‘Spoke truth about bomb-making’, says Kerala woman after Left leaders ‘visit’ her parents

Thiruvananthapuram, June 20, 2024
For 39-year-old Seena, daughter of a retired Army officer in Kerala’s Kannur, standing up for a ’cause’ is now causing trouble to her family.

She made some startling revelations against the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front in the state which has generated a lot of praise for her in the media, but her family is feeling the heat of ruffling the mighty.

It all started on Wednesday, a day after an 85-year-old man in the district died in a bomb blast. The man, a neighbour of Seena’s parents, died after he opened an abandoned tiffin box that contained a bomb in it on Tuesday.

Perturbed by this, Seena raised her voice and claimed that bomb-making by CPI(M) workers has been rampant in the region and people were not responding against it due to fear.

Seena’s statements upset the local CPI(M) leadership as she made the statements after speaking to the newly-elected Vadakara Lok Sabha MP, Shafi Parambil (Congress) who visited the area.

On Thursday morning, Seena said the local CPI(M) leaders had already reached her home and had spoken to her parents.

“All that I said was not for me, but for all those who live in that area under constant fear of country-made bombs. I knew the CPI(M) people would be after me and I have no problem with that.

What I am worried about is why they went to meet my parents. They never did anything. All that I said were bare facts, which none in the locality will speak, as they fear the party. I am not afraid and I am ready to face it too,” said Seena.

One reason why the local CPI(M) leaders are upset is Seena was seen on several TV channels on Wednesday night taking part in the news debates condemning the CPI(M).

A few CPI(M) leaders strongly defended the party and took on Seena for saying “baseless” things.

Meanwhile, social media is also buzzing with activity as pro-CPI(M) accounts have begun their defence and are trying to prove Seena wrong.

Seena, the daughter of a retired Army officer, took pride when she said, “Being the daughter of an Army officer, I felt I should speak up and I did that”.

Now all eyes are on the Congress and the BJP who also have taken up the issue of bomb menace in Kannur, which is considered a bastion of the CPI(M). Top leaders like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state party secretary M.V. Govindan and Left convenor E.P. Jayarajan hail from Kannur.(Agency)

RBI to be positioned as model for Global South: Shaktikanta Das

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said that “necessary policy actions” are on the anvil for positioning the Reserve Bank as a model central bank of the Global South.

“As the Reserve Bank approaches its centenary year, we have drawn up strategies that will gear it up to remain future-ready for India’s fast-growing economy,” Das said at the Global Conference on Financial Resilience.

“Our goal is to make the Reserve Bank’s supervision a global model, by building a ‘Through the Cycle’ Risk Assessment Framework with continuous Horizon Scanning and a Holistic Risk Assessment. It also envisages having a more customer-centric framework that protects and promotes customers’ interest by improving the conduct of supervised entities,” he said.

He said that the Reserve Bank has significantly strengthened its supervisory systems, transitioning beyond an entity-focused approach to a more thematic and activity-based approach.

“We now look at the sustainability of business models of banks and NBFCs. Root cause analysis of problems and vulnerabilities is undertaken. Advance action is initiated wherever we notice or smell a crisis,” he remarked.

Das further said that structural changes have been implemented within the Reserve Bank by creating a unified department of supervision to ensure a holistic assessment of the financial sector as well as to analyse the health of multiple entities within a group.

The idea is to enhance the agility and comprehensiveness of supervision. Unconventional methods are also being adopted now. Onsite supervision of Credit Information Companies has been made annual and intense.

As risks evolve and new challenges emerge, the Reserve Bank as a regulator and supervisor constantly focuses on being vigilant, adaptive and proactive with regard to the regulatory frameworks and supervisory systems to safeguard the stability of the financial system, the RBI Governor said.

Over the past few years, the Reserve Bank has undertaken a comprehensive review of regulations under the aegis of the Regulations Review Authority (RRA) 2.0 constituted by it. Apart from the withdrawal of many redundant instructions, the RRA has also made valuable recommendations to ease compliance and reduce the regulatory burden; streamline the reporting mechanism; and bring in more clarity in regulatory instructions, he added.

Das stated that in recent years, the Reserve Bank has also comprehensively restructured the regulatory architecture for banks, NBFCs, Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), Digital lenders, Micro-finance lenders and core investment companies.

Thus, the financial sector regulations are now not only in sync with the changing times but also forward-looking with the required readiness to take further proactive measures as may be necessary.

He also said that India’s domestic financial system is now in a much stronger position characterised by robust capital adequacy, low levels of nonperforming assets, and healthy profitability of banks and NBFCs.(Agency)

‘Suhaagan’ actor Akshay Kharodia likens his Vedant to Ranbir Kapoor’s role in ‘Animal’

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actor Akshay Kharodia has opened up about his return to television with ‘Suhaagan’ and shared that his character Vedant is very similar to Ranbir Kapoor’s role in ‘Animal’.

