New Delhi (TIP)- India’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of the ongoing financial year accelerated to 7.6 per cent year-on-year, showed data shared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Thursday, Nov 30.
In the same period last year, the GDP growth stood at 6.2 per cent.
However, the GDP growth in the second quarter was marginally lower in comparison with the first quarter of FY24. In the first quarter, the GDP growth stood at 7.8 per cent.
It may be noted that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had estimated GDP growth in the July-September quarter at 6.5 per cent. A Reuters poll of economists had estimated GDP growth at 6.8 per cent, despite the global economic slowdown.
The stronger-than-expected growth can be attributed to strong urban consumption, manufacturing, and higher government spending. Manufacturing growth came in at 13.9 per cent, while construction growth stood at 13.3 per cent.
The estimated Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices for Q2 2023-24 stands at Rs 71.66 lakh crore, reflecting a 9.1 per cent growth compared to Rs 65.67 lakh crore in Q2 2022-23, where the growth rate was 17.2 per cent.
Meanwhile, the estimated GDP at current prices for the first half of 2023-24 is Rs 142.33 lakh crore, compared to Rs 131.09 lakh crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, indicating a growth of 8.6 per cent in H1 2023-24, as opposed to 22.2 per cent in H1 2022-23.
Month: December 2023
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India’s GDP growth accelerates to 7.6% in July-September quarter
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Average long-term US mortgage rate falls to 7.22%
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell for the fifth week in a row, more good news for prospective homebuyers grappling with an increasingly unaffordable housing market.
The latest decline brought the average rate on a 30-year mortgage down to 7.22% from 7.29% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.49%.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now at the lowest level it’s been in 10 weeks, when it was 7.19%. “Market sentiment has significantly shifted over the last month, leading to a continued decline in mortgage rates,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The current trajectory of rates is an encouraging development for potential homebuyers, with purchase application activity recently rising to the same level as mid-September when rates were similar to today’s levels.” While the recent string of rate declines are welcome news for would-be homebuyers, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was around 3%.
Higher rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already out of reach for many Americans. They also discourage homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two years ago from selling. The average rate on a 30-year home loan climbed above 6% in September 2022 and has remained above that threshold since. In late October, it climbed to 7.79%, the highest level on records going back to late 2000. That helped push up the median monthly payment listed on home loan applications in October to $2,199, a 9.3% increase from a year earlier. -
Alibaba arm exits Zomato, sells stake for Rs 3,337 crore
Alipay Singapore Holding, an arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, on Wednesday divested its entire 3.44% stake in food delivery aggregator Zomato for Rs 3,337 crore through open market transactions. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Max Life Insurance, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (MF), Birla MF, Morgan Stanley, India Acorn ICAV, Societe Generale, Government of Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte, Government Pension Fund Global and Veritas Asset Management, among others were the buyers of shares of Zomato. Alipay Singapore Holding Pte sold more than 29.60 crore shares of Zomato in 31 tranches on the BSE. According to the block deal data available with BSE, the shares were sold at an average price of Rs 112.7 apiece.
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iOS17 update adds new feature that raises privacy concern
A new iOS17 update has added a feature called ‘NameDrop’ that has raised privacy concerns among iPhone users. The new ‘NameDrop’ feature enables users to quickly share their contact information with nearby iPhones or Apple Watches, rather than handing over their phone to a new person to exchange information.
According to Fox23, several local law enforcement agencies in the US, like Dewey police expressed concern about the update. According to them, this feature is ‘ON’ by default, so if you want to shut it off, go to Settings, tap General, then AirDrop, then ‘Bringing Devices Together’ and change it to off.
Police also said that “you should remember to do this on your children’s phone too if you choose to.”While the feature is enabled by default, it should be noted that the user must manually authorise any information sent and has the option to decline.
Many users took to social media to warn against utilising the new feature.“The NameDrop feature aims to make sharing contacts easy but at a privacy cost. Without knowing, you could be sharing your info with nearby iPhone users,” a user warned on X.
“Dear iPhone users: How to turn NameDrop off after update. 1. Go to Settings 2. Tap ‘General’ 3. Tap ‘AirDrop’ 4. Toggle ‘Bringing Devices Together’ to off. You’re welcome,” another user wrote.
One more user mentioned, “FAQ: Is NameDrop always enabled? Yes, it’s on by default. This means your iPhone could be oversharing without you realising”.
Source: IANS -
Antarctic glacier moves 8km after being stable for 50 years
As the world prepares for the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, a stark reminder of the climate crisis’s impact comes from Antarctica, where scientists have observed a dramatic event: the collapse of the ice shelf extending from Cadman Glacier on the west Antarctic Peninsula.
