New Delhi (TIP)- The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio of scheduled commercial banks, which moderated to a 12-year low of 2.8 per cent in March 2024, may further improve to 2.5 per cent by March 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Thursday, June 27.
The estimate for GNPA ratio for March 2025 is based on the macro stress tests, performed to assess the resilience of banks’ balance sheets to unforeseen shocks emanating from the macroeconomic environment.
“The asset quality of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) recorded sustained improvement and their GNPA ratio moderated to a 12-year low in March 2024 (to 2.8 per cent). Their net NPA (NNPA) ratio too improved to a record low of 0.6 per cent,” the RBI said in its Financial Stability Report (FSR) for June 2024, released on Thursday, June 27.
Under the baseline stress scenario, the GNPA ratio of all banks may improve to 2.5 per cent by March 2025. If the macroeconomic environment worsens to a severe stress scenario, the GNPA ratio may rise to 3.4 per cent, the RBI’s half yearly report said.
In the severe stress scenario, the GNPA ratios of public sector banks (PSBs) may increase from 3.7 per cent in March 2024 to 4.1 per cent in March 2025, whereas it may go up from 1.8 per cent to 2.8 per cent for private sector bank (PVBs) and from 1.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent for foreign banks (FBs).
Stress tests are conducted covering credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk and the resilience of commercial banks in response to these shocks is studied. Using the stress tests, the RBI projects impairment or bad loans and capital ratios over a one-year horizon under a baseline and two adverse scenarios – medium and severe.
The FSR report said that in the second half of FY2025, public sector banks recorded a substantial reduction (76 basis points) in their gross NPA ratio. “While the GNPA stock decreased across all bank groups, active and deep provisioning by PSBs and FBs resulted in an improved provisioning coverage ratio (PCR) in March 2024,” the report said.
The half-yearly slippage ratio (new NPA accretions as a share of standard advances) decreased across bank groups. Though the amount of write-offs declined during the year, the write-off ratio remained almost at the same level as a year ago, due to reduction in GNPA stock, it said.
Month: June 2024
-
Indian banks’ bad loan ratio at a 12 year low
-
Foreign investors find it hard to invest in Indian government bonds due to heavy paperwork
New Delhi (TIP)- Despite India’s $1.3 trillion sovereign bond market becoming very attractive for foreign investors, they face a lot of challenges ranging from lengthy documentation to the intricacies of settling a trade and the complexities of paying taxes on any profits, Bloomberg reported. This became obvious as foreign investors are eagerly buying bonds before they’re added to JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s main emerging market debt index from Friday., June 28. India opened a segment of the sovereign bond market to overseas investors only due to record borrowing during the pandemic.
To trade directly in the Fully-Accessible Route (FAR) bonds, which are the types eligible to be added to JPMorgan’s index, foreign funds must complete a registration process for each account via a custodian.
Investors found it frustrating that the documentation required is more complex than in other countries, according to the Bloomberg report, which cited sources who did not wish to be named.
For example, electronic signatures aren’t available for non-residents.
While on-boarding typically takes eight weeks, there have been cases of it taking as little as seven days or as long as two years, the report read.
Still, global funds bought roughly $10 billion of FAR bonds since index inclusion was announced in September suggesting logistical headaches are not deterring investors, according to the report.
India’s sovereign bonds are traded and settled on the central bank’s trading platform. Foreign funds not registered onshore typically place orders through custodian banks, making the process cumbersome, the report read.
How is India’s taxation different
from China?
India, cautious of hot money flows that led to the Asian financial crisis, chose not to follow in the footsteps of China, which provided concessions such as exempting investors from taxes ahead of joining major debt indexes. However, India has agreements with dozens of countries, allowing some investors to benefit from lower rates than the 30% for short-term capital gains and 10% for long-term gains. Interest income is taxed at 20%, but tax treaties can reduce this rate, the report read. Source: HT -
Airtel announces 10-21% hike in mobile tariffs from July 3
Bharti Airtel on Friday, June 28, announced between 10 and 21 per cent hike in mobile tariffs, a day after larger rival Reliance Jio announced an increase in rates.
Airtel, in a release, said that the revision in mobile tariffs will be effective from July 3.
“We have ensured that there is a very modest price increase (less than 70 paise per day) on entry-level plans, in order to eliminate any burden on budget challenged consumers,” the Sunil Mittal-led telecom firm said announcing the revision in mobile tariffs.
Bharti Airtel said it has maintained that the mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) needs to be upwards of Rs 300, to enable a financially healthy business model for telecoms in India.
“We believe that this level of ARPU will enable the substantial investments required in network technology and spectrum and offer a modest return on capital,” the telco said.
