The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday it had approved the design for the Boeing 737-8200, part of the Boeing 737 MAX series, a necessary step before the U.S. planemaker can begin delivering the airplanes to Ryanair. The FAA said the 737-8200 incorporates all of the design improvements that were part the 20-month review of the 737 MAX that led to the ungrounding of the MAX in November, more than a year after two fatal crashes killed 346 people. Ryanair first ordered the 737-8200 plane, which seats 197 passengers, in 2014. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency still must approve the aircraft, a move that could come soon after the FAA approval. Boeing said Wednesday it would “continue to work with global regulators to safely return the 737-8 and -9 to service. Our teams are also focused on ensuring future members of the 737 family meet all regulatory requirements.”
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Inflation exceptionally high in India: Moody’s
New Delhi (TIP): India’s inflation is at “uncomfortably high” level, which is an exception among Asian economies, Moody’s Analytics said on Tuesday. Higher fuel prices will keep upward pressure on retail inflation and keep the RBI from offering further rate cuts, said Moody’s Analytics, a financial intelligence company. Retail inflation rose to 5% in February, from 4.1% in January. The RBI mainly takes into account retail inflation while deciding on the monetary policy.
Core inflation (which excludes food, fuel and light) was up 5.6% in February, from 5.3% in January, Moody’s Analytics said, adding India’s inflation is “uncomfortably high”.
In its macro roundup, Moody’s Analytics said inflation is subdued in most of Asia, and expected to only gradually pick up over 2021 because of rising oil prices and economies starting to reopen. Brent crude has climbed 26% this year at around $64 per barrel. It was around $30 per barrel in March 2020, when the Covid crisis was near its peak.
“India and the Philippines are exceptions. In these economies, inflation is above comfort levels, adding to the list of challenges for policymakers,” it said.
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Microsoft wins US$22 billion US Army contract for augmented reality gear
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Microsoft has won a Pentagon contract for augmented reality headgear for soldiers worth US$21.88 billion over the next decade, the company and the United States military announced on Wednesday (Mar 31). The headsets, based on the commercially available HoloLens, will make soldiers safer and more effective, according to Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman, who developed the device. The Department of Defense (DOD) said the production agreement is for five years with a renewal option – that could make the contract worth “in excess of US$21.88 billion” over 10 years, a Pentagon official said in a statement.Microsoft will rapidly start producing the so-called Integrated Augmentation System under the contract.
The award aims “to deliver next-generation night vision and situational awareness capabilities to the Close Combat Force at the speed of relevance”, the Pentagon said.
A head-mounted display used by soldiers for battle and training employs sensors for night and thermal vision in addition to providing data for help in engaging targets and making tactical decisions, officials said.
“The program delivers enhanced situational awareness, enabling information sharing and decision-making in a variety of scenarios,” Kipman said in a blog post.
The contract shows that Microsoft can make money from its augmented reality offerings with the military, and likely heralds expanded uses by private businesses as well as consumers, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
“The second and potentially most important point is this deal just further drills in the narrative that Microsoft is tightening its grip on deals within the DOD and Pentagon,” Ives said in a note to investors.
The Pentagon late last year said it was sticking with its decision to award a US$10 billion cloud computing contract to Microsoft, despite Amazon’s claims that former president Donald Trump improperly influenced the process.
“In a cloud arms race, Microsoft right now has the momentum,” Ives said.
The company, based in Redmond, Washington, recently launched a platform called Mesh, in which long-distance coworkers are able to collaborate as if they were in the same room, using augmented reality glasses and cloud computing power.
“One of the easiest ways to think about it is Microsoft Mesh connects the physical and digital worlds, allowing us to transcend the traditional boundaries of space and time,” co-creator Simon Skaria said in a video presentation.
Mesh is powered by Azure cloud computing systems that combine data centre processing power with artificial intelligence.
HoloLens headgear, with a US$3,500 price tag, overlays digital imagery on real-world settings, but the Mesh platform has the potential to be synced to virtual reality gear such as Facebook-owned Oculus as well as smartphones, according to Kipman.
Apple, Google and Facebook are among the tech titans investing in mixed reality.
Microsoft expects outside developers and partners to build applications on Mesh, and is working to integrate it in products such as the Teams virtual collaboration service.
Source: Reuters
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Xiaomi sells Redmi Note 10 series smartphones worth Rs 500 cr
Xiaomi claims that it has managed to sell Redmi Note 10 series smartphones worth Rs 500 crore, within first two weeks of sale across all platforms. The Redmi Note 10 line-up was launched month in India and includes three smartphones Redmi Note 10, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. The smartphones are priced between Res 11,999 and Rs 21,999 for different variants. Redmi Note 10, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max went on sale on 16th, 17th and 18th March respectively, across all platforms. All three smartphones were sold within minutes even though few of their variants were not available. The series will once again go on sale in India on April 1 at 12 noon. The Note 10 Pro Max costs Rs 18,999 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model, while the 6GB RAM and 128GB variant retails for Rs 19,999 and the 8GB RAM and 128GB option is priced at Rs 21,999.