This collapse has left the glacier vulnerable to the ocean’s warm waters, resulting in an accelerated retreat that signals a worrying trend in polar ice dynamics. The findings, published in Nature Communications, are the result of meticulous research by an international team from the University of Leeds, Lancaster University, ENVEO, the University of Delaware, and the British Antarctic Survey.
Utilising data from nine satellite missions, including ESA’s CryoSat and Europe’s Copernicus Sentinel-1, the researchers were able to track significant changes in the ice shelf and glacier over time.
Their analysis revealed that between November 2018 and May 2021, Cadman Glacier retreated by an astonishing eight kilometers after remaining stable for approximately half a century. The rapid change is attributed to ocean water temperatures around the west Antarctic Peninsula that were up to 2°C warmer than average during 2018–2019.Benjamin Wallis, a researcher from the University of Leeds who led the study, shared insights into the mechanisms behind this dramatic shift. According to Wallis, the warmer waters likely began undermining the Cadman Ice Shelf as early as the 1970s, with the effects becoming pronounced by the early 2000s.
The warmth penetrated not just the surface but also the deeper layers of the ocean, potentially reaching the point where the ice shelf was grounded on the seafloor. This bottom-up melting was captured through satellite observations.
Ice shelves play a crucial role in the stability of glaciers; they act as a buttress, floating on the ocean surface and sometimes anchoring to the ocean floor, which slows down the flow of glacial ice toward the sea. The loss of the Cadman Ice Shelf has removed this critical support, allowing the glacier to discharge more ice into the ocean at an alarming rate.
The implications of this research are profound. It underscores the sensitivity of Antarctic glaciers to oceanic temperature changes and highlights the potential for rapid ice loss in response to climate change.
As global leaders convene to discuss climate action, the situation in Antarctica serves as a powerful call to address the warming oceans that threaten not only polar regions but global sea levels and ecosystems.
Source: India Today -
NASA to send Indian to International Space Station, says ISRO chief S Somanath
ISRO chief S Somanath has confirmed that NASA is working towards sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). This announcement follows the comments made by NASA chief Bill Nelson, who is in India on an official visit. The idea was first floated in high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, said Somanath in Kolkata today. “We are taking it forward; that’s what the NASA chief said — that Indian astronauts will be flying to the ISS in an American vehicle,” Somanath said.
The collaboration marks a milestone in Indo-US space relations and underscores the growing partnership between the two nations in the realm of space exploration.
Somanath emphasised the importance of the programme being beneficial for India. He said astronauts would be given comprehensive training in NASA facilities. -
YouTube rolls out over 30 ‘Playables’ mini-games for Premium users
In an effort to lure users to subscribe to its paid Premium service, Google-owned YouTube has rolled out a collection of mini-games called “Playables”, offering more than 30 mini-games that can be played instantly, without the need for any downloads.
The games can be played on Android, iOS and desktop.
To begin, users can navigate to a “Playables” shelf by scrolling on Home or by clicking a “Playables” link in the Explore menu on desktop and mobile, reports TechCrunch.
The games available are Daily Solitaire, The Daily Crossword, Angry Birds Showdown, Merge Pirates, Farm Land, Words of Wonder, Endless Siege, 8 Ball Billiards Classic, and Brain Out.
The games may not be available at all times, as YouTube stated that they are only playable until March 28. This limited-time access might be used by YouTube to gather feedback from its Premium subscribers before making any further choices about expanding its gaming capabilities.
Meanwhile, YouTube has said it is testing new generative AI features that’ll let people create music tracks using just a text prompt or a simple hummed tune. The company introduced Dream Track, an experiment on YouTube Shorts which is powered by Google DeepMind’s most advanced music generation model to date, Lyria. Source: IANS -
Low-dose radiation therapy may reduce inflammation, improve heart function
Cardiologists and radiation oncologists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis pioneered the use of radiation therapy — a tactic generally employed against cancer — to treat patients with ventricular tachycardia, a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. The research team discovered that low-dose radiation therapy appears to enhance heart function in various forms of heart failure after analysing the cardiac effects of radiation in a small number of these individuals and modelling the effects of low-dose radiation in mice with heart failure.
More research is needed before the researchers can test this therapy in heart failure patients, but the study implies that the effects of radiation on wounded hearts with high levels of inflammation may be more variable — and maybe helpful — than previously recognised. According to the study, which was published in the journal Med, low-dose radiation therapy improves cardiac function, at least in part, by reducing the amount of inflammatory immune cells in the heart muscle.
