Ingredients
– 2 cups rice, 2 tbsp jaggery, 2 onions nicely chopped into thin thin slices, 2 pieces of cardamoms, 2pcs cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, 3 or 4 whole peppers, 2 pepper corns, 1 piece star aniseed, ¼ tsp jeera and salt to taste, Ghee for frying
Method
Wash the rice and keep it aside. Fry onions in ghee till brown along with all the dry Masalas then put the jaggery and fry over low gas and put the washed rice add salt to taste and last add water. Cook till done.
Month: July 2024
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Brown rice
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Dhansak Mutton
Ingredients
– ½ kg mutton
– 11/2 cup tur dal preferably wet ½ an hour before cooking
– 2 small brinjals cut into 4 pieces each
– Few mint leaves, coriander leaves and curry leaves
– 1 big tomato diced nicely
– ½ tsp haldi powder
– 1 tsp red chilli powder
– 11/2 tsp dhanajeera powder
– 11/2 tsp dhansak masala powder
– ½ tsp garam masala
– Salt to taste
– 1 or 2 green chillies slit into 2
– 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
– 1 tsp oil or ghee
Method
Wash the dal and mutton. take oil or ghee in the cooker put curry leaves , mint leaves and Ginger garlic paste and slit green chillies last add nicely diced tomatoes and fry over sim for Few moments then add mutton and cook till the mutton is nicely coverd in the masalas and Then add all the dry masalas let the mutton roast for sometime now add the dal and 1 glass Full of water and put the cooker lid on. Cook for ½ an hour. Open and add finely chopped Coriander leaves. -
Benefits of oiling hair daily
According to experts, hair oil serves a range of purposes beyond simply making the hair softer and smoother. Its benefits extend to strengthening the roots, preventing hair fall, delaying the appearance of grey hair, and maintaining a healthy scalp.
Says renowned hair expert Jawed Habib, “Hair oil safeguards your locks. Why else would we have oil-based conditioners and hair treatments?” The scalp, he explains, does not require oil. “The term ‘hair oil’ itself implies that it is intended solely for the hair, not the scalp. Some argue that the scalp also needs oil for optimal health, but I respectfully disagree. Scientifically speaking, the scalp has its natural oil production, which adequately maintains its well-being. Therefore, hair oil should be restricted to hair alone. If you must, then apply it to the scalp only during massage to provide lubrication, as massaging a dry scalp can lead to hair breakage.”
Agrees Namita Pandharipande, R&D- Personal Care, Netsurf Communications Pvt. Ltd. “Throughout generations, different oils have been known for their remarkable properties that include hydration, protection, and possessing antibacterial qualities. Among these, herbal oils derived from coconut, shea butter, and olive effectively help prevent hair thinning and alleviate dry scalp concerns. These nourishing oils moisturise the hair and promote hair growth, resulting in healthier, more vibrant hair.”
Here are more reasons why you should apply hair oil.
Detangle
Nobody enjoys dealing with tangled and unruly hair. Applying hair oil can help you eliminate this problem. “Hair oil acts as a lubricant, making it easier to detangle your hair and providing a polished appearance by smoothing the outer layer of each strand,” says Habib.
Protection
Whether you expose your hair to harsh chemicals, pollution, sun, or heat styling tools, hair oils come to the rescue, guarding against potential damage. “Hair oils, especially herbal oils, act as a protective barrier against factors that harm the hair,” says Pandharipande.
Crowning glory
A good hair oil adds a natural sheen to your hair, making it appear more lustrous and vibrant. However, Habib advises against leaving hair oil overnight. “It’s not safe to do so,” he says. “I always suggest applying oil a few minutes before shampooing your hair. Additionally, I recommend ensuring that your hair is not dry when you apply the oil. To achieve this, wet your hair lightly before applying the hair oil.”
Nourishment
Experts agree that when you apply hair oil and leave it for a while it revitalises your locks, making them healthier and stronger.
Hydration
Every part of our body needs hydration, and our hair is no exception. Regular oiling is a simple yet effective way to promote overall hair health and maintain its natural moisture balance. “Applying hair oil plays an important role in preserving the moisture content of the hair, effectively combating issues such as dryness, frizz, and breakage,” says Habib. The oil forms a protective barrier that seals in the moisture, preventing it from escaping. This helps keep the hair strands nourished, soft, and supple. Additionally, the lubricating properties of hair oil contribute to detangling and reducing hair damage during combing or styling. Source: Moneycontrol -
Emma Roberts announces engagement to Cody John
Emma Roberts is soon to be dressed in white as she announced her engagement to actor Cody John on July 16. Roberts announced her engagement via an Instagram post with a picture of her along with John. The announcement comes as a surprise as the actor has always tried to keep a low profile about her romantic relationships. The couple is soon going to be married but there is no update about a wedding date or venue.
Roberts shared an excited picture of herself with her fiance John on Instagram where she could be seen casually flaunting the engagement ring on her finger. The post was captioned, “putting this here before my mom tells everyone,” followed by a heart emoji. The caption was about an incident that happened earlier this year with mom Kelly Cunningham, as reported by People Magazine.
In early February, Kelly shared a picture of Robert’s 3-year-old son which he shares with ex-Garrett Hedlund, Rhodes without consulting with her first. Later, the American Horror Story star shared a story where she wrote, “When your mom posts your son’s face without asking but you love them both so whatever,” as she reshared photos of Rhodes.
