maoist activities in the state, and the Border Security Force has been deployed

Three security personnel also suffered injuries in the fierce gun-battle and a large quantity of weapons was recovered from the spot, say officials

extensively in the area to for counterinsurgency ops. There was another encounter in the district last month, in which two people - a Maoist and a cop - were

India Opened Up Its Market That Benefited American Farmers: US

Washington: After resolving half a dozen WTO disputes last year, India opened up its market for several US products which have benefited American farmers, a top Biden administration official told lawmakers on Tuesday.

The steps taken by India have given more market access for turkey, duck, blueberries, and cranberries benefiting farmers from several American states, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told members of the House Committee on Ways and Means on President Biden's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda.

"Last June, India and the United States terminated six WTO disputes, and

The steps taken by India have given more market access for turkey, duck, blueberries, and cranberries benefiting farmers from several American states, US Trade Representative said.

India agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs on several US products," Tai said. "This means improved access for chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, and apples benefiting farmers across the country, including in Michigan, Oregon, and Washington," she said.

"Additionally, in September, India and the United States resolved our final outstanding WTO dispute, and India agreed to reduce tariffs on several US products. This means more market access for turkey, duck, blueberries, and cranberries benefiting farmers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin," Tai told lawmakers.

US To Hit Iran With Fresh Sanctions Following Attack On Israel

Washington: The United States said Tuesday it would soon impose new sanctions on Iran's missile and drone program after its weekend attack on Israel, and that it expects its allies and partners to follow with parallel measures. US National Security Advisor

Jake Sullivan's announcement came after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated punitive measures were in the works, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said his office was working on it.

Iran sent more than 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel over the weekend, in what it said was retaliation for a deadly strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus. Nearly all of the projectiles were intercepted, and there was little damage. "In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program" as well as the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian defense ministry, Sullivan said in a statement.

killed, and security forces recovered a gun, some explosives, and other incriminating materials. Personnel from the DRG and Bastar Fighters, both units of the state police force, with the Border Security Force, were involved in that operation, officials told news agency PTI. The patrolling team was cordoning off a forested area when fired on indiscriminately, leading to the gun battle.

X Withholds Some Political Posts In India

Social media platform X said on Tuesday it withheld some posts in India containing political speech from elected politicians, political parties, and candidates for office after the country's election commission ordered their takedown.

Elon Musk-owned X said it disagreed with the election commission's orders. "We call on the Election Commission to publish all of its takedown orders going forward," X said.

India, with nearly a billion eligible voters, will set off on the world's largest electoral exercise on Friday.

UK PM Urges Calm to Netanyahu

London: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday called on his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to allow "calm heads to prevail", following the weekend's attack from Iran.

In a call Tuesday afternoon, Sunak stressed that "significant escalation was in no one's interest and would only deepen insecurity in the Middle East. This was a moment for calm heads to prevail", Sunak's office said.

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Rajkummar-Triptii's '97% parivarik' film 'Vicky Vidya

Ka Woh Wala Video' to release on Oct 11

Rajkummar Rao on Tuesday announced that his upcoming '97 per cent parivarik' film 'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' will be released on October 11. The film stars Triptii Dimri alongside Rajkummar. Taking to social media, the actor, who was last seen in 'Bheed', shared a colourful retro-style poster of the movie with the tagline: "97% parivarik". "Buckle up for a retro nostalgia trip! Excited to take you on a joy ride in #VickyVidyaKaWohWalaVideo coming on 11th October 2024," read the caption.

Male Stars Uncomfortable with Women Leading Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan graced the inaugural session of Expresso in Mumbai on Friday. During the candid conversation, Vidya spoke at length about her past relationships, her marriage, and her initial days in the industry. She even shed light on how her successful films like Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture, and others led to her facing reluctance from male actors when it came to sharing screen space with her. Watch the conversation here:

The Shakuntala Devi actor also opened up about how the ‘witch hunt’ against her in Bollywood made her lose confidence. Vidya Balan was joined by her Do Aur Do co-star Pratik Gandhi at the event. The Indian Express group in association with HSBC and Taj Hotels have come together to build a unique platform – The Indian Express Expresso to create content that is eclectic, intimate, intelligent, and fun with personalities from spheres of art, culture, and entertainment. Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi will next be seen in Do Aur Do Pyaar. The film is directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta and also stars Ileana D’cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy in important roles. Do Aur Do Pyaar releases on April 19.

Kathakaar Films's ‘Main Ladega’ trailer takes social media by storm

Mumbai,: The trailer of the upcoming film ‘Main Ladega’, which was released on Monday, has scooped praise across multiple platforms in the 24 hours since its release. Several fans showed their love for the film in the comment section as the trailer took social media by storm. ‘Main Ladega’ is the story of a young boy, scarred after witnessing his mother endure domestic violence day after day, who then channels his anger into becoming a boxer.

Crafting

Taiwanese film ‘Demon Hunters’ featuring Arjan Bajwa heads to Cannes

The Taiwanese film ‘Demon Hunters’, which stars Indian actor Arjan Bajwa, is heading to Cannes Film Festival. The film is an action-comedy, and its first look will be unveiled at the French Riviera next month. The film is headlined by Arjan Bajwa and JC Lin. It is directed by Mei-Juin Chen, who is known for her work on ‘The Gangster’s Daughter’, and has camera handled by veteran cinematographer Tony Cheung.

Actress Kajal Aggarwal has treated her fans to some wisdom about how she is “crafting” her “world”, along with a monochrome picture.

Kajal took to Instagram and shared a black-and-white picture of herself posing with her hair open.

In the image, she is seen smiling at the camera as she holds back her long black hair. For the caption, the actress wrote: “Crafting my world one idea at a time.”

On the work front, Kajal was last seen in 'Bhagavanth Kesari', a Telugu action drama film directed by Anil Ravipudi. It also stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Sreeleela, and Arjun Rampal.

Paresh Rawal, Divya Khossla Kumar to Begin 'Hero Heeroine' Filming June 10

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal is set to essay the role of a director in the upcoming Telugu film ‘Hero Heeroine’. The shooting for the film, which also stars Divya Khossla, is scheduled to start from June 10 in Hyderabad.

The film is directed by Suresh Krissna and is poised to make a lasting impact on audiences worldwide with a message. The film marks the Telugu debut of Divya Khossla.

'IRaH’ collects over Rs 4 cr in 1st week

The recently released sci-fi thriller film ‘IRaH’ is garnering an exceptional response from the audience. The film, directed by Sam Bhattacharjee, hit the silver screens on April 5, making waves across more than 300 cinema halls in India and gracing venues in the US and the UK across more than 150 locations. The film made an impressive business of approximately Rs 1.65 crore on its opening day in India, indicating a promising start to its theatrical journey. Internationally, 'IRaH' raked in approximately $80,000 on its opening day.

Akshay, Tiger-starrer

'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' rakes in Rs 36 cr worldwide on Day 1

Actors Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff’s latest release has minted Rs 36.33 crore worldwide on Day 1 of its release.

According to a statement, the film, which is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, had a collection of Rs 36.33 crore worldwide. Benefiting from the festive Eid holiday, the film has enjoyed a robust start, drawing moviegoers from all corners to witness its exhilarating narrative unfold.

Indian origin South African

Surabjit Jaybelly Baldeo, a noted South African singer of Indian origin, has died at the age of 66. Popularly known as ‘Barry’ Baldeo, the singer, who passed away on Sunday morning, was a key participant in almost every Indian musical show in South Africa, according to close friends and collaborators. “His last performance was at our Tamil New Year Concert in Midrand on Saturday,” said organiser Lexy Shunmugan of SA Musicians Against Covid.

Nargis Fakhri as a child dreamt of becoming a vet and not an actor

Actress Nargis Fakhri, who was recently seen in the streaming series ‘Tatlubaaz’, has shared her childhood dream.

The actress is an “animal” and she attributes her compassion towards animals to her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian.

However, the actress shared that over the years, she fell in love with the profession of acting and her craft.

Walking down the memory lane, the actress said:, "I wanted to become a veterinarian as a child. I love animals and since my childhood, I always have wished to provide them with a safe environment, but destiny had other plans and I landed up in the film industry. And if I had to reflect on my life, I wouldn't change a thing.”

