Month: September 2022

Hollywood star Salma Hayek is celebrating her 56th birthday in a bright red bikini.

On Friday, the ‘House of Gucci’ star uploaded a celebration-themed dance video to Instagram. “Happy 56th birthday to me!!!” the Mexican-American star wrote in English and in Spanish, adding a red heart, dancing and a lips emoji. She finished off the caption with “#alwaysgrateful.”

Thousands of fans and peers left her sweet messages. Drake wrote, “Happy Birthday to my muse,” with six heart emojis and Zoe Saldana wrote, “Happy birthday salmita Linda!” “Nice!” comedian Chelsea Handler wrote, with a fan adding, “Feliz cumpleanos queen!”

On Monday, the actress published yet another bikini picture on Instagram, where she frequently displays her body. Lista para la semana. #Monday,” she wrote as she posed on a balcony in a black bikini, with a black and white cover-up shawl and a large black sun hat.

Hayek married French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault in 2009, and ever since, she has been accused of marrying the Kering CEO merely for his wealth.

Actor Dax Shepard, one of the doubters, stated on a 2021 edition of his podcast “Armchair Expert” that he first didn’t comprehend what Hayek saw in Pinault, 60, at the time.

“I was like, oh, OK, she married a rich guy, maybe that’s why she married him, I don’t know,” the actor confessed, per Yahoo! Entertainment. “I meet him and I’m like, this guy is so foxy — oh my God, the confidence, his eyes, he’s so good-looking and charming and I was like, oh, this motherf–ker could’ve been broke. He’s a bombshell.”

Hayek concurred with those opinions and responded to charges of gold-digging squarely. “You know the thing is that in pictures you cannot begin to guess the magic in him,” said the Oscar nominee. “He’s made me become a much better person, and grow in such a good, healthy way.”

Hayek continued: “And you know when I married him, everybody said, ‘Oh, it’s an arranged marriage, she married him for the money. I’m like, ‘yeah, whatever, b—h.’ Think what you want: 15 years together, and we are strong in love.”

She acknowledged that she, too, was susceptible to such biases. “And I had that by the way. It was the last thing I wanted — it was not my type at all. And I came in with the preconceptions and he [melted] them all away,” admitted Hayek, who has a net worth of $200 million herself, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

The couple shares a 14-year-old daughter Valentina. (ANI)

The Bombay High Court issued notices to the Government of India, Serum Institute of India (SII), Microsoft founder Bill Gates, All India Institute of Medical Science Director, DCGI chief and others after a petition was filed by father of a late front line worker, seeking compensation for the death of his daughter allegedly due to COVID vaccine.

Dilip Lunawat in his petition, “blamed the Government and others for misrepresenting the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine by making false claims about its safety and ‘forcing’ medical practitioners to take the vaccine.”
Notices have also been issued to the Union government, Maharashtra government and Drug Controller of India, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

He has sought compensation of Rs 1000 crore for the alleged death of his daughter Dr Snehal Lunawat after taking the Covishield vaccine.

The petition also mentioned, “In the interview given to news channel on 4th January 2021, by respondent Dr VG Somani who is Drug Controller General of India, it is categorically mentioned that the vaccines are 110 per cent safe.”

The petition further quoted the published portion of the news where DCGI claimed the safety of the vaccine. It read, “We will never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe”.

“Similar interviews were given by respondent Dr Randeep Guleria Director of AIIMS, Delhi and others. They asked everyone to take vaccines by stating that, the vaccines are completely safe,” the petition reads.

The petition went on to blame the authorities for creating alleged false narratives and misrepresentation about the Coronavirus vaccine.

“On the basis of such false narratives and misrepresentation by the senior authorities like Dr VG Somani and others, and its implementation by the state authorities without any proper verification, the health workers like the petitioner’s daughter was compelled to get the vaccine,” the petition read.

According to the petition, “Dr Snehal Lunawat administered her first dose of vaccine on January 28, 2021, after getting convinced by the alleged false narrative. Later on March 1, 2021, Sneha lost the battle of life due to the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine as claimed by father Dilip Lunawat.”

“The central Government AEFI committee on 2nd October 2021 admitted that the death of complainant’s daughter was due to side effects of Covishield vaccine,” stated the petition.

Dr Sneha Lunawat was a doctor and senior lecturer at SMBT Dental College and Hospital at Dhamangaon near Igatpuri in Nashik. (ANI)

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will soon be replaced as voting by Tory members for their choice between Indian-origin former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss which started early August closed Friday evening.

This comes as Sunak, 42, and Truss, 47, have gone head-to-head in over a dozen debates over the past month to win over the votes of an estimated 160,000 Tory electorate.
The online and postal voting closed on Friday evening, the deadline for Tory members to register their votes. “Voting is now closed. Thank you to all my colleagues, campaign team and, of course, all the members who came out to meet me and lend your support,” wrote Rishi Sunak.

