Agra:&nbsp;Even after 20 years of judicial activism, major policy pronouncements and projects worth millions of rupees, this Taj city remains pock-marked with mounds of garbage. Air and water pollution threaten the health of people and the world famous monuments that is visited by millions of tourists every year.In 1993, disposing of a public suit filed by eco-lawyer M.C. Mehta, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Kuldip Singh ordered far-reaching structural changes to make the 10,000 sq km eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone safe for the Taj Mahal. The measures to be taken were based on the 20-odd recommendations of a high-powered committee headed by eminent scientist S. Varadarajan.Twenty years later, newspaper headlines frequently read: "Taj tilting" or "Taj yellowing," NGO functionary Vinay Paliwal pointed out to IANS.D.K. Joshi, a member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee, says: "The top officials of various departments have collectively played a crude joke on Agra. We neither have water, nor power; the sewage system does not work, community ponds have disappeared; trees have been chopped up; and the Yamuna river continues to wail and scream. Nothing has changed, conditions have worsened."The chemical laboratories of the Archaeological Survey of India in Agra suggest that the suspended particulate matter (SPM) level annually averages around 400 micrograms per cubic metre, against the safe level of 100.The SPM rises as the river bed runs dry and the Rajasthan desert gradually expands into Uttar Pradesh. In recent years, there has also been large-scale mining in the Aravali ranges, pushing up particulate matter in the air.Agra Water Works uses more chemicals and gases than the stipulated safe limits prescribed by WHO. This is because there is not enough raw water to process in the Yamuna. "When there is no fresh water in the river, what we process is really sewage and effluents that flow down to Agra," an official of the city Jal Sansthan said, seeking anonymity for obvious reasons.Community ponds have run dry and even wells have no water in them. B.B. Awasthi, regional officer of the UP State Pollution Control Board, told IANS that the sulphur dioxide levels in city air had reduced: "Against 15 micrograms earlier, it is now below five micrograms. The large-scale use of CNG has been helpful."Awasthi said if the city was assured of regular power supply, the use of more than 100,000 diesel generators would automatically come down, bringing down the nitrogen oxide levels.As for water, the situation is not very different from 1996, he said."Against an installed capacity of 154 million litres daily, the three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) treat not more than 80 MLD (million litres per day) and that too, not sewage but nullah (drain) water."When the Supreme Court bench in 1996 ordered a series of restrictions and projects to cut down environmental pollution in the Taj Trapezium, there were people who worried that labour would be displaced and economic growth affected.Mohan Khandelwal, former president of the Taj Trapezium Udhyog Sangharsh Samiti, which led the movement against the shifting of industries from Agra, told IANS: "Local industries had no role in adding to the pollution load, but were victimised, while the Mathura Oil Refinery was spared."Two decades after the judgment, Khandelwal says, "the situation is actually worse, going by pollution control board data. The Yamuna is a sewage canal, and increased traffic means heightened air pollution. The recommendations of the S. Varadarajan committee have been forgotten."The apex court wanted several rows of trees on the western periphery of the city to filter the dust-laden westerlies that blow in from from Rajasthan. That has not happened and greenery here has all but vanished as tall buildings now stand where community ponds once were.District Forest Officer N.K. Janoo, however, says that the green cover has increased by nearly two percent."Green coverage in the district has increased by 0.5 percent, while in the city it has gone up to 14 percent. The SPM level has come down in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal by a good 19 percent, as broad-leaved trees line the roads and habitations. Agra Cantonment has the largest green belt. The Yamuna Kinara road is lined with saplings."Activists like Surendra Sharma, however, say the war on pollution here is as good as lost. Given that authorities are still to even acknowledge the problem, the question, perhaps, is whether that war ever began. —IANS

Even after 20 years of judicial activism, major policy pronouncements and projects worth millions of rupees, this Taj city remains pock-marked with mounds of garbage. Air and water pollution threaten the health of people and the world famous monuments that is visited by millions of tourists every year.

Has Agra Lost The Battle To Pollution?

