'Airlines To Cut Fares By 50% For Maha Kumbh': Minister's Big Announcement

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has announced a 50 per cent reduction in airfare for passengers traveling to the Kumbh Mela. The new reduced fares came into effect starting today.

The government has already directed airlines to cut the ticket prices. Three meetings were held with airline companies before implementing the fare reduction.

Airlines were reminded that such a grand event happens once in 140 years, and they must be mindful of the significance.

At the same time, the government has ensured that airlines do not suffer financial losses due to the fare reduction.

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'Airlines To Cut Fares By 50% For Maha Kumbh': Minister's Big Announcement

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has announced a 50 per cent reduction in airfare for passengers traveling to the Kumbh Mela. The new reduced fares came into effect starting today.

The government has already directed airlines to cut the ticket prices. Three meetings were held with airline companies before implementing the fare reduction.

Airlines were reminded that such a grand event happens once in 140 years, and they must be mindful of the significance.

At the same time, the government has ensured that airlines do not suffer financial losses due to the fare reduction.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/KQ8XliM

Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.

The Ax-4 will go to the International Space Station (ISS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025, NASA told reporters on Thursday.

Group Captain Shukla, who is serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has also been chosen as an astronaut for India's Gaganyaan Mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was ISRO that sent him to NASA for the Ax-4 mission to the ISS.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the private Ax-4 mission, while Group Captain Shukla will serve as pilot, the American space agency told reporters.

"I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together. I'm extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months and for the actual space flight as well," Group Captain Shukla said in response to a question by NDTV.

The Axiom 4 Mission team speaks to NDTV Science Editor Pallava Bagla

"We have been training for the past four-five months. We now understand the entire CONOPS, the concept of operations, and going forward from here it would mostly be repetition of the things that we have done. So we are ready and confident in our abilities to execute this mission successfully," Group Captain Shukla added.

On whether he would perform yoga as was done by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in space, Group Captain Shukla said, "Yes, now that you have said so, I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station."

"But a more important aspect is that we need to practice while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body which can house a healthy mind and allow us to execute this mission in our full spirits, truly," Group Captain Shukla said.

He added in Hindi, "I am very excited about this mission, and I think the kind of training we have done so far makes me confident in my abilities. We will be able to execute this mission very well. Thank you."

The Axiom 4 Mission team

Ms Whitson praised her team which has a diverse composition.

"These guys are very intelligent, so they absolutely listen to me," she said. "It is an interesting challenge to bring a diverse group from different countries together. I had that opportunity on the previous Axiom mission. And even on the NASA missions, we work as a very international team. But that is what I love to do. I love to bring people together and to build a team. And so that is kind of my main goal of this mission is to build that elite team. And I think I have got it here."

The first private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Ms Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit.

The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the ISS.

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"Why Was My Photo Made Viral?": Man Detained, Released In Saif Attack Case

The 31-year-old man who was detained in Chhattisgarh as a suspect in the Saif Ali Khan case earlier this month said the police action has cost him his job and a marriage proposal, brought immense disrepute to his family, and left him with an "unbearable dangerous feeling". 

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Akash Kanojia, who was briefly detained and interrogated, said his photograph was widely circulated despite having no involvement in the crime. "Why was my photo made viral? I want justice," he said, threatening to move court if his photograph was not brought down by all those who shared it across various online platforms.

He also sought to know if police would have acted in a similar way had a VIP or a millionaire's son been a suspect in the case.

On January 18, Mr Kanojia was detained from Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Kolkata Shalimar Jnaneswari Express at Chhattisgarh's Durg station by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) after a tip off from Mumbai police, two days after Mr Khan was stabbed by an intruder at his residence in Bandra.

He was released a day later, with Mumbai Police officials saying he was just a suspect. Days later and after over 70 hours of an intense manhunt, a 30-year-old man, who was later identified as a Bangladeshi national, was arrested in connection with the attack.

Mr Kanojia, however, said the police action had severe repercussions and left him and his family traumatised.

He said he lost his job as a driver. He said his marriage was fixed but the prospective bride's family called it off after he was detained in the case. He added that his relatives and friends are hesitant to meet or maintain ties with him and his family.

"Whatever happened to me should not happen to anyone else. I am a poor man, and that's why I had to see such days. What if there was a VIP or a millionaire's son in my place, what would they (police) have done? Such things happened to me today but they should not happen to anyone tomorrow. After such treatment, that dangerous feeling you get is unbearable," he said. 

"I was defamed so much. It is a question of someone's life. I was not wrong. I had not committed any crime. Then why was my photo made viral? I am not capable of committing such crimes," he added. 

He requested all those who circulated his photograph across platforms to delete it. "Otherwise there is only one last stop - court. I'll have to knock on the court's door," he said. 

Mr Kanojia recalled the events that led to his detention. He said he was travelling on the Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Kolkata Shalimar Jnaneshwari Express when he was cornered by the RPF men. "They showed me my photograph. I told him I am Akash Kanojia. They asked me to get off the train. When I asked them why, they said the Mumbai Police have asked them to locate me. Since I knew that the RPF was doing its duty, I agreed to go with them," he said. 

"After this, the RPF took me with them. They told me that they would not ask me anything or initiate any action against me. They asked if I was just running away? I asked them why would I run? I told them that if they think I have done something wrong, then they should call the Mumbai cops. As the cops came, I was interrogated. I told them I did not commit the crime," he said. 

Mr Kanojia said he asked the cops to take him to the actor to verify if he had carried out the attack. "I said that if he (Mr Khan) says that it was me who attacked him, then the police can blame me for all the crimes that took place in Mumbai that day. Why should I accept something that I have not done. After this, I was allowed to go home," he said. 

Mr Kanojia's father, Kailash, earlier criticised the cops for "ruining my son's life". 

"The police detained my son without verifying his identity. This mistake has ruined his life. Now, due to the mental trauma, Akash is unable to focus on work or communicate with his family. He has become withdrawn, doesn't talk properly, and has lost all motivation," he told PTI. 

"People are saying there is no resemblance between my son and the actual accused. He lost his job and his marriage was called off. Who is responsible? The behaviour of the police has destroyed Akash's future," he added. 

Speaking to reporters earlier, Mumbai police sub inspector Pradeep Fude said: "We can detain anyone for inquiry. We had been insisting he was just a suspect. There has been no mistake on our part. We had told the media that we would share authentic details but some went ahead and declared him an accused." 

On January 16, Mr Khan suffered grievous injuries, after he was stabbed six times reportedly by Islam, during a failed burglary attempt at the actor's 12th floor residence in "Satguru Sharan" building in upscale Bandra. 