Akshay said: “My character’s name is Vedant, who has completed his studies abroad but still upholds family values. He is very obedient to his father and is as obsessed with him as Ranbir Kapoor’s character in the film ‘Animal’. Vedant can do anything for his father and shares a similar relationship with his sister.”

“Since his mother left him when he was young, his father has done everything for him, which is why he is so close to his father. Though Vedant is very modern, he possesses traditional Indian family values and wants to keep his family together.”

The actor said that his character supports his family wholeheartedly.

“Like many Indians who prioritise family over their own emotions, Vedant is the same — he supports his family wholeheartedly. He is also a fun-loving guy who enjoys dancing and having a good time. He desires a wife who is modern and not restricted by traditional mindsets.”

Akshay also talked about how it feels to return to television after his break from ‘Pandya Store’.

He shared, “It’s been 11 months since I left ‘Pandya Store’. That was a very tough time for me, but when I got this show, I felt very happy.”

“The bond I had with the ‘Pandya Store’ team is something I am trying to replicate here as well. We used to eat together on the ‘Pandya Store’ set, and I’ve told everyone here that they can come to my room anytime to eat or just sit together.”

When asked what attracted him to the role in ‘Suhaagan’ and what makes this character special or different from his previous roles, Akshay said: “This show is produced by Rashmi Sharma, who has a very good grasp on drama. All her shows have very compelling stories.”

The actor said that his character Dev in ‘Pandya Store’ was very calm and relaxed, but Vedant in ‘Suhaagan’ is quite different.

“He is outspoken and has the freedom to speak without restrictions,” Akshay said.

“However, since he is a person with values, he thinks before he speaks. While Dev was family-oriented, Vedant is modern, accountable, and responsible for everything he does.”(Agency)

Tech startups raise $4.1 billion in 1st half of 2024, India remains 4th-highest funded globally

Bengaluru, June 20, 2024
Indian tech startups raised $4.1 billion in the first half this year (January to June to date), a 4 per cent increase from $3.96 billion in the second half of 2023, a report showed on Thursday, as the country witnessed three unicorns along with 17 IPOs in this period.

India remains the fourth-highest funded country globally in the tech startup landscape. The US led in overall funding volumes, followed by the UK and China, according to Tracxn, a leading market intelligence platform.

The month of April saw the highest monthly funding ($862 million) in the first half of 2024.

Bengaluru led the space in terms of total funds raised, followed by Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Retail, enterprise applications and fintech were the top-performing sectors in H1 2024 in this space, the report mentioned.

“Despite four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since H1 2022, we are now showing signs of stabilization, going upward. India’s robust performance as the fourth-highest funded country in the tech startup ecosystem is encouraging,” said Neha Singh, Co-Founder, Tracxn.

Seed-stage funding increased to $455 million, up by 6.5 per cent from H2 2023. Early-stage startups maintained a steady funding amount of $1.3 billion, consistent with H2 2023.

Late-stage funding rose to $2.4 billion, marking a 3.8 per cent increase from H2 2023.

The first half of 2024 witnessed eight funding rounds surpassing $100 million, such as Flipkart’s $350 million round led by Google; Apollo 24|7’s $297 million round and Meesho’s $275 million funding round.

Logistics company Porter was the third unicorn in the first half of this year, after AI startup Krutrim and B2B SaaS company Perfios.

Some of the top companies that went public were TBO, TGIF Agribusiness, Radiowalla and Trust Fintech.(Agency)

Big success in anti-terror Ops, says Army on killing of two terrorists in J&K

Srinagar, June 20, 2024
Security forces said on Thursday that the killing of two terrorists in J&K’s Baramulla district was a big success in anti-terrorism operations.

Two terrorists were killed on Wednesday in Haripora village of Baramulla’s Rafiabad area during an encounter.

They were identified as Usman and Umar from whose possession a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered.

Security forces said that Usman had been active in the Valley since 2020.

Addressing a media conference in the Pohrupet area of Baramulla district, the Commander of 7 sector Rashtriya Rifles, Brigadier Deepak Kumar said, “High operational momentum of security forces is bearing good results. For the last two days, there were continuous inputs about the presence of terrorists in Sopore’s Rafiabad area.”

“On June 19, specific information was generated by the J&K Police about the presence of terrorists in a house at Hadipora, Rafiabad, after which the Army, police and CRPF launched a joint operation.

After zeroing in the house, two terrorists were eliminated in an encounter. The two slain terrorists were affiliated with the LeT outfit and have been identified as Usman and Umar.”

