Author: Supriya Jena

  • Tejasvi Surya Marries Sivasri Skandaprasad: A Meaningful Wedding Request

    Tejasvi Surya Marries Sivasri Skandaprasad: A Meaningful Wedding Request

    Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya got married to Carnatic singer Sivasri Skandaprasad in a small, private ceremony. Because of their wedding reception today, the couple has a special message for their guests.

    Tejasvi, who is 34 years old, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) where he invited everyone to join them for their wedding celebration. However, he kindly requested that guests do not bring gifts like flowers, bouquets, or dry fruits. This is because 85% of wedding flowers are thrown away within a day, and every year, weddings leave behind about 300,000 kilograms of dry fruits.

    Tejasvi provided some interesting facts: In India, there are over 1 crore (10 million) weddings every year, and the wasted flowers and dry fruits could be worth ₹315 crore (around $38 million) if given to charity.

    He also mentioned that special arrangements have been made for senior citizens and disabled guests to easily attend the reception. They look forward to receiving blessings from everyone at the event, which will happen today at 11 AM at Vruksha, Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.

    Sivasri Skandaprasad, the bride, is a trained Carnatic musician and Bharatanatyam dancer. She has performed at famous venues like Brahma Gana Sabha and even in countries like Denmark and South Korea. She studied bioengineering and Bharatanatyam, and has also learned Sanskrit and Ayurvedic cosmetology.

  • US Issues Travel Warnings for India-Pakistan Border and More

    US Issues Travel Warnings for India-Pakistan Border and More

    The US government has added new travel warnings for places around the world, including the India-Pakistan border. This warning joins others for places like Mexico, Portugal, and New Zealand. The alerts mention safety concerns, health risks, and political issues that might make travel risky.

    In particular, the US has urged travelers to be very cautious near the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to the threat of terrorism and possible fighting. It is also unsafe to visit the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (which used to be known as FATA).

    Here are some key points from the travel advisory:

    – Dangerous Areas: The US warns against travel to the India-Pakistan border and advises against visiting Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These places have experienced many terrorist attacks that target both civilians and government workers.

    – Terrorism Threats: Violent groups in Pakistan plan attacks, and they often happen in crowded places like markets, schools, and transportation hubs. In the past, terrorists have even targeted US diplomats.

    – Travel Restrictions: The advisory specifically says “Do Not Travel” to the India-Pakistan border and Balochistan. Travelers should also check the status of the Wagah-Attari border crossing, as only citizens of India and Pakistan can cross there without special permissions.

    – Ongoing Violence: There are many active terrorist groups in these provinces that frequently attack civilians and government offices, including efforts to stop polio.

    With these serious threats, it is clear that travelers should think carefully before deciding to go to these areas.

  • D.C. United Ends Losing Streak with 2-1 Victory Against Sporting KC

    D.C. United Ends Losing Streak with 2-1 Victory Against Sporting KC

    D.C. United made a comeback to win 2-1 against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. This win ended D.C. United’s tough streak of nine home losses in all competitions since last season.

    The game started slowly, and the first goal came in the 53rd minute. Erik Thommy scored for Sporting Kansas City, with help from his teammates Jake Davis and rookie Shapi Suleymanov. This was Thommy’s first goal of the season, and he has now scored 16 goals in 71 games with the team.

    Seven minutes later, D.C. United tied the game when Christian Benteke, last year’s top scorer, scored a penalty kick. The penalty was given after João Peglow was fouled. Benteke has scored three goals this season.

    D.C. United took the lead in the 68th minute when Hosei Kijima scored his second career goal after getting a pass from Peglow. Kijima had a good season last year, scoring one goal and getting two assists.

    In goal for D.C. United was rookie Kim Joon Hong, who did not make any saves during his first game. D.C. United is now trying to improve their record at home, which has been a bit disappointing.

    John Pulskamp, the goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City, saved two shots in his 31st game with the team. Since 2012, Sporting Kansas City has not won in Washington.

    D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City have played against each other 57 times, and the record is now tied at 22 wins each and 13 draws. D.C. United has done well recently at home against Sporting KC, winning 3 out of their last 7 meetings. D.C. United’s next game is against CF Montreal, while Sporting Kansas City will face Minnesota United.

  • Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal: Love and Glamour at Mumbai Wedding

    Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal: Love and Glamour at Mumbai Wedding

    Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal turned heads in Mumbai as they left a party on Saturday night. The couple had just attended the wedding celebration of Katrina’s best friend, Karishma Kohli. Their loving bond caught the attention of many fans.

    A video shared by a photographer shows Vicky and Katrina looking adorable together as they left the event. Vicky even gave a friendly hug to Katrina’s sister, Isabelle, before they drove home. He was seen holding Katrina’s hand while helping her to their car.

    Katrina looked stunning in a pink off-shoulder gown with a big flower design. She kept her makeup simple and beautiful. Vicky looked sharp in a sleek black suit. Fans went wild over how great they looked and their chemistry. One fan said, “Vicky is holding Katrina’s hand like he’s protecting her.” Another commented, “Look how obsessed Vicky is with Kat; he just won’t let go of her hand.” People praised Katrina for looking like a princess and Vicky like a prince, with many saying, “This couple is perfect together.”

    Katrina and Vicky got married in a private ceremony in 2021, inviting only 120 close friends and family. They usually keep their personal life private but share sweet moments and support each other on social media.

    In terms of work, Katrina’s most recent movie is “Merry Christmas,” where she acted with Vijay Sethupathi. Vicky is celebrating the success of his film “Chhaava,” which is the highest-grossing Indian film this year, making ₹670 crore worldwide. He will next star in “Love & War,” directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, alongside Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. Katrina has not yet announced her next project.

  • Driver Crashes Into CarMax in Inglewood, Injuring Eight People

    Driver Crashes Into CarMax in Inglewood, Injuring Eight People

    On Saturday afternoon, a driver crashed into a CarMax store in Inglewood, California, injuring at least eight people. The accident happened at the CarMax on South La Cienega Boulevard, just after 2 p.m. Among the injured, two people are in critical condition, while the other six were treated for minor injuries at the scene. Fortunately, the building itself did not suffer serious damage.

    It is unclear what exactly caused the crash. Videos from the scene show the car repeatedly smashing into the building and hitting several objects inside. According to reports from 2 Urban Girls, the driver is a white male who used to work at CarMax. He is believed to have been upset after a disagreement with a co-worker, which led him to drive into the store as a way of getting back at them.

  • TMC Takes Action Against Duplicate Voter IDs – Urgent Meeting Ahead

    TMC Takes Action Against Duplicate Voter IDs – Urgent Meeting Ahead

    A group of ten lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will meet the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, on Tuesday. They want to talk about problems with Voter ID cards, specifically the issue of duplicate Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) numbers. TMC MP Derek O’Brien shared this news on Saturday.

    There’s been a lot of talk in West Bengal about this issue. On February 27, the TMC accused the Election Commission of India of messing with voter records. They claimed this gives an unfair advantage to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). O’Brien said, “We have asked for a meeting with the CEC, and he has agreed. Our team will meet him at 5:30 PM on Tuesday.”

    The TMC group includes important leaders like Kalyan Banerjee, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Kirti Azad, and Sagarika Ghose. While many opposition parties are planning to talk about the duplicate EPIC numbers in Parliament, TMC is taking the first step by meeting the Election Commission.

    One TMC member pointed out that since each EPIC number should be unique to every voter, having duplicates could lead to people being denied their voting rights. The Election Commission’s handbook says that EPIC numbers must be unique. It’s concerning that voters in different areas, and even different states, have the same EPIC numbers. The TMC wants the Election Commission to explain how these duplicate numbers occurred and why they can’t make sure every voter has their own unique ID.

  • Russia’s Ruling Party Gifts Meat Grinders to Bereaved Soldiers’ Mothers

    Russia’s Ruling Party Gifts Meat Grinders to Bereaved Soldiers’ Mothers

    Local leaders from Russia’s ruling party are facing criticism for giving mothers of soldiers killed in the war with Ukraine unusual gifts. In a recent event for International Women’s Day, officials from the United Russia party visited grieving mothers in the Murmansk region. They brought flowers and meat grinders with them while smiling for photos.

    Many people on social media called this gesture “shameful” and “inappropriate.” After the backlash, the local party in the town of Polyarniye Zori said that those who criticized them were misunderstanding the situation. Mayor Maxim Chengayev explained that the meat grinders weren’t initially planned as gifts, but one mother asked for it during the visit.

