RCB grab final IPL play-off berth; CSK knocked out

In a captivating showdown on Saturday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their remarkable streak, securing the fourth and final playoff berth with a commanding 27-run victory over defending champions Chennai Super Kings. Opting to bat first, RCB set a formidable target of 218 for five, showcasing their batting prowess. Despite a spirited effort from CSK, who managed 191 for 7 in their chase, RCB's disciplined bowling ensured their ninth playoff qualification in 15 seasons.

Judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy: HC

Judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy: HC The Allahabad High Court has upheld the dismissal of a judicial officer accused of demanding dowry and attempting to influence a junior judge in the case. If there exists a temple of justice, the judicial officers must act like its high priests, a bench comprising justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Donadi Ramesh said and stressed that a judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy. Dismissing a writ petition filed by Umesh Kumar Sirohi, an additional district judge who was removed from service, the court said, ''Any transgression committed by a judicial officer to extract benefit for himself or those to whom he may be closely related would always be dealt with severely''. In the present writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the penalty order passed by the state government dated April 16, 2021, whereby Sirohi - then serving as additional district and sessions judge, Lalitpur - was removed from service with immediate effect. ''Once the 'bad fish' is identified, it may not be retained in the 'tank'. No room may ever exist and no margin of error may be permitted as may allow any possibility for a judicial officer to seek to influence another judicial officer in the exercise of judicial function. ''If there exists a temple of justice, the judicial officers must act like its high priests who must not only conduct the rituals involving the discharge of their duties on the dais but they must zealously guard the purity of the temple itself,'' the court said. The two charge sheets were issued against the petition by the administrative side of the High Court in 2016 and 2017. In the first charge sheet, Sirohi was accused of demanding dowry for the marriage of his brother, also a judge, and inflicting an injury on his own hand as a conspiracy to implicate his brother's wife and her family. Sirohi's wife had registered a police complaint in this regard against the sister-in-law and her family members, leading to the registration of a case against them. Another allegation against Sirohi and his brother was that they had tried to influence the investigating officer in the matter by misusing their official position. In the second charge sheet, it was alleged that Sirohi had tried to influence an additional chief judicial magistrate in the proceedings of the case registered by his wife. He was also accused of making false allegations of bias against the then district judge, Meerut. In 2020, the High Court accepted the inquiry reports against Sirohi and recommended his dismissal from service. The state accepted the recommendation, leading to his removal from service, which is under challenge in the present writ petition. After hearing the arguments and examining the records, the court concluded that a case of most serious misconduct had been made out against Sirohi. The court noted that charges alleging efforts to influence the investigating officer and demand of dowry were found to be true.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali EXCLUSIVE on ETimes: The secrets of Heeramandi and the magic of his lens in Bollywood

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is here! In this episode of Director's Cut, the maestro himself gets candid about his latest series, Heeramandi. Delve into the mind behind the magic as Bhansali unveils the inspiration, challenges, and hidden details behind Heeramandi. But it doesn't stop there! We also revisit his iconic works like Bajirao Mastani, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Ram Leela. This is a conversation no ETimes fan can miss!

EC issues show cause notice to West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar over ads targeting TMC

EC issues show cause notice to West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar over ads targeting TMC The Election Commission of India on Saturday issued a show cause notice to West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar and asked him to submit a reply by May 21 in regards to a Trinamool Congress complaint to the poll body that the BJP was publishing false, unverified, malicious allegations and stoking communal disharmony to appeal for votes on religious grounds in its advertisements. ECI said that the transcript has been obtained by the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal for the alleged advertisement published by the Bengal BJP, mentioned, The Sanatan Dharma (traditional religion) has been defamed in this land of Swami Vivekananda and Shri Ramakrishna times and again in these thirteen years. The immersion (Visarjan) of the idol of Ma Durga has seen to be delayed due to the vote bank politics in this Bengal. The worship of Bagdevi is also seen to be impeded. The Ram mandir is considered unholy, and the chanting of 'Jai Shree ram' is regarded as abusive remarks in this state. This Bengal is a witness of comparing the idol of Shree Ram with a 'show piece'. The poll body has asked West Bengal BJP chief Majumdar to explain as to why such content shall not be treated as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. In the event of no response from your side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to you, the poll body said in its notice. The Election Commission also censured TMC MLA Humayun Kabir for his 'throw BJP supporters in Bhagirathi river' remarks made at a booth meeting. The Commission has carefully gone through the contents and averments made by Humayun Kabir in the aforesaid rally in context with all relevant records and provisions and is convinced that he has made the said statement and thus violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code Commission without prejudice to any order or notice issued or to be issued subsequently to him in the matter relating to MCC violations, hereby, strongly condemns the impugned statement made by Humayun Kabir, MLA, during an election rally in Kazipara, Murshidabad for the above-mentioned misconduct and censures him for the above-mentioned misconduct, the poll body said. Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal are being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. (ANI)

Those who think they can run bulldozer over Ram Mandir, they will have to go: Anurag Thakur

The News Mill

BJP get exposed for telling lies on Shree Mandira: BJD

Uttar Pradesh Transforms Under Modi and Yogi Leadership: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Highlighting Uttar Pradesh's transformation from a state known for producing country-made pistols to cannon balls, Union home minister Amit Shah said at an election rally in Lalitpur on Saturday that the state started developing only after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister and Yogi Adityanath the chief minister. Mr Shah also addressed an election rally in Banda and took part in a roadshow in Amethi in favour of BJP candidates. Canvassing for his party candidate from Jhansi Anurag Sharma, who is eyeing a second term, Mr Shah said, There was a time when country-made pistols were produced in Uttar Pradesh. But Mr Modi built a defence corridor in Bundelkhand and now cannon balls are made here. He added that if Pakistan makes any mistake, the shells made in Bundelkhand will be used to destroy them. Slamming Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's atom bomb remark that has sparked a political row, he said, Mr Aiyar said Pakistan should be respected as it has the atom bomb and not ask for PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) from the country. But this is Narendra Modi's government. We are not afraid of the atom bomb. PoK belongs to India and will remain so. We will take it. In a purported video clip that went viral on social media, Mr Aiyar is heard saying India should give respect to Pakistan as it is a sovereign nation and engage with it as it also possesses the atom bomb. Making a clarification, Mr Aiyar had said the video was old and dredged up now that the BJP's election campaign is faltering. The Congress said it totally disagreed with the remarks made by him some months ago. In a veiled attack on the Opposition, the Union minister said, This land fought against the Mughals and the British. Now Bundelkhand also has to fight against the desi angrez present in our country. Urging people to vote in favour of the BJP, the home minister said, This election is for the development of the country, for securing the country. This election is an election to protect our religion and culture. This election is to make India great. It is for the welfare of the poor in the country. And to quench the thirst of Bundelkhand. Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, Mr Shah said, In this election, on one side there is the INDIA bloc which has committed a scam of `12-lakh crores. On the other hand, there is Mr Modi, who has together served for 23 years as a chief minister and Prime Minister, but no one can level a corruption allegation of even `25 paise on him. \On one side are (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi and (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav, who were born with a silver spoon. On the other hand, there is our leader, Mr Modi, who was born in the house of a poor tea seller, the senior BJP leader said. On one side, there is the Samajwadi Party, which opened fire on Ram bhakts . On the other side, there is Mr Modi, who is building the Ram temple, he added. The home minister said the Congress party wants to divide the country into two halves -- South India and North India -- but no one can break India as long as the country is run under Mr Modi's leadership. Later, while addressing an election rally in Banda in favour of BJP candidate R.K. Singh Patel, Mr Shah pointed out that this election is between those who opened fire on Ram devotees and those who built the temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The Union minister reminded the gathering that the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh had opened fire on karsevaks and devotees of Lord Ram during the Babri Masjid demolition and turned Saryu river red with blood. Mr Shah also said Mr Yadav, his wife and Dimple Yadav, Mr Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi did not attend the 'pran pratistha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya as they are afraid to lose their votebanks. Attacking the INDIA bloc and Mr Gandhi, the Union home minister said the Opposition Alliance members have said they will have different Prime Ministers on a rotational basis. But Rahul baba, this is not a grocery shop. To run the country, a strong Prime Minister is needed, one who has a 56-inch chest, he added. Sharpening his attack on the Opposition, he said, This entire ' ghamandia gathbandhan ' (arrogant alliance) is an alliance of familists who work only for their sons and daughters. Sharad Pawar wants to make his daughter Supriya Sule the chief minister, while Uddhav Thackeray wants the same position for his son Aditya Thackeray and Mamata (Banerjee) wants it for her nephew. And Mrs Gandhi wants to make her son the Prime Minister. In Uttar Pradesh, on the last day of campaigning for the fifth phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Mr Shah took part in a roadshow taken out to garner support for Smriti Irani, the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Amethi. Mr Shah and Ms Irani greeted people in an open-top vehicle decorated with saffron flags, banners and flowers, with the slogan of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre written on it. As the roadshow started from the Ramlila Maidan and proceeded till the Devipatan temple, the crowd raised the Jai Shri Ram slogan. The Jhansi, Banda and Amethi Lok Sabha seats will vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

Mera koi waris nahi hai, 140 crore deshwasi hi mere waris hain: PM Modi

Mera koi waris nahi hai, 140 crore deshwasi hi mere waris hain: PM Modi Calling 140 crore countrymen as his successors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that when he left home 60 years ago he was not aware that countrymen would become his family, adding that he is working round the clock for the betterment of them. PM Modi further said that every head of the family thinks of transferring his savings to his successor, therefore, for him, 140 crore deshwasi, wahi mere waris hain. Addressing an election rally in the North East Delhi constituency, the Prime Minister said that he has never lived for himself but for his countrymen. 50-60 years ago, when I left my home, I did not even know that one day I would hoist the Tricolour at the Red Fort. I did not know then that 140 crore Indians would become my family. I have never lived for myself, I am working towards the betterment of your and your kids future. It is natural that a family head thinks of its next generation, but Mera koi waris nahi hai. 140 crore deshwasi, wahi mere waris hain (I have no heir, 140 crore countrymen are my heir) and that is why I am working day and night for you, Prime Minister Modi said. The Prime Minister then mocked the pitiable condition of Congress, saying that the party which ruled Delhi for four generations has become incapable of fielding a candidate from 10 Janpath. Congress for just contesting three Lok Sabha seats out of seven constituencies in Delhi. Four generations of Congress ruled Delhi, but today they do not have the strength to contest four seats in Delhi. Congress is not able to fight even where a darbar is being held at 10 Janpath, he said. He further said that INDIA bloc is leaving no opportunity to loot the people of Delhi. INDIA alliance is busy destroying Delhi. They are not leaving any opportunity to loot the people of Delhi. These people had come in the name of eliminating corruption, but today they are in jail due to scams worth crores of rupees, the PM said. Prime Minister said that this Lok Sabha election is to protect the country from those powers who want to bankrupt the country. This is the time when Bharat is taking a leap for development. 2024 elections is to make India one of the top three economies in the world. This election is also to protect the country's economy from powers that want to bankrupt the country with their policies. It is also to protect the poor and middle class from those who want to snatch away their wealth, he said. PM Narendra Modi also met the Pakistani refugees who got Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act recently. Calling the INDIA bloc opportunistic, the PM said that opposition parties held Delhi hostage for the appeasement of its vote bank. This opportunistic alliance can also spread violence in the country for appeasement. Remember, when the CAA law came, they held Delhi hostage for months. First, they blocked the roads, then caused riots. But today, their lies have been exposed. Refugees who have lived in Delhi for years are getting citizenship, he said. PM Modi further said that he wants to make the lives of people in Delhi easier. We are working to regularise the unauthorised colonies in Delhi. Alongside that, we are working to provide slum dwellers with pucca houses, he said. He further slammed previous governments for not building a National War Memorial. After independence, the soldiers of the country kept demanding a 'National War Memorial'. Look at the misfortune of the country, until Modi came, the governments of the country did not understand the importance of building a 'War Memorial' in honour of the brave soldiers of the country. About 35,000 police personnel died while protecting the people of the country. The police personnel of the country had to wait for 70 years for the 'Police Memorial'. It was built only when Modi came, he said. The Prime Minister further said that global leaders were awestruck by the transformation of Delhi when they visited the national capital for the G20 Summit in September 2023. Today, Delhi boasts modern convention centers like Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi, along with landmarks such as the National War Memorial and the New Parliament building, enhancing our sense of pride! he said. He also said that 2024 Lok Sabha elections are crucial to defeating the mindset of nepotism. This mindset has shattered the dreams of our youth for decades, and to defeat those forces that want to weaken India... Indian politics needs a stable government. The national capital must become attraction for the world. That's why the country needs 'Phir ek baar, Modi sarkar, PM said. Voting in Delhi for all seven Lok Sabha seats will be held in a single phase on May 25. BJP's Manoj Tiwari is in the electoral fray against Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar in the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. (ANI)

Soldiers, borders safe under Modi: Anurag Thakur

Soldiers, borders safe under Modi: Anurag Thakur India's borders and its soldiers are safe under the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Saturday and alleged that the Congress' ''hand'' is always with foreign powers. Thakur made the remarks while campaigning in the Chintpurni and the Jaswan-Pragpur assembly segments of the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, from where he is seeking a fifth consecutive victory. He said, ''Our Army became stronger, its morale was boosted and the borders were strengthened under Modi's rule while nothing was safe during the Congress regime.'' Hitting out at the grand old party while referring to its election symbol, Thakur said, ''The Congress' 'hand' is always with foreign powers. It handed over thousands of acres of Indian land to the enemies and even today, when our soldiers are showing their bravery in Doklam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is meeting with Chinese officials.'' He also attacked the Congress over the 2016 surgical strike. Thakur said, ''When our Army entered Pakistan and killed the terrorists, these people were demanding proof. Even today, when elections are around the corner, these people are saying that India's nuclear weapons should be abolished.'' India had conducted the surgical strike in September 2016 across the Line of Control as a response to a terror attack on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector. Thakur added that even ''our daughters'' are today holding AK-47s and have the courage to ''bury'' enemies. He noted that there used to be direct interference by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir and every day there were reports of terror incidents and stone pelting but the Modi-led government removed Article 370 and instilled peace and tranquillity in the Valley. As a result, stone pelting has completely stopped and the terrorists are counting their last breaths, the minister claimed. Thakur also hit out at the state's Congress government. He alleged that the Congress formed the government in Himachal Pradesh by making false promises. Now, during the Lok Sabha elections, it is once again trying to cheat women by making them fill forms to get Rs 1,500 per month. ''Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had openly said after coming to power that 'we have formed the government by defeating 97 per cent Hindus','' Thakur claimed. ''Do they intend to cut the reservation meant for SCs, STs and OBCs and give it to Muslims, along the lines of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh?'' The BJP leader said that 10 years ago, the country uprooted a ''corrupt and chaotic'' government and replaced it with an honest one. In these 10 years, Modi gave his 100 per cent and worked to live up to the hopes and aspirations of the people and today India has earned its place in the ''top five'', Thakur said. All this happened with the power of the public's vote, he asserted.

Protesting Farmers on Boil, Face Hardships To Protect Paddy at Procurement Centres

The farmers said that if the rice mills dry the paddy with their dryers, the rice will not be wet and moisture content was enough as per the government specifications. They requested the authorities to relax the norms and purchase the paddy as it was. (Image: DC) The farmers said that if the rice mills dry the paddy with their dryers, the rice will not be wet and moisture content was enough as per the government specifications. They requested the authorities to relax the norms and purchase the paddy as it was. (Image: DC) Warangal: Thunderstorms accompanied by gales, for the past two days, have aggravated the farmers miseries as they are struggling to protect their produce at the procurement centres in erstwhile Karimnagar and Warangal districts. After the completion of the harvest, farmers have brought their produce to procurement centres for sale but the delay in procurement has further compounded their woes as they are facing hardships to protect foodgrains from unexpected heavy downpour and gusty winds. In erstwhile Karimnagar district, farmers waiting for clearance at the purchasing centres such as Theegalaguttapally, Durshed, Bommakal, Peddapalli, Sulthanabad Julapally, Kamanpur, Aligedu Manthani, Raikal, Beerpur and Dharmaram mandals despite their efforts to protect their produce from rains by covering them with tarpaulins a sizeable amount of paddy was washed away in the rainwater run-off. Whereas in Raikal and Konaraopet mandals, the protesting farmers were demanding immediate procurement of their paddy without any further delays or restrictions. Some of the agitating farmers alleged that the produce which was stockpiled at the procurement centres was submerged in the water due to sudden rain lashing the area for the past two days causing a huge loss to them. Alleging further, the farmers stated that officials at the procurement centres instead of purchasing the paddy early, are keeping restrictions on the purchases simply on the grounds that the moisture content of the produce should not exceed to 17 per cent and the weighing is done only in the morning time. The officials are delaying the paddy procurement intentionally, the farmers alleged. In the erstwhile Warangal district also, farmers of the Mahadevpur, Kataram, Maha-muttaram Regonda, Ganapuram, Bhupalpally, Narsampet, Eturnagaram, Venkatapur, Mulugu, Mahabubabad Nellikudur, Thorrur, Kuravi, Maripeda, Bayyaram, Garla, Wardhannapet and Jangaon areas suffered losses and urged the state government for ensuring the purchase of paddy by these procurement centres without putting restrictions on moisture content outer limit, besides, they should be duly compensated for the loss they suffered due to sudden rainfall leading to loss of foodgrains.