Kramatorsk: As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defence. The Russian Defense Ministry said Lyman, the second small city to fall this week, had been “completely liberated” by a joint force of Russian soldiers and Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war for eight years in the industrial Donbas region bordering Russia.Ukraine's train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens through Lyman, a key railway hub in the east. Control of it also would give Russia's military another foothold in the region; it has bridges for troops and equipment to cross the Siverskiy Donets river, which has so far impeded the Russian advance into the Donbas. Ukrainian officials have sent mixed signals on Lyman. On Friday, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian troops controlled most of it and were trying to press their offensive toward Bakhmut, another city in the region. On Saturday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar disputed Moscow's claim that Lyman had fallen, saying fighting there was still ongoing.In his Saturday video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the east as “very complicated'' and said that the “Russian army is trying to squeeze at least some result'' by focusing its efforts there. The Kremlin said Putin held an 80-minute phone call Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany in which he warned against the continued transfers of Western weapons to Ukraine and blamed the conflict's disruption to global food supplies on Western sanctions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the chancellor's spokesperson, and called on Putin to engage in serious, direct negotiations with Zelenskyy on ending the fighting. A Kremlin readout of the call said Putin affirmed “the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue.” The three leaders, who had gone weeks without speaking during the spring, agreed to stay in contact, it added. But Russia's recent progress in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas, could further embolden Putin. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, Russia has set out to seize the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. “If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion,” the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Russia has intensified efforts to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, which are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai reported that Ukrainian fighters repelled an assault on Sievierodonetsk but Russian troops still pushed to encircle them. He later said Russian forces had seized a hotel on the city's outskirts, damaged 14 high-rise buildings and were fighting in the streets with Ukrainian forces.Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said the previous day that some 1,500 civilians in the city, which had a prewar population of around 100,000, have died, including from a lack of medicine or diseases that could not be treated. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, AP reporters saw older and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs Friday in Bakhmut. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to persuade reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sievierodonetsk, returned home. “I have to know he is alive. That's why I'm staying here,” said Lvova, 66. On Saturday, people who managed to flee Lysychansk described intensified shelling, especially over the past week, that left them unable to leave basement bomb shelters. Yanna Skakova left the city Friday with her 18-month-old and 4-year-old sons and cried as she sat in a train bound for western Ukraine. Her husband stayed behind to take care of their house and animals. “It's too dangerous to stay there now,” she said, wiping away tears. Russia's advance raised fears that residents could experience the same horrors seen in the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which endured a three-month siege before it fell last week. Residents who had not yet fled faced the choice of trying to do so now or staying. Mariupol became a symbol of massive destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. Mariupol's port has reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia entered the port early Saturday. In the call with Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said, Putin emphasized that Russia was working to “establish a peaceful life in Mariupol and other liberated cities in the Donbas.” Germany and France brokered a 2015 peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that would have given a large degree of autonomy to Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine. However, the agreement stalled long before Russia's invasion in February. Any hope that Paris and Berlin would anchor a renewed peace agreement now appears unlikely with both Kyiv and Moscow taking uncompromising stands. Ukrainian authorities have reported that Kremlin-installed officials in seized cities have started airing Russian news broadcasts, introduced Russian area codes, imported Russian school curriculum and taken other steps to annex the areas. Russian-held areas of the southern Kherson region have shifted to Moscow time and “will no longer switch to daylight saving time, as is customary in Ukraine,” Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Krill Stremousov, a Russian-installed local official, as saying Saturday. In his address Saturday, Zelenskyy also accused Russian forces of preventing Kherson residents from leaving, saying they effectively “try to take people hostage'' in a “sign of weakness.'' The war has caused global food shortages because Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations over which side bears responsibility for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage and Ukraine citing a Russian naval blockade. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said two Russian vessels “capable of carrying up to 16 missiles” were ready for action in the Black Sea, adding that only shipping routes established through multilateral treaties may be considered safe.Ukrainian officials have pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems. Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoliy Antonov, said Saturday that such a move would be “unacceptable” and admonished the White House to “abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine.” Moscow is also trying to rattle Sweden and Finland's determination to join NATO. Russia's Defense Ministry said its navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea that struck its target about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The Zircon, described as the world's fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead and is said to be impossible to stop with current defense systems. Last week Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the country's west in response to Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO.—PTI

As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defence.

Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle

Lucknow: The two Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh in Rampur and Azamgarh is a litmus test for the Samajwadi Party that faces the challenge of holding on to its number two position in the state.The two bypolls will also decide the future of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which is desperately trying to make a comeback on to the centre stage of UP politics.Surprisingly, with just five days left for the two by-elections where polling will be held on June 23, neither Akhilesh Yadav nor Mayawati have yet campaigned for their candidates.The Azamgarh seat was vacated by Akhilesh Yadav who chose to retain his Assembly seat in March this year.His cousin and former MP Dharmendra Yadav is contesting the seat. Akhilesh, on Thursday night, issued an appeal to the voters in both the constituencies to vote for his party.The Samajwadi Party has the highest stakes in these by-elections since both, Azamgarh and Rampur were held by SP.The Bahujan Samaj Party is playing a spoiler for SP in Azamgarh where it has fielded Guddu Jamali, a popular local leader who is likely to wean away Muslim votes.Azamgarh has a sizeable Yadav and Muslim population and any dent in these vote banks could upset the apple cart for SP.Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra unit president Abu Asim Azmi is leading the party's campaign in Muslim-dominated areas of the district.Besides, the BJP has fielded Bhojpuri star Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua who had lost to Akhilesh in 2019 in Azamgarh.The BJP campaign is supported by the presence of other Bhojpuri stars, including Manoj Tiwari, a BJP MP, and Akhilesh's absence is now emerging as a major factor in the constituency.The outcome of the election now depends on how well the BSP candidate performs. The more Muslim votes he pulls out will make it easier for the BJP to find a foothold in the SP bastion.In Rampur, which is Mohd Azam Khan's stronghold, the battle is between SP and BJP.The SP candidate here is Asim Raja, a close confidant of Mohd Azam Khan.Despite his poor health, Azam Khan is campaigning for Asim Raja and his emotional appeals seem to be having the desired impact among voters.The BJP candidate is Ghanshyam Lodhi, also a former Azam Khan acolyte. The BSP has not fielded any candidate in Rampur. Interestingly, the Congress is not participating in the by-elections this time. —IANS

The two Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh in Rampur and Azamgarh is a litmus test for the Samajwadi Party that faces the challenge of holding on to its number two position in the state.

