Tag: the llv

  • Shahjahanpur’s ‘Laat Sahab’ Procession: A Colorful Tradition

    Shahjahanpur’s ‘Laat Sahab’ Procession: A Colorful Tradition

    In Shahjahanpur, some kids threw stones at the ‘Laat Sahab’ during a celebration on Friday, but the police quickly stopped them. Superintendent of Police Rajesh S explained that the ‘Laat Sahab’ celebration started at Kunchalal, went by Phoolmati Mandir and Town Hall, and ended back at Kunchalal. At the Khirni Bagh intersection, a group of five or six kids threw colorful powder (gulal) and even shoes at ‘Laat Sahab’ before throwing a stone. The police were there and chased the kids away.

    When asked if the police used force, the SP said no. He mentioned that the procession first went to the Phoolmati Temple for prayers and then to the Kotwali, where ‘Laat Sahab’ was honored. During the event, ‘Laat Sahab’ asked a police officer about the crimes that happened throughout the year, and the officer gave him a bottle of liquor and some cash.

    Many people joined in the celebration, throwing shoes while cheering for ‘Laat Sahab.’ The police set up strong security around ‘Laat Sahab’s bullock cart. The SP also noted that there were 18 other processions during this celebration, with two being especially important.

    To ensure the mosques along the route stayed clean, about 20 of them were covered with tarps, and barriers were put near mosques and electrical transformers. For the first time, a special celebration took place in the district jail, where they made a statue of ‘Laat Sahab’ after prisoners requested it. They had fun throwing colors at each other.

    This celebration began in 1728 when Nawab Abdullah Khan played Holi with the people of Shahjahanpur. Over time, the tradition changed to picking an unknown person as ‘Laat Sahab,’ painting their face black, and parading them on a bullock cart while throwing shoes. Historian Dr. Vikas Khurana mentioned a court case in 1990 to stop the parade, but the court allowed it to continue, calling it an old tradition

  • Tragic Chapra Accident: 7 Lives Lost After SUV Crash

    Tragic Chapra Accident: 7 Lives Lost After SUV Crash

    Kolkata: Tragedy struck in Chapra, Nadia district, West Bengal, on Friday when a terrible accident killed seven people, including two women and one child. Three others were hurt.

    A big SUV was driving from Kalyani to Karimpur when it lost control and crashed into two e-rickshaws coming from the other direction. After the crash, the SUV flipped over and fell into a ditch by the side of the road. The police believe the driver and the passengers in the SUV had been drinking and were intoxicated during the accident, which happened around 11 am.

    There were ten people in the two e-rickshaws. Sadly, seven of them died immediately, while three others were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The police have opened an investigation to find out more about the crash.

    Fortunately, the driver and passengers of the SUV only received minor injuries.

  • Introducing the Exciting Captains of IPL 2025

    Introducing the Exciting Captains of IPL 2025

    Gone are the days when famous players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni would show up for the toss in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 18th season of this exciting T20 tournament is bringing in a lot of new and young captains.

    On March 14, Axar Patel was chosen to be the captain of the Delhi Capitals. Now, all ten captains for IPL 2025 have been decided! Pat Cummins is the only captain from outside India, while the other nine are Indian players. Rajat Patidar will lead the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and he was named captain in February 2025.

    Ajinkya Rahane will be the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with Venkatesh Iyer helping him as vice-captain. Rishabh Pant will be in charge of the Lucknow Super Giants, while Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to victory last year, will now captivate the Punjab Kings as they try to win their first IPL title.

    The IPL 2025 season begins on March 22 and will end with the final match on May 25, 2025. There will be 74 matches held at 13 different venues, with 12 double-header days. The day games will kick off at 3:30 PM IST, and the evening games at 7:30 PM IST.

    The opening match will see KKR face off against RCB at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The same place will host the second Qualifier and the final match. The first double-header day will happen on March 23, 2025, where the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) play against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the afternoon match. In the evening, the legendary teams Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will compete at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

    After the league phase, the Playoffs will take place in Hyderabad and Kolkata. Hyderabad will host the first Qualifier and the Eliminator on May 20 and 21, 2025. Then, the action moves to Kolkata for Qualifier 2 on May 23, 2025.

    Here’s the list of IPL 2025 captains:
    – Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane
    – Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins
    – Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson
    – Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar
    – Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad
    – Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel
    – Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant
    – Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer
    – Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill
    – Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya

  • Master the NYT Connections Puzzle: Tips & Answers!

    Master the NYT Connections Puzzle: Tips & Answers!