During their hustings, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak had explained their long-term visions for Britain. Both contenders went through bouts of 12 nationwide events with the first bout in Leeds, Northern England. All eyes are now on the results as members voted to elect a new leader. The result will be announced on September 5.

Truss indicated that she will strongly push back against “identity politics of the left” as she has envisioned the legislation for single-sex spaces such as domestic violence shelters whereas Sunak backtracked by putting forward the idea of cutting VAT to revive the country’s economic situation.

Moreover, Truss has promised to introduce a moratorium on the green levy and reverse the National Insurance increase, responding to which Sunak said that direct financial assistance is the best way out to support people with low incomes rather than tax cuts.

On Brexit, both the Tory leadership candidates vowed to reset the relationship between European Union (EU) and the UK and said that the next leader will continue to create opportunities to re-establish the ties.

“The EU and UK are “at loggerheads” over the Northern Ireland Protocol but with a new prime minister we have a chance to reset that relationship,” Sunak had said earlier in one of the face-offs with Truss.

Speaking to the Tory members on the economy, the former chancellor had said that he will reform the National Health Service (NHS) to prevent constantly throwing more money at it whereas Liz Truss underlined the need for a fiscal event to deal with the cost of living crisis and said that her first priority would be reducing taxes.

“My first priority is reducing taxes because what I don’t believe is taking money in taxes and giving it back to people in benefits”, she said, adding that country’s growth is the need of the hour. Notably, corporation tax, policing and ethics were the key highlights in the Conservative party hustings in Birmingham.

Truss has been leading in surveys of Tory members after vowing immediate tax cuts as Britain confronts a slump in living standards. The former chancellor, Rishi Sunak and British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss traded blows at each other over economic policy, and foreign relations in the first-ever TV debate on July 25.

The candidates reportedly clashed over Britain’s future ties with China after cutting ties with Russia.

The second Tory leadership debate between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, however, got cancelled after presenter Kate McCann fainted and collapsed live on air.

In July, Sunak and UK foreign secretary Liz Truss emerged as the final two candidates in the country’s leadership race of the ruling Conservative party. International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt was knocked out in the final round of ballot among Conservative lawmakers. Sunak won 137 votes and Truss 113.

The contest to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister is now in the hands of Conservative Party members, who will select the winner on September 5 via mail-in ballot. Both candidates have made pledges on tax cuts as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. However, Sunak dismissed as “fairytales” his rivals’ promises of immediate tax cuts, arguing that inflation must be brought under control first. Truss, on the other hand, promised to start cutting taxes from day one.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are vying to replace Boris Johnson as UK’s next Prime Minister. The Tory Leadership Race was triggered after Johnson was forced to step down on July 7 amid an avalanche of resignations of government officials, who protested against his scandal-plagued leadership.

Johnson will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister until a new Tory leader succeeds him. (ANI)

Sri Lanka’s ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned home in the early hours of Saturday after fleeing the country in July, according to a senior security official.

As per UK-based media, the onetime leader fled the country as the economic crisis fuelled angry protests. Rajapaksa resigned after protesters angered by a debilitating economic crisis stormed his office and residence.

The former president fled the county following mass agitations calling for his resignation on July 9.

Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka in the early hours of July 13 after massive protests erupted in Colombo and demonstrators angry with the country’s economic crisis stormed his official residence and office.

He resigned as president after reaching Singapore, where he was issued a 14-day visit pass.

He had fled to Singapore via the Maldives and then spent the past few weeks in Thailand. He returns almost after two months after fleeing to Thailand.

On August 11, the former President reached Thailand following a request from the Sri Lankan government. Tight security has been provided to his Mirihana residence. However, Thailand has denied reports that the former Sri Lankan President has sought asylum in the country.

The Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country with no intention of seeking political asylum.

According to Jamila Husain, Deputy Editor at Daily Mirror, Rajapaksa arrived in Sri Lanka from a Singapore Airlines flight.

“…. and the man returns …… Former Pres Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in #SriLanka a short while ago on board a Singapore Airlines flight. Several ministers are awaiting to welcome him at the BIA. Media is not allowed. He will be provided with all facilities granted to a former President,” tweeted Husain.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made arrangements for his return upon a request by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as a result of which the president is reported to have contacted Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country, Daily Mirror reported citing a source close to him.

Earlier, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who is also related to Gotabaya, hinted that Rajapaksa will return to the country on August 24.

Thailand was the second Southeast Asian country after the Maldives that Rajapaksa was seeking temporary shelter in after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests. Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced the official resignation of Rajapaksa on July 15. After the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as President of Sri Lanka on July 21 in Parliament.

