Actress-singer Selena Gomez has confessed that she has a “girl crush” on Bella Hadid years after the pair sparked feud rumours. The 30-year-old ‘Come and Get It’ singer and the 26-year-old famously unfollowed each other after Selena started dating Bella’s ex-boyfriend The Weeknd – prompting widespread gossip they were feuding – but she has now shared her admiration for the model and her beauty in Instagram posts put on her feed, reports Female First UK. Selena shared an image of Bella in a photoshoot that she captioned: “Girl crush”, and posted a now-deleted video that showed her lip-syncing to a viral clip of the 26-year-old model’s voice saying: “So, my name, my name is Bella Hadid” – along with the words: “I wish I was as pretty as Bella Hadid.”
Year: 2023
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Alicia Silverstone ‘wasn’t happy’ working in Hollywood, chose to step away
Alicia Silverstone had given up on acting because she “wasn’t happy” in Hollywood. The 46-year-old star launched her career appearing in 1993 movie ‘The Crush’ as well as part of videos for rock band Aerosmith and later became a household name after starring as Cher in hit teen movie ‘Clueless’ in 1995. But, the actress has admitted she wasn’t “comfortable” with fame, reports Female First UK.
She told The Hollywood Reporter: “When ‘Clueless’ came out, it really shifted. I had been the girl from ‘Crush’, then I was the Aerosmith chick, and then, after that, I was Cher. It was very complicated and I don’t think I knew how to manage it: I didn’t have the foundation, the good tools to deal with it, I wasn’t prepared for it in any way, shape, or form. I really had no idea what was happening, and it didn’t feel comfortable.” Alicia went on to land a big money movie deal and appear in the widely-panned comic book blockbuster ‘Batman and Robin’ but the actress says she wasn’t enjoying herself and decided to step away from Hollywood by the end of the 1990s.
Source: IANS
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Akshay Kumar says ‘Bharat hi mera sab kuchh hai’; expresses desire to take up Indian citizenship again
While many of the patriotic films featuring Akshay Kumar have become box office successes, often social media users have questioned the Indian superstar about his patriotism, as they have commented about his Canadian citizenship. It is a known fact that he is a Canadian citizen (going by his passport) which has often irked some users in the past. In fact, the actor has been a victim of several trolls because of the same and recently in an interview, Kumar addressed this matter wherein he also asserted that he would want to once again become an Indian citizen after denouncing his Canadian citizenship.
In an interview with Sudhir Chaudhary for Aaj Tak, Akshay Kumar opened up on how he is often hurt by the comments made by people regarding his Indian citizenship. In the same breath, the actor also thanked his home country adding that he owes everything to India. During the interview, Kumar once again asserted that he has started the process of denouncing his Canadian citizenship and taking up Indian citizenship, further adding, “Mere liye bharat hi sab kuchh hai. Maine jo kuchh kamaya hai, jo kuchh hai, yahin se liya hai. Aur yeh mera saubhagya hai ki mujhe mauka milta yeh sab kuch karne ke liye. Bas yeh hai ki bura lagta hai jab log bina jaane kuch keh dete hain (For me, India is everything. Whatever I have earned, whatever I have, everything is from here. Fortunately, I have received so many opportunities to do this kind of work in the country. It’s just that I am often hurt by the things people say about me).”
On the film front, Akshay Kumar is gearing up for the release of Selfiee which is slated to release on February 24. The film features him alongside Emraan Hashmi and also stars Diana Penty and Nushrratt Bharuccha in pivotal roles.
Source: Hollywood Hungama
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Shahid Kapoor brings A-Game To The Table with khiladi campaign
Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is basking in the success of his recently released streaming show, ‘Farzi’, has shot for the campaign of sports platform khiladi.com. Energetic versatile and jovial, the actor changed the vibe in the studio, as soon as he stepped in for the campaign shoot of the sports platform. While the shoot was fun, it reflects in the final output as well. The first reel which has gone live on the actor’s instagram handle, shows him in an office set up. Donning a blue shirt paired with a striped waistcoat, he is seen kicking his feet up on the table while his boss negotiates his bonus percentage.
The boss raises the bar of the bonus while Shahid keeps on coolly refusing until they reach the common consensus. When Shahid finally consents to the amount he closes with the punch line “Kyu Ki Khiladi apna bhav janta hain.”
Shahid Kapoor Clarifies Whether Mira Rajput Gives Opinion On His Scripts
Actor Shahid Kapoor, in a new interview, clarifies if wife Mira Rajput gives her opinions on his choice of scripts. Shahid said that he didn’t say that Mira ‘sits for narrations and all’, adding that people ‘can misconstrue’.
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Shahid said, “I never said that, my wife sits for narrations and all. Someone can misconstrue the way it is said and think that earlier it was just Shahid and now Mira too should like the script. There is nothing as such. Basically what I was talking about then was that Mira was quite younger and she comes from Delhi. The question was does she understand your world? Do you guys share things with each other?“
He also added, “So in that context, I always share everything with her. I guess, like every couple does that, you know, you spend that little time and you always crave that little time in a day or sometimes in a week where you can just sit down and tell each other what’s going on. Because you know when two people are busy doing their own thing sharing reduces and when you are not sharing enough you lose understanding of each other’s scenarios. I have always felt that if you can regularly stay connected with each other it allows that person an insight into what you are dealing with, which they might not get. So in that way, I share everything with Mira.”