“Over the years, I fell in love with my craft. I mean, look at it, I can do and be whatever I want on screen. And also, I have experienced how impactful films are on people's lives, which is why my endeavour is to try and do films that are important and films are sort of an escapism from our daily struggles.” Nargis made her Hindi cinema debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Rockstar’. The film was directed by auteur Imtiaz Ali, who is currently scooping acclaim and audience love for his streaming movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra. Meanwhile, the actress has a series of interesting projects in the pipeline.

Roar Of Ruslaan India Tour starts on April 17, team to visit 7 cities in 7 days

Mumbai: (IANS) The makers of the upcoming Aayush Sharma-starrer ‘Ruslaan’ have planned a nationwide ‘Roar Of Ruslaan India Tour’. The tour, which is scheduled to be flagged off on April 17, will cover major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Noida, and Indore.

The film’s team is planning to be everywhere to meet fans in person as they will visit seven cities in seven days. Talking about the upcoming tour, Aayush said: "The ‘Ruslaan’ tour is more than just a series of events—it's an opportunity for us to connect with audiences from all walks of life. As we travel from Ahmedabad to Kolkata and everywhere in between, we're excited to bring the magic of Ruslaan directly to the people. These city tours allow us to engage with fans on a personal level and share our passion for the film in a way that transcends screens. It's a chance to celebrate cinema, culture, and community, and I can't wait to see the impact it has on audiences across the board.”

Amitabh Bachchan Back for New Season of 'KBC'; Registrations Open April 26

The makers of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', on Tuesday, announced the new season, along with the registrations starting from April 26. The quiz-based reality show is hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan. The last episode of Season 15 was aired on December 29, 2023. Now, the makers took to social media and shared an announcement video, wherein we can see Amitabh's clip from

the finale episode of season 15. The video then shows glimpses of several social media messages like "Come back Bachchan ji", and "We miss you Big B. Please restart KBC." The post is captioned: "Aisa mila pyaar ki laut raha hai fir ek baar, #KaunBanegaCrorepati Shuru ho rahe hain #KBCRegistrations 26 April raat 9 baje se."

Salim Khan breaks silence after bullets fired outside Galaxy apartment: ‘They just want publicity’

Following a shocking incident on Sunday morning, in which two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle fired multiple shots outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence in Mumbai, authorities have launched a full-scale investigation. The incident occurred around 5 am, and fortunately, no injuries were reported. Salman Khan’s father and noted screenwriter, Salim Khan has opened up about the incident and assured that the family is safe, dismissing it as a mere ‘publicity stunt’ pulled by the unidentified men who fired the shots. “There is nothing

to tell. They just want publicity, there is no need to worry,” he told CNN News 18. A Facebook post allegedly uploaded by Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, claims responsibility for the firing, calling the incident outside Salman’s Galaxy Apartment the ‘first and last warning’. Later, on Sunday evening, police sources identified one of the suspects captured on CCTV as Vishal alias Kalu, a shooter in the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

musician Barry Baldeo dies

"Everyone Will Regret": PM Modi

On Scrapping Of Electoral Bonds Scheme

In an interview with ANI, PM Modi said the electoral bonds scheme was aimed at curbing black money in elections and said the opposition wants to run away after making allegations.

New Delhi: The scrapping of the electoral bonds - in a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in February - is a decision "everyone will regret when there is honest reflection" and has "completely pushed the country towards black money", Prime Minister Narendra Modi told news agency ANI Monday. The Prime Minister said the electoral bonds scheme launched by his government was meant to fight the use of 'black money', referring to unaccounted cash or funds from criminal activities, in election campaigns, and that he had "never claimed this was an absolute way" to achieve that goal.

The electoral bonds scheme - which was supposed to allow private individuals and corporates to make completely anonymous donations to any political party (previously anonymity was limited to donations below the ₹ 2,000-mark) - was struck down by the Supreme Court in February. The Prime Minister stoutly denied allegations by the opposition - that the political landscape is tilted in favour of the ruling party. The opposition has pointed to changes like the new law that allows the government to choose poll panel officials, who are supposed to ensure a free and fair election.

"Assault On America": Donald Trump

New York: Donald Trump took his seat Monday in the New York courtroom, becoming the first ex-president in US history to stand criminal trial, a seismic moment in the already explosive 2024 presidential campaign. The Republican struck a defiant stance, telling a throng of journalists outside the gritty Manhattan courthouse that his trial was an "outrage" and an "assault on America." He then strode into the courtroom, walking past nine rows of wooden benches with a stern expression and followed by his legal team.

UN Worried Israel Could Target Iran's Nuclear Sites, Urges Restraint

Israel's military chief said on Monday his country would respond to a weekend missile and drone attack by Iran.

United Nations: The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief said on Monday he is concerned about Israel possibly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, but that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of Iranian facilities would resume on Tuesday.

Israel's military chief said on Monday his country would respond to a weekend missile and drone attack by Iran, launched in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. This comes amid calls for restraint by allies anxious to avoid an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said Iran closed its nuclear facilities on Sunday over "security considerations"

and that while they reopened on Monday, he kept IAEA inspectors away "until we see that the situation is completely calm."

"We are going to resume tomorrow," Grossi told reporters in New York. "This has not had an impact on our inspection activity." When asked about

Mumbai Police Arrest 2 Shooters

Targeting Salman Khan's Residence

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two accused for their alleged involvement in the firing incident outside actor Salman Khan's residence in Bandra West.

The Mumbai Police have confirmed that the two accused were caught in Gujarat's Bhuj late on Monday night.

"Both the accused, who fled Mumbai after the firing, have been arrested from Gujarat's Bhuj," officials said. They will be brought to Mumbai for further investigation, they added.

The firing incident, which occurred on Sunday early morning, saw two

Firing At Slaman Khan Residence: The Mumbai Police have confirmed that the two accused were caught in Gujarat's Bhuj late on Monday night.

unidentified men opening fire outside Galaxy Apartments, where the actor resides, and fled from the spot. The incident prompted swift action from law enforcement agencies. According to preliminary investigation, the suspects arrived at the scene on a motorcycle, covering their faces under helmets, indicating a "meticulously planned attack."

They discharged a total of four rounds during the incident, leaving behind a live cartridge at the scene. Earlier, the Mumbai Crime Branch had summoned two individuals for questioning in connection with the recent firing incident.

First US Ex-President Faces Criminal Trial, Trump Under Cloud Ahead of Election

New York, April 15 (IANS) The historic trial of Donald Trump started on Monday, making him the first former President in US history to face a criminal case, throwing several questions over the November elections. In a trial watched with interest around the world, Trump faces the possibility of criminal conviction

and a prison term on charges of falsifying business records of his company to hide hush money payments to a porn actor to silence her allegations that they had sex.

Besides the cloud of conviction, the ability of Republican Trump, who has a slender lead in polls over Democrat President Joe Biden, to campaign will be seriously crimped by tying him down in the Manhattan courtroom four days a week over more than a month with less than seven months before the election.

Even if he is convicted, he may not be disqualified from running in the presidential election and being elected because the Constitution is silent on criminal conviction.

the possibility of an Israel strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Grossi said: "We are always concerned about this possibility." He urged "extreme restraint." The IAEA regularly inspects Iran's main nuclear facilities like its enrichment plants at Natanz that are at the heart of the country's nuclear programme.

Indian Students' Overseas Deaths Concern

Government: S. Jaishankar

Jaishankar responded to a question about the rise in the number of Indian students becoming victims of violent attacks in foreign countries, saying, “Obviously, in every case, wherever anything unfortunate has happened to the students, it is of great tragedy for the family, and a big concern for us but...our embassy or consulate has looked at every case and they're actually unconnected." Embassies have been instructed to keep in touch with students and chat with them to warn them especially about dangerous areas of cities to avoid, he said, adding that there are 11 lakh to 12 lakh Indian students living in various countries.

