Month: April 2024

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Tuesday took over as India’s 26th chief of naval staff. He succeeds Admiral R Hari Kumar, who retires upon superannuation, after an illustrious career in the Indian Navy.

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, is an alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned on July 1,1985 into the executive branch of the Indian Navy. Tripathi is a Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist and commanded warships like corvette INS Vinash, Kirch and Trishul.

He served on frontline warships of the Navy as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer and later as the Executive Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai.

On the occasion, the newly-appointed Navy Chief Dinesh K Tripathi said that his singular focus as the Chief of Naval Staff will be to “ensure operational readiness and be ready to deter potential adversities at sea in peace and to ‘win the war at sea’ when asked to do so”.

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as twenty-sixth Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. Over the years, our Navy has evolved into a Combat, Cohesive, Credible,’ and Future Proof Force, for which, I want to thank all the esteemed former Chiefs of the Navy. I will also strengthen the ongoing efforts of the Indian Navy towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, towards new technologies and becoming an important pillar of the nation’s development towards our collective quest for ‘ Viksit Bharat’,” Navy Chief said.

“My priority will be to upskill our human resource i.e. the men and women of our Navy and provide them with the best armament, training, professional environment and administrative support,” he added.

During his career spanning nearly 40 years, he has held various important operational and staff appointments, which include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, Director of Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operations and Principal Director Naval Plans at New Delhi. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at NHQ and as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as Commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala, Director General of Naval Operations, Chief of

Personnel and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command at

Mumbai.

Adm Dinesh K Tripathi has undergone courses at Signal School, Kochi, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval Higher Command Course, Karanja and Naval Command College at the United States Naval War College, United States of America.

He was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, prior to taking over helm as Chief of the Naval Staff on April 30,2024. (ANI)

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a tabletop exercise at the Secretariat auditorium in Dehradun on Tuesday to review the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Char-Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand on May 10.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting on Friday to review preparations for Char Dham Yatra 2024. During the meeting, CM Dhami directed officials to ensure proper arrangements for electricity, drinking water, and roads on the travel routes during the Yatra.

He also emphasized that security personnel deployed on Yatra duty should be on alert mode and to ensure that they are given rest every six hours. Arrangements for the stay of drivers participating in the Yatra were also discussed during the meeting.

In addition, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of utilizing social media to provide updates related to Char Dham Yatra to passengers coming from outside and directed that directories related to the Yatra be made available in different languages in hotels, guest houses, and homestays.

The Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage to four holy sites–Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath–is a significant journey for devotees. The pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath, following a clockwise direction. The high-altitude shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summer (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November).

Pilgrims can complete the journey by road or by air, with helicopter services available. Some devotees even undertake a Do Dham Yatra, visiting two shrines–Kedarnath and Badrinath–as per the Uttarakhand tourism official website.

Earlier, CM Dhami assured the pilgrims on Friday that all preparations had been made for the Char Dham Yatra, with around 16 lakh people registered for the Yatra.

“We have assessed and analyzed all the arrangements. And whatever preparations were necessary, all have been done. Wherever there was a need for improvement–roads, transport system, parking, hotels, dhabas, restaurants, and police traffic system–all has been discussed. The number of pilgrims in the Yatra is increasing every year, so there should be a good Yatra… till now around 16 lakh people have registered for the Yatra,” he said. (ANI)

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who turned a year older on April 28, shared a glimpse of her celebration and thanked everyone for wishes on her big day.

Taking to Instagram stories, she shared a picture of herself from a restaurant while cutting her birthday cake and wrote, “Thankyou for all the love.”

The photo captured Samantha flaunting her smile while making a birthday wish.

On Sunday, celebrities including Varun Dhawan, Ram Charan, Vijay Deverakonda, Tamannaah Bhatia, and many others showered love on her birthday.

Meanwhile, Samantha delighted her fans as she dropped the first poster of her next movie, ‘Bangaram.’

In the poster, Samantha wore a saree and gazed ahead with a fiery expression. The poster also depicted a boiling pressure cooker and a teddy bear next to her.

The film will be produced under Samantha’s banner Tralala Moving Pictures as its maiden production venture.

Apart from Bangaram, Samantha is preparing for ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny,’ an Indian version of the Russo brothers’ Citadel, which stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden.

In the series, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan will portray the characters Honey and Bunny. The show’s creators, Sita R Menon, Raj Nidimoru, and Krishna D.K., have also written the series. (ANI)

Priyanka Chopra who is currently busy shooting for her upcoming project ‘Heads of State’ treated her fans with a new selfie from the film’s set.

The actress on Monday took to her Instagram Stories yet again to share a selfie that she took in between the shots.

In the picture, Priyanka is seen showcasing her well-defined muscles while wearing a crop top and pants, paired with a black coat.

Just yesterday, Priyanka dropped a compilation video showcasing lovely moments with her daughter Malti Marie and hubby Nick Jonas, giving fans a glimpse of her life.

A few days ago, the actress shared a glimpse of ‘bring your baby to work’ day as she took her daughter to the sets of ‘Heads of State’.