Roberts and John who is also an actor and has featured in Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga and The CW’s In the Dark have kept their love life mostly private. -
Natalie Portman reveals how Rihanna helped her after divorce from Benjamin Millepied
Natalie Portman will forever be a Rihanna fan! During an appearance on the Monday, July 15, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Portman, 43 — who finalized her divorce from her husband Benjamin Millepied, 47, in February — spoke about meeting the “Umbrella” hitmaker, 36, at Paris Fashion Week in January.
In a sweet interaction shared by Bustle on Instagram at the time, Rihanna called Portman “one of the hottest bitches in Hollywood.”
Speaking to Fallon, the May December star insisted, “I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad bitch.” Fallon then got to his feet and gave Portman some loud applause, before showing a clip of the fashion week interaction.
“It was exactly what I needed,” Portman added.
“That’s a big deal,” Fallon commented, as the Black Swan star replied, “It was a formative moment in my life.” In the video shared earlier this year taken outside of the Dior Haute Couture show in the French capital, Portman told Rihanna, “I love you,” as the singer reciprocated: “I am a f—ing fan.” Portman insisted, “I’m gonna faint. I’m gonna black out,” as the two continued to praise one another.
The Oscar winner added, “I love you and I listen to your music all the time… you’re just such a queen. Thank you.”
Portman shared a photo on Instagram of the pair hugging at the time. “Still not over this… ?? @badgalriri,” she captioned the post. Portman’s latest comments come after PEOPLE exclusively confirmed in March that she and her husband of 11 years, Millepied, had officially divorced after quietly separating eight months prior. Portman filed last July and the divorce was finalized in February in France, where she and Millepied, whom she married in 2012, had been living with their children; son Aleph, 13, and daughter Amalia, 7. -
Kim Kardashian draws ire for using Lord Ganesha idol as ‘prop’ for photo
One of the key reasons the wedding of Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of Encore Healthcare’s CEO Viren Merchant, garnered global attention was the presence of American media personality and socialite Kim Kardashian. Kim, accompanied by her sister Khloé Kardashian, arrived in Mumbai and participated in the wedding ceremony on Friday and the ‘Shubh Aashirvaad’ ceremony on Saturday before returning to the US.
While the Kardashian sisters turned heads last week in custom-made outfits by renowned Indian designer Manish Malhotra, Kim made headlines this week by posting a picture of herself with a Lord Ganesha idol. On Monday, Kim took to Instagram to share a couple of fresh photos from Anant and Radhika’s wedding festivities. In the pictures, she is seen wearing a white and golden Manish Malhotra lehenga and choli.
However, netizens quickly noticed that one of the photos showed her posing with an idol of the Hindu deity Ganesh. She soon started receiving flak from social media users for using the idol as a “prop,” prompting her to take down the image. Nevertheless, the picture went viral on Reddit and has been a hot topic since then.
“Nita Aunty, educate your guests,” noted the user who posted the picture on a popular subreddit. “That isn’t helping her gain any favors from the Indian audience that she is after,” another Redditor wrote. -
Shraddha Kapoor shares new poster of ‘Stree 2’ featuring Stree’s braid
Actress Shraddha Kapoor, who is eagerly awaiting the release of her upcoming horror-comedy movie ‘Stree 2’, shared a new poster of the film on July 16.
The poster features a hand holding a braid in a firm grip, a significant element in the film’s narrative.
In the first part of the film, which was released in 2018, Shraddha’s character dropped hints about her identity by using the braid of Stree (the ghost) on herself, intriguing viewers and leaving them wondering if she was a ghost.
The actress also shared that the trailer of the film will be released in two days.
Shraddha wrote in the caption, ‘Ek badi suchna – O Stree aa rahi hai in just 2 din. #Stree2 Trailer in 2 days! The legend returns this Independence Day, August 15, 2024.’
‘Aatank jab Chanderi par chhaya, tab sabko ek hi nara yaad aaya, O Stree Raksha Karna!’
‘Stree’, which was directed by debutant Amar Kaushik, also starred Rajkummar Rao, Flora Saini, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee.
The plot is based on the urban legend Nale Ba (‘Come Tomorrow’) of Karnataka.
Rajkummar, who played a tailor in ‘Stree’, learned to sew as part of the preparation for his role. Source: IANS -
No ‘good news’, for now enjoy ‘Bad Newz’: Vicky Kaushal on Katrina’s pregnancy rumors
Actor Vicky Kaushal has dismissed media reports about wife Katrina Kaif’s pregnancy as “speculation”, saying they will happily announce whenever they have “good news”.
Kaushal, who is currently promoting his upcoming comedy “Bad Newz”, was in the city to promote the movie ahead of its Friday release. The film also stars Triptii Dimri and Amy Virk. “As far as the good news that you spoke about is concerned, we will be very happy to share it with you when we have it. But till then, there is no truth to that, there is only speculation which is coming from the media. So please, enjoy ‘Bad Newz’ for now, we will share with you when there is time for good news,” Kaushal said at a promotional event here. When the host requested the media to not ask personal questions, the actor quipped, “There is a very good line in the picture, which is ‘Don’t get personal’.” Pregnancy rumours gained prominence when a picture of the couple walking on the streets of London became viral on social media with many fans speculating that Kaif was sporting a baby bump.
