DESPOT

Rashmika Mandanna, who was rumoured to be engaged with co-star Vijay Devarakonda this month, talked about her equation with Vijay in a recent interview with We Are Yuvaa. Rashmika told We Are Yuvaa, "Viju and I sort of grew up together. So anything I do in my life right now, he has a contribution to it."  She added that she takes Vijay's advice seriously. "I take his advice in anything I do, I need his opinion. He's not a yes person. He's on point. This is good...this is not good...this is what I think...this is what I don't think. He has supported me personally more than anyone else in my entire life. So, I feel he's someone I really, really respect." Earlier, Vijay Deverakonda addressed the rumours of his engagement to Rashmika in an interview with Lifestyle Asia. "I'm not getting engaged or married in February. It feels like the press just wants to get me married every two years. I hear this rumour every year. They're just walk...

NTPC is set to acquire the KSK Mahanadi power station in Chattisgarh, a large greenfield project with a proposed capacity of 3,600 MW, marking the state-run utility's second acquisition of a stressed asset. The project came under corporate insolvency resolution process in April 2022 after defaulting on loans. NTPC's investment in the project is valued at Rs 5,000 crore. from Times of India https://ift.tt/RhtTMVy

Raghav Chadha gave a roaring shout out to Parineeti Chopra who made her live singing debut at the Mumbai Festival 2024 a couple of days back. Raghav shared a few pictures from Parineeti's concert in which she can be seen singing on stage. The actor can be seen dressed in an all-black outfit. Raghav wrote in the caption, "My rock star, my nightingale, my own personal melody queen - as a trained classical singer with music in your soul-you breathe life into lyrics, Paru! I'm totally in awe (and so excited) as you finally step onto this new path you've been longing to tread since so long. Go ahead and rock the world, my girl! I'm always gonna be here; rooting for you and cheering you on." He added, "Finally the world will get to see the free concerts I get at home everyday. Haha." Parineeti replied to the post and she dropped a few kiss and shy emojis. Take a look at what Raghav Chadha posted: View this post on Instagram ...

Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam of Calcutta high court said on Tuesday that he was "ashamed and sorry" for "an untoward situation" last week involving two benches and Bengal's advocate general. He promised to "try my level best" to resolve the row, terming it "undesirable in a temple of law" and likely to have "a long-term effect on the public at large". from Times of India https://ift.tt/pfdBakF

Another controversy has engulfed Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district on the heels of the Mandya flag controversy. This involved the removal of a right wing flag and a board bearing the name of right wing icon VD Savarkar. A protest took place over the removal in Bhatkal's Tenginagundi today and the local BJP workers and panchayat members got into an altercation with panchayat officials. The workers argued that VD Savarkar's name board was installed with the approval of the panchayat, and they protested against the removal of the flagpole with the right wing flags. The officials claimed that no permission was sought from the gram panchayat. "Don't think we are sitting quiet. We have permission. Is it a Pakistan flag that we put up? Who gave you the order to raze this?" said one of the angry villagers. The Zilla Panchayat chief, along with senior authorities, decided to issue notices for all such structures built in the area under the panchayat. They will be...

Speaking at the annual "Pariksha Pe Charcha" programme on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested students to "always make friends who are more intelligent and work harder". "You must be inspired by such friends. Don't let the pressure of studies and examinations overpower you," he said .Modi said that even though competition and challenges act as inspirations, competition must be healthy. from Times of India https://ift.tt/XIaS91u

Indian warship INS Sumitra on Monday ensured the safe release of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel and its 17 crew members after it was hijacked by some pirates off the east coast of Somalia, officials said. The Indian Navy swiftly responded to a distress call from the vessel last night, they said. "INS Sumitra, deployed on anti-piracy operations along the east coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of an Iranian flagged fishing vessel Iman," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. The fishing vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew members were taken as hostages, he said. Swift response by #IndianNavy 's Mission Deployed warship ensures safe release of hijacked vessel & crew. #INSSumitra , on #AntiPiracy ops along East coast of #Somalia & #GulfofAden , responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian flagged Fishing Vessel (FV)… pic.twitter.com/AQTkcTJvQo — Spok...