Multiple teams of the police and the crime branch worked on several inputs and analysed footage from several CCTV cameras to track down the actor's attacker. 

Days later on January 19, Sariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested from near Hiranandani Estate in Kasarvadavali in Thane, about 35 kilometres from Mr Khan's house in Bandra. He was subsequently remanded in police custody. 

Islam's father, however, said his son is being framed for reasons unknown to him.

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Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.

The Ax-4 will go to the International Space Station (ISS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025, NASA told reporters on Thursday.

Group Captain Shukla, who is serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has also been chosen as an astronaut for India's Gaganyaan Mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was ISRO that sent him to NASA for the Ax-4 mission to the ISS.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the private Ax-4 mission, while Group Captain Shukla will serve as pilot, the American space agency told reporters.

"I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together. I'm extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months and for the actual space flight as well," Group Captain Shukla said in response to a question by NDTV.

The Axiom 4 Mission team speaks to NDTV Science Editor Pallava Bagla

"We have been training for the past four-five months. We now understand the entire CONOPS, the concept of operations, and going forward from here it would mostly be repetition of the things that we have done. So we are ready and confident in our abilities to execute this mission successfully," Group Captain Shukla added.

On whether he would perform yoga as was done by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in space, Group Captain Shukla said, "Yes, now that you have said so, I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station."

"But a more important aspect is that we need to practice while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body which can house a healthy mind and allow us to execute this mission in our full spirits, truly," Group Captain Shukla said.

He added in Hindi, "I am very excited about this mission, and I think the kind of training we have done so far makes me confident in my abilities. We will be able to execute this mission very well. Thank you."

The Axiom 4 Mission team

Ms Whitson praised her team which has a diverse composition.

"These guys are very intelligent, so they absolutely listen to me," she said. "It is an interesting challenge to bring a diverse group from different countries together. I had that opportunity on the previous Axiom mission. And even on the NASA missions, we work as a very international team. But that is what I love to do. I love to bring people together and to build a team. And so that is kind of my main goal of this mission is to build that elite team. And I think I have got it here."

The first private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Ms Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit.

The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the ISS.

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Over 30 Million Years Old Pre-Historic Fossil Stolen From Meghalaya Village

A rare pre-historic fossil, possibly 35 to 40 million years old, has been stolen from a village in Meghalaya, leaving people in shock and outraged. The fossil was discovered in May last year in the state's Tolegre village in South Garo Hills.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had examined the site last year and collected samples. Following this, the villagers were safeguarding the remaining fossil by restricting access to the area, officials said.

The fossil is possibly from the extinct Rodhocetus or Ambulocetus - early ancestors of modern whales.

A case has been filed at the Siju Police Station and the police are on the lookout for the culprits, officials said.

According to Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam Sangma, the state government was planning to build a museum at the site.

"The villagers informed me...They have filed an FIR. This is very unfortunate. It should not have happened...A portion of the fossil has been cut and taken away. This fossil is an asset to the state and the country. We will find and arrest the culprit," he said.

"This site is located in Tolegre under my constituency, under Siju Police Station, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Geologists from abroad had discovered it. The state government was considering constructing a museum at the site, and as the local MLA, I was planning to push for it. Now, we will have to see how things unfold. The police will conduct an inquiry," Mr Sangma added.

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Woman Raped, Acid Poured On Her In Front Of Children In Assam

A 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped and poured acid on in front of her two children in Assam's Cachar district, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place on January 22 when the 28-year-old accused - the victim's neighbour - barged into her house.

According to the police, the two had engaged in a verbal spat during which the victim had snubbed her neighbour. Hours later, the accused forced his way into the woman's home when her husband was away.

When the victim's husband returned home, he found his wife on the floor with her mouth, hands, and feet tied. An acid-like substance was also poured on her body, officials said.

The woman was rushed to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital and is in a critical condition, officials said.

The accused is currently on the run.

The victim's husband has filed a case of sexual assault and the police are on the lookout for the accused.

Officials are also awaiting the medical report to ascertain whether the woman was raped.

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Over 30 Million Years Old Pre-Historic Fossil Stolen From Meghalaya Village

A rare pre-historic fossil, possibly 35 to 40 million years old, has been stolen from a village in Meghalaya, leaving people in shock and outraged. The fossil was discovered in May last year in the state's Tolegre village in South Garo Hills.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had examined the site last year and collected samples. Following this, the villagers were safeguarding the remaining fossil by restricting access to the area, officials said.

The fossil is possibly from the extinct Rodhocetus or Ambulocetus - early ancestors of modern whales.

A case has been filed at the Siju Police Station and the police are on the lookout for the culprits, officials said.

According to Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam Sangma, the state government was planning to build a museum at the site.

"The villagers informed me...They have filed an FIR. This is very unfortunate. It should not have happened...A portion of the fossil has been cut and taken away. This fossil is an asset to the state and the country. We will find and arrest the culprit," he said.

"This site is located in Tolegre under my constituency, under Siju Police Station, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Geologists from abroad had discovered it. The state government was considering constructing a museum at the site, and as the local MLA, I was planning to push for it. Now, we will have to see how things unfold. The police will conduct an inquiry," Mr Sangma added.

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What Is 'One Nation, One Time' Initiative, How It May Work

In order to ensure precision and uniformity in timekeeping across the country, the Indian government recently published a draft of new metrology rules for Indian Standard Time (IST) for public consultation. The draft, devised by the Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is part of a broader 'One India, One Time' initiative that intends to transition from GPS to India's regional navigation system for time synchronization, ensuring that the country has a self-reliant and secure timekeeping system.

Currently, IST is determined, down to the millisecond, using GPS satellites linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, reports suggest that the government is gearing towards the transition to using Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) for time dissemination.

"IST shall be the mandatory time reference across all sectors, including commerce, transport, public administration, legal contracts, and financial operations," the draft rule stated.

How will 'One Nation, One Time' work?

Though the government is yet to provide the official procedure for time synchronization, multiple reports claim that atomic clocks will be used to maintain the accuracy of IST, which is currently set 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The NPL, located in New Delhi is currently primary source of IST, equipped with advanced atomic clocks that lose only a second over millions of years.

The NPL will provide reference time to four regional centers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati via optical fibre, ensuring that the time is uniformly accurate across the country. Each centre will also have an atomic clock to create a robust network that supports precision timing.

Display and use of IST

The draft stated that all government offices and public institutions will be required to display IST on all time-keeping devices, ensuring synchronisation through reliable sources like Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) or any other source.

Exceptions

Notably, the use of alternative timescales such as GMT will be permitted for specific purposes such as astronomy, navigation and scientific research, "subject to prior permission and compliance with government directives".

