Jr NTR is currently in Los Angeles to attend the Golden Globes where ‘RRR’ has been nominated in two categories. Before walking the red carpet at the gala night, Man of Masses attended a screening at TCL Chinese Theatre where he received a grand welcome from his fans.
NTR Jr was seen smiling and interacting with swarms of fans who were heard saying ‘Jai NTR!’. Jr NTR’s fan clubs also shared some pictures from the location in which the fans have painted the Hollywood town red with banners, billboards and 3 LED moving trucks bearing the actor’s name.
3 LED moving trucks and 25 billboards across #BeverlyHills
Blockbusters ‘RRR’, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Kantara’ and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ have made it to the Oscars 2023 reminder list. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) released a remainder list of 301 feature films eligible for the Oscars 2023.
Previously, Pan Nalin’s Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ was announced as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2023. Apart from them, the list also features Indian films ‘Me Vasantrao’ and ‘Tuzhya Sathi Kahihi’, R Madhavan’s ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’, ‘Iravin Nizhal’ and Kannada movie ‘Vikrant Rona’.
According to Variety, an American Meida company, the 9,579 eligible voting members will begin filling out their ballots on January 12 and ballots will close on January 17, 2023.
The official Oscar nominations will be announced January 24, 2023 with the ceremony on March 12, 2023 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
RRR is a fictional story based on the lives of two Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Ram Charan and Jr NTR played lead roles, respectively. The film collected over Rs 1200 crore worldwide. Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran also starred in the film.
Jr NTR will begin shooting for his upcoming NTR30, directed by Koratala Siva of Janatha Garage. The film is slated to release on April 5, 2024. He will also be seen in ‘NTR31’ which will be directed by KGF director Prashanth Neel.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Online scams, often known as internet scams, have been an issue since the early days of the internet, but they have become more prevalent over time, with scammers constantly developing new ways to defraud people. Worryingly, our smartphones have increased our vulnerability to these attacks. In an attempt to collect financial or other vital personal information, cybercriminals may approach potential victims via personal or business email accounts, social networking sites, dating apps, or other techniques. Many effective online scams have the same outcome: the victim loses their money.
A Twitter user Geetika Rustagi recently fell prey to one such online scam. The user, who is the community engagement editor at Hindustan Times, shared her ordeal in a long thread of tweets posted on January 10, Tuesday, wherein she detailed how she was scammed by a man pretending to be an employee of FedEx, an American courier service company.
JANHIT MEIN JAARI – HOW I ALMOST GOT SCAMMED – #Jamtara Real Life Incident. #threadstory
Today morning at around 09:45 AM, I got a call from 964675397 ‘FedEx’ customer care saying a package attached to my Aadhar ID had been flagged because it contained illegal items. (1/n)
Rustagi began by describing how she received a call this morning from a number claiming to be from FedEx ‘customer service,’ alerting her that a package linked to her Aadhar ID had been flagged because it contained some illegal items.
She was informed that the package, which they claimed was sent on December 13, 2022, from Mumbai, besides other items contained 800 gms of weed. Here the Twitter user confirmed that she had not sent any such parcel as she did not even live in Mumbai.
Rustagi was told that her call would be patched to the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell since her parcel contained illegal items. She panicked, a natural psychological reaction in such situations that scammers capitalize on.
The victim continued revealing how the so-called Fed Ex customer care transferred her call to the department SI Naresh Gupta Banerjee, the ID of whom was shared with her on Whatsapp. Here again, there is no proof whether this fellow actually belongs to the department or not.
The ID of the so-called Mumbai Police Cyber Cell SI shared with the victim
The so-called SI tried to intimidate the victim by informing her that her statement was being recorded. He also told her that his department had received CCTV footage of the warehouse where the parcel was dropped.
The victim revealed how the SI pretended to talk to his colleagues to find out whether her Aadhar was being misused. He then went on to tell her that her Aadhar was being used to open several bank accounts across SBI, Yes Bank and Citibank Bank.
“Several millions of dollars are being laundered through these accounts, and your ID is being used for hawala transactions. All this is being orchestrated by someone called Gerold, who has been arrested by Mumbai Police. These screen grabs were shared by the above guy,” she wrote.