Tesla To Lay Off 10% Of Its Global Workforce: Report

New York: Tesla plans to lay off more than 10 percent of its global workforce, news site Electrek reported Monday, publishing an email from Chief Executive Elon Musk announcing the cuts. The job reductions are needed after rapid growth that has led to duplication of roles, Musk said in the email to staff, according to Electrek, an online news site focused on electric vehicles (EV). "There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done," Musk said. "This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle."

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G7 expresses 'full support' for Israel after Iran attack

Washington: The leaders of G7 countries met virtually on Sunday and expressed "full solidarity and support to Israel and its people" and reaffirmed their "commitment towards its security". "We, the Leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel. Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack," they said in a statement released by the White House.

Sarabjit Singh's Killer Assassinated in Lahore: Report

He was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants in Lahore's Islampura area and was rushed to a hospital, where he died of his injuries, the sources said.

New Delhi: Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, an accused in the murder of Indian death row prisoner in Pakistan Sarabjit Singh and a close associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit founder Hafiz Sayeed, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Lahore today, official sources said.

Tamba was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants in Lahore's Islampura area and was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but he died of his injuries, they said.

US tells Israel it won't join any retaliatory strikes on Iran

The White House has warned Israel that the US will not participate in any retaliatory strikes on Iran, senior administration officials have said.

Over 300 drones and missiles were fired at Israel overnight, which Iran said was in response to an 1 April strike on its consulate in Syria.

Almost all weapons were shot down by Israeli, US and allied forces before they reached their targets. Officials said Joe Biden urged Israel to consider its response "carefully".

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, a senior administration official said that Mr Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "think very carefully and strategically" about how his forces replied to the unprecedented action, the first direct attack by Iran on the country.

S Jaishankar Speaks To Israel, Iran Over Hostilities

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz and shared India's concerns over the situation arising out of the IranIsrael hostilities. Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel by firing hundreds of drones and missiles in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1.

PM Modi calls for stable majority amid global unrest

RELEASING THE BJP manifesto ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that kick off on April 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday stressed on the need for a stable and strong government with a comfortable majority to drive India forward in these times of global conflicts and uncertainty.

“Today there is a cloud of uncertainty and tension looming over the world. There are conflicts everywhere. In such an hour of crisis, the safety of Indians living abroad is our priority. In times of global unrest, the necessity for a strong, stable government with an unequivocal majority in India becomes even more pronounced,” the Prime Minister said

Putin warns Biden against meddling in Iran-Israel tensions

Russia President Vladimir Putin warns United States not to interfere in the Iran and Israel tensions. Putin’s threat came amid U.S said it shot down some drones launched by Iran towards Israel. If Biden supports Israel, we will not sit ideally and do nothing, roars Putin. Iran’s massive drone and missile strikes came after days of speculation that Teheran will avenge IRGC commanders , who were killed in Israel strike in Damascus.

while releasing the BJP Sankalp Patra at the party headquarters here.

“The BJP remains dedicated to forming a government that will fortify the nation’s economy and propel it towards progress and development. This Sankalp Patra from the BJP assures such a government,” he said. In his preface to the manifesto, the Prime Minister said that the next five years will see a “final and decisive assault against poverty,” opening up of

“newer avenues of growth in various sectors,” an intensified battle against corruption and unveiling “the next generation of reforms”.

Amid highlighting of unemployment and rural distress by opposition parties in their campaigning, the BJP manifesto – projected as ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ –promises to create jobs in multiple sectors and expand welfare programmes if the party returns to power for a third consecutive term.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also chaired the manifesto committee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP national president J P Nadda were present at the release of the manifesto.

Israel Says It Would "Exact Price From Iran" When Time Is Right

New Delhi: Israeli Minister Benny Gantz said last night that Israel would choose the appropriate time and method to retaliate and "exact the price from Iran" following the unprecedented drone and missile attacks on its territories.

Iran's envoy to the United Nations said that the Islamic Republic is exercising its "inherent right to self-defence" in response to what it perceives as Israeli aggression. The attack on Israel,

according to Iran, was a necessary and proportionate response to the destruction of its consulate building in Damascus, an act widely attributed to Israel. Gilad Erdan, Israel's representative to the United Nations, called upon the Security Council to impose all available sanctions on Iran. Additionally, G7 leaders earlier said they were ready to "take further measures" in response to "destabilising initiatives". Iran has warned Israel against responding militarily. "The matter can be deemed concluded," Iran's mission to the United Nations said. "However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe."

A high-ranking US official said that President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would not provide military backing.

24-Year-Old Indian Student Shot

Dead Inside His Audi In Canada

New Delhi: A 24-year-old student from India was shot dead inside a car in Canada's South Vancouver, the local police have said. The Vancouver Police in a statement said Chirag Antil, 24, was found dead inside a vehicle in the area after neighbours reported hearing gunshots.

"Officers were called to East 55th Avenue and Main Street around 11 pm on April 12 after residents heard the sound of gunshots. Chirag Antil, 24, was found deceased inside a vehicle in the area. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing," the police said. Chirag Antil's brother Ronit told reporters that Chirag seemed happy when they spoke on the phone in morning.

Chirag later took out his Audi to go somewhere. That was when he was shot dead The Congress students' wing National Students' Union of India chief Varun Choudhary in a post on X tagging the Ministry of External Affairs requested for assistance to the student's family.

"Urgent attention regarding the murder of Chirag Antil, an Indian student in Vancouver, Canada. We urge the Ministry of External Affairs to closely monitor the progress of the investigation and ensure that justice is swiftly served," Mr Choudhary said.

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India Applauds Taliban Return of Land to Hindus, Sikhs

New Delhi: India on Friday described as "positive development" the move by the Taliban regime to restore private land rights to Afghan Hindus and Sikh minorities. According to reports, the Taliban administration has taken steps to restore property rights of the Hindu and the Sikh communities.

Indian Travel Advisory: Avoid Iran, Israel for Now

India on Friday issued an advisory urging all Indians to avoid travel to Israel and Iran in view of the escalating tensions between the two countries.

The advisory came on a day the US restricted travel by its embassy personnel in Israel fearing an imminent attack from Iran. Several other governments too have issued advisories against travel to either country.

India: 2.33M Hectares Tree Cover Lost Since 2000

An average of 51.0 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year was released into the atmosphere as a result of tree cover loss in India.

New Delhi: India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six per cent decrease in tree cover during this period, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project.

The Global Forest Watch, which tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources, said the country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 per cent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.

Between 2001 and 2022, it said, forests in India emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year and removed 141 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. This represents a net carbon sink of 89.9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. The data showed that 95 per cent of the tree cover loss in India from 2013 to 2023 occurred within natural forests.

Jaishankar: No Fixed Rules for Terror Response

Pune: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said there is a change in India's foreign policy since 2014 and it is the way terrorism is dealt with. "Terrorists should not feel since they are across the border, no one can touch them. Terrorists do not play by any rules so the answer to the terrorists cannot have any rules," he said.

Biden warns Iran against attacking Israel 'Don't'

US President Joe Biden says he expects Iran to attack Israel "sooner than later", as fears grow of Iranian retaliation over an air strike that killed top commanders early this month.

Israel has not admitted attacking an Iranian consulate in Syria but is widely believed to have been behind it. US officials have told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that a major attack on Israel could happen imminently. Israel says it is ready to defend itself.

Mr Biden told Iran : "Don't." "We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel," Mr Biden said. "We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed."

Iran backs Hamas, the Palestinian group fighting Israel in Gaza, as well as various proxy groups throughout

Student deaths in US: Indian missions stepping up outreach programmes

"There have been some unfortunate incidents resulting in the death of Indian students in the US. These cases are under investigation," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The Indian missions in the US have stepped up their student-outreach initiatives in view of incidents of deaths of Indian students in that country in recent months.

“There have been some unfortunate incidents resulting in the death of Indian students in the US. These cases are under investigation,” external affairs ministry

spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “The embassy and consulates have extended all possible assistance. Such cases have been appropriately taken up with the US authorities to seek justice,” he said at his weekly media briefing. A 25-year-old Indian student who had been missing since last month was found dead in the US city of Cleveland this week.