Among the unlimited voice plans, Airtel has raised tariffs in the ballpark range of about 11 per cent. Accordingly, rates are revised from Rs 179 to Rs 199; from Rs 455 to Rs 509; and from Rs 1,799 to Rs 1,999. In the daily data plan category, the Rs 479 plan has been increased to Rs 579 (20.8 per cent increase). The mobile tariff hike from mobile operators comes immediately after the 10th spectrum auction, which ended in just two days with muted response from the industry.
The country’s top telecom operator Jio will also increase mobile services rates by 12-27 per cent from July 3 and at the same time restrict the access of unlimited free 5G services for customers, according to a company statement.
This is the first hike in mobile services rates by Jio after a gap of about two-and-a-half years.
Jio has over 47 crore mobile subscribers accounting for about 41 per cent market share. -
No Trash, Compost or Recycling Collection on Independence Day, Thursday, July 4
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The New York City Department of Sanitation announced that there would be no trash, curbside compost or recycling collection on Thursday, July 4, 2024, Independence Day.
Residents who normally receive Thursday trash or curbside compost collection should place their material at the curb Thursday evening for collection starting Friday, July 5.
Residents who normally receive Thursday recycling collection should hold their material for a week, and place it at the curb the evening of Wednesday, July 10 for collection on Thursday, July 11. Please note that residents may experience collection delays, as is common after holidays. We appreciate patience as we work to collect the backlog of material. For questions about Sanitation services and holiday schedules contact 311 or visit nyc.gov/sanitation.
-
WhatsApp soon lets you dial numbers to place calls directly from app
Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new in-app dialer feature that will allow users to make calls directly from the app. According to WABetaInfo, they will not need to add contacts to their address book to make calls from the app. According to WABetaInfo, they will not need to add contacts to their address book to make calls from the app.
People will find a new floating action button located within the calls tab that will enable access to the in-app dialer. In addition, the report mentioned that after entering a phone number, users will also have the option to save the number to the address book as a new contact or add it to an existing contact card.
A messaging shortcut will also be available within the dialer screen that will allow them to quickly send a message to a phone number they initially planned to dial but chose to message instead, the report added.
The feature is presently available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and will roll out to even more people over the coming days, the report said.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to see all media shared in community group chats. This feature will let community members see an overview of all images, videos and other media files shared within the community, which will make it easier for them to locate and access shared content.
Source: IANS -
Scientists develop speech recognition tool to predict Alzheimer’s onset
A new AI-based model could predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by analysing an individual’s speech, the developers said. Trained on audio recordings of patients with mild cognitive impairment—early stages of memory loss, the model achieved 78.5 per cent accuracy in forecasting whether patients would remain stable or progress to dementia within six years, according to the researchers. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and impacts one’s everyday activities by impairing memory and thinking.
The researchers at Boston University, US, used recordings of initial interviews of 166 patients aged 63-97 and trained the model using machine learning to discern patterns between speech, demographics, diagnosis, and how their condition was worsening.
The model analyses interview content such as spoken words and sentence structure, rather than speech features such as enunciation or speed, showed the study published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
“We combine the information we extract from the audio recordings with some very basic demographics – age, gender, and so on – and we get the final score,” said Ioannis C. Paschalidis, a professor of engineering and the study’s corresponding author.
“You can think of the score as the likelihood, the probability, that someone will remain stable or transition to dementia. It had significant predictive ability,” said Paschalidis.
The researchers said that the model was able to perform well, despite challenges like low-quality recordings and background noise.
The researchers emphasised that early prediction is crucial as current diagnostic tests often identify Alzheimer’s disease only after significant cognitive decline has occurred such as memories starting to slip away and personality traits beginning to shift.
Source: PTI -
AI is set to change phone experience as Apple, Realme rush to add generative tools
Just like the flip phones in the ’90s, the QWERTY phones in the aughts, and the big battery and big camera phones in the 2010s, the trend that will define the 2020s is going to be artificial intelligence (AI) in phones. AI and machine learning (ML) have been integrated into smartphones for about a decade now with features like Siri on iPhones, smart text suggestions in Google Keyboard, etc. But it is only in the past one year that we are truly seeing this integration on both hardware and software levels. The Google Pixel 8s and Samsung Galaxy S24 series really set the ball rolling by placing generative AI features right at the centre of the smartphones with features like circle to search and upgraded Magic Editor that can now regenerate backgrounds, reposition people, and upscale low-resolution images using AI.