What's the current situation?

Despite its significance, not all telecom and internet service providers have adopted IST mandatorily, with many still relying on foreign time sources. Efforts are underway to align these systems with IST to enhance national security and operational efficiency.

After the deployment of atomic clocks, the time shown on digital watches, smartphones and laptops will be based on them instead of service providers accessing data from multiple sources linked to GPS.

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Champions Trophy Stadiums In A Mess In Pakistan, ICC CEO Steps Down

International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member indicating that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparedness is one of the multiple reasons behind the move. The 57-year-old joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket, coming from Cricket Australia, where he served as Cricket Operations Manager. He was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight months.

"It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement.

"I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges," he added.

The official ICC statement made no mention of the exact reasons for Allardice's departure but a top source said the development has been building up for a while.

"The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was big a flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded budget, the auditing is still being done," the board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"What broke the camel's back was Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear picture about readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude," he added.

The Champions Trophy is due to start on February 19 with India playing its share of matches in Dubai owing to security concerns in Pakistan.

The bigger concern for ICC is, however, the fact that tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or renovation and the images that have trickled in from there do not paint a very positive picture.

It remains to be seen whether Pakistan would be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world's top eight teams and is being held for the first time after 2017.

However, ICC Chair Jay Shah praised Allardice for his contribution to the game.

"On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally.

"We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors," he said.

The ICC Board will now begin the process to identify Allardice's successor.

His departure continues the exodus of former chair Greg Barclay's team from the ICC.

Earlier, Chris Tetley (head of events), Alex Marshall (head of Anti-Corruption Unit) and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media) had quit their positions on personal grounds. 

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Champions Trophy Stadiums In A Mess In Pakistan, ICC CEO Steps Down

International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member indicating that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparedness is one of the multiple reasons behind the move. The 57-year-old joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket, coming from Cricket Australia, where he served as Cricket Operations Manager. He was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight months.

"It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement.

"I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges," he added.

The official ICC statement made no mention of the exact reasons for Allardice's departure but a top source said the development has been building up for a while.

"The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was big a flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded budget, the auditing is still being done," the board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"What broke the camel's back was Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear picture about readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude," he added.

The Champions Trophy is due to start on February 19 with India playing its share of matches in Dubai owing to security concerns in Pakistan.

The bigger concern for ICC is, however, the fact that tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or renovation and the images that have trickled in from there do not paint a very positive picture.

It remains to be seen whether Pakistan would be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world's top eight teams and is being held for the first time after 2017.

However, ICC Chair Jay Shah praised Allardice for his contribution to the game.

"On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally.

"We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors," he said.

The ICC Board will now begin the process to identify Allardice's successor.

His departure continues the exodus of former chair Greg Barclay's team from the ICC.

Earlier, Chris Tetley (head of events), Alex Marshall (head of Anti-Corruption Unit) and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media) had quit their positions on personal grounds. 

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UK Man Cleans Graves As Side Hustle, Earns Enough To Buy His First Home

A 31-year-old man from Harlow, England, has turned an unconventional yet profitable side hustle—cleaning graves—into the means of fulfilling his dream of buying his first home. Shaun Tookey, who launched his business in May 2023 while working full-time as a tree surgeon, has since renovated over 300 graves. His services range from deep cleaning and repainting lettering to adding decorative chippings.

According to the New York Post, Shaun Tookey was able to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage by earning between $187 (over Rs 15,535) and $562 (over Rs 46,673) per job. This allowed him and his family to move into their first home in December 2024.

Reports state that Shaun spends his weekends and time off working on his side business, "The Grave Cleaner," where he cleans two to four graves each day. His transformation videos are popular on TikTok and Facebook, where he shares his work under the account @thegravecleaner.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shaun Tookey (@thegravecleaner)

"I'm trying to run a successful business and offer a service most people can't provide," Shaun told the New York Post. "It's very satisfying and rewarding to help people who don't know how to care for their loved one's gravestones."

Shaun's determination enabled him to save enough for a down payment and get a mortgage, fulfilling a dream he once thought was out of reach. "This job has given my family stability, especially with how tough things are right now," he shared.

Shaun credits his business success for enabling his family to move into their new home in December 2024, saying, "In a way, it has made us financially independent. It was a huge accomplishment for me."

He customizes his services for each client, considering factors such as the size of the grave, type of inscription, and whether paint or gold leaf is needed. While social media plays a significant role in promoting his work, Shaun also uses business cards and leaflets. He adds that the business has provided both financial security and personal fulfillment.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Txmaqes

UK Man Cleans Graves As Side Hustle, Earns Enough To Buy His First Home

A 31-year-old man from Harlow, England, has turned an unconventional yet profitable side hustle—cleaning graves—into the means of fulfilling his dream of buying his first home. Shaun Tookey, who launched his business in May 2023 while working full-time as a tree surgeon, has since renovated over 300 graves. His services range from deep cleaning and repainting lettering to adding decorative chippings.

According to the New York Post, Shaun Tookey was able to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage by earning between $187 (over Rs 15,535) and $562 (over Rs 46,673) per job. This allowed him and his family to move into their first home in December 2024.

Reports state that Shaun spends his weekends and time off working on his side business, "The Grave Cleaner," where he cleans two to four graves each day. His transformation videos are popular on TikTok and Facebook, where he shares his work under the account @thegravecleaner.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shaun Tookey (@thegravecleaner)

"I'm trying to run a successful business and offer a service most people can't provide," Shaun told the New York Post. "It's very satisfying and rewarding to help people who don't know how to care for their loved one's gravestones."

Shaun's determination enabled him to save enough for a down payment and get a mortgage, fulfilling a dream he once thought was out of reach. "This job has given my family stability, especially with how tough things are right now," he shared.

Shaun credits his business success for enabling his family to move into their new home in December 2024, saying, "In a way, it has made us financially independent. It was a huge accomplishment for me."

He customizes his services for each client, considering factors such as the size of the grave, type of inscription, and whether paint or gold leaf is needed. While social media plays a significant role in promoting his work, Shaun also uses business cards and leaflets. He adds that the business has provided both financial security and personal fulfillment.

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China's AI Startup DeepSeek Hit By "Cyberattack", Limits New Registration

Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek on Monday said it was limiting the registration of new users due to large-scale cyberattacks on its services.

The company, whose chatbot took over OpenAI's ChatGPT as Apple's top downloaded app on Monday, cited "large-scale malicious attacks" for outages and its inability to take on new users.

