Accelerator Programme: New Accelerator Programme By Gvfl And Brinc | Ahmedabad News

Ahmedabad: GVFL Limited, a venture capital firmand Brinc, a global venture acceleratorhave announced the launch of the A4X accelerator programme.
Designed to support startups across four strategic themes, the programme is set to leverage growth in Gujarat and the rest of India. The programme will cover consumer, industry and enterprise, emerging tech and sustainability.
Kamal Bansal, MD of GVFL, said: “The programmeis poised to be a catalyst for startups venturing into these diverse domains.” tnn
We also published the following articles recently

Janaspandana programmes to be held in city from Dec
Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur announces Janaspandana programmes for 60 wards of MCC in December; inaugural function at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall. Complaints addressed include bus bay closure, sewage seepage into Gujjarakere, lack of display boards by contractors, dumping of old vehicles near crematorium, and careless disposal of tender coconut shells. Mayor promises spot inspections and necessary actions. MCC awaits rain relief funds for pending works.

Private equity and venture capital inflows dive 73% YoY in November
November saw a record low in private equity and venture capital investments, with only $800 million invested from 51 deals. This marked a 73% decline from the previous year and a 68% fall from October. The number of deals also decreased, with only 2 mega deals recorded compared to 6 last year.

Black carbon accelerated the melting of snow and ice in critical regions: Report
The report ‘The Case for Action on Black Carbon’ launched at COP28 emphasizes the urgent need to reduce black carbon emissions. Black carbon accelerates snow and ice melting in the Arctic, Himalayas, and Andes, disrupts monsoon patterns in India and West Africa, and exacerbates heatwaves. It is a major contributor to outdoor and household air pollution. The report highlights the importance of integrating black carbon reduction strategies into national climate policies and recommends including black carbon targets in revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2025. Funding is needed to support research and action on black carbon.

Read More

Model Code Of Conduct: Amid tight security, counting of votes begins in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Amid tight security, counting of votes polled in the November 30 Telangana Assembly elections began at 8 am on Sunday. Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were taken out from the well-protected strong rooms and placed at the counting centres where police have deployed a 3-tier security ring.
Every counting centre has 14 tables except for six constituencies where the number of polling stations is more than 500, and at such places 28 counting tables will be used.
At 8am, postal ballots were taken up first for counting. After 30 minutes, counting of votes stored in EVMs follows, officials said.
A voter turnout of 71.34 per cent of the eligible 3.26 crore electors was recorded in elections to the 119-member Legislative Assembly on November 30 which passed off peacefully, barring a few minor incidents.
A clear picture on whether the voters gave the thumbs up to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS regime for a third term or prefer the “six guarantees” of the Congress or want the BJP’s BC chief minister, will emerge by afternoon.
Whether there is a fractured mandate, will also be known by around that time.
As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray in the elections, including BRS supremo Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao.
Ramarao said in a post on ‘X’, “hattrick loading 3.0. Get ready to celebrate guys,” indicating BRS will triumph again.
The BRS fielded candidates in all 119 seats. The BJP and Janasena contested in 111 and 8 seats respectively in a pre-poll pact while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI and fought from 118.
The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.
CM KCR contested from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy- so did Revanth Reddy, from Kodangal and Kamareddy. The BJP fielded its MLA, Etala Rajender, from Gajwel, besides Huzurabad, where he is the incumbent legislator.

Read More

Son Of A Gun For Feature | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Son Of A Gun, who had easily won the feature event on the opening day of the Mumbai Season before the race was declared null and void, appears best bet in the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup, feature of Sunday’s races at the Mahalaxmi racecourse. He is likely to win it from Joaquin.
There are seven races scheduled with the first starting at 2pm.
Selections: 1. Gateway of India Plate (1000m): Nelson River 1, Sentinel 2. 2. Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup (1200m): Son Of A Gun 1, Joaquin 2. 3. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (VI Bart) Trophy (1000m): Field Of Dreams 1, Esconido 2. 4. Sir Rahimtoola Chinoy Trophy (1800m): Sea The Sun 1, Geographique 2. 5. Director General of Police Trophy (1600m): Endurance 1, Kariena 2. 6. Anne Wright Trophy (1200m): Fighton 1, Generosity 2. 7. Raza Ali Plate (1200m): Charming Star 1, Silver Steps 2.Day’s best: Endurance.
We also published the following articles recently

Horse Racing: Christofle best for feature event
Eleven Class II runners, including Pesi Shroff-schooled Christofle and Emperor Roderic, will compete in the A Campbell Trophy, the feature event of the Sundays Mumbai races. In the Fedora Plate, Goldiva and Lord Murphy are the top contenders. The Bejan Bharucha Plate will see Bugatti and Daianne as the main contenders. Dream Alliance and Julius are the favorites in the J M Shah & C M Shah Gold Trophy. Littorio and Kanya Rashi are the top contenders in the Dr. Jagjit Singh Trophy. Champagne Smile and Nobility are the main contenders in the VR Menon Plate. King’s Retreat and Bubbly Boy are the favorites in the Captain G Hall Trophy. Dream Alliance is the day’s best pick.

Feet on World Cup trophy: Mitchell Marsh ‘won’t mind repeating’ the controversial act
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh responds to the controversy surrounding his gesture of resting his feet on the World Cup trophy, stating that he does not find it disrespectful. Despite criticism from Indian fans, Marsh says there was no disrespect intended in the photo posted by Captain Pat Cummins. Marsh also expresses his willingness to repeat the gesture if given the chance. The picture, which went viral on social media, drew negative reactions from Indian fans, including pacer Mohammed Shami. Marsh hopes that in the future, major series won’t be scheduled immediately after ICC tournaments to allow winning players to spend time with their families.