International Museum Day: Culture Department organises seminar, exhibition on Paintings, Photographs

SRINAGAR, MAY 18: Commemorating the celebration of International Museum Day, the Culture Department today organised a one day seminar on the theme Museums for Education and Research besides a special exhibition on Painting Heritage and a photo exhibition of monumental glory of J&K at S.P.S Museum Lal Mandi Srinagar in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of []

Amit Shah's Big Claim; Says 'Intruders From Bangladesh Are Cong Vote Bank' | Watch

In a charged election rally in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, Amit Shah takes aim at the Congress and Samajwadi Party. He questions the absence of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha event, alleging fear of losing their vote bank. Shah further alleges that the Congress and SP consider intruders from Bangladesh their vote bank. He accuses Rahul and Akhilesh of indulging in vote bank politics. Additionally, Shah boldly predicts Narendra Modi's return as PM for the third time on June 4, sending a strong message to the India Alliance.

In UP, PM Modi Says `SP-Cong Wale Ram Mandir Par Bulldozer Chalwa Denge`, Congress Knocks EC Door

The Congress strongly opposed PM Modi's charge that the party will ulloze the Ram temple if elected, accusing him of inciting people and demanding that the Election Commission take action against him.

Nawaz Sharif Claims Audio Proof of Conspiracy to Oust Him

Nawaz Sharif Claims Audio Proof of Conspiracy to Oust Him Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said he had an audio recording of former chief justice Saqib Nisar in which he is allegedly heard saying to oust him and to bring in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan. Demanding action against those judges of the Supreme Court involved in his ouster as the prime minister in 2017, the 74-year-old three-time former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo also expressed his disappointment over the attitude of the people of Pakistan towards him and his party. He was addressing a party meeting in Lahore on Saturday in which it was decided that he would be re-elected as the party president on May 28. Nawaz was removed from the office of the party president after he was disqualified as Prime Minister in 2017 in the Panama Papers-related corruption cases. His younger brother Shehbaz Sharif then took the helm of the party before resigning from the post last week. Decrying his disqualification, Nawaz said nowhere in the world do judges send a prime minister home on phoney charges. ''I want to ask why I was ousted from the PM office,'' he said and disclosed that he had with him an audio proof of former CJP Nisar in which he was heard saying, ''We have to remove Nawaz Sharif to bring in Imran Khan as premier.'' ''A case should be initiated against retired Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi for making huge assets and also other judges involved in this conspiracy,'' he said. The PML-N supremo also demanded an independent investigation to get to the bottom of this conspiracy against him and his government. Not happy with the people of Pakistan for not voting for his party in the February 8 general elections, Nawaz said, ''I ask the people... do you think while giving votes. I need an answer from the nation.'' Similarly, he said he was unhappy with the nation as it stood silent when he was illegally removed from the office of the prime minister. Nawaz's hopes to become the prime minister for a record fourth time after returning to Pakistan from a four-year self-imposed exile in London last October were dashed as Imran Khan's party despite fighting elections without its electoral symbol of a cricket bat emerged victorious. However, Nawaz's PML-N made a six-party coalition government and Shehbaz Sharif, who calls himself a darling of the military establishment, became the prime minister.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali addresses 'Heeramandi' criticism and alleged historical inaccuracies

Renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has responded to criticism regarding alleged historical inaccuracies in his latest project, Heeramandi.

Heeramandi: Sharmin Segal Was Paid THIS Amount For 'Mama' Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Series

Sharmin Segal was the least paid actress among the main cast, according to reports.

News18 Evening Digest: Kejriwal's 'Jail Bharo' Dare After Bibhav Kumar's Arrest And Other Top Stories

We are also covering: Kangana Ranaut Makes BIG Claim, Will QUIT Bollywood If She Wins Mandi Seat; How Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Lost Trust in Swati Maliwal in 3 Months; New Covid-19 Wave In Singapore among others

Sharmin's husband's net worth is Rs 54,000 crore

Sanjay Leela Bhansali ventured into OTT with the highly anticipated series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'. His niece, Sharmin Segal, drew attention for her role as Alamzeb, though she faced criticism for her acting. Amid the buzz around Sharmin, little is known about her husband, Aman Mehta. Aman Mehta is the Executive Director at Torrent Pharmaceuticals, part of the Torrent Group led by his father, Sudhir Mehta, and uncle, Samir Mehta. Aman's father, Samir Mehta, has a net worth of approximately Rs 53,800 crore, according to Bloomberg's 2024 Index. Torrent Pharma alone reported revenue of around Rs 38,412 crore, as per Forbes.

SLB on actors taking credit for performances

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' has been garnering attention since its release. Known for extracting exceptional performances from his actors, Bhansali recently highlighted the collective effort behind a good performance, acknowledging the technicians behind the camera. In an interview, Bhansali emphasized that a performance isn't solely credited to the actor but involves the director, dialogue writer, cinematographer, and others. He noted a trend where actors often claim credit for their performance without acknowledging the team's contribution.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali discusses 'tawaifs' in his films

Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently discussed his fascination with portraying 'tawaifs' and courtesans in his works, emphasizing their enigmatic power and artistic essence. He drew inspiration from iconic figures like Madhubala and Nargis Dutt, as well as filmmakers such as V Shantaram and Ritwik Ghatak. His latest series, 'Heeramandi,' explores this theme further.

Youth Congress Demands Kerala CM's Resignation in Fiery Protest

Youth Congress Demands Kerala CM's Resignation in Fiery Protest The Youth Congress on Saturday held a protest march to the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and burned his effigy outside the house demanding his resignation, alleging failure of law and order in the state. The march by the youth wing of the Congress was held on the same day the chief minister returned to the state after reportedly cutting short his vacation with family abroad. The Youth Congress protestors marched to Cliff House here -- the official residence of the CM -- and shouted slogans terming Vijayan as the leader of the criminal gangs in the state and demanding his resignation, according to visuals shown on TV channels. They alleged that deaths due to criminal gangs in the state were on the rise. The protestors also raised the issue of crimes against women, especially the recent instance of alleged domestic violence against a newly-wed bride in Kozhikode district and claimed that the police in Kerala was ineffective. The Youth Congress alleged that while the state was facing law and order problems, the chief minister, who also heads the Home Department, went abroad for vacation. Vijayan arrived in Kerala in the wee hours of the day. According to reports, he was expected to reach the state on Monday.

Kangana Ranaut Makes BIG Claim, Will QUIT Bollywood If She Wins Mandi Seat: 'Ek Acchi Heroine Hai Par...'

Kangana Ranaut said that a lot of filmmakers have asked her not to leave as she's the one good heroine left.

PM Modi Rally in Mumbai: Raj Thackeray praises Centre for Ram Mandir and 370 abr

Addressing the rally at Shivaji Park ground in Dadar, Raj Thackeray, who has extended unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ruling allies in the state for the ongoing elections, listed out his expectations from the PM in his third term in office.

Here's what Birju Maharaj told SLB

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has debuted in the world of OTT with 'Heeramandi.' Reflecting on the same he emphasized the global reach, the challenges, and rewards of the OTT platform. He also shares a touching story about Pt. Birju Maharaj, which highlights the essence of being an artist and the importance of work visibility and talent appreciation.

Satwik-Chirag Enter Thailand Open Final with Commanding Victory

Satwik-Chirag Enter Thailand Open Final with Commanding Victory India's premier men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty entered the final of the Thailand Open badminton tournament with an easy straight-game victory over Lu Ming-Che and Tang Kai-Wei of Chinese Taipei here on Saturday. Asian Games gold medallist pair of Satwik and Chirag needed just 35 minutes to beat their world No. 80 opponents 21-11 21-12 in the semifinal match of the Super 500 tournament at the Nimibutr Stadium here. Satwik and Chirag have a deep relation with Thailand as it was here five years back in 2019 that they had won their maiden super 500 crown. On Saturday, the Indian pair inched closer to regaining the title after reaching the summit clash again. The Indian pair thus continued to make waves in the BWF World Tour after progressing to their fourth final of the season. The duo had finished runner-up at Malaysia super 1000 and India super 750 before claiming the French super 750 in March. In the final on Sunday, the world number three Indian duo, the top seeds in this tournament, will be up against the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, who defeated Kim Gi Jung and Kim Sa Rang of South Korea 21-19 21-18 in the other semifinal on Saturday. Satwik and Chirag had some low returns in the last couple of tournaments. The Indian pair lost in the second round at All England Championships and then missed the Asia Championships due to an injury to Satwik. The Thomas Cup campaign was also not too fruitful as they lost a couple of narrow matches to top pairs. The final appearance will thus provide a major boost ahead of the Paris Olympics. On Saturday, Satwik and Chirag were not really tested by Lu and Tang, who played well only in patches but lacked the aggression and accuracy to trouble the Indians, who were a cut above their rivals. In the opening game, Satwik and Chirag were up 3-0 but the Taiwanese pair managed to make it 5-4 before they started leaking points. Errors crept into their game as they went long a number of times, allowing the Indians to enter the break with an 11-7 lead. Things didn't change after resumption as the Indians continued to gather point with their sharp placements. At 17-10, Chirag produced a powerpacked smash as they gained nine game points when the Chinese went out twice. The second game began on a close note as the two pairs moves 4-4 to 6-6. Satwik also produced an ambitious behind-the-back return only to spray it wide. Leading 9-7 for the first time in the match, Lu and Tang, however, couldn't sustain the pressure as a fast and long rally ended at the nets for the Chinese. With Lu and Tang continuing to find the going tough, it was 15-10 in favour of the Indians, who grabbed 8 match points when the Chinese made another soft error at the net. Chirag then stood at the front court and sealed it with a barrage of fast returns. In the women's doubles, the fourth-seeded Indian pair of Tanisha Carsto and Ashwini Ponnappa will face top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand in the semifinals later on Saturday.

Who Is Mark Bennington, The British Officer In Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi

In 2015, Mark Bennington got his Bollywood break with Dibakar Banerjee's Byomkesh Bakshi.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali REVEALS He Is Fascinated By 'Tawaifs': 'They Are Very Interesting'

Sanjay Leela Bhansali got candid about his fascination of tawaifs and courtesans in lieu with his recent release Heeramandi.

Watch: Ji Chang Wook, Park Bo Gum Take On New Roles In Variety Show My Name Is Gabriel

Each of the celebrity participants will have to navigate the demanding situations and surprises of leading a life completely distinct from their own.

SLB: Manisha Koirala is a star who is seen less frequently

Sanjay Leela Bhansali debuted in web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' with Manisha Koirala. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, he praised Koirala's unique role as a courtesan, highlighting her minimal social media presence over 25 years in Hindi cinema. Bhansali emphasized Koirala's star value and mysterious allure, referencing the film 'Dil Se.'

Becoming Fareedan: How Sonakshi Sinha Prepped For Heeramandi

Manisha Koirala, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Richa Chadha, and Aditi Rao Hydari also play pivotal roles in the series

Excise PMLA case: Delhi Court fixes May 20 to consider ED's chargesheet against Kejriwal, AAP

Excise PMLA case: Delhi Court fixes May 20 to consider ED's chargesheet against Kejriwal, AAP The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday fixed May 20 for consideration on ED's Supplementary chargesheet (prosecution complaint) filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as accused in connection with a money laundering case related to Excise Policy case. The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja on Saturday fixed the matter for Monday for arguments and ED's submissions on cognizance point. On Friday Enforcement Directorate officials along with Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta along with two ED officials filed the chargesheet in Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi. Last week, the Enforcement Directorate during the hearing of Manish Sisodia's bail in Delhi High Court informed that the Aam Aadmi Party will also be made accused in the case and supplementary chargesheet. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Supreme Court that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be made co-accused in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case. Appearing before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, for the ED, said a complaint against AAP is in the pipeline and there is direct evidence of its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding Rs 100 crore as kickbacks in the case. Raju said there is evidence that Kejriwal demanded a bribe of Rs 100 crores which went to the AAP for Goa election expenses. The ASG further contended that apart from vicarious liability as the head of the AAP, Kejriwal is also directly liable as the person who played a key role in formulating the excise policy. He said there was evidence to show that Kejriwal's stay in a seven-star hotel in Goa was partly funded by an accused. The bench asked the ED whether the investigating officer could ignore exculpatory materials while exercising the powers of arrest. The question was asked as Kejriwal's counsel had earlier claimed that there were several witness statements exculpating him, which were ignored by the ED, and that the officers cherry-picked incriminating materials to arrest him. On May 10, the top court granted him interim bail till June 1 in the money laundering case registered by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy, however, ordered that he not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. The bench had asked Kejriwal to surrender on June 2. The apex court was hearing Kejriwal's appeal against a Delhi High Court judgment which dismissed his plea against arrest by the ED and his subsequent remand in the excise policy case. Kejriwal, while filing an appeal in the apex court had contended that his arrest after announcement of the General Elections was motivated by extraneous considerations. On April 9, the High Court dismissed his plea for release from jail and rejected his argument of political vendetta amid the looming Lok Sabha elections. The High Court had said that Kejriwal's absence from nine ED summons over six months undermined any claims of special privilege as Chief Minister, suggesting his arrest was an inevitable consequence of his non-cooperation. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. (ANI)

Travel tips: Before starting Chardham Yatra, definitely visit these temples of Rishikesh.

Recently, with the opening of the doors of Kedarnath, the Chardham Yatra has also started. The government is also continuously taking steps to provide all kinds of facilities to the devotees here. With the opening of the doors of Chardham, thousands of people are reaching all the temples. This journey starts in Rishikesh. It is also called the gateway of Chardham. Most people start their journey from here. Rishikesh is also called the city of yoga and spirituality. In such a situation, the atmosphere here is very peaceful. If you are also going on a Chardham pilgrimage, then first definitely go to Rishikesh for a day. There are many famous temples here, where people pay obeisance before visiting Chardham. These temples have their own distinct beliefs. Let us also tell you about them, so that you too can go here and have the darshan of God. Bharat Mandir This temple is located in the center of Rishikesh city. The idol of Lord Vishnu is installed in this temple. It is considered to be the very oldest and most sacred temple in the city. This city has been named Rishikesh after him. It is believed that in this temple, on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, the feet of Lord Vishnu are seen, after which the doors of Chardham are opened. Satyanarayan Temple This temple is located near Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh. Its history is said to be more than 500 years old. It is said that when there was no motorway facility, travelers going to Chardham used to rest for a night in this temple. After a night passed, they started their journey the next day. Garun Temple This temple situated in Garun Chatti is situated at a distance of about 10 kilometers from Rishikesh. It is believed that here Lord Vishnu was pleased with the penance of Garun Dev and gave him a boon. It is said that those who are unable to go to Badrinath Dham, get similar results by visiting this temple. Adi Badri Dwarkadhish Temple The Shri Sacha Akhileshwar Temple is situated in Laxman Jhula, opposite to which is the Adi Badri Dwarkadhish Temple. Here you can easily get Ganga water from Char Dham. The idol of Lord Vishnu is installed here. Those who are not able to go to Chardham, they can take the water of Chardham here. Gauri Shankar Mahadev Temple It is believed that in this temple located near Triveni Sangam, about 60,000 years ago, Mother Parvati waited for the sage to wake up from his penance. At one time this route used to be the walking route to Badrinath Dham. People first used to take baths in the Triveni river and then only after that, they started their journey. (PC: ISTOCK)

Aditi Rao Hydari Says She Doesn't Know Anything About Her Viral Gajagamini Walk From Heeramandi; 'I Should Find Out'

Is it the Gajagamini walk, the swan walk? What walk is that? I dont know! Aditi Rao Hydaro admitted shes not entirely sure what to call her now-famous Gajagamini walk from Heeramandi.

