Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Hope for Austin Tice: Mother Confirms Son is Alive and Well in Syria

    Hope for Austin Tice: Mother Confirms Son is Alive and Well in Syria

    Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, an American journalist taken in Syria in 2012, spoke to reporters on Friday. She believes her son is alive and being treated well. Debra said, “We have strong information from a trusted source that Austin is alive and okay.” She did not give many details but assured everyone that he is being cared for.

    Austin Tice worked as a photojournalist for several news organizations, including Agence France-Presse and CBS, when he was captured at a checkpoint in a suburb of Damascus on August 14, 2012. Not much has been shared publicly about him since then. In September 2012, a video showed him blindfolded, but no one knows who took him.

    In 2022, President Joe Biden accused Syria of holding Tice and urged the government to help get him back. However, Syria has denied keeping any Americans, including Tice. Debra did not say where Austin might be but believes that “diplomacy” is key to bringing him home. She said, “Words not bombs, words not guns — that is how Austin will come home.”

    At a recent event, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her sympathy for Tice’s family and said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had met with them. She noted how difficult it must be for them while they hope for Austin’s return. In 2020, former President Trump had even sent a message to Syria’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, asking about Tice. Trump said he wasn’t sure if Tice was still alive.

    Now, Austin’s family is looking towards former President Trump, who is set to be inaugurated soon, hoping he can help. This comes at a time when Syrian rebels are making major advancements in the ongoing civil war.

  • Heavy Rain Alerts for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh: December 2023

    Heavy Rain Alerts for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh: December 2023

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that southern India, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, will see heavy rain and thunderstorms soon. A low-pressure area is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, December 7. This system is expected to move towards Sri Lanka by December 12.

    Rainfall will start affecting Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on December 11, and will reach Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema on December 12.

    The IMD reports that there is a strong weather system over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and nearby areas, which will help create this low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal around December 7.

    In their latest update, the IMD predicts light to moderate rain on Saturday in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. But the heaviest rain is expected on the following days:

    – December 11: Expect heavy rain in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu, along with Karaikal.
    – December 12: Heavy rain is likely in Chengalpattu, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram districts, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

    Additionally, a new Western Disturbance will affect the Western Himalayan region and nearby plains of Northwest India starting December 8.

    IMD’s 7-Day Weather Forecast:
    – Heavy rain will be seen in isolated locations in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on December 11 and 12. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema may face these heavy rains on December 12.
    – Light to moderate rain or snow is expected in the Western Himalayan region, with light rain in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and western Uttar Pradesh on December 8 and 9.
    – Dense fog is likely during late-night and early morning hours in several northeastern states and northern areas until December 10.
    – Cold wave conditions may affect some areas in northern Rajasthan from December 10 to 12.

    Stay safe and keep an umbrella handy!

  • Gavaskar Explains Kohli’s Dismissal in Australia Test Match

    Gavaskar Explains Kohli’s Dismissal in Australia Test Match

    Sunil Gavaskar, a legendary Indian cricket player, shared his thoughts on how Virat Kohli got out on the first day of the day-night Test match against Australia at Adelaide Oval. Kohli, who scored a great century in the previous Test, was dismissed again by a short ball outside the off stump. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc bowled a delivery that rose sharply, and while Kohli hesitated about whether to play or let it go, he ended up edging the ball into the slips and was out for just seven runs.

    Many people have criticized Kohli for not changing his batting style, especially given the bounce and pace of the pitches. He was out in a similar way during the first innings of the first Test in Perth. Former player Sanjay Manjrekar noted that Kohli’s Test average has dropped from over 50 to 48 partly because of his unwillingness to adjust his technique.

    Gavaskar, however, defended Kohli’s approach, highlighting that he has scored over 9,000 runs and 30 centuries in Test matches using the same technique. He said he wouldn’t be too concerned about these two dismissals. “This has happened in Perth and now again. It’s part of the game. Yes, his high back lift might slow him down. But Kohli knows how to bat; he has 30 hundreds to prove it. He wasn’t lucky in Perth or this time. There’s lots of time left in the series,” said Gavaskar on Jio Cinema after the day’s play.