“Bad Newz” revolves around a woman (Dimri) who is carrying twins, but with different fathers, played by Kaushal and Virk. Directed by Anand Tiwari, “Bad Newz” has been produced by Amritpal Singh Bindra, Apoorva Mehta and Karan Johar. The film is slated to release on July 19. Source: PTI -
Amitabh Bachchan confirms son Abhishek Bachchan will star with Shah Rukh Khan in King
Amitabh Bachchan has confirmed that Abhishek Bachchan’s next project will be with Shah Rukh Khan, in the film King. Abhishek will play the antagonist in the film, directed by Sujoy Ghosh. It will star Shah Rukh’s daughter Suhana Khan. Amitabh took to his X (previously Twitter) account to share a fan who posted an exclusive report that Abhishek will be playing a negative role in Shah Rukh Khan’s King. The fan page wrote, “Those Who have seen Abhishek Sir’s in Breathe into the Shadows, Raavan and BB, Will know what level of Performance as a negative role he can give. Never ever doubt him. @juniorbachchan”
Meanwhile, Amitabh wrote in the caption, “all the best Abhishek .. It is TIME !!!”
The first report of Abhishek’s casting in King was shared by Peeping Moon on Monday. It added that Abhishek will “play a sophisticated villain facing off against Shah Rukh’s mafia persona.” The film will be produced by Pathaan director Siddharth Anand. Abhishek and Shah Rukh had previously worked in Farah Khan’s Happy New Year.
The source also added, “Abhishek is an actor whose full potential has yet to be fully realized. He has the ability to astonish audiences when given complex roles. King presents him in an out-and-out negative role for the first time in such a large-scale commercial movie, and he is sure to make a significant impact with his performance. The Jr. Bachchan was surprised when he was offered this role but accepted it immediately, intrigued by the depth of his character. It’s a special role, and Siddharth Anand has grand plans to present Abhishek in a manner audiences have never seen before.”
Suhana will be playing a young girl coming to terms with a life-altering situation. The film will also mark her theatrical debut. She made her acting debut with Zoya Akhtar’s coming-of-age period film The Archies on Netflix India last year. -
Give details of centre-wise NEET-UG result by Saturday: Supreme Court to NTA
New Delhi (TIP)- The Supreme Court on Thursday, July 18, directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to declare city and centre-wise result of NEET-UG 2024 after masking the identity of candidates by Saturday noon. “We direct the NTA to publish the marks obtained by students in the NEET-UG 2024 without disclosing their identity. The result should be declared city and centre-wise by 12 noon on July 20 and shall be uploaded on the website of the NTA,” a Bench, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, said.
The order came after senior counsel Narender Hooda submitted on behalf of petitioners that in the absence of detailed result, the petitioners were handicapped in pointing out discrepancies in the exam and that publishing the entire result on the NTA website would bring about transparency regarding centre-wise marks obtained by the candidates. The Bench, which also included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, rejected Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s repeated requests that apart from the identity of candidates, the names of cities and centres should also be masked. Citing a Bihar Police report, Hooda asserted the paper was leaked a day before and it could be widespread. The Bench said, “The probe report of the Economic Offences Unit and material collected by the Bihar Police before the investigation was taken over by the CBI shall be filed with the court master by 5 pm on July 20.”
As the hearing on petitions seeking cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 remained inconclusive, the Bench deferred the matter to July 22. On the basis of a technical analysis of the NEET-UG 2024 data carried out by experts from IIT Madras, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that there was no indication of mass malpractice or local set of candidates being benefitted.
Hooda said unless the petitioners were given access to the city-wise and centre-wise result of the exam, they would be unable to contest and contradict claims made by the Centre.
On the issue of the CBI status report on the probe, the CJI said, “The CBI probe is on. If what the CBI has told us is revealed, it will affect the investigation and people will become wise.” Source: TNS -
Agni missile: Cong on Bhagwat’s ‘man wants to be superman, devtaa, bhagwaan’ remark
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks in Jharkhand on July 18 that human ambition knows no limits drew an “Agni missile” reference from the Congress.
Speaking at an event organised by an NGO Vikas Bharti in poll bound Jharkhand’s Gumla today, Bhagwat said “Is there ever an end to progress? Development is such a thing that once we attain it, we realise that we can go further. Once we reach our target we realise there is more to go… Man then wants to be a superman… in movies they show Superman who has extraordinary powers. So a human wants to attain such powers and he does not stop there. He then wants to become a Dev. But Devtas say Bhagwan is larger than us, so he wants to become Bhagwan,” Bhagwat said. Reacting to Bhagwat’s comments that came amid signs of BJP and RSS tensions, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, said ,”I am sure the self-anointed non-biological PM has got news of this latest Agni Missile, fired by Nagpur from Jharkhand and aimed at Lok Kalyan Marg.” -
Indefinite refusal of bail is unacceptable: Supreme Court
New Delhi (TIP)- The Supreme Court on Thursday, July 18, held that regardless of the stringency of penal statutes, indefinite refusal of bail is unacceptable, as it underscored the paramount importance of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution that safeguards the right to life and liberty and enshrines the right to a speedy trial. “In the case of interpretation of a penal statute, howsoever stringent it may be, a constitutional court has to lean in favour of constitutionalism and the rule of law of which liberty is an intrinsic part. In a particular case, a constitutional court may decline to grant bail. But it would be very wrong to say that under a particular statute, bail cannot be granted. It would run counter to the very grain of our constitutional jurisprudence,” said a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan. Highlighting that the right to life and personal liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution is “overarching and sacrosanct”, the bench noted that a constitutional court cannot be restrained from granting bail to an accused on account of restrictive statutory provisions in a penal statute if it finds that the right of the accused under Article 21 has been infringed.