“The radiation therapy used to treat ventricular tachycardia is targeted to a specific location in the heart; however, a large portion of the rest of the heart gets a low-dose exposure,” said co-senior author and cardiologist Ali Javaheri, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine. “We wanted to understand the effects of that low-dose radiation on these patients’ hearts. There was concern that it could be harmful to overall heart function, even though it treats dangerous arrhythmia. We were surprised to find the opposite: Heart function appeared to be improved after radiation therapy, at least in the short term.”
About 6.2 million American adults currently live with heart failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of heart failure patients hospitalised for the condition die within five years of that first hospitalisation, demonstrating a need for better therapies. A failing heart gradually loses its ability to properly supply the body with oxygenated blood. A complex condition, heart failure can have diverse triggers, including a past heart attack, viral infection or chronic arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia.
A group of nine patients with ventricular tachycardia was evaluated with a cardiac MRI before and after radiation treatment, with the MRIs showing improved heart function soon after radiation.
Source: ANI -
Lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol
High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Medications can help improve your cholesterol. But if you’d rather first make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol, try these five healthy changes. If you already take medications, these changes can improve their cholesterol-lowering effect.
Eat heart-healthy foods
A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health:
Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. Decreasing your consumption of saturated fats can reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the “bad” cholesterol.
Eliminate trans fats. Trans fats, sometimes listed on food labels as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil,” are often used in margarines and store-bought cookies, crackers and cakes. Trans fats raise overall cholesterol levels. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids don’t affect LDL cholesterol. But they have other heart-healthy benefits, including reducing blood pressure. Foods with omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, mackerel, herring, walnuts and flaxseeds.
Increase soluble fiber. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.
Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy. Studies have shown that whey protein given as a supplement lowers both LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol as well as blood pressure.
Exercise on most days of the week
Exercise can improve cholesterol. Moderate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol. With your doctor’s OK, work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week or vigorous aerobic activity for 20 minutes three times a week.
Adding physical activity, even in short intervals several times a day, can help you begin to lose weight. Consider:
Taking a brisk daily walk during your lunch hour
Riding your bike to work
Playing a favorite sport
To stay motivated, consider finding an exercise buddy or joining an exercise group.
Quit smoking
Quitting smoking improves your HDL cholesterol level. The benefits occur quickly:
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your blood pressure and heart rate recover from the cigarette-induced spike
Within three months of quitting, your blood circulation and lung function begin to improve
Within a year of quitting, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker
Lose weight
Carrying even a few extra pounds contributes to high cholesterol. Small changes add up. If you drink sugary beverages, switch to tap water. Snack on air-popped popcorn or pretzels — but keep track of the calories. If you crave something sweet, try sherbet or candies with little or no fat, such as jelly beans. Source: Mayoclinic -
Spices, veggies help you kill diabetes, heart disease
Including magnesium rich food like spices, nuts, beans, cocoa, whole grains and green leafy vegetables in your diet daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes, reveals a study published in the open access journal BMC Medicine.
Researchers found that people in the highest category of dietary magnesium consumption had a 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease, 12% lower risk of stroke and a 26% lower risk of type-2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest category.
Their results also indicate that an extra 100 mg per day of dietary magnesium could also reduce risk of stroke by seven percent and type-2 diabetes by 19%.
Low levels of magnesium in the body have been associated with a range of diseases, but no conclusive evidence has been put forward on the link between dietary magnesium and health risks.
Meta-analysis provides the most up-to-date evidence supporting a link between the role of magnesium in food and reducing the risk of disease.
This analysis of the evidence on dietary magnesium and health outcomes is the largest to date, involving data from more than one million people across nine countries. The current health guidelines recommend a magnesium intake of around 300 mg per day for men and 270 mg per day for women. Despite this, magnesium deficiency is relatively common, affecting between 2.5% and 15% of the general population. The findings will be important for informing the public and policy makers on dietary guidelines to reduce magnesium deficiency related health risks. -
Chilli Paneer
Chilli Paneer is one of the most popular recipes in Indo-Chinese cuisine. It is simply flour or batter coated fried paneer cubes tossed in a spicy, salty, tangy and sweet sauce made with green bell peppers, garlic, ginger, green chillies, soy sauce and more seasonings. There are three primary ways of making it, including dry, semi dry or gravy versions.
In a typical Chilli Paneer recipe, the paneer cubes are coated with either a thin dusting of flour or are batter coated prior to being fried. The fried cheese cubes are then tossed in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce that is, as the Americans say, “finger-licking good.”
INGREDIENTS
250 gm cubed paneer, 2 chopped,de seeded Capsicum ( Green Pepper), 4 cloves chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1 cup Veg stock, 2 chopped into cubes Onion, 8 chopped Green Chilli, 2 tablespoon light soya sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cup Refined oil, 3 tablespoon Corn starch.