    The New York Times has a fun daily word game called Connections. It is perfect for anyone who loves words and puzzles. In this game, players get 16 words every day. The goal is to divide these words into four groups, each with four words that have something in common.

    In the March 14, 2025 puzzle, puzzle #642, you would find words that needed to be sorted by their themes. Here’s a little help to get you started with today’s categories:

    – Yellow Group: Words related to penalties.
    – Green Group: Items you might grab quickly while in line at the checkout.
    – Blue Group: Different types of movie lengths.
    – Purple Group: Words that go with “Road” in common sayings.

    Answers for Puzzle #642

    If you want to know the correct answers for the March 14 puzzle, here they are:

    – Yellow: Assess, Charge, Fine, Levy (Words about penalties)
    – Green: Candy, Chapstick, Charging Cable, Magazine (Impulse buys at checkout)
    – Blue: Epic, Feature, Film Series, Short (Different movie lengths)
    – Purple: Dirt, High, Rocky, Silk (Words that go with “Road”)

    Tips for Solving the Connections Puzzles

    To improve at Connections, try these tips:
    1. Look for Obvious Groups: Find words that clearly fit together, like synonyms, or items in the same category.
    2. Eliminate Incorrect Groups: When you make a correct group, cross those words off your list to focus on the others.
    3. Think Outside the Box: Some connections may not be obvious, so consider phrases or familiar pairings.
    4. Learn from Your Mistakes: Each wrong guess helps you understand better for the next time.

    Other NYT Games to Try

    If you enjoy Connections, check out other fun games by The New York Times, such as:
    – NYT Mini Crossword: A quick and fun crossword puzzle.
    – Spelling Bee: Create as many words as you can from seven given letters.
    – Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six tries.
    – Strands: A unique word search game that uses zig-zag solutions.

    FAQs
    – What is the NYT Connections puzzle? It’s a daily word game from The New York Times where players group 16 words into four themed categories.
    – What were the answers for March 14, 2025? They were about penalties, impulse buys, movie lengths, and “Road” phrases.

  • Missing Student Sudiksha Konkani: What Happened in Dominican Republic

    Missing Student Sudiksha Konkani: What Happened in Dominican Republic

    A 22-year-old Indian-American student named Sudiksha Konkani went missing while on spring break in the Dominican Republic. Joshua Ribe, the last person seen with her, is now a person of interest in her case. The two were at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana, where many guests went to the beach after a power outage on March 6.

    Before she disappeared, Sudiksha and Joshua were seen swimming together. Joshua told police that they got caught in big waves, and he tried to bring her back to the shore but lost her in the darkness. He said, “A big wave came and swept us both out to sea.” He also mentioned that they shouted for help, but no one was around to hear them.

    After swimming back to the beach, Joshua said he felt sick and didn’t see where Sudiksha went. The search for her is now being joined by U.S. agencies, including the FBI. Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed concern about the situation and reassured the public that all government agencies are involved in the search.

  • Attack on Former MLA Bamber Thakur: Details and Updates

    Attack on Former MLA Bamber Thakur: Details and Updates

    Bamber Thakur, a former member of the Congress party and MLA from Bilaspur, was shot at by unknown attackers at his home on Friday, according to the police. Both Thakur and his personal security officer were hurt in the shooting.

    An eyewitness reported that around 12 shots were fired during the incident. Thakur was sitting with family and friends in the courtyard of a government house given to his wife, celebrating the festival of Holi when four men came and started shooting. Thakur was hit in the leg by one of the bullets.

    The attackers ran away on foot towards the main market area. The Superintendent of Police for Bilaspur, Sandeep Dhawal, stated that a search is underway to catch the suspects. He assured that they would be caught soon and punished under the law. After the attack, Thakur was taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla, while his security officer was sent to AIIMS Bilaspur for treatment.

  • Swiatek Triumphs Over Zheng, Advances to Indian Wells Semi-Finals

    Swiatek Triumphs Over Zheng, Advances to Indian Wells Semi-Finals

    Iga Swiatek showed her strength by easily beating her rival Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells tournament on Friday. Swiatek won the match 6-3, 6-3. Last year, Zheng beat Swiatek in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, making this victory even sweeter for her.

    After the match, someone asked Swiatek if winning a bronze medal in the 2024 Olympics pushed her to win against Zheng. Swiatek replied that losing in the past motivated her to do better this time. “For sure it does,” she said. “It’s always tough to lose, and you want to prove that you can win.”

    Swiatek is the defending champion at Indian Wells and is now the first player ever to reach the semi-finals for four years in a row. With this win, she has now achieved ten straight victories at Indian Wells.