Thanks to how fast-paced AI tech is evolving, features that were groundbreaking in 2023 are almost the norm in 2024. This year, brands like OpenAI, Google, Apple, Nothing and Realme are all talking about bringing AI into the hands of people. This year, OpenAI held its Spring Update event where it announced updates to the phone app that allow users to interact with the chatbot via voice and video. Then Google I/O happened, and some big updates were announced to Gemini and its app, which now allows users to just point their camera at a location and the app will tell you your exact location. We are also hearing announcements from brands like Nothing, Realme and Oppo. Nothing said it is working on deep AI integration into the Nothing Phone 3 that will launch in 2025. Realme announced the GT6 (quick review) as its new AI phone and said by the end of 2024, all its smartphones will use AI features.
And then came the big announcement by Apple. You know it’s a trend to bet on when Apple dives into it head-first. At WWDC 2024, Apple declared it is joining the AI army, and announced its own Apple Intelligence. A select few existing iPhones and all the future ones will now take advantage of generative AI features like allowing you to generate your own emojis in iMessage, or the Notes app doing the math for you.
But here is where I ask you to take a step back. We have been hearing “AI phones” a lot lately. Samsung calls it Galaxy AI, Realme has tagged its latest phone, Realme GT 6, as the “AI flagship killer”. But what is an AI phone? “A true AI phone will come with on-device Gen AI apps, seamless system-wide integration, AI-optimised processors, and powerful hardware to run AI models locally. The initial wave of Gen AI phones will deliver fast photo and video editing, enhanced speech-to-text and translation capabilities, and enhanced gaming to redefine smartphone experiences”, explains Prabhu Ram, industry analyst at CyberMedia Research.
Source: India Today -
UK boy receives world’s first epilepsy device in skull
A schoolboy from England has made medical history as the first in the world with severe epilepsy to trial a new device implanted in his skull to control seizures. The neurostimulator, which sends electrical signals deep into the brain, has reduced Oran Knowlson’s daytime seizures by 80%. Oran has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a treatment-resistant form of epilepsy that he developed at age three. Since then, he has experienced daily seizures ranging from a few dozen to hundreds.
His mother, Justine had said that Oran had a variety of seizures, including ones where he fell to the ground, shook violently, and lost consciousness. At times, he would stop breathing and require emergency medication to resuscitate him.
The surgery, which lasted around eight hours, took place in October 2023. It was part of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital in collaboration with University College London, King’s College Hospital, and Oxford University.
Oran, now 13, was 12 at the time of the surgery.
Epilepsy seizures are caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. The device, which emits a constant pulse of current, aims to block or disrupt these abnormal signals.
According to University College London, the rechargeable device is mounted onto the skull and is attached to electrodes deep in the brain to reduce seizure activity.
This is the first UK clinical trial measuring this type of treatment for children with epilepsy. The CADET pilot (Children’s Adaptive Deep brain stimulation for Epilepsy Trial) will now recruit three additional patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which is funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering before 22 patients take part in the full trial, which is being funded by GOSH Charity and LifeArc. -
Plant-based alternatives healthy for your heart than meat: Study
Eating plant-based meat alternatives may have profound benefits against cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure, according to a review of research published from 1970 to 2023.
Plant-based meat alternatives are highly processed plant-based food products that typically replace meat in the diet.
While there is substantial variability in the contents and nutritional profiles of these alternatives, the findings detailed in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, showed that the nutritional profiles tend to reflect a heart-healthy dietary pattern.
“While the plant-based meat market has experienced significant growth in recent years and more people are enjoying plant-based burgers, surprisingly little is known about how these meat alternatives may impact health and in particular cardiovascular disease risk,” said lead author Matthew Nagra, from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
“Thus, we sought to review the available literature on the topic to identify what is currently known and to provide direction for future research,” he added.
The researchers reviewed the research on plant-based meat alternatives, their contents, nutritional profiles, and impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Their analysis shows that on average, the plant-based alternatives tend to have a more heart-healthy nutritional profile than meat, although the high sodium content of some products may be of concern.
However, these alternatives do not raise blood pressure, but instead improve some cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol levels, in several randomised controlled trials.
“There is currently a lack of long-term research evaluating how these alternatives may affect the risk of developing a heart attack or stroke,” the researchers said. Source: IANS -
Small changes to make today if you want to lose weight
Losing excess weight is important because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, improves mobility, enhances mental health, and boosts overall quality of life. Small changes in routine can effectively help reduce weight by creating sustainable habits that lead to a caloric deficit and healthier lifestyle. In this article, we share some simple tips to help you lose weight effectively. These manageable adjustments, when consistently applied, can lead to significant and lasting improvements in weight and health.