Lok Sabha Polls: A Do-Or-Die Battle For SP

San Francisco: Twitter has now dragged tech investors and entrepreneur friends connected to Elon Musk in the $44 billion takeover deal that has been terminated by the Tesla CEO and a legal trial is set to begin from October 17. According to The Washington Post, Twitter's legal team in a subpoena in the court has asked for "extensive requests for communications, including achecklists, timelines, presentations, decks, organisational calls, meetings, notes, recordings" related to the deal's financing. The top investors mentioned in the subpoena are Marc Andreessen, founder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z), former Facebook executive and CEO of Social Capital, Chamath Palihapitiya and David Sacks who helped Musk with the formation of financial services firm PayPal. Twitter's legal team has also gone after Tesla and SpaceX board member Stephen Jurvetson, and investors Jason Calacanis, Keith Rabois and Joe Lonsdale. Lonsdale, general partner at VC firm 8VC, called Twitter's subpoenas sent to a "giant harassing fishing expedition". "Lawyers w/ TWTR are sending subpoenas to friends in the ecosystem around @elonmusk and @pmarca and @DavidSacks et al, a giant harassing fishing expedition," he posted. "I have nothing to do with this aside from a few snarky comments, but got a 'YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED' document notice," he added. Musk or his legal team were yet to react to the Twitter subpoena. The world's richest person has filed a countersuit against Twitter as part of an ongoing legal dispute with the microblogging platform. However, the lawsuit is not yet accessible to the public and a partially redacted version may be available soon under court rules. The US judge in the Twitter vs Musk legal battle has set October 17 as the beginning date of the high-profile trial for five days. --IANS

San Francisco, Aug 3 (IANS) Twitter has now dragged tech investors and entrepreneur friends connected to Elon Musk in the $44 billion takeover deal that has been terminated by the Tesla CEO and a legal trial is set to begin from October 17.

Twitter drags Elon Musk's billionaire buddies into legal battle

San Francisco, Aug 3 (IANS) Twitter has now dragged tech investors and entrepreneur friends connected to Elon Musk in the $44 billion takeover deal that has been terminated by the Tesla CEO and a legal trial is set to begin from October 17.



New Delhi: Fire and Fury Corps officer Captain Shiva Chauhan became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the highest battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier.
"Capt Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed in Kumar Post, at the highest battlefield of the world," tweeted the official account of Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army.
The Twitter post has added the caption, 'Breaking the Glass Ceiling', celebrating Shiva's feat.
Shiva had to undergo arduous training before her posting in Kumar Post. The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 1984. A team of eight specially-abled people created a world record when they reached Kumar Post at 15,632 feet on the Siachen glacier in September 2021. —ANI

Fire and Fury Corps officer Captain Shiva Chauhan became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the highest battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier.

First Woman Officer Operationally Deployed At Highest Battleground In Siachen

New York (The Hawk): Israel is facing the greatest danger since its inception—not from any regional adversarial power but from within, led by a largely corrupt cast of political characters and shepherded by a criminal who is willing to destroy the country only to escape justice.
It is unfathomable that Israel’s future is now hanging in the balance because of a criminal and morally corrupt prime minister who appears to care less about the country for which the Jews have been yearning for millennia and more about saving his own skin. Netanyahu’s resolve to subordinate the Supreme Court and the judiciary in general to the whims of politicians is tantamount to a coup d’état. He must be ousted by any peaceful, democratic means. The continuing and growing demonstrations by the hundreds of thousands against his perilous scheme clearly attests to the gravest concerns of most Israelis, who fear that their country is on the precipice of disintegration. Netanyahu is betraying the very premise behind Israel’s creation and he must be stopped before it is too late.
The Israelis are now at a fateful crossroad of historic proportions that will determine Israel’s very future while incurring far-reaching implications on world Jewry’s relations to the country. Will Israel remain a Jewish, democratic, and inclusive nation; a haven for any Jew regardless of his/her ideological, religious, gender, and sexual orientation which a majority of Israelis want and seek to preserve? Or will it be an autocratic country governed by religious zealots and extremist Zionist nationalist parties who are determined to hold onto the reins of power at all costs and shape it to fit their messianic mission and forfeit the aspiration of world Jewry to have an independent, democratic, just, and inclusive state?
To achieve his sinister design to cripple the judiciary, Netanyahu put together such a despicable coalition that if it survives and is left to its own devices, it will inflict incalculable damage on Israel on a number of critical fronts: it will effectively destroy Israel’s democratic principles, severely undermine minority rights, precipitate an unprecedented brain drain, bring the immigration of Jews to Israel to a halt while snowballing emigration from Israel, dry out foreign investment, push startup companies from the country in droves, devastate the economy, further deepen poverty, perpetuate the occupation, intensify the violence if not instigate a war with the Palestinians, alienate Israel’s allies, especially the US, and foreclose any prospect of an Israeli-Palestinian peace.
More ominous however than any of the above potential devastating consequences is how the Netanyahu government’s ill-fated attempt to overhaul the judiciary will impact the special relationship between Jews around the world and Israel. The affinity of the Jewish communities to each other has always been based over the centuries on Judaism, which encompassed historic experiences, tradition, and shared values along with incessant trials and tribulations to which many Jewish communities have been subjected.
The ingathering of the Jews from every corner of the world regardless of their religious leanings – be it Orthodox, Reform or Conservative – and irrespective of their country of origin, was the backbone and remains to a great extent the raison d’etre behind Israel’s creation. Should the current Netanyahu government have its way, it will irrevocably tear apart that very bond and destroy the deep affinity and the moral fabric that held the Jews together over the centuries.
The vast majority of Jews around the world are Reform or Conservative, and although they respect the religious institutions in Israel, they do not and will not relate to Israel if it were to become a quasi-theocracy domestically, a Zionist nationalist extremist state outwardly, and an occupying power rendering the country anything but a democracy.
To be sure, Israel, which former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Polosi called “the miracle of the twentieth century,” will become a pariah and an apartheid state of the twenty-first century whose people live and die by the gun.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who like his predecessors normally refrains from getting directly involved in the internal political discourse, is now all but despairing to save the country from the perilous path that Netanyahu has chosen. President Herzog warned that the country was “on the verge of constitutional and social collapse,” and a potentially “violent clash.” The judicial reform proposals, if allowed to pass, will emasculate the Supreme Court and hand over far too much power to the governing coalition, and significantly increase the potential for an authoritarian government.
Netanyahu’s claim that he won a free and fair election with his coalition partners and that he thus has a mandate afforded to him by a majority of the Israeli electorate to pass laws by a simple majority in the Knesset and reform the judiciary is no different. Netanyahu is deliberately being devious, deceitful, and cunning. Reforming the judiciary is not just another bill like those that deal with the budget, military appropriation, or infrastructure.
The role of the judiciary and the power of the Supreme Court in its current statue is embedded in Israel’s Basic Laws. Even if this was not the case, given the gravity and the far-reaching implications of the proposed reforms, Netanyahu’s government cannot simply modify or do away with the Supreme Court’s authority without a national consensus, either by a referendum or by an agreement between the government and the opposition. This is particularly crucial because such presumed reforms will not only allow the Knesset to override by a simple majority any ruling by the Supreme Court, but even more important it removes any checks and balances and accountability on the government, which is at the heart of Israeli democracy given the fact that Israel has no written constitution.
It should also be especially noted that Netanyahu’s so-called reforms will effectively eliminate the obstacles preventing him from enacting legislation that would enable him to escape justice in his ongoing corruption trial. Indeed, no one can take seriously his claim that the proposals are not for his personal benefit. They clearly are. But they are also motivated by the religious parties, whose bigoted leaders are determined to subordinate everything related to Judaism to their whims.
In addition to the authority the Orthodox-controlled Chief Rabbinate of Israel has been exercising since Israel’s inception which includes marriages, divorce, and alimony, now they want greater control over Jewish life in Israel that would severely impede a multitude of Israelis to practice Judaism as they see fit. This would include women’s rights and freedoms, who will be qualified as a Jew, banning all non-essential work on Saturday, discrimination against LGBT+ persons, and who can or cannot pray at the Wailing Wall, among many other archaic laws which are totally unacceptable to most secular Jews.
Moreover, the absurdity and hypocrisy of the ultra-Orthodox Jews is that while they want to impose their will on all Israelis, they demanded and received special rights that exempt young Haredi Jews from serving in the military. Over time, Israel will increasingly resemble Iran and Afghanistan more so than European democracies.
Thus far, Netanyahu and his cohort have refused to heed President Herzog’s call to suspend the legislation process and reconsider his judicial reforms which he presented and which the opposition parties have accepted. Netanyahu’s refusal to enter into serious talks will leave the public with little choice but to continue to pour into the streets by the hundreds of thousands, which may well swell into a million or even more. Air force, intelligence, and drone operator reservists have made it clear that they will not report to duty if this legislation passes, which will introduce a new dimension to the crisis, the likes of which Israel has never faced before.
If Netanyahu still refuses to change course and suspend the proceedings, the Israeli public should call for nationwide civil disobedience to be followed by general strikes that will bring the country to a screeching halt. On the positive side, even if the public will not resort to such extreme measures, this corrupt and fascist government is already finding itself under siege due to the growing discord and squabbles between and within the coalition parties and may well collapse before the end of the year.