    Talking about the match, Swiatek mentioned that the wind made things tricky towards the end. “You need to adjust quickly, and it’s not easy,” she explained. “But I’m really happy that I stayed focused and composed.”

    By reaching the semi-finals, Swiatek joined the elite group of players who have won all their first four quarter-final matches at WTA 1000 tournaments. So far in this tournament, she has only lost 12 games, which is one of the fewest by any player reaching this stage in recent years.

  • UK Economy Faces Struggles: What It Means for Growth and Taxes

    UK Economy Faces Struggles: What It Means for Growth and Taxes

    In January, the British economy shrank unexpectedly, creating challenges for Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves. Instead of growing, the economy, which is one of the largest in the world, fell by 0.1%. This is surprising because many experts thought it would grow a little after a solid increase of 0.4% in December.

    According to the Office of National Statistics, the drop in the economy was mainly due to bad weather impacting industries like manufacturing and construction. However, the services sector, which makes up about 80% of the economy, performed well.

    Despite being only a monthly report, which can change later, this decline highlights the difficulties faced by the Labour government that took charge last July after being out of power for 14 years. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that boosting the UK’s economic growth is his top priority over the next five years. Since the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the economy has struggled to grow.

    Starmer wants to improve living standards and find money for public services. But with growth proving to be a challenge, the Labour Party’s popularity has dropped since they won the elections in July. Critics argue that Rachel Reeves has played a role in slowing down the economy by being too negative and increasing taxes, especially for businesses.

    After the disappointing numbers for January, Reeves promised to improve the economy’s poor performance, saying the government would work harder to encourage growth. Recently, she proposed various plans to help, such as supporting a third runway at Heathrow Airport, creating a tech hub between Oxford and Cambridge, and rethinking the UK’s economic relationships after Brexit. She also mentioned the positive effects of increasing defense spending.

    The decline in January is a tough situation for Reeves, especially with a budget statement to Parliament coming up on March 26. Since growth isn’t generating the expected tax money and borrowing costs are high, she may need to announce cuts in spending to stick to her budget rules. Mel Stride, a spokesperson for the main opposition Conservative Party, criticized the government for being a “growth killer,” blaming tax increases and proposed changes to employment rights.

  • US Sanctions Delay Russian Oil Shipment to China by Over Seven Weeks

    US Sanctions Delay Russian Oil Shipment to China by Over Seven Weeks

    A big shipment of Russian oil to China took a lot longer to arrive than it used to. Normally, it would take about a week to deliver oil, but because of new US sanctions against Russia, this delivery took over seven weeks!

    The oil, called Sokol crude, came from a Russian project in Sakhalin. It was transported by a huge ship named the Daban, which had to get its oil from smaller ships in a safe bay called Nakhodka Bay, off Russia’s coast. This transfer took around ten days to complete.

    After picking up the oil, the Daban couldn’t dock at two other ports in China before finally arriving at Huangdao. This shows that while oil deliveries from Russia are still happening, sanctions are causing delays.

    The Biden administration’s sanctions on Russia are stronger than past ones. Some shipments of Russian oil are still getting through, but they are facing problems. For example, another ship in the Baltic Sea has been waiting over a month to unload its cargo, which is very unusual.

    The Daban spent ten days waiting near Yantai before moving to another port, Rizhao, where it waited another ten days before finally reaching Huangdao. The oil was delivered using three shuttle tankers that the US sanctioned earlier this year.

    Interestingly, the Daban has carried oil from Iran before but is not currently under sanctions.

  • Holi and Jumma Celebrations in Sambhal: A Day of Peace and Harmony

    Holi and Jumma Celebrations in Sambhal: A Day of Peace and Harmony

    In the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, people celebrated Holi peacefully despite stronger security. On the same day, Muslims also prayed during the second Friday of Ramadan at the Shahi Jama Masjid. Sambhal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vandana Mishra, reported that the Holi processions were joyful and safe, thanks to everyone’s cooperation. She mentioned that both Holi and Friday prayers went smoothly, emphasizing the message of peace in the area.

    District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia noted that the community was happy and participating in Holi by sharing colors with each other. The local police and paramilitary forces were stationed to manage the crowd and ensure safety. Circle Officer Anuj Chowdhary shared that they were keeping an eye on the situation with foot patrols and drone surveillance.

    Before the celebrations, Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq urged people from all communities to stay peaceful. He asked Hindus to enjoy Holi while being respectful of mosques and encouraged Muslims to pray at nearby mosques and avoid areas where colors were being thrown. He emphasized that his appeal was not out of fear, but to foster friendship and harmony among everyone in the community.