Drink more water
Drinking water can boost metabolism, reduce hunger, and help you feel full, leading to lower calorie intake. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Start your day with a glass of water and drink a glass before each meal to help control portion sizes.
Increase fibre intake
Fibre slows digestion, promotes satiety, and helps regulate blood sugar levels, reducing overeating. Incorporate high-fibre foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains into every meal. Consider adding flaxseeds or chia seeds to your breakfast or snacks.
Eat protein with every meal
Protein increases feelings of fullness, reduces appetite, and helps maintain muscle mass during weight loss. Include lean proteins such as chicken, fish, tofu, beans, or Greek yogurt in each meal. Aiming for 20-30 grams of protein per meal can be beneficial.
Practice mindful eating
Mindful eating encourages you to pay attention to hunger and fullness cues, reducing overeating. Eat slowly, savour each bite, and avoid distractions like TV or smartphones while eating. Focus on the taste, texture, and smell of your food.
Get enough sleep
Poor sleep can disrupt hunger hormones, leading to increased appetite and cravings for unhealthy foods. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Establish a regular sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine.
Reduce portion sizes
Smaller portions help control calorie intake without feeling deprived. Use smaller plates and bowls to naturally limit portion sizes. Serve yourself smaller portions and avoid eating directly from large packages.
Limit sugary drinks & snacks
Sugary drinks and snacks are high in empty calories which can lead to weight gain. Replace sugary drinks with water, herbal teas, or black coffee. Choose healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, or yogurt instead of sweets and processed snacks.
Stay active throughout the day
Regular movement increases calorie expenditure and supports overall health. Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, such as taking the stairs, walking during breaks, or doing short exercise sessions. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days. -
Best position to sleep when you are pregnant
Between midnight bathroom runs, a racing mind, cramping legs, heartburn and a hopped-up metabolism that’s turning up your internal thermostat — plus a growing baby bump that makes getting comfortable increasingly difficult — sleep can be challenging during pregnancy. Consider it preparation for the sleepless nights that lie ahead.
That said, getting enough sleep is more important than ever now that you’re snoozing for two. Here’s what you need to know about sleep during pregnancy, from the best positions to solutions for common problems and tips for getting a better night’s rest.
Why is sleep so important during pregnancy?
Sleep is the time when your body resets and repairs itself. It’s when your brain makes memories, making it an ally in your battle against baby brain. It’s how your blood vessels restore themselves, which is especially important now that they’re under increased pressure from the extra blood flow required to support your baby.
Sleep also keeps your immune system — which is suppressed to support your pregnancy — healthy. And sleep controls how your body reacts to insulin; not getting enough results in a higher blood sugar level, upping your risk of gestational diabetes. So even if life is getting in the way, make it a priority to set aside at least seven hours a night for sleep.
Best sleeping positions when you’re pregnant
The best sleep position when you’re expecting is on your left side — though your right is also perfectly acceptable. This position is ideal for your circulation, optimizing the oxygen and nutrients that get to your baby, as well as kidney function, reducing swelling. Past your first trimester, it becomes impossible to lie on your stomach for obvious reasons.
You should also avoid lying flat on your back all night long. The weight of your growing uterus presses on your vena cava, the artery running blood from your lower body back to your heart, disturbing circulation and possibly making you dizzy. Your womb also weighs on your intestines and back, making common pregnancy symptoms like backaches and hemorrhoids worse.
Common pregnancy sleep problems & solutions
All of the following pregnancy sleep problems can make getting a solid night of shut-eye harder. A few tips to help you sleep better:
You don’t like sleeping on your side. Place pillows between your legs and behind your back; full-body and wedge pillows, in particular, are a pregnant woman’s best friend. Otherwise try sleeping in a recliner or other comfy armchair, if you have one, in a semi-upright position.
You’re restless. Work out during the day, and you’ll likely feel sleepier at night — though try to avoid exercising within a couple of hours of bedtime, since that can ramp you up.
You’ve got a busy mind. If stress at work or about your impending new arrival is keeping you up at night, talk to a friend, parent or your partner earlier in the evening to get your worries off your mind before your head hits the pillow. -
Home remedies to get rid of blemishes
There are some home remedies for treating blemishes naturally that can fight them off without any side effects. The home remedies offer a more painless and cheaper alternative to the clinical ones along with having long-term benefits. The best part is that they cost nothing except few household items laying around and some time.
Tomato juice
Apply on the Blemishes and massage. Leave it for 15 minutes. Use this remedy daily for removing skin blemishes naturally.
Lemon juice
Apply fresh lemon juice for 20 minutes on the blemishes for a month or two for lightening up the blemishes.