Last year, when Shahid appeared on Case Toh Banta Hai, he was asked about not liking a script. Shahid had said, “Nahi, aisa kabhi nahi hua hai (laughs). Kaam karna padta hai sir, ghar chalana padta hai. (No, it has never happened (laughs) We have to work, run the household),” zoom quoted him as saying. Speaking about the difference in opinion with respect to scripts with Mira, he had said as quoted by Zoom, “Ji personal life mein toh roz yahi hota hai, aur jo unka script sense hota hai ussi script par kaam kiya jata hai (This happens everyday in my personal life but whatever she says, goes).”
Shahid is currently seen in Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK’s Farzi, his web series debut. In the Prime Video show, the actor plays the role of Sunny. Farzi, an eight-part series, also features Vijay Sethupathi, Kay Kay Menon, Raashi Khanna, Bhuvan Arora, Amol Palekar, and Regina Cassandra.
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Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff-starrer ‘Ganapath’ to release on October 20
Upcoming dystopian action film, “Ganapath” has booked its release date. On Wednesday, the makers of the film revealed the release date of the film with a power-packed video featuring Tiger Shroff in a rugged avatar.
The film will be released around Dussehra on October 20, in five languages – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu. Tiger Shroff was recently spotted in Mumbai donning a new tattoo on his forearm, which was the big reveal for the announcement of the release date. The film also stars Kriti Sanon and veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who will be playing an important character in the film. This will be the first time when the audience will see Amitabh Bachchan and Tiger Shroff together on the silver screen. On the occasion, producer Jackky Bhagnani said: “I have always been a fan of seeing this new world through the lens of cinema, that’s what really excited me about this film. And I am thrilled, excited and can’t wait for the audiences to witness and visually experience this new dystopian world of ‘Ganapath’.” “As always, it’s been our endeavor to bring to the audience larger than life cinema and ‘Ganapath’ will surely enthrall you with its unique and picturesque storytelling.” Pooja Entertainment presents “Ganapath” in association with Good Co. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film is produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and Vikas Bahl. Source: IANS
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Tim Burton, Monica Bellucci have been secretly dating
Actress Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton, the director of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ seem to be dating, and have been for months under the radar. The Italian actress, 58, and the 64-year-old film mogul first met 16 years ago, but have been claimed to have started secretly dating four months ago, reports Mirror.co.uk.
It has been said that the pair decided to make their relationship official around the time of the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon this October, when Monica presented Tim with the Lumiere lifetime achievement award on stage. As per Mirror.co.uk, after Monica handed over the prize to her reported beau, Tim said during his speech: “All my life put together, I have never felt so much love as tonight. Welcome to the best funeral I ever had!” The couple were also reportedly spotted together watching the reproduction of Silent Documentary Film, which was directed in 1895 by the late French filmmaker Louis Lumiere. Paris Match reported that the pair “briefly met on the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes in 2006, but it was only sixteen years later, behind the scenes of another festival, that they got closer.” Prior to her alleged relationship with Burton, Bellucci has not been on the dating scene since 2019, when she split from artiste Nicolas Lefebvre.
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JLo celebrates twins Max, Emme’s 15th birthday, posts video featuring Ben Affleck
Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez is celebrating her twins’ birthdays and giving fans a look into their lives with their stepdad Ben Affleck. The songstress, 53, shared an Instagram video filled with special family moments to mark Max and Emme’s 15th birthday, reports People magazine. “Happy birthday to my beautiful, brilliant coconuts,” she wrote in the caption, using the nickname she has for the twins, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony. “I am so proud of you both in every single way. You bring so much joy and happiness to my heart and soul. I love you beyond forever HAPPY BIRTHDAY #Twins.”
The video features glimpses into their 15 years as Taylor Swift’s 2008 single, ‘Fifteen’, plays in the background.
As per People, some of the more recent moments featured in the video include behind-the-scenes shots from Emme’s involvement in her mom’s 2020 Super Bowl performance and a family photo showing the newly blended family around a dinner table. Lopez also highlighted a candid moment where Affleck, 50, holds Max in his arms as he lies asleep during a car ride. The couple, who were married in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony in July, has made their children an important part of their relationship.
JenniferMatches Her Birkin Bag to Her Bedazzled Bling Cup
Jennifer Lopez just combined two of her favorite accessories for one casually great outfit. The multi-hyphenate stepped out in Los Angeles, where she elevated her athleisure look with a couple standout pieces. Wearing a slate gray T-shirt, a cropped light gray hoodie, and black athletic leggings, Lopez upped the ante with her purse of choice: an Hermès Birkin bag. This specific Birkin was made of a caramel-toned leather and featured gold hardware throughout.
She made sure other aspects of her outfit coordinated with her Birkin’s color palette, including her pair of suede Brunello Cucinelli combat boots with chunky soles and the other standout accessory: one of her famous bedazzled travel cups. The sparkling bling cup subtly matched her Birkin with its gradient of bronze and green tones.
Finally, she capped off the rest of her accessories with gold hoop earrings and hexagonal sunglasses.