UAE lining up with Israel, US on demanding Palestinian reform

UAE lining up with Israel, US on demanding Palestinian reform Tel Aviv [Israel], May 18 (ANI/TPS): The United Arab Emirates is emerging as a hardline critic of the Palestinian Authority at the annual Arab League summit in Bahrain, refusing to back a significant budget until Ramallah makes sweeping changes such as halting payments to terrorists and ending incitement. In this way, the Emirates is aligning itself with the American position that strives for a new Palestinian Authority, a high-level Arab diplomat told The Press Service of Israel. Behind the scenes, tensions have escalated as the Emirates blocked a proposed resolution to allocate USD 100 million monthly to the PA, citing concerns about corruption and ineffective leadership. The Emiratis also demanded measures for PA financial transparency and preventing corruption in the PA, which infuriated the Palestinian delegation. The Emiratis practically emptied the initiative to budget the Palestinian Authority of any content, the diplomatic source explained to TPS-IL. The refusal of the Emiratis to budget a corrupt authority should not surprise anyone. The UAE's stance challenging President Mahmoud Abbas's leadership has garnered support from Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant, who would recognise PA authority in a post-war Gaza. However, the PA continues to boycott the US, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, following the US veto of a UN Security Resolution that would have given the Palestinians full UN membership. The Emirates have openly decided to align themselves with the Biden administration, which repeats and claims that only a new and reformed Palestinian Authority can be a partner in the eyes of the Americans the day after the war in the Gaza Strip, the source told TPS-IL. The Emiratis have decided to teach the Palestinian Authority a lesson, and they are demanding from it a long series of reforms that will transform it from a Palestinian Authority into a completely different entity. Only when the Palestinian Authority is not Palestinian will it be kosher in the eyes of the Emirates, he added mockingly. The UAE is backing Abbas rival Muhammed Dahlan. In conversations with several Arab sources, Dahlan's name repeatedly comes up as someone who would win their support in managing post-war Gaza. Dahlan, once a high-level figure within Fatah, was the PA's strong man in Gaza when Hamas violently seized control of the Strip in 2007. But as Dahlan regained influence within Fatah, he fell out with Abbas and was expelled from the party in 2011. He was later tried in absentia in Ramallah on charges of corruption, which Dahlan denies. TPS-IL has learned that during a recent conference of Arab diplomats on Zoom in April, participants voiced opposition to Abbas's rule. Palestinians have not held national elections since 2005 and Abbas is now in the 19th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term. Since then, Abbas has cancelled several attempted elections amid Fatah-Hamas disagreements, most recently in 2021. The US has been pressuring Abbas to reform the PA as a precursor to taking responsibility for the administration and reconstruction of Gaza. Reforms include cutting down the PA's bloated and inefficient bureaucracy, replacing diplomats representing the PA abroad, and initiating an internal self-investigation mechanism within the Palestinian Preventive Security. Ramallah is hoping to satisfy US demands with, among other things, a Palestinian technocratic government that includes softcore Hamas members and indirect pay-for-slay funding. However, nobody in Ramallah believes Abbas will see the reforms through. A March survey by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found 81 per cent of the Palestinians polled in Judea, Samaria and Gaza dissatisfied with Abbas's leadership and 84 per cent said they wanted him to resign. Palestinians have not held national elections since 2005 and Abbas is now in the 19th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term. Since then, Abbas has cancelled several attempted elections amid Fatah-Hamas disagreements, most recently in 2021. At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Around 30 of the remaining 132 hostages are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)

Lead Actress Opens Up About Working With Renowned Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Period Drama Heeramandi

The leading actress of the much anticipated Netflix series Heeramandi, Abha Ranta, recently shared her experience of working with the acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In an interview with a prominent entertainment website, Abha reminisced about the first day of shoot and how she was understandably nervous given it was her first collaboration with the [] The post Lead Actress Opens Up About Working With Renowned Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Period Drama Heeramandi appeared first on Northlines .

Engineering student ends life in hostel room in Bengaluru

On May 17, students staged a protest demanding a detailed probe into the incident. The body was handed over to her parents after post-mortem

Modi inciting people, dividing society, alleges Kharge; Uddhav says 'acche din' coming after June 4

MUMBAI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of inciting people and dividing society through his election speeches. Kharge was addressing a press conference of the INDIA bloc, where NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders were present. The opposition alliance held an election rally in the city on Friday. No prime minister before Modi has ever indulged in inciting people like he has been doing. He speaks about democracy repeatedly but doesn't adhere to the tenets of democracy, Kharge said. Responding to a question on PM Modi' statement that the Congress will bulldoze the Ram mandir in Ayodhya and also restore Article 370 if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, Kharge said, We have never used a bulldozer on anyone. Modi has the habit of lying and inciting people about things which Congress will never do or the things that are impossible to be implemented. Asked about his party's stand on Article 370, Kharge said , I am not answerable to Modi. We will implement what we have promised in our manifesto. Attacking the PM further, he said, Wherever he goes, he tries to create division, speaks of dividing society. PM Modi had described the Congress' manifesto as Muslim League manifesto, but now he says it is a Maoist manifesto, Kharge added. The Congress chief assured that reservation as enshrined in the Constitution will continue and nobody can touch it. Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said, 'Achche din' are coming from June 4 (when Lok Sabha poll results will be declared) when INDIA bloc-led government takes charge. PM Modi calls us 'nakli' (fake) Shiv Sena, tomorrow he may call RSS as 'nakli Sangh', the former chief minister said. The BJP is floating 'Pakistan flags in our rally' narrative to divert people's attention from issues like jobs, he alleged. Pawar said that after coming to power, the INDIA bloc government's duty will be to protect all religious places in the country. Kharge noted that if elected, the opposition alliance's government will implement a simple, single rate GST, replacing the present GST. We introduced Food Security Act, but PM Modi is taking credit for free ration supply, he alleged.

Property feud: Wife, daughters obstruct last rites of 72-year-old man for two days

ONGOLE: In an inhumane incident, blood relatives, including wife and three daughters, of a deceased 72-year-old man, who died due to ill health, stopped the last rites of the latter demanding their share of properties. The incident took place in Ayyappa Rajupalem village of Marripudi mandal in Prakasam district. According to the reports reaching here, Gutlapalli Venkateswarlu (72) and his wife Ramanamma have been leading separate lives due to family issues. Noticing that his health is deteriorating, Venkateswarlu, who has been staying with his brother Venkayya, reportedly wrote all his properties on the name of his brothers sons as a token of gratitude. Coming to know of this news, Venkateswarlus wife Ramanamma, along with her three daughters, arrived at Ayyappa Rajupalem village and started quarrelling with Venkateswarlu and his brother for their share in the properties for the past few months. However, their efforts went in vain, as Venkateswarlu strongly condemned their claims and denied to give a share in property pointing out that they ignored his presence for around three decades and never took care of him. Unfortunately, on Tuesday night, Venkateswarlu died due to ill health in a farmhouse of his brother located on the outskirts of the village. When the family of Venkayya were preparing to perform the last rights of Venkateswarlu, Ramanamma and her daughters once again brought the property issue to the fore. The argument intensified and continued for two days straight, halting the last rites process resulting in decomposition of the body. Marripadu sub-inspector Siva Basava Raju intervened and made them agree to perform the last rites on Thursday evening.

Residents of Jalgran village in Himachal Pradeshs Una district to boycott polls demanding bridge over railway line

The villagers said they are unhappy that a proposed bridge was not built over the railway line that passes through the village, making it difficult for them to travel outside the village.

ACB case used to hatch conspiracy against Bibhav Kumar: AAP's Atishi on Maliwal assault

ACB case used to hatch conspiracy against Bibhav Kumar: AAP's Atishi on Maliwal assault Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Saturday claimed that Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal filed the assault FIR against CM Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar at the behest of the ruling BJP. The AAP leader said that the former DCW chief was being used as a 'pawn' and was made to 'hatch this conspiracy' using an old Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case as leverage. The way Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, anti-corruption bureau, Income tax dept, Economic Offences Wing were used to blackmail opposition leaders and make them join BJP, similarly in Swati Maliwal case also same formula was used. There is a case against Swati Maliwal by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, FIR has been made and the probe is underway using this, Swati Maliwal was made to hatch this conspiracy and was used as a pawn, Atishi told ANI. She further said to conduct an unbiased probe alleging that Swati Maliwal had been in touch with BJP leaders. There should be an unbiased probe on who was in contact with whom, Swati Maliwali met all BJP members and when what conversation they had on call and on WhatsApp, Atishi added. Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that senior leaders of the BJP are in contact with Maliwal adding that her version of the story is incorrect. She made the allegations of assault on May 13. A video of May 13 from the CM's residence surfaced, in which she was seen sitting on the sofa and commanding people. She did not seem like a victim in that video. However, in yesterday's video, she was walking with a limp. This is the contradiction. Anyone who would see this will know that this is a conspiracy, he said. Senior leaders of the BJP are in contact with her. Delhi CM's residence has CCTV cameras. Delhi Police will get the footage today or tomorrow. Till now, it seems her version of the story is not true, Bharadwaj added. Meanwhile, as the probe intensified in the Swati Maliwal assault case, as per sources Delhi Police Forensic Science Laboratory team reached Kejriwal's residence and collected DVR recordings of CCTV footage of many places inside the residence. According to the sources, it will also be investigated whether there was any tampering with the footage. The development came after Maliwal also alleged that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at the Delhi CM's residence were being tampered with. Taking to the microblogging site X on Friday evening, Swati Maliwal, the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said, I have received information that now these people are tampering with the CCTV of the house. Maliwal also tagged Delhi Police in her post. Delhi CM Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar filed a written complaint against Maliwal, alleging unauthorized entry, verbal abuse, threats, and the possibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) involvement in the matter. Notably, the Vigilance Department had last month terminated the service of Bibhav Kumar, personal assistant (PA) to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, over a pending criminal case. In his written complaint to the SHO of Civil Lines Police Station on Friday, Kumar urged authorities to take appropriate legal action against Maliwal and requested an investigation into her possible ties with BJP leaders, suggesting political motives behind the incident, especially considering the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Maliwal has alleged that Kejriwal's Personal Secretary Bibhav Kumar slapped her atleast seven to eight times while she continued screaming and rutally dragged her while kicking her in her chest, stomach and pelvis area. (ANI)

ACB case used to hatch conspiracy against Bibhav Kumar: Atoshi on Maliwal assault

ACB case used to hatch conspiracy against Bibhav Kumar: Atoshi on Maliwal assault Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Saturday claimed that Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal filed the assault FIR against CM Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar at the behest of the ruling BJP. The AAP leader said that the former DCW chief was being used as a 'pawn' and was made to 'hatch this conspiracy' using an old Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case as leverage. The way Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, anti-corruption bureau, Income tax dept, Economic Offences Wing were used to blackmail opposition leaders and make them join BJP, similarly in Swati Maliwal case also same formula was used. There is a case against Swati Maliwal by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, FIR has been made and the probe is underway using this, Swati Maliwal was made to hatch this conspiracy and was used as a pawn, Atishi told ANI. She further said to conduct an unbiased probe alleging that Swati Maliwal had been in touch with BJP leaders. There should be an unbiased probe on who was in contact with whom, Swati Maliwali met all BJP members and when what conversation they had on call and on WhatsApp, Atishi added. Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that senior leaders of the BJP are in contact with Maliwal adding that her version of the story is incorrect. She made the allegations of assault on May 13. A video of May 13 from the CM's residence surfaced, in which she was seen sitting on the sofa and commanding people. She did not seem like a victim in that video. However, in yesterday's video, she was walking with a limp. This is the contradiction. Anyone who would see this will know that this is a conspiracy, he said. Senior leaders of the BJP are in contact with her. Delhi CM's residence has CCTV cameras. Delhi Police will get the footage today or tomorrow. Till now, it seems her version of the story is not true, Bharadwaj added. Meanwhile, as the probe intensified in the Swati Maliwal assault case, as per sources Delhi Police Forensic Science Laboratory team reached Kejriwal's residence and collected DVR recordings of CCTV footage of many places inside the residence. According to the sources, it will also be investigated whether there was any tampering with the footage. The development came after Maliwal also alleged that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at the Delhi CM's residence were being tampered with. Taking to the microblogging site X on Friday evening, Swati Maliwal, the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said, I have received information that now these people are tampering with the CCTV of the house. Maliwal also tagged Delhi Police in her post. Delhi CM Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar filed a written complaint against Maliwal, alleging unauthorized entry, verbal abuse, threats, and the possibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) involvement in the matter. Notably, the Vigilance Department had last month terminated the service of Bibhav Kumar, personal assistant (PA) to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, over a pending criminal case. In his written complaint to the SHO of Civil Lines Police Station on Friday, Kumar urged authorities to take appropriate legal action against Maliwal and requested an investigation into her possible ties with BJP leaders, suggesting political motives behind the incident, especially considering the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Maliwal has alleged that Kejriwal's Personal Secretary Bibhav Kumar slapped her atleast seven to eight times while she continued screaming and rutally dragged her while kicking her in her chest, stomach and pelvis area. (ANI)

'Coaching India could be exhausting': Langer

Justin Langer, former Australia head coach, believes that the timing must be right for anyone taking on the demanding role of Indias head coach. Despite being frequently asked about his interest in the position, which Rahul Dravid will vacate after the T20 World Cup, Langer emphasized the immense pressure, workload, and timing involved.

Dheeraj Dhoopar Gives A Big Shout Out To Jayati Bhatia For Heeramandi

The show also featured actors Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman and veteran actor Farida Jalal in pivotal roles.

Celebrity Kangana vs 'royal' Vikramaditya on Himachal's Mandi seat: Clash of richest titans

In Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP's Kangana Ranaut and Congress's Vikramaditya Singh engage in a fierce campaign focusing on development, governance, and legacy. The battle for voter support intensifies as the two candidates highlight their agendas and seek to sway the electorate.

Odisha MP demands action against factory owner for engaging minors

BALASORE: Balasore MP and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Pratap Chandra Sarangi has urged the police and district labour office to take stern action against the owner of a prawn processing factory for employing minor girls. On Thursday, more than 18 girls including minors working in the factory had to be rushed to hospital after they fell ill following ammonia gas leakage. Sources said, the gas leak in Snow World Prawn Processing Unit was reportedly caused by a technical issue at the factory located in Gadiamala village under Khantapada police station in Balasore district on Thursday around 9 pm. More than 18 workers fell ill after inhaling the gas and were admitted to Nilagiri hospital. Sarangi expressed outrage over the factory owners actions, particularly for engaging minors and the alleged delay in providing medical treatment for the ill workers. This is violation of child protection laws and child labour regulations, and calls for a joint investigation by the police and the district labour office, Sarangi said after visiting the hospital at night to ensure the minors received proper care. Shockingly, by morning, all the affected had been discharged. Subsequently, Sarangi and his team visited the local police station, demanding action against the factory owner allegedly for taking away the affected minors for the fear of being in trouble over the incident. On being informed, district labour officer Shuva Narayan Sahu rushed to the factory and later met the patients at the hospital. An investigation has begun into the incident, he said and assured that further details will be disclosed once the process is complete. Sources said, police reportedly sent 10 workers to a shelter home after their health improved. However, a woman worker Smita Nayak, who was also admitted to the hospital has gone missing following the incident. Her husband, Abshis Nayak, searched for her at the factory and hospital but could not locate her. He has filed a complaint in the local police station.