    In a video shared later, a mother thanked the party awkwardly for the meat grinder, saying she needed one and had asked for it. She noted she had wanted to buy it herself, but the party gave it to her just in time.

    It’s important to mention that Russia has not shared many details about how many soldiers have died in this conflict, so the real number of losses is still unclear.

  • India and US Trade Talks: Will Tariffs Be Reduced

    India and US Trade Talks: Will Tariffs Be Reduced

    In New Delhi, people are talking about a new trade deal between India and the US. Officials say it’s still too early to discuss specific details like cutting taxes (tariffs) on goods. This comes after US President Donald Trump mentioned that India promised to lower these tariffs on American products. Trump claimed that India has high tariffs, which makes it hard for businesses from the US to sell their products there.

    According to discussions that took place earlier this year, India and the US plan to negotiate a trade agreement that benefits both countries by the fall of 2025. Talks about tariffs and other trade issues have continued since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Washington last month. Both countries have important interests to consider, so they need to communicate and negotiate carefully.

    In the media, Trump once again stated that the US is treated unfairly in trade by many nations, including India. He said that India has “massive tariffs,” making it difficult for American products to enter the Indian market. He claimed that because someone is finally pointing out these issues, India has agreed to cut tariffs.

    However, these claims lack backup from real trade numbers. According to the US trade representative, American exports to India were around $41.8 billion out of $129.2 billion in overall trade in 2024. When asked about Trump’s comments, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said he couldn’t provide details because the discussions are still going on. He emphasized that India has signed trade agreements with many countries recently, which included tax reductions.

    India has made significant tariff cuts for developed countries like Australia and Switzerland in past agreements, and they are also negotiating with the EU and the UK. The Indian officials reminded everyone that the current discussions with the US should be seen in the context of these ongoing negotiations. They want to deepen their trade relationship by making it easier for each country to access markets, reduce barriers, and improve supply chains.

    In earlier talks during Trump’s first term, India and the US had worked on a limited trade deal, but they didn’t reach an agreement. India has already reduced tariffs on some American goods, like bourbon whiskey and premium motorcycles, and they are looking to cut more tariffs as part of this potential trade deal.

  • Teacher Forced to Work Sick in Odisha: Shocking Incident Unfolds

    Teacher Forced to Work Sick in Odisha: Shocking Incident Unfolds

    A teacher in Odisha had to go to school even when he was very sick because his boss wouldn’t let him take a day off. Prakash Bhoi, who teaches math in Bolangir, said he felt really unwell after his grandfather’s funeral and asked his principal, Bijayalakshmi Pradhan, if he could have some time off to feel better. Unfortunately, she said no.

    Because he couldn’t afford to see a doctor, Bhoi went to school with an IV drip attached to him, which is used to give medicine directly into the body. His health got worse when he was sent to the District Education Officer and the District Project Coordinator by the principal. Even when he asked to visit a hospital, she told him to come back by 2 PM.

    “The government hospital was far away, and I didn’t have any money to go to a private one. My banking app was not working either, so I had to come back to work without any treatment,” Bhoi said. Although he tried to take medicine that night, he didn’t feel better. The next day, he asked again for leave but was told he had to stay because his help was important for preparing for exams.

    In a very bad condition, Bhoi had to get an IV drip from a doctor again and went to school. Luckily, when his coworkers saw how sick he was, they took him to the hospital for immediate care.

    The Block Education Officer, Prasad Majhi, said they are looking into Bhoi’s complaint about the principal. If she is found wrong, she might be punished

  • Bajrang Dal Protests Iftar Party at Rishikul Ayurvedic College

    Bajrang Dal Protests Iftar Party at Rishikul Ayurvedic College

    On Saturday, members of the Bajrang Dal group entered Rishikul Ayurvedic College in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. They were upset because some Muslim students had organized an Iftar party on campus and had invited outside guests. The police talked to the protesters, who threatened to continue their protests if the college did not take action within three days.

    The Iftar party was held by Muslim students on Friday. Bajrang Dal’s Amit Kumar said that Haridwar, a religious city, should not have such events organized by non-Hindus. He claimed it was against local rules and suggested there was an “Islamic Jihad” conspiracy at play. He warned the college that if the students involved were not expelled quickly, they would escalate their protest.

    D.C. Singh, the college director, confirmed he received a complaint about the party. He said the celebration was stopped because it did not have permission from the school. A committee of teachers is investigating the situation.