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Oppn slams Jaishankar for remarks on China, BBC docu; point to his father’s comments on Gujarat riots
New Delhi (TIP)- Opposition leaders on Wednesday, February 22, lashed out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his remarks on China and the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with many of them pointing to his father’s reported comments against the then Gujarat dispensation following the 2002 riots.
The Congress called Jaishankar a “failed” minister and alleged that his remarks on the China issue have “demeaned” the valour of India’s armed forces. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also alleged that foreign policy has been reduced to photo-ops and a chest-thumping exercise and is being used to secure contracts for a businessman.
The opposition party’s attack came over the minister’s reported remarks urging people to not buy the narrative that somewhere the government is on the defensive or is being accommodative on the China issue. Jaishankar also reportedly hit out at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary on Modi and called it “politics by another means”.
Slamming Jaishankar, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sircar said, “Strange — that Jaishankar discovered his angst against the Gandhis — after serving them most loyally and taking the best of postings under them? Is it Amnesia or is he just cuddling up to BJP for his unprecedented promotion as Foreign Minister?” In another tweet, Sircar referred to Jaishankar’s “politics by another means” remark, saying the question is whether the facts shown in the documentary are true or false.
“Could thousands of lives be saved if Modi administration was less indulgent,” Sircar said. “S Jaishankar’s father, K Subramanyam said ‘Dharma was killed in Gujarat (2002 Riots). Those who failed to protect innocent citizens are guilty of adharma. Rama…would have used his bow against the ‘Asura’ rulers of Gujarat. Shame on son — serving Asura!” the TMC MP said in another tweet.
Shrinate also spoke of reported ‘Asura’ remarks of Jaishankar’s father K Subrahmanyam. “You may attack anyone, but you must listen to the words of the elderly who have wisdom and experience. You should listen to your father… He may be old but has the wisdom and experience and you should listen to him,” she said.
Source: PTI
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Sense of uncertainty as Congress’ plenary session begins in Raipur amid ED raids
Raipur (TIP)- As the Congress’ plenary session in Raipur begins on February 24, there is a sense of palpable uncertainty amongst the leaders in Chhattisgarh that comes in wake of the raids conducted by the directorate of enforcement (ED), party insiders said.
According to people aware of the matter in the party, the recent action of the federal agency has affected the energy levels of the cadre and supporters engaged in preparation of the plenary session. The raids started on Monday days before the 85th plenary of the Congress’s central decision-making body which begins today and will continue till Sunday.
Over 15,000 delegates will join the plenary session beginning today to discuss the political situation, economy, foreign policy, agriculture, employment and social justice and set the tone for the Congress’s 2024 national poll campaign. “The raids have scared many people, especially those who were close to the government and were given responsibility to handle the plenary session. There is a sense that ED can raid anywhere in the state,” said an MLA, preferring anonymity.
The MLA further alleged there is buzz within the party that some big leader could be detained by ED in the next few days.
Another senior Congress leader of the state claimed the party is all prepared and also has a strategy to counter the issue but leaders are perplexed over the consequences. “We have managed to create a narrative that the raids are political and BJP by misusing the agencies that, are trying to harass us but most of us are perplexed about what will happen in the coming months. The narrative of corruption will not work as people understand what is going on,” said the leader.
Reacting on the same, a BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said in urban areas of Chhattisgarh corruption will be a big issue in upcoming elections. “As the scam is unfolding, the narrative in urban areas of Chhattisgarh is changing and gradually moving towards corruption. The raids have rattled Congress and they are not able to decide their strategy,” said the BJP leader. Congress leader and spokesperson RP Singh, who was quizzed by ED on Monday, said the aim is to harass the leaders and nothing else.
“This is vendetta politics, nothing else,” Singh said. “Properties and cash more than Rs100 crore are being attached by ED till now. If they are not guilty, why are they scared? The ED is doing its job,” said Ajay Chandrakar, chief spokesperson of BJP.
On Wednesday, ED reached three departments of Chhattisgarh which are headed by three senior ministers of the state. People aware of the matter on Wednesday said ED had gathered some documents from these offices related to the alleged coal levy scam. Source: HT
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AAP’s Shelly Oberoi Delhi Mayor, Iqbal her deputy
Nearly two and a half months after the civic body polls, AAP’s Shelly Oberoi was on Wednesday elected Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after she defeated BJP’s Rekha Gupta by 16 votes. First-time councillor Shelly, who received 150 votes, has become the first non-BJP Mayor after a gap of 15 years. Soon after AAP’s victory in the mayoral election, which had become a cause of bitter rivalry between AAP and BJP on many occasions, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “People of Delhi have won and hooliganism has been defeated.” Aaley Mohammad Iqbal has been elected Deputy Mayor. He got 147 votes, while BJP’s Kamal Bagri got 116. A total of 266 votes were polled, as all Congress councillors, except one, had skipped the mayoral elections. The Congress had already announced that they won’t participate in the elections.