In the final analysis, the Israelis are in a fateful battle for the very soul of the country. The demonstrators cannot falter, dither, or vacillate because the fate of Israel and world Jewry is intertwined. How this battle ends will determine whether the Jews can govern themselves and maintain the unique bond and affinity between them, which was the secret behind their survival for millennia.

Israel is facing the greatest danger since its inception—not from any regional adversarial power but from within, led by a largely corrupt cast of political characters and shepherded by a criminal who is willing to destroy the country only to escape justice.

The Battle Over Israel’s Soul

New Delhi: On Monday, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police announced that, following a brief fire battle, they had apprehended two NCR-based offenders wanted in connection with a murder case.
The accused, named Sanjay alias Sanju and Manjeet alias Manja, were in contact with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in an effort to broaden their criminal operation.
"The accused were wanted for the murder of one of their rivals in Sonepat. They had planned to eliminate another of their rivals. The police got a tip-off that the accused would be assembling in the Narela area, following which a team was formed and a raid was conducted.
"After being surrounded by the police, Sanjay fired two rounds at the police party in an attempt to flee. One bullet hit a raiding team member, but fortunately he was wearing a bullet-proof jacket," the police said.
The police responded with a counterattack, capturing both suspects along with their weapons and ammo.
One sophisticated pistol, one magazine, eleven live cartridges of 7.65 calibre and four live cartridges of .315 bore were recovered from their possession.
"They confessed to killing Sunil in Sonepat, who was their rival. The duo said that they, as well as Sunil, were involved in illegal sand mining. Two months back, their tractor collided with that of the deceased who had demanded compensation for the damage. However, the issue got escalated and Sunil and his associates assaulted Sanjay and Deepak, the elder brother of Manjeet. Hence they killed Sunil," the police said.—Inputs from Agencies

On Monday, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police announced that, following a brief fire battle, they had apprehended two NCR-based offenders wanted in connection with a murder case

 Two wanted criminals held in Delhi after brief encounter

Mumbai: Actress Sandhya Mridul, who is receiving a lot of positive response for the second season of 'Taj: Divided by Blood', has shared that her character in the show is a testimony of compassion and strength.

Talking about how the character progresses in the show, the actress said, "You see Jodha supports Salim as he attempts to return from exile. That is when you see how truly self-less, compassionate, and strong a mother she is when it comes to supporting and backing Salim. She doesn't waver for a bit".

She further mentioned, "She may be soft otherwise but when it comes to Salim and his journey, Jodha is his pillar. Additionally, she is not just his pillar she is someone he can trust totally in this bloody battle".