Celebrity Kangana vs royal Vikramaditya on Himachals Mandi seat

Shimla: Clash of the two richest titans, a celebrity and a royal, is on the cards in Himachal Pradeshs Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, known for electing erstwhile royals maximum number of times. The BJP has for the first time fielded a woman and a Bollywood celebrity in Kangana Ranaut who will take on Vikramaditya Singh, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Kangana vs Vikramaditya: The Ultimate Battle for Mandi's Throne

Kangana vs Vikramaditya: The Ultimate Battle for Mandi's Throne Clash of the two richest titans, a celebrity and a 'royal', is on the cards in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, known for electing erstwhile ''royals'' maximum number of times. The BJP has for the first time fielded a woman and a Bollywood celebrity in Kangana Ranaut who will take on Vikramaditya Singh, scion of the erstwhile Rampur ''royal family'' and son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Both the rivals have launched a high-pitched campaign, even with offensive outbursts. Vikramaditya fired a salvo at Kangana asking about her vision about the development of the constituency. Taking a dig at his rival, he said she is on a month-long political tourism and would pack up and return to Bollywood after June 4. Returning the salvo, Kangana dubbed Vikramaditya as ''Chhota Pappu''. It was a mocking reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is often dubbed as ''Pappu'' or a novice by his political opponents. Kangana called Vikramaditya a ''junior Pappu''. She asked him why he stood mum when Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took ''anti-Mandi decisions'' like stalling the Rs 250-crore Shiv Dhan project, curtailing the jurisdiction of Mandi University and pushing the Sundernagar airfield project under the carpet. Kangana's main agendas include restarting all the stalled projects besides improving connectivity to remote tribal areas, and popularising local cuisines and traditional attires, and promoting women-centric rural tourism in Seraj and Karsog. ''Mandi will be made a smart city,'' this is my promise, said Vikramaditya, adding that Jalori Jot tunnel will be constructed on the line of Rohtang tunnel and remote Pangi area of Chamba will be connected with Tissa, besides the construction of Beas river front. The alleged insulting remarks by Kangana on farmers during the farmer agitation are recoiling and the Samyukt Kisan Manch has rendered their support to Vikramaditya. On the other hand, Kangana got support from unexpected quarters. The scion of Kullu Maheshwar Singh, who was an aspirant of a BJP ticket from Mandi; former Union minister Sukh Ram's grandson Ashray Sharma, who was defeated by BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls; and Kargil hero Brig Khushal Singh, who was defeated by Pratibha Singh in the 2021 parliamentary byelection with a narrow margin have extended their support to the Bollywood actor. Kangana dubbed Vikramaditya also as a ''bigda hua shezada'' (spolit prince) and a 'paltu' (one who makes U-turns) and said he used to criticise his own government but now is praising it. Singh retaliated by saying she will return ''purified'' from the 'Dev bhoomi'. Both Bollywood reel 'Queen' Kangana and 'Raja' Vikramaditya Singh have declared their assets over of Rs 90 crore. Kangana is banking on her celebrity image, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram temple factors. Vikramaditya is hoping to sail through riding on the legacy of his father Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the sitting MP from Mandi. Vikramaditya, who was active during the monsoon disaster in 2023, has been asking where Kangana was when it had hit the state and caused havoc in the Mandi-Kullu region. The BJP candidate is accused of being unfamiliar with her constituency while the Congress candidate has extensively campaigned for his mother in the last byelections. Out of 19 parliamentary elections, including two byelections held in Mandi since 1952, the Congress has won 13 times, with both Virbhadra Singh and Pratibha Singh winning thrice. Further, the scions of erstwhile princely states won from Mandi 13 times while the ''non-royals'' were elected six times. Raj Kumai Amrit Kaur of the Kapurthala dynasty and Raja Joginder Sen Bahadur of the princely state of Mandi were elected once, Raja Lalit Sen of Suket represented Mandi twice, Virbhadra Singh and Pratibha Singh three times each and Raja Maheshwar Singh of Kullu won thrice. Sukh Ram who won from Mandi three times, Ram Swaroop who won two times and Ganga Singh who won once, when he defeated Virbhadra Singh in 1977, were the exceptions who hailed from non-royal families. The sprawling constituency spreads over six districts and comprises 17 assembly segments. In the 2022 assembly polls, the BJP had won 12 assembly seats falling under Mandi parliamentary constituency. The seat has become prestigious for former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, who has to establish that the BJP still holds sway in Mandi. Vikramaditya Singh has to prove that the impact of the Rampur 'ruling' family is deep-rooted in this constituency. There are 13,77,173 voters in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, including 6,98,666 males, 6,78,504 females and three third gender.

Mark Bennington Reveals Why Sanjay Leela Bhansali Was STRICT On Heeramandi Sets | EXCLUSIVE

Mark Bennington gets candid about the grand sets of Heeramandi, shares his thoughts on Sanjay Leela Bhansali being a hard taskmaster and his experience working with Randeep Hooda in 'Swatantra Veer Savarkar'in an interview with CNN-News18's Yatamanyu Narain. Watch the full interview right here.

Telangana: Ryots stage protests, demand immediate purchase of grains

SANGAREDDY: Farmers in the Sangareddy district are alleging that untimely rains and the negligence of rice millers are troubling them. On Friday, they staged a dharna in Ramayampet and Papannapet, demanding the immediate purchase of grain that got wet due to heavy rains in various parts of the district. The protest brought traffic to a standstill, causing difficulties for motorists. Telangana: Procurement delay upsets farmers, rains damage paddy Farmers said that bags of dry grain became completely wet due to the rains. Instead of sending the dry grains to the rice mills, they were left outside and got soaked, they alleged. While the process of buying grain at procurement centres has been completed in some parts of the district, farmers in Ramayampet mandal headquarters have not yet had their grain purchased. While the government claims it will buy wet grain, farmers allege the staff at procurement centres and millers are refusing to purchase grain with moisture content exceeding 16%. Mallesham, a farmer at the Ramayampet procurement centre, said it had been over a month since he brought his paddy to the centre. Who would bear the labour costs if the wet bags needed to be emptied, dried, and refilled, he asked. Meanwhile, farmers staged a blockade on the Medak-Bodmatpally road at Minpur village in Papannapet mandal. They demanded that the wet grain be purchased at the earliest, citing the negligence of officials and rice millers that forced them to wait for days at purchase centres. Heavy rains in Siddipet and Medak areas over the past two days have caused significant losses to farmers, with paddy getting wet at purchase centres and even being washed away in floodwaters. It is learnt that farmers in Thogita are particularly affected, with paddy getting wet in most centres. They allege that while district collectors are ordering grain purchases on a war footing, procurement centre staff and rice millers are not heeding these orders.

Tawaifs in Bollywood, from Pakeezah to Heeramandi

Tawaifs in Bollywood from Pakeezah to Heeramandi

Bollywood films REJECTED by Manisha Koirala

Dil To Pagal Hai, Biwi No. 1, and more: Films Heeramandi star Manisha Koirala turned down

Shekhar Suman Calls Trolls 'Too Harsh' On Heeramandi's Sharmin Segal: 'Criticism Can Destroy Her'

Shekhar Suman defends his Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal and urges trolls to go a little easy on her.

90 booked for obstruction of officials duty in Tamil Nadu

TIRUPATTUR: The Tirupattur Taluk police on Friday booked 90 villagers from Anganathavalasai on the charges of obstructing government officials from carrying out their duty. A day before, the villagers staged a protest, seeking permission to construct a compound wall for a temple on a parcel of land which happens to fall under the poramboke category. As the officials declined permission, following an inspection, the protesters reportedly besieged the officials vehicle and demanded them to issue orders approving the construction of the compound wall. The police stated that the villagers had decided to construct a compound wall around Mariamman temple in their area, and preparations were under way last week. Sub-Collector Rajasekaran, Tahsildar Ananthakrishnan and officials on Thursday inspected the parcel of land and denied permission. As the officials were about to leave, the villagers allegedly besieged the car, demanding that they measure the land and issue orders for construction of wall.

RMP leader arrested, released on bail for his misogynistic comments

KOZHIKODE: RMP leader K S Hariharan was released on bail after being arrested for making derogatory comments against CPM leader K K Shailaja and actor Manju Warrier during a political event in Vadakara. The arrest followed a complaint filed by the DYFI with the state police chief, citing misogynistic comments. Hariharans comments had sparked widespread controversy. Upon his release, Hariharan addressed the media, clarifying his position on the incident. He stated that the police recorded his statement and did not ask him to appear before them again. While Hariharan maintained that the remarks were not illegal, he admitted that they were politically inappropriate. He expressed regret for his comments. Hariharan highlighted that he realised the political mistake and took steps to correct it. He also said that despite making a public apology, the complaint was filed by some individuals who were not satisfied with his expression of regret. He condemned a massive cyber attack targeted at both himself and K K Rema, suggesting that mediapersons should reconsider their portrayal of the events. Hariharan asserted that he had been wrongfully depicted as an accused in a rape case. Moreover, Hariharan affirmed that he has the full support of his party. The party is with me and I am with the party, he said. My party has stood with me throughout the controversy, he said. The remarks that led to the controversy were made during a UDF event in Vadakara. Hariharans statements were deemed misogynistic, leading to public outrage and the subsequent filing of a complaint by DYFI, demanding action against him.

Enjoyable, sketchy, more fiction, less history: Heeramandi generates debate in Pakistan

LAHORE, May 17: When a show by one of Bollywoods best known filmmakers is set in your city and centred around a locality that still exists, anticipation is high and reel-real comparisons inevitable. No surprises then that Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has led to animated debate, panned and praised in equal measure []

Divorced 14 years ago, Alappuzha couple reunites for daughter

ALAPPUZHA: Amid rising divorce cases, dowry deaths and atrocities against women in the state, an estranged couple from Alappuzha has decided to unite after 14 years of divorce. Subrahmanian and Krishnakumari of Sanathanapuram in Alappuzha decided to re-register their marriage after getting the divorce order issued by the Alappuzha Family Court annulled. They took the decision to reunite for the wellbeing of their only daughter Ahalya. Subrahmanian S, of Aswathi Nivas, Sanathanapuram, Alappuzha, an office assistant at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College married Krishnakumari P, of Radha Nivas Kuthirapanthi, on August 31, 2006. In 2008 Krishnakumari gave birth to a daughter. Later family issues cropped up and they filed a petition in the Alappuzha Family Court seeking divorce. The court allowed divorce on March 29, 2010. The legal battle of the couple did not end with divorce. Krishnakumari again approached the family court demanding alimony to nurture her daughter in 2020. The court issued an order directing Subrahmanian to allot Rs 2,000 as alimony. However, he was not ready to allot money to Krishnakumari and her daughter. The reason that an agreement was signed by the couple at the time of divorce was that all issues were settled and nobody demanded any amount for maintenance. That clause helped him file an appeal in the High Court. However, the High Court ordered to allot maintenance and the case again reached the Alappuzha Court. During the court case, Sooraj R Mainagapally, counsel of Krishnakumari, told the judge that the two parties were ready to reunite for their daughters sake. Judge V S Vidhyadharan asked the duo to undergo counselling and it ended up positively, said Sooraj. After their divorce, Subrahmanian and Krishnakumari had not thought of remarriages. As they were single, it was easy to reunite them. Their daughter also wanted her father and mother to reunite, he said. The couple filed a joint application in the family court on Thursday to cancel the divorce order of the family court and register their remarriage.

Kerala: Congress A group steps up fight against Sudhakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Escalating its fight against the state Congress chief, the A group, with the tacit support of a section in the I group, has decided to approach the party high command against K Sudhakarans autocratic style of functioning. Kerala: Sudhakaran cancels lifting of Latheefs suspension The move comes in the wake of Sudhakaran revoking interim Congress state president M M Hassans decision to reinstate A group leader and then KPCC secretary M A Latheef, who was suspended from the primary membership of the party. Latheef said he would soon approach AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. Ive been waiting for the last two years for the party to reconsider my suspension. I did not ditch the Congress and join another party. After Hassan was given charge, I made a representation requesting him to reconsider the disciplinary action. Before that, I had met K C Joseph and Benny Behanan. The letter informing me of my re-induction into the party came by post two days after the polling (for the Lok Sabha election), he told TNIE. Latheef said he decided to approach the KPCC leadership after meeting Venugopal and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. M M Hassan exceeded brief, say leaders close to Sudhakaran Later, I tried to meet Sudhakaran, but he was not interested, Latheef said. The A group has been for long demanding the revocation of Latheefs suspension. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy had tried to intervene, but poor health prevented him from taking matters forward. A group leaders say a consensus to review the suspension was reached at a meting they had with Venugopal and Satheesan. This has been breached by Sudhakaran , an A group leader said. Sudhakaran and the coterie around him are taking it as an ego issue. How can he overrule a decision taken by the former KPCC president without the consent of the leadership? Hassan decided with the consent of both Satheesan and Venugopal, he added. However, leaders close to Sudhakaran accused Hassan of exceeding his brief in reinstating Latheef. He was given the charge on a temporary basis. He should not have acted like the KPCC president. His role was to manage the campaigning for Lok Sabha polls, they claim.

Overarching draconian PMLA statute must be fixed

Contrary to the original intent of giving effect to the UN General Assembly in 1998 to combat the severe concern of drug money being used to promote terrorism, the application of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) has been criticised for abusing the powers and conferring excessive authority to the Enforcement Directorate for every ordinary crime. When enacted in 2002, it was to curb the crime proceeds derived under the NDPS Act, IPC, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, The Arms Act, and Prevention of Corruption Act. However, the current list encompasses almost every penal law in India for which a remedy already exists, transforming PMLA into a superseding law. While investigating agencies are bound by the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in wielding police powers, under the PMLA, authorities who are not police officers take precedence over any substantive law, including the CrPC. Armed with the three judge bench of the Supreme Courts interpretation in the case of Vijay Mandanlal Choudhary Vs Union of India, the ED is neither obliged to wait for an FIR under the substantive Schedule Act before initiating investigations nor share with the accused the reasons for inquiry. The other unsafe procedures found in the Act are not limited to procedures relating to the commencement of investigation, and for summoning individuals, but while remanding by the magistrates, they need not be informed of the reason for the arrest. The draconian twin bail conditions to be satisfied for considering bail application of the accused, which is encouraging preventive detention of accused indefinitely is another unsafe procedure. Recording of the statement by ED officials tendered during the summoning of accused or third parties under duress which are devoid of any safeguards; usurping jurisdictions over unlisted scheduled offences to confer jurisdiction on themselves and which can even bring day-to-day commercial or business transactions to a standstill; accused need not be disclosed with charged offences during investigation; attaching a property and taking possession even before the conclusion of Trial and so on makes the list extensive. Unjustifiable incarceration in cases without any evidence where the accused are denied bail and confined in jail even before trial for months raises much concern. What will happen if the accused is acquitted later for lack of evidence? It is alleged that the present union government uses ED officials for political poaching. When opponents resist, they are arrested and imprisoned on baseless allegations. The arrest of Hemanth Soren and Arvind Kejiriwql just before the elections are standing textbook examples of gross abuse of political power with ulterior motives. Having slept over for many months, such custodial interrogation is unwarranted and obvious. No doubt, these statutory officials who misuse their power will be punished under the same Act for false prosecutions, but by then, the damage done to the party in power and the person detained is irreparable, and no amount of punishment to these power-yielding officials is going to compensate for the damage. Suffice it to say that the Act empowers the Enforcement Directorate to be a sweeping authority in India, with wide-ranging powers, constitutional guarantees, and safeguards swept under the carpet of PMLA. Above all, it is alleged that constitutional courts are watching helplessly. ED claims to have sky-high powers to barge inside any state governments office to seize classified documents, summon and arrest any person, compel the officials to testify against the state irrespective of their being accused, conduct raids in government properties flouting federalist principles, individual liberties and constitutional guarantees. Voluminous documents available in the public domain suggest the abuse of PMLA powers by some officers, including allegations of seeking bribes and summoning farmers who fail to sell their land to influential people. Due to the illusionary unfettered powers of the Enforcement Directorate with the potential to abuse and infringe upon individual rights, the existing unaccountable PMLA warrants a meticulous immediate revamp or complete repeal to protect constitutional guarantees and to prevent the common man from being harassed and being allegedly misused as a tool to indulge in extortion against business community, political opponents besides becoming an overarching penal statute. P Wilson is senior advocate and Member of Parliament Footnote is a weekly column that discusses issues relating to Tamil Nadu A superseding law PMLA was to curb crime proceeds derived under NDPS Act, IPC, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, The Arms Act, and Prevention of Corruption Act. The current list encompasses almost all penal laws for which a remedy exists, making PMLA into a superseding law

ICAI disciplinary panel overlooks stay to pass order against 2 partners of PwC arms

Despite a Delhi High Court stay, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has published orders penalizing two PwC affiliate partners. PwC had obtained a stay against ICAI's disciplinary action, challenging fines and membership removal. The institute's move to upload the order on its website has sparked a legal battle. This follows a similar dispute with EY affiliates. The Big Four firms are contesting ICAI's disciplinary actions, demanding an appellate tribunal be established first.