Method
– Cut paneer into 1 inch cubes and sprinkle 2 tablespoon cornstarch over it. Toss the paneer lightly to coat the corn starch. Take care not to break the paneer.
– Heat sufficient oil in a kadai, when oil is medium hot, add the paneer pieces and deep fry on medium heat until the edges start to turn brown. Take care to fry in batches. Drain on absorbent paper and set aside.
– Cut the onion into 8 pieces and remove the smaller inner pieces from it. Then cut each capsicum into 8 pieces and deseed them. And cut the green chilies into slices. Set them all aside.
– Blend remaining corn starch (nearly a tablespoon) along with tomato ketchup and white vinegar in the vegetable stock. Let it rest and keep aside.
– Heat two tablespoons of oil in a sauce pan, add crushed garlic to fairly hot oil and saute for about 10 seconds or till light golden in colour. Stir-fry for a minute.
– Add sliced green chillies, onions and green capsicum to the wok and fry on high flame for 30 seconds. Add the remaining capsicum and toss well for another minute. The vegetables should be cooked but crisp. Saute for a couple of minutes.
– Add the corn slurry over high heat, stirring till the sauce is thick enough to coat the paneer and the vegetables. Serve it hot immediately. -
Home remedies to get rid of blackheads
Blackheads are small bumps that appear due to pores becoming clogged with oil and dead skin but cinnamon and honey can help in combating this because of anti-bacterial qualities, says an expert.
– Baking soda: Baking soda isn’t just for baking or keeping your refrigerator smelling fresh. The antiseptic quality of it makes it a wonderful product for your skin. It works as an exfoliant to scrub away dead skin cells leaving skin soft and smooth. Baking soda also helps to neutralize the skin’s pH, it encourages the skin to produce less oil which means that after regular use, you may be able to say goodbye to those blackheads for good.
– Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an anti-bacterial spice that can be used to make an aromatic face mask that offers all sorts of benefits to the skin, including the removal of blackheads. It also helps to eliminate flaky skin as well as acne, and it can be used as a body scrub for a smoother, more glowing complexion.
– Honey: Honey is both antibacterial and antiseptic, properties that help remove blackheads by destroying germs or impurities that clog pores, making it another great choice for those with acne related blackheads. Honey also acts as a natural antibiotic, helping to pull dirt from the pores of the skin to clear blackheads as well as tightening and hydrating the pores for a clearer complexion.
– Epsom salts: Epsom salts are not only great for easing sore muscles, they can also help to remove blackheads. -
Ways to care for your hair like a model
When it comes to maintaining gorgeous voluminous hair, models definitely know a thing or two. Considering Fashion Week is synonymous with multiple hairstyling sessions, late nights, and lots of coffee, you realize that their great hair is the result of some serious amazing hair care routine. Dyson India got on a candid chat backstage with a few models and they shared the hair care tips they swear by.
Investing in a high-quality hairbrush
Anita Kumar, model, shares, “Some hairbrushes are really damaging to the hair as they’re far too hard and can pull and break the hair, leaving split ends. Investing in a good hairbrush can help care for your tresses each day.” The Dyson Paddle brush is designed for smoothing hair when drying and styling. With a weighted handle for balance, and air-cushion suspension for scalp comfort.
Using Coconut Oil
The age-old coconut oil is super nourishing and ultra-hydrating for tresses that need life after excessive styling. Pallavi Singh, model, shared with the brand that one of the simplest but effective tricks is to use coconut oil on the scalp and ends and tie your hair into a shower cap. Leave it on for thirty minutes and wash it off with a clarifying shampoo to transform your hair and add shine.
Self-styling with the right tools
with less heat damage
As models go through extensive heat styling during fashion shows, they try to avoid using heat while self-styling. But, on days when they really need to get that lustrous curl for a date night or outing with friends, they prefer using the Dyson Airwrap Multi-styler which helps in styling the hair with no extra heat damage. And, it saves a lot of time as they get salon-like hair at home.
Letting your hair dry naturally
Letting your hair dry naturally helps in reviving your hair. Nisha Yadav swears by not using hair sprays and using avocado or olive oil as a hydrating mask which helps give her hair a day off.
Saving your hair from
mechanical damage
Our hair goes through mechanical damage which can’t be reversed. To avoid such damage, many models suggested using an old T-shirt or a micro-fibre towel to wrap your hair after a wash. Wet strands are much more fragile and prone to breakage and the harsh fibres of a towel can be too aggressive. They also suggested using a satin pillow cover to help improve the health and appearance of your hair. Satin pillowcases are smooth and slippery, which means they create less friction with your hair than traditional cotton pillowcases. This can help prevent hair breakage, tangles, and frizz, especially if you tend to move around a lot in your sleep.