“The killing of two terrorists is a big success for the security forces. Since the past few weeks, there is a high operational momentum which is bearing good results in the form of elimination of terrorists,” Brigadier Deepak Kumar.

The Army officer was accompanied by senior police and CRPF officers during the media briefing.(Agency)

T20 World Cup: Arshdeep to be an important factor in India-Afghanistan clash, says Robin Singh

New Delhi, June 20, 2024
Robin Singh, the former India all-rounder, believes left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh could become an important factor for the side ahead of starting their 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday night.

Since 2022, Arshdeep has been the find for India in T20Is, more so with the new ball. He picked ten wickets to be India’s leading wicket-taker in 2022 T20 World Cup.

In the ongoing tournament, Arshdeep has been decisive with his left-arm angle and ability to move the ball both ways as well as produce a sharp bouncer, seen from his seven wickets in three games – four of which came against USA.

“I think Arshdeep will be important in the match, because especially in Barbados, where the wind is a factor. So, considering that he takes the ball in, as well as he takes the ball away from the right-handed batter as well as the left-hand batter, which makes him an important factor for sure in the match,” said Robin in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Another pleasing factor for India has been vice-captain Hardik Pandya rediscovering his bowling rhythm after a lacklustre IPL 2024, to take seven wickets in three games so far. Robin, who’s played 136 ODIs for India, thinks Hardik’s good bowling returns are a big plus for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

“I think (its good) on several accounts. One is personally, he is bowling close to his best. It’s good to see him taking up wickets. More importantly, it’s good to see him fitting into an Indian squad, where he makes a huge difference with the balance of the team and performing for the side.

That is the main thing, as at the end of the day, you are playing for India. So, you need to go out there and give your best. I think he has stepped up to the plate.”

Having fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the peak of his power also adds to India’s advantage, feels Robin. “It’s almost like having an extra bowler in your side, if I may say so. So, it gives you that huge advantage. It also puts a fear among batsmen who are going to play against him.”

“So, it gives him that advantage as well. Importantly, he himself is a super confident guy. He is able to deliver at any given point in time. So, that is the most critical thing. I hope that he does the same for the tournament.”

In the bowling department, with Axar Patel doing an underrated but crucial job for India with both bat and ball, there’s pressure on Ravindra Jadeja to step up in Super Eights. Robin signed off by expressing confidence over Jadeja coming good in the decisive phase of the competition.

“See, in all these things, this is the format of T20. Sometimes you do a lot, sometimes you don’t get an opportunity. But, it’s important to stay confident. I’m pretty sure, when the opportunity arises, Jadeja will deliver. He’s been somebody who’s a seasoned campaigner. So, these guys really know how to step up and it’s important.”(Agency)

Rajeev Khandelwal says Yoga is real workout, enhances potential of other workouts

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Ahead of International Yoga Day on Friday, actor Rajeev Khandelwal, a sceptic, shared that his journey into the world of yoga has been nothing short of life-changing.

“I always treated yoga as a form of exercise for those who are lethargic and don’t want to indulge in the ‘real’ workout,” said Rajeev.

The actor said: “As I stepped into the world of yoga, I realised how wrong I was. If I were to compare the two, I would say yoga is the real workout, which also enhances the potential of other workouts.”

The actor emphasised that yoga has not only improved his physical fitness but has also significantly boosted his performance in other physical activities.

“Yoga has made my running better. My gym workouts give me much better results by cutting down the chances of injuries.”

Among the myriad of yoga poses, Rajeev’s favourite is the headstand.

“I love headstands. They give me a sense of balance between my mind and body. I have mastered the art of doing it and can show off the pose anywhere, anytime,” he said.

His most transformative experience with yoga has been through the practice of pranayama, the ancient art of controlled breathing.

“For me, the most transformative experience has been the breathing techniques. I was never the type who would even try it,” he confessed.

“Now I wake up early only to do my pranayama. It kept me going even when I was Covid-positive. I didn’t take any medication. I just did my pranayama thrice a day.”(Agency)

RBI Governor urges banks to adopt AI for reducing risk of fraud

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday underlined the importance for banks and NBFCs to adopt advanced and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to prevent financial fraud.

Addressing the Global Conference on Financial Resilience here, the RBI Governor said, “Integrating advanced and emerging technologies such as AI, ML and big data analytics in organisational functioning can transform the way financial institutions operate.

AI and ML can enhance predictive analytics and enable banks and NBFCs to identify potential risks and trends more accurately. These technologies can improve fraud detection by recognising unusual patterns and transactions in real time. Thus, they can protect the institutions and their customers from financial crimes and frauds.”

“As the financial sector gets increasingly digitised, adoption of advanced technologies can significantly strengthen the ability of banks and NBFCs to withstand and respond to various risks. It has to be, however, ensured that these technologies are secure, reliable and aligned with the institution’s overall strategic goals,” Das said.