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ICC Cricket Committee approves changes to third umpire protocols, DRS
The ICC Cricket Committee, led by former Indian captain Anil Kumble, on Thursday, April 1, approved three changes to the Decision Review System (DRS) as well as third umpire protocols that had recently come into criticism. Discussing the current issues being faced in International cricket, the ICC decided that for LBW reviews, the height margin of the Wicket Zone will be lifted to the top of the stumps to ensure the same Umpire’s Call margin around the stumps for both height and width. Additionally, a player will be able to ask the umpire whether a genuine attempt has been made to play the ball before deciding to review an LBW decision. Also, the 3rd Umpire will check a replay of any short run that has been called and correct any error prior to the next ball being bowled.
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Germany suffer first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years
London (TIP): Germany’s first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years added another blemish to the final months of coach Joachim Loew’s 15-year reign in charge of the team. Germany’s 35-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying — a streak dating back to 2001 — ended with a stunning 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia on Wednesday that left the team sitting third in its group after three games. It was only the country’s third ever loss in qualifying for the World Cup since 1934, the other two coming against Portugal in 1985, when it was West Germany, and the famous 5-1 thrashing by England 20 years ago. Loew, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, is stepping down as coach after the European Championship. After exiting the World Cup in the group stage in 2018, the Euros could cause the Germans more pain given they are in the same group as reigning champions Portugal and world champions France. In November, they lost 6-0 to Spain for their worst defeat since 1931. The road to Qatar could be bumpy, too, for Loew’s successor. In Group J, Germany have slumped to third place after three games — behind North Macedonia and 99th-ranked Armenia, who beat Romania 3-2 for a third straight win.
Goran Pandev, a 37-year-old striker playing in his 20th year of international football, was part of the North Macedonia team that shocked Germany, scoring the opener in first-half stoppage time.
Ilkay Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot but after Timo Werner missed a golden chance to put Germany ahead and potentially earn the team a 19th straight World Cup qualifying victory, Eljif Elmas scored the winner for North Macedonia in the 85th at the end of a counterattack.
Kosovo controversy
Europe’s other major powers ended the first batch of qualifying games on a successful note, with England, Italy, Spain and France all picking up wins before they switch their focus to the Euros. Spain’s 3-1 victory at home to Kosovo attracted attention because of the host country’s non-recognition of the visitors, with the Spanish national broadcaster disregarding normal protocol by not mentioning Kosovo as a country and using lowercase letters for “kos” in its graphics. Spain does not recognise Kosovo’s 2008 independence from Serbia.
England beat Poland 2-1 to stay perfect in Group I. Italy’s unbeaten run extended to 25 games with a 2-0 win in Lithuania. Italy moved three points ahead of Switzerland atop Group C.
France continued their recovery from an opening-round draw to Ukraine, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0.
France are four points clear in Group D, with Ukraine in second place on three points after a third straight draw, this time against Kazakhstan. Source: AP
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Naomi Osaka’s 23-match win streak ends against Maria Sakkari
Miami (TIP): As Naomi Osaka’s 23-match winning streak neared an end, she paused before serving to crane her neck and study the sky, as if seeking intervention from above.
Then she carried on, and so did No. 23-seeded Maria Sakkari, who upset Osaka 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
“The more stuff like this happens, the more I’ll learn from it,” the No. 2-ranked Osaka said.
The defeat was her first since February 2020, and it ended any chance of reclaiming the No. 1 ranking this week from Ash Barty, who is in the semifinals.
Sakkari will next play No. 8-seeded Bianca Andreescu of Canada, who dropped serve eight times but still outlasted unseeded Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
“I’m super proud of how I handled it tonight, because it wasn’t easy,” Andreescu said.
“My body was giving out, and then my mind gave out at one point, because I was just thinking about how tired I was.” The other women’s semifinal Thursday will pit No. 1-seeded Ash Barty against No. 5 Elina Svitolina.
Osaka won her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in February, but in five Miami appearances she has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals. She said couldn’t get comfortable on the tournament’s hard-court surface.
“I felt like I haven’t been playing well this whole tournament, like I couldn’t find a groove,” she said.
Against Sakkari, the only Greek woman ranked in the top 250, Osaka lost 15 consecutive points on her serve to fall behind and blew a 4-1 lead in the second set. She faced a break point on seven of her eight service games.
“Today’s service problems kind of came out of nowhere,” Osaka said. “My first serve wasn’t going in at all today.” Sakkari earned her sixth career win over a top-five opponent. She’s still in the tournament only because she saved six match points in the previous round before beating American Jessica Pegula.
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LinkedIn working on Clubhouse-like audio networking feature
Inspired by the soaring success of invite-only audio chat app Clubhouse, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is now working on a similar app for over 740 million members in more than 200 countries.
The leading professional networking platform confirmed the move to TechCrunch, saying that it is working on an audio networking feature.