Source: TNS
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INVESTORS’ SUMMIT
Will ensure ease of doing business: Punjab CM
Mohali (TIP)- Underlining the government initiatives towards facilitating the ease of doing business for the new industrial units in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann On February 23 unveiled the roadmap for industrial growth with minimal government interference. He was addressing the inaugural session of the fifth Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here. The CM said, “We will abolish the necessity of obtaining the change of land use (CLU) and no objection certificates.” He said, “This summit is not about signing MoUs. This is a platform for learning and sharing ideas. We don’t want to repeat the habit of making big announcements about MoUs, as done in the past. Majority of those showed no result on the ground.”
He unveiled the new Industrial and Business Development Policy with incentives for investors undertaking expansion projects, setting up new MSMEs or large units, start-ups in service and manufacturing sectors. Punjab is developing 20 rural industrial clusters and 15 industrial parks. The state has received investment worth over Rs 40,000 crore since March 2022 and generated around 2.5 lakh employment opportunities. He also made a special mention of the investments received from Japan, UK, UAE, USA, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, France, Italy and other countries.
Investment Promotion Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said, “We are investing heavily in developing infrastructure to attract tourists with special emphasis on adventure and water tourism.” Medanta Group chairman Dr Naresh Trehan said, “We are coming to Punjab. We are working on establishing ourselves in Punjab as soon as possible.”
Mahindra and Mahindra executive director Rajesh Jejurikar said, “We have invested in Punjab for decades. We have grown five times since 2007. We have four manufacturing units in Punjab and are investing in the fifth one, which at present, is under construction.” Cargill (India) president Simon George said, “We have 13 manufacturing locations in the country. We made the first investment in Punjab in 2016. We are in the process of doubling our investment here over the next two years.”
RJ Corp chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria said, “We have two large plants in Punjab at Phillaur and Pathankot. We are in the process of doubling our production at the Pathankot unit.” Source: TNS
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Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi is new Drugs Controller General of India
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission secretary-cum-scientific director Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi was on February 22 appointed the new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), according to an official order.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had last month recommended his name for the post of DCGI. “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for appointment of Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, to the post of Drugs Controller (India), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO),” the ACC order said. It said the appointment will be in effect from the date he assumes charge till he attains the age of superannuation on February 28, 2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He succeeds Dr V G Somani whose extended tenure ended on February 15, and Dr P B N Prasad was given the charge of the post from February 16 to 28. Dr Somani was appointed DCGI for a term of three years on August 14, 2019 and he took charge on August 16. His tenure was extended twice-on August 16 and November 16, 2022 — for three months each.
The DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) which is responsible for ensuring quality drugs supply across the country. It also has authority to give approval to new drugs and regulating clinical trials.
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Raj Bhawan-Govt row escalates
‘Legal advice first’: Guv refuses to give nod to summon Punjab assembly budget session
Chandigarh (TIP)- The ongoing row between Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Punjab further deepened on Thursday, February 23, with the former refusing to summon the Assembly’s Budget session while stating that he would take a decision only after getting legal advice on the “derogatory and unconstitutional” letter and tweet made by the AAP leader in response to a letter from Raj Bhavan on February 13. The governor sent a letter to Mann to convey his position on the state cabinet’s decision two days ago regarding the summoning of the house of the legislature of the state. The state cabinet on Tuesday decided to convene the budget session of the Punjab assembly on March 3, following which the governor was requested to summon the house.
“Since your tweet and letter both are not only patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory also, therefore, I am compelled to take legal advice on this issue. Only after getting legal advice, I will take a decision on your request,” Purohit wrote. The letter is likely to further flare up the long-running tussle between Mann and Purohit which has strained their relations.
The governor had, in a letter to Mann on February 13, raised questions about the selection of school principals for a training trip to Singapore, saying he received complaints of “malpractices and illegalities” in this regard.
The AAP government sent 36 government school principals to a professional teacher training seminar in Singapore from February 6 to 10. The governor also questioned the appointment of Guninderjit Singh Jawandha as the Punjab Information and Communication Technology (Punjab Infotech) chairman while pointing out that his name figured in a kidnapping and property grabbing case.
He had also raised questions about the promotion and posting of IPS officer Kuldeep Singh Chahal as the Jalandhar police commissioner; the presence of a non-official Naval Aggarwal in meetings of senior officers where sensitive and confidential matters of security of the country were discussed, and non-disbursal of scholarships to 2 lakh SC students. Claiming that Mann “never cared to reply” to his letters in the past and treated “all my queries with contempt”, Purohit told the CM that people elected him (Mann) for running the administration as per the Constitution and not according to his “whims and fancies” and that he is bound to furnish any information sought by Raj Bhavan. He also asked Mann to reply to his letter within a fortnight, failing which he would be compelled to take legal advice for further action.Mann promptly took to the microblogging site Twitter to tell the governor that he and his government are accountable to 3-crore Punjabis according to the Constitution and not to any governor appointed by the central government.
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Focus on ‘inclusive agenda’: PM Modi’s address at G20 finance ministers’ meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb 24 urged G20 finance ministers to focus on an “inclusive agenda” and the most vulnerable citizens of the world as the first ministerial meeting of the world’s largest economies got underway in Bengaluru under the shadow of the Ukraine conflict. The Indian side has sought to keep the focus of its G20 presidency on the economic and geopolitical fallout of the war, especially on the Global South, while working to bridge differences within the grouping on the Ukraine crisis. The prime minister, in his remarks in English to the FMCBG meeting, made no direct reference to the Ukraine crisis but acknowledged the challenges confronting the finance ministers and “serious economic difficulties” facing the world.