Several millions of dollars are being laundered through these accounts, and your ID is being used for hawala transactions. All this is being orchestrated by someone called Gerold, who has been arrested by Mumbai Police. These screen grabs were shared by the above guy. (9/n) pic.twitter.com/sbOZSQIN2a
‘Confidentiality’ document sent to intimidate the victim into silence
Giving further insights into how the fraudster skilfully convinced her into believing his deception, Geetika Rustagi wrote how the person sent her a document, which made her a party to the case and barred her from speaking to anyone.
He then asked me how many bank accounts I had and how much money I had. Have I received any big amount lately? Have you been contacted by anyone to open a bank account? etc He then assured me the case would be closed in 20-30 minutes if I cooperate,” she tweeted.
The scamster then asked the victim to transfer Rs 95,499 to them to verify whether her accounts have been compromised and verify account details. They assured her that they would refund the money in 15 minutes. They told her to remain on the call till the transaction came through.
When the victim hesitated to transfer the large sum and asked for a guarantee, the fraudster immediately sent her a copy of a so-called acknowledgement receipt she would get after she transfers the amount.
Scamsters used a counterfeit government stamp to convince their legitimacy
A closer examination of the so-called acknowledgement receipt reveals how the fraudsters utilised a stamp similar to the actual government stamp to make it appear to be a legitimate government document. Not only this, but the receipt also has a watermark of the State Emblem, which the Government of India uses as a stamp on its official documents for official usage.
When the victim declined to send the money, the imposter threatened to freeze her bank accounts for 2-3 years, she said. He also tried to threaten her by telling her that she had to pay or come in person to the Mumbai department. The fraudster hung up on the victim after she agreed to travel to Mumbai.
The victim here was fortunate to avoid the trap, but not everyone is. Despite the police busting multiple cyber crimes, many fraudsters continue to trick unsuspecting individuals into giving away their money and personal information. We come across these things on a daily basis and yet some fall for such a trap despite regular warnings from banks, service providers, and the central bank.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cybercrime increased by 306% in India between 2016 and 2020. Furthermore, due to the number of cybercrimes, roughly 66% of cases recorded each year are pending investigation, putting the onus on each netizen to protect themselves from such cybercrimes.
A controversy erupted in Kerala over the portrayal of a person dressed in an Islamic attire as a terrorist in the recently concluded 61st State School Arts Festival in Kozhikode. The Kerala state government ordered an inquiry into the matter in the wake of complaints stating that the portrayal branded a particular community as terrorists.
Kerala education minister V Sivankutty instructed the Director of Public Education to investigate the matter and also proscribed the performing arts society involved in the incident from participating in future state functions. The education minister has asked for a report in a week.
The theme song that triggered the controversy involved an Army personnel arresting a Muslim man playing the role of a terrorist. The Indian Union Muslim League and other outfits objected to the portrayal, spurring further outrage over the issue.
Defending his government, the education minister said the depiction of a community in a particular manner was not the official stance of his regime. He further said that the government was mulling over whether the cultural group that staged the theme song needed to be barred from programmes hosted by the General Education department.
Apparently, the theme song was screened by a state government committee. However, Sivankutty said that it was enacted before the panel without the Islamic dress that was used on stage.
The minister also called controversies over the food served at the arts fete unnecessary and denounced critical remarks from many against chef Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri who he claimed had an excellent career record. The General Education department has already clarified that the arts fete celebrates diversity, Sivankutty said, adding that there was a clear ‘agenda’ at works to stoke controversy over the food served at the event.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Indian diaspora from Gulf in 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Tuesday and appreciated their role and contribution in taking India’s partnership in the Gulf to a higher level.
Jaishankar stated that the community had also acknowledged the higher importance that the Modi Government had given to the Gulf when he interacted with the ecstatic diaspora.
“Glad to meet with our enthusiastic community from UAE and Bahrain. Appreciated their contribution in taking India’s partnership in the Gulf to a higher level. They also recognized the greater priority that the Modi Government has accorded to the Gulf,” the External Affairs Minister tweeted.
Indian diaspora from the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain participated in the 3-day convention of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
At the valedictory session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, Jaishankar said that Indian citizens abroad have an admirable reputation in their respective societies as a result of their contributions, successes, and accomplishments.
