Month: August 2024

Reacting to reports that the Centre is planning to amend the Waqf Board Act, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Sunday that it shows that the Modi government wants to snatch away the autonomy of the board and intends to interfere in it.

Addressing a conference, Owaisi said, “Firstly, when Parliament is in session, the central government is acting against parliamentary supremacy and privileges and informing the media and not informing Parliament. I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board and it wants to interfere. This itself is against the freedom of religion.”

The Hyderabad MP also alleged that the BJP has been against these boards and Waqf properties from the very beginning and they have been working on a “Hindutva agenda”.

“Now if you make amendments to the establishment and composition of the Waqf board, then there will be administrative chaos, loss of autonomy of the Waqf board and if the control of the government increases over the Waqf Board, then the independence of Waqf will be affected. In the media report, it is written that if there is any disputed property, then these people will say that the property is disputed, and we will get it surveyed. The survey will be conducted by the BJP, CMs and you know what will be its result. There are many such dargahs in our India where BJP-RSS claims that they are not dargahs and mosques, so the executive is trying to snatch the power of the judiciary,” he added.

Notably, earlier reports suggested that the government was looking to bring amendments to the Waqf Act.

According to the reports, the Centre is likely to bring a total of 40 amendments to the act in the next Parliament sitting. (ANI)

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Saddened by the tragic incident of a landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad district, actor Allu Arjun expressed grief and stepped forward to support rehabilitation.

Taking to Instagram, Allu Arjun posted a picture, which read, “I am deeply saddened by the recent landslide in Wayanad. Kerala has always given me so much love, and I want to do my bit by donating °25 lakh to the Kerala CM Relief Fund to support the rehabilitation work. Praying for your safety and strength.”

Sharing the post, he wrote, “Praying for the safety and strength of the people of Kerala.”

The landslides that occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad have resulted in the loss of 308 lives.

Union Minister and Thrissur BJP MP Suresh Gopi visited Kerala’s Wayanad district on Sunday to assess the situation caused by the landslides in the region.

The search and rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad have entered its sixth day on Sunday, as several people are still feared trapped in the debris after landslides that occurred in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad.

Providing details about the rescue operation, Wayanad District Collector Meghashree told ANI, that the rescue operation is in full swing, and over 1300 forces have been deployed for today’s operation.

“Rescue operation is going on in full swing. Today, 1,300+ forces are deployed…volunteers are also there…yesterday volunteers who went for the rescue operation got stranded there, today we are taking precautions so that it doesn’t happen,” Wayanad District Collector told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office has informed that night patrolling of the police has been instituted in Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas where landslides occurred.

Action will be taken against those trespassing in the houses or areas of the victims at night, the statement from CM’s office said. No one should enter the houses or areas of these places at night without the permission of the police for rescue operations, it added.

On Saturday, the Indian Air Force airlifted one ZAWER and four REECO radars from Siachen and Delhi to fasten the search operations in the landslide-affected areas of Wayanad.

On the same day, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Army, and Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully rescued three personnel stranded at Soochipara Waterfalls, located in the landslide-hit Wayanad district of Kerala.

The death toll in the massive landslides that occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad stands at 308 as of Friday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said.

As per the latest update, 215 bodies and 143 body parts were recovered, including 98 males, 87 females, and 30 children.

The post-mortem procedures were completed on 212 bodies and 140 body parts, and 148 bodies have been identified by relatives so far. (ANI)

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Couple Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul have joined hands with some renowned members of the cricket fraternity for a noble cause.

Athiya and Rahul will come up with a special cricket auction ‘Cricket for a Cause: To Benefit the Vipla Foundation’ to support Vipla Foundation, earlier known as Save The Children India.

The auction will feature 27 incredible cricket collectables such as jerseys, gloves, and cricket bats from cricket icons like Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Lucknow Super Giants, and international players Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran, as per a statement shared by spokesperson of Shetty family.

Talking about the initiative, Athiya said, “Vipla Foundation has been a significant part of my childhood. I have spent numerous days after school teaching the children and spending time with them. Through this auction, I hope to continue the legacy of my nani, who started Vipla Foundation with the intent of serving the needs of children with hearing impairment and intellectual disabilities.”

As per KL Rahul, “The auction is our way of supporting the incredible work that Vipla Foundation does in providing a great learning environment to children.”