DeepSeek, which was developed by a start-up based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, has shown the ability to match the capacity of AI pace-setters such as Nvidia.

Its success on the US app store sent shares in AI-linked tech giants plummeting on Monday.

The low-cost Chinese generative AI venture is thought to have matched US companies in its abilities but at a fraction of the cost.

Analysts had long thought that the United States' critical advantage over China when it comes to producing high-powered chips -- and its ability to prevent the Asian power from accessing the technology -- would give it the edge in the AI race.

Available as an app or on desktop, DeepSeek can do many of the things that its Western competitors can do -- write song lyrics, help work on a personal development plan, or even write a recipe for dinner based on what's in the fridge.

It is however subject to the censorship seen in other Chinese-made chatbots like Baidu's Ernie Bot that are very limited on how they interact on political topics.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Saif-Kareena Step Out For The First Time Since His Attack

On Sunday morning, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were spotted outside their house, amid tight security. This marked the couple's first outing since the attack on Saif on January 16, after which he was admitted in Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai. 

The couple were spotted by the paparazzi outside their Bandra home, as they walked out and got into their car. They were also surrounded by police, who have been deployed following the attack on Saif. 

In the video, Saif and Kareena are sporting a casual look. While Kareena is seen in a casual grey sweatshirt, with black track pants and a baseball cap, Saif is wearing a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of denims. He paired the outfit with dark sunglasses. 

Watch the viral video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla)

For the unversed, Saif was attacked in his Bandra home around 2:30 am on January 16. He sustained six stab wounds. Post his admission, he underwent emergency surgery at the hospital, where he was treated. 
 

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"We Just Clean Out Gaza": Trump Suggests Jordan, Egypt Take Palestinians

US President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the idea that Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel's military actions have killed tens of thousands and created a dire humanitarian situation. The idea was welcomed by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, but Palestinian groups including Islamic Jihad and Hamas vowed to oppose it. 

On Saturday, Trump said he had spoken to Jordan's King Abdullah II about moving Palestinians out of Gaza. "I'd like Egypt to take people. And I'd like Jordan to take people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after his call with Jordan's King Abdullah.

"It (Gaza) is literally a demolition site, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there, so I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change," Trump said, adding that he expected to talk to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday.

Israel Welcomes The Idea

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a strong opponent of stopping the war in Gaza, welcomed Trump's proposal. "The idea of helping them find other places to start a better life is a great idea. After years of glorifying terrorism, they will be able to establish new and good lives in other places," Smotrich said in a statement.

"Only out-of-the-box thinking with new solutions will bring a solution of peace and security. I will, with God's help, work with the prime minister and the cabinet to ensure there is an operational plan to implement this as soon as possible," he added.

Most Gazans are Palestinian refugees or their descendants. Any attempt to move them from Gaza could evoke dark historical memories of what the Arab world calls the "Nakba" or catastrophe -- the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel's creation in 1948.

Palestinian Groups Oppose The Proposal

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad on Sunday condemned Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan, calling it an encouragement of "war crimes".

Describing Trump's idea as "deplorable," the group, which fought a deadly war with Israel in Gaza alongside Hamas until a January 19 ceasefire, stated: "This proposal falls within the framework of encouraging war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcing our people to leave their land."

A senior Hamas official also said that it would oppose Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan.

"As they have foiled every plan for displacement and alternative homelands over the decades, our people will also foil such projects," said Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, told news agency AFP.

Situation In Gaza

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas forces attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. 

Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed more than 47,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

A ceasefire went into effect a week ago and has led to the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/IYfkj42

"We Just Clean Out Gaza": Trump Suggests Jordan, Egypt Take Palestinians

US President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the idea that Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel's military actions have killed tens of thousands and created a dire humanitarian situation. The idea was welcomed by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, but Palestinian groups including Islamic Jihad and Hamas vowed to oppose it. 

On Saturday, Trump said he had spoken to Jordan's King Abdullah II about moving Palestinians out of Gaza. "I'd like Egypt to take people. And I'd like Jordan to take people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after his call with Jordan's King Abdullah.

"It (Gaza) is literally a demolition site, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there, so I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change," Trump said, adding that he expected to talk to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday.

Israel Welcomes The Idea

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a strong opponent of stopping the war in Gaza, welcomed Trump's proposal. "The idea of helping them find other places to start a better life is a great idea. After years of glorifying terrorism, they will be able to establish new and good lives in other places," Smotrich said in a statement.

"Only out-of-the-box thinking with new solutions will bring a solution of peace and security. I will, with God's help, work with the prime minister and the cabinet to ensure there is an operational plan to implement this as soon as possible," he added.

Most Gazans are Palestinian refugees or their descendants. Any attempt to move them from Gaza could evoke dark historical memories of what the Arab world calls the "Nakba" or catastrophe -- the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel's creation in 1948.

Palestinian Groups Oppose The Proposal

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad on Sunday condemned Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan, calling it an encouragement of "war crimes".

Describing Trump's idea as "deplorable," the group, which fought a deadly war with Israel in Gaza alongside Hamas until a January 19 ceasefire, stated: "This proposal falls within the framework of encouraging war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcing our people to leave their land."

A senior Hamas official also said that it would oppose Trump's idea to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan.

"As they have foiled every plan for displacement and alternative homelands over the decades, our people will also foil such projects," said Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, told news agency AFP.

Situation In Gaza

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas forces attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. 

Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed more than 47,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

A ceasefire went into effect a week ago and has led to the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/IYfkj42

All You Need To Know About Mamta Kulkarni's Journey

Mamta Kulkarni has embarked on a spiritual journey. The actress has renounced the glitz and glamour and assumed a new identity of 'Mai Mamta Nand Giri. 

Mamta Kulkarni has been honoured with the title of Mahamandaleshwar. She even performed her own Pind Daan, a symbolic ritual signifying the renunciation of worldly ties.

For the unversed, the Kinnar Akhara is a spiritual order established by eunuchs and functions under the Juna Akhara, one of the largest and most prominent Akharas in Hinduism.

As Mamta Kulkarni made a significant move in her life, let us delve into her journey – exploring her personal life, debut project, top 5 films, her final movie and the reasons behind her decision to step away from acting.

Personal life 

Born in 1972, Mamta Kulkarni never got married. Over the years, there were rumours linking her to Vicky Goswami. Several reports also claimed that the two were married. 

In a candid conversation with India Times last year, Mamta Kulkarni dismissed these speculations, labelling them as “completely untrue.”

Mamta Kulkarni said, “People should be more mindful about speaking negatively about someone they know little to nothing about. For instance, rumors in the tabloids about Mamta Kulkarni being married to Vicky Goswami are completely untrue - I'm not married to anyone because I've never had the time for that.”