Shobhaa De | The murky political Mandi minus Heeras is in trouble

The word in the film bazaar is that SLB, the auteur of Heeramandi -- The Diamond Bazaar (touted as Netflix Indias most expensive offering), got his numbers wrong. Matlab , he expected his eight-part period series to break all records and deliver a thumping superhit. Alas, Heeramandi was written off as one mans vanity project that failed to connect with the audience. SLB, known as an eccentric genius (a euphemism for megalomaniac) in his rarefied world of fantasy cinema, fell flat on his face trying to pull off an opulent extravaganza set in Lahore. It was a lazy and confused take on several disparate themes -- azaadi and barbaadi --with a tyrannical Huzoor running the show at a grand haveli, patronised by decadent nawabs in search of pleasure. What could have been a powerful tale about debauchery and power, treachery and exploitation was reduced to a shabby, shallow story that went nowhere. An unwittingly satirical take on the nabobs and kebabs culture of a pre-Independence Lahore, in which cardboard revolutionaries shout Inquilab Zindabad periodically while the nautch girls swirl and twirl like dervishes in richly embroidered shararas and ghararas . Sharaab and ittar , surma and mogras do not compensate for the lack of soul in this ode to SLBs conceit. Khair! The timing was perfect. The last phase of the elections had drawn to a close with no clear victory in sight. Just weeks before the grand finale of what was described as the biggest election on earth, Indias political mandi was also teeming with desperate courtesans of both sexes, vying for the attention of patrons with pouches of money. Enticing promising candidates with allurements galore, Indias nouveau nawabs, clad not in silken jamas but organic cotton designer kurtas, strutted around the political arena, boasting and bragging about 400 seats, if not more. Like the women in Heeramandi , seats were up for grabs to the highest bidder. Political nath utharna ceremonies were happening across the country, as avaricious netas shopped around for potential stars who could win a seat for the party. Somehow, the numbers in this mandi too, didnt add up. Will the NaMo show go the way of the SLB debacle? Has the BJP mega-show failed to connect with the electorate? For a lot of canny political analysts, the writing was already on the wall. There were ominous but unspoken signals and signs that the BJPs glory days were slipping away rapidly. Nobody spoke about this openly out of fear. And everybody nodded on autopilot when BJP supporters boasted about a clean sweep. It was only when the markets started to slide that the panic buttons were pressed at the headquarters. Something was not right! Why was the Sensex responding like this? Foreign investments should have been pouring in! All the purana calculations and certainties seemed to be on a downward spiral. The optimists snorted: Nonsense! There has been a minor market correction. Everythings on track. Just watch what happens on June 4. Yes, Sir! Our eyes are peeled. There is a powerful Hindi word Sachai -- which is too deep to be translated as mere truth. Sachai is sachai ! People get it. Feel it. Sense it. Jaspreet Singh, the 10-year-old kid from Tilak Nagar in Delhi, who become an overnight star after his video making rolls from a food cart went viral, is a great example of sachai at play. Here was a hardworking little boy who had not let tragedy keep him down after his father died and his mother disappeared, leaving him and a young sister to fend for themselves. Jaspreet took charge of the situation and started selling rolls from his cousin Gurmukhs food cart. A stray video shot by a food blogger caught the imagination of people, garnering over 10 million views. None of this was planned or manipulated. Jaspreets obvious sachai touched enough hearts for people like Anand Mahindra and Sonu Sood to come forward and offer to sponsor Jaspreets and his sisters interrupted education. Thanks to the attention on the social media, Gurmukh proudly says: We have gone from earning Rs 400 a day to around Rs 8,000. Sachai hit a home run! Citizens who have suffered in silence over the past ten years are rediscovering their own sachai and dreaming of an India where they wont be crushed because they arent toeing the line of their masters. That word masters should jar in a democracy where we are all supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law. But are we equal? How different is the political maidan from the Shahi Haveli of Heeramandi , where one single tyrannical person controls the destiny of so many. Where nobody dares to challenge the Huzoor or speak up. Where treachery, murder, betrayal, malice and back-stabbing are everyday events. And oppression is the name of the game. The debate generated by Jairam Rameshs foolish comment, rightly dubbed racist, has become a full-blown racism vs communalism issue. As if one is better than the other. The mess in Maharashtra is on another level. Who would have thought that major political players would end up fighting over Sharad Pawar? Or that it would be reduced to a goonda vs goonda battle about Dadagiri ? Suddenly, there is a glimmer of hope as citizens hail the beginning of a new, more peaceful era. Perhaps all of us are delusional and speaking too soon. But the upbeat mood of the public is hard to miss, and people are breathing more easily these days, and talking more freely than they have in a decade. Does this spell the end of the fear psychosis? Will we stop looking over our shoulders to see whos following us? Tapping our phones? Monitoring every critical social media post? Too early to paint such a rosy picture, especially since an attractive alternative does not exist. Besides, ten years is a long time, and the first-generation voters now entering their twenties have grown up taking restrictions for granted during their formative years. To them, it is normal to hear abusive discourses and blatant misrepresentation of 200 million co-citizens who are Muslims. Its normal to grow up with hate and divisiveness as dominant themes. Its going to take time to break through narratives that have been drilled into their impressionable minds. And what of the altered textbooks with made-up history? Who will change those and when? Somehow, I am not at all worried. If anything, Im pretty confident. You know why? Because, at the end of the day, sachai always wins.

Farrukh Dhondy | Can Trump stand for President even if jailed? Sunaks troubles growing

This tree bears no fruit But we shelter in its shade Your heartbreak is acute Now you know that love was made To bring you joy and trials To give your life fresh hope -- The donkey thinks all miles Are the compass of his rope From Holyboli , by Bachchoo The attentive of the world look forward to the US, UK, and soon the results of the Indian elections on June 4 We hold our breaths! The elections in err democratic Russia, before all the rest, had the world on tenterhooks. Who could have predicted this startling result? So close!!! All those popular plausible challengers -- the ones who leapt out of tenth floor windows as part of their campaign; the ones who blew up the planes they were flying in; the ones who poisoned themselves in Siberian gulags in the belief that it would lead them to the throne of the czars in the Kremlin; the ones who swallowed nuclear poisons and Novichok as part of their illusory belief that it would bring the Russian voters to applaud them. The winner of the Russian election, apart from committing the mass murder of Ukrainians and ignoring the severe casualties the conscripts in his own forces have suffered, has now taken charge of the Wagner mercenary army whose leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, he had murdered, and has deployed them in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to wipe out the Muslim opponents of these dictatorships. He labels these Muslim opposition elements jihadists and terrorists. In return, Vladimir Putin has profitable access to the gold and uranium which are plentiful in sub-Algerian Western Africa. And now, the coming US elections with Donald Trump in court through the weeks becomes international news. And yet, at this stage of the contest, its stopped being a clash of policies, intentions and promises. One would expect an American election to feature debates about immigration, abortion, inflation, health schemes, unemployment, LGBT+ rights, foreign policy, arms for Israel or the Ukraine, etc. But no! All I read about concerning the coming American election is the indictment of the self-trumpeting Donald Trump on 34 charges of falsifying his financial tax records after paying off hush money to two women with whom he had sex. In strictly legal terms, the 34 counts are alleged crimes, but the persistence of the detailed news coverage on all media compels me to imagine myself as a member of the jury, and when asked if Wigwarm is guilty as charged, though the trial is yet to be concluded, Id reply: Is the Pope a Catholic? And yet, and yet, the opinion polls in the United States seem to say that Wiggys firm support ignores his criminality, his magnificent stupidity in advocating fatal injections of bleach for Covid-19, his misogyny, racism, corruption, corrupt relationship with Russia, his assault on democracy on January 6 and twenty other factors which should put him behind bars or sent to Rwanda. Instead, his base (both senses?) wants to put him in the White House, Making America Gullible Again! The polls say the election in the US is too close to call. Its an intriguing scenario. Suppose Wiggy is found guilty and sent to jail. Can he still stand for President? And if he does and wins, then will a federal jail serve as his office instead of the White House? We anxiously watch that space. And so, gentle reader, to the UK elections, which by law have to be called by January 2025. Poor Hedgie Soongone has suffered tsunamic defeats in recent weeks. In the local elections in May, his party lost half its seats on local councils -- the municipality panchayats in charge of local affairs. They were defeated in crucial House of Commons byelections on the same day and lost the very prestigious mayoralty of the West Midlands. The Tories retained only one mayoral position -- that of Lord Ben Houchen in Teeside. He campaigned without mentioning the Tory Party, maintaining a distance from the governing party at Westminster. When he retained his mayoralty, campaigning on local improvements he boasted he had achieved, Hedgie turned up to cash in on the only win the Tory Party could boast about. In the TV footage, Houchens body-language diagnoses Hedgies political leprosy. Even more suffering for Hedge-fund-baba in recent weeks. Every leadership replacement candidate has backtracked now as they dont want to lead the Tories into a defeat and have to follow Hedgie into the interstellar spaces. And now two prominent Tory MPs have crossed the floor and joined the Labour Party. One of them, Tom Poulter, a doctor, said he was disillusioned with the way the Tories had run down the National Health Service. Fair enough. The other defector, Natalie Elphicke, has a firm reputation as a dedicated right-wing Tory. She crossed the floor and was welcomed by Labours leader Sir Keir Starmer. The welcome, though a kick in the crotch for Hedgie, was not universally supported in the Labour Party, one senior member saying that Ms Elphicke was to the right of Genghis Khan and what was she doing joining their party? Not that Labour hasnt suffered in a very particular way. The shadow cabinets stance on Gaza, abstaining in a vote demanding a ceasefire, has alienated Muslim MPs and councillors and the Muslim voting population of cities such as Oldham. But, of course, those voters wont go over to the Tories. Allah hoo Akbar!

Had Congress been dissolved on Gandhiji's guidance...: PM Modi's strong jibe in Maharashtra

Had Congress been dissolved on Gandhiji's guidance...: PM Modi's strong jibe in Maharashtra Taking a swipe at the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that had the party been dissolved on the suggestion of Mahatma Gandhi, India would have been five decades ahead from what it is now. He said that the Congress party made the poor people feel as if hey were born to live in poverty, adding that the Modi government was able to take 25 crore people out of poverty in the last 10 years. Addressing the public meeting in Mumbai, PM Modi said, Earlier, there were governments that did not trust the capabilities of Indians...I have seen Prime Ministers who called Indians lazy from the Red Fort...PMs with such a mentality cannot develop India. Under the guidance of Gandhiji, if the Congress had been dissolved after independence, the country would have been 5 decades ahead from now. Attacking the Opposition further, he said that many considered the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as impossible, but the struggle of 500 years was finally realized. Some people say that what Modi says is impossible. It is difficult to instill hope in people who are drowned in hopelessness. Everything is impossible for them. These are the same people who thought that the Ram Temple was impossible. The world has to accept that the people of India were so strong with their thoughts that they kept struggling for 500 years, for one dream...As a result, Ram Lalla is Virajman in a grand temple, the Prime Minister said. He also took a jibe at the Congress party over its on-fulfillment of the promise of eradicating poverty. Congress kept saying for 60 years that they will eradicate poverty... In their 20-25-minute speech from the Red Fort, the Prime ministers of this family only spoke on poverty...They made poor people feel as if they were born to live in poverty, it seemed impossible to eradicate people from poverty. In 10 years, Modi brought 25 crore people out of poverty. What seemed impossible, became possible, PM Modi added. He also heavily against the manifesto of the Congress party and said that if the Maoist manifesto is implemented, the country will go bankrupt. On one hand, Modi has a report card of 10 years and a roadmap for the next 25 years. On the other hand, you have INDI Alliance: Where there are as many parties that many promises, as many PM candidates as many parties, PM Modi said. If the Maoist manifesto of the Congress party is implemented, the country will become bankrupt, he added. Attacking Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Prime Minister Modi said that he allied with the party that abused Ram Mandir and whose leaders were partying after the Mumbai attacks. The fake Shiv Sena has betrayed the sacrifices of Bala Saheb and Shiv Sainiks. For power... he went along with those who abused the Ram Mandir. For power... he went away with the people who were partying after the Mumbai attacks. The Congress which abuses Veer Savarkar day and night, today he has gone and sat in his lap, Prime Minister Modi said. He added, I challenge them to make Rahul Gandhi say that he will not abuse Veer Savarkar...they can't because as soon as the elections are over, he (Rahul Gandhi) will again start abusing Veer Savarkar. Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra are being held in five phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. 13 constituencies including the six seats in Mumbai are among the ones that will vote on May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. Known for its political diversity and significant electoral influence, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in shaping national politics. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 18 seats. (ANI)

Visakhapatnam: Steel Employees Stage Dharna for Wages

Vizag Steel Plant entrance. (Photo: AFP/File) Vizag Steel Plant entrance. (Photo: AFP/File) Visakhapatnam: Steel plant employees led by the CITU staged a dharna in front of the work executive directors office on Friday demanding immediate release of wages. The union leaders later submitted a memorandum to the executive director. Honorary president of CITU, J Ayodhyaram, said that as per the company rules, the steel plant management should be paying wages by the seventh of every month. But, contrary to rules, the wage payments were irregular for the last three months. The salary bills total `90 crore a month. The unionists warned that the employees would launch a full-scale agitation if the salaries were not paid on time. JMS general secretary Varasala Srinivasa Rao said banks were slapping abnormal fines on EMIs for the delay in payment of instalments due to the irregular release of the wages. All the banks have declared health accounts as NPA and are pressing the employees for clearance of dues. The banks are waiving loans worth several crores in the case of big business, but are harassing the employees who just missed one or two EMIs, Srinivasa Rao said. Sources said the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, for the first time in its 42-year-old history, found it difficult to pay salaries to its employees. The steel plant has 13,557 regular employees, including 9,154 non-executive cadre employees and 4,403 executive cadre employees. A senior officer of RINL said the management was paying salaries before the scheduled date till some time ago. However, due to the current non-movement of raw material from Gangavaram Port to the Steel Plant due to the employees strike, the regular business was affected. The problem has been solved and we will pay the salaries in a day or two.

Sonakshi spologised to Manisha after watching Heeramandi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who debuted on Netflix with the series, collaborated with Sonakshi Sinha on Heeramandi for the first time.

Graft: Police officer booked for demanding Rs 5 lakhs from MSEDCL staffer

Three Kilometres to the End of the World review brutal self-denial in deepest Romania

Cannes film festival A drama of despair plays out in a remote village, as a debt-ridden father is mortified to discover his son is gay Here is a self-laceratingly painful tale of repression and denial in a remote Romanian village in the Danube delta, directed by Emanuel Parvu. Its in the gimlet-eyed observational and satirical style of the new Romanian cinema, a kind of movie-making that in extended dialogue scenes seeks out the bland bureaucratic language of the police and church authorities; their evasive mannerisms, their reactionary worldviews and lifelong habits of indicating opinions in quiet voices and in code, things they dont want to be held responsible for, and for things they want to keep enclosed in silence. The drama concerns a careworn guy, Dragoi (Bogdan Dumitrache), who owes money to a local tough guy and is badly behind with the debt. Then he discovers that his 17-year-old son Adi (Ciprian Chiujdea), the apple of his eye whom he is planning to send to military school next year, and whom he fondly imagines to be dating a local girl has been badly beaten up by the money-lenders sons. With icy rage, Dragoi takes this to be the mans unforgivably violent way of demanding his money. Continue reading...

Amit Shah's Electrifying Roadshow Rocks Ranchi Streets

Amit Shah's Electrifying Roadshow Rocks Ranchi Streets Union Home Minister Amit Shah led a colourful roadshow in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on Friday evening, amid tight security arrangements. Thousands of people lined up on both sides of the 1.5-km stretch, with flags, lotus symbols and cut-outs, to greet Shah. Standing atop a decorated vehicle, the senior BJP leader greeted people and flashed the victory symbol along with the party's Ranchi Lok Sabha candidate, Sanjay Seth. Shah was seen showering flower petals on the crowd, a section of which danced to the tunes of traditional musical instruments. The roadshow that started from Indira Gandhi Chowk will culminate at Saraswati Shishu Mandir. Later, Shah in a post on X said: Johar (greetings) Jharkhand! The huge crowd at the Ranchi roadshow shows that people are going to defeat the corrupt, and elect an honest and transparent government once again. Meanwhile, sitting Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth posted on X: ''Along with 'Abki Baar Char Sau Paar', entire Ranchi is ready for 'Fir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'. Ranchi, along with the entire country, will give a historic mandate on 'Modi ki Guarantee'''. Shah had earlier landed at the Birsa Munda Airport in a special helicopter from Odisha after holding a public rally there. The Ranchi administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the roadshow, including the use of drones and CCTV cameras at strategic locations, SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha said. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in Jharkhand in four phases. The first round of voting took place on May 13. Ranchi will go to polls on May 25.