He observed that operational efficiency can be improved through the automation of routine tasks, which reduces human error and frees up resources for more strategic activities. Robotic process automation (RPA) can handle high-volume and repetitive tasks, such as data entry and transaction processing, more quickly and accurately than humans, the RBI Governor added.

Das also pointed out that as financial institutions increasingly rely on advanced technologies to enhance their operations, the dependence on third-party vendors and service providers may increase.

A vendor’s inability to deliver services reliably can directly impact the regulated entity’s operations and customer service. Therefore, thorough due diligence becomes necessary before selecting third-party vendors, he added.

The RBI Governor also observed that while the pursuit of business growth is important for banks and NBFCs, it should never come at the expense of taking on unacceptable risks.

Robust risk mitigants are essential for ensuring the long-term success and resilience of a regulated entity as well as the overall financial system, he added.

Das also highlighted the importance of ethics in the governance of financial institutions which involves compliance with laws and regulations, both in letter and spirit; pursuit of sustainable business practices; and avoidance of mindless pursuit of bottom lines.(Agency)

‘Mirzapur 3’ trailer promises bigger doses of blood, gore, deceit and drama

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
The trailer for the upcoming season of the fan-favourite streaming series ‘Mirzapur’ was unveiled on Thursday at a five-star property in the Bandra area of Mumbai.

The trailer highlights the battle for control over the Purvanchal region, with the town of Mirzapur as the epicentre of power. It shows Ali Fazal’s character, Guddu, breaking down the statue of Pankaj Tripathi’s character, Kaleen Bhaiyya, at a busy intersection in the titular city as he announces, “Kaleen Bhaiyya gone, Guddu Pandit on.”

The fight becomes fierce, with different contenders eyeing the seat as they play politics and carry out violence to tip the scales in their favour. Like previous seasons, the series this time around is going to have innovative ways of murder and killing as per the trailer.

The show also stars Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Anjumm Shharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chadha, Meghna Malik, and Manu Rishi Chadha.

Set in India’s hinterland, ‘Mirzapur’ narrates the fictional story of the city of Mirzapur.

Director and Executive Producer Gurmmeet Singh shared: “The first two seasons of ‘Mirzapur’ proved to be game changers for the crime thriller genre in the streaming space in India.

With ‘Mirzapur 3’, we strive to build on the momentum and take the narrative to a whole new level, exploring new facets and dimensions of each character’s life replete with new plot twists. We are incredibly excited for fans to witness the showdown for Mirzapur’s throne unfold in the new season.”

He further mentioned, “The stakes have gone notches higher, and the canvas has surely become bigger. After a hiatus of three and a half years, we, just like our viewers, cannot wait for the global premiere of ‘Mirzapur 3’.”

Produced by Excel Media & Entertainment and directed by Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer, the series is set to stream on Prime Video from July 5.(Agency)

‘Ishq Jabariya’ actress Siddhi Sharma’s favourite Yoga pose is ‘Trikonasana’; it makes her flexible

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actress Siddhi Sharma has shared insights into her daily yoga routine, revealing that Trikonasana is her favourite pose and discussing how it helps her manage stress amid her busy schedule.

Siddhi, who portrays Gulki in ‘Ishq Jabariya’, opened up about her personal journey and the profound impact yoga has had on her life.

The actress said: “I dedicate 15 minutes every morning to practising yoga, which significantly aids in managing my stress and navigating my busy schedule.

Trikonasana is among my favourite poses, as it stretches my legs, back, and hips, enhancing my flexibility and mobility. This daily yoga practice contributes greatly to maintaining my overall physical and mental well-being.”

Discussing the advantages of maintaining a regular yoga routine, she emphasised: “Regular yoga practice offers numerous benefits. It enhances energy levels, makes you feel more lively throughout the day, and contributes to overall health and mental clarity. Even a few minutes of daily yoga can significantly improve sleep quality, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready for the day ahead.”

“Just as they say, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, I believe, ‘A few minutes of yoga keeps stress away’. Yoga has truly changed my life, bringing me a sense of balance and inner peace that has positively impacted my life.

As an actor, yoga has played a crucial role in my career by helping me stay grounded, focused, and emotionally connected to my roles, ensuring I bring authenticity and depth to my performances,” she added.

‘Ishq Jabariya’ also stars Kamya Panjabi and Lakshya Khurana.

The show is a romantic drama set in Begusarai, Bihar.

The story follows Gulki, a determined young woman who dreams of becoming an air hostess. Despite facing cruelty from her stepmother, Gulki holds on to her dreams. Her journey is full of surprises that could lead her to discover love in unexpected places.

It airs on Sun Neo.(Agency)