Cocoa butter
Massage blemishes with cocoa butter and leaves it overnight. Cocoa butter has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants which help in fighting blemishes.
Baking soda
Mix few drops of olive oil or water to baking soda and make a paste. Apply the paste on the blemishes and leave for 10 minutes. Scrub off the paste and wash with clean water.
Egg white
Apply egg white on a clean face and wash it after 10 minutes. Apply a moisturizer. This would lighten your skin and blemishes.
Tips to Prevent Blemishes
Preventing the blemishes from occurring on your skin is always a better option than trying to fight with it. Here are some tips to prevent blemishes
It is vital to keep your face cleaned daily with occasional exfoliation to remove impurities, dirt, oil and dead skin cells that lead to blemishes.
Use a noncomedogenic moisturizer on your skin for hydration.
Avoid using excessive makeup on a breakout skin. Wash off the makeup after the day and sleep with a clean hydrated face.
Certain hair oils can clog your face. It is a good idea to keep your hair away from your face. -
Chicken Gilafi Kebab
Chicken kebabs cooked in a Gilaf which means a cover. Chicken mince is mixed with an array of aromatic spices, nuts and a tang of lime along with kewra water. Baked to perfection, serve these mouth-watering kebabs with mint chutney.
Ingredients
300 gms chicken mince, 50 gms onion, chopped, 50 gms tomatoes, chopped, 50 gms green capsicum, chopped, 30 gms coriander leaves, chopped, 20 gms green chilli, chopped, 5 gms salt, 20 ml oil, 20 gms cashew, 20 gms almonds, peeled, 10 gms mint, chopped, 5 gms red chilli powder, 5 gms masala powder, 5 gms ginger garlic paste, 3 gms cumin powder, 10 ml lemon juice, 10 ml fresh cream, 5 ml kewra water
Method
– In a grinder add mince, onion, salt, red chili powder, garam masala, ginger garlic paste, cumin powder, lemon juice, coriander leaves, mint leave, green chilies, fresh cream, kewra water, cashew and almonds.
– Grind all these ingredients well.
– Skewer the mince on to wooden skewers.
– Take chopped onion, capsicum and coriander leaves in a flat plate.
– Wrap these chopped vegetables around the kebabs.
– Bake them in oven at 180 degree for 8 to 10 minutes.
– Your Gilafi kebabs are ready to serve. -
Junaid Khan confirms new movie after Maharaj success
Actor Junaid Khan, who recently garnered critical acclaim for his role in the Netflix film Maharaj, has teased fans with news of his latest cinematic venture. The actor, who is the son of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, revealed that he has commenced shooting for an untitled film in Delhi.
In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Junaid Khan shared insights about his new project, hinting that it is backed by a prominent production house. Earlier, certain reports of him shooting with Khushi Kapoor in Delhi were doing rounds on the internet which suggested the duo would shoot in the national capital for a few weeks.
This announcement comes on the heels of the release of Maharaj, a historical drama that has received widespread positive feedback since its premiere. -
Varun Dhawan’s Baby John to release on Christmas
The makers of Varun Dhawan’s upcoming film Baby John have revealed a new international release date of December 25th, 2024, this Christmas, adding to the seasonal excitement.
The action entertainer by Atlee, Jio Studios, A for Apple Studios, and Cine1 Studios is also expected to collide with the film Sitaare Zameen Par, starring Aamir Khan.
The film’s release date has been pushed back due to its emphasis on visual effects and action sequences.
The team needs more time to perfect every detail so that ‘Baby John’ fulfils the high expectations of the audience. The Christmas release makes it an ideal time for an out-and-out mass entertainer.
Baby John marks the Hindi film debut of Keerthy Suresh and also features Wamiqa Gabbi, who is making her silver screen debut. Bollywood veterans Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav will play significant roles in this action entertainer. The film is a musical, with a score composed by S Thaman. -
Newlyweds Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer Iqbal are all smiles as they step out for dinner
Newlyweds Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal are the talk of the town. On June 23, the two lovebirds got married in the presence of family and friends. They also held a reception that evening, which was attended by several Bollywood stars. Now, the two have made their first public appearance after marriage, as they stepped out for a dinner date with close friends and relatives.
For the lates outing on Wednesday, June 26, evening, both Sonakshi and Zaheer chose a restaurant in Mumbai. Sonakshi looked radiant in a red silk dress, which she paired with heels and shimmery white clutch bag. Meanwhile, Zaheer opted for a white shirt with black leaf motifs printed on it. Both Sonakshi and Zaheer posed for a few moments outside the restaurant and flashed a big smile. They were then seen entering the restaurant, as they went on to hug a close relative. Zaheer was seen touching the feet of an elder relative.