“My first visit to the school was very emotional and the children inspired me to contribute in whatever way I could to this great initiative that Athiya’s family has been part of. The auction is our way of supporting the incredible work that Vipla Foundation does in providing a great learning environment to children. When I reached out to the cricket fraternity, they were just as supportive in donating their precious cricket items for this great cause. By participating in the auction and bidding for the memorabilia, each bidder is joining us in making a difference in the lives of these truly special children,” he added.

The auction will be held on August 23. (ANI)

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Actor Janhvi Kapoor’s latest film, Ulajh has captivated audiences not just for its storyline but also for Kapoor’s intense dedication to her role.

In a key scene shot in Bhopal, Janhvi, who portrays an IFS officer in the film, had to run 1000 meters barefoot through the city’s narrow and crowded streets.

In a press note shared by Ulajh’s PR team, Universal Communications, director Sudhanshu Saria shared insights into the challenges faced during the filming of this scene.

“Our movie was extensively shot in London, but the most crucial climax scene was shot in Bhopal. The night before our shoot, the set that was built got destroyed due to rain. We had to prep the location again and had a very small window to shoot this crucial sequence. Before we began, Janhvi and I discussed Suhana’s mindset for the scene,” she said.

“As soon as the camera started rolling, Janhvi became so absorbed in her role that every step she took reflected her character, Suhana. By the end of the shoot, despite visible injuries from running barefoot on the rugged road, she was so immersed in her character that she barely felt the pain. Janhvi seamlessly transitioned from a polished diplomat to a rugged officer defending her country, outdoing herself in every frame,” she added.

Ulajh, an espionage thriller produced by Junglee Pictures, also stars Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew. The film follows Suhana Bhatia, the youngest Deputy High Commissioner, as she navigates a challenging mission in London. The cast includes Adil Hussain, Meiyang Chang, Rajendra Gupta, and Jitendra Joshi. Written by Saria and Parveez Shaikh, the dialogues are by Atika Chauhan. (ANI).

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After separating from her husband, Hardik Pandya, actor-model Natasa Stankovic has taken a trip to her home country with their son, Agastya.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Natasa dropped a picture from their holiday in Serbia. The picture shows Agastya having fun on a swing in a park, with Natasa holding the chains. Natasa looked lovely in a green midi dress, enjoying the moment with her son.

Earlier this week, the actor-model also celebrated her son’s fourth birthday.

Natasha, on Wednesday, took to her Instagram account to share pictures and videos from the birthday bash, where her son, Agastya can be seen enjoying the celebration with his friends.

Natasa organized a Hot Wheels-themed party for Agastya. The cake matched the theme, and Agastya was seen holding a racing flag as his friends sang the birthday song.

In the pics, Natasa can be seen posing with Agastya, looking stylish in a pink-checkered top, while her son wore a white Hot Wheels T-shirt. He even posed with a toy car featured in the party decor.

Natasa added a caption that read, “Agu turns 4,” accompanied by balloon emojis.

Last month, Natasa confirmed her separation from star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Taking to his official Instagram handle, Pandya said that he and Natasa have “mutually parted ways” after being together for four years. The 30-year-old added that it was a “tough decision” for them after they grew as a family.

Talking about his son, Hardik said that Agastya will be at the centre of their lives. The India all-rounder confirmed that he and his wife will co-parent for the well-being of their three-year-old child.

Hardik and Natasa tied the knot in 2020. (ANI)

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India’s two-time Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker is set to be India’s flagbearer in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sources stated that Bhaker will be India’s women’s flagbearer in the closing ceremony. India’s men’s flagbearer for the ceremony is yet to be confirmed. The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics will take place on August 11.

Bhaker brought her A-game in Paris and broke numerous accolades to claim two bronze medals in the Summer Games.

The Paris Olympics has been a redemption for the 22-year-old shooter. During the 10m air pistol qualification round in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, her gun malfunctioned, which led to a loss of time.

She was left with a very short amount of time to carry out her quota of shots. She missed the top-eight finish required to qualify for the final round and finished in the 12th spot.

Bhaker opened India’s medal tally in the ongoing Olympics after she secured third place in the women’s individual 10m Air pistol event. Following that, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the Bronze medal in the 10m air pistol (mixed team) event.

She had a shot at returning with three medals from Paris. But in her final event, she narrowly missed out on the historic grand treble and finished fourth in the women’s 25m pistol shooting event. She missed out on the opportunity to become the first Indian to win three medals at the Olympics.

Bhaker is the first athlete from the Indian contingent after independence to get two medals in a single edition of the Paris Olympics.

Earlier in the 1900 Olympics, Norman Pritchard won two medals while representing India, both silver in the 200m and 200m hurdles.