The court’s ruling came as it granted bail to Sheikh Javed Iqbal, who had been languishing in jail for nine years on charges of possessing counterfeit currency after getting booked under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Notably, section 43D(5) of UAPA sets a high bar for granting bail, making it challenging for the accused to secure release. The provision stipulates that an accused person shall not be granted bail if the court, after perusing the case diary or the charge sheet, is of the opinion that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusations against such person are prima facie true.
Referring to a body of Supreme Court judgments, the top court particularly relied on the 2012 verdict in the KA Najeeb case, which similarly addressed the issue of prolonged detention without trial. In the 2012 verdict, the top court held that Section 43D(5) of the UAPA does not affect the ability of the constitutional courts to grant bail on grounds of violation of fundamental rights, adding that long incarceration with the unlikelihood of the trial being completed in the near future is a good ground to grant bail.
“If the alleged offence is a serious one, it is all the more necessary for the prosecution to ensure that the trial is concluded expeditiously. When a trial gets prolonged, it is not open to the prosecution to oppose bail of the accused-undertrial on the ground that the charges are very serious. Bail cannot be denied only on the ground that the charges are very serious though there is no end in sight for the trial to conclude,” held the court on July 18.
This decision reinforces the principle that, regardless of the stringency of penal statutes, indefinite refusal of bail is unacceptable.
The bench emphasised the fundamental importance of liberty and the necessity of a speedy trial while ordering the release of Iqbal who has been incarcerated in a jail in Uttar Pradesh since February 23, 2015. By an order on April 4, the Allahabad high court refused bail to Iqbal, noting that “the charges levelled against him are grave and a serious threat to the society and to the extent that it may topple the economy of the country.” It also highlighted that Iqbal is a citizen of Nepal and that he has no permanent address in India, making it impossible for the prosecution to get his presence during the trial if he were to be released on bail. Source: HT -
‘Anti-Muslim’: Oppn slams UP’s order on displaying names of eatery owners
An order by the Muzaffarnagar district police in Uttar Pradesh asking eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners to avoid any “confusion” has been criticised by opposition parties as “communally motivated and directed against Muslim traders”.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera called the order “state-sponsored bigotry”. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi compared it with apartheid and “Judenboykott”, the boycott of Jewish businesses in Hitler’s Germany.
“Preparations of Sawan month have started in the district. About 240 km of Kanwar Yatra route falls in the district. All the eateries, including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the route have been asked to display the names of their proprietors or those working on these shops,” Muzaffarnagar police chief Abhishek Singh had said.
The motive, the police officer claimed, was to ensure there should be no confusion among kanwariyas and no law and order situation arose. “All are following this voluntarily,” he said.
The order followed a statement issued by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) secretary general Bajrang Bagra on July 9 claiming that Muslims were selling puja items at various Hindu pilgrimage sites by “concealing their identity”. The VHP had urged all state governments to take effective steps to prevent Muslims from running such shops “so that the faith of Hindus was not hurt”. In a post on X, Khera said, “Not just political parties, all right-thinking people and the media must rise against this state-sponsored bigotry. We cannot allow the Bharatiya Janata Party to push the country back into dark ages.” Source: TNS -
Govt takes stock amid 3 gunfights in J&K in one day
New Delhi (TIP)- The surge in terror strikes in Jammu & Kashmir in recent weeks was discussed at a meeting of the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on a day when three separate gunfights broke out in the restive Union territory, according to people aware of the matter.
Two army personnel were injured in the Doda district of Jammu after terrorists opened fire on a search party on early Thursday morning, two days after four army personnel were killed in the same region. This was the seventh attack in Doda in little over a month.
Around 190 kmsaway, forces foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu’s Rajouri district after noticing “suspicious movement” along the Line of Control (LoC). In north Kashmir’s Kupwara, the army shot dead two terrorists and thwarted a separate infiltration attempt on the same day, renewing worries about the increased movement of extremists in the area.
The rising terror attacks was among the issues discussed by CCS, which deals with issues concerning law and order and national security, the people cited above said.
Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and external affairs minister S Jaishankar are also part of the top panel. According to people aware of the developments, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the ministry of home affairs (MHA) were “closely monitoring the ground situation” in J&K.
Last month, Modi chaired a meeting on the security situation in J&K and asked the security forces to deploy the “full spectrum” of counterterror capabilities to deal with the recent spike in terror attacks.
As the country’s political and defence brass took stock of the security apparatus, security personnel continued to battle terrorists in J&K. In Doda, a group of terrorists — who according to an intelligence official were likely to be the same men who killed four personnel on July 15 night — targeted a search party in Kastigarh. Source: HT -
Chandigarh-Dibrugarh train derails, 3 dead
New Delhi (TIP)- Three persons, including a passenger from Chandigarh, were killed and over 30 injured when the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed on Thursday, July 18, afternoon between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.
Railway officials said the loco pilot heard an explosion shortly before the derailment. The footage of a passenger’s interview recorded by a news agency and posted by the Indian Railways on its WhatsApp group for mediapersons showed the passenger talking about a mild explosion he heard before his coach shook violently.