Last week, an Indian student in Ohio, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, died and police are investigating the case. “We have also stepped-up our student outreach to provide guidance and to reassure them of the support of the embassy and consulates at all times,” Jaiswal said. Since January, 10-odd Indian students have died in the US, he suggested. Jaiswal said there were cases of suicide as well as of mental-illness related issues. “That is why we want to provide comfort to the students,” he said.

the region, including some - such as Hezbollah in Lebanon - that frequently carry out strikes against the Israelis.

On Friday, Hezbollah said it had launched "dozens" of rockets from Lebanon towards Israel. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said around 40 missiles and two explosive drones had been launched. No casualties were reported and there were no indications of involvement from other actors.

A US official told CBS the barrage was separate from any expected Iranian attack on Israel.

UN Experts Criticize Pakistan on Women Protection

Expressing dismay at the continuing lack of protection for young women and girls from the minority communities, especially Christians and Hindus, in Pakistan, UN experts have said the country needs to uphold its obligations under the relevant international covenant. "Christian and Hindu girls remain particularly vulnerable to forced religious conversion, abduction, trafficking, child, early and forced marriage, domestic servitude and sexual violence," the experts said.

2 Key Accused In Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Brought To Bengaluru After Arrest In Bengal

New Delhi: The two key accused in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, who were arrested in West Bengal yesterday, will be produced in a Bengaluru court today.

Adbul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib were brought to Bengaluru late last evening after their arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Shazeb and Taha were traced to Kanthi, or Contai, a small city 180 km from Kolkata, after officials conducted searches at 18 locations

The two men were on the run since the explosion rocked Bengaluru cafe

across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The accused, Adbul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, had been staying in a

lodge in Bengal, officials said. "Taahaa was the mastermind behind the blast while Shazib placed the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe," officials said. The two men were on the run since the explosion rocked the popular Bengaluru cafe on March 1, leaving 10 people injured. "It was Abdul Matheen who also worked on the escape plans and managed to evade arrest all these weeks. The duo, along with their co-accused Maaz Muneer Ahmed, were also involved in terror cases earlier," the NIA said.

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OFBJP Volunteers Rally For Modi’s Vision With ‘Modi Ka Parivar’ March In Chicago

CHICAGO, IL- OFBJP volunteers, under the leadership of Dr. Adapa Prasad, President of OFBJP-USA, orchestrated a vibrant Modi Ka Parivar march on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Chicago. More than 200 Indian Americans convened at the illustrious Vivekananda Place to demonstrate their unwavering solidarity, affirming their membership in the Modi Parivar, before embarking on a jubilant and spirited march.

The ambiance crackled with fervent support as enthusiasts waved flags, banners, and placards adorned with messages of endorsement for PM Shri Narendra Modi ji. Beyond mere solidarity, the march evolved into a jubilant celebration of unity and shared values among the Modi Parivar. Dr. Adapa Prasad lauded the dedication of OFBJP volunteers, stressing the significance of standing united in support of Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a prosperous and inclusive India. Distinguished Volunteer Amar Upadhyay ji expressed elation and contentment at the remarkable turnout, stating, “It’s heartening to witness the

Indian American Watchmaker Introduces Hindi Numeral Watch

Indian American Sunny Bhathela launched VIANI Watch Co., offering wristwatches featuring Hindi numerals, paying homage to the ancient numerical system's legacy and South Asian mathematicians. A graduate from NC State, Bhathela, with a background in biochemistry and genetics, recognized the absence of South Asian-owned watches and embarked on the venture. Despite the Hindi numerals, over 30% of customers are non-South Asian, highlighting broader appeal. Inspired by NC State's emphasis on entrepreneurship, Bhathela drew from familial influences—a father owning a paint store and a lineage of tailors—to pursue his entrepreneurial journey. VIANI's launch in 2023 with Swiss-made watches, priced from $300 to $340, emphasizes quality at a comparatively affordable range. The watches are environmentally friendly, powered by indoor and outdoor light with long-lasting battery charges. VIANI continues to expand internationally, focusing on innovative features in watch design. Bhathela's journey exemplifies the intersection of academic learning, personal passion, and entrepreneurial drive, echoing NC State's ethos of fostering creativity and innovation beyond traditional career paths.

collective support for our revered Prime Minister. This march vividly illustrates the resilience and cohesion of the Modi Parivar.”

The event garnered participation from across Bharath states, encompassing a diverse array of community leaders and karyakarthas. Their presence underscored the extensive backing and solidarity within the Modi Parivar. Additionally, OFBJP Volunteers, including Social Media Coordinator Nirmala Reddy, exerted diligent efforts to ensure the success of the march.

Shree Jalaram Mandir Hoffman Estate Hosts Thrilling Basketball Tournament

HOFFMAN ESTATE, IL- The basketball tournament took place on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at the Hanover Park Park District. Over 65 players enthusiastically participated, showcasing their skills and sportsmanship in the thrilling event. The

tournament, meticulously organized by the Shree Jalaram Mandir in Hoffman Estates, commenced at 10:00 AM and concluded at 3:00 PM, resonating with excitement and fervor throughout its duration.

A total of 12 formidable teams competed in the tournament, each vying for victory and glory on the court. The competition was fierce, characterized by spirited displays of athleticism and teamwork. Remarkably, the tournament witnessed not one, but two triumphant first-place teams, as well as two deserving second-place teams, further highlighting the intense level of competition and talent on display. Beyond its basketball extravaganza, Shree Jalaram Mandir is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community spirit, particularly among the youth.

Balvihar Of St. Louis Hosts Vibrant Holi Celebration

ST LOUISI, MO-Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, envelops the atmosphere with joy, vibrancy, and laughter, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and the advent of spring, marking a fresh beginning.

At Bal Vihar this year, Holi unfolded as an unforgettable experience. Students arrived adorned in white attire, eagerly anticipating the colorful revelry ahead. Soon, they found themselves immersed in playful pursuits, as vibrant hues of yellow, blue, green, and pink adorned them. The festive melodies added rhythm to the air, uniting everyone in jubilant dance.

Prior to the celebration, a safety session underscored the significance of enjoying the festival responsibly. Samridhi Singh and Anika Keswani eloquently presented the essence of Holi, igniting anticipation among the young minds. Amidst their innocent chatter, thoughts brewed on how to best utilize the colors in their grasp, envisaging playful exchanges with friends and elders while striving to remain unblemished.

Holi transcends borders as the Festival of Colors, exuding brightness and symbolizing love, rejuvenation, and the triumph of virtue. The tradition of adorning loved ones with colored powder, often against a backdrop of pristine white attire, epitomizes its essence. It serves as a time for familial reunions, forging new connections, and embracing fresh beginnings.

For the Bal Vihar families, Holi became a conduit for socializing and spreading joy, bridging the geographical and cultural gaps they navigate. These students, nurtured far from their cultural roots, astonish their immediate and global communities with their adept preservation and reinterpretation of tradition, embodying the evolving spirit of their heritage.

Botched Botox Shots Cause 19 Hospitalizations Across New York And Beyond: CDC Warns Of Dangers

Health Alert: Counterfeit or mishandled wrinkle-smoothing injections spark severe reactions in multiple states, CDC warns

The CDC is investigating adverse reactions tied to counterfeit or mishandled botox units, used for wrinkle reduction, with at least 19 women, nine hospitalized. These units were distributed across nine states, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. Four women received botulism antitoxin as a precaution due to concerns about toxin spread. Botox, derived from botulinum toxin, temporarily paralyzes muscles to smooth wrinkles, but can cause botulism, leading to severe symptoms

and even death. While FDA deems botox safe when administered by licensed professionals, CDC found issues with injections in non-medical

settings by unlicensed or inadequately trained individuals, particularly in med-spas. New York, among other states, restricts botox administration to healthcare facilities, but enforcing these regulations poses challenges. Symptoms reported by affected women include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, swallowing difficulties, dry mouth, slurred speech, breathing problems, fatigue, and weakness. The CDC advises individuals considering botox injections to verify the provider's credentials and training, ensure FDA-approved products from reputable sources, and refrain from injections if uncertain.