He was earlier appointed as interim president of Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa fled abroad after his palace was stormed by angry protesters amid the unprecedented economic crisis.

Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, which comes on the heels of successive waves of COVID-19, threatening to undo years of development progress and severely undermining the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said any delay in addressing complaints of people would not be tolerated and asked officials to ensure that they were disposed of in a time-bound manner.

He also gave instructions to complete the ongoing development works in the Devipatan division on time, maintaining utmost transparency. In addition to this, the CM gave instructions for concrete action against crime and criminals under the policy of zero tolerance.
The Chief Minister was in Balrampur to review the updated status of various development projects along with the law and order situation of the district. During his visit, the CM offered prayers at the Devipatan Shaktipeeth in Tulsipur.

While inspecting the temple premises, the Chief Minister enquired about the civic amenities and reviewed the government plans and development works in the temple auditorium with top officials–including the Commissioner of Devipatan Division and the Deputy Inspector General of Police.

The CM also reviewed the arrangements for the Sharadiya Navratri Mela, which will be held after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He issued directions to the police officers to make better arrangements for security and crowd control for the devotees coming to the fair.

‘Pateshwari Peeth’ — which is one of the 51 shaktipeeths in the country– was established by Mahayogi Guru Gorakshanath. CM Yogi, who is also the Peethadheeshwar of Goraksh Peeth, started his ambitious Mission Shakti Abhiyan on October 17, 2020, to provide security, respect, and self-reliance to women from this place. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing row over madrassas, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the action against madrassas is “unconstitutional”.

In a statement, AIMPLB general secretary Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said, “The party of RSS ideology is currently in power at the Centre and in many states of the country. These parties hold negative views about Muslims.”
The AIMPLB alleged that madrasas are being demolished in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

“The way madrasas are being clamped down in Uttar Pradesh and Assam is not right. Those working in these madrasas and mosques are being framed for terrorism without any reason. Action is being taken without evidence. Why then no action is being taken to gurukuls, mutts, dharamshalas and other religious institutions,” the Board said.

AIMPLB alleged that the government is taking arbitrary action keeping the constitution at bay.

“Muslim Personal Law Board strongly condemns such fanatical and heinous acts,” it added.

Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday declared to conduct a survey in unrecognised madrassas to ascertain information on the number of students, teachers, curriculum and its affiliation with any non-government organisation.

An executive order to transfer the teaching and non-teaching staff of aided madrassas with the consent of the managers of the madrassas concerned along with the approval of the Registrar, UP Madarsa Education Council.

Danish Azad Ansari Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Waqf Department has informed that the order also holds to give maternity leave and child care leave to women employees working in madrasas in the light of the rules applicable in the Department of Secondary Education and Basic Education.

Meanwhile, the government has also ordered holding a survey of unrecognised madrassas by October 5, teams will constitute officials of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) and District Minority Officers.

Three madrasas have been razed by the Assam government following the arrests of 38 persons including the Imam and madrasa teachers on charges of being linked to terror outfits Al Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). (ANI)

Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu, on Friday, shared a picture from her latest maternity shoot.

Taking to Instagram, the ‘Alone’ actor captioned the post, “Magical feelings Difficult to express in words #mypregnancyjourney #mamatobe #loveyourself #loveyourbody.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch_hta5hO-i/

In the picture, the actor could be seen donning an all-black see-through outfit with open hair.

Soon after the mother-to-be actor shared the post, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons.

“I know what you mean!” Bipasha’s husband Karan Singh Grover commented.

A fan wrote, “You’re shining like a Black Diamond Take care & keep enjoying this magical journey of Motherhood.”

“Absolutely flawless, may Mahaprabhu Jagannath bless you,” another one wrote.

Bipasha and Karan, recently officially announced that they are expecting their first child together.

Taking to Instagram, Bipasha penned a heartfelt post announcing her pregnancy.

“A new time, a new phase, a new light adds another unique shade to our prism of life. Making us a little more whole than we used to be. We began this life individually and then we met each other and from then we were two. Too much love for only two seemed a little unfair for us to see…so soon, we who once were two will now become three. A creation manifested by our love, our baby will join us soon and add to our glee,” she wrote.

Alongside the note, she shared a few images from her maternity shoot with her hubby.

Bipasha and Karan first met on the set of Bhushan Patel’s film ‘Alone’ in the year 2015, which marked their first on-screen collaboration and they tied the knot after one year of dating in April 2016. (ANI)

Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais reached New Delhi on Friday amid political jostling in the state and the demand of MLAs of the ruling alliance that he should clear the air on the reports that his office had received an opinion from Election Commission to disqualify Chief Minister Hemant Soren as an MLA for “violation” of electoral norms.