“Representing the best of Indian talent and creativity in foreign lands, our diaspora has demonstrated the exceptional quality of dedication, commitment, and perseverance in many fields. Their contributions and achievements and successes have earned them an enviable reputation in their respective societies,” Jaishankar said during the address at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore.
Jaishankar also added that the convention coincides with India’s celebration of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and entry into the Amrit Kaal and that it is time to honor the sacrifices and triumphs of the past as the nation gets ready for its aspirations for the future.
Regarding the Youth PBD, the External Affairs Minister said that it is an attempt to capture the optimism of the next generation and that PM Modi’s address provided everyone with the vision and direction for the journey that we as a country are about to take.
“Our diaspora brothers and sisters will always have a special place in our hearts, not only as extended family members but as responsible stakeholders in India’s development,” President Droupadi Murmu said during her address at 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.
Moreover, during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Indore, President Droupadi Murmu conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards to the recipients.
Reena Vinod Pushkarna from Israel in Business/Community Welfare, Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotan from Japan in Education, Prof. Sanjeev Mehta from Bhutan in Education, Prof. Jagadish Chennupati from Australia Science & Technology/ Education, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from USA in Business/Community Welfare were among many who were to receive awards from President Murmu, according to the official statement of Ministry of External Affairs.
The convention was inaugurated on Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also released a commemorative postal stamp ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’.
The PM also inaugurated the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle’.The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the Government of India’s flagship event and offers a crucial forum for interaction between the diaspora and Indians living abroad.
The theme of this PBD Convention is ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’. Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 countries registered for the PBD Convention.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Tuesday (January 10), controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan appeared before a Romanian court to appeal against their 30-day arrest extension for alleged involvement in human trafficking, rape, and organised crime.
In pictures that have now surfaced on social media, Andrew Tate was seen wearing handcuffs and holding a copy of the Quran. The 36-year-old British citizen was arrested on December 29 near Bucharest along with his brother and two other Romanian women.
Their arrest was earlier extended by a judge due to the probability of them leaving Romania and settling in countries, which do not allow extradition. Despite the serious nature of the allegations against Andrew Tate, his Muslim fans prayed to Allah to facilitate an early release.
‘Actor’ Tam Khan tweeted in support, “Free the Tates. MashAllah brother Andrew Tate walking with the Holy Quran in his hands. May Allah protect them.”
“Throughout history, the Quran is the only thing that strengthens a man inside jail! May Allah help him,” tweeted another Muslim fanboy of Andrew Tate.
Through history, the Quran is the only thing that strengths a man inside jail! May Allah help him.
Andrew Tate is a four-time World kickboxing champion and is ‘well known’ for his misogynistic way of thinking. The former kickboxer rose to prominence in 2016 after being booted from the British TV show Big Brother due to a video that showed him assaulting a lady.
He is also said to have converted to Islam in October 2020. Tate, who was born in Chicago and raised in Luton, previously hailed Islam as “the last true religion in the world.” He later verified that he had become a Muslim after a video of him praying inside a mosque went viral online.
Andrew Tate arrested in connection with a human trafficking and rape investigation
Andrew Tate was jailed last month as part of a human trafficking and rape investigation. Tate’s residence in Bucharest, where he was held alongside his brother Tristan, was raided by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). The brothers’ imprisonment was verified by their lawyer on Friday.
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) issued a statement and said that four suspects, two British citizens, and two Romanian citizens were suspected of being part of a criminal group focused on human trafficking. “The four suspects … appear to have created an organized crime group with the purpose of recruiting, housing, and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content meant to be seen on specialized websites for a cost,” the prosecutor said.
On January 10, Congress MP and General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, avoided commenting on the fuel price after increasing diesel prices in Himachal Pradesh. At a Press Conference during Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY), Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Bhupinder Singh Hooda addressed the media and answered a few questions. However, when a journalist asked about the diesel price hike in Himachal Pradesh, Ramesh got irritated and asked the journalist to question Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
The journalist asked, “You talk about the increasing price of petrol and diesel. However, after your government came to power in Himachal Pradesh, the diesel price was increased by Rs 3.” Jairam Ramesh was apparently confused as he could not understand what the journalist was asking. He said, “But what is your question?”