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Chicago OFBJP-USA Volunteers March, Led by Amar Upadhyay ji, Alongside Social Media Coordinator Nirmala Reddy, Showcases Dedication and Teamwork (Photos by Jayanti Oza)

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Basketball Tournament Junior Group 2ndt Winner - Team Dolphins (Photos by Jayanti Oza)

Sunny Bhathela

LIFESTYLE

Varanasi’s Namo Ghat turns into runway for Manish Malhotra

Prior to the fashion show, Ranveer and Kriti, accompanied by Manish Malhotra, offered their prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh couldn’t contain his excitement after walking the runway alongside Kriti Sanon on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi on Sunday. He described the experience as “a million times better than walking in Mumbai’s 5-star banquet.” Hosted by Manish Malhotra, the fashion show unfolded against the picturesque backdrop of Namo Ghat in the city. Ranveer and Kriti became the showstoppers for the evening, leaving the audience mesmerised. Photos and videos capturing the event’s magic quickly spread across social media. The theme, “Banarasi Saree- A tapestry of Indian culture & Craftsmen,” celebrated the rich heritage of the region.

Aries

on the banks of the Ganges felt a million times better than any Mumbai five-star venue.”

For the show, Kriti donned a stunning red Banarasi silk lehenga, accentuated by a golden dupatta, a maang-tikka, and matching earrings. Her makeup was minimal, allowing her bold brows and bindi to take centre stage. Ranveer exuded royalty in a golden silk kurta paired with a black dhoti and a matching shawl. He sported a longer hairstyle than usual, complemented by a full beard. Calling the event “amazing” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ranveer, quoted by ANI, said, “Backstage, I was talking to the other models, and we’ve all done our share of fashion shows, but this is something truly special. Walking

The event served as a platform to showcase the exquisite handicrafts and handloom works that Varanasi is renowned for, placing the spotlight on the artistry of Banarasi weaves. Beyond the captivating videos of the duo gracing the runway, Ranveer was also spotted posing with other models at the event. Prior to the fashion show, Ranveer and Kriti, accompanied by Manish Malhotra, offered their prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Ranveer opted for a light pink kurta and pajama, while Kriti chose a traditional golden yellow salwar kameez. Speaking with ANI, both actors expressed their gratitude for the visit. “Words cannot describe the experience I had today,” Ranveer said. “I’ve been a lifelong devotee of Lord Shiva, and this is my first time here. I hope to return soon, this time with my mother.”

Kriti added, “I visited Varanasi ten years ago for an ad shoot but didn’t have much time to explore. This time, however, I had the privilege of visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. I feel incredibly blessed. There’s a unique energy and vibe to this city.”

Author Bio:

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

19th April 2024 to 25th April 2024

Ganesha says that the week will start with the removal of any major hindrance related to life. Those who were suffering from some disease will get health benefits. Overall, the people of Aries will get freedom from diseases and bereavement this week. During this time you will work with a new energy and confidence in your field or business.

Taurus

Ganesha says that the people of Taurus should avoid getting involved in unnecessary disputes this week. At the beginning of the week, your opponents may be active in the workplace and may try to distract you from your goal. In such a situation, instead of getting entangled in small things, it would be better to focus on your goal.

Gemini

Ganesha says that this week has brought happiness, prosperity, and success to the people of Gemini. At the beginning of the week, people who are preparing for the exam competition can get to hear some good news. If you have been waiting for a transfer or promotion at your desired place for a long time, then your wish will be fulfilled this week.

Cancer

Ganesha says that the people of the Cancer zodiac will have to control their minds, speech, and behavior a lot this week, otherwise, you may have to face all kinds of problems unnecessarily. At the beginning of the week, there can be a debate with colleagues regarding something in the workplace.

Leo

Ganesha says that this week has brought success and good fortune for the people of the Leo zodiac. At the beginning of the week, the journeys made in connection with career and business will bring the desired success. During this, you will get a lot of support from people both at home and outside.

Virgo

Ganesha says that this week will prove to be mixed for the people of Virgo. At the beginning of the week, some problems related to the workplace can be a major cause of your concern. During this time

you will get less support from both your seniors and juniors and extra hard work and effort will be required to fulfill your target.

Libra

Ganesha says that the people of the Libra zodiac may face some difficulties related to careers and business in the beginning of the week. During this time, you will get less support from your seniors and juniors in the workplace and the workload will also be more Scorpio

Ganesha says that this week is going to prove to be mixed for the people of the Scorpio zodiac. ‘Veer Bhogya Vasundhara’ This week, the people of the Scorpio zodiac will always have to remember this line and instead of running away from problems, they will have to face them firmly.

Sagittarius

Ganesha says that the week for Sagittarius people will start with long or short-distance travel. During this time you can go for tourism with your family. The journey will prove to be pleasant and entertaining.

Capricorn

Ganesha says that the people of Capricorn will need to focus on their goal this week, not paying attention to the things here and there. At the beginning of the week, any dispute related to landbuilding will be a major cause of your concern.

Aquarius

Ganesha says that this week is going to be auspicious for the people of Aquarius in terms of career and business. At the beginning of the week, the journey done in connection with the business will prove to be pleasant and profitable.

Pisces

Ganesha says that this week is auspicious and successful for the people of Pisces. At the beginning of the week, all the opportunities related to life will be seen knocking on the doors. People wandering in search of employment will get better opportunities.

( Celebrity Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla)

Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh and Kriti Sanon during a visit to Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, in Varanasi

Sindhi Association Of Metropolitan Chicago Marks Joyous Cheti Chand Celebration

CHICAGO, lL- The Sindhi Association of Metropolitan Chicago (SAMC) hosted a vibrant Cheti Chand celebration at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove, uniting attendees of all ages in a delightful showcase of Sindhi culture. The event, graced by esteemed guests including Mr. Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India in Chicago, Mayor Larry Herman of Oakbrook, Mayor Tom Dailly of Schaumberg, Former Mayor Dr. Gopal Lalmalani of Oakbrook, and Aurora

Alderwomen Shewta Baid, commenced with traditional rituals and prayers led by Dr. Gita Rupani and Manju Dadlani, honoring Jhulelal, the Sindhi deity.

Majumdar, complemented by a sumptuous spread of Sindhi delicacies curated by SAMC Committee led by President Vinita Gulabani and Secretary

Experience the vibrant Sindhi New Year festivities, highlighted by captivating cultural performances, soulful prayers, and a tantalizing array of Sindhi cuisine.

Henna Ballaney and Ria Matta’s captivating performances set the stage aglow, while young Namish Nagdev eloquently conveyed the essence of Cheti Chand. The evening pulsated with Bollywood beats by DJ Paulami

Indian American Protester Arrested After Disrupting Bakersfield City Council Meeting

Riddhi Patel

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Riddhi Patel ignited controversy with her inflammatory remarks during a Bakersfield City Council meeting, leading to her arrest on the night of April 10. Facing 18 felony charges, Patel made threatening statements towards council members and Mayor Karen Goh, prompting swift intervention from law enforcement.

Indian, Punjabi Music kickstart Coachella 2024

The weekend saw foot thumping music by many Indian-origin performers at the inaugural Coachella weekend currently being held in California. The opening day saw Indian American Carnatic musician Sid Ram making his festival debut with ‘Do The Dance’ from his album, and the Tamil song, ‘Kannalanae,’ from the film “Bombay.” Ram rose to fame after his superhit track “Srivalli” for Allu Arjun-starrer “Pushpa: The Rise. British American musician Tony Ashwin Kanal with his No Doubt bandmates performed the next day. Loud cheers were seen at the performance by two Canadian Punjabi singers — A.P. Dhillon, and rapper Navraj Singh Goraya, known professionally as NAV.

During the public comments segment of the council meeting, the 28-year-old launched into an anti-Israel diatribe, invoking Mahatma Gandhi and the Hindu festival Chaitra Navaratri. However, her speech took a disturbing turn when she issued violent threats against city officials, including Mayor Goh. Patel’s remarks, captured on video and widely circulated online, elicited swift condemnation from various quarters.

In addition to her recent outburst, Patel’s past social media activity also came under scrutiny, with a previous Facebook post from 2021 resurfacing. In the post, she directed expletive-laden hatred towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other figures associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and individuals of Indian descent.