“We’re doing some early tests to create a unique audio experience connected to your professional identity,” LinkedIn said in a statement.
“We’re looking at how we can bring audio to other parts of LinkedIn such as events and groups, to give our members even more ways to connect to their community,” the company said on Tuesday.
According to LinkedIn, it will start beta testing of the new audio chat feature soon.
Alarmed at the growing popularity of Clubhouse, several tech giants have begun to a rival app and Twitter has finally started testing ‘Spaces’ on Android.
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Facebook to let you turn off algorithmic ranking in News Feed
Facebook on Wednesday introduced several features to give users more control over their News Feed, including the ability to turn off the feeds algorithmic ranking and display content in order it was posted. The social network said it is making it easier to sort and browse News Feed, giving users more control over what you see. “Now, you can control your commenting audience for a given public post by choosing from a menu of options ranging from anyone who can see the post to only the people and Pages you tag,” the company said in a statement. The company recently launched ‘Favorites’, a new tool where the users can control and prioritise posts from the friends and Pages they care about most in News Feed. By selecting up to 30 friends and Pages to include in Favorites, their posts will appear higher in ranked News Feed and can also be viewed as a separate filter. People who use Favorites frequently can access it from the Feed Filter Bar, a new menu at the top of News Feed. Android app users can access the Feed Filter Bar when they scroll up on News Feed. The same functionality will be available in the iOS app in the coming weeks.
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Instagram launches TikTok Duet-like feature ‘Remix’ for Reels
Instagram has launched another TikTok-inspired feature to Reels. It now allows users to remix a Reel by pairing their video with other users. It’s similar to TikTok Duets which are quite popular on the short video app. Instagram has been testing this feature since October last year allowing select users to experiment with, and it is now available to all globally.
The Instagram Reels remix feature will be enabled by default for any new Reel uploaded. But users who wish to have their older Reels remixed will have to manually enable it. This can be done by tapping on the three dot menu button of the Reel, and choosing “enable remixing”.
The steps to remix a Reel are also the same with users having to tap on the menu button, and select “Remix this Reel”. A new screen will appear with the original Reel playing on the left side, and the right side showing the new video that will go up. Users can either record a new video or choose an existing one from their phone. The editing options are the same for remixing a Reel, and these include adding effects, timer, adjusting the speed, adding audio and more.
As mentioned above, Instagram will enable remixing by default for any new Reel upload. There is an option though to disable remixing, and one can do this by opening Settings > Privacy > Reels > Enable remixing. Users simply have to toggle off the option to disable remixing their Reels. The feature is now live on Instagram for all users globally on Android and iOS.
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NASA exchanges data of its Mars mission with India, China
The US space agency NASA has exchanged data of its current Mars mission with its counterparts in China, India, the UAE and the European Space Agency to lower the risk of a collision as their spacecraft were also currently hovering the red planet, a media report said on Wednesday.
The purpose of exchanges was to lower the risk of a collision, as their spacecraft are orbiting the red planet, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting a NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) statement as saying.
“To assure the safety of our respective missions, NASA is coordinating with the UAE, European Space Agency, Indian Space Research Organisation and the China National Space Administration, all of which have spacecraft in orbit around Mars, to exchange information on our respective Mars missions to ensure the safety of our respective spacecraft,” NASA’s statement said.
“This limited exchange of information is consistent with customary good practices used to ensure effective communication among satellite operators and spacecraft safety in orbit,” the report said.
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YouTube experimenting with hiding dislikes to protect creators
Google-owned YouTube has confirmed it is experimenting with hiding dislikes to protect creators and channels from targeted attacks to downvote their videos.
YouTube said in a tweet late on Wednesday that in response to creator feedback around well-being and targeted dislike campaigns, it is testing a few new designs that don’t show the public dislike count. “Creators, you’ll still be able to see the exact number of likes and dislikes in YouTube Studio. For viewers, if you’re in the experiment, you can still like or dislike a video to share feedback with creators and help tune the recommendations you see on YouTube,” the company announced.
Currently, data for both likes and dislikes are available in a creator’s individual YouTube Studio page, but only likes will be displayed publicly on a video.
YouTube said it is not testing hiding dislikes on all creators’ videos but with a select few to begin with and gather insights.
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The Golden City Jaisalmer
So named for the yellow sandstone used in most of its buildings, the Golden City of Jaisalmer is an oasis of splendid old architecture that rises from the sand dunes of the Thar Desert. Once a strategic outpost, today the city is filled with splendid old mansions, magnificent gateways, and the massive Jaisalmer Fort-also known as the Golden Fort-a daunting 12th-century structure that rises high above the town.
In addition to its palaces, temples, and fine old homes, the fortress boasts 99 bastions along with massive gates leading to its main courtyard where you’ll find the seven-story-tall Maharaja’s Palace. Started in the early 1500s and added to by successive rulers right up until the 19th century, the palace offers sections open to the public including areas beautifully decorated with tiles from Italy and China, and intricately carved stone doors, as well as a number of Jain temples dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, each decorated with fine marble and sandstone images, palm-leaf manuscripts, and brightly painted ceilings.