Taha Shah Badussha addresses Comparisons to Fawad Khan

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Taha Shah Badussha addresses Comparisons to Fawad Khan Since the release of 'Heeramandi', people have been making comparisons between Taha Shah Badussha and Fawad Khan. The post Taha Shah Badussha addresses Comparisons to Fawad Khan appeared first on DESIblitz .

Hyderabad: Woman injured in family feud; cops reject claims of daughter-in-laws plot

Hyderabad: A woman and her brother allegedly attempted to kill her mother-in-law over insurance money in Kattela Mandi, Begum Bazar, on May 10. According to reports, expecting insurance money after their death, the woman hired contract killers and orchestrated plan to murder her mother-in-law. The contract killers allegedly entered the house and attacked the inmates Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Fadnavis Focuses on Election of Eknath Shindes Candidates in Mumbai

Mumbai: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has shifted his focus on all six Lok Sabha seats of Mumbai, especially three seats, where Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidates are contesting. He held a back to back meetings in connection with the preparation of Shiv Sena candidates Ravindra Waikar and Rahul Shewale on Thursday midnight. The senior BJP leader has asked the party leaders and office bearers to ensure the victory of all six candidates of Mahayuti in Mumbai. Mr.Fadnavis took a review of preparation of North West Mumbai and South Central Mumbai Lok Sabha seats, where the fight is between two factions of Shiv Sena. Mr Fadnavis held a marathon review meeting with all BJP corporators, legislators and office bearers in Goregaon on Thursday night for about four hours. The office bearers of Shiv Sena were also present in the meeting. Post this, Mr.Fadnavis also interacted with the workers of Mahayuti at Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha at around midnight. A BJP leader, who attended the review meeting at Goregaon, said that Mr. Fadnavis instructed them to focus on the work done by the Narendra Modi government, particularly construction of Ram Mandir and abrogation of Article 370. Other leaders such as Andheri West MLA Amit Satam said that the fact that a 1993 bomb blast convict was seen campaigning for Shiv Sena UBT candidate Amol Kirtikar should also be highlighted. The people should be informed that they have to chose between a candidate supporting Narendra Modi and a candidate getting help from a bomb blast convict. The people of Mumbai are very smart. They are firmly standing with Narendra Modi. To fulfill the dream of a developed India, the voters have resolved to make Modi's candidate Ravindra Waikar victorious with a huge number of votes from the North West Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, Mr.Satam said.

Mumbai: PM Modi pays tributes to BR Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar

Mumbai: PM Modi pays tributes to BR Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Veer Savarkar and Bhimrao Ambedkar in Mumbai on Friday. He paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, the former Union Minister and head of the Constitution committee, at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to the Veer Savarkar, freedom fighter leader of Hindu Mahasabha, at the Veer Savarkar Memorial in Mumbai. Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra are being held in five phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. 13 constituencies including the six seats in Mumbai are among the ones that will vote on May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. Known for its political diversity and significant electoral influence, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in shaping national politics. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 18 seats. Earlier in the day, during his address in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur, PM Modi sharpened his attack against the Congress party, Samajwadi Party, and INDIA bloc, accusing it of appeasement politics. He said that Congress intends to change the Constitution by giving people's property to their vote bank that is engaged in vote jihad for them. Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur on Friday, PM Modi said, This time, the SP-Congress has made their intentions clear even before the elections. Congress is saying that it will investigate everyone's property. Then they will give a part of your property to the vote bank that does vote jihad for them. Where there is Congress government, these people are reducing the reservation of Dalits and backward classes and giving it to Muslims. Now these people want to change the Constitution and give the entire reservation of SC-ST-OBC to Muslims, he added. Prime Minister Modi also addressed a mega public meeting at UP's Barabanki, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress party and Samajwadi Party said they would run a bulldozer over the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if elected in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. If the Congress, SP, and their INDIA partners come to power, our Ram Lalla would have to return to the tent again as they would run a bulldozer over the Ram Mandir. They should take lessons from Yogi-ji (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) on where to run bulldozers and where not to, PM Modi said. (ANI)

Heeramandi's Jason Shah on stereotypical roles in TV: Want to play more than a British officer

Heeramandi's Cartwright aka Jason Shah gets candid about his journey into the Showbiz Industry. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, Jason spoke about his breakup with Anusha Dandekar, doing stereotypical roles on TV, his short stint with Bigg Boss 10 and more. The actor also credited Bigg Boss for getting him work in TV.

Amit Shah attacks Priyanka Gandhi for calling Rae Bareli 'family seat'

Rae Bareli : Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election rally here on Friday attacked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for calling Rae Bareli a family seat, and said it's not a seat of any family but that of the people.Shah made a scathing attack at the Congress for turning down invitations for Ram Mandir's 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, and said if the Congress came to power, they would put the Ayodhya lock in the temple again. Shah held a public meeting in Daulatpur of Unchahar assembly constituency. During the rally, rebel SP MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Kumar Pandey joined the BJP and sat beside Shah on the stage. Congress says that Ram temple has not been consecrated properly. If the INDI alliance comes, they will put the 'Babri lock' on Ram temple again, he said. Shah also called the INDIA bloc a family-based alliance. Lalu (Prasad Yadav) wants to make his son the chief minister, Mamata (Banerjee) wants her nephew to be the chief minister and Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son the prime minister, Shah said. She (Priyanka Gandhi) says that Rae Bareli and Amethi are the seats of my family. I say that this seat does not belong to any family. This is the seat of poor youths of both the districts. Whoever the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi want will go to the Parliament. This is democracy, family has no seat, he said. With Smriti Irani winning in Amethi and Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli, both the seats are going to go to the BJP, Shah said. The Congress party was sitting on Article 370. (Prime Minister) Modi ended it. Congress says that we will bring back Article 370. Modi ji has ended terrorism from the country, he said. On one hand, there is Narendra Modi, who is not accused of (scam of) four annas despite being the chief minister and prime minister for 23 years, Shah said. The Union home minister said that PM Modi will put in jail all those who have committed corruption. There was no collector office in the parliamentary constituency which they call the family seat for 70 years, Shah said, adding that the Yogi Adityanath government along with Smriti Irani laid the foundation stone of the collector office in 2018. Shah said that BJP candidate Singh will be among the people 24 hours. I take a guarantee that if Dinesh Pratap is not seen in your good or bad times, it is my responsibility, he said.

Heeramandi: Sonakshi Sinha Apologized To Manisha Koirala After Watching Series, Says 'Meri Ye Majal?'

Sonakshi Sinha was apologetic towards Manisha Koirala after watching Heeramandi.

'Naveen Babu, where are original keys of Jagannath Mandir's Ratna Bhandar': Amit Shah asks in Odisha

'Congress will bulldoze Ram temple if it comes to power,' says Modi in UP's Barabanki

Barabanki (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday here alleged that the Congress will run a bulldozer over the Ram temple if the INDIA bloc comes to power. Addressing an election rally, PM Modi said the Congress is planning to challenge the Supreme Court's order on the Ram temple once it comes to power and will eventually demolish the temple. If Samajwadi Party-Congress comes to power, it will send Ram Lalla once again to a tent, and a bulldozer will be rolled over the temple, he said. PM Modi also accused the Congress of being responsible for the Partition. He said what used to be thought of as impossible - that the country could ever be divided - was done by the party. When the freedom struggle was going on and the talk of dividing the country used to come up, every person used to wonder: Can the country be divided? Did it happen or not? They did it or not? They can go to any extent. Their track record is such, he said referring to the Congress. The country does not matter to them. For them, the game is for family and power, he added. The Prime Minister was in Barabanki to seek support for party candidate Rajrani Rawat who is contesting from the Lok Sabha seat. He thanked the people for voting for him in the previous elections, saying it was their vote which ended the 500-year-long wait for the Ram Mandir. People from Barabanki walked on foot to Ayodhya with bricks with 'Ram' inscribed on them. The youngsters, the first-time voters, will not understand the 500 years of wait ... Generation after generation of our ancestors struggled and sacrificed, he said. He alleged that Congress under its regime sent Ram Lalla to a ent and when it, along with the Samajwadi Party, was invited to the temple's consecration ceremony, the party refused to attend. There is so much poison in their belly... I don't know what enmity they have with Ram, PM Modi said. In Barabanki, there are 13 candidates in the fray with the main contest between Tanuj Punia of the Congress and BJP's Rajrani Rawat. Mr Punia is the son of Congress leader PL Punia, a former MP from Barabanki (SC) Lok Sabha seat. In March, a day after an explicit video allegedly involving him surfaced online, sitting BJP MP Upendra Singh Rawat, who was fielded again by the party, said he would not contest any election until proven innocent. Subsequently, the party gave the ticket to Rajrani Rawat. Barabanki will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state on May 20.

PM Modi not Italian like Sonia Gandhi who doesn't know Hindi: Kangana

Shimla: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not an Italian like Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who does not know Hindi, he is a son of the soil who is working for the country's progress, said actor Kangana Ranaut, the BJP candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh, on Friday.Addressing a rally at Jagat Khana in Kullu district, Ranaut said Modi is a symbol of good governance and the prime minister knows several languages, including Pahari. Prime Minister Modi is not an Italian like Sonia Gandhi who does not know Hindi. He is a son of the soil, was born in a poor family and is working for the welfare and development of the country, she said. On one hand, there is Modi's good governance and on the other hand, the corruption of the Congress and the people of Himachal Pradesh have made up their mind to ensure the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the June 1 polls, she added. Attacking Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for his remarks that Jai Ram Thakur, the leader of opposition in the state Assembly, is making a flop film, Ranaut said Thakur had a super hit tenure of five years as chief minister but Sukhu has failed in his job in 15 months. Sukhu had earlier said Kangana is a good actress but her film would flop as her scriptwriters are Thakur and state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal. Taking a dig at the Congress candidate from Mandi, Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Pratibha Singh, Ranaut said his family has been sticking to power for long. Tikkaji (Singh) is the face of the dynastic politics of the Congress, whereas the BJP is a party of commoners where a tea seller (Modi) becomes the prime minister and the son of a mason (Thakur) becomes a chief minister, she added. Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting in Kullu, Singh said, Where are the two crore jobs promised by the BJP and why is the BJP not talking about inflation? The saffron party should talk about development issues rather than misleading the public on Hindu-Muslim and India-Pakistan, he added. The Congress leader also listed his priorities for Kullu district, including promotion of tourism, opening medical colleges and the construction of the Jalori Jot tunnel.

Houthi Rebels Down US MQ-9 Reaper Drone: Wreckage Revealed

Houthi Rebels Down US MQ-9 Reaper Drone: Wreckage Revealed Yemen's Houthi rebels on Friday claimed to have shot down an American drone, hours after footage circulated online of what appeared to be the wreckage of an MQ-9 Reaper drone. The US military did not immediately acknowledge the incident. If confirmed, this would be yet another Reaper downed by the Houthis as they press their campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree claimed that rebels shot down the Reaper on Thursday with a surface-to-air missile. He described the drone as carrying out hostile actions'' in Yemen's Marib province, which remains held by allies of Yemen's exiled, internationally recognised government. The Houthis later released footage they claimed showed the surface-to-air-missile being launched at night, along with night-vision footage of the missile hitting the drone. A man, whose voice had been digitally altered to apparently prevent identification, chanted the Houthi slogan: ''God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam. Online video showed wreckage resembling the pieces of the Reaper on the ground, as well as footage of that wreckage on fire. The US military did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press over the Houthi claim. While the rebels have made claims about attacks that turned out later not to be true, they have a history of shooting down US drones and have been armed by their main benefactor, Iran, with weapons capable of high-altitude attack. Since the Houthis seized the country's north and its capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the US military has previously lost at least five drones to the rebels. Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The drone shootdown comes as the Houthis launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage. The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration. Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden still remains low because of the threat, however.