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Iconic West African revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara reburied in Burkina Faso
OUAGADOUGOU (TIP): Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was reburied February 23, eight years after his body was exhumed as part of an investigation. Sankara’s body, and those of the 12 people who died with him, were reburied at the site of his assassination, which has since become a memorial for Sankara featuring a life-size statue of the former leader pumping his fist in the air. Soldiers and community leaders paid tribute during a ceremony Thursday, some posing for pictures by Sankara’s coffin. All the coffins were draped in Burkina Faso flags with a photo beside them.
Sankara and the others were gunned down in the capital, Ouagadougou, during a 1987 coup and buried hastily, their bodies only allowed to be dug up in 2015, after the ousting of former President Blaise Compaore. Sankara, a charismatic Marxist leader with a reputation as “Africa’s Che Guevara,” came to power in 1983 at the age of 33 after he and Compaore led a leftist coup that overthrew a moderate military faction. But in 1987, Compaore turned on his former friend in a coup in which he seized power and then ruled the country for 30 years.
Last year, Compaore, who now lives in Ivory Coast, was tried in absentia and convicted of complicity in their murders. A Burkina Faso military tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment. Compaore’s right-hand man, Gilbert Diendere, and former spy chief Tousma Yacinthe Kafando were also given life sentences. Eight other people were found guilty of a range of charges including giving false testimonies and complicity in undermining state security.
While Sankara’s family was happy that he was finally laid to rest, they said the place of burial was like a slap in the face because of the horrors that occurred there. “That place is painful for us to put our feet there. A lot of people were tortured there and crimes committed there and murders,” his younger brother Paul Sankara told The Associated Press by phone from the United States where he lives. The family asked the government to bury him elsewhere but was told it was at the army’s discretion since he was a soldier. The West African nation has been struggling with a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that has killed thousands and displaced nearly 2 million people and sowed division among the population leading to two coups last year. The current junta leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, has been likened by some to Sankara, as an anti-imperialist pan-African leader, and is using the reburial to increase support, analysts say. (AP) -
Violence around Gaza after deadly Israeli raid in West Bank
GAZA CITY (TIP): The Israeli army and Palestinian militants traded air strikes and rocket fire in and around Gaza on February 23, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years.
Eleven Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed and more than 80 wounded by gunfire on Wednesday when Israeli troops raided the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus, drawing international appeals for calm.
Top Palestinian official Hussein Al Sheikh described the raid as a “massacre” and called for “international protection for our people”.
Before dawn on Thursday, Palestinian militants hit back firing six rockets from Gaza into Israel.
The Israeli army said it managed to intercept five of them, while the sixth struck an uninhabited area.
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rockets after it called on “resistance forces” to respond to the “major crime” in Nablus. Two hours later, the Israeli military carried out air strikes on multiple targets in Gaza, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. The missiles targeted “a weapons factory” and a “military camp”, both run by Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas, the army said in a statement.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appealed for calm, warning that tensions in the West Bank had reached their most dangerous level in years.
“Our immediate priority must be to prevent further escalation, reduce tensions and restore calm,” the UN chief said.
“The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is at its most combustible in years,” he added, pointing to “sky high” tensions and the stalled peace process.
The Israeli army said Wednesday’s raid had targeted a “hideout apartment” used by suspected militants accused of shootings in the West Bank. It said one of the wanted suspects was “neutralised”, along with two others at the property who had opened fire on troops.
The suspects and Israeli forces “exchanged fire… there were also rockets that were fired on the house” by the army, spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists.
Rocks, explosive devices and Molotov cocktails were hurled at the troops, the army said, adding that nonetheless they suffered no casualties.
The Palestinian health ministry said those killed “as a result of the occupation’s aggression on Nablus” were aged between 16 and 72.
Hours after the raid, the ministry announced the death of a 66-year-old man from tear-gas inhalation.
Wednesday’s death toll was the highest since the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, ended in 2005, surpassing that of an Israeli raid last month in Jenin, another flashpoint city in the West Bank.
Palestinian health officials said 82 people were admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds.
Mostafa Shaheen, a Nablus resident, said “soldiers… besieged the whole area” at around 9:30 am (0730 GMT).
“We kept hearing the explosions and gunfire,” he told AFP.
The Islamic Jihad militant group said one of its commanders was killed “in a heroic battle”.
The Lions’ Den, a local militant group based in Nablus, said six of those killed were members of various Palestinian factions.
Hailing the army’s “courage”, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant tweeted that Israel’s “long arm” would reach “any terrorist”. A huge crowd of mourners, including armed men, gathered in Nablus and the nearby Balata refugee camp in the afternoon for the funerals of 10 of those killed, AFP correspondents reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics had treated 250 cases of tear gas inhalation and dozens of gunshot wounds. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington was “extremely concerned by the levels of violence”, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the European Union was “deeply alarmed by the spiralling violence in the West Bank”. (AFP) -
Oman to allow Israeli planes through its airspace
TEL AVIV (TIP): Israel’s foreign minister said on February 23 that the Gulf Arab state of Oman has decided to allow Israeli planes to fly through its airspace. The announcement was another sign of closer ties between Israel and some Arab countries. Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority tweeted that it “affirms that the Sultanate’s airspace is open for all carriers that meet the requirements of the Authority for overflying,” without directly mentioning Israel. The move comes on the heels last year of a similar step by Saudi Arabia, and would shorten the flying distance between Israel and Asia.