Jaisalmer Fort
This fort is a world heritage site. Forts’ walls and grounds include: Four massive gateways through which visitors to the fort must pass, situated along the main approach to the citadel,The Raj Mahal palace, Jain Temples, The Laxminath temple, Numerous Merchant Havelis.
Government Museum
This museum has a unique collection of sculptures from townships of that era of Kairadu and Lodurva of 12th century, marine and wood fossils.It is established by the Department of Archeology with an aim to highlight the diverse tradition, culture of Thar Desert and its heritage.
Nathmal Ji ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli and Patwon ki Haveli
The construction of this Nathmal Ji ki haveli is done by two brothers who started from two different points at the same time. Elephant carvings on yellow stones, and intricately carved exteriors and interiors are remarkable. A huge statue of an elephant made of yellow sandstones welcomes every tourist and shopper in this Haveli.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli was built in 18th century by Salim Singh.The construction is done with help of the stones that are connected with strong iron rods. The architecture of this mansion is inspired by dancing peacock.
Patwon ki Haveli is the most important and the largest haveli. It is renowned for its ornate wall paintings, intricate yellow sandstone-carved jharokas or balconies, gateways and doorways. The haveli is built using yellow sandstone and the main gateway is brown in colour. The walls also feature beautiful mirror work and several paintings.
Gadisar Lake
Aartificial water reservoir, the Gadisar Lake was constructed by the first ruler of Jaisalmer, Raja Rawal Jaisal, It is one of the most famous tourist places in Jaisalmer. The bank of the lake is surrounded by artistically carved Chattris, Temples, Shrines, and Ghats.
Desert National Park
The Desert National Park is an perfect example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Around 20 % part of park is covered by sand dunes , jagged rocks, dense salt lake bottoms and inter-medial areas. Various species of animals such as black buck, chinkara and desert fox inhabit the Park. The highly endangered Great Indian Bustard, one of the world’s heaviest flying birds, can also be seen here. In winter, the park hosts an incredible variety of migratory raptors such Himalayan and Eurasian Griffon Vultures, Eastern Imperial Eagle, and the Saker Falcon.
KULDHARA
Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer located about 18 km from the city by its villagers in the 1800s. It was like the entire town vanished in the course of a single night. It remains a mystery as to how no one saw them leave; in fact, even to this date, no one knows where all of them went either. The village remains uninhabited to the day, in the same state that the villagers had left it, hundreds of years ago. The location has become a major tourist destination as people from all over the world travel here to revel in the mysteries of the past.
Jaisalmer War Museum
The Indian Army has commemorated the sacrifices of their soldiers in a beautiful display at this war museum, situated at the Jaisalmer military base. This exhibit is primarily to pay respect to all the soldiers who took part and lost their lives in the battle. Located on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway, the museum has free entry, and holds a very important part of our country’s history. A visit to this museum lets you see a number of captured tanks and other memorabilia with many war trophies and vintage equipment, along with tanks, guns, and military vehicles, murals of soldiers who lost their lives in the war, and weapons which were used during the same.You can also watch an interview with Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri who was a crucial part of the Longewala battle.
Longewal War Museum
This is around 130 Kms from Jaisalmer city and This is the spot of the battle of Longewala in 1971 between India and Pakistan, on which the movie “Border” is based. It is also the last point up to which civilians are allowed, just 12 km from Pakistan. There is an audio visual show chronicling the Longewala battle, giving out interesting details of those days. They have the actual battle tanks, jeeps and weapons from the battle displayed over here, both from Indian and Pakistani sides. They have also preserved photos of and after the battle.
Tanot Mata Temple
There are many stories of how during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Tanot was under heavy attack and shelling. However, none of the shells or bombs fired at the temple exploded. After the war the Pakistani General actually asked his counterpart in India about this incident and on knowing the story of the power of the temple that apparently protected the area he asked to see this place. This request was granted and the Pakistani General actually went to the temple and paid his respects and acknowledged the supernatural happening.
Akal Wood Fossil Park
Akal Wood Fossil Park is a National Geological Monument of India .This Park is a 21-hectare preserved area that lies about 17 km from Jaisalmer, towards Barmer. The petrified wood is indicative of lush forests in a tropical warm and humid climate thriving 180 million years ago.[7] Existence of fossils of gastropod shells also suggest that the region was a sea once upon a time. There are a total of 25 petrified tree trunks along with centuries-old fossils, and right at the entrance, you can also stroke a fossil of an ancient red-wood tree trunk. In the geological area that had only non-flowering trees, an entire forest comprising of huge trees was fossilized.