Bhaker also joined an elite group of athletes to have multiple individual medals at the Olympics: PV Sindhu (badminton silver at Rio 2016 and bronze medal at Tokyo 2020) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics). (ANI)

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US Central Command’s General Michael Kurilla arrived in the region on Saturday amid preparations for a possible attack by Iran on Israel in response to the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, US-based news website Axios reported, citing two US officials.

General Kurilla’s visit, which was planned before the recent escalation between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah following the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, is now seen as a strategic move. He is expected to mobilise the international and regional coalition that previously defended Israel against an attack from Iran on April 13, Axios reported, citing a US official.

Three US and Israeli officials said that they expect Iran to launch an attack on Israel as early as Monday. Iranian and Hezbollah leaders have pledged to retaliate for the killings of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukr, and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

According to a US official, Kurilla is expected to visit several Gulf nations, including Israel and Jordan. Jordan is a key stop, as it played an important role during the April 13 attack by intercepting Iranian drones bound for Israel and allowing US and Israeli jets to use its airspace for interception.

The official said that the US hopes the same will happen again if needed. The US is boosting its forces in the Middle East in preparation for Iran’s possible attack on Israel and sending more warships and fighter jets to the region, the Pentagon said on Friday, according to Axios report.

US officials expect Iranian retaliation to follow a similar pattern as their previous attack on Israel but may also involve Hezbollah in Lebanon, Axios reported. The US government is concerned that it may be more difficult to mobilise the international and regional cooperation of nations that defended Israel from the previous Iranian attack, as Haniyeh’s killing has drawn sharp sentiments against Israel across the region.

US and Israeli officials said they do not know whether Iran and Hezbollah will carry out a coordinated attack or operate separately. The officials said that they think Iran and Hezbollah are still working on finalising their military plans and giving them approval at the political level.

A US official said the Biden administration wanted to announce the bolstering of US forces on Friday as Iran and Hezbollah were discussing regarding their response with the hope that the announcement will help to deter and influence their military plans.

When asked on Saturday whether he believes Iran will back down, US President Joe Biden replied, “I hope so. I don’t know.”

On July 31, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran. In a statement, the IRGC said that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their residence was hit in Tehran.

A projectile hit a residence allocated to war veterans in Tehran at 2 am (local time) on Wednesday, according to a Press TV report. Ismail Haniyeh, who was based in Qatar, travelled to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a Press TV report.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in the Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday (local time).The IDF said Shukr was “responsible for the majority of Hezbollah’s most advanced weaponry, including precise-guided missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range rockets, and UAVs” and for the terror group’s “force build-up, planning, and execution of terror attacks against the State of Israel,” The Times of Israel reported.

On July 30, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his nation has delivered “crushing blows” to enemies in the last few days, CNN reported. He made the remarks hours after the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. (ANI)

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Thousands of devotees took holy dip at the harbour beach and offered ‘Tarpan’ to pay tributes to their ancestors on ‘Aadi Amavasai’ in Thoothukudi on Sunday morning.

‘Aadi Amavasai’ is the new moon day falling in the Tamil month of Aadi, during which Hindu devotees perform rituals and take a holy dip to pay respects to the souls of their ancestors.

During the occasion, devotees visit temples, seashores, and river banks in southern districts of Tamil Nadu to perform rituals.

Devotees visit various Shiva temples on ‘Aadi Amavasai’ and perform special pujas.

Aadi Amavasai holds great religious significance and people seek blessings from departed souls.

While some observe a fast on every Amavasai day, others opt for pujas performed in memory of holy places and the purifying act of bathing in holy waters during specific periods.

Noteworthy, among these periods are the Udrayana holy phase of Thai and Masi months, as well as the Daksanayana holy season of Adi and Puratasi months.

Devotees hold a firm belief that performing pujas dedicated to parents in Thai and Aadi months, relatives in Masi, and all beings during the auspicious Mahalaya Puratasi month brings forth remarkable blessings. (ANI)

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Nine children were killed when a wall collapsed on a tent in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district on Sunday morning amid heavy rain, police said.

Two more children also sustained injuries and have been taken to a nearby hospital, they said.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 8.30 am, with initial reports suggesting the collapse was caused by the heavy downpour last night.

Upon receiving information, senior officials and district administration authorities reached the spot.

District Collector Deepak Arya confirmed that local police and rescue teams reached the spot and launched a rescue operation.

“Nine children have died in the incident. Two others have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” Arya said.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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