Sonakshi and Zaheer opted for a civil marriage at her home on Sunday. They were joined by her dad Shatrughan Sinha, mother Poonam Sinha and his parents. Shatrughan later took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank people for their congratulatory messages, calling it the ‘wedding of the century’. The couple wore ivory outfits for the wedding, with Sonakshi later switching into a gold and red saree, and Zaheer opting for a white kurta with red underlay.
Sonakshi and Zaheer later threw a party for their friends and family at a restaurant in Mumbai. The do was attended by Salman Khan, her first co-star, Rekha, Kajol, Raveena Tandon and others. Source: HT -
Kangana Ranaut’s directorial ‘Emergency’ to release in September
Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film ‘Emergency’ is all set to release in theatres on September 6. The actor announced the same with a new poster. Last month, in May, the acclaimed actor announced the postponement of the film due to her Lok Sabha election campaign.
After her victory, she is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated period political drama, set for 6th September 2024. The actor announced the major update on Instagram and wrote, “The Beginning of the 50th Year of Independent India’s Darkest Chapter, Announcing #KanganaRanaut’s #Emergency In Cinemas on 6th September 2024. The Explosive Saga of The Most Controversial Episode of The History of Indian Democracy (sic).”
Backed by Zee Studios and Manikarnika Films, ‘Emergency’ is a mega-budget depiction of one of the most controversial episodes in the history of Indian democracy. At the heart of the story is one of the most sensational leaders of all time, India’s first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
Talking about the film in a press release, Kangana said, “I am deeply inspired by William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the essence of Emergency is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints, it is undoubtedly the most sensational chapter of Indian democracy and I am eagerly awaiting its worldwide release on 6th September 2024.”
‘Emergency’ also features Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. -
Nicole Kidman celebrates 18th wedding anniversary with Keith Urban
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban celebrated their enduring love on their 18th wedding anniversary. Kidman, 57, captured the essence of their bond with a heartfelt gesture on Tuesday, June 25. She shared a captivating photo, where she appeared relaxed in a vibrant, patterned dress, barefoot on a stone wall overlooking the expansive sea. By her side, Urban, 57, serenaded her with an acoustic guitar, clad in a striking pink shirt and black pants, mirroring the casual, intimate setting.
Kidman simply captioned the picture by writing, “Forever,” and adding the hashtag “happyanniversary.”
The image speaks volumes of their shared journey, highlighting Kidman’s serene presence and Urban’s musical accompaniment, blending personal warmth with the picturesque backdrop. Their anniversary tribute encapsulates not just a milestone in years but a testament to their enduring commitment and shared passions. It’s a snapshot of their love story that resonates beyond words, capturing a moment of tranquility and mutual admiration amidst the beauty of nature—an ode to their “forever” love that continues to inspire.
Many of their celebrity friends left sweet comments celebrating their milestone. Naomi Watts wrote, “This looks like true love heavenly.” Rita Wilson commented, “Love you both. Happy Anniversary, lovers.”
Kidman and Urban’s love story began at the G’Day USA gala in 2005, culminating in a romantic wedding the next year at St. Patrick’s Estate in Manly, Australia. Their journey into parenthood began with the birth of daughter Sunday Rose in July 2008, followed by daughter Faith Margaret in December 2010. Early in their marriage, the couple confronted significant challenges when Urban grappled with addiction. -
Paris Hilton testifies to US Congress about childhood abuse
Paris Hilton, the American socialite and media figure, has told a congressional panel looking into strengthening child welfare protections that she was “force-fed medications and sexually abused by staff” while she was institutionalized as a teenager. Hilton, an outspoken advocate for better protections for children in youth facilities, told the House committee on ways and means on Wednesday that she had been “violently restrained and dragged down hallways, stripped naked and thrown into solitary confinement”.
The 43-year-old has previously described how she was subjected to “a parent-approved kidnapping” at four different youth facilities as her parents searched for solutions to her rebellious behavior and “fell for the misleading marketing of the troubled teen industry”.
She has characterized the “tough love” teen course-correction business as a $50bn industry that includes therapeutic boarding schools, military-style boot camps, juvenile justice facilities and behavior-modification programs.
On Wednesday, June 25, the reality TV star said she found her institutional experience “isolating and traumatic” and that she had been prevented from alerting her parents to what was happening because phone calls were monitored.
“It’s really difficult to tell anyone in the outside world. A lot of these kids are not believed because these places tell the parents they’re being lied to and manipulated because they want to go home,” Hilton told the panel.