Source: News18 -
‘Leave The World Behind’: Strangers, danger and layers, says Julia Roberts
U.S. actress Julia Roberts says her new film “Leave The World Behind” is a multilayered disaster thriller that allowed her to play someone very different from herself. Executive produced by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the movie is written and directed by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail and based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. It sees Roberts’ character Amanda, her husband and two children head on an impromptu holiday in a small Long Island town. Their getaway is interrupted when a man and his daughter, played by Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold, turn up on their doorstep claiming to be the owners of the upmarket residence and requesting to stay the night. As tension builds between the two families, strange events start occurring around them and they find themselves under the same roof trying to make sense of the chaos outside.
Source: Reuters -
Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Michelle Williams, and more glam up for Beyoncé’s Renaissance Film Premiere
2023 has been a standout year for pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, with both enjoying record-breaking world tours. The red carpet is bustling with excitement at the premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé on Nov. 30. Taylor Swift, Michelle Williams, and Blake Lively have already graced the star-studded event, showcasing their unwavering support and embracing girl power for the ‘queen bey’. The celebrities dazzled on the red carpet, dressing in accordance with the themes of “most fabulous silver fashions.”
From Kansas City to London, Taylor Swift surprised everyone with her attendance at Beyoncé’s Renaissance Film Premiere on November 30. The Lover Singer donned a floor-length Balmain gown, matching black Giuseppe Zanotti slingback heels, and jewelry with intricate details. Well, fans see ‘No rivalry’ here. Back in October, Beyoncé attended Era’s Tour premiere held in LA and now Taylor is here to shower her support in return.
Whether it’s a movie premiere or a major gala, Blake Lively is the queen of the red carpet when it comes to elegance. She looked stunning wearing a black coat, Christian Louboutin platforms, and a miniskirt with beadwork. The night’s biggest attraction, Beyoncé, looked amazing in the Balmain PF23 silver collection during the after-party. The former member of Destiny’s Child made a statement on the red carpet by adorning herself with a chic silver long-sleeve minidress, black stockings, loose hair, and understated makeup.Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé’s eleven-year-old daughter, looked gorgeous in an all-black outfit. wearing a pair of stylish black shades and an off-the-shoulder black gown.
Source: HT -
Jennifer Lawrence shrugs off plastic surgery rumors: ‘I’m just aging gracefully’
Jennifer Lawrence has set the record straight regarding all the plastic surgery rumors in the air. The Hunger Games star responded strongly in a recent conversation with Kylie Jenner for the interview, denying any allegations that she had undergone facial procedures and attributing her youthful appearance to makeup skills and graceful aging. Jennifer Lawrence denied the possibility that she had cosmetic surgery, explaining instead that makeup has amazing transforming powers. “I also think it’s incredible what makeup can do because I work with Hung [Vanngo], who overlines the lip, and I call him a plastic surgeon because everybody in the last few months since I’ve been working with him, is convinced that I had eye surgery”.
The Red Sparrow actress emphasizes once more that she is not getting surgery for eyes—rather, she is only applying cosmetics. The plastic surgery rumors began circulating after Jennifer Lawrence attended the Dior Fashion Show. Netizens were quick to notice a dramatic shift in her appearance as compared to her earlier looks.
The actress responded to critics on social media, disputing rumors that she had a nose job or lip fillers, asserting that her transformed appearance is simply a result of graceful aging. Further stating that she lost the baby weight, Jennifer said: “I started at 19, so I get the before and after pictures from when I’m 19 to 30 and I’m like, ‘I grew up. I lost baby weight in my face, and my face changed because I’m aging”. “Everybody thought I had a nose job, and I’m like, ‘I’ve had the exact same nose. My cheeks got smaller. Thank you for bringing it up” she added.
Source: HT -
Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram tie the knot in traditional Manipuri wedding
Actors Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram have tied the knot in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony in Imphal on Wednesday, November 29. Randeep dressed in white, looked like a beautiful Manipuri groom as he was surrounded by his family and relatives. Another video from the wedding ceremony has Lin dressed as a traditional Manipuri bride. Randeep was spotted wearing a white shawl. Lin was dressed in a potloi or polloi, a cylindrical skirt made up of thick cloth and bamboo. It is ornamented with satin and velvet material, as well as gems and glitter. Wedding rituals took place at Chumthang Shannapung resort in Imphal as Hooda and Lin tied the knot in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony. Hooda and Lin, along with their families, visited a relief camp at Moirang Lamkhai and Sendra Tourist Resort earlier.
During an interaction with a mediaperson, Randeep talked about his love story with Lin Laishram and how he is excited to experience the Manipuri tradition.