'Taj: Divided by Blood' is available to stream on ZEE5. IANS

Actress Sandhya Mridul, who is receiving a lot of positive response for the second season of 'Taj: Divided by Blood', has shared that her character in the show is a testimony of compassion and strength.

Sandhya Mridul says Jodha in 'Taj' is a mark of strength

Actress Sandhya Mridul, who is receiving a lot of positive response for the second season of 'Taj: Divided by Blood', has shared that her character in the show is a testimony of compassion and strength.


Dehradun (The Hawk): In a momentous stride towards fostering knowledge and empowering the youth, the Indian Army proudly unveiled ‘Battle of Minds’ - Indian Army Quiz 2023 along with its captivating logo, at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment. To announce the commencement of 25th year of Kargil Vijay Divas celebrations, the quiz competition celebrates the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the Kargil War rendering a heartfelt tribute to the bravery and courage of those who made that victory possible. This landmark initiative, symbolized by the newly revealed logo, underscores Army's commitment to nurturing intellectual growth and inspiring young minds across the Nation. The event celebrates the past and aims to ignite a spirit of curiosity and learning among the youth, shaping the leaders of tomorrow. The event was attended by Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The logo for the quiz competition was unveiled by Mrs Archana Pande, President AWWA. Param Vir Chakra Awardees Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retired) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar were also present along with Principals from schools across 36 states and Union Territories of India. The initiative reaches out to approximately 1.5 lakh schools across the country with representation from all districts of India. It aims at registration by approximately 15000 schools. Thus, the competition is expected to engage approximately 1.5 crore students across the nation. Schools will participate with teams of three students plus one reserve. Teams from co-educational schools will have at least one female student. Participants will be in the age group 10 to 16 years (that is broadly standard six to ten). The contest will be conducted in a hybrid i.e. online and offline mode. Beginning at the regional Command level, the competition will then progress to the Inter-Command and finally culminate at the national level.

In a momentous stride towards fostering knowledge and empowering the youth, the Indian Army

Indian Army Quiz 2023—‘Battle Of Minds’ Launched To Commemorate 25th Year Of Kargil Victory

Thiruvananthapuram/Kottayam: Brisk voting took place in the by-election for the Puthuppally assembly constituency in Kerala’s Kottayam district in the first half of Tuesday as intermittent rainfall did not deter voters from exercising their franchise.&nbsp;
With men, women and youngsters queuing up early to cast their votes, polling opened at 7 am to decide whether the opposition UDF would retain the seat held by Congress stalwart and late Kerala CM Oommen Chandy for 53 years, or LDF would attain the figure of 100 in the state assembly.&nbsp;
By afternoon, the voter turnout percentage was more than 44 per cent at the total 182 polling stations in the constituency.
Till 1 pm, 77,675 voters — 39,411 men, 38,262 women and two transgenders — had cast their votes, the district administration said. There are over 1.76 lakh registered voters in the constituency.
The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress are locked in a fierce battle for the assembly seat representing this constituency that fell vacant after the demise of Congress stalwart and former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy.
Chandy represented the constituency in Kottayam district for more than five decades without any break until his demise on July 18.
The Congress-led opposition UDF has fielded Oommen Chandy’s son, Chandy Oommen, which analysts view as an apparent strategy to capitalise on the sympathy wave following the former CM’s death.
The ruling Left front once again decided to go with DYFI leader Jaick C Thomas who had unsuccessfully contested the segment in 2016 and 2021 against the late Chandy.
The BJP has fielded its Kottayam district president, G Lijinlal.
In the present composition of the 2021 Kerala Assembly with a total of 140 seats, the ruling LDF has 99 seats, UDF has 40 seats with one vacant Puthuppally assembly seat.
There are 1,76,417 voters, including 90,281 women, 86,132 men, and four transgenders, in Puthuppally constituency.
—PTI

Brisk voting took place in the by-election for the Puthuppally assembly constituency in Kerala’s Kottayam districtin the first half of Tuesday

 Big turnout in Puthuppally Assembly bypoll in Kerala despite on and off rains

Thiruvananthapuram: One of Kerala’s top IPS officer and SPG chief Arun Kumar Sinha passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, at a Gurugram hospital.
Four years ago, he had left Kerala on central deputation and was attached to the Special Protection Group and even when he superannuated in May this year, he was given an extension as the head of it.
Sinha joined the Kerala cadre of Police here in 1987 and since then he held very crucial posts in the state.&nbsp;
It was when he was holding the post of Additional director general of police he went on central deputation and later was posted into the SPG and passed away while heading it.
His superior and now-retired State Police chief Jacob Punnoose recalled Sinha as one who brought in numerous initiatives in the Kerala Police without taking any credit.
Sinha, who hailed from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, is survived by his wife and two sons.&nbsp;
—IANS

One of Kerala’s top IPS officer and SPG chief Arun Kumar Sinha passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, at a Gurugram hospital

SPG chief Arun Kumar Sinha dies after long battle with cancer

Itanagar: A hardcore NSCN militant was gunned down in a fierce encounter between the extremists and Assam Rifles troopers in Miao district of Arunachal Pradesh, defence officials said on Thursday.
A defence source told IANS that the Assam Rifles had launched a massive operation against the NSCN extremists on Wednesday and at one point of time, the guerillas attacked the security forces leading to the heavy gun battle.
Though one NSCN militant managed to escape, the operation was still in progress, the source said.
A pistol and some ammunition were recovered from the forested areas.
Identity of the NSCN group involved in the encounter was not yet known. Further details of the shootout are awaited.
—IANS