She added, “I sincerely request people to stop using titles like 'husband' or 'wife' in connection with me. I don't know what else to say about these baseless rumors. Some suggest I should pursue legal action or send notices, but I have no intention of doing that.” 

Debut project

Mamta Kulkarni made her debut in 1991 with the Tamil film Nanbargal. In the Shoba Chandrasekhar directorial, Mamta was paired opposite Neeraj. Interestingly, Nanbargal was later remade in Hindi as Mera Dil Tere Liye, which served as Mamta Kulkarni's entry into Bollywood. 

Top 5 movies

1.  Tirangaa

Mamta Kulkarni was part of the iconic patriotic film Tirangaa, directed by Mehul Kumar. The movie featured Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar in lead roles, with Mamta Kulkarni playing a supporting role as Varun's love interest (played by Harish Kumar).

2. Karan Arjun

Do not call yourself a Bollywood fan, if you can not recall Rakhee Gulzar saying, “Mere Karan Arjun ayenge.” In the film headlined by Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, Mamta Kulkarni played the role of Bindiya, Arjun's (played by Shah Rukh Khan) love interest.

3. Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum 

This was Mamta Kulkarni's last Hindi film. Charuhas Shidore, Anjan Srivastav and Vijayendra Ghatge were also seen in the Roop Dutta Naik directorial.

4. Aashiq Awara

This romantic drama marked Mamta Kulkarni's breakthrough in Bollywood. The Umesh Mehra film also featured Saif Ali Khan .

5. Baazi

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, this film featured Aamir Khan in the lead role. Mamta Kulkarni played Rajeshwari, the love interest of Aamir's character. Their on-point chemistry made this movie a must-watch.

Last film

After over a decade of delivering hit projects, Mamta Kulkarni bid farewell to acting in 2003. Her final appearance was in the Bengali film Shesh Bongsodhar. Directed by Abhijit Sen, the film also featured Victor Banerjee, Ronit Roy, Anuradha Roy, Chinmoy Roy and Rituparna Sengupta in pivotal roles.

Why did Mamta Kulkarni leave acting?

Mamta Kulkarni, in a conversation with IANS, opened up about her decision. 

"The reason for me leaving India was spirituality. In 1996, I got inclined towards spirituality and during that time I met Guru Gagan Giri Maharaj. After his arrival, my interest in spirituality increased following which my penance started. However, I believe that Bollywood gave me a name and also fame. After this, I quit Bollywood too,” Mamta Kulkarni said.

“From the year 2000 to 2012, I kept doing penance. I was in Dubai for many years, where I lived in a two-bedroom flat and remained celibate for 12 years," Mamta Kulkarni added.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/t8luChP

From Ex-Chief Justice To Grammy Winner, Full List Of Padma Awardees

Padma awards - one of the highest civilian Awards in the country - were announced today. The awards are conferred in three categories - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. For this year, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 139 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the award is counted as one).

Grammy award-winning musician Ricky Kej, who received the Padma Shri, and former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar, who was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, were among the notable winners of the 2025 Padma awards. 

In the field of sports, top athletes such as former men's hockey captain PR Sreejesh and recently-retired cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin were honoured with the Padma Shri.

Contributions in various fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science, engineering, trade, industry, medicine, and literature are honoured through the prestigious awards.

From top business leaders to creative artists, the Padma awards celebrate excellence across diverse fields.

Here's the complete list of the winners:

Padma Vibhushan

1 Shri Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy - Medicine

2 Justice (Retd.) Shri Jagdish Singh Khehar - Public Affairs

3 Smt. Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia - Art

4. Shri Lakshminarayana Subramaniam - Art

5 Shri MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous) - Literature and Education

6 Shri Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous) - Trade and Industry

7 Smt. Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) - Art

Padma Bhushan

1. Shri A Surya Prakash - Literature and Education - Journalism

2. Shri Anant Nag - Art

3. Shri Bibek Debroy (Posthumous) - Literature and Education

4. Shri Jatin Goswami - Art

5. Shri Jose Chacko Periappuram - Medicine

6. Shri Kailash Nath Dikshit - Others - Archaeology

7. Shri Manohar Joshi (Posthumous) - Public Affairs

8. Shri Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti - Trade and Industry

9. Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna - Art

10. Shri PR Sreejesh - Sports

11. Shri Pankaj Patel - Trade and Industry

12. Shri Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous) - Art

13. Shri Rambahadur Rai - Literature and Education - Journalism

14. Sadhvi Ritambhara - Social Work

15. Shri S Ajith Kumar - Art

16. Shri Shekhar Kapur - Art

17. Ms. Shobana Chandrakumar - Art

18. Shri Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) - Public Affairs

19. Shri Vinod Dham - Science and Engineering

Padma Shri

1. Shri Adwaita Charan Gadanayak - Art

2. Shri Achyut Ramchandra Palav - Art

3. Shri Ajay V Bhatt - Science and Engineering

4. Shri Anil Kumar Boro - Literature and Education

5. Shri Arijit Singh - Art

6. Smt Arundhati Bhattacharya - Trade and Industry

7. Shri Arunoday Saha - Literature and Education

8. Shri Arvind Sharma - Literature and Education

9. Shri Ashok Kumar Mahapatra - Medicine

10. Shri Ashok Laxman Saraf - Art

11. Shri Ashutosh Sharma - Science and Engineering

12. Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande - Art

13. Shri Baijnath Maharaj - Others - Spiritualism

14. Shri Barry Godfray John - Art

15. Smt. Begam Batool - Art

16. Shri Bharat Gupt - Art

17. Shri Bheru Singh Chouhan - Art

18. Shri Bhim Singh Bhavesh - Social Work

19. Smt. Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara - Art

20. Shri Budhendra Kumar Jain - Medicine

21. Shri CS Vaidyanathan - Public Affairs

22. Shri Chaitram Deochand Pawar - Social Work

23. Shri Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous) - Literature and Education

24. Shri Chandrakant Sompura - Others - Architecture

25. Shri Chetan E Chitnis - Science and Engineering

26. Shri David R Syiemlieh - Literature and Education

27. Shri Durga Charan Ranbir - Art

28. Shri Farooq Ahmad Mir - Art

29. Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid - Literature and Education