The journalist explained and said, “Sir, you are against inflation, but your government has increased diesel prices by Rs 3. Will it not cause inflation?” Ramesh got irked by the question and said, “Then ask our Chief Minister. Why are you asking me.”
On Sunday, January 8, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh increased the value-added tax (VAT) on diesel from 6.40 per cent to 9.96 per cent per litre. With an increased VAT, diesel prices would surge by 3 rupees per litre. Earlier, the VAT on diesel was Rs 4.40 per litre, however, after the Congress government’s decision, it would go up to Rs 7.40 per litre.
The newly-elected Congress government has forgotten its pre-poll promise that the Congress party if voted to power, will not increase fuel prices in the state.
Ahead of assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party had promised multiple freebies to the people of Himachal Pradesh if voted to power. Some of the freebies promised by Congress included 300 units of free electricity to household consumers and financial assistance of Rs 1500 per month to all women aged between 18 and 60.
When asked by the media about the availability of funds to provide for the freebies announced, Congress party’s election observer for Himachal Pradesh, Bhupesh Baghel, said that the Congress party would make arrangements for it in the same way as it has been doing in other party-ruled states. He added that his party would not increase petrol and diesel prices for the same.
“We will make arrangements in the same way that other party-ruled states do. It will not be accomplished by raising the prices of petrol and diesel, as the incumbent government has done”, Baghel said.
Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are planning to attack Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a report published in CNN News18 said.
Chiefly aimed at drawing optics, the terror outfits plan to bring in ammunition and infiltrate suicide bombers while India’s porous borders with Nepal, the report quoted sources as saying.
The Ram Temple, ahead of its due completion date, is a major target. The report further said that terrorists seek to foment Hindu-Muslim divide with their attack on the Ram Mandir.
The report cites consistent failures of Pakistan’s Intelligence Agency ISI, especially in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, as a trigger for giving its approval for a targeted attack against Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The Pakistani army and security establishment are reportedly frustrated with the Indian Armed Forces’ continuing vigilance along the border and their successful handling of the infiltration bids by the Pak-sponsored terrorists. The infiltration tunnels have been identified and closed, and the narcotics smuggling has also been clamped down, said sources.
With the conflict shifting from Pakistan’s eastern border to the western front, as clashes between the Pakistani army and Taliban erupt, the ISI is losing its relevance and stronghold in the country’s security apparatus, which it seeks to restore by planning a terror attack in India.
According to the sources, as Ram Temple is an important issue for both Hindus and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre, the ISI believes any big or small attack on the revered place might make them relevant again, the CNN report said, citing sources.
The threat comes in the wake of earlier reports that suggested that Pakistan has prepared a new blueprint to spread terror in India. The ISI has elaborate plans to boost terror funding by the way of smuggling narcotics and embarking upon an ambitious disinformation campaign to target the Modi government. The intelligence agencies have said that narcotics is one of the biggest routes through which ISI wants to once again develop its stranglehold in Kashmir and inflame separatist sentiments in the Valley against the Indian government and the Indian Armed Forces.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to the Chief Operation Officer of Go First airlines as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations.
On Monday, Delhi-bound Go First flight G8-116 took off from Bengaluru leaving behind 55 passengers at Bangalore airport. The matter has now come to the notice of DGCA. The airline has been given two weeks’ time to submit its reply to DGCA and based on that further action will be taken.
In a statement, the aviation regulatory body mentioned that the incident report was sought by DGCA from Go First on Monday. “After perusal of the reply submitted by Go First through email dated Tuesday, prima facie it emerges that Go First failed to comply with the provision specified at para 9 and 13 of CAR Section 3, Series C, Part II issued by DGCA resulted in violation of Para (1A) of Rule 134 read with Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Go First has failed to comply with the provision specified in para 5.2 of ATC 02 of 2019,” the statement said.
“As per the above-referred regulations, the concerned airline is responsible to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling and also ensure that all the ground handling staff engaged in passenger handling undergo periodic soft skill training for sensitization, courtesy, behaviour and procedures for assisting the passengers,” it added.
Many air passengers took to Twitter to register their complaints against Go First on Monday after Flight G8-116 took off for Delhi from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport around 6.30 am, while about 55 passengers were kept waiting in one of the buses as the flight took off.