Dr. Subhash Balaney. President Gulabani’s leadership shone through, epitomizing grace and cultural pride, as she orchestrated a memorable celebration that showcased Sindhi heritage. FIA Chairman Sunil Shah

lauded her efforts, emphasizing the event’s role in fostering community unity. Mayor Tom Dailey, Mayor Laurence Herman, Former Mayor Gopal Lalmalani, and Oakbrook Trustee Dr. Suresh Reddy honored Gulabani’s distinguished leadership, underscoring the association’s commitment to cultural preservation and community engagement. Gulabani, in her remarks, highlighted SAMC’s pivotal role in promoting Sindhi culture and fostering collaborative endeavors for social and charitable causes.

1 Million Indians in Green Card Wait; Could take 195 years to eliminate backlog

Citing a National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) analysis of USCIS data, a recent Forbes report found that more than one million Indians are waiting in employmentbased immigration backlogs. Most of these in the decades-long backlog to gain permanent residence or a green card are highly skilled professionals from India. The delays are owing to a

NJ's Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools Declare Diwali Holiday

Hindus applaud Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools (SPFPS), NJ, for adding Diwali to its 2024-2025 School Calendar.

Rajan Zed, a prominent Hindu figure, expressed gratitude for recognizing

Diwali's significance to Hindu students and families. He praised SPFPS for closing schools on Diwali, hoping it becomes a permanent feature. Zed highlighted the educational value of celebrating diverse religious traditions, promoting understanding among students. Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil in Hinduism. With about 1.2 billion worldwide adherents, Hinduism emphasizes moksha (liberation), with about three million Hindus in the USA. SPFPS, serving 5,500 students, also observes closures for other religious holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Eid Al-Fitr, and Christmas, showcasing its commitment to diversity. Dr. Joan Mast and Evan Murray lead SPFPS as Superintendent and Board President, serving Scotch Plains and Fanwood's diverse communities.

Indian backlog in the EB-2 category rose by more than 240,000 or 40% in approximately three years according to 2020 USCIS data.

per-country limit and the low annual quota. Indian backlog in the EB-2 category rose by more than 240,000 or 40% in approximately three years according to 2020 USCIS data.

In 2020, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimated the backlog for Indians in the top three employmentbased green card categories would reach 2,195,795 individuals by FY 2030 and could take up to 195 years to eliminate the backlog.

Nikki Haley joins Conservative Think Tank

As all Indian-origin Presidential hopefuls have now called it quits to their ambitions for 2024 run, Nikki Haley has decided to join Hudson Institute as the Walter P. Stern chair. The announcement was made by the Washington, D.C.-based conservative think tank.

In a statement Haley said, “When our policymakers fail to call out our enemies or acknowledge the importance of our alliances, the world is less safe. That is why Hudson’s work is so critical. They believe the American people should have the facts and policymakers should have the solutions to support a secure, free, and prosperous future. I look forward to partnering with them to defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world.”

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Colorado Residents Swindled Of Over $187 Million By Scammers In 2023:FBI

COLORADO- According to the latest report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), scammers siphoned off $187,621,731 from 11,475 victims in Colorado during 2023, ranking the state 7th in the nation for complaints per capita. This marked an increase of nearly $9 million over the losses reported in 2022.

The primary schemes responsible for the largest losses in Colorado during 2023 were investment fraud ($60 million), business email compromise ($57 million), and tech support scams ($23 million).

The report underscores critical vulnerabilities and emphasizes the need for heightened security awareness throughout the Centennial State. FBI Denver remains steadfast in its commitment to collaborate closely with local law enforcement agencies and community partners to mitigate risks and safeguard Coloradans against scams.

“Unfortunately, we frequently encounter

Indian-American to Board Blue Origin Space Flight

KENT, WA – Indian American Gopi Thotakura is poised to make history as the first Indian space tourist, as announced by Blue Origin. A seasoned aviator and pilot, Gopi’s passion for flying took root early in life, even before he could get behind the wheel of a car. With a diverse background that includes piloting commercial and medical jets, as well as mastering various aircraft from bush planes to hot air balloons, Gopi brings a wealth of experience to his upcoming space journey. Gopi’s adventurous spirit extends beyond the skies, as evidenced by his recent triumph scaling the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. His journey from his roots in Vijayawada, where he attended Sarala Birla Academy, to becoming a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, showcases his dedication to exploration and achievement.

In addition to his aviation pursuits, Gopi is also deeply involved in holistic wellness and applied health, cofounding Preserve Life, a global center located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. His commitment to both physical and mental well-being underscores his holistic approach to life.

victims from diverse backgrounds whose financial stability and life savings have been decimated by scammers,” remarked FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Criminals continually devise new tactics to deceive individuals, so exercising caution before clicking on links and promptly reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement is paramount.”

In 2023, the IC3 received over 880,000 complaints, with potential losses surpassing a staggering $12.5 billion. This signifies an almost 10% surge in complaints from the previous year and a 22% increase in losses, highlighting the

severity of the scams being perpetrated. Nationally, the top three scams most frequently reported by victims were phishing/spoofing, personal data breaches, and non-payment/nondelivery. The 2023 IC3 report reveals that individuals aged 30 to 49 were the most likely to report losses from investment fraud, while those over 60 accounted for over half of the losses to tech support scams. Seniors were particularly vulnerable, with over 100,000 complaints lodged with the IC3 and reported losses exceeding $3 billion. Ransomware incidents surged more than any other scheme nationwide in 2023. The IC3 received over 2,800 ransomware complaints, resulting in adjusted losses surpassing $59.6 million, a 74% increase from the previous year. The sectors most impacted by ransomware included healthcare, critical manufacturing, and government facilities.

If you suspect you have fallen victim to a cyber-enabled crime, it is crucial to file a complaint at IC3.gov.

Oakton College, Endeavor Health Boost Healthcare Education Access

(L-R)

Oakton College and Endeavor Health have joined forces to enhance healthcare education accessibility in Evanston, IL. The partnership establishes Oakton's first physical presence in Evanston, with the Health Careers Education Center set to open at Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital's campus in 2025. This collaboration received a significant boost with an $800,000 federal funding secured by Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin. Located at 2500 Ridge Road, the center will house classroom and lab facilities for three new healthcare-focused Associate of Applied Science programs, pending approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., lauded the partnership's capacity to meet healthcare workforce demands and highlighted the role of federal resources in advancing the center's potential. Projected employment growth in healthcare occupations underscores the significance of this initiative,

Varun Soni: First Hindu Speaker at Stanford Baccalaureate

Varun Soni, renowned for his interfaith leadership and status as the first Hindu lead chaplain on a U.S. college campus, is set to make history once again. Stanford University has announced that Soni will deliver the keynote address for their 2024 Baccalaureate celebration in June, becoming the first Hindu speaker at the event.

As the Dean of religious and spiritual life at the University of Southern California, Soni will address graduates, families, and guests on June 15th at Frost Amphitheater. His academic journey, marked by degrees from esteemed institutions like Tufts University and Harvard Divinity School, underscores his commitment to religious studies. Tiffany Steinwert, Stanford's dean for religious and spiritual life, commended Soni's dedication to fostering community and belonging. Soni's global perspective on religion, shaped by his upbringing in the U.S. and experiences in India and beyond, enriches his approach to spiritual life and education.

IGFF Hosted at Sydney Opera House

with an estimated 1.8 million job openings annually. Senator Duckworth emphasized the importance of community investment and expressed pride in securing support for projects like Oakton's Health Careers Education Center. Renovation costs will be shared between Oakton and Endeavor Health, with both entities collaborating on clinical rotation and job placement opportunities within the Endeavor Health system. Gabrielle Cummings, President of Evanston Hospital at Endeavor Health, emphasized the initiative's broader vision of cultivating a sustainable talent pipeline reflective of community diversity. Prospective students are encouraged to complete prerequisite courses between fall 2024 and spring 2025 before enrolling in programmatic courses. Registration for Oakton's fall 2024 semester is open, with further program details available on Oakton's website. The initiative not only enhances educational opportunities but also contributes to workforce training and community development.