Hilton has also called on lawmakers to pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse act, designed to strengthen oversight of residential youth programs; supports the re-authorization of Title IV-B of the Social Security Act; and is an advocate for a “Bill of Rights” for children in youth facilities.
The Provo Canyon school, one of the institutions Hilton attended, previously responded to Hilton’s accusations saying it was under different management and “therefore cannot comment on the operations or student experience prior to that time”.
“What we can say is that the school provides a structured environment, teaching life skills, providing behavioral health therapy, and continuing education for youth who come to us with pre-existing and complex emotional, behavioral and psychiatric needs,” the school said. -
Scarlett Johansson wanted to join ‘Jurassic World’ franchise for 10 years
Actress Scarlett Johansson has confirmed that she will be starring in the next ‘Jurassic World’ movie, directed by filmmaker Gareth Edwards, who has previously helmed films such as ‘Rogue One’ and ‘Godzilla’.
An ‘enormous’ ‘Jurassic Park’ fan, Johansson shared that she has always wanted to be part of the franchise, even if it meant “dying in five minutes”.
Speaking to ComicBook.com, Johansson said, “I’ve been trying to get into this franchise in any possible way for over 10 years. I’m like, ‘I’ll die in the first five minutes! I can get eaten by whatever! I’ll do the craft service!’ I’ll do anything for it. The fact that it’s happened in this way at this time is just actually unbelievable.”
“I am an enormous ‘Jurassic Park’ fan,” Johansson said, reports Variety.
“It is one of the first movies I remember seeing in theatres. I remember it so vividly. It was life-changing and mind-blowing. I cannot express how excited I am.”
The script for the upcoming film is by David Koepp. The screenwriter is returning to the franchise after writing for Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park’ in 1993 and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ in 1997.
Johansson said that “the script is so incredible” for the fourth ‘Jurassic World’ movie, which will be an entirely new story that’s separate from the first ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy, featuring Chris Pratt. Source: IANS -
10 Indian fishermen charged with death of Sri Lanka navy sailor
Colombo (TIP)- Ten Indian fishermen who were arrested earlier this week for illegal fishing will be charged with the death of a Navy sailor who succumbed to the injuries sustained during an operation to seize their trawler, Sri Lankan authorities have said.
“They face charges for illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, death of a naval person during the operation and for causing damage to naval property,” the Sri Lankan Navy said in statement issued on Wednesday.
The navy said the 10 fisherman were arrested on June 25 (local time) during a special operation conducted off Kankesanthurai Port in Jaffna district, northern Sri Lanka, for illegally fishing in the country’s waters.
A senior sailor from the navy Special Boat Squadron sustained critical injuries due to “the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler, resisting its seizure” during the operation, later succumbing to his injuries after being admitted to a hospital in Jaffna.
According a post mortem report, the sailor’s death was an accident, arising from damage to his spinal cord, the navy said. Indian officials did not officially comment on the development. After the operation, the fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal proceedings. The local police had filed a ‘B’ report with the Mallakam Court in Jaffna, seeking their prosecution. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for July 22.
Illegal fishing is a contentious issue in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with fisherman from both sides arrested frequently for trespassing into the other country’s waters.
Sri Lanka Navy said it has arrested more than 200 Indian fishermen and seized 27 trawlers for illegal fishing so far this year. In 2023, it arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for allegedly “poaching” in Sri Lankan waters.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday, June 27, that the Indian high commission in Colombo and the consulate in Jaffna have been taking up the issue of early release of Indian fishermen currently detained in Sri Lanka.
In a letter to Stalin, Jaishankar said that as of June 26, a total of 34 Indian fishermen were in judicial remand in Sri Lanka and six were serving sentences in jails there.
Jaishankar was responding to three letters sent by Stalin this month to raise the issue of fishermen from Tamil Nadu detained in Sri Lanka. He said that the “genesis of this issue goes back to 1974, following an understanding between the then Union government and the state government”.
Since 2014, the National Development Alliance (NDA) government has sought to address the livelihood interests and humanitarian aspects of the fishing community. “These efforts continue in their multiple dimensions, including through engaging the government of Sri Lanka,” he said. Source: HT -
CBI arrests two accused from Patna in NEET-UG paper leak case
New Delhi (TIP)- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has taken up the probe into alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG, made its first arrests on Thursday, June 27, by nabbing two persons from Patna.
According to CBI officials, the arrested persons – Manish Prakash and Ashutosh Kumar – allegedly housed NEET aspirants at a school in Patna a day before the exam on May 4 and provided them with leaked question paper. The examinees were then made to memorise the answers before they appeared for the exam on May 5.