A hardcore NSCN militant was gunned down in a fierce encounter between the extremists and Assam Rifles troopers in Miao district

NSCN militant killed, another flees after encounter with Assam Rifles in Arunachal

Srinagar: <span style="color: rgb(53,53,53);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 14px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji;">At Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, an intense gunbattle has been underway between the terrorists and security forces which entered the fifth day on Sunday.
In a valiant effort to eliminate a group of terrorists, four brave security forces personnel have made the ultimate sacrifice, including an Army Colonel, a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The operation, which has now lasted for over 100 hours and is still underway, has several key challenges.
The unforgiving terrain and dense foliage that provides a perfect cover for the elusive terrorists. To tackle this threat head-on, cutting-edge weaponry, including weaponized drones have been deployed to blast the cave hideouts.
But the stakes are high, and the security forces are proceeding with utmost caution, determined not to incur any more casualties.
"Every effort is made to ensure that the terrorists are neutralised without any collateral damages," an official said.
On Friday night, riveting footage emerged that captured the use of weaponized drones, strategically employed to neutralize terrorist cave hideouts.
The Anantnag operation has evolved into one of the most prolonged military engagements in Kashmir but the security forces are sparing no effort in their mission to eradicate terrorist hideouts nestled within the challenging terrain of Gadool Hill.
Inputs suggest that the area may be concealing two to three terrorists, including two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, among them self-styled LeT commander Uzair Khan.
"Our forces persist with unwavering resolve as they encircle 2 LET terrorists including Uzair Khan," Jammu and Kashmir Police said.
—IANS

At Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, an intense gunbattle has been underway between the terrorists and security forces which entered

100-hour gunbattle in J&K's Kokernag, key challenges

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Idgah Maidan row has come to the fore yet again following the direction of the Karnataka High Court to take a call as per the provisions of the law in connection with permitting the Ganesh festival to be held there.
The High Court (HC) gave the orders on Wednesday while looking into the PIL filed by the Chamarajpet Citizens’ Forum.
The Bench gave directions orally to the Public Prosecutor to verify the demand to celebrate Ganesh festival at the Chamarajpet Idgah Maidan in this regard legally and take a call.
The counsel for the forum, Sreedhar Prabhu, had sought an emergency hearing of the case.
He argued that a memorandum had been submitted to the District Commissioner in this regard and permission had been refused to celebrate the festival.
The forum is arguing that the Chamarajpet Idgah Maidan and playing field belongs to the Revenue Department and celebration of Ganesh festival should be permitted there.
The government had also refused to permit the installation of the Ganesh statue.
The Idgah Maidan row had come to the forefront in Bengaluru during the tenure of the previous BJP government. Hindu organisations had announced a massive rally and given a bandh call on July 12, 2022 urging the authorities to allow Hindu festivals in the ground.
The Hindu organisations have already held a meeting in this regard in the Jangama Mutt of Bengaluru.
Hindu activists had resolved to retain the Idgah Maidan as a playground and 25 Hindu organisations as well as local groups have joined hands to wage a legal battle as well as challenge the claims of the Waqf Board that the Idgah Maidan is its property.
—IANS

The Bengaluru Idgah Maidan row has come to the fore yet again following the direction of the Karnataka High Court to take a call

Idgah maidan row: K’taka HC leaves it to authorities to permit Ganesh festival

Los Angeles: Actor and rapper Nashawn Breedlove, who starred in the film ‘8 Mile’, has died aged 46. The actor was known for taking on Eminem in a rap battle. Breedlove played the formidable opponent Lotto in the 2002 film, loosely based on rapper Eminem's life, and appeared on the soundtrack for the 2001 film The Wash, reports BBC.  His mother confirmed his death on social media on Tuesday. He died in his sleep at his home in New Jersey on Sunday, TMZ reported.  Rapper Mickey Factz remembered him as one of the few "to beat Eminem."  "You will be missed for your tenacity and aggressiveness," he added in the tribute posted to Instagram.  "Nashawn was so humble and modest he didn't even know he had true fans," a comment under the post read.  "No one could deny his talent," his mother wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.   "Nashawn's departure from this world has left an immense void in my life, one that words cannot fully express. I can't put into words the pain and hurt that I feel. He was not just my son; he was a remarkable man whose character and strength inspired all who crossed his path."   Many paying tribute to Breedlove fondly remembered his scene in 8 Mile, when his character Lotto takes on Eminem's B-Rabbit and raps, "I feel bad I gotta murder that dude from Leave it to Beaver".  Though he ended up losing the battle, his performance left the entire crowd whooping and clapping in the film. The film received critical acclaim and was a massive commercial success, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Lose Yourself by Eminem.
—IANS

Actor and rapper Nashawn Breedlove, who starred in the film ‘8 Mile’, has died aged 46.