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The 5th International Gujarati Film Festival (IGFF) is set to dazzle Sydney, Australia from June 28th to 30th, 2024, at the prestigious Sydney Opera House. Following its success in Chicago last year, this edition promises an elevated experience for attendees. Recognized by New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy for its global impact, IGFF has become a beacon for Gujarati cinema worldwide. With stars like Boman Irani and Deven Bhojani gracing the event, along with Festival Director Umesh Shukla and a distinguished jury, the festival anticipates a vibrant convergence of film enthusiasts and industry professionals. IGFF continues its tradition of showcasing cultural richness, with luminaries such as Malhar Thakar and Yash Soni adding to the allure. Expectations are high for this landmark edition, where the magic of Gujarati cinema meets the iconic Sydney Opera House backdrop.

Varun Soni

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Pilot Gopi Thotakura

Ileo Lott, Ed.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Oakton College; Wendy Yanow, Ed.D., chair, Oakton College Board of Trustees; Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., president, Oakton College; Gabrielle Cummings, president, Evanston Hospital & NorthShore Hospitals; David Rahija, president, Endeavor Health Medical Group Operations; Gus Granchalek, president, Skokie Hospital & North Region Procedural Services.

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CBP Intensifies Efforts Against Fentanyl Trafficking, Targets Criminal Network

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiates Operation Plaza Spike to combat the influx of fentanyl from Mexico. The operation targets cartels responsible for fentanyl trafficking, focusing on strategic territories south of the U.S. known as "plazas." Operation Plaza Spike employs various tactics, including seizing illicit proceeds and scrutinizing cross-border businesses. CBP plans to publicly identify senior cartel officials, increasing pressure on them. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasizes DHS's commitment to combatting fentanyl's impact.

The operation's initial target is the Nogales Plaza, led by Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, indicted for involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel. CBP aims

to disrupt Valenzuela Valenzuela's operations responsible for significant

“Underpaid And Overworked”:

Newark Airport Flight Attendants Take To Picket Lines

NEWARK, NJ — Dozens of United Airlines flight attendants, joined by their union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), rallied outside Newark Airport demanding fair compensation. They pointed to United executives enjoying hefty pay increases while denying them raises. Amid chants of “Overworked, underpaid – pay us a living wage,” signs proclaimed, “Pay Us Or Chaos.” AFA President Ken Diaz emphasized the disparity,

Flight attendants argue that if an airline can afford hefty pay raises for its executives, it should also prioritize fair compensation for its employees.

stating, “If the airline can lavish execs with massive raises, we deserve the same.” Negotiations, mediated federally, are ongoing, with both parties set to reconvene soon.

United Airlines responded, citing ongoing negotiations and commitment to reaching an industry-leading agreement. This comes amidst repeated demonstrations by AFA-affiliated flight attendants and pilots seeking better pay and conditions. United’s financial success, boasting a 9.9% revenue increase in 2023, underscores the disparity between executives’ gains and frontline workers’ struggles. CEO Scott Kirby expressed optimism for the future, but workers insist on equitable treatment as they remain the backbone of United’s success.

fentanyl trafficking. CBP expands Operation Apollo into Arizona to enhance intelligence gathering and collaboration with state and local law enforcement, targeting finished fentanyl products, precursor chemicals, and weapons. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram underscores collaborative efforts to combat the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, with a focus on disrupting supply chains. CBP encourages the public to provide relevant information about Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela and his operations, with tips accepted anonymously. Operation Plaza Spike aims to disrupt fentanyl trafficking networks and safeguard communities. CBP, alongside partners, remains committed to combating this urgent threat.

NJ Transit Fare Increase Greenlit

NJ Transit faces pandemic-induced financial strain, prompting a 15% fare hike from July 1, followed by 3% annual increases. Despite commuter objections, the board unanimously approved the decision to address a budget deficit worsened by low ridership and vanishing relief funds. While emphasizing the necessity for financial stability, they vow to maintain safe, reliable, and affordable transit. This marks NJ Transit's first fare increase since 2015, aiming to offset a $2 billion revenue loss.

San Jose State University Commemorates Bay Area’s South Asian Community

SAN JOSE, CA – South Asians make up nearly 20% of the Bay Area’s population, yet their narratives often remain untold. For the San Jose State University King Library, this changed with the pioneering efforts of SJSU Collection Strategy Librarian, Mantra Roy, alongside her colleagues Kate Steffens, Nick Szydlowski, and Anamika Megwalu. Together, they engaged with local communities to curate the groundbreaking exhibit “South Asians

in Silicon Valley.”

Recognizing libraries as bastions of knowledge, Roy seized the opportunity to unveil the vibrant tapestry of the South Asian diaspora, as stated by the SJSU’s new center. Through her exhibit, Roy aims to enlighten, connect, and honor the multifaceted identities of South Asians, fueled by the conviction that cultural empowerment fosters unity, inspiration, and transformative experiences. The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the lived experiences of South Asian diasporas across the broader Bay Area. Roy emphasized, “This program will grant visibility to the rich contributions and impact of South Asian communities, which, despite their significant presence, remain inadequately documented and publicly acknowledged, especially in vital spaces like libraries.” She underscored, “Lack of understanding fosters biases. While some South Asian figures in the tech sector are household names in Silicon Valley and beyond, numerous other sectors and roles within the diaspora enrich and diversify the valley, yet these contributions often go unnoticed.”

Iowa Governor Approves Legislation Enabling State Arrest And Deportation Of Certain Migrants

DES MOINES, IA — A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds makes it a state crime for individuals previously denied admission to or removed from the United States to be in Iowa. Effective July 1, the law has stirred apprehension within Iowa’s immigrant communities and raised concerns among legal experts and law enforcement about its enforcement. The legislation mirrors a portion of a Texas law currently entangled in legal disputes. Republican leaders, both in Iowa and nationally, have criticized President Joe Biden for what they perceive as a failure to enforce federal immigration law. Gov. Reynolds stated, “The Biden

Iowa Gov. Gov. Kim Reynolds

Administration has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk,” justifying the bill as empowering Iowa

law enforcement to fill that gap. However, law enforcement officials like Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert have expressed reservations about their capacity to enforce immigration laws, citing resource limitations and emphasizing their primary focus on community safety. Shawn Ireland, president of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, similarly highlighted the need for consultation with county attorneys on implementation.

The legislation, akin to the Texas law, could result in criminal charges for individuals with outstanding deportation orders or prior denials of admission. Upon apprehension,

migrants may face a choice between complying with a judge’s deportation order or undergoing prosecution. The bill’s enforcement and implementation, akin to its Texas counterpart, remain contentious due to the complex and costly federal deportation process, as noted by immigration law expert Huyen Pham. In response, Iowa’s immigrant community organizations are engaging in educational efforts, hosting informational meetings, and seeking clarity from local law enforcement agencies. Concerns among community members range from inquiries about leaving the state to queries about interactions with law enforcement and potential racial profiling.?”

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Flight attendants with Unitied Airlines held a picket line outside Newark Airport (Photo Credit: Association of Flight Attendants CWA)

Librarian, Mantra Roy

Photo credit: U.S Customs & Border Protection

How UAE Creates Artificial Rain, Linked To Dubai Weather Chaos

Dubai, known for its arid climate and blistering temperatures, was battered by torrential rain on Tuesday, triggering widespread flooding throughout the desert nation. The unforeseen downpour not only halted the bustling city's usual pace but also sparked worries about the escalating influence of climate change on extreme weather phenomena in the area.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), annual rainfall averages less than 200 millimetres. With temperatures soaring to as high as 50 degrees Celsius during the summer, the UAE's water resources are under immense pressure, compounded by its heavy reliance on groundwater sources.

To combat this pressing issue, the UAE pioneered innovative solutions, one of which is generating artificial rain through cloud seeding, a form of weather modification aimed at enhancing precipitation. But, how does it work?

Understanding Cloud Seeding

Cloud seeding is a technique that involves introducing "seeding agents" into clouds to stimulate the condensation process and trigger rainfall. The process begins with weather forecasters at the NCM

With temperatures soaring to as high as 50 degrees Celsius during the summer, the UAE's water resources are under immense pressure, compounded by its heavy reliance on groundwater sources.

monitoring atmospheric conditions and identifying suitable clouds for seeding based on precipitation patterns.