The MLAs, who wrote a letter to Bais, said they are surprised that since August 25 media reports are “citing sources” from the Governor’s office claiming that “opinion under Article 192 of the Constitution has been received from the Election Commission of India to disqualify Hemant Soren as an MLA from the Barhet constituency”.
They said news reports have been stating that a decision under Article 192(1) of the Constitution by the Governor of Jharkhand for disqualifying Hemant Soren under the Representation of People Act, 1951 is likely to be issued and communicated very soon.

The letter said that the news items are being reported as “being leaked” from Governor’s office and said “such leaks” are creating a state of “chaos and uncertainty which vitiates the administration” and also “encourages political brinkmanship to destabilize the democratically elected government”.

The letter said that although the Governor is yet to declare the opinion which has been given “in confidence” by the Election Commission, “BJP has made public the opinion and is demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister, mid-term polls etc”.

“As you are undoubtedly aware, disqualification, if any, of the Chief Minister will not have any effect on the Government as the JMM -INC-RJD-Independents coalition will still enjoy overwhelming majority in the state assembly,” it said.

The MLAs urged the Governor to declare any opinion received from the Election Commission.

The letter said that prompt action by the Governor “will serve the cause of democracy and further delay will be against the constitutional duties and values”.

The Chief Minister’s office released a statement on Thursday after speculation that the ECI has sent a report to the state Governor about Soren’s disqualification.

It alleged that BJP leaders have themselves drafted the ECI report, “which is otherwise a sealed cover report”.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had tweeted earlier that a letter from the ECI has reached the Raj Bhavan.

The BJP has sought the disqualification of Soren as an MLA accusing him of allocating a mining lease to himself while he held the portfolio of Mines Minister in 2021.

In February this year, the BJP submitted a memorandum to the state Governor seeking disqualification of Soren from the House under Section 9(A) of the Representation of People’s Act.

The Governor had forwarded the BJP complaint to the ECI and the poll panel in May had issued a notice to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the ruling alliance has 30 MLAs of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), 18 MLAs of the Congress and one MLA of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). (ANI)

Jharkhand CM, Hemant Soren recommending his possible disqualification.

Yesterday, a delegation of UPA met him and requested to clear the suspense over the ECI report on Hemant Soren in the office of Profit matter. Governor assured them that in a day or two he will send his opinion to ECI.

The matter pertains to a mining lease that CM, Hemant Soren is alleged to have allocated to himself when the mining ministry was under him in 2021.

In February this year, the BJP submitted a memorandum to the Jharkhand Governor seeking disqualification of Soren from the House under Section 9(a) of the Representation of People’s act.

The Governor had forwarded the BJP complaint to ECI, and the poll panel in May had issued notice to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader.

A recommendation has been sent to Jharkhand Governor, from ECI which is yet to be made public. The suspense over ECI recommendations has grown political uncertainty in Jharkhand.

In the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, the ruling coalition consists of 30 JMM MLAs, 18 MLAs from Congress, and one from the RJD. (ANI)

Last year, on September 2, the Indian film and television industry lost one of its top rising stars, Sidharth Shukla, who passed away at the age of 40 following a cardiac arrest.

Sidharth gained a lot of popularity from his work in Colors Tv serial ‘Balika Vadhu’ and Salman Khan’s reality show ‘Bigg Boss 13’, where he made a special bond with another contestant Punjabi singer Shehnaaz Gill.
Apparently, Shehnaaz and Sidharth were in a relationship but the couple never officially confirmed their dating rumours.

Popularly known as ‘SidNaaz’, fans loved to see Sidharth and Shenaaz together on screen and their popularity emerged to a great extent after Bigg Boss.

On the occasion of the actor’s first death anniversary, SidNaaz fans shared heartfelt messages and remembered the ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya’ actor.

“#SidharthShuklaLivesOn King ek hi that, hai ,or rahega We love you Sid,” a fan tweeted.

Another fan wrote, “She met him in September 2019 she lost him in September 2021 their story was always a fairytale #SidharthShuklaLivesOn #SidNaaz.”

“He loved kids and wanted to father one… In most of his interviews, he mentioned this… He sure would have been the best dad and doting one… But for destiny the spoilsport for our one and only one.. SIDHARTH FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS” a Sidnaaz fan wrote.

Another fan wrote, “King ek tha, ek h aur wahi rahega 1980-SIDHARTH FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.”

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Though Sidharth and Shehnaaz never officially acknowledged themselves as being a couple, their adoration for each other was never hidden from the public eye.

After ‘Bigg Boss 13’, the duo also appeared together on reality shows such as ‘Bigg Boss OTT’ and ‘Dance Deewane 3’, along with featuring in music videos for ‘Bhula Dunga’ and ‘Shona Shona’. (ANI)