The image captured Malti sitting on her lap and can be seen interacting with the people on the sets.

Earlier this month, Priyanka also shared behind-the-scenes pictures of her from shoot diaries.

The ‘Barfi’ actress looked stunning in a radiant selfie. She wore a cool pair of sunglasses and posed with a river in the background.

‘Heads Of State’, is an upcoming action comedy featuring Idris Elba, John Cena, and Jack Quaid in key roles, under the direction of Ilya Naishuller.

On the Bollywood front, she will be seen in Farhan Akhtar’s next directorial ‘Jee Le Zaraa’ alongside Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. However, no update has been provided on the film since the announcement was made a couple of years ago. (ANI)

As Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant continues to shine in the ongoing IPL edition, after recovering from a horrific accident that put him out of action for over a year, superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan cannot be prouder.

In a recent conversation with the host broadcaster, Star Sports, Shah Rukh spoke highly of Pant, revealing that he was ‘horrified’ after learning of the near-fatal car crash involving the former.

“That was horrifying. I saw that video (of his car). It was horrifying! Because we didn’t know then, what was the result of that accident. So, you get the worst feelings. To me, these boys are like my own sons. I have youngsters in my team as well. I hoped he wasn’t injured badly,” SRK said in a video shared on KKR’s social media handle.

“And a sportsman getting injured, it’s a double jeopardy. Worse than that, us getting injured. I wish him all the best. I hope his knee gets fully recovered soon,” the actor added.

The ‘Pathaan’ star also shared his memorable interaction with Pant post KKR and DC’s match in Vizag on April 3. A video clip of Shah Rukh catching up with the Delhi Capitals captain after the match broke the internet.

Seeing Pant sitting on the ground, SRK insisted that he stayed seated but the former got up anyway. With a warm hug, SRK whispered something into Pant’s ear, showing his respect and admiration towards the wicketkeeper batter.

Recalling that interaction with Pant, SRK shared, “In the last game, when I met him, I was telling him don’t get up, it must be hurting. I was hugging him and asking are you well? I had not seen him before that, post the accident. I am really happy that he’s back, playing well and I hope he keeps on playing well.”

Pant met with a life-threatening car accident in December 2022, shortly after India toured Bangladesh that month. The star wicketkeeper-batter sustained multiple injuries to his head, knee and back.

He was taken to Mumbai for advanced treatment, which included surgery. Due to the serious nature of his injuries, which also included a ligament tear in his knee, Pant missed out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, the Asia Cup and the Cricket World Cup at home last year.

Marking his return to competitive cricket this IPL season, after the horrific car crash, Pant has demonstrated full fitness not just with the willow but also behind the wickets. He has aggregated 398 runs in 11 matches for Delhi Capitals at an average of 44.22 and a strike rate of over 158, with three half-centuries. His best score this season is an unbeaten 88.

Pant has also been typically agile and effervescent behind the stumps, effecting 14 dismissals (11 catches and three stumpings). (ANI)

Comedian Zakir Khan recently came up with the third season of ‘Chacha Vidhayak Hai Humare’.

Delving deep into his character of Ronny Pathak, Zakir shared, “If I had to describe Ronny’s character in one line, it would be ‘his intention is right, but his methods are wrong’. He tries to balance out these two things and his journey has revolved around the same since the past two seasons. In the latest season, viewers will see his defeat, betrayal, and how he comes out of it. I believe the transformation is what makes this season truly magical, and everyone will enjoy watching it.”

He added, “I relate to Ronny’s character, there are quite a few similarities between the real and reel personalities. I relate to his character on many levels, from his approach to tackling situations to his bond with his loved ones and how he is always ready to help others.”

The third part also stars Amruta Khanvilkar, Alka Amin, Vyom Sharmarma, Venus Singh, and Kumar Varun in pivotal roles. It is currently streaming on Amazon miniTV. (ANI)

Firing a fresh salvo at the Congress over its track of governance at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said even after holding the country’s reins for 60 years, they could not even give farmers water to irrigate their fields even as other countries propelled towards progress and prosperity.

Addressing a mega public meeting at Madha in the Solapur Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra, PM Modi gunned for the Congress, saying, “The country gave the Congress a chance to rule the country for 60 years. Over the course of these six decades, many countries made rapid transitions towards development and prosperity while we lagged on several fronts. The Congress could not even provide water to our farmers to irrigate their fields. When I took office in 2014, there were about 100 irrigation projects that had been stuck in red tape for decades. Of these, 26 projects were for Maharashtra. Just imagine the extent to which Congress betrayed Maharashtra.”

Also taking a swipe at NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar over his tenure as Union Agriculture Minister under the Congress-led UPA at the Centre (2004-2014), PM Modi said Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has increased under his tenure.

“When the remote-controlled government (a dig at Congress-led UPA government under then PM Manmohan Singh) was in power 10 years ago, a powerful leader of Maharashtra (Sharad Pawar) used to be the Agriculture minister. When powerful leaders from here ruled from Delhi, the FRP of sugarcane was around Rs 200 per quintal and today, under Modi’s term, the FRP has increased to Rs 350 per quintal,” he said.