UP Relief Commissioner GS Naveen Kumar confirmed the three casualties. The deceased have been identified as Rahul (36), a resident of Sector 26 in Chandigarh, and Saroj Kumar Singh (31) of Araria in Bihar. The third body is yet to be identified. Four persons were seriously injured. Three of them are being treated at the Gonda District Hospital and one in Lucknow. The railways has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of the kin of the dead, Rs 2.5 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries. Besides the customary probe by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, another high-level inquiry has been ordered by the railways. There is, however, no clarity as yet on the individual or the team that will carry out the parallel probe. The train had 24 coaches, of which eight, including some air-conditioned cars, went off-track. Visuals showed more than one coach flipped over and lying adjacent to the tracks. Following the accident, six trains were cancelled and 22 diverted. Source: TNS -
Government lists 6 new Bills for Parliament’s Monsoon Session
New Delhi (TIP)- Six new Bills, including the one to amend the disaster management law, will be presented during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning next week.
Besides the Finance Bill, the government has also listed the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, to replace the Aircraft Act of 1934 to provide enabling provisions for ease of doing business in the civil aviation sector.
The list of Bills was published in the Parliament bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday evening. The Monsoon Session begins on July 22 and will continue till August 12.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget on Tuesday, July 23. Other Bills listed for introduction and passage during the session are The Boilers Bill to replace the pre-independence era law, the Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill and the Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also constituted the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which decides the parliamentary agenda.
The committee chaired by the Speaker has Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), P P Chaudhary (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP), Dileshwar Kamait (JD-U), Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJP), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT), Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress), Anurag Thakur (BJP) and Lalji Verma (SP) as members.
Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha secretariat has reminded lawmakers about a number of customs and conventions, pointing out that “reference to officers of either House in debates is improper” and that “rulings given by the Chair should not be criticised directly or indirectly inside or outside the House”.
A bulletin issued by the Table Office of the Rajya Sabha on Monday has mentioned a total of 28 conventions and etiquette that are usually practised in Parliament. Even as none of the conventions mentioned is unknown or new, the bulletin assumes importance as the Upper House has often faced major violations of these well-established norms during protests. -
Indian-origin techie drowns in Glacier National Park
WASHINGTON D. C. (TIP): Indian techie Siddhant Vitthal Patil, who is presumed dead after drowning in the Glacier National Park in the United States, had texted his mother from the park hours before the tragedy, his family said on Friday, July 12.
“Last Friday, Siddhant called up his mother Priti from the Park and told her that he had been in the Park for three days with six other Indian friends and is enjoying the trip,” his maternal uncle Pritesh Chaudhari told media.
Chaudhari, who is based in Pune, said Siddhant (26) also texted his mother two hours before the tragic incident, telling her that he would be returning to San Jose, where he worked with Cadence Design Systems, in another three days.
His friends got his iPhone IMEI numbers from the phone box in his room and gave it to the Park rangers in Montana and other authorities to help in the search work, Chaudhari said. This hasn’t yielded results yet, he added.
Both Priti and Siddhant’s father Vitthal, who retired from Maharashtra government’s irrigation department in May, are in shock and not in a position to speak, Chaudhari said.
“Suresh Sharma from the Indian consulate in Seattle called me after the incident as he had given my number as a contact to the US authorities,” Chaudhari said.
“I have been in touch with the consulate since Monday,” he said.
Leaders from Maharashtra, including Sharad Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, have written to the government seeking its help, he said. Union minister Murlidhar Mohol, who hails from Pune, is in touch with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for updates on the search operation, he added.
“Siddhant went to the US in 2020 to do his MS from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He joined Cadence in 2023,” Chaudhari said.
Siddhant’s body is yet to be located despite helicopters conducting aerial searches, but officials suspected that the body was being held down by submerged obstacles like fallen trees and rocks. He is presumed dead by authorities.
Rangers are continuously monitoring the area and are starting to recover personal items that have washed downstream. Rangers flew a drone to try and determine the location of the body, but the effort was unsuccessful.
(Source: PTI) -
Couple in Brazil Planted More Than 2M Trees in 20 Years To Recreate Forest
In 1998, photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia embarked on a remarkable journey to revive the ecosystem in a part of Brazil.
By Nikki Dobrin In 1998, award-winning photographer and photojournalist Sebastião Salgado and his wife, Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, founded Instituto Terra, a federally recognized nature preserve and nonprofit organization, thus embarking on a remarkable journey to revive the ecosystem.
The roots of this endeavor trace back to the mid-1990, shortly after Salgado’s return from a photo assignment covering the genocide in Rwanda, and the couple’s acquisition of the cattle ranch reportedly purchased by Sebastião Salgado’s father in the 1940s.
“The land was as sick as I was – everything was destroyed,” Salgado said at a Paris climate change meeting in 2015, according to The Guardian. “Only about 0.5% of the land was covered in trees. Then my wife had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees I, too, was reborn – this was the most important moment.”
According to Smithsonian Magazine, replanting the farm with trees was Lélia’s idea. “There was no hidden agenda,” she told the outlet in 2015. “It was so natural, instinctive. The land was so degraded, so horrible. What a bad gift! Why not plant?”