He said, “Feels very good. I felt that it’s only respectful to come and marry in the bride’s tradition. However, I have heard that in Meitei love marriages, the groom has to sit for a very long time. So, that’s something but I am looking forward to the ceremony and traditions. I want to experience my life partner’s culture. That’s why I am here.”
Randeep added, “I hope I don’t make any mistakes. And we have been talking about their culture, Manipuri culture and all that for a long time. I am looking forward to it and hope that all goes well. I am praying for our happy future and lots of kids and lots of abundance. Yes, it’s east meets west. It’s like a traditional or cultural exchange. We have been friends for a very long time. We met when we were in the theatre. Since then, we have had a great friendship, which we are now making into a family.”
Source: ANI -
Jawan, Pathaan shine on IMDb’s list of top 10 theatrical releases of 2023
On Thursday, November 30, the list of most popular movies (theatrical and streaming) and webseries was unveiled by IMDb. The list of top 10 Indian movies released theatrically was dominated by Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, as two of his releases, after a hiatus of four years, found top spots in the list.
While Jawan clinched the first spot, Pathaan comfortably landed in the second spot followed by Karan Johar’s first directorial in seven years Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Atlee, the director of Jawan, said, “Jawan is a captivating, emotional, action-entertainer that intricately portrays the profound emotional odyssey of a man who is determined to rectify societal injustices. This film holds a significant place in our hearts. Love from the audience worldwide is overwhelming.”
Reacting to the news, KJo expressed: “The team and I are overwhelmed with the love and warmth we have received for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. To be on the top 10 list of IMDb is a massive validation of the film’s reception. I am grateful and even more energised as a filmmaker.” Thalapathy Vijay-starrer Leo grabbed the fourth spot on the list of most popular theatrical movies.
With regards to the most popular streaming films, anthology Lust Stories 2 topped the list, followed by the Kareena Kapoor Khan-starrer Jaane Jaan and Sidharth Malhotra-starrer Mission Majnu. Farzi became the most popular Indian streaming series of 2023 in the Top 10 Most Popular Indian Web Series of 2023. Guns & Gulaabs landed on the second spot, followed by The Night Manager. Source: IANS
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Katrina Kaif lauds Vicky Kaushal’s performance as Sam Bahadur
Actor Katrina Kaif on Thursday, Nov 30, heaped praise on her husband Vicky Kaushal for his performance in the biographical drama film Sam Bahadur. The actor watched the movie at a special screening where she walked the red carpet hand in hand with Vicky, with the two actors twinning in black.
Taking to Instagram, Katrina shared a poster of the film, which she captioned, “SAM BAHADUR -@meghnagulzar such a poetic beautiful classic film , was transported to another era .. you can see your passion to telling his story and attention to detail in every shot.”
“And SAM !!!!….. GRACE, HEROISM , GRIT .What a performance, flawless, I’m just astounded, you are too inspiring, true to your craft in the most brilliant integral way , was so proud to watch you shine your way across the screen . I’ve seen you this last year pour yourself into this film and transform into Sam. A performance to be remembered @vickykaushal09,” she added.
On Nov 29 night, Vicky Kaushal’s family, including his wife Katrina Kaif, brother Sunny Kushal, father Sham Kaushal and his mother Veena Kaushal arrived at the film’s special screening in Mumbai.
Source: HT -
Imran Khan not to contest for PTI chairman’s post, nominates close aide to lead the party
ISLAMABAD (TIP): Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan will not contest the intra-party polls and has instead nominated barrister Gohar Khan for the post of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman to lead the party in the upcoming general elections, a top leader said on November 29. Barrister Ali Zafar announced that chairman Imran Khan would not be contesting intra-party polls scheduled for December 2 and barrister Gohar Khan had been nominated for the slot of party chairman, Dawn newspaper reported.
His statement comes a day after confusion erupted within Imran Khan’s party after it dismissed a statement by one of its own senior leaders, who claimed that the jailed leader would not contest for the chairman’s post in the upcoming intra-party polls.
“Imran Khan was, is and will continue to be the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. I will carry out my responsibility till Khan returns,” Gohar Khan said. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to conduct intra-party elections within the 20-day time frame set by the election commission to retain the ‘‘bat’ as its electoral symbol, ahead of general elections scheduled to be held on February 8.
Barrister Gohar Khan will be the candidate for PTI’s chairmanship, Senior Vice-President Sher Afzal Marwat said on Tuesday, hours after Khan, 71, reportedly decided against retaining the top post due to legal hurdles as the party heads towards internal polls, Geo News reported.
Khan remains behind bars in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail and is entangled in several legal battles.
His party, in an earlier statement on X, strongly rebutted the “speculation” over the election of a new party chairman.