Earlier, in February, the central cabinet approved the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price’ (FRP) for sugarcane payable by sugar factories for the season 2024-25 (October-September). With this approval, sugar mills have to now pay an FRP at Rs 340/quintal to sugarcane growers on the recovery of 10.25 per cent.

Prime Minister Modi alleged that the previous Congress governments in Maharashtra looted the funds that were allocated by the Centre for the state’s farmers.

“In the previous years, the Congress (governments) gobbled up whatever little funds were allocated by the central government for the farmers here. However, it is your son now who sits in Delhi. We will ensure that every penny that comes from Delhi goes directly into your account,” PM Modi said.

Underscoring the role have to play towards building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India), PM Modi said, “Your Modi has left no stone unturned to empower women. Thousands of women have joined Self Help Groups in the past 10 years. Women are contributing increasingly to the ongoing development of villages. We have made 1 crore women Lakhpati Didis. The country will soon have 3 crore Lakhpati Didis and this is my guarantee!” he said.

Polling for 11 seats in Maharashtra will be held in the third phase on May 7. Of the 48 seats in the state, voting in 13 was conducted across the first and second phases. (ANI)

External Affairs Ministry has rejected a report in The Washington Post naming Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official’s involvement in the alleged post to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.

Describing it as an “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputation on a “serious matter” that is under investigation, Minstry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Monday said the US media report was “speculative and irresponsible”.

In response to media queries on the report that appeared in Washington Post, a US national daily, Jaiswal said that a High-Level Committee set up by the Indian government is carrying out an investigation into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organized criminals, terrorists, and others.

“The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter. There is an ongoing investigation of the High-Level Committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others. Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful.”

Citing officials and a US indictment, the Washington Post report claimed that the RAW official identified as Vikram Yadav had directed Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, now in custody in the Czech Republic pending extradition to the US to stand trial in the case, to hire a hitman to kill GS Pannun outside his New York residence. As per the report in the US daily, the operation targeting Pannun was approved by then-RAW chief Samant Goel.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. Earlier in November, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun.

As per the US Justice Department indictment, Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who is currently in custody, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun.

The US Justice Department has claimed that Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors.

Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

Following this, MEA said that a case filed against an individual in a US court and allegedly linking him to an Indian official is a “matter of concern” and is contrary to government policy. India has also set up a high-level committee to probe the matter.

Reacting to the US Justice Department’s indictment in November 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said, “We cannot share any further information on such security matters. As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said and let me reiterate that this is contrary to government policy.”

“The nexus between organised crime, trafficking and gun running and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level committee has been constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results” the spokesperson said. (ANI)

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said that his decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was not a compulsion or a compromise, adding that his idea of development aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a candid conversation with ANI during which he shared his thoughts in the lead-up to his floating a rival NCP alliance with his loyalists and eventually joining the ruling NDA in the state as the deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar said, “There was no compulsion and neither was it compromise. I always think about development. Who is driving the country’s development today? It is PM Modi. I worked against him in 2014 and 2019 (Lok Sabha elections), but if you see today, and as PM Modi, himself said yesterday (on the campaign trail in Maharashrtra), we accomplished the same amount of work in one year as was done in the 10 years under (former PM) Manmohan Singh. He has also been working for the upliftment and well-being of the poor and backward sections. In the last 10 years, not one allegation has been levelled against PM Modi.”

Triggering another seismic event in the landscape of Maharashtra politics on July 2, last year, the nephew of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar floated a rival faction, which joined the BJP-led NDA. Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister for the fifth time.

Claiming that the Opposition bloc–INDIA–had no prime ministerial face, he said there was no one who could rival PM Modi on the yardsticks of leadership and popularity.

“More than 65 per cent of people in the country are saying that they want PM Modi to return for a third term. There was a lot of talk around Nitish Kumar (rivalling PM Modi for the country’s most powerful post) in 2019 but he is with the NDA now. Presently, the Opposition has no one to take on PM Modi. There is simply no comparison between him and Rahul Gandhi,” the NCP leader said.

The deputy CM said the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ (alliance of the BJP, the Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP) was formed to take the agenda of ‘development’ of the state forward.

“Everyone (in his NCP faction) took the decision (to join the NDA) collectively. It wasn’t motivated by a desire to be ministers but to take the agenda of the development of Maharashtra forward. I have said this time and time again that the decision was for the sake of development and nothing else,” Ajit Pawar said.

He added that people across the country have made up their minds to bring the BJP-led NDA under PM Modi back for a third term at the Centre.

“The people are according a rousing reception to PM Modi wherever he goes. He has been asking the people to demonstrate their electoral support for his vision and agenda of development. He has been telling the people why they should vote for us. It’s clear that the people have made up their minds to bring him back for a third term,” the deputy CM said.

A total of 11 Lok Sabah seats in Maharashtra will be polling in the third phase on May 7.

Of the 48 seats, voting for 13 was completed in the first and second phases. (ANI)

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