    Former Australian player Matthew Hayden commented that Kohli made good decisions in his second innings in Perth. But in Adelaide, he went back to his old batting style, which led to trouble. “Conditions were tricky. In Perth, he was clear about his movements and played well. This time, he went back to his old stance and was caught off guard. He needs to get closer to the ball when it starts to swing,” Hayden explained.

    At the end of the first day’s play, Australia was in a strong position, finishing the day at 86-1, while India was bowled out for just 180 runs in their first innings, with Mitchell Starc taking impressive figures of 6-48.

  • Atkinson’s Hat-Trick Powers England to Lead Over New Zealand!

    Atkinson’s Hat-Trick Powers England to Lead Over New Zealand!

    On December 7, England’s fast bowler Gus Atkinson made headlines by taking a hat-trick and helping his team dismiss New Zealand for just 125 runs. This strong performance gave England a first-innings lead of 155 runs during the second Test in Wellington.

    After losing their opener, Zak Crawley, cheaply, England’s Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell stepped up, guiding their team to 82 for 1 at lunch. Duckett was not out at 39 runs and Bethell had 34 not out, putting England in a powerful position.

    New Zealand started the day in trouble at 86 for 5 in response to England’s 280 runs. Brydon Carse, also a young bowler like Atkinson, quickly added to their troubles by dismissing Tom Blundell for 16 runs with a great ball that hit the top of the off stump.

    Things got worse for New Zealand when Nighwatchman Will O’Rourke was given out leg before wicket (lbw) for no runs. Atkinson took charge from his end, taking three wickets in a row. He dismissed Nathan Smith, who tried to play a delivery but only managed to hit it onto his own stumps. Next, he bowled Matt Henry for a golden duck (which means he got out on the first ball he faced) with a bouncer that was caught by Duckett at gully. Finally, Atkinson trapped Tim Southee lbw on his first ball.

    This hat-trick was a special moment, being the 47th in the history of Test cricket and the first by an England bowler since 2017. England had won the first Test by eight wickets in Christchurch last week, and now the Black Caps need to come up with a fantastic performance to stop England from winning their first series in New Zealand since 2008. The third and final Test will be in Hamilton soon.

    This article was created from an automated news feed and has not been changed from its original form.

  • Pushpa 2: The Rule – Family Drama and Action Unfolds!

    Pushpa 2: The Rule – Family Drama and Action Unfolds!

    Allu Arjun’s character, Pushpa Raj, is famous for his strong attitude and his rise to power in the red sanders smuggling world in the movie “Pushpa: The Rise” (2021). However, at his core, he is just a troubled young man seeking his family’s love and acceptance.

    The new film, “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” which came out this Thursday, resolves some of Pushpa’s personal and work problems. The ending leads us to the next movie, “Pushpa 3: The Rampage.” Spoiler Alert!

    Pushpa’s Family Relationships:
    In the first movie, we learn that Pushpa is the son of Molleti Venkata Ramana and his affair with Parvatamma. Because of this, his half-brother, Mohan Raj, often ridicules him and their mother. Pushpa wants to become rich and respected so that no one disrespects his mother anymore.

    In “Pushpa 2,” Mohan finally makes peace with Pushpa after he saves his niece, Kaveri, from some bad guys. Mohan even invites them to a wedding! However, during the wedding, a huge fight happens when Pushpa faces Buggi Reddy, the new villain. Despite others telling him not to, Pushpa seriously injures Buggi. This earns Mohan’s respect, but a bomb blast during the wedding leaves their relationship in doubt.

    What About Srivalli and Bhanwar Singh Shekawat?
    In the movie’s climax, Pushpa finds out that his wife, Srivalli, is going to have a baby. Despite being happy, he worries about not having a good family name because of his family issues.

    Police officer Bhanwar Singh has a tough time against Pushpa again and may take a dangerous step that could lead to his death. The audience fears for Bhanwar’s life.