Donald Trump wants to "bully" his way to the Republican presidential nomination, his sole remaining challenger Nikki Haley said Sunday, as she accused the party leadership of seeking to declare him the nominee prematurely. Haley lost the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary but has vowed to stay in the contest, despite Trump's insistence -- backed by some top Republican Party leaders -- that the race is over. "He can't bully his way through the nomination," Haley said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Haley noted that the nominating process was still in its earliest stages -- Republicans have voted only in Iowa and New Hampshire so far -- and suggested that Trump had pressured the Republican National Committee (RNC) to back him much too soon. "You can't do that based on just two states," she said. The former South Carolina governor took particular aim at the RNC for throwing the national party's support -- and resources -...

The highly debated reality show, Bigg Boss 17, is about to reveal the winner in a couple of minutes. Mannara Chopra, a well-liked contestant, has secured the position of second runner-up in the reality show. After many days of entertainment, drama, and emotional moments, Mannara Chopra has made it to the top finalist list successfully. from Times of India https://ift.tt/1EYNmJP

A cross-border terror module involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition has been busted, and five terror associates arrested in Karnah in Kupwara district, J&K Police said Saturday.In a statement, police said it had received “credible information” about arms smuggling from its own sources, which was “corroborated by other sister agencies and counterparts”. from Times of India https://ift.tt/YTSs36a

Breaking away from the traditional wedding car, a bride in Bengaluru pleasantly surprised onlookers by opting for a practical and unconventional mode of transportation: the city's Metro. Dealing with severe traffic congestion, she gracefully navigated through the rapid transit system, capturing attention with her vibrant bridal attire and sparking conversations. This daring decision gained widespread attention, triggering discussions about the need to reconsider age-old wedding customs in light of contemporary challenges. Videos of the bride confidently traveling on the metro, adorned in exquisite jewelry and impeccable makeup, received praise for her composure and resourcefulness. The viral video was shared on the X account named 'Forever Bengaluru' on January 16 with a caption that reads, "Whatte star, Stuck in heavy traffic, Smart Bengaluru Bride ditches her car and takes the metro to reach Wedding Hall just before her marriage muhoortha time. Peak Bengaluru momen...

United Kingdom's attorney general will review a hospital order sentence handed out to the killer of Indian-Irish origin teenager Grace O’Malley-Kumar and two others in a triple murder in Nottingham last year after receiving a complaint that the sentence is too lenient. from Times of India https://ift.tt/5Y1ql8G

West Indies all-rounder Kevin Sinclair stunned everyone with his impressive cartwheel celebration after taking his first Test wicket during the second Test match against Australia on Friday. Sinclair claimed the important wicket of Usman Khawaja as he was able to induce a thick outside edge with a turning delivery and  Alick Athanaze made no mistake in completing the catch at first slip. The youngster was ecstatic at claiming his first wicket in the format and he complete two cartwheel back-flips to celebrate the feat. The commentators were left spellbound by his performance and the video of his antics has gone viral on social media with users praising him for his athleticism.  Australia took the late wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul to even the contest after a fascinating second day's play in the second Test against the West Indies in Brisbane on Friday. At stumps, the West Indies were 13-1, a lead of 35 runs, after Chanderpaul was given ou...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron took part Thursday in a roadshow in the Pink City, where the visitor was presented a replica of Ayodhya's Ram temple and offered masala chai from a teashop before the leaders sat down for bilateral talks. Macron, who is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26, also visited the hilltop Amber Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and Hawa Mahal in a carefully curated tour that ended at an iconic palace-turned-hotel. In the evening, the two leaders were driven in an open-top vehicle through a short stretch in the heart of the city, beginning from Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory which is now a Unesco heritage site. They stood in the vehicle, chatting and waving at people who lined the route. For the PM, it was the first visit to the city after the swearing-in of Bhajanlal Sharma who took over as the Rajasthan chief minister after the BJP victory in the recent as...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron today held wide-ranging talks at a 19th century palace that showcases Jaipur's royal heritage to further consolidate bilateral strategic engagement. The talks took place hours after the French president was accorded a red-carpet welcome in the Pink City that was followed by a PM Modi-Macron roadshow from the astronomical observation site of Jantar Mantar to the iconic Hawa Mahal. Macron also visited the grand Amber Fort situated on the Aravalli range on the outskirts of Jaipur. He will be the chief guest at Friday's Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path in Delhi. "Welcome to India, my friend President Emmanuel Macron. I am happy that President Macron begins his India visit from Jaipur in Rajasthan, a land with rich culture, heritage and talented people. It is a matter of great pride that he will be taking part in our Republic Day celebrations tomorrow, 26th January, in Delhi. His presence not onl...

Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari criticizes officials for cutting safety features in road projects to reduce costs. Urges them to consider road user behavior in project preparation and incorporate suitable designs. Engineers should ensure that people cannot engage in risky behavior like crossing roads instead of using foot over bridges. from Times of India https://ift.tt/OnspfCw

The news of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's collaboration with director Sanjay Leela Bansali for his new film Love & War has made Ranbir Kapoor's mom Neetu Kapoor immensely happy and her latest Instagram post stands as proof. Moments after Alia Bhatt shared the news of her featuring in Sanjay Leela Bansali's epic sage Love & War along with her husband Ranbir Kapoor and actor Vicky Kaushal, Neetu Kapoor reshared the post on her Instagram wall. In her loud shout out to her kids, Neetu Kapoor wrote, "Love & War! Raha's parents, you both make me so proud with my all time favourite film maker #SANJAYLEELABHANSALI. Can't wait to see your magic #VickyKaushal." See what Neetu Kapoor posted: View this post on Instagram A post shared by neetu Kapoor. Fightingfyt (@neetu54) Earlier in the day, the happy news was shared by the actors Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt on their respective Instagram pages. Sharing t...

Thousands of devotees gathered at Slough Hindu Mandir to celebrate the consecration ceremony of Ramlalla in Ayodhya. Similar celebrations took place in hundreds of temples across the UK. The event marked the homecoming of Bhagawan Shri Ram to Ayodhya, bringing immense joy to the devotees. from Times of India https://ift.tt/AZqiHKn

During a New Hampshire rally on Monday, Nikki Haley, a 52-year-old GOP presidential contender, encountered an unexpected interruption to her speech. A pro-Trump heckler in the crowd interrupted her discourse at the Artisan Hotel in Salem to pose an impromptu question: "Will you marry me?" Amid laughter from the audience, Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and currently married to Maj. Michael Haley, handled the situation with grace, according to the New York Post. Addressing the tongue-in-cheek proposal, Haley responded promptly by humorously inquiring if the suitor would consider casting his vote in her favor. The interruption occurred while Haley was addressing her supporters and discussing the significant issues at stake in the upcoming election on the eve of the New Hampshire primary. "I'm voting for Trump," the man replied after a brief pause, drawing jeers from his fellow rally attendees. "Oh, get out of here!" an unimpressed Haley ...

A 22-year-old man in the United States underwent a double lung transplant after he had only "one per cent chance of survival" following years of heavy vaping, as per a report in the New York Post . Jackson Allard from North Dakota was hospitalised and put on life support as his oxygen levels dropped. In October, he was admitted to a clinic after complaining about stomach aches and low oxygen levels. He was diagnosed with Influenza 4 and double pneumonia. However, his condition worsened and he was then transferred to the University of Minnesota. Mr Allard's health continued to decline and doctors decided to put him on life support.  Mr Allard's grandmother Doreen Hurlbur stated that her grandson developed these problems from vaping and it got so bad at a point that his heart stopped beating. She spoke to Valley News Live and said, "A doctor said he had a  one per cent chance of living and we said, 'He's fighting'. He's fought for how many weeks w...