The passengers were taken in four buses to the aircraft. The passengers who left the Bangalore airport were reportedly accommodated on another flight that left four hours later, around 10 am.
Meanwhile, Go First said it initiated an inquiry into the incident. Further, the airline said it has decided to offer all affected passengers one free ticket for travel on any domestic route in the next 12 months.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to an inadvertent oversight in the reconciliation of flight G8 116, from Bengaluru to Delhi. Passengers were accommodated on alternate airlines to Delhi and onward to other destinations. We deeply appreciate and value your patience for bearing with us,” said Go First statement.
“In line with our philosophy of customer centricity, the airline has decided to offer all affected passengers one free ticket for travel on any domestic sector in the next 12 months. The airline has initiated an inquiry into the incident and the matter is being investigated. All concerned staff off the roaster till the inquiry is going on,” added the airline.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Monday (January 9), a primary school in Mayureswar block in the Birbhum district of West Bengal served snake-infested dal in amid-day meal, rendering 20 out of the total 53 students sick.
While some children were admitted to the Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital, others were rushed to the Saithiyan block hospital. The incident took place at the Mandalpur Prathamik Vidyalaya.
The snake was discovered in the vessel containing lentils. By the time the school staffer took notice of the reptile, several students had already consumed the food. Others were immediately stopped from eating their mid-day meal.
“We had to rush the children to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital as they started vomiting,” a kitchen staffer toldIndia Today. Reportedly, all the hospitalised children have now been discharged, barring one who is said to be out of danger.
Once the news of the incident spread, villagers gheraoed the school Headmaster, identified as Nimai Chandra Dey, and vandalised his two-wheeler. On receiving information about the matter, the police rushed to the spot and rescued him from the angry mob.
The parents of the affected children have squarely blamed the cook and the teacher, responsible for supervising the mid-day meal preparation. Block Development Officer (BDO) Dipanjan Jana informed that the district inspector of primary schools will visit the Mandalpur Prathamik Vidyalaya on Tuesday (January 10).
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Primary Education Board Praloy Naik visited the hospitals and took cognisance of the matter. He remarked, “There has been carelessness. Those responsible for cooking and serving food to children should be more alert.”
Parents of Muslim students protest over ‘Jhatka’ chicken served in mid-day meal
Earlier this month, family members of Muslim students of a school in the east Medinipur district of West Bengal staged a protest against an alleged attempt to ‘desecrate’ their faith by feeding ‘Jhatka’ chicken to Muslim students.
The reported incident took place in Mahisadal Raj High School in east Medinipur. The parents of Muslim students demanded the resignation of the school principal for serving non-halal meat to Muslim students.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Hindu activists in Karnataka have objected to the conversion of a residential house in Sarathinaga into a mosque titled ‘Fathima Masjid’. The land on which the house was constructed in the Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency has been handed over to the Waqf Board.
A meeting between the Hindu activists and locals was held over the matter. In his complaint to the authorities, Patil demanded that the district administration and corporation should vacate the mosque. He stated that a residential house was converted into a mosque illegally.
Locals have alleged that the district authorities turned a blind eye to the conversion. They further stated that the authorities were aware of the illegalities but did not take any action under pressure from the Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar. They filed complaints multiple times over the year, but no action was taken.
Pramod Muthalik, the founder of Sri Ram Sena, said that if the mosque was built per the law, no one would have any objection. He said, “[I have] no objection to building a mosque according to law. But, I can’t agree with converting a residential house into a mosque”. He gave one week’s deadline to the authorities to take action against the mosque.
The locals told IANS that the original property owner gifted it to Maulana Abdul Kalam Educational and Charitable Society. However, it was later converted into a mosque. The corporation issued a notice regarding the license violation and carrying out religious activities at a residential house. On the other hand, the Muslim leaders of the area have maintained that the property belongs to the Waqf Board.
Once a Waqf always a Waqf
Since the ownership of the property is transferred to Allah from the Waqf, and property can not be taken back from Allah, once a property becomes Waqf, it will always stay Waqf. It has been seen in several cases over the years. Details of such cases can be seen here and detailed reports on Waqf Board can be seen here.