Over two decades, the Salgados transformed barren landscapes into thriving forests by planting millions of seedlings, starting with an initial donation of 100,000 seedlings from a local mining company. This monumental effort aimed not only to restore the ecosystem but also to produce plants and trees that would be a natural habitat for native fauna including birds and insects.
The former farmland is now known as Instituto Terra, serving as a hub for environmental education, seedling cultivation and ecological research. Located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, this 1,750-acre expanse sits about 100 miles inland from the Atlantic coast, nestled within the valley of the Rio Doce. The biodiverse Atlantic Forest was integral to the Rio Doce Valley’s ecosystem, covering both the family cattle farm and surrounding areas.
The transformative impact of the Salgados’ efforts is documented in various sources. Earth Observatory, a NASA initiative dedicated to sharing images and stories about the environment, Earth systems and climate research, highlighted the couple’s role in reforesting and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.
Numerous sources corroborate the remarkable achievements of the couple, with their story garnering attention from media outlets worldwide, including the Daily Mail and DeMilked, which chronicled the couple’s two-decade journey to transform the barren ranch into a thriving habitat for wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
Visual evidence of the couple’s achievements can be found in a YouTube video showcasing the lush greenery that now blankets the once-devastated landscapes, showcasing the couple’s transformative impact on the landscape.
The pioneering efforts of the Salgados’ initiative in reclaiming lost forests and combating deforestation not only contribute to environmental conservation but also serve as a source of inspiration for individuals and organizations worldwide to take action. Snopes has previously reported on environmental issues in Brazil, including a Swedish multimillionaire purchasing around 400,000 acres of Amazonian rainforest, and claims that a logger cut down the world’s oldest tree.
(Nikki Dobrin is a Los Angeles-based reporter/editor of Kiwi descent from Sydney, Australia. She has written and edited for People, USA Today, The Hill, and many other outlets in the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia. Prior to joining Snopes, Nikki worked for The Walt Disney Company in unscripted, live and alternative content, partnering on such shows and features as the “Academy Awards,” “The Kardashians,” the “American Music Awards,” “Choir” and “Drag Me to Dinner.” Nikki loves animals, working out, attending metal shows, and has figuratively itchy feet, so in her spare time she loves collecting passport stamps and frequent flier points)
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3 Indian nationals among crew detained on Singapore-flagged ship carrying drugs to Brisbane
Acting on a tip-off, the Indonesian authorities intercepted the cargo vessel in the Pongkar waters of the Karimun district
SINGAPORE (TIP): Three Indian nationals are among the crew who have been detained by Indonesian authorities on a Singapore-flagged ship for carrying drugs to Brisbane, according to a media report.
Acting on a tip-off, the Indonesian authorities intercepted the cargo vessel, called Legend Aquarius, in the Pongkar waters of the Karimun district, about one hour from Singapore by ferry. It was manned by 10 Indonesian crew members, including the captain. Three Singapore Permanent Residents of Indian nationalities were also on board. They are allegedly the owners of the drugs and had commissioned the trip, police commissioner-general Marthinus Hukom, head of the Indonesian National Narcotic Agency (BNN), told reporters at a press conference in Batam.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said that on Wednesday, it was alerted to the detention of a Singapore-flagged vessel, Legend Aquarius, by the Indonesian authorities, according to the Singapore Daily.
“MPA is in contact with the vessel owner to ascertain the facts and has advised the company to cooperate with the Indonesian authorities on the investigations,” the broadsheet quoted MPA as saying.
At the press conference, Inspector-General Wayan Sugiri, BNN deputy for eradication, said the vessel left Singapore on July 9 for a private port in Johor Bahru.
While at the private port on July 12, the three Indian-origin Singapore PRs – whose initials police disclosed as RM, SD and GV – loaded the illicit drugs onto the vessel and placed them in the engine room.
The boat captain and nine crew members had earlier been told to leave the vessel and have a break on shore.
The three PRs have lived in Singapore for periods of between six and eight years, and each of them has academic credentials in vessel engineering, said the authorities.
“Based on our interrogations of the three foreigners, they had planned to head to Surabaya, Dili, Papua, then Brisbane, Australia. But we will double-check this, in case they didn’t state the truth,” the Singapore newspaper quoted Inspector-General Wayan.
He also said the authorities had received a tip-off about the illegal shipment from members of the public whom he declined to identify. He added that the vessel crew were not implicated in the crime.
The maximum penalty for a conviction over charges related to the trading of illegal drugs is a death sentence, according to the 2009 anti-narcotics law.
The crackdown on trafficking by Indonesia comes amid soaring consumption of illicit narcotics in the region.
On February 23, BNN and the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore agreed to form a strategic partnership to fight illicit drugs in Southeast Asia, as there had been a rise in such crimes as well as an increasing complexity in curbing them. BNN head Marthinus said that Indonesia will work with its Singapore counterparts to exchange information and data, as well as collaborate on enforcement and joint operations, Indonesian state news agency Antara reported on February 23.
(Source: PTI) -
Thousands Gather from the Tristate Area for Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s Special Meditation Event in New Brunswick, NJ
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (TIP): After an eight-year wait, world-renowned Spiritual Master, best-selling author and global humanitarian, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj returned to New Jersey, spreading joy, spiritual wisdom, and love. The three-day special meditation event at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick attracted thousands of participants from the Tristate area and from across the world.