30. Smt. Gita Upadhyay - Literature and Education

31. Shri Gokul Chandra Das - Art

32. Shri Guruvayur Dorai - Art

33. Shri Harchandan Singh Bhatty - Art

34. Shri Hariman Sharma Others - Agriculture

35. Shri Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale - Art

36. Shri Harvinder Singh - Sports

37. Shri Hassan Raghu - Art

38. Shri Hemant Kumar - Medicine

39. Shri Hriday Narayan Dixit - Literature and Education

40. Shri Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous) (Duo)* - Literature and Education

41. Shri Inivalappil Mani Vijayan - Sports

42. Shri Jagadish Joshila - Literature and Education

43. Smt. Jaspinder Narula Art Maharashtra

44. Shri Jonas Masetti - Others - Spiritualism

45. Shri Joynacharan Bathari - Art

46. Smt. Jumde Yomgam Gamlin - Social Work

47. Shri K. Damodaran Others - Culinary

48. Shri K L Krishna - Literature and Education

49. Smt. K Omanakutty Amma - Art

50. Shri Kishore Kunal (Posthumous) - Civil Service

51. Shri L Hangthing - Others - Agriculture

52. Shri Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer - Literature and Education - Journalism

53. Shri Lalit Kumar Mangotra - Literature and Education J

54. Shri Lama Lobzang (Posthumous) - Others - Spiritualism

55. Smt. Libia Lobo Sardesai - Social Work

56. Shri MD Srinivas - Science and Engineering

57. Shri Madugula Nagaphani Sarma - Art

58. Shri Mahabir Nayak - Art

59. Smt. Mamata Shankar - Art

60. Shri Manda Krishna Madiga - Public Affairs

61. Shri Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli - Literature and Education

62. Shri Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous) - Art Andhra Pradesh

63. Shri Nagendra Nath Roy - Literature and Education

64. Shri Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous) - Public Affairs

65. Shri Naren Gurung - Art Sikkim

66. Smt. Neerja Bhatla - Medicine

67. Smt. Nirmala Devi - Art

68. Shri Nitin Nohria - Literature and Education

69. Shri Onkar Singh Pahwa - Trade and Industry

70. Shri P Datchanamoorthy - Art

71. Shri Pandi Ram Mandavi - Art

72. Shri Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai - Art

73. Shri Pawan Goenka - Trade and Industry

74. Shri Prashanth Prakash - Trade and Industry

75. Smt. Pratibha Satpathy - Literature and Education

76. Shri Purisai Kannappa Sambandan - Art

77. Shri R Ashwin - Sports

78. Shri R G Chandramogan - Trade and Industry

79. Smt. Radha Bahin Bhatt - Social Work

80. Shri Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy - Art

81. Shri Ramdarash Mishra - Literature and Education

82. Shri Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar - Art

83. Shri Ratan Kumar Parimoo - Art

84. Shri Reba Kanta Mahanta - Art

85. Shri Renthlei Lalrawna Literature and Education Mizoram

86. Shri Ricky Gyan Kej - Art

87. Shri Sajjan Bhajanka - Trade and Industry

88. Smt. Sally Holkar - Trade and Industry

89. Shri Sant Ram Deswal - Literature and Education

90. Shri Satyapal Singh - Sports

91. Shri Seeni Viswanathan - Literature and Education

92. Shri Sethuraman Panchanathan - Science and Engineering

93. Smt. Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah - Medicine

94. Shri Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa) - Literature and Education

95. Shri Shyam Bihari Agrawal - Art

96. Smt. Soniya Nityanand - Medicine

97. Shri Stephen Knapp - Literature and Education

98. Shri Subhash Khetulal Sharma - Others - Agriculture Maharashtra

99. Shri Suresh Harilal Soni - Social Work

100. Shri Surinder Kumar Vasal - Science and Engineering Delhi

101. Shri Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj) - Others - Spiritualism

102. Shri Syed Ainul Hasan - Literature and Education

103. Shri Tejendra Narayan Majumdar - Art

104. Smt. Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi - Art

105. Shri Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla - Literature and Education

106. Shri Vadiraj Raghawendracharya Panchamukhi - Literature and Education

107. Shri Vasudeo Kamath - Art

108. Shri Velu Aasaan - Art

109. Shri Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar - Art

110. Shri Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj - Others - Spiritualism

111. Smt. Vijayalakshmi Deshamane - Medicine

112. Shri Vilas Dangre - Medicine

113. Shri Vinayak Lohani - Social Work

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/jq4wWnX

All You Need To Know About Mamta Kulkarni's Journey

Mamta Kulkarni has embarked on a spiritual journey. The actress has renounced the glitz and glamour and assumed a new identity of 'Mai Mamta Nand Giri. 

Mamta Kulkarni has been honoured with the title of Mahamandaleshwar. She even performed her own Pind Daan, a symbolic ritual signifying the renunciation of worldly ties.

For the unversed, the Kinnar Akhara is a spiritual order established by eunuchs and functions under the Juna Akhara, one of the largest and most prominent Akharas in Hinduism.

As Mamta Kulkarni made a significant move in her life, let us delve into her journey – exploring her personal life, debut project, top 5 films, her final movie and the reasons behind her decision to step away from acting.

Personal life 

Born in 1972, Mamta Kulkarni never got married. Over the years, there were rumours linking her to Vicky Goswami. Several reports also claimed that the two were married. 

In a candid conversation with India Times last year, Mamta Kulkarni dismissed these speculations, labelling them as “completely untrue.”

Mamta Kulkarni said, “People should be more mindful about speaking negatively about someone they know little to nothing about. For instance, rumors in the tabloids about Mamta Kulkarni being married to Vicky Goswami are completely untrue - I'm not married to anyone because I've never had the time for that.”

She added, “I sincerely request people to stop using titles like 'husband' or 'wife' in connection with me. I don't know what else to say about these baseless rumors. Some suggest I should pursue legal action or send notices, but I have no intention of doing that.” 

Debut project

Mamta Kulkarni made her debut in 1991 with the Tamil film Nanbargal. In the Shoba Chandrasekhar directorial, Mamta was paired opposite Neeraj. Interestingly, Nanbargal was later remade in Hindi as Mera Dil Tere Liye, which served as Mamta Kulkarni's entry into Bollywood. 

Top 5 movies

1.  Tirangaa

Mamta Kulkarni was part of the iconic patriotic film Tirangaa, directed by Mehul Kumar. The movie featured Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar in lead roles, with Mamta Kulkarni playing a supporting role as Varun's love interest (played by Harish Kumar).

2. Karan Arjun

Do not call yourself a Bollywood fan, if you can not recall Rakhee Gulzar saying, “Mere Karan Arjun ayenge.” In the film headlined by Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, Mamta Kulkarni played the role of Bindiya, Arjun's (played by Shah Rukh Khan) love interest.

3. Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum 

This was Mamta Kulkarni's last Hindi film. Charuhas Shidore, Anjan Srivastav and Vijayendra Ghatge were also seen in the Roop Dutta Naik directorial.

4. Aashiq Awara

This romantic drama marked Mamta Kulkarni's breakthrough in Bollywood. The Umesh Mehra film also featured Saif Ali Khan .

5. Baazi

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, this film featured Aamir Khan in the lead role. Mamta Kulkarni played Rajeshwari, the love interest of Aamir's character. Their on-point chemistry made this movie a must-watch.

Last film

After over a decade of delivering hit projects, Mamta Kulkarni bid farewell to acting in 2003. Her final appearance was in the Bengali film Shesh Bongsodhar. Directed by Abhijit Sen, the film also featured Victor Banerjee, Ronit Roy, Anuradha Roy, Chinmoy Roy and Rituparna Sengupta in pivotal roles.

Why did Mamta Kulkarni leave acting?

Mamta Kulkarni, in a conversation with IANS, opened up about her decision. 

"The reason for me leaving India was spirituality. In 1996, I got inclined towards spirituality and during that time I met Guru Gagan Giri Maharaj. After his arrival, my interest in spirituality increased following which my penance started. However, I believe that Bollywood gave me a name and also fame. After this, I quit Bollywood too,” Mamta Kulkarni said.

“From the year 2000 to 2012, I kept doing penance. I was in Dubai for many years, where I lived in a two-bedroom flat and remained celibate for 12 years," Mamta Kulkarni added.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/t8luChP

Two Mountains 100 Times Taller Than Everest Discovered Deep Beneath Earth

Earth's biggest mountains, more than 100 times taller than Mount Everest, have been discovered on the boundary between Africa and the Pacific Ocean, a groundbreaking research, published in the journal Nature, has confirmed. The two peaks lie deep beneath the Earth's surface and reach heights of around 1,000 km, far bigger than the 8.8 km height of Mount Everest. Researchers estimate that the mountains are at least half a billion years old but could date back to the formation of Earth four billion years ago. 

"Nobody knows what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon, or if they have been sitting there for millions or perhaps even billions of years," said head researcher Dr Arwen Deuss, a seismologist and professor of Structure and composition of Earth's deep interior at Utrecht University, as per The New York Post. 

According to the research, two monstrous structures sit on the boundary between Earth's core and the mantle, the semi-solid area beneath the crust, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. They are surrounded by a massive "graveyard of tectonic which have been transported there by a process called 'subduction,' where one tectonic plate dives below another plate and sinks all the way from the Earth's surface down to a depth of almost three thousand kilometres," said Dr Deuss.

Scientists have known for decades that there are massive structures hidden deep within the Earth's mantle thanks to seismic shockwaves rippling through the Earth's interior. Large earthquakes cause the planet to ring like a bell, and it will sound "out of tune" when it hits anomalous objects such as the supercontinents. So, by listening carefully to the tone that arrives on the other side of the planet, scientists are able to build up a picture of what lies beneath.

"We see that seismic waves slow down there," said Dr Deuss while discussing how they happened to discover the underground mountains, which are referred to as "Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces" or LLSVPs for this reason.

Also Read | Scientists May Have Finally Solved 50-Year-Old Mystery About Martian Surface

According to the research, the new structures are hotter than their neighbouring tectonic plates. Scientists were thrown for a loop when studying the so-called damping of seismic waves, which is the "amount of energy that waves lose when they travel through the Earth," explained Dr Duess' colleague Sujania Talavera-Soza.

"Against our expectations, we found little damping in the LLSVPs, which made the tones sound very loud there," she said, adding, "But we did find a lot of damping in the cold slab graveyard, where the tones sounded very soft." 

This was unlike the upper mantle, which was expectedly "hot" with damped waves, researchers said. Ms Sujania analogized the phenomenon to going for a run in hot weather, explaining, "you don't only slow down, but you also get more tired than when it is cold outside."

Ultimately, the study suggests that the mountains are made up of much larger grains than the surrounding slabs since these wouldn't absorb so much energy from passing seismic waves. 

"Those mineral grains do not grow overnight, which can only mean one thing: LLSVPs are lots and lots older than the surrounding slab graveyards," said Ms Sujania. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/uNKIkYz

Shocking X-ray Reveals Human Body Infested With Tapeworm Larvae

A chilling X-ray scan displaying calcified parasites embedded throughout a patient's body has gone viral on social media. The image, shared by emergency room doctor Sam Ghali, shows what he described as one of the "most insane X-rays" he's encountered, with the patient's torso dotted by countless oblong shapes resembling a hailstorm.

Dr Ghali said that the disease, which is termed cysticercosis, is due to the presence of larval cysts of the tapeworm Taenia solium. The parasite infects humans through eating raw or undercooked pork infested with larval cysts. Though the tapeworm can develop within weeks in the human gut, cysticercosis is caused by the migration of larvae into soft tissues where they eventually calcify and form cysts.

Here's a video I made breaking down one of the most insane X-Rays I've ever seen#FOAMed pic.twitter.com/wp8xtGFTV5

— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) January 16, 2025

"The life cycle begins with a human consuming raw or undercooked pig, and then that person becomes infected with the worms in their GI tract and passes the eggs along to another unfortunate human who then consumes them."

According to a report by The New York Post, cysticercosis materialises when infected people pass on tapeworm eggs to others through their faecal matter. This can happen when people don't properly wash their hands after using the bathroom or through water contaminated with faeces.

This unnamed patient case makes one appreciate the risks of eating pork that has not been properly cooked, for infections from such could lead to more complicated conditions like muscles, skin damage, and even to the brain. This X-ray image is enough to make anyone recall the consequences of bad food preparation.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/yIwUBON

Foreign Minister Engages US, Foreign Secretary, China: India's Balancing Act

India's diplomacy stands out globally for its ability to balance ties between adversaries. The latest example of this is happening this week. As foreign minister S Jaishankar touches down in New Delhi after a five-day visit to the US for Donald Trump's inauguration, foreign secretary Vikram Misri heads to China to foster ties with Beijing.

Just ten days ago, during a visit to Spain, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said India is one of the very few countries in the world that can engage both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Iran. "This is something very, very unique. And it is unique because if you look at the world today, it is a very polarised world," he said.

Donald Trump has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on China and even the BRICS+ countries, which India is a member of as well. China, the world's second-largest economy, has warned that it will retaliate, should Washington actually follow through. President Trump has also targeted China over its presence in the Panama Canal and said the US will take control of the waterway even if it means involving the military. China, on the other hand, has warned Washington over its involvement with Taiwan. Both nations have sanctioned each other.