    During the wedding, a decorative flower arrangement explodes, causing chaos. It’s uncertain if Bhanwar is dead or if it’s a new villain causing trouble. After the blast, we see a hint of “Pushpa 3: The Rampage,” suggesting that while Bhanwar might be alive, Pushpa’s family is in danger.

    Some fans believe an earlier video titled “Where is Pushpa?” might show what will happen in the next movie, and there are hints in “Pushpa 2” that could connect to it. Only time will tell!

  • Starc’s Stunning Start: Dismisses Jaiswal on First Ball in Adelaide Test

    Starc’s Stunning Start: Dismisses Jaiswal on First Ball in Adelaide Test

    Mitchell Starc has finally gotten his revenge! He bowled out India’s opening player, Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the very first ball of the Adelaide Test. Starc and Jaiswal’s battle heated up during the first Test in Perth, where Jaiswal teased Starc for bowling “too slow.” But in this match, Starc surprised him with a perfectly swinging ball that sent Jaiswal back to the pavilion without scoring. India lost a wicket right at the start of the game!

    After the first day’s play, Starc shared his excitement with ABC Sport. He said, “It’s a nice way to start the game. Get one on target and away we go.” He continued by being proud of his achievement—taking six wickets, his best bowling performance ever! Thanks to his efforts, Australia bowled India out for just 180 runs.

    Starc got rid of big names like Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and others. He noted, “It was a good day overall. We were a bit wide in the first hour, which allowed them to score some runs. After that, we improved a lot and bowled them out well.”

    At the end of Day 1, Australia was in a strong position, with the score at 86/1, still needing 94 runs to catch up. Nathan McSweeney was playing well with 38 runs, and Marnus Labuschagne had 20 runs. Starc defended Labuschagne, saying he has been practicing hard since the last Test.

    Starc remarked how tough the last session of pink-ball cricket can be, especially against quality bowlers. He praised his teammates for their fight during the game. With a great pink-ball record, Australia hopes to continue their good performance on Day 2 against India.

  • Students Demand Fairness in BPSC Exam Process Amid Protests in Bihar

    Students Demand Fairness in BPSC Exam Process Amid Protests in Bihar

    Many students in Bihar were unhappy about the way the upcoming BPSC 70th combined competitive examination is being organized. They protested because they heard there might be a “normalization” process. This process would change the scores for students taking the exam on different days, making it fairer if the difficulty of the questions varied.

    The exam, set for December 13, is very important as it will fill 2,035 jobs. However, many students couldn’t apply because of a problem with the BPSC’s website. They wanted the exam date pushed back so everyone could participate.

    Even though the admit cards for the exam were released, the students still protested outside the BPSC office. Police called the protests illegal and used force to break up the crowd, injuring some students.

    The BPSC chairman, Ravi S. Parmar, said the protests weren’t necessary and accused some participants of having other motives. He assured everyone that there will be only one exam on one day, without normalization. He mentioned that if there were any changes, they would be announced beforehand.

    Parmar explained that the exams would have different sets of questions to prevent cheating. Just a month ago, similar protests occurred in nearby Uttar Pradesh over a different testing system.

    In this protest, many students voiced their frustrations, claiming it is their right to speak out. The opposition leader, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, also supported the students and has called on the Chief Minister for help.

    Many students feel their future is at risk. They believe that if the government can hold elections in one day, they could have one exam on the same day too. They want clear communication from the exam authorities about the process.

    The protests have caught political attention, and students are being heard.

  • Modi Promotes North-East Development at Astalakshmi Festival

    Modi Promotes North-East Development at Astalakshmi Festival

    On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the many steps taken by the Central and state governments to help the North-East region grow over the past ten years. He emphasized that this effort has led to job creation and less violence in the area, as he addressed the Astalakshmi Mahotsav festival in Delhi, which celebrates the eight North-East states.

    Modi said, “This is the time for the North-East to shine. We have seen great progress, but it wasn’t always easy. In the past, governments focused on areas with more votes, but now we are dedicated to developing the North-East.”

    He pointed out that many young people in the region have turned from violence to building a better future thanks to new policies. There have been many peace agreements, and the government has worked to solve border disputes among North-Eastern states. Modi noted that the Special Armed Forces Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted in several districts, leading to a significant drop in violence.