from Times of India https://ift.tt/r6RxgZp

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate again for questioning in an alleged money laundering case. He was questioned last on Saturday at his home in Ranchi. It was the first round of questioning -- he had skipped seven earlier summons. This time, he has been asked to come to the zonal office of the agency between January 27 and 31. Mr Soren has claimed that he is the target of a huge conspiracy. "A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Mr Soren told the workers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha after his questioning by the ED on Saturday. The case involves "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the Central agency. The agency has so far arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi ...

A car swerved violently across the new Mumbai bridge, slammed its railing and then flipped over multiple times before it came to a halt, showed dramatic dashcam footage. The video, captured by the dashcam on the car behind it, shows the hatchback cutting across lanes and slamming into the railing on Sunday afternoon. The car, travelling to Chirle (a village in Uran taluka of Raigad district), had two women, children in it at the time of the accident. All passengers are reported safe. The accident took place around 3 pm on the recently inaugurated Atal Setu, which connects south Mumbai with the satellite city of Navi Mumbai. The six-lane trans-harbour bridge is 21.8 km long with a 16.5 km sea-link. from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/mbDV0F9

Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge has alleged that BJP engineered yesterday's attack on the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra and said then Congress will not be intimidated, no matter what. In the passing, he took a swipe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who once belonged to the Congress. Assam's ruling BJP is so "scared" of the success of Congress's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that they attacked the state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah, Mr Kharge said at a rally in Nagaon. Though last year's Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through several BJP-ruled states, "no stone was hurled" at it, he said. "Even in Nagpur, which has the RSS headquarters, lakhs of people joined us and there was no incident," he said. "Why is it happening in Assam? It is happening here because (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji's 'chela' (disciple), who blindly listens to his 'sahab' (boss)," he said. Referring to the attack on state Co...

The war-ridden frontlines of Russia's war in Ukraine are grappling with a nightmarish resurgence of rats and mice, echoing the haunting conditions of World War I trench warfare, CNN reported. The infestation, fuelled by a static war situation and harsh winter conditions, is not only spreading disease among soldiers but also causing severe disruptions in military operations. Ukrainian servicewoman "Kira" vividly recounted a "mouse epidemic" that plagued her battalion in the southern Zaporizhzhia region last fall. She described the unsettling scenario of soldiers trying to rest, only to be disturbed by mice crawling into their clothing, biting fingers, and causing sleepless nights. In Kira's dugout, housing four soldiers, the estimated 1,000 mice turned the tables, making the soldiers feel like guests in their own quarters, as reported by CNN. The infestation is attributed to seasonal changes, the mating cycle of mice, and the stagnant nature of the war. Uk...

The donations for Ram Temple went live on the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra as a featured biller, making donations as effortless as mobile recharges. Anyone can pay using UPI apps such as Google Pay and BharatPe. To donate, one can go to the official website of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, and click on the donation section. Invitees to the "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony at the Ram temple started arriving today in Ayodhya. The town is now resplendent with new infrastructure amid religious fervour on the eve of a seminal event in India's political and religious history. Ayodhya has been bedecked with multi-coloured flowers; recordings of 'Ram dhun' played from loudspeakers and people dressed as Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman paraded down the streets. Ceremonial gates depicting 'Jai Shri Ram' in floral patterns and illumination visible at night add to the aura of the ancient city, which has under...

Social media was abuzz as actress Nora Fatehi revealed a fake video of herself in her Instagram story, leaving fans shocked and sparking widespread discussion within the online community. The video was an advertisement for a retail clothing company's end-of-season sale. The ad seemed real on the retailer's social media, but the clothing company's website contradicted it. This "scam or not scam" initiative is part of a deliberate awareness campaign by the company to address online financial fraud. The video commences with Nora Fatehi providing information about an ongoing sale and encouraging viewers to tune in. As the video unfolds, there is a transformation where Nora Fatehi transitions into the character of Vigil Aunty, portrayed by actress and theater artist Anuradha Menon. This character bears a resemblance to Lola Kutty, another persona played by Lola for the channel [V]. The campaign aims to educate the public about deceptive practices and discrepancie...