‘8 mile’ actor Nashawn Breedlove dies aged 46

New Delhi [India]: The Delhi High Court has modified the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued under the Black Money Act from debarment of travel to intimation only for a businessman alleging his involvement in a network of companies that were transferring funds to Hong Kong. Investigation revealed transactions amounting to approximately Rs. 300 crores in the bank account of a Hong Kong-based company and the Petitioner/businessman was alleged to be the authorized signatory for this Company’s account, which had not been disclosed in the income tax returns.
The bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh in an order passed on September 26, 2023, stated that this Court is of the opinion that stringent conditions deserve to be imposed upon the Petitioner. The LOC debarring him from travelling can be converted into an intimation about the arrival/departure of the Petitioner in terms of Clause 6(I) of the Office Memorandum of 2021. This court is of the opinion that this is not a case that would be detrimental to the economic interest of the country as there is no allegation that the Petitioner has siphoned off any public funds, said the Court.
"While the demand against the Petitioner has already been raised and the assessment order has already been passed under the Black Money Act, 2015, the appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) is still pending. Fresh penalty proceedings are still underway, and the Court is informed that prosecution is also sought to be initiated after the final oral submissions in this matter stand concluded," stated the court. Advocate Akhil Sibal and Advocate Gaurav Gupta appeared for the businessman and submitted that LOC should only be justified in exceptional cases when a person's travel poses a significant threat to India's economic interests. However, this standard has not been met in this case. No criminal proceedings had been initiated against the Petitioner and the mere possibility of a prosecution being launched in the future does not justify issuance of LOC. The LOC mechanism is clearly being misused by the Respondents. The Petitioner stated that the right to travel abroad being a fundamental right under Article 21, can only be impeded by procedure established by law, submitted Lawyers Akhil Sibal and Gaurav Gupta. The case involves significant financial penalties imposed on the Petitioner under the Black Money Act, 2015, totalling approximately Rs. 169 crores, along with an additional demand of around Rs. 56 crores as per the assessment order issued under Section 10(3) of the Act. Furthermore, there's a total demand of approximately Rs. 72 crores under the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the Petitioner, stated Income Tax Department. "The penalty under Section 41 of the Black Money Act, of 2015, is three times the tax computed. If the declaration under Section 59 had been made initially, a 30% tax would have been due along with a 100% penalty under Section 61. However, the Petitioner deliberately avoided making such a declaration," stated the IT Department.
—ANI

The Delhi High Court has modified the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued under the Black Money Act from debarment of travel to intimation only for a businessman

Delhi High Court modifies LOC issued under Black Money Act from debarment of travel to intimation only

Fazilka (Punjab): After being not allowed to meet Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira in Fazilka, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab legislative Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday said that they will fight this vendetta of the AAP party legally and on the streets. Congress workers led by Punjab party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa gathered outside the Fazilka CIA office where they were denied to meet Khaira.  
"Went to meet our MLA Sukhpal Khaira in Fazilka today with the senior leadership of Punjab Congress. The police stopped us from meeting him. We will fight this vendetta of the AAP party legally and on the streets. We won’t be cowed down by such pressure tactics," Bajwa posted on X (Formerly Twitter).&nbsp;
He further condemned the Punjab police and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that the Congress has not seen this kind of situation in Punjab. "I want to condemn Bhawant Mann's action. Mann thinks he will be in the government forever but he is wrong everyone has to go and his government will also go," he said while speaking to reporters outside Sardar police station.  "As I am the Leader of the Opposition it is our constitutional right to meet Khaira. We were supposed to meet him in the custody of the police officials but they didn't allow us. It was a courtesy call and wanted to tell him that the Congress party and each and every leader of the party is with him, nothing more than this," he said. He added that the Congress leaders are organizing a dharna in Bathinda against the arrest. Meanwhile, Punjab unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday said that we will fight till the end. "Vendetta politics is being done by involving him (Sukhpal Singh Khaira) in an old case. We will first meet Khaira and after meeting him we will decide what we have to do. This is being done to take revenge," Punjab Congress chief Warring said while speaking to reporters. Earlier on Thursday, Khaira was arrested from his residence and later was sent to a two-day police remand by Fazlika's Jalalabad court in connection with a 2015 drugs smuggling case. Fazlika's Jalalabad court sent Khaira to police custody till September 30. Sukhpal Khaira was arrested in connection with an old case registered in 2015 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Earlier in 2015, there were two cases originated with the unearthing of a cross-border drug smuggling network in Fazilka, Punjab, leading to the seizure of heroin, gold biscuits, weapons, cartridges, and Pakistani SIM cards and the second of a fake passport racket being run in Delhi. As the trial went on, nine smugglers, including Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh, and Subhash Chander, were sentenced in October 2017 in connection with the Fazilka case. As per the chargesheet, Sukhpal Khaira wasclosely associated with Gurdev Singh, the leader of the Fazilka drug smuggling racket, and was accused of having sheltered him. The primary accusations against Khaira included supporting an international gang of smugglers, having sheltered him and receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and enjoying the proceeds of crime. On February 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drugs case. The arrest of Sukhpal Khaira is expected to further dent the relations of AAP and the Congress which have come together to form the INDIA alliance at the centre. The state unit of the Congress has opposed any tie-up or seatsharing arrangement with the AAP in Punjab.
—ANI

After being not allowed to meet Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira in Fazilka, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab legislative Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa

"We will fight this vendetta of AAP legally," Partap Singh Bajwa

Los Angeles (US): British actor Jodie Turner-Smith has filed for divorce to end her marriage to Canadian actor Joshua Jackson in Los Angeles Superior Court, People reported. Jackson and Turner-Smith married in late 2019, and their first child, a daughter, was born in April 2020.
This was the first marriage for both actors. A source confirmed to People that Turner-Smith has requested 50/50 split custody in her filing. The couple celebrated her 37th birthday in New York City on September 9, and were also recently photographed at New York Fashion Week. However, Turner-Smith attended last week's Albie Awards alone, hosted by George Clooney. Turner-Smith previously said that she had been a fan of Jackson's since his days on Dawson's Creek and that they first met at Usher's 40th birthday party in 2018.’
"When I first met my husband, we had a one-night stand," the actress revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021. "We're in a two, three-year one-night stand now." Jackson and Turner-Smith fuelled rumours of an impending wedding in August 2019 after they appeared to pick up a marriage licence in Beverly Hills, California. PEOPLE later reported that the couple married in December 2019. In April 2021, the Murder Mystery 2 actress told PEOPLE how lucky she and Jackson were to have met. "I think it's really beautiful to be with someone who is so supportive and so loving," she shared, adding, "We're so similar in so many ways. We're like mirrors for each other. And I just really love that human being." Jackson told Andy Cohen of Watch What Happens Live in May that he knew Turner-Smith was "the one" when she "walked into the room looking like that." Turner-Smith told Forbes in 2022 that she wanted to marry her husband because of "how loved and supported I felt by him" back then. "I had never been with anyone who I thought was wanting to lift me up the way that I felt that he was lifting me up," she revealed at the time. "That is one of my favorite things about him."
—ANI