Amar Sagar Lake
Amar Sagar Lake, located about 7 km towards the western outskirts of Jaisalmer, is a lake cum oasis lying adjacent to the Amar Singh Palace. The palace itself was built in the 17 th century. The complex that includes the palace and the lake is also home to several ponds and wells, along with an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Numerous figureheads of animals carved in stone surround the lake, and according to legends, these carved figureheads are supposed to be protectors of the royal family.
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The Shraap of Vriddhakshatra
Interesting curses in Hindu scriptures
In various Hindu scriptures, we can find some interesting Curses (shraaps) that have been addressed to gods and mortals that apparently changed the course of divine history.
The Curse of Bhrigu
After getting tired of getting whipped by Devas on every occasion, Shukracharya (the Guru of Asuras) went to Shiva for powers that could make his clan invincible. Devas got scared because they knew that if Shiva grants him the wish then the tables would turn. So, they attacked Asuras who were staying at Bhrigu’s (Shukracharya’s father) ashram. Bhrigu was not present, however, and Shukracharya fled to take shelter. Bhrigu’s wife protected the Asuras from Indra and other demigods instead and she left Indra immobile.
The Devas went to Vishnu to seek help and to free Indra. Eventually accepting their request after a major verbal conversation and conflicts, Vishnu went to the Ashram and cut her head with his Sudarshana Chakra.
Bhrigu got angry when he returned to see his wife’s head cut-off. So, he cursed Vishnu to be born several times so that he can suffer the pain of worldly life. Then, he resurrected his wife using his power.
Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, died after destroying “Chakravyu” single-handedly. Not many know that it was, in fact, Jayadratha who was responsible for his death. Getting angry, Arjuna kept repeating the words: “Before sunset tomorrow, I shall slay Jayadratha who killed my son. Anyone who comes between me and him shall also be destroyed.”
There had been one prediction back in the days that Jayadratha would die a gruesome death in a war where someone will behead him. His father, Vriddhakshatra, thus cursed: “Anyone who causes my son’s head to roll on the ground shall have his head gusted into fragments right in the very moment.”
As the war went on, Krishna deceived Jayadratha by making him seem that the sun had set. Krishna instructed Arjuna to shoot the arrow in such a way that his head would then land straight in the lap of Vriddhakshatra. When that happened, Vriddhakshatra couldn’t face the horror of seeing his son’s head on his lap. He let go of the head, and right then, his own head got ruptured into a hundred fragments.
Rishi Kindama’s Curse on Pandu
An ace archer, Pandu made an unusual mistake while hunting a deer in the forest. He hit one rishi and his wife instead of the deer. They screamed out loud and Pandu went closer to the place where he hit.
Rishi Kindama in his dying breath cursed Pandu: “If you even think of mating while approaching a woman, you will die then and there.” In fact, Kindama and his wife were being intimate in the forest when Pandu shot them.
Later on, when Pandu was thinking of getting intimate with his second wife Madri, he died of the curse.
Four Kumaras’ curse on Jaya and Vijaya
At Vaikuntha (Vishnu’s palace), Jaya and Vijaya were the gatekeepers and true devotees of Vishnu. One day, the four Kumaras – Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara – approached them, and as a dutiful doorkeeper, they asked them to leave as the two thought that these four Kumaras were only children trying to create a nuisance for Vishnu.
The four Kumaras got enraged and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as mortals and suffer the life of the mortals.
As Vishnu returned, Jaya and Vijaya pleaded Vishnu to reverse the curse. But Vishnu had his hands tied in this matter; he couldn’t reverse this curse. Instead, he said that he could tweak it a little. He told them that they could either live on Earth as true devotees of Vishnu for seven lives or, live as his enemy for just three lives. After that, they could regain their position back at the palace.
Jaya and Vijaya thought that seven lives would be too long of a journey to live away from Vishnu himself. So instead, they chose to live only three lives on earth, but as his enemy. In the Kritya Yuga, these two were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Then in Treta Yuga, they were born again as Ravana and Kumbhakarna. In the third life in Dwapara Yuga, they were born as Dantavakra and Shisupala.
The Shraap of Urvashi
Urvashi was an interesting woman in those days. She wanted to entice Arjuna with a passion so that he could break his exile. Not that she wanted him for herself as what others would do, she instead wanted him to bring shame to the Pandavas, and that would be the way to do it.But Arjuna saw her more like a mother since she was related to Puruva, the ancestor of Pandavas.
As it was considered to be “adharma” to reject a “passionate” woman, she had the power to curse Arjuna and she cursed him that he would live the rest of his life as a woman without his manly parts. But Indra appeared and requested her to reduce the curse to just one year. She did so. Arjuna spent the final year of his exile without his man-parts.
The curse of Yudhishthira to all women
Only after the death of Karna, Kunti revealed that he was her son and that he was also the brother of the Pandavas. Pandavas got really angry, but it hit Yudhishthira the most. He thought that Karna should have had the same right as them and that Kunti should not have kept such a big secret from them.
As part of his reaction, he cursed that the entire woman’s race would not be able to keep any kind of secret henceforth.
Perhaps, if we believe in this story, this is why the number of events that follow in the mythological and historical contexts has shown that women just spill the beans.