Prakash’s wife Archana told the Indian Express, “The CBI called me around 1:30 pm to say that my husband has been arrested. He is a social worker who would often help people with making stay arrangements for students. I had heard someone asking him on the phone to make arrangements for four to five students. We had no idea about the enormity of trouble he has now landed in.”
On the other hand, the central probe agency had tried to track the prime accused Sanjiv Mukhiya on Wednesday, but to no avail. Mukhiya is absconding from his village in Nalanda. The probe agency suspects that he may have fled to Nepal.
The CBI is said to have received more information on another accused, Sikandar Yadavendu, who has already been arrested by the Bihar Police. Yadavendu had allegedly introduced the four examinees to ‘setters’ Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, the IE report said.
The CBI has registered six FIRs in the NEET paper leak case. The first CBI FIR was registered on June 23, a day after the Union education ministry announced it would hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam to the Central agency.
Following the announcement of a CBI probe, the Bihar and Gujarat governments issued notifications to transfer their local NEET-UG “paper leak” cases to the central agency.
This year’s NEET-UG exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. Over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the test.
Following the declaration of results on June 4, there have been protests across the country over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam.
‘Source of NEET leak likely courier, transport firm staff’
The NEET-UG question paper for the May 5 entrance test may have been leaked on May 3 while being transported from the Ranchi airport to an office of courier company Blue Dart, and then to the Hazaribagh branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) with the help of employees of either the transport company or the courier agency, officials aware of the matter said.
Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which arrested 18 people and recorded the statements of SBI and Blue Dart employees, handed its case files to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which took over the case.
Police officers, who asked not to be named, said that those arrested – including members of a gang in Nalanda – have, in the past bribed employees of courier companies, drivers involved in transportation and photographed question papers en route to different exam centres.
Bihar Police have also shared with CBI details of their investigation that show how the 2024 NEET-UG question paper was driven first by a transport company driver for over a 100km route and then by an e-rickshaw to the bank for a distance of less than 2km.
“Police have shared statements of the Blue Dart company employees and bank officials with CBI which will question them soon,” one officer said.
The 2024 NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other related undergraduate courses across India, has been beset with a series of allegations ranging from question paper leaks, inflated marking and arbitrary allowance of grace marks – issues that have become a nationwide flashpoint for political parties, leading to thousands of students protesting for weeks. This year’s examination was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad with 2.3 million candidates appearing for it.
After a month of investigations in states like Bihar and Gujarat, the first FIR by CBI in the paper leak case was registered on Sunday, a day after the Union education ministry announced it would hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam to the central agency. -
Jharkhand HC grants bail to former CM Hemant Soren in money-laundering case
The Jharkhand High Court on Friday, June 27, granted bail to former chief minister Hemant Soren in a money-laundering case linked to land scam.
The high court had on June 13 reserved its decision on Soren’s bail plea.
“Bail has been granted to Soren. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail,” Soren’s senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury told PTI.
Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money-laundering case.
The 48-year-old politician is currently lodged in Birsa Munda jail.
During the hearing, ED’s counsel SV Raju argued that if Soren is released on bail, he would commit a similar offence. -
‘Undemocratic, but not unconstitutional’: Congress’ Shashi Tharoor on Emergency
NEW DELHI (TIP)- Amid the ongoing Emergency row in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday, June 27, stated that the Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was ‘undemocratic but not unconstitutional.’
“I am a critic of the Emergency, but the very fact is that it may have been undemocratic but it was not unconstitutional. A provision of the Constitution permitted the imposition of an internal emergency. That provision has since been removed,” Tharoor told NDTV in an interview.
On Thursday’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament by President Droupadi Murmu, in which she spoke about Emergency, among other things, the senior Congressman mentioned that for the President to call Emergency an ‘attack on the Constitution,’ was ‘actually inaccurate in legal terms.’
“I am not supporting the move, and I am not saying that this is something to be proud of. I think arresting opposition politicians, censoring the press, and a number of steps taken during that period were undemocratic, but, sadly, not unconstitutional,” he remarked.
Tharoor, who recently won his fourth consecutive Lok Sabha election from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram constituency, accused the Narendra Modi government of raking up the Emergency issue as a ‘diversionary’ tactic.
“The BJP-led NDA government is moving the goalposts. They can talk about 1975 or 2047, and not about the present. The focus must be on burning issues such as unemployment, the NEET paper leaks, and the situation in Manipur,” he asserted.
The Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977. In the subsequent general elections, Indira Gandhi was voted out of power, and the Janata Party government took office. However, the alliance of disparate parties collapsed in 1979, and Gandhi was re-elected as Prime Minister in 1980, and held the chair until her assassination in 1984.