British actor Jodie Turner-Smith has filed for divorce to end her marriage to Canadian actor Joshua Jackson in Los Angeles Superior Court

Jodie Turner-Smith, Joshua Jackson getting divorced after 4 years of marriage

California [US]: Oscar-nominated actor Ryan O'Neal, who rose to fame with his role as Rodney Harrington in the nighttime soap opera 'Peyton Place' and went on to star in films such as 'Love Story', 'What's Up, Doc?', 'Paper Moon', and 'Barry Lyndon', has passed away at the age of 82, reported Variety. O'Neal was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia in 2001 and with prostate cancer in 2012.
His son Patrick confirmed the news on Instagram through an emotional post about his father.  He wrote, "Ryan was a very generous man who has always been there to help his loved ones for decade upon decade. I will share my father's legacy forever. I will not be deterred from outside voices that say negative things. If you choose to talk shit about my dad, even though you have no clue what you are talking about, you will get called out. If you go that route, I recommend you take a good look in the mirror first." "My dad was 82, and lived a kick ass life. I hope the first thing he brags about in Heaven is how he sparred 2 rounds with Joe Frazier in 1966, on national TV, with Muhammad Ali doing the commentary, and went toe to toe with Smokin' Joe," he mentioned in his post. He concluded the post with, "I'll miss you dad. I love you. We love you. No one told a story better than Ryan O'Neal. 4/20/41 ~ 12/8/2023"

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m1qqNyBE1/?hl=en" target="_self">https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m1qqNyBE1/?hl=en</a>&nbsp;
Later in his career, O'Neal's acting skills frequently took a back seat to media coverage of his personal struggles, which included his difficult relationship with longtime companion Farrah Fawcett, who died of cancer in 2009, and with his children, including Redmond O'Neal and actress Tatum O'Neal. According to Variety, in the 1970s, he was a marquee draw. In 1973, he ranked behind only Clint Eastwood in terms of box office draw -- and ahead of stars like Steve McQueen, Burt Reynolds, and Robert Redford.  'Love Story' was the top film of 1970, making $106 million in the United States and Canada, and was the sixth highest-grossing film of all time at the time. The melodramatic romance, based on Erich Segal's blockbuster novel, was also a cultural sensation, with its signature line of dialogue, "Love means never having to say you're sorry," spoken both by Ali MacGraw and O'Neal at different times, inspiring parody for decades. 'Love Story' received seven Academy Award nominations, including one for O'Neal as lead actor. In 1978, O'Neal returned to co-star in the adaptation of Segal's sequel "Oliver's Story" with Candice Bergen. O'Neal began his career in television, appearing on shows such as "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "The Untouchables," "Leave It to Beaver," and "My Three Sons" before being cast as the second male lead in the modern Western series "Empire," starring Richard Egan, at the age of 22.  The actor made his feature-film debut in 1969 with "The Big Bounce," an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel in which he co-starred with Leigh-Taylor Young, who had been hired as Farrow's successor on "Peyton Place" and married O'Neal in 1967. O'Neal's memoir "Both of Us: My Life With Farrah" was published in May 2012. O'Neal was married twice, both times to actresses: Joanna Moore, who died in 1997, and Leigh Taylor-Young. He is survived by daughter Tatum and son Griffin, by Moore; son Patrick, an actor and sportscaster, by Taylor-Young; and son Redmond, from his relationship with Fawcett, reported Variety.
—ANI

Oscar-nominated actor Ryan O'Neal, who rose to fame with his role as Rodney Harrington in the nighttime soap opera 'Peyton Place'

Oscar-nominated actor Ryan O'Neal passes away at 82

Mumbai: Veteran actor Ravindra Berde, who starred in several Marathi and Hindi films, died on Tuesday night at his residence here after a long battle with throat cancer.
According to reports, Berde, who was the brother of late actor Laxmikant Berde, was undergoing treatment at the Tata Memorial hospital in suburban Bandra here.  "Ravindra Berde ji passed away last night at his residence following a long battle with throat cancer," Laxmikant Berde's wife Priya told PTI on Wednesday via a text message.  The Indian Film &amp; TV Directors' Association shared the news of Berde's death on its official X page.  "@DirectorsIFTDA mourns the demise of veteran Marathi Actor Ravindra Berde. We pray to the Almighty to bless his noble soul and give courage to his bereaved family to bear the irreplaceable loss," the association said in the post.  Berde, who was in his late 70s, had starred both Marathi and Hindi movies such as "Aayatya Gharat Gharoba", "Pachadlela", "Thartharat", "Bhutacha Bhau" as well as "Singham", "Shodh", "Khatarnak", and "Yeshwant".
—PTI

Veteran actor Ravindra Berde, who starred in several Marathi and Hindi films, died on Tuesday night at his residence here after a long battle

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Has Agra Lost The Battle To Pollution?

Inam Ansari

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Has Agra Lost The Battle To Pollution?

Inam Ansari

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