The Curse of Indra
Lord Indra has been known for his mischiefs and also his “passion” for women according to Pauranic scriptures. One time, he assaulted a sage’s wife. Getting angry, the sage decided to give Indra what he desired the most – vaginas.
He cursed Indra with thousand vaginas all over his body thinking that anyone seeing him in such condition would not take Indra seriously. Devas begged the sage to lift the curse. He instead changed the vaginas into a thousand eyes.
Other versions of the story claim that he also had a thousand testicles as part of the shraap (curse).
Source: Vedicfeed
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Taapsee Pannu to essay the role of Sania Mirza in her biopic?
Taapsee Pannu is clearly on a roll. The actress, who has delivered some fantastic performances in the last two years, has one of the strongest line ups among actors of the current generation. While she has almost 4 films almost over – Do Baara, Rashmi Rocket, Haseen Dillruba and a South film, the Pink actress is currently prepping for her sports biopic Shabaash Mithu on Mithali Raj’s life. But now, we can tell you that the Mithali Raj biopic isn’t the only sports biopic Taapsee is doing. A source says, “Taapsee has now been approached for the Sania Mirza biopic as well. This has been in the works for some time. Ronnie Screwvala bought the rights to her life. The makers wanted a younger actress to play Sania and after Parineeti Chopra playing Saina, they didn’t want her to do it. They took the film to Taapsee who has liked the script.” Taapsee’s team is currently working out the modalities for the same. Apart from the cricketer biopic, Taapsee is also in talks for Rajkumar Hirani’s next with Shah Rukh Khan but according to latest reports, that film has got pushed. So, Taapsee might be able to accommodate the Sania Mirza biopic in that time frame now.
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Dia Mirza shares ‘special’ moments with husband Vaibhav, stepdaughter
Dia Mirza has made some ‘really special memories’ on her honeymoon with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi and his daughter Samaira. She took to Instagram to share fresh photos from their Maldives getaway. “We made some really special memories in Maldives,” she wrote, along with a host of emojis, including an ocean wave, sun, heart and dolphin. One of the hashtags she added to the post was ‘you are special’.
In the first photo, Dia held up her hair as she posed with Vaibhav. The second had her posing with Samaira on the beach. The third was a selfie of the couple, with the ocean visible in the background.
Other pictures included Vaibhav and Samaira sipping coconut water and laying out a picnic on the beach. Dia was seen holding the young girl’s hand in one of the photos.
Earlier, Dia shared pictures and videos of them watching dolphins, and said that the joy they felt was beyond words. “Talk about saving the best for last!?! We spent over an hour with a few schools of #Dolphins… 20-30 of them at a time. Words are inadequate to express the joy of witnessing these beautiful creatures in the wild. The Indian Ocean was magic, our time here in her calm waters has been restful and restorative,” she wrote.
Dia and Vaibhav got married in an intimate ceremony in the garden of her apartment complex last month. He shares his daughter Samaira with his ex-wife, Sunaina Rekhi. Sharing the first photos of the wedding, Dia had written on Instagram, “Love is a full-circle that we call home. And what a miracle it is to hear its knock, open the door and be found by it. Sharing this moment of completion and joy with you..my extended family. May all puzzles find their missing pieces, may all hearts heal and may the miracle of love continue to unfold all around us. #ThankYouPreeta #SunsetKeDiVaNe.”
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Akshay Kumar’s magician avatar from ‘Atrangi Re’ released
Megastar Akshay Kumar, who had been shooting for ‘Atrangi Re’, recently wrapped up shooting for the film and the actor took to social media to share his first look from the film. Akshay also extended his gratitude to his co-stars Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush for their contribution in the project. Looking at the first look photo of Akshay from ‘Atrangi Re’, one can assume that the actor might be seen in the role of a magician. The photo features Akshay dressed in a black designer suit and a huge hat as he holds a king of hearts card on his palm. The actor is seen smiling wickedly as he poses for the lens. Akshay seems to bear a look that has an uncanny resemblance to a magician. He penned a note of gratitude for Sara and Dhanush, writing, “It’s the last day of #AtrangiRe and I can’t wait for you’ll to experience the magic created by @aanandlrai. Also a big thank you to my co-stars @saraalikhan95 and @dhanushkraja for letting me be a part of this beautiful film. An @arrahman musical. Written by: #HimanshuSharma.”
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Russell Crowe joins Thor: Love and Thunder cast
Hollywood star Russell Crowe has boarded the cast of Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated superhero movie Thor: Love and Thunder.
According to Deadline, Crowe will appear in an unspecified role in the upcoming fourth instalment in the Thor franchise. Russell took to Instagram to share a photo with Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky.
Elsa also shared the pictures and wrote, “Great night at the rugby with @ssfcrabbitohs #russellecrowe and good friends!”