Best over-ear headphones: AirPods Max vs the competition

Macworld Large over-ear headphones have taken a bit of a backseat in recent years, overshadowed by the success of Apples AirPods and other pocket-size earbuds (sometimes referred to as true wireless stereo headphones, or TWS). Larger over-ear headphones do still have some important advantages, though, and theyre starting to make a bit of a comeback. There are a lot of low-cost over-ear headphones that only use Bluetooth to provide wireless audio, but the best over-ear models also tend to provide one or more wired connections via a USB-C interface or a 3.5mm audio connector (or both). Apple has always focused purely on Bluetooth for wireless audio, ignoring the fact that you really need a wired connection to play the high-quality lossless and high-res audio formats that are now available on Apple Music and other streaming services. That is a weakness with the expensive AirPods Max, which rely on Bluetooth alone, and cant even play the best audio formats provided by Apples own streaming service. Apple has plenty of competition in this space, including traditional hi-fi manufacturers, such as Bowers & Wilkins, who have decades of expertise producing over-ear headphones that can meet the demanding standards of audiophiles and hi-fi buffs. Apple also has competition from within its walls in the shape of Beats, an Apple subsidiary, which has been known to produce superior and less expensive headphones than Apple. On that note, compared to the Beats Studio Pro (at just $349.99/349.99) the AirPods Max is left looking very overpriced at $499/499. These larger headphones have other advantages too, most obviously starting with the fact that they can use larger driversthe mechanism inside the earpiece that produces the sound you listen toproviding a more powerful and detailed sound. Larger earpieces can also provide longer battery life, with many of Apples rivals providing far more than the 20-24 hours of the Beats and AirPods range. So heres our guide to some of the best over-ear headphones currently available for use with your Mac, iPhone or iPad. Here we are concerned with over-ear headphones, also known as on-ear, cans or full-sized headphones. We cover the different styles of headphones separately, see: Best earbuds and Best wired and USB-C headphones . Updated May 2024 to add Beats Solo 4 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Best Over-Ear Headphones for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 1. Beats Studio Pro Pros Lightweight Good compatibility with Apple and other devices 3.5mm and USB-C audio input Excellent battery life Clean and balanced audio Cons Headband is a little stiff No ear detection Price When Reviewed: $349.99 Best Prices Today: $179.95 at Amazon $179.99 at Best Buy $219.95 at B&H While Apples AirPods Max are now more than two and a half years old and in need of an update, Apples subsidiary, Beats, has launched a set of over-ear headphones that cost less, deliver better sound and offer most of the AirPods features, including one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing (although not instant switching!), Handoff to Apple Watch, hands-free Hey Siri support, and Find My support. They even support personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking. Youll find all the necessary controls built natively into iOS, as you would expect from of a product from an Apple-owned company. There are a few missing Apple features, such as ear detection (which would stop them playing when you took them off) and they dont feature Apples H-series headphone chips (even though some Beats products do). Instead, they offer a proprietary Beats processor which allows them to more easily support Android features. The Beats Studio Pro sound really good. The low end has the clarity and punch of AirPods Max, but the high frequencies are noticeably crisper. The built-in DAC supports hi-res and lossless audio up to 24-bit/48KHz. Adaptive noise canceling quality is excellent, though perhaps not as good as the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro. Noise canceling is not supported in USB-C wired mode. The headphones mic can be used as mic input on your Mac or PC (though the quality is not up to the standard of a good dedicated headset). They are less comfortable to wear than the AirPods Max. The ear cushions dont have the soft velvety feel of AirPods Max, and the headband is much stiffer, but they are lighter (260 grams compared to 384 grams). They fold up to easily fit in a bag and come with a real carrying case. On the left cup, youll find integrated controls concealed by the b. These are standard play/pause/advance/back control buttons. Youll also find a standard headphone jack with audio input fully supported without any dongles or adapters. On the right cup youll find the power button which is also used to enter pairing mode, or you can double-click it to change noise canceling modes between Signature, Entertainment and Conversation. There is also a USB-C port for charging that can also be plugged any supported audio source for audio input. We got around 4 hours of playback time from a 10-minute charge. A full charge takes around 2 hours. Beats claims 40 hours of battery life with ANC off and 24 hours with ANC on. Thats about 20 percent better than AirPods Max. Even if they werent $200 cheaper, wed recommend these over the AirPods Max. The lack of ear detection is a bummer, but Beats Studio Pro delivers betters sound, battery life, controls, and compatibility, and they weigh a lot less too.- Jason Cross Read our full Beats Studio Pro review 2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Pros High-grade audio reproduction Boses best-ever active noise cancellation All day wearability Immersive Audio Cons While improved, battery life isnt state of the art Immersive Audio can be gimmicky Price When Reviewed: $429.00 Best Prices Today: $379 at Lenovo USA $429 at Amazon $429 at B&H The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are pricy, at $429/449.95 which is more than the $399/319 Sony WH-1000XM5, but they are still cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max at $499/499. They do offer excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation, though, which goes a long way to justify the price. They also support aptX streaming, and feature Boses CustomTune technology for personalizing the headphones audio to your unique ears. Theres also a spatial audio option. Operational controls are minimalist. On the right-hand cup, there are two buttons and a thin thermal volume strip. Sliding a finger up or down the strip adjusts the volume. Tapping and holding the strip activates one of several shortcuts. A second button performs several functions such as play and pause the music, answer or decline a call. A long press lets you cycle through audio listening modes including Quiet, Aware and Immersion. Theres also a Wind Noise Suppression feature. Immersive Audio feature is particularly impressive, but doesnt suit every music type. On-Head Detection circuitry senses when you put them on and take them off, so there is no need for the power button. The manufacturer says they will auto-shut off after 24 hours of idle time. Run time is quoted as up to 24 hours and they achieve a full charge in less than three hours The headband is soft-touch pleather and the memory foam in the ear cups feels premium grade. It seals and cushions reasonably without being bulky and resided comfortably on my head almost all day long. Jonathan Takiff 3. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Pros Hi-fi sound quality Luxurious design Bluetooth with AAC, aptX USB-C and 3.5mm wired connections Cons Expensive A little heavy (320g) Price When Reviewed: $699.00 Best Prices Today: $699 at Amazon $699 at B&H $699 at Best Buy Apple surprised a lot of us when it (finally) added USB-C and 3.5mm wired inputs to the Beats Studio Pro. However, hi-fi specialists Bowers & Wilkins have been using USB-C to provide lossless and high-res audio with their PX range of headphones since 2017. Its a little pricey at $699/599 its even more expensive than the AirPods Max but the design and sound quality are impeccable. Available in black or tan, the padded headband and earpieces feel absolutely luxurious (although the leather covering might not suit everyone). The adjustable cast-aluminum armatures look very smart and are sturdy enough to cope with life on the road when youre traveling, and theres a hard-shell carrying case included as well. The 40mm drivers support Bluetooth with support for both Apples AAC and aptX Adaptive for Android users. As mentioned, theres a USB-C interface for wired connections and lossless audio, and a 3.5mm adaptor is included for good old-fashioned analog audio as well. The sound quality is as good as youd expect from a company with B&Ws hi-fi heritage. Theres an icy clarity to the steel guitar on You Cant Trust Violence by Low, and the bands harmonies are smooth as silk, even as they repeat the chilling chorus of no, you cant trust violence. Theres a nice bass sound too, bouncing along with a firm, infectious rhythm on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, and contrasting well with the sharp, precise finger snaps that set the pace and drive the track forward. The noise-cancellation features work very well too, and with 30 hours of battery life when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation the Px8 is a great option for frequent fliers or commuting on a train. The luxurious design and sound quality of the Px8 are worth every penny, but if youre on a tight budget then you can still find the previous Px7 S2 model available online with a recent price cut to 299, which makes it a real bargain. Cliff Joseph Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 review 4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Pros Competitive price Impressive battery life Supports AAC, aptX Adaptive Good carrying case and accessories Cons 2.5mm line-in connector Some users may require a USB-C adaptor Price When Reviewed: $379.95 Best Prices Today: $293.83 at Amazon $299.95 at Adorama $379.95 at B&H The first set of headphones that I ever bought in my student days was made by Sennheiser, but the company isnt trading on nostalgia with its Momentum 4 Wireless , which provides excellent sound quality and features at a competitive price. This fourth-generation Momentum is a bit more compact and streamlined than its predecessors, with the weight now reduced to just 293g in order to ensure that its light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Even so, Sennheiser has still managed to squeeze an impressive range of features into the headphones, starting with 42mm drivers that are larger than those used by most of its rivals. These also provide an impressive frequency response of 6Hz 22KHz, which again beats most rival headphones in this price range. Unsurprisingly, the Momentum 4 provides excellent sound quality. It digs deep and delivers a taut, menacing bass pulse on You Should See Me In A Crown by Billie Eilish. The higher frequencies work well too, capturing Billies whispered vocals with great clarity, and picking out the edgy ticking of percussion that gives the song its manic energy. The digital features are right up to date as well, with Bluetooth 5.2, and support for both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android. The USB-C port on the right earpiece can be used for charging, but also supports USB audio for wired connections, and theres a 2.5mm analog line-in connector too (with cable provided). However, the USB cable provided by Sennheiser is USB-A-to-USB-C, so youll need to provide your own USB-C adaptor for Macs and iPads that only have USB-C. The noise-cancellation features work very well, and Sennheisers Smart Control app lets you adjust the level of noise-cancellation manually, by using a slider control, or you can just select the adaptive option which allows the Momentum to monitor background noise and adjust the noise-cancellation automatically. But, even with all those features, the really outstanding feature of the Momentum 4 Wireless is its battery life lasting for around 60 hours even when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together. Theres a good set of accessories too, with a hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor provided for when youre traveling. And, with a competitive $379.95/309.99 price, the Momentum 4 Wireless even manages to undercut the price of the new Beats Studio Pro as well.- Cliff Joseph 5. Beats Solo 4 Pros Excellent Apple & Android support Great battery life USB-C and 3.5mm audio support Cons No ANC Design is dated No on-ear detection Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Amazon $199.95 at Adorama $199.99 at Apple Its been a while since Apple-subsidiary Beats updated its more affordable on-ear Solo headphones. More than seven years, to be exact. As you would expect, a lot has changed. The Apple W1 chip has been replaced with a proprietary technology platform that supports features in both Apple and Android devices. Apple users get personalized spatial audio with head tracking and hands-free Hey Siri support in addition to all the older stuff (one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, and Find My support). For non-Apple users theres support for Google Fast Pair, cloud pairing with your Google account, Find My Device and multi-point pairing for seamless audio switching. Sound quality is improved compared to the previous generation, as it should be. There is support for USB-C audio output and input, and it is possible to charge and play USB-C audio at the same time. Over USB-C or 3.5mm you can listen to lossless audio (unfortunately the sound reproduction of these headphones is not good enough to notice). Sound is going to be limited by the fact that these are on-ear headphones, lacking the larger diaphragms of over-the-ear models or the tight in-ear fit of earbuds. Theres a power button on the bottom of the right earpiece. You need to use this because there is no on-ear detection to automate things. The left earpiece has a big button for play/pause/forward/reverse and to trigger the voice assistant. Pressing above or below that button changes the volume. Beats claims 50 hours of battery life, likely a result of the lack of active noise cancellation, which is probably the biggest strain on battery life. The lack of ANC, which is expected on all but the cheapest earbuds and headphones, could be seen as a disadvantage. The earpads are soft, but the spring tension makes the pressure a little uncomfortable after long listening periods when I wear my glasses. This is a common problem with on-ear headphones and a reason why over-the-ear cans may be more comfortable. The new models replace the old micro-USB plug with USB-C. Jason Cross Read our full Beats Solo 4 review 6. Master & Dynamic MW75 Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Master & Dynamic Master & Dynamic is a relatively young company, having been founded in New York barely a decade ago, but it quickly developed a reputation for the impressive craftsmanship and sound quality of headphones such as the MW75. Priced at $599/549, and available in a variety of colors, the MW75 oozes quality, constructed out of lightweight aluminum and tempered glass, and with a padded headband and earpieces wrapped in soft leather (although, of course, the choice of leather may not be to everyones taste). The earpieces are relatively small for an over-ear headphone, though, and some people might find the fit a bit snug. The little control buttons on the earpieces are also rather small as well. Its got a classy design on the inside too, with 40mm drivers that are constructed out of Beryllium a very rigid material used in many high-end hi-fi systems in order to reduce vibration and distortion that might affect the sound quality. The MW75 supports Bluetooth with both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android, and theres a USB-C port for wired connections with support for lossless and high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz. Theres also a USB-A adaptor included for older computers, a 3.5mm adaptor for analog input, and a 6.3mm adaptor for use with high-end hi-fi equipment. Travelers will also appreciate the smart, fabric-covered hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor, as well as healthy battery life that lasts for 28 hours when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together (or 32 hours without noise-cancellation). The noise-cancellation features are very effective and, like most headphones these days, the MW75 includes an ambient mode that lets in some of the background noise when required. However, theres also an additional voice mode that helps to pick out peoples voices if youre in an office or perhaps waiting for a flight announcement in an airport. But, as always, the sound quality is key, and the MW75 provides excellent clarity and detail right across the spectrum. It provides a deep, ominous rumble for the electronic bass on Max Richters Shadow Journal , but it doesnt allow the bass to overwhelm the piercing clarity of the violin, or the gentle ambient sound-cloud of electronic loops that swirl lightly through the air.- Cliff Joseph 7. Yamaha YH-E700B Pros Strong sound quality Bluetooth with AAC and aptX Adaptive 3.5mm audio connector Good app for customizing sound Cons No USB audio A little heavy (335g) Price When Reviewed: $350 Best Prices Today: $219.87 at Amazon $349.95 at B&H $350 at Yamaha Yamaha has decades of experience producing musical instruments and audio equipment for professional musicians, and it brings that audio expertise to its YH-E700B headphone. Yamaha gets all the basics right, with large 40mm drivers that are designed to reduce distortion and provide an impressive 8Hz 20KHz frequency response. The YH-E700B uses Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless audio, with support for both AAC for Apple devices and the latest aptX Adaptive for our Android-toting friends. Theres also a 3.5mm connector to provide a wired connection, although its disappointing that the USB-C connector on the headphone is only used for charging, and doesnt provide USB audio input too. And, since the YH-E700B is an update for Yamahas older YH-E700A headphone, it also provides improved noise-cancellation features which are very effective and an ambient mode that lets you listen out for background sounds when you need to (but watch out, as the original YH-E700A is still on sale online, so make sure you buy the correct model). The internal mics used for noise-cancellation also work with Yamahas Listening Optimiser technology to scan the inside of your ear canal to create a personalized sound profile. And, if you want to fine-tune the sound even further, then Yamahas Headphone app includes a five-band equalizer with a variety of presets and the ability to create two custom presets as well. That set of features ensures that the YH-E700B provides excellent sound quality. The headphones 8Hz low-end digs really deep for the slinky bass guitar riff on Leonard Cohens You Want It Darker , and Cohens own voice has a terrifically deep and world-weary tone. But the YH-E700B handles higher frequencies well too, with a crisp, sharp stab on the percussion that sets the pace, and a smooth velvet tone on the choir that joins in on the chorus. And, with an impressive battery life of 30 hours when using noise-cancellation or 32 hours if you switch it off you can enjoy that high-quality music even on the longest journeys.- Cliff Joseph 8. Logitech Zone Vibe Pros Affordable Bluetooth headset Adjustable boom mic with mute Supports AAC for Apple devices Cons No noise-cancellation for music No spatial audio No wired inputs Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $91.03 at Amazon $96.99 at Best Buy $99.99 at B&H Most headphones just focus on the music side of things, with features such as spatial audio or noise-cancellation to enhance the listening experience, but Logitech takes a different approach with its Zone Vibe range of headphones. Its more affordable than many of its rivals and focuses mainly on office use, for people who may work in call centers or customer support, or perhaps need a headset for video calls when working from home. There are currently two versions of the Zone Vibe available from Logitech, with the Vibe 100 being a basic Bluetooth headset that costs $99.99/109.99. Theres also the Vibe 125 , priced at $129.99/129.99, which uses the same headset but also includes a USB wireless adaptor for use in busy offices that may have a lot of Bluetooth devices that could potentially cause interference and affect call quality (theres a third model as well, although this is designed for large corporate users and is only available from specialist business suppliers). The headset weighs just 185g, which is very light for a large over-ear headset such as this, as its designed for people who may have to wear it all day long while theyre at work. It also has a boom mic for voice calls, which can be folded up out of the way in order to quickly mute the mic as well. There are no fancy audio features theres a noise-canceling filter on the microphone to keep your voice clear for calls, but the earpieces dont provide active noise-cancellation (ANC) for listening to music. However, the headset supports Apples AAC codec for Bluetooth audio and provides good sound quality for both calls and music. It delivers a clear, detailed sound for the dense production on Kate Bushs The Big Sky , and manages to balance the songs huge avalanche of drums and percussion very well, without overlooking more delicate details such as the gentle tambourine that shimmers away in the background. Battery life is good too, with 20 hours of listening time, or 18 hours of talk time for voice calls. And, paying good attention to detail, Logitechs Tune app is available for Macs and Windows, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices, so you can easily get the Zone Vibe set up when youre preparing to take voice or video calls at work.- Cliff Joseph 9. Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT Price When Reviewed: $179 Best Prices Today: $179 at Amazon Not Available at Adorama Austrian Audio makes high-end headphones and microphones for musicians and audiophiles, and they also make more affordable headphones, such as the Hi-X25BT, which provides impressive sound quality for a very affordable $179/135. As the name suggests, the Hi-X25BT does include Bluetooth to provide a wireless option when required, with an impressive 30 hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode. Its not at its best with Bluetooth, though, as it doesnt support either Apples AAC or AptX for Android, relying on the more basic SBC codec for wireless audio. The emphasis, therefore, is more on using the Hi-X25BT as a set of wired headphones via its USB-C connector. Austrian includes two cables with the headphones, with a USB-C-to-3.5mm connector that provides standard analog audio, or a straightforward USB-C cable that provides digital audio from an iPad, Mac or other devices that have USB-C. Theres also a USB-A adaptor included too, and I had no trouble using the Hi-X25BT with both USB-A and 3.5mm connections on my aging office iMac. I also found a Lightning audio adaptor from Belkin in my desk draw, which allowed me to use the Hi-X25BT with a Lightning connection on my iPhone as well although, of course, this isnt included with the headphones, so youd need to provide your own adaptor for an iPhone. And, as youd expect from a company with Austrians Hi-Fi background, the sound quality is great, thanks to 40mm drivers with impressive 12Hz 24KHz frequency response. The cymbal crash that starts Blondies Rapture rings out crisp and clear, with a loose relaxed feel on the jangling rhythm guitar. The songs bouncing bass line works a treat too, and never gets lost in the mix as can sometimes happen with less precise headphones. Cliff Joseph 10. Apple AirPods Max Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $449.99 at Amazon $477 at Walmart $489 at B&H The AirPods Max are quite comfortable, despite their heavy weight of 384 grams. They also look better than any other headphones youve used thanks to their smooth matte finish on the aluminum closed-back earpieces, the stainless steel rods in the band, the fine mesh of the ear pads and canopy headband. The headband and soft, deep, breathable ear pads are comfortable enough to wear that the weight isnt too much of a bother (although if you run with them on youll feel the bulk). The controls are simple, intuitive, and unobtrusive. Theres a digital crown like that on the Apple Watch along and a single button on top of the right earpiece. The crown controls volume and playback (skip forwards and backward, press and hold for Siri, etc). The button toggles between noise-canceling and transparency mode and turns noise-canceling on. Audio reproduction matches other high-end premium wireless Bluetooth headphones. Apple has tuned the AirPods Max to boost bass and mid-high frequencies a bit, which most listeners will probably find quite pleasing. The bass has kick when its called for, and its clean with no distortion. The active noise canceling is perhaps the best weve heard, excelling at clearing away irregular sounds like traffic, general office disturbances, or background talking. Apples transparency mode, which allows you to have a conversation while still listening to the music, sounds more clear, natural, and normal than any other noise-canceling headphones. The AirPods Max charge only with a Lightning connector and have no 3.5mm headphone jack input. To listen to lossless audio, or if youre editing video and want to eliminate the latency of Bluetooth, youll need an adapter to plug them into anything other than an iPhone (which itself soon be getting a USB-C port) which seems like a bit of an oversight (especially as the EU has forced Apple to adopt USB-C for the iPhone). Another thing we arent keen on is the not-so-smart Smart Case that the AirPods Max ship with. Its a case that hardly covers the headphones and doesnt do anything to protect them. The case does evoke a low-power mode to save battery, but thats about it. As we said in our review, its Really awful. Ill-conceived and poorly executed. Apple promises a battery life of 20 hours of listening time with noise canceling enabled, which isnt quite as good as the competition. Charging is fast: just 15 minutes on a basic 5-watt power adapter took us from 20 to 44 percent But, the biggest problem is the price. At $549/599 its difficult to recommend AirPods Max when the competition costs $200/200 less. You do get what you pay for though: build quality is unmatched and there are some clever design flourishes. But there are all the compromises weve mentioned above. The main reason to get AirPods over other headphones is their seamless integration with your Apple ecosystem. They pair just by holding them near your iPhone, switch easily to your Mac or iPad, and you can change settings and get firmware updates within Settings instead of requiring a separate app. One of the coolest features of the AirPods Max (and AirPods Pro) is Spatial Audio, whereby Dolby surround is massaged into a sort of faux-3D sound stage. Initially only available on the iPhone and iPad, Spacial Audio now works on Apple TV and (Apple silicon) Macs too. Apples high-end headphones look, sound, and feel great, but two and a half years on from the launch they lack too many key features. They also cost way more than is justified, although we often find them at a discount. See Best AirPods deals . Jason Cross Read our full Apple AirPods Max review Buying advice Full-size headphones fall into two categories: closed and open. Closed models block out some degree of external noise (and also keep your music from disturbing others), while open models, which some people prefer sonically, let more noise in and out. Note that to reach their potential, many full-size models (open or closed) require more juice than others. For the most part, the main differences between models relate to comfort and sound quality, but not all full-sized headphones are equal and there are some other features that may interest you. To help you find the perfect set of over-ear headphones, heres what to look (and listen) for. Noise-Canceling: If youre not a fan of in-ear-canal phones, but you want something that can filter out external noise such as airplane engines, train rumblings, or the hum of a crowd or noisy office, consider investing in a good set of noise-canceling headphones. These headphones sample outside sound and then pipe in an inverse audio signal to cancel out a good deal of monotonous noise. (For more on the technology and its limitations, see my review of noise-canceling models from a while back.) Although they dont usually sound as good as comparably priced in-ear-canal headphones, noise-canceling models are easier to put on and take off, and they let you hear whats going on around you. Noise-canceling headphones are available in canalbud, lightweight, and full-size models, but full-size models tend to provide the best noise isolation and audio quality. Wireless/Bluetooth: If you think being tethered to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod is a dragor, for the gym rats, an equipment-snagging hazardconsider going wireless. You can stream audio to stereo Bluetooth headphones from Macs; iPad; and iPhones. Most Bluetooth headphones also double as headsets, letting you seamlessly switch between music and voice features. Specs and sound quality : As I noted in our speakers buying guide, you should generally ignore manufacturers specificationsespecially frequency-response numbers. Theres no standard testing methodology for headphone frequency response, and many vendors exaggerate their specs for marketing reasons. Even if specs were accurate, they wouldnt tell you much about how a particular set of headphones actually sounds . Instead of reading specs, use your ears. (If you cant audition a product in person, read reviews from a source you trust.) As with speakers, a quality set of headphones reproduces audio with good balance between the treble (upper), midrange, and bass (lower) frequencies, producing full, rich sound while preserving detail. However, because of their especially small drivers (speakers), headphones present a unique challenge when it comes to bass response: Unlike huge speaker woofers that you can not only hear, but feel , the drivers in most headphones cant reproduce the visceral impact of low bassyou may be able to hear the lowest frequencies, but you probably wont be able to feel them. We point out this bass issue because some vendors address it by emphasizing certain bass and upper-bass frequencies to give their headphones more kick. This helps the headphones stand out from other headphones in the store, and some peopleespecially those who use their headphones when exercising or for beat matchingreally want that visceral impact. But such headphones often become fatiguing to listen to over time. If youre interested in accurate audio reproduction, be careful not to be wowed by emphasized bass. (The same goes for exaggerated treble detail.) The best approach is to audition a set of headphones for several hoursor, even better, several dayswith a variety of music. If the headphones still sound great at the end, theres a good chance theyll satisfy you over the long run. Headset functionality and inline control modules : Many current headphone models include, right on the cable, an inline module with a microphone and one or more remote-control buttons. At the minimum, the remote features a single multi-function button for controlling media playback; making, taking, and ending phone calls; and taking advantage of iOSs Siri and Voice Control features. You may also find dedicated volume-up and -down buttons, as well. The modules microphone can be used to talk on the phone, make voice recordings, and give Siri and Voice Control commands. Fit/comfort : Unlike most consumer-electronics devices, you actually wear headphones. So how well a set of over-ear headphones fits your head plays a significant role in your long-term satisfaction (or lack thereof). We include a few comfort-related tips below when describing the different headphones, but reading about a particular style is no substitute for actually giving a product a test drive (or a test run, as the case may be). Accessories, Audio, Headphones