The party’s Core Committee on Monday gave formal approval to hold the intra-party polls within the time frame of 20 days given by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
If the party does not follow the orders, it will lose its bat symbol.
Khan, being a former iconic international cricketer, is considered synonymous with the (cricket) bat.
This will be a huge development for the party as the country moves towards general elections, set to take place in February. (PTI) -
Sri Lanka inflation doubles ahead of debt deal
COLOMBO (TIP): Sri Lanka’s inflation more than doubled to 3.4 per cent in November, the statistics office said November 30, a day after Colombo announced a deal to restructure nearly $6 billion in bilateral debt.
The benchmark Colombo Consumer Price Index rose to 3.4 per cent from 1.5 per cent in October, official statistics showed. However, the latest inflation number was still dramatically lower than the 61 per cent recorded a year ago when the country was in the grip of an unprecedented economic crisis after running out of foreign reserves.
The sharp price rises in November compared to the previous month were due to the increases in electricity and water tariffs and fuel prices, the statistics office said. On Wednesday, the finance ministry said it had reached an “agreement in principle” with its lenders, including China, to restructure nearly $6 billion in loans and unlock International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding for a bailout.
The country defaulted on its $46 billion debt in April last year after running out of foreign exchange to finance imports of even the most essential commodities, making life a misery for the island’s 22 million people.
The ministry said the deal included a mix of extending the tenure and reducing interest on around $5.9 billion in bilateral loans granted to the cash-strapped South Asian island.
Sri Lanka in March secured a four-year $2.9 billion bailout package from the IMF subject to Colombo ensuring debt sustainability in line with agreed targets.
However, the release of a second $330 million loan instalment had been held up since September due to delays in securing a deal with foreign creditors.
Sri Lanka’s largest single bilateral lender China had been reluctant to take a haircut on its loans and instead had offered to extend the term of its loans and adjust down interest rates. (AFP)
Nepal becomes the first South Asian country to officially register same-sex marriage
PRADHAN KATHMANDU (TIP): Five months after the Supreme Court legalised it, Nepal on November 29 formally registered the first case of same-sex marriage, making it the first South Asian country to do so.
Trans-woman Maya Gurung, 35 and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay, got legally married and their marriage was registered at Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district in Western Nepal, according to Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), president of Blue Diamond Society, an organization working for the rights and welfare of the sexual minorities in Nepal. Way back in 2007, Nepal’s Supreme Court had allowed same-sex marriage.
Even the Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, explicitly states that there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
On June 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to legalise same-sex marriage in Nepal in a writ petition filed by multiple people, including Gurung.
But despite the historic order to temporarily register same-sex marriage, Kathmandu District Court four months ago rejected the move citing a lack of necessary laws.
Surendra Pandey and Maya’s marriage application was rejected at that time.
“It’s a great pleasure to learn about this, it is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal,” Pinky told PTI.
This is the first case not only in Nepal but also in the whole of South Asia, and we welcome the decision.
Married in the traditional manner with the approval of their families, Surendra, a resident of Nawalparasi district, and Maya, a resident of Lamjung district, have been living together as husband and wife for the past six years. (PTI) -
Bangladesh’s main opposition party BNP says it will boycott ‘farcical’ January elections
DHAKA (TIP): Bangladesh’s main opposition on November 30 officially boycotted the upcoming general elections, removing the only party that could have offered a realistic challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth consecutive term in power. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), warning that thousands of its members had been arrested in a sweeping crackdown, said it had not applied to contest a single seat on the last day of filing candidate nominations before the January 7 polls.
“We are boycotting the election,” A.K.M Wahiduzzaman, a spokesman of the party, told AFP.
“We remained steadfast to our stand that we will not take part in any election with Sheikh Hasina in power”.
The BNP and other parties have held mass protests calling on Hasina to quit power and let a neutral government run the polls, demands the government has said are unconstitutional.
Human Rights Watch warned Monday of a “violent autocratic crackdown”, with almost 10,000 opposition activists arrested and at least 16 people killed since protests escalated in October, including two police officers.
Wahiduzzaman, accusing Hasina of having “rigged the previous two elections”, said the number arrested was even higher.
“She has arrested more than 18,090 of our leaders and supporters in an unprecedented crackdown since late October 28 to rig another election,” he said.
“We won’t join any farcical election.”
Hasina has overseen massive economic growth during her 15 years in power, but there has been international alarm over democratic backsliding and thousands of extrajudicial killings.
Other key opposition parties have also said they will boycott the elections, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, and the Islami Andolon Bangladesh.
Election Commission spokesman Shariful Alam said they would confirm who was participating later Thursday.
Apart from the ruling Awami League, several smaller allied parties have said they will take part.