During the enlightening sessions, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji, head of Science of Spirituality, a nonprofit, nondenominational, spiritual organization, talked about how we can attain lasting peace and joy, individually, as a community, and globally. On Friday, July 5, his public talk was entitled “Peace and Joy Await You Within.”
Commencing the program, three civic leaders from the state paid tribute to Sant Rajinder Singh Ji, presenting proclamations in his honor. In attendance were the honorable Dr. Brad Cohen, Mayor of the township of East Brunswick and also a practicing physician, Commissioner Emeritus and former New Jersey Assemblyman Mr. Upendra Chivukula who represented Assemblyman Sterley Stanley of East Brunswick, and Dianne Roman, Director of Human Services of the city of Perth Amboy, representing the Honorable Helmin Caba, Mayor of Perth Amboy.
Commissioner Emeritus Upendra Chivukula presenting a Proclamation on behalf of Assemblyman Stanley Mayor Brad Cohen applauded Sant Rajinder Singh’s tireless efforts and presented him a proclamation, commending the spiritual Master’s contributions to helping individuals grow spiritually and find their sense of purpose. Mr. Upendra Chivukula presented Maharaj Ji with a joint resolution from the state of New Jersey honoring his “selfless commitment to furthering the nobles of human values and aspirations” and for establishing “a model worthy of emulation” by all who strive to serve humanity. On behalf of the city of Perth Amboy, home of the SOS Center in New Jersey, Dianne Roman thanked Science of Spirituality for being a trusted and reliable member of its community, and for its partnership in serving the residents of Perth Amboy and providing invaluable opportunities for them to grow spiritually. She presented a proclamation from the Honorable Mayor Helmin Caba applauding Sant Rajinder Singh’s vision and efforts to help “humankind transcend racial, national, cultural, and religious differences through a shared vision of oneness, hope, and peace.”
During his talk, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji described how each of us has an effect on the world around us. The spiritual Master spoke of how it is human nature to look for peace and joy in the outer world because that is all we know. However, to experience lasting happiness, we must anchor into the perennial source of joy, and that is the divinity within each of us. This transformation happens as we embark on the inner spiritual journey. He shared a simple yet powerful meditation technique that can be practiced by individuals from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, or cultural traditions to experience everlasting spiritual love.
The free public talks in English and Hindi resonated with the attendees who appreciated the practical tips and simple meditation technique for self-discovery and self-introspection.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji, along with his wife Mata Rita Ji, also visited the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center in Perth Amboy, against a beautiful backdrop of a holiday fireworks display. Their return to the Center was jubilantly celebrated by local SOS members, honoring it’s 10-year anniversary. The Perth Amboy Center, purchased in 2014 is located in an urban community with a rich cultural history and maritime legacy. It offers an intimate setting for meditation, spiritual fellowship, and community outreach, and is open to all who are looking to take a deep dive into their spiritual journey. The SOS Perth Amboy Meditation Center partners regularly with the City of Perth Amboy in important projects to help the needy in the community..
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji’s Saturday, July 6 talk in Hindi (with English and Spanish translation) expounded on the theme that when our lives become imbued with divine love through meditation, we will become ambassadors of this love, radiating it wholeheartedly to all around us.
The New Brunswick event marked another milestone in Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s mission to spread the message of peace, love, and unity through meditation. His life and work can be summed up as a continuous journey of love and selfless service to help people discover life’s true purpose. For the last 34 years, he has helped people from all walks of life connect to their true selves by teaching them the science of meditation.
About Science of Spirituality:
Science of Spirituality is a global, non-profit, nondenominational organization dedicated to transforming lives through meditation. With over 3,200 centers in 50 countries, Science of Spirituality has helped millions of people worldwide find peace within themselves.
About Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj:
As head of Science of Spirituality, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji travels the globe, teaching people how they can uncover the treasures of spirituality within themselves with a practical technique of meditation for serenity and joy. He emphasizes that building a peaceful world begins with the first foundation stone—ourselves. We must find peace within ourselves before contributing to outer peace.
His tireless efforts have been recognized at the state, national, and global levels. He has received numerous awards and accolades in the spheres of spirituality, peace, and education. These include Honorary Doctorate Degrees from five prestigious universities. He is a bestselling author whose many books and publications have been translated into fifty-six languages.
Some of the notable books include:
Detox the Mind · Meditation as Medication for the Soul · Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation · Empowering Your Soul through Meditation
For more information about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji, or Science of Spirituality: njinfo@sos.org, https://www.sos.org/
The gathering. -
Hofstra University and JGU University Make Partnership Official
UNIONDALE, NY (TIP): Hofstra University senior administrators welcomed a delegation of visitors from O.P. Jindal Global (JGU) University, the #1 ranked private university in India, to campus to formalize a partnership between the institutions, leading to a variety of new academic initiatives for students and faculty.
Over the past six months, Hofstra University and JGU have discussed visiting faculty programs, research opportunities, and a summer student exchange to begin in 2025.
At the conclusion of the July 16, 2024, meeting on Hofstra’s campus, Hofstra Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Charles G. Riordan, PhD, and JGU Vice Chancellor C. Raj Kumar, SJD, made the agreement official by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Provost Riordan said, “Hofstra is committed to educating culturally competent, global citizens who are prepared to lead. Our partnership with JGU, the premier private university in India, will accelerate student learning through bidirectional study abroad programs and research via faculty collaborations. The commonality of our core values portends a productive partnership, which we formally launch today.”