Richa Chadha on Masoom Dil Hai Mera from Heeramandi: Kathak has been a passion of mine since childhood

The release of the video song Masoom Dil Hai Mera, featuring Richa Chadha in the web series Heeramandi, has left the acclaimed actress deeply moved and nostalgic. The poignant song, beautifully picturized on Richa, showcases her exquisite Kathak skills, which she has honed since childhood. In Heeramandi, Masoom Dil Hai Mera marks a pivotal moment as Richa's character, Lajjo, delivers her final performance at the mehfil of her lovers wedding. Reflecting on the release of the song, Richa Chadha shared her heartfelt sentiments, stating, Being a part of Heeramandi has been an incredibly enriching experience for me, and the release of 'Masoom Dil Hai Mera' holds a special place in my heart. Kathak has been a passion of mine since childhood, and to see it showcased in such a beautiful manner on screen is truly gratifying. The song, which is trending, is composed by the legendary Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with lyrics penned by A M Turaz and has vocals by Shikha Joshi, adding an evocative layer to the series' narrative. Richa also expressed her appreciation for the overwhelming response to the song, saying, I am touched that so many people have shared that single clip of the long round trolley shot on the internet, or theyve told me theyve watched it a million times. I am happy that my training came through, because the feet are doing the tatkaar in teen taal, while Lajjo is having an incredibly real breakdown. This powerful scene has resonated deeply with viewers, highlighting Richa's dedication and talent. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Heeramandi boasts an ensemble cast, including luminaries such as Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha, whose performances have also garnered accolades. The magnum opus series, now streaming on Netflix, is trending in 43 countries and offers viewers a captivating glimpse into the intricacies of life within the vibrant world of Heeramandi. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Richa Chadha on playing Bholi Punjaban thrice in Fukrey franchise, You already know the setting, character, tonality, body language, the color of your character

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar rakes in 8.5 million views within just 12 days of its release on Netflix

Netflixs Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar storms the streaming world, raking in a remarkable 8.5 million views within just 12 days of its release. Rising to prominence as the second most-watched non-English series on Netflix in the second week, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has firmly entrenched itself as a cultural phenomenon. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the series has stunning visuals, impeccable performances, and interesting storyline. Aditi Rao Hydari said, I'm elated by the incredible response to Heeramandi. The show's impact has been tremendous, and I was surprised and so thrilled to learn about my walk from Saiyyan Hato Jao, trending across the internet. I loved working on the mujra and was determined to perfect every detail. When your hard work gets so much love and recognition across the world, its very gratifying. Im truly grateful to Sanjay sir and Netflix for this incredible journey. Taha Shah Badussha expresses gratitude for the show's success, After 15 years of hard work and yearning for recognition, I feel I have finally succeeded, I have been receiving immense love for my role as Tajdar in Heeramandi. This surreal experience fills me with profound gratitude. I feel appreciated and genuinely embraced by audiences worldwide. My social media has been abuzz with compliments ever since the show launched. I am overwhelmed by the love the show is receiving each day. My inbox is flooded with the most heartwarming messages, and its so heartening to see how deeply the audiences have connected to Lajjo. I poured my soul into bringing this role to life, and the unwavering support from everyone makes it a very emotional and fulfilling moment for me, adds Richa Chadha. Sanjeeda Shaikh shares, Having a platform like Netflix for an artist to showcase their work to a global audience is a rare opportunity. I am deeply grateful to Sanjay sir for making it happen with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The praise and love from the viewers have been overwhelming and incredibly gratifying for me as an artist. From impassioned discussions on social media to spirited recreations of iconic scenes, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among fans, who have wholeheartedly embraced the series. Aditi Rao Hydari's iconic walk has inspired dancers everywhere to recreate the moment while also empowering women to embrace their bodies with confidence. Taha Shah Badussha has become the nation's latest heartthrob for his charming chemistry with the beautiful Alamzeb, played by Sharmin Segal. Fardeen Khan and Sanjeeda Shaikhs performances have left audiences eagerly anticipating their every move while Richa Chadhas portrayal of Lajjo has struck an emotional chord worldwide. Manisha Koiralas on-screen rivalry with Sonakshi Sinha screams ferocity, great passion, and redefines iconic. ALSO READ: Sanjay Leela Bhansali to start Love And War with Ranbir Kapoor in August-September?

Heeramandi's Cartwright- Jason Shah: When Sonakshi Sinha walks into a room, she brings along her charisma

Dive behind the scenes of the highly-grossing series Heeramandi with actor Jason Shah, who portrays Officer Cartwright. In this exclusive interview, Jason shares his experience working alongside Bollywood legends Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sonakshi Sinha, and Manisha Koirala. Get the inside scoop on the emotional and intimate scenes, including his perspective on filming intense moments with Koirala and Sinha. Don't miss this candid conversation with one of the stars of Heeramandi!

Shekhar Suman on Sharmin being trolled for Heeramandi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Heeramandi' won a lot of praise, however the performance of his niece Sharmin Segal faced a lot of criticism. Ina n exclusive chat with ETimes, Shekhar Suman defended her act, emphasizing character depth and authenticity.

Human chain demands train stoppage at Gazipurs Arikhola station

Residents of Gazipurs Kaliganj upazila formed a human chain at Arikhola Railway Station today demanding the stoppage of Egaro Sindhur and Chattla Express trains at the station

EXCLUSIVE: Richa Chadha on playing Bholi Punjaban thrice in Fukrey franchise, You already know the setting, character, tonality, body language, the color of your character

She is the femme fatale who strikes fear in the hearts of the Fukrey gang: a one-woman army, ironically named Bholi Punjaban. Here is a brief chat with the thinking actor, Richa Chadha, on what is, arguably, her most loved character to date, and now three films old. Fukrey 3, after a successful run in 2023, premieres this Sunday on &TV. You are playing Bholi Punjaban for the third time in Fukrey 3. This is also your first franchise. Are the second and third parts easier to play or more difficult than the earlier? (Ponders) I would say that doing the subsequent films was easier for me, because you already know the setting, character, tonality, body language, the color of your character and how she speaks and behaves. So I guess you just have to manage expectations! Your co-star Pulkit says that you have to be careful you do not go off-track for your character, or else the fans were immediately sense something wrong I agree! I must tell you that Pulkit, as Hunny, keeps his gang together within the films and he also does that in real life! Having said that, how come you are shown as such a devious woman and yet are fooled or conned repeatedly? See, har criminal pakda jaata hai (every criminal is caught sooner or later). So Bholi ullu ban jaati hai (she is also made a fool of), for there is always someone smarter and more selfish. And that is also about the huge ego she has. She makes mistakes in trusting people. I think she is also a fukri, she hurts the Fukreys, pains them and yet is one of them! At the time of the first Fukrey, you told me that you had to read up Psychology because you had to be gullible and cute and are still a villain Really! I dont remember saying that! (Smiles) But yes, I am intrigued that the girl can become a gang-lord of sorts at such a young age. There is really such colourful writing here, especially in the third part. But you do work on your roles Yes, I do research on what might be necessary to get into character. I even use a certain perfume while playing a particular characterthat helps me create her personality and vibe as different from another of the roles I play! Do you need to unwind after doing intense roles like Goliyon Ki RasLeelaRamLeela, Masaan, Shakeela, Love Sonia or the recent Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar? Yes, I do, but the Fukrey franchise is the only exception. It is completely fun and enjoyable! Both Pulkit and you have married within the industry. Do his wife, Kriti Kharbanda, your husband, Ali Fazal, and both of you meet outside your sets? Yes, we do! We hang out quite often, at least once a month or more! And when is Fukrey 4 happening? I dont know whether we can speak on this! Also Read:Fukrey team has a gala time at the Pulkit Samrat Kriti Kharbanda wedding

Sanjeeda Shaikh Says People Wrote 'Sh*tty' Things About Her After Divorce With Aamir Ali: 'I'm So Proud...'

Sanjeeda Shaikh is currently receiving praise for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi in which she portrays the role of Waheeda.

How Mahindra XUV300 Aiming to Lead Compact SUV Segment, Challenge Brezza and Nexon

Mahindra is gearing up to dominate the compact SUV segment with its latest launch, the XUV3XO, setting its sights on the top spot by 2027. In a recent shareholder meeting, Mahindra revealed ambitious plans and growth projections, highlighting the XUV3XO as their most significant mainstream launch to date. The XUV3XO is poised to compete with popular models like the Brezza, Nexon, Venue, Sonet, Magnite, and Kiger. Mahindra aims to position the XUV3XO as a top contender in the segment within three years, potentially ranking first or second by 2027. The vehicle has been developed on Mahindra's six-pillar philosophy, emphasizing standout design, commanding seating, safety, driving and riding experience, and ample space. Mahindra's presentation underscored their confidence in the XUV3XO's ability to outperform current segment leaders like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Tata Nexon. It also competes with newer models such as the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite, as well as other compact SUVs like the Maruti Fronx, Hyundai Exter, and Tata Punch. The XUV3XO boasts several best-in-segment features, including a panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch wheels, and all-four disc brakes as standard. Mahindra believes these features, along with its competitive pricing, will set the XUV3XO apart in the market. Mahindra's six-pillar philosophy is central to their strategy, aiming to secure a leading position in the compact SUV market. The market reception for the XUV3XO will be closely watched in the coming months, with its predecessor, the XUV300, having sold 4,003 units in April 2024. Mahindra's ambitious goals highlight the company's drive to solidify its presence in the competitive compact SUV segment, challenging established players with their latest offering. There will be a big entry of 6 new compact SUVs in the Indian market, what are you waiting for? Mahindra introduces new 7-seater diesel variant of XUV 700 at affordable price, know its features

Protests and Arrests: Nepal Student Union Demands Home Minister's Resignation

Kathmandu: Nepal Police apprehended approximately 12 students who staged a protest outside the country's parliament, calling for the resignation of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. On Friday afternoon, members of the Nepal Student Union (NSU) rallied, demanding the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate a cooperative fraud scandal allegedly involving Lamichhane. The student wing of the opposition Nepali Congress, NSU, vociferously chanted slogans such as Prosecute the cooperative fraud, Justice for cooperative victims, and Where is GB Rai? as law enforcement officers detained them. We have arrested a total of 11 protestors demonstrating in front of parliament, a restricted zone, stated Nawaraj Adhikari, Spokesperson at District Police Range, speaking to ANI over the phone. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress persisted with their protest within parliament, pushing for the formation of a parliamentary investigation committee to delve into the cooperative fraud allegations against Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. Tensions escalated on Thursday as a clash erupted between opposition and ruling alliance lawmakers in the lower house of Nepal parliament, spurred by the same issue. Home Minister Lamichhane stands accused of involvement in a cooperative fraud scheme that swindled millions of rupees from savers in collusion with others. While Lamichhane vehemently denies the allegations, evidence implicating him in the fraud has emerged during ongoing investigations. Prior to his political career in the last election, Lamichhane had collaborated with GB Rai, one of the prime suspects in the multi-million rupee fraud, who is currently evading authorities with the police intensifying their search for him. An investigative report by Pokhara Metropolis concerning the alleged cooperative fraud was recently concluded and submitted to the Police. Hundreds of complaints naming Lamichhane as a key figure in the scam have been filed. Accusations have surfaced against Lamichhane for abusing his authority to transfer senior police personnel involved in the investigation. Additionally, he faces allegations of coercion and undue influence on the Office of the Attorney General to absolve him of any wrongdoing regarding the cooperative fraud. I am Handing Over My Son to You.., Sonia Gandhi's Emotional Appeal in Raebareli Challenges Posed by Open Border with Myanmar: A Closer Look at Manipur IMD Warns of Impending Heatwave Across Northern India

Keeping close watch on steel imports: SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash

India's largest steel player, SAIL, is closely monitoring steel imports amid concerns over China's heavy tariffs on electric vehicles, batteries, steel, solar cells, and aluminium. India reported a 38% surge in steel imports to 8.319 million tonnes in 2023-24, becoming a net importer. Steelmakers are seeking government intervention and domestic players are demanding a curb on imports and review of free trade agreements.

'Was Petrified...': Richa Chadha On Shooting Heermandi's Masoom Dil Hai Mera

Richa Chadha's Heeramandi also stars Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Shaikh in the lead roles.