“This is a significant and historic decision for the Israeli economy and Israeli travelers,” said Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who said there had been American involvement in the decision. Oman and Israel have had secretive ties for years, which were spotlighted in 2018 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the country, the first trip of its kind in over 20 years.
Still, Oman was not among the four countries to sign normalization deals with Israel in 2020 under U.S-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Morocco and Sudan, all agreed to normalize ties with Israel as part of the deals.
The sultanate has long had a low-key role in fostering negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Oman, which sits on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, with Saudi Arabia to its north and Iran to its east, also has a long record of being a quiet broker in the region, opting to stay on the sidelines of the rivalry between the two regional powerhouses.
Oman has also served as a mediator between the United States and Israel’s arch-rival Iran. Oman hosted the secret talks that eventually led to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and has facilitated the release of prisoners and hostages held by armed groups. Earlier this week, Oman welcomed Syrian President Bashar Assad on his first visit outside Syria since the earthquake there earlier this month. (AP) -
European Commission bans TikTok on official devices
BRUSSELS (TIP): The European Commission has banned TikTok on official devices used by staff amid concerns over data protection, a spokesperson told AFP on February 23.
The ban also means European Commission staff cannot use the Chinese-owned video-sharing app on personal devices including phones that have official apps installed, the spokesperson said, confirming a report by news website Euractiv. Employees must remove the app as soon as possible and should do so by March 15. TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is Chinese, has faced increasing Western scrutiny in recent months over fears about how much access Beijing has to user data.
The United States last year banned the app from federal government devices, and some US lawmakers are trying to prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States. Last month, the Dutch government reportedly advised public officials to steer clear of the app over similar concerns. In November, TikTok admitted some staff in China can access the data of European users. TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew was in Brussels last month for talks with EU officials during which they warned TikTok to ensure the safety of European users’ data. (AFP) -
Russia’s army guarantor of stability: Putin
MOSCOW (TIP): President Vladimir Putin on Februray 23 called Russia’s army a guarantor of national stability, promising to boost arms production nearly a year after the start of the Ukraine offensive.
“A modern, efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty, a guarantee of its stable development and its future,” Putin said in a video address on the occasion of the annual “Defender of the Fatherland Day” holiday in Russia.
“That’s why, as before, we will pay priority attention to strengthening our defence capabilities,” he added on the eve of the first anniversary of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine. Putin said Russia will “conduct the balanced and high-quality development of all components of the armed forces” in particular by equipping troops with “new strike systems, reconnaissance and communication equipment, drones and artillery systems”.
“Now our industry is rapidly increasing the production of an entire range of conventional weapons,” he said in the video released by the Kremlin.
The president also hailed Russian soldiers, who are fighting “heroically” in Ukraine and “defending our people in our historical lands”.
Russia’s “unbreakable unity is the key to our victory,” he said.
Putin sent Moscow’s troops to Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching what he called a “special military operation” there. In the autumn he announced the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to boost Russia’s ranks in Ukraine, which is backed financially and militarily by Washington and several European capitals. During his two decades in power, Putin has made strengthening the armed forces a top priority and introduced hypersonic weapons, which he described as “invincible”, to Russia’s arsenal. (AFP) -
Sikh Day Parade in New York City on April 29
I.S. Saluja
RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): Sikh Day Parade, to mark the creation of the Khalsa (the Sikhs), is organized annually by the Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill New York in cooperation with the Sikh Gurdwaras and the Sikh institutions in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Sikh Day Parade this year is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, according to the information given by Davinder Singh Boparai, President of the Sikh Cultural Society to The Indian Panorama.
Mr. Boparai told The Indian Panorama that all permits have been obtained and arrangements made. He has appealed to the Sikh Sangat to make the Parade a memorable one with their participation. -
FIA’s ‘Dance Pe Chance’ Entices the Audience
TRENTON, NJ (TIP): Over 500 children from 22 community dance academies spread across Four states enthralled a 1000-plus crowd with their mesmerizing performances as they performed to showcase their talent, discipline, technique, and costumes in FIAs oldest cultural competition, its 39th annual edition on Saturday, Feb 18th at Patriots War Memorial Theatre, Trenton, NJ. Ages 6 through 60+ years took to the state-of-the-art stage, which had dazzling professional-grade production, including led spot lighting, sound, and 50 feet LED backdrop. Performing participants displayed a variety of cultures and traditions, including languages, in the performances consisting of a fusion of classical, folk, and contemporary dance compilations.
The participating groups showcased 22 captivating variety performances. Four categories comprised minors, juniors, seniors, and adults competed within their age groups. The event was anchored by Miss India PA – Charmy Shah, Veteran RJ, and popular anchor and host Mamta Narula.
This year’s judging panel comprised renowned Bollywood Choreographer Rohan Virdi, celebrated Kuchipudi Exponent and Guru Swathi Atluri, and the locally popular choreographer Mitali Das.