The UAE first tested cloud seeding in 1982. By the early 2000s, the Gulf nation's artificial rain program had been bolstered by collaborative scientific and technical research with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado, USA, Witwatersrand University in South Africa, and NASA.

The UAE's Rain Enhancement Program (UAEREP), managed by the Emirates' National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), spearheads the program.

The scientists behind this program focused on analysing the physical and chemical characteristics of the UAE's atmosphere, particularly aerosols and pollutants, and their influence on cloud formation. The aim was to identify an effective agent to stimulate cloud growth and ultimately augment rainfall.

Once conducive clouds are identified, specialised aircraft equipped with

hygroscopic flares take to the skies. These flares, mounted on the aircraft's wings, contain salt material components. Upon reaching the target clouds, the flares are deployed, releasing the seeding agent into the cloud.

The salt particles serve as nuclei around which water droplets condense, eventually growing heavy enough to fall as precipitation in the form of rain.

"The NCM has established a national network of 86 automatic weather stations (AWOS) for weather monitoring, six weather radars covering the entire UAE, and one upper air station. The Centre has also created climate databases and assisted in the development of high precision Numerical Weather Predictions and simulation software in the UAE," the UAEREP's description of the process reads.

"At present, the NCM operates four Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft from Al Ain Airport equipped with the latest technologies and devices employed for cloud seeding and

atmospheric research."

Environmental Concerns

Despite the potential benefits of cloud seeding, concerns have been raised about its environmental impact and the safety of the seeding agents used. In response, the NCM has taken measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of its operations.

Unlike some other countries' cloud seeding programs that utilise silver iodide, a crystal-like material that has raised environmental concerns, the UAE's program refrains from using harmful chemicals. Instead, it employs natural salts as seeding agents. The NCM has developed its own seeding agent known as nano material, consisting of fine salt coated with titanium oxide. This material is currently undergoing trials and experimentation to assess its effectiveness in enhancing precipitation

There have been other concerns over "tinkering" with nature. With the region experiencing exceptional weather conditions like storms and heavy rainfall, causing unprecedented floods, some have warned against meddling with the natural order of things, claiming that the floods are nature's way of "pushing back".

Samsung aims for Rs 10,000 cr revenue from its AI TV business in India

New Delhi: Samsung on Wednesday said that it is targeting Rs 10,000 crore revenue from its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Neo QLED, OLED TV business in India.

Samsung ended 2023 with a 21 per cent volume market share and this year it is looking to further consolidate its leadership with the launch of AI TVs, the company said. "For the first time, we have a very clear twin strategy on premium, the highest or the largest range as far as the consumer is concerned and with that, we are also looking at targeting unprecedented Rs 10,000 crore revenue in 2024," said Mohandeep Singh, Senior VP, Visual Display Business, Samsung India.

The television market in India

Samsung ended 2023 with a 21 per cent volume market share and this year it is looking to further consolidate its leadership with the launch of AI TVs, the company said.

has been slow, with Counterpoint Research reporting a 16 per cent drop in shipments last year.

However, Samsung is optimistic about the TV business in 2024, citing increased demand for premium TVs from MZ consumers.

As per analysts, no TV brand in the country has achieved the Rs 10,000 crore revenue milestone before.

Samsung has launched its ultrapremium Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K and OLED TVs in the country to consolidate its leadership in the TV business.

According to the company, its new range of premium TVs is designed to boost consumers' home entertainment experience with powerful, AI-driven solutions.

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Atlanta Hindu Temple Completes 2024 Home Build with Festive Event

ATLANTA, GA- The celebratory event marking the successful completion of the Upahar Build by the Hindu Temple of Atlanta (HTA) in collaboration with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, March 23, was brimming with enthusiastic fervor, community spirit, and joyous camaraderie. Volunteers, donors, and project officials gathered in front of the beautiful house, adorned with smiles and anticipation. Before the festivities, a delectable lunch, hot tea, and soft drinks were graciously provided by HTA. Attendees were treated to a tour of the house, where Dr. Sujatha Reddy, HTA’s Upahar Build leader, and representatives from supporting Temples

engaged in interviews with TV Asia’s Anjali Chhabria. The highlight of the event was the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Denea Simpson, the new homeowner, radiated with joy alongside Atlanta Habitat’s representatives and HTA officials. Reflecting on the significance of the Upahar project, Dr. Sujatha Reddy emphasized its role in providing hope,

Hindus Demand Withdrawal of Lord Ganesh Pillows from Bed Bath & Beyond

RENO, NE- Upset Hindus are urging Bed Bath & Beyond to withdraw pillows featuring images of Lord Ganesh, citing them as highly inappropriate. Rajan Zed, a prominent Hindu figure, emphasized that Lord Ganesh is revered in Hinduism and should not be used in such mundane ways. Zed called for the removal of the pillows and requested a formal apology from the company’s CEO and Board Chairman. He stressed that Hindu symbols should be respected and not trivialized, as they hold deep significance for millions of followers worldwide. The pillows, priced between $24.99 to $30.99, depict the Hindu deity Ganesh and are available on Bed Bath & Beyond’s website.

stability, and shelter for deserving families, like Denea’s.

As the ceremony unfolded, heartfelt gratitude was expressed to all contributors, including volunteers and partner organizations. Denea, overwhelmed with emotion, expressed her profound appreciation for the opportunity and support received

through the Habitat program. In closing, the atmosphere was filled with applause and cheers, capturing the spirit of unity and compassion that defined the Upahar Build. With hopes for continued success, the community looks forward to future endeavors, inspired by the transformative power of generosity and collaboration.

Indian American Man Jailed for 2022 Madison Arson

MADISON, WI- Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, from Madison, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for attempting to cause damage using a Molotov cocktail on a building in Madison. This attack was in response to the leak of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case concerning Roe v. Wade. Roychowdhury targeted the building because it housed an organization opposing abortion. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2023.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco commended the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors for their diligent work, emphasizing the message that violence as a means of intimidation will not be tolerated.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate reiterated the FBI’s stance against violence to express personal views, emphasizing their commitment to pursue those resorting to violent tactics.

U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea labeled Roychowdhury’s act as domestic terrorism, emphasizing its undemocratic nature and reaffirming the dedication of law enforcement agencies to hold such perpetrators accountable.

Roychowdhury’s arrest was the culmination of extensive investigative efforts involving various law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Trial Attorneys are leading the prosecution, reflecting the collaborative approach in pursuing justice.

Padma Lakshmi gets 2024 ICON Award from Boston University

One of the best-known faces when it comes to Indian food in the US, Padma Lakshmi has received the ICON Award from Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. The Emmy-nominated producer, television host received the annual ICON award recognizing innovators who create new and transformative paradigms in hospitality during BU’s Hospitality Leadership Summit at BU’s Computing and Data Sciences Center on April 4.

Lakshmi said, “I am honored to be recognized by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration and to support the school’s mission to make the world a more hospitable place for all.”

Lakshmi is the creator of the Emmynominated series “Taste the Nation.”

Lakshmi also served as host and executive producer for Bravo’s twotime Emmy-winning series “Top Chef,” for 19 seasons. The show has been nominated for 47 Emmys.

Will an Indian American Girl play Rapunzel?

The social media world is currently abuzz with backlash received by Indian-American actor Avantika Vandanapu. If rumors are to be believed then the 19-year-old actor Avantika Vandanapu may be playing Rapunzel in a live-action version of Disney film “Tangled.”

However, reminiscent of the time when Halle Berry received racist backlash for being casted as Ariel in Little Mermaid, with #notmyAriel trending on Twitter; this time too, some of the social media chatter is far from welcoming about the news. Many people on social media rejected the idea of a brown actor playing a character associated with a whiteskinned princess. However, some came to the rescue of the actor too, saying that for far too long white actors have played brown characters in Hollywood movies.

Avantika however is yet to comment anything on the issue. It may be noted that Avantika Vandanapu has been known for her role in “Mean Girls.”

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Upahar Build Celebrations. Zack Mountcastle(Left on Top Row). Caitlyn (first right) & Candice (second right top row)

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