ENGAGING ALL SIDES

Amid all this, India, which according the PM Modi, has "always chosen the side of peace", aims to engage all sides for positive and constructive outcomes. Earlier this week, S Jaishankar strengthened India-US bilateral ties when he met the US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for their first foreign engagements after the Trump administration took over. As PM Modi's special envoy, Dr Jaishankar was also given the first seat at the US President's inauguration.

As he returned after concluding "a very positive" visit to Washington, India's foreign secretary heads to Beijing to build the momentum in India-China ties following a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia late-last year. Foreign Secretary Misri's visit was preceded by a visit by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last month when he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

REBUILDING AFTER THE STORM

India and China, two of Asia's leading economies and the world's most populous nations, are working to boost bilateral ties after a four-and-a-half-year-long military standoff along the Line of Actual Control or LAC brought ties to a grinding halt. After dozens of rounds of talks - both diplomatically and militarily - an agreement was reached and troops on both sides pulled back from the buffer zones, returning the status quo-ante. This happened within a week of PM Modi and Xi Jinping announcing it during a meeting in Russia late last year. Following this, Chinese and Indian foreign and defence ministers also met each other on multilateral occasions.

After Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vikram Misri's will be the second high-level visit by an Indian official to Beijing in a month.

A WELCOME FROM BEIJING

China has welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit this weekend and sounded positive about its outcome. "We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri's travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.

India's Ministry of External Affairs also said that "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be visiting Beijing on January 26 and 27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between India and China. The resumption of this bilateral mechanism flows from the agreement at the leadership level to discuss the next steps for India-China relations, including in the political, economic, and people-to-people domains."

THE AGENDA

Besides bilateral issues such as boundary talks, maintaining peace along the LAC, the building of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra, resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, people-to-people ties, resuming direct flights between the two countries, and facilitate the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, the two sides are also likely to touch upon issues of mutual global interest.

The BRICS+, where both countries are threatened with massive tariffs, might figure in talks as well, as would the latest sanctions threat to countries dealing with Russia and buying Russian oil - again a common threat to both countries. Regional issues such as the situation in the Middle East and in Syria are likely to be discussed too.

US backing out of the Paris Climate agreement and the WHO, as well as the much-needed reform of the United Nations and the Security Council are likely to be discussed as well.

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'Man On CCTV Doesn't Look Like My Son': Father Of Saif Ali Khan's Attacker

Md Ruhul Amin Fakir, father of Mohammed Shariful Islam, the man accused in the recent attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, spoke exclusively with IANS on Thursday. He defended his son and called into question the allegations. Mr Fakir insisted his son had been wrongfully implicated in the incident.

According to Mr Fakir, the images from CCTV footage showing a suspect with long hair do not match his son's usual appearance. "From what is shown in the CCTV... my son never keeps his hair long. I believe my son is being framed," Mr Fakir asserted, denying any connection between his son's typical appearance and the person seen in the footage.

Shariful, who is from Bangladesh, had moved to India due to the political unrest in his home country.

To a question from IANS, Mr Fakir explained: "He left Bangladesh and came to India for one reason — the political unrest in Bangladesh... He was working where he received a salary, and his employer even rewarded him..."

Mr Fakir went on to describe his son's life in India, painting a picture of a man simply trying to make a living in a foreign country.

"The salary in Mumbai's hotels is higher than in West Bengal. The hotels there are quite large, and the salary is also higher," Mr Fakir noted, suggesting that Shariful moved to Mumbai for better job prospects in the hospitality industry.

Despite the gravity of the accusations against his son, Fakir insists that he hasn't received any communication from the police.

Asked if the local police had contacted him, he said: "No, nothing like that has happened. No one has come from anywhere. We don't know anyone in India. We have no support in India."

Mr Fakir reflected on his last conversation with Shariful, recalling their regular exchanges.

"My last conversation with my son was on a Friday evening," he said. "He (Shariful) used to get his salary after the 10th of every month... After that, he would talk to me."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Indian-Origin CEO Criticises "Awesome" Nandan Nilekani's Stance On AI

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas publicly disagreed with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani's views on AI, advocating for India to focus on AI model development and real-world AI applications.

Mr Srinivas shared his views on X, praising Nandan Nilekani as "awesome" for his unparalleled contributions to India's technological progress through initiatives like Infosys and UPI. However, he raised concerns over Nilekani's advice to Indian AI startups, urging them to focus exclusively on developing practical AI applications rather than training large language models (LLMs).

Mr Srinivas wrote on X, "To be clear: Nandan Nilekhani is awesome, and he's done far more for India than any of us can imagine through Infosys, UPI, etc. But he's wrong on pushing Indians to ignore model training skills and just focus on building on top of existing models. Essential to do both."

See the post here:

I am ready to invest a $1mm personally and 5 hours/week of my time into the most qualified group of people that can do this right now for making India great again in the context of AI. Consider this as a commitment that cannot be backtracked. The team has to be cracked and… https://t.co/g6ItsPL0uc

— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) January 22, 2025

Mr Srinivas's remarks were in response to Nilekani's statements at the Meta AI Summit in October, where Nilekani advised Indian startups to steer clear of the expensive pursuit of building large AI models and instead prioritize developing practical, resource-efficient AI solutions.

"Our goal should not be to build one more LLM. Let the big boys in the (Silicon) Valley do it, spending billions of dollars. We will use it to create synthetic data, build small language models quickly, and train them using appropriate data," Mr Nilekani had said. 

He underscored the importance of scalable, cost-effective infrastructure and practical applications tailored specifically to India's unique needs.

Mr Srinivas, however, offered a differing perspective, advocating for a more ambitious approach to AI development in the country. Drawing from his own experience, he argued that India risks missing out by avoiding the training of AI models due to the misconception that the financial costs are insurmountable.

"I feel like India is falling into the same trap I did while running Perplexity-assuming that training models will cost an exorbitant amount of money," Srinivas said. He urged Indian startups to move beyond relying solely on open-source models and instead focus on building proprietary AI capabilities to achieve global competitiveness, particularly in areas like Indic languages.

"Elon Musk admired ISRO-not even Blue Origin-because he respects people who can achieve great things without excessive spending. That's his operating philosophy," Srinivas noted, encouraging India to adopt a similarly resourceful and bold mindset in AI development.

He concluded with a call for a paradigm shift in India's AI strategy, emphasizing the need to develop expertise in training foundational AI models that can both address local needs and compete on a global scale. Offering his support, Srinivas expressed his willingness to assist anyone "obsessed enough" to take on this challenge, pledging to help open-source AI models for broader impact.

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