    Describing the North-East as a treasure trove of resources, Modi praised the region’s talents in farming, arts, and unique products, many of which are recognized globally. He emphasized the importance of tradition, textiles, and tourism in boosting the North-East’s identity.

    He believes the future of India belongs to the East, especially the North-East, stating, “Integration through better roads and connections has raised the development of the North-East to new heights.”

    Modi also lauded the Nupi Lan movement in Manipur, which was led by women, as an example of female empowerment in the North-East. He claimed that his government has done more for the region in the last decade than any previous governments. Since the 1990s, funds allocated to the North-East have increased significantly.

    Finally, Modi announced plans to connect the North-East with the rest of India through emotional, economic, and environmental ties. The government is working on building more highways and improving air and train travel, and the North-East will play a role in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor discussed during the G-20 meeting.

  • Join the Free TCS iON Course to Boost Your Career Skills!

    Join the Free TCS iON Course to Boost Your Career Skills!

    The job market is always changing because of new technology and trends. Students getting ready to start their professional careers need to learn key skills that will help them feel confident in the workplace.

    To stand out, graduates should focus on improving their communication skills, teamwork, business behavior, and understanding of finance and technology. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is offering a free 15-day digital course called TCS iON Career Edge – Young Professional to help students gain these important skills.

    About the Course:
    This special course will help students learn the skills they need for success in today’s job market. The course covers:

    – Soft Skills to get along well with coworkers
    – Communication Skills to make a great impression
    – How to write strong resumes
    – Proper business behavior for the office
    – Basic Accounting and IT skills
    – An introduction to Artificial Intelligence

    Course Details:
    The course includes 15 different lessons designed to prepare students:

    1. Communication Skills
    2. Presentation Skills
    3. Soft Skills
    4. Career Guidance
    5. Resume Writing
    6. Group Discussion Skills
    7. Interview Skills
    8. Business Etiquette
    9. Effective Email Writing
    10. Telephone Etiquette
    11. Accounting Basics
    12. IT Basics
    13. Overview of Artificial Intelligence 1 (from NPTEL)
    14. Overview of Artificial Intelligence 2 (from NPTEL)

    Learning Method:
    Participants will enjoy videos, case studies, and online learning that they can do at their own pace.

    If you want to learn more, check out the official website for the TCS iON Career Edge course!

  • Sandeep Reddy Vanga: Family, Criticism, and His Next Big Film!

    Sandeep Reddy Vanga: Family, Criticism, and His Next Big Film!

    Sandeep Reddy Vanga is a young and talented director known for his unique style in films. He’s directed three movies: “Arjun Reddy,” “Kabir Singh,” and “Animal.” Although he’s gaining fame, he sometimes faces criticism, especially about how he portrays mother characters in his films. Recently, he appeared on the show “Indian Idol 15,” where he talked about his journey and the support from his family.

    He shared a story about how he challenged his mother, saying he would become a director before using the 2 lakhs he earned working at McDonald’s and Subway in Sydney while studying. Sandeep explained that his family wanted him to be an engineer or doctor, but since he didn’t score high enough for MBBS, he chose physiotherapy. However, he soon realized he wasn’t passionate about that and instead loved photography, leading him to film school in Sydney. It took him several years to finally become a director.

    When singer Shreya Ghoshal asked if his family supported his film school dreams, he replied that his family, especially his mother, was very supportive. She helped with film school fees and the production of “Arjun Reddy.” He had many meetings with producers, but ultimately, they decided to produce the film themselves.

    Sandeep also addressed the criticism about mothers in his movies. He said, “I’m very close to my mom, and because our relationship is so good, there’s no drama to write about. If I make a story about a mother and son, it will be positive and full of good vibes.”

    Currently, Sandeep is celebrating one year since his film “Animal,” which starred stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol. The film did well at the box office, but some people criticized it for being disrespectful to women. He is now set to work on a new film called “Spirit” with Prabhas, which is a cop story that hasn’t started filming yet. Rumors are that it will also feature actor Don Lee.