Consul General of India- New York Shri Randhir Jaiswal was the Chief Guest of the program. Also in attendance were Jaipur Foot Chairman Prem Bhandari, Former Congressman of New Jersey Michael Pappas, Padma Awardee and FIA Advisor Dr. H R Shah, and veteran community leader Peter Kothari among other distinguished guests.
Mr. Randhir Jaiswal expressed his joy to witness and be a part of the event and praised the performances and performers for their sheer hard work to perform and compete with precision, coordination, and high energy. He wished that the event would continue to grow with each passing year for the coming decades and provide a platform over 19000 children have utilized in the past 39 years.
Hon. Michael Pappas expressed his happiness to be a part of the event and was impressed to witness FIA organizing a youth-oriented event on such a large scale and at a venue known to hold historical events.
Mr. Prem Bhandari expressed his happiness and joy in witnessing the participation of diverse communities and thanked FIA for providing the kids with such an incredible platform.
FIA President Mr. Kenny Desai praised all the judges, sponsors, and members of the FIA executive team and the DPC team for their arduous efforts in putting together this difficult event.
FIA Chairman Mr. Ankur Vaidya thanked the sponsors, the FIA Executive team, and the DPC led by FIA Vice President Saurin Parikh, Nishi Dhami, and Priti Patel. He summarized the joy of seeing over 500 children compete in sportsmanship, for which he expressed gratitude to the parents, the choreographers, and all the participants.
FIA Vice President & Dance Pe Chance Chair Mr. Saurin Parikh congratulated all sponsors, media partners, and the Indian Consul General in New York for their continued support.
Also in attendance were Past President & Board of Trustee Mr. Srujal Parikh, FIA Vice President Mr. Dr. Avinash Gupta, FIA Gen. Secretary Nishi Dhami, FIA FIA Treasurer Priti Patel FIA Jt. Treasurer Mr. Mahesh Dubal, FIA Jt Sec Mr. Haresh Shan FIA Past President, Mr. Alok Kumar, and other notable community members. Mementos, trophies, and prizes totaling $20,000.00 were distributed during the event.
Dance pe Chance, for nearly four decades, has seen the participation of over 19000 thousand children. The competition aims to inspire creativity and foster teamwork and competitiveness among upcoming generations.
Meals, certificates, complimentary rehearsal, and a complimentary ticket were for all participants, their managers, and choreographers courtesy of FIA and its sponsors. FIA’s vision through such grass root initiatives is to connect the next generation of Americans of Indian origin with our culture and the native motherland.
FIA expressed gratitude to its sponsors River Comics, Parikh Worldwide Media, TV Asia, Bansal Foundation, Arista Care, Mehta Foundation, and Media Partners ITV Gold, TV Asia, South Asian Times, Radio Zindagi, and Indian Panorama, and The Indian Eye. -
Dr. Timothy E. Sams and Bernadine Waller to speak at the Black History Month celebration at the Indian Consulate
I.S. Saluja
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Consulate General of India, New York, in partnership with Shanti Fund is celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 4:30 to 06:00 pm in the Indian Consulate.
The event will feature two eminent speakers from the field of academia and medicine. They are Dr. Timothy E. Sams and Dr. Bernadine Waller. There will be Music & Songs by John Colonna (Pianist), Joel Proctor (Drummer), Kenji Tokunaga (Jazz), Soh Young Lee (Singer), & Dr. Donna M. Jones (Reader).
Dr. Timothy E. Sams
President · State University of New York College at Old WestburyDr. Timothy E. Sams began his tenure as the sixth full president in the history of SUNY Old Westbury on January 11, 2021. Throughout a career spanning three decades, Dr. Sams has demonstrated leadership in improving student success, particularly for students from disadvantaged and marginalized communities. He brings to the College an emphasis on institutional excellence, inclusive innovation, and strategic change management. Prior to Old Westbury, he served as vice president of student affairs for Prairie View A&M University in Texas. As the senior vice president for student development at Morehouse College, he held a portfolio that included Student Services, Enrollment Management, Campus Safety and Athletics, among other units. As vice president for student life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he led such services as Residential Life, Health & Mental Health Services, and more. He is also credited as inaugurating the Student Life Office at New York University-Abu Dhabi and, for 13 years, led the Black Cultural Center at Swarthmore College. Dr. Sams is from Syracuse, New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Union College in Schenectady, New York, a Masters in Africana Studies from the University at Albany, and a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University.
Bernadine Waller, PhD, LMHC
Dr. Bernadine Waller is an award-winning National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Translational Epidemiology and Mental Health Equity with a dual appointment at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is an implementation scientist who partners with faith-based organizations to tailor and implement evidence-based interventions for African American women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Dr. Waller’s ground-breaking research is transforming the domestic violence service provision system. She developed the first US theories that identify help-seeking among African American women: The Theory of Help-Seeking Behavior, Constructed Agency, and Sarah Waller’s Help-Seeking Model. A scholar-clinician, Dr. Waller has taught in academia for more than 14 years. A testament to her investment in the next generation of scholar activists was winning the 2020 GADE Award for Teaching in Social Work. She is as a member of the Women’s Council, a sub-committee of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) which accredits all schools of social work, and a member of the Research Capacity and Development Committee for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). She additionally serves on the Board of Trustees for the Long Island Children’s Museum. Dr. Waller is a NYS-licensed mental health counselor who earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Adelphi University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with a concentration in Legal Studies from Temple University. -
Amid UN debate on Ukraine conflict, India to host event on Gandhian thought and philosophy
NEW YORK (TIP): India will host an event on Gandhian thought and philosophy at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss how the fundamental values of pluralism, democracy and rule of law can be strengthened to build peaceful and inclusive societies.