The film, directed by filmmaker-writer Taika Waititi, is currently in production in Australia. It marks actor Chris Hemsworth’s return as the titular superhero. Actors Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson are reprising their roles of Jane Foster and Valkyrie, respectively. Hollywood star Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Jaimie Alexander, Chris Pratt and Karen Gillan are also part of the cast.
Waititi has penned the script with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022.
Russell was recently tapped to star opposite Zac Efron in Peter Farrelly’s The Greatest Beer Run Ever, which was just acquired. On top of that, he was most recently seen in the Solstice Studios thriller Unhinged.
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Kristen Stewart matches Princess Diana’s school run look
Kristen Stewart continues to nail her looks as Princess Diana on the set of the upcoming film Spencer. A new photo of the actress, 30, as the late royal features Stewart wearing a red and black bomber jacket, light blue jeans, gloves and a pair of tan lace-up boots. The outfit is nearly identical to one that Princess Diana wore in images of her on a school run in Kensington in 1992. Stewart was also photographed driving a vintage supercar while sporting a plaid tweed jacket while filming, according to The Sun. The actress was driving the dark green vehicle to Hunstanton beach in Norfolk, where Princess Diana was believed to visit during trips to Sandringham. The new photos of Stewart come shortly after it was announced that Poldark star Jack Farthing would play Prince Charles in the Pablo Larraín-directed film. Prince Charles married Princess Diana in 1981 before they separated in 1992. Four years later in 1996, the couple officially ended their marriage. The casting news broke last Thursday as filming for the highly-anticipated film shifted from Germany to the U.K. The movie will also star Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins and Sean Harris.
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Sharon Stone says she paid DiCaprio’s salary for ‘The Quick and the Dead’
Sharon Stone paid for Leonardo DiCaprio”s salary from her own pocket to hire him for her 1995 movie “The Quick and the Dead”, the actor has revealed in her memoir “The Beauty of Living Twice”. The book, in which the actor talks about her life and career in Hollywood, was released in the US on Tuesday. In the memoir, the 63-year-old actor reflects on everything, from her painful childhood in Pennsylvania to films such as erotic thriller “Basic Instinct” and Martin Scorsese’s mobster epic “Casino”, which had earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award. “The Quick and the Dead”, which was directed by Sam Raimi, marked a major moment in Stone”s career as she was also co-producing the film besides headlining it. It featured Stone as Ellen, a gunfighter who relocates to a rural town in the Old West and clashes with its leader (Gene Hackman) to avenge her father”s death. During the course of the movie, she befriends DiCaprio”s character, simply called The Kid.
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Samyukt Kisan Morcha asks BJP MPs, allies to support farmers’ agitation
New Delhi (TIP): The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Thursday, April 1, appealed to the BJP MPs and its allies to extend their support to the farmers’ movement.
The SKM also noted that they would continue their “peaceful social boycott” of leaders of the BJP and its allies. “We request the BJP MPs and its allies and other elected representatives to support the farmers’ movement. The SKM appeals to these leaders that they can support the movement in any form, including resignation from their posts,” according to a statement released by the SKM. It claimed that Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala was met with “fierce opposition” by the farmers during his visit to Hisar on Thursday.
“Farmers did not let the helicopter of the anti-farmer Dushyant Chautala take off,” the statement claimed.
Chautala, whose Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) is the coalition partner of the ruling BJP in Haryana, has faced repeated protests from farmers over the past few months for supporting the agricultural laws. In Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh too, farmers “gheraoed and protested against Pilibangan MLA Dharmendra Singh at Dabli toll plaza”.
“At the time of the vote, they (leaders) become very friendly to the farmers and other people, but today when the farmers are struggling, he (Singh) is standing against them,” the statement said. The Centre has said the new farm laws will benefit farmers by freeing them from the clutches of middlemen and ushering in new technology in the sector. However, farmers say these legislations will remove the safety net of the minimum support price (MSP) and leave them at the mercy of big corporates.
SC-appointed panel on farm laws submits report
The Supreme Court-appointed three-member committee, on the three newly-enacted farm laws, has submitted its report to the top court in a sealed cover. The SC panel, in its report, said that around 85 farmer organisations have been consulted in the case. The committee has submitted its report after meeting with the farmer organisations to find a solution to the matter. “The report has been submitted in the Supreme Court in a sealed cover envelope on March 19,” agricultural economist Anil Ghanvat, one of the members of the SC-appointed committee, has confirmed. However, he refused to divulge any other details, saying it is a “confidential process” and that the matter is sub judice. The committee had also sought comments, views, and suggestions of the public through a public notice published in major newspapers.
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Delhi borders remain blocked as farmers’ protest continues
New Delhi (TIP): Delhi’s Singhu and Tikri borders continue to be blocked due to the protest by farmers who are demanding withdrawal of the three contentious farm laws. The Ghazipur border, which connects Uttar Pradesh with Delhi, was opened partially as vehicular movement from Delhi to Ghaziabad was allowed on the stretch.
“Ghazipur NH-24 upper side towards Ghaziabad is open for traffic movement. Chilla border between Noida and Delhi is open on both sides,” a traffic police officer said.