Prem Chopra , who plays the character of Dalbir Dodamal Singh AKA "Bade Daji" in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal , recently revealed that his two-three scenes were cut from the film. The film veteran also said that he considered those scenes were "Very good." Speaking to India Today , Prem Chopra said, "Animal was wonderfully made. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga wrote the script himself with some help from two assistants. So he was meticulous and very definite about what he wanted. Also, the film got very lengthy. It turned out to be a four-hour fifteen-minute film, so he had to cut it out. Hence, in this way, my two or three scenes were cut, which I thought were very good." He continued, "But anyway, this is one of the games in the industry. But, I'm surprised that whatever my screen time is, people seem to have accepted me in a big way, and I still get views and information about it. I never expected that. I thought this was a special appearance...

Pakistan expresses readiness to work with Iran after airstrikes. National Security Committee holds emergency meeting chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. No desire for escalation, but will respond with full might if territorial integrity violated. Pakistani strikes target separatist groups, Iran's strikes target Jaish al-Adl. Concerns raised about instability in the Middle East. UN secretary-general urges maximum restraint. from Times of India https://ift.tt/f9SPW5w

Preparations are in full swing for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Patishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Ram temple and be the chief guest. More than 7,000 people, including politicians, film personalities, and industrialists, will attend. Schools and central government offices in various states will have a holiday. from Times of India https://ift.tt/pKFVbjQ

India has been ranked as the fourth strongest military in the world, just after China, according to the Global Firepower Index , a platform that analyses data based on factors that determine a nation's war-fighting capability.  China is the biggest spender on defence in Asia. In the financial year 2023-2024, India allocated $73.9 billion, while China reserved $229 Billion of its budget for the military. The Centre for Strategic and Investment Studies (CSIS), a US-based think tank, has said China's defence budget is higher than the published figures.  According to the Global Firepower Index, China's defence budget is the second highest globally and India stands at number four. The huge gap between India and China should be attributed to the difference in the size of GDPs. India is the fifth-largest economy and spends 13 per cent of its annual budget on defence. Meanwhile, China is the second largest economy in the world.  India has 1.45 million active personnel and Chin...

India edged Afghanistan in a dramatic second Super Over to sweep the Twenty20 series after the third match ended in a tie following Rohit Sharma's record-setting century on Wednesday. The India captain became the first batsman to hit five T20I tons as his unbeaten 121 off 69 balls powered the hosts to 212-4 in Bengaluru after they had slipped to 22-4. But Afghanistan put up a spirited show as Gulbadin Naib hit an unbeaten 55 off 23 balls to steer his side to 212-6, taking two off the final delivery to level the scores. from Times of India https://ift.tt/qJpYCSw

Low-cost carrier IndiGo has been fined Rs 1.2 crore by the Bureau Of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) after a viral video showed passengers eating on the tarmac as they waited for their delayed flight to take off. The country's aviation regulator, DGCA, also took cognisance of the video circulating on social media and ordered Mumbai Airport to pay Rs 30 lakh for the violation. On Tuesday, the Centre issued show-cause notices to IndiGo and Mumbai Airport over the video of passengers eating on the tarmac. IndiGo has been asked to pay the amount - the highest penalty to be imposed on a carrier in recent times - within 30 days, the Bureau Of Civil Aviation Security, or BCAS, said in a statement. Calling it a "violation of apron discipline", the DGCA said, "It came to the notice of the DGCA through social media that on January 15, passengers of two IndiGo flights were on the apron for a considerable period at the CSMI Airport, Mumbai (MIAL). This is in violation of Para...