Thursday’s event comes as the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a discussion on Ukraine on Friday, February 24.
To be organized jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations and the University for Peace at the Economic and Social Council Chamber, the event is expected to be attended by diplomats from across the world.
Announcing the event in a tweet, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations said, “Join us tomorrow at UN for a thought-provoking initiative on the centrality of Mission Life & sustainable development to Gandhian thought as part of the India Roundtable series.”
It also shared a quote by Gandhi: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” According to the UN’s website, the meeting will discuss examples of how sustainable lifestyles can be promoted to combat the adverse effects of climate and environmental degradation and how the fundamental values of pluralism, democracy and rule of law can be strengthened to build peaceful and inclusive societies. The objective of this meeting is to shine a light on Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine of ‘Trusteeship’ and its relevance in today’s world with a focus on the concept of ‘Human Flourishing’ to promote sustainable lifestyles and enduring peace.
The announcement comes as the UN General Assembly held an Emergency Special Session on Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the one-year mark of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine stands as a grim milestone for the people of Ukraine and for the international community. “The invasion is a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law and is having dramatic humanitarian and human rights consequences,” he said.
“The position of the United Nations is unequivocal: We are committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders,” Guterres said.
Csaba Korosi, President of the General Assembly, said Wednesday marked the grim first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, highlighting the despair, displacement, destruction and death that Europe has not seen in decades.
“No one can be complacent,” Korosi said. He also assured all those suffering from the war’s consequences that they have not been forgotten. “This war will come to an end, and the time of reconstruction, reconciliation and transformation will come,” Korosi said. “We know it will not be easy. We know the scars are deep. Culture, family bonds, sports, arts and the acknowledgement of the shared destiny of humanity will certainly help nations currently facing each other in the trenches.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba introduced a draft resolution calling for just and lasting peace in his country. Calling this “a decisive moment to show support, unity and solidarity,” he recalled, standing in the assembly urging its member nations to prevent war days before Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion.
Ukraine exercised its legitimate right to self-defense, enshrined in the Charter as its people chose to fight for their lives. “Against all odds, we were able to stop the much stronger aggressor and kick him out of half of the newly occupied territory,” he said, adding, “No one should be fooled by Russia’s empty calls for negotiations.” In his remarks, Vassily A Nebenzia of Russia alleged that Ukraine is nothing more than a pawn. “While Moscow is ready for a diplomatic solution, its opponents have not recovered from the futile illusion that they could defeat a nuclear power,” he said.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that President Vladimir Putin had chosen war in an assault on the United Nations that struck at the heart of its Charter. “On the one-year anniversary of this conflict, we will see where the nations of the world stand on peace in Ukraine,” she said.(Source: PTI)
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CRY America Joins IPA for First-Ever India Giving Day
Nonprofits to Cooperate on Thursday, March 2 to Create a Brighter Future for India’s Marginalized Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): CRY, Child Rights and You America (CRY America) is excited to announce the launch of India Giving Day (IGD) under the leadership of the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA).
IPA, a coalition of 16 of the leading India-focused non-profits in the USA, is organizing the first-ever India Giving Day on Thursday, March 2, 2023, with early giving starting on February 14. This campaign will highlight the contributions made by Americans, notably the Indian American diaspora, to critical causes in India.
CRY America is a 501c3 non-profit driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential. With the support of 25,000 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of 786,000 children living across 5,000 villages and slums. Supported Projects ensure access to education and healthcare for underprivileged children, as well as protection from child labor, early marriage and trafficking. “We are thrilled to be part of the path breaking India Philanthropy Alliance and the newly initiated India Giving Day,” said CRY America CEO Shefali Sunderlal. “This collaboration is a great opportunity to significantly increase fundraising in the USA directed towards a variety of critical human rights and children’s rights issues in India.” The profiles of the 22 participating non-profits can be found here, including CRY America’s web page here. All organizations will undertake a series of activities to promote India Giving Day such as youth outreach, donor and volunteer outreach, social media promotions and organizing of local events.
IPA has carefully designed and executed this initiative, including the development of a secure website. India Giving Day provides a credible one-stop platform to donate, fundraise, and secure sponsorships for the causes you care about. The steering committee leaders for IGD are Manisha Bharti, Pratham USA, Sejal Desai, Akanksha Education Fund and the national co-chairs include philanthropy luminaries such as Desh Deshpande, Lata Krishnan, MR Rangaswami, and Sunil Wadhwani. Rural India Supporting Trust, MasterCard and Bank of America are sponsors of this campaign.
For more information about IPA or IGD or to support CRY America’s IGD fundraising efforts, please visit https://www.indiagivingday.org/organizations/cryamerica or contact Adam MacGregor at adam.macgregor@cryamerica.org / 617-910-7796.