The Delhi Traffic Police have diverted the traffic that may possibly lead to traffic congestions in parts of the city during the peak hours.
According to Delhi Traffic Police officials, vehicles entering Delhi from Ghaziabad are being diverted to alternate border routes such as Anand Vihar, Surya Nagar, Apsara, Bhopra, Loni, Kondli, Chilla, New Ashok Nagar, DND, and Kalindi Kunj, so these routes may see traffic congestion.
Apart from the Ghazipur, other borders, namely Singhu, and Tikri, are closed. “The following borders are closed for traffic movement — Piyau Maniyari, Singhu border, Harewali, Mangeshpur and Tikri border,” said a traffic police officer.
Traffic police officers also said that Auchandi border is opened only during morning and evening peak hours while Lampur, Safiabad are open.
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Farmers’ protest will go on for 8 more months: Tikait
New Delhi (TIP): Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday the agitation against the Centre’s three new farm laws will have to go on for eight more months as it is a question of their rights and lands. The movement will pick up speed after May 10, as till then farmers will remain engaged in harvesting wheat crops, Tikait said. “Farmers can harvest their wheat crops till May 10 post which the agitation will pick up speed,” Tikait was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Farmers have been camping at several border points in Delhi for more than four months, seeking a repeal of the laws– Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 — which were cleared by Parliament in September last year.
Despite several rounds of negotiation and repeated requests by the government, the farmers have remained determined that they would not stop protesting until the laws are completely rolled back and are also firm on their demand for a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Hannan Mollah told ANI on Wednesday that lakhs of protesters would march to Parliament in May. “Modi Government and Parliament are not listening to the farmers then it is our right to go in front of Parliament and raise our demand and we will decide sometime between the middle in the month of May,” he said. Pointing out that the march would be peaceful, he added that they (farmers) will go to Parliament to express their pain and grief before the citizens.
Several strikes and marches have been staged by farmers across India since last year and the majority of them were peaceful. However, the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day (January 26) in Delhi took a violent turn as protesters deviated from the designated route and entered the national Capital after breaking barricades and were also involved in incidents of vandalism. A few protesters reached the iconic Red Fort and hoisted religious flags on it. The Delhi Police has made multiple arrests in the case.
In January, the Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the farm laws and appointed a committee on January 12 to examine these laws and further recommend changes. The committee on Wednesday submitted its report and the apex court will hear the matter on April 5. Speaking to Hindustan Times, one of the expert members in the committee Anil Ghanwat said that it is entirely up to the apex court to act on the recommendations given.
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Many devotees arrived for Kumbh without Covid negative report
Haridwar (TIP): Many devotees who arrived here on Thursday for the Kumbh Mela did not carry their coronavirus report, according to an inspection conducted by Garhwal Commissioner Ravinath Raman at the local railway station. Station Superintendent MK Singh told him that around 10,000 pilgrims are arriving every day for the Kumbh that started on Thursday. The Garhwal Commissioner said the railway authorities have been told to let the devotees proceed to the mela area only after they produce their negative RT-PCR report. Those who arrive without a report should be tested on the spot and allowed to proceed only after their coronavirus report turns out to be negative, he said. The Garhwal Commissioner has ordered the expansion of the waiting area, augmenting drinking water and toilet facilities for passengers awaiting their reports at the railway station. He asked the railway authorities to coordinate with officials of the railway stations from where the trains originate and ensure that only passengers who carry negative test reports are allowed to board the Haridwar-bound trains. The Uttarakhand High Court has made it mandatory for devotees attending the Kumbh Mela to bring their negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours on arrival.
Source: PTI
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EC orders repolling in Assam’s Ratabari station after EVMs’ found in BJP candidate’s car
New Delhi (TIP): A day after a video surfaced on social media which allegedly showed electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the car of Patharkandi BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul, the Election Commission ordered repolling in polling station 179 of Ratabari seat in Assam. The officers responsible for the transportation of EVMs have been suspended. The video had surfaced after the second phase of polling concluded in Assam on Thursday, April 1. It was tweeted out by Assam-based journalist Atanu Bhuyan, who mentioned that the “situation is tense in Patharkandi” following the incident. Targeting the BJP over the incident, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said the Election Commission should act decisively on such complaints and that a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVMs needs to be carried out by all national parties. Priyanka also said that the BJP uses its media machinery to accuse those who exposed them as sore losers. “Every time there is an election video of private vehicles caught transporting EVM’s show up. Unsurprisingly they have the following things in common: 1. The vehicles usually belong to BJP candidates or their associates. 2. The videos are taken as one off incidents and dismissed as aberrations. 3. The BJP uses its media machinery to accuse those who exposed the videos as sore losers,” she tweeted. “The fact is that too many such incidents are being reported and nothing is being done about them. The EC needs to start acting decisively on these complaints and a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVM’s needs to be carried out by all national parties,” Priyanka added.