Some BNP officials are understood to have left the party hoping to contest a seat as independents. (AFP) -
Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for two more days, and to free more hostages and prisoners
TEL AVIV (TIP): Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past November 28, raising the prospect of further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war.
Eleven Israeli women and children, freed by Hamas, entered Israel Monday night after more than seven weeks in captivity in Gaza in the fourth swap under the original four-day truce, which began Friday and was due to run out.
Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. The prisoners were greeted by loud cheers as their bus made its way through the streets of Ramallah.
The deal for two additional days of cease-fire, announced by Qatar, raised hopes for further extensions, which also allow more aid into Gaza.
Conditions there have remained dire for 2.3 million Palestinians, battered by weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground offensive that have driven three-quarters of the population from their homes. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.
After the announcement by Qatar a key mediator in the conflict, along with the United States and Egypt Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension under the same terms.
But Israel says it remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza after its Oct.7 attack into southern Israel. That would likely mean expanding a ground offensive from devastated northern Gaza to the south.
Monday’s releases bring to 51 the number of Israelis freed under the truce; an additional 18 hostages of various nationalities have also been released.
So far, 150 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons.
After weeks of national trauma over the roughly 240 people abducted by Hamas and other militants, scenes of the women and children reuniting with families have rallied Israelis behind calls to return those who remain in captivity.
“We can get all hostages back home. We have to keep pushing, two relatives of Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual Israeli-American citizen who was released Sunday,” said in a statement.
Hamas and other militants could still be holding up to 175 hostages, enough to potentially extend the cease-fire for two and a half weeks.
But those include a number of soldiers, and Hamas is likely to make much greater demands for their release. (AP) -
Costa Rica celebrates 75 years of peace and democracy without an army
Costa Rican (TIP): At a time where the world is dealing with two major armed conflicts, Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, Central American country Costa Rica is celebrating 75 years of peace and democracy without an army.
“Costa Rica’s journey towards becoming the first country in the world to abolish its army reflects the unwavering determination to foster a political environment grounded in civility and peace,” Sofia Salas, Costa Rica’s chargé d’affaires for India, told The New Indian Express.
On December 1, 1948, Costa Rica made the bold decision to abolish its army and invest in its people, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Setting an example, it showed that an alternative model of co-existence and development is viable.
“Costa Rica and India share the same universal principles of democracy, human rights, peace and stability. While we understand the legitimate security and defence concerns that other countries have, we hope that our experience serves as a reminder and hope that peace is achievable through a rigorous commitment to the tools of international law,” Salas added.
Costa Rica’s former President Jose Figueres, with the symbolic blow of a sledgehammer to a stone wall of the military facility ‘Cuartel Bellavista’, proclaimed the abolition of the army, publicly handing the keys to the Minister of Education and announcing that this military barracks would be placed at the service of Costa Rican culture and art. Since 1949, this historic site has housed the National Museum. The decision to abolish the army in Costa Rica was taken after the civil war in 1948.
President Figueres then proclaimed: “We are unconditional supporters of the ideal of a new world in America. In the land of Washington, Lincoln, Bolivar and Marti, today we say: Oh America, other peoples who are also your children, would offer you their greatness. Little Costa Rica wants to offer you now and always its heart, its love for civility, for democracy, for institutional life.”
“The abolition of the army is a decision that changed the destiny of our country and has deeply marked the Costa Rican people. It instils in Costa Ricans a sense of great responsibility regarding the importance of firmly and consistently safeguarding our cherished peace and democracy, not to take it for granted,” Salas added. (ENS) -
Russia jails man for writing ‘No to war’ using his finger in snow
MOSCOW (TIP): Russia has sentenced a man to 10 days in jail for tracing the words “No to war” on a snow-covered turnstile outside a skating rink in Moscow, a court document showed.
Moscow made criticism of its offensive in Ukraine illegal shortly after the conflict began in February 2022, and thousands have been detained for simple acts of protest.
According to the court document published November 24, Dmitry Fedorov was caught by police last November 29 in Moscow’s Gorky Park, using his finger to etch the forbidden slogan.
After carrying out the crime, “police officers offered to take him in a vehicle to the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” the court document said, but Fedorov refused.
Police officers repeatedly warned he would be breaking the law if he failed to do so, and he was eventually booked.
Fedorov disputed that he resisted arrest in court, but admitted to writing the slogan and was sentenced to 10 days of “administrative detention”, the document said.
The Ostorozhno Novosti news outlet, which first reported on the story, said he was also fined an undisclosed sum.
Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has waged an unprecedented crackdown on dissent that rights groups have likened to the mass repression seen under the Soviet Union.
A Russian court earlier this month sentenced artist Alexandra Skochilenko to seven years in prison after she swapped supermarket price tags with slogans criticising the offensive. (AFP)