Vice Chancellor Kumar agreed the partnership would benefit Hofstra and JGU students and faculty.
“Hofstra and JGU are kindred spirits. Hofstra University is a very inspiring institution with a long legacy of promoting higher education, excellence, and, most importantly, providing access and inclusion,” he said. “We are looking forward to the student exchanges, dual degree programs, and short-term study abroad programs.” -
Meet Eugene Resnick, Deputy Communications Director, MTA
NEW YORK (TIP): Eugene Resnick, Deputy Communications Director and Spokesperson at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) hopes to establish and strengthen a connection between people and the MTA.
The MTA includes New York City Transit subway, bus, Access-A-Ride, Long Island Railroad, and Metro-North Railroad, as well as MTA Bridges and Tunnels and MTA Construction & Development.
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Biden expected to make major announcement about his re-election bid: media reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Joe Biden is expected to make a major announcement on his re-election bid, with several senior Democratic leaders suggesting that he leave the race following his disastrous debate performance, a failed assassination attempt on his rival Donald Trump, his poor health, and falling poll numbers, according to media reports.
“Several people close to President Biden said on Thursday, July 18, that they believe he has begun to accept the idea that he may not be able to win in November and may have to drop out of the race, bowing to the growing demands of many anxious members of his party,” The New York Times reported.
Biden, 81, is spending time at his Delaware residence in isolation after he was tested positive for COVID-19. Media reports said that top leaders of the Democratic party, including former president Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have asked him to leave the presidential race, in the absence of which the party risks losing the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“People close to top Democrats said Thursday that it now appeared it was a matter of when—not if—Biden bows out of the presidential race. In the past day or so, former President Barack Obama has told friends who have called him that Biden’s path to victory is narrow, according to people familiar with the calls,” The NYT report said.
The Washington Post reported Thursday night that Pelosi has stepped up her behind-the-scenes role in working to persuade the president to bow out of campaign. Obama has said that he has a very slight chance of winning the race. According to The Hill, Vice President Kamala Harris has started looking for options for her running mate. The three being talked about right now are Senator Mark Kelly, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
Most of the media reports said that Biden’s announcement on his re-election bid might come after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“One of the people close to him warned that the president had not yet made up his mind to leave the race after three weeks of insisting that almost nothing would drive him out. But another said that ‘reality is setting in’, and that it would not be a surprise if Mr. Biden made an announcement soon endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement,” The NYT reported.
(Source : PTI) -
Thousands Gather from Across GTA for Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s Special Meditation Event in Toronto
TORONTO, ON (TIP): After nearly a decade-long wait, world-renowned Spiritual Master, best-selling author and global humanitarian, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj returned to Toronto, spreading joy, spiritual wisdom, and love. The two-day special meditation event at Delta Hotels Toronto Airport attracted thousands of participants from Greater Toronto Area and from across the world.
During the enlightening sessions, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji talked about Spiritual Love, unravelling secrets to lasting happiness through meditation and self-introspection. He explained, “spiritual love is the love between our soul and God, the Creator. The love we find in this physical world is the love at the level of body and mind which is temporary. The love of God is eternal and it is never going to fade. We can experience spiritual love by rising above physical body consciousness through a technique called meditation.” He shared a simple yet powerful meditation technique that can be practiced by individuals from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, or cultural traditions to experience everlasting spiritual love.
The five-day event of free public talks in English and Hindi resonated with the attendees who appreciated the practical tips and simple meditation technique for self-discovery and self – introspection. During the event, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj released the French translation of his latest book, Detox the Mind: Detoxifier Le Mental. In this inspirational book, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj provides a step-by-step process for embarking on the inner journey along with simple, engaging exercises to remove mental blockages and discover joy, love, and peace within.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj also inaugurated the SOS Ontario Meditation Centre. Located in the city of Brampton, the Centre offers an intimate setting for mediation, spiritual fellowship, and community outreach. It is open to all seekers looking to take a deep dive into their spiritual journey. The spiritually enriching program ended with a farewell picnic at scenic Niagara Falls.
The Toronto event marked another milestone in Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s mission to spread the message of peace, love, and spiritual growth through meditation. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s life and work can be summed up as a continuous journey of love and selfless service to help people discover life’s true purpose. For the last 34 years, he has helped people from all walks of life connect to their true selves by teaching them the science of meditation.
About Science of Spirituality:
Science of Spirituality is a global, non-profit, nondenominational organization dedicated to transforming lives through meditation. With over 3,200 centers in 50 countries, Science of Spirituality has helped millions of people worldwide find peace within themselves.
About Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj:
As head of Science of Spirituality, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji travels the globe, teaching people how they can uncover the treasures of spirituality within themselves with a practical technique of meditation for serenity and joy. He emphasizes that building a peaceful world begins with the first foundation stone—ourselves. We must find peace within ourselves before contributing to outer peace.
His tireless efforts have been recognized at the state, national, and global levels. He has received numerous awards and accolades in the spheres of spirituality, peace, and education. These include Honorary Doctorate Degrees from five prestigious universities. He is a bestselling author whose many books and publications have been translated into fifty-six languages. Some of the notable books include:
- Detox the Mind
- Meditation as Medication for the Soul
- Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation
- Empowering Your Soul through Meditation
For more information about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji, or Science of Spirituality:
elontario@sos.org, https://www.sos.org/ or call, +1 (647) 430 3335