Shardul Thakur to play 2 matches for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Shardul Thakur, Mumbai’s pace-bowling all-rounder, will play in two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Saurashtra and Tripura. He is likely to then leave for the South Africa tour, where he could be picked for either the India A side or the Indian team. Thakur was recently released by Kolkata Knight Riders and may be available in the IPL auction. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association has decided to grant free entry to spectators for the Indian women’s team’s matches against England and Australia at the Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium next month.

Read More

Anastasia: Anastasia, Schmidt To Vie For Title | Ahmedabad News

Ahmedabad: Russia’s Anastasia Sukhotina defeated another higher-seeded player on way to reaching the final of the ITF W$15K tournament being played on the hard courts of Ahmedabad City Tennis Foundation (ACTF).
The sixth-seeded Russian had the full measure of fourth seed Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty in the semifinal as she triumphed 6-3, 6-2. The other semifinal between fifth seed Antonia Schmidtof Germany and Tanisha Kashyap was a close contest.The German won the first set 6-3 but Tanisha fought back to claim the second set in tie-break 7-6 (7-1). In the third set, Tanisha led 3-1 but the German fought back to level the set at 3-3 before taking the match by winning the set 6-4. Rashmikaa didn’t go empty-handed as she and Vaidehee Chaudhari clinched the doublestitle, thrashing Akanksha Nitture and Soha Sadiq 6-1, 6-2. TNN
We also published the following articles recently

Ashwini-Tanisha pair in final, Priyanshu loses to Jen in Syed Modi semis
India’s Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto secure spot in Syed Modi International badminton tournament women’s doubles final as top-seeded Japanese pair, Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota, concede match due to Hirota’s injury; Ponnappa and Crasto to face Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi in final; Priyanshu Rajawat bows out in men’s singles semifinal against Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei after gripping battle; Ponnappa and Crasto remain sole Indian representatives in tournament.

What are Aliv seeds? Their benefits and easy ways to include in diet
Aliv seeds, also known as Garden Cress seeds or Halim seeds, come from the Aliv plant, scientifically known as Lepidium Sativum. These tiny seeds are packed with essential nutrients like protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A, E. They have blood-purifying properties and can boost hemoglobin levels. Aliv seeds aid digestion, promote bone health, and may support hair growth. Ways to include them in your diet include making laddoos, sprinkling on salads, mixing in yogurt or smoothies, adding to breakfast cereal or oatmeal, stirring in soups or stews, and incorporating into parathas or rotis.

Read More

David Warner: Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test: David Warner retains spot in Australian Test squad amidst scrutiny | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Veteran opener David Warner has secured his position in Australia’s Test squad for the first match against Pakistan, despite recent queries regarding his Test form.
The 37-year-old, known for his outstanding white-ball performance at the World Cup, has faced criticism for scoring just one century since early 2020 and maintaining an average of 28 since the 2019-2020 season.
Chairman of selectors defends Warner’s inclusion
“This group, led by Pat Cumminshas built a strong resume. We believe they have earned the opportunity to start in our first home Test match at the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
However, Bailey acknowledged the ongoing competition for Warner’s opening slot, noting, “There will be opportunities in the short- to medium-term to break into this squad.”
Warner’s young challengers:Cameron BancroftMarcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw are set to audition in the Prime Minister’s XI against Pakistan in a four-day red-ball warm-up in Canberra.
Farewell series for Warner
Warner, hinting at retirement from the five-day format after the Sydney Test, affirmed his commitment to white-ball cricket. The three-Test series against Pakistan begins in Perth on December 14, followed by matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney.
Record-chaser Lyon, Marsh in the squad

• The squad for the Perth Test sees minimal changes, with spinner Nathan Lyon expected to return in place of Todd Murphy.
• Lyon, on the verge of joining the elite 500-wicket club, will join the formidable pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
• Selectors have included all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green in the 14-man squad, with Marsh taking precedence.

Bailey expressed optimism, stating, “We look forward to seeing the continued strong performances from players who have been performing domestically.”
The upcoming Prime Minister’s XI fixture against Pakistan is considered a crucial opportunity for aspiring talents to showcase their skills and potentially break into the national squad.
Australia squad for first Test, beginning December 14 in Perth:
David Warner, Usman KhawajaMarnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Lance Morris.
(With inputs from AFP)

Read More

Sara Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Ranveer Singh and others grace Sharmin Segal- Aman Mehta's wedding reception: see pics | Hindi Movie News

Actress appeal Segal tied the knot with businessman Aman Mehta in a grand ceremony recently. She shared some lovely pictures from the wedding on her Instagram profile. On Sunday, the newly-weds threw a grand reception in the city, that was attended by a bevy of Bollywood celebs like Sara Ali KhanSonakshi Sinha with rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal, Ranveer SinghSonali Bendre and more.Take a look..(Pics: Yogen Shah)

Earlier, Priyanka Chopra wished Sharmin, who is the niece of film director Sanjay Leela Bansali, on her wedding.
Priyanka Chopra didn’t hesitate to show her love, writing, ‘Congratulations babe’ with a lot of heart emojis under Sharmin’s wedding pictures. Sharmin penned a heartfelt note with the pictures, ‘…and it was a struggle to find a “perfect” posed photo of you and me, but I believe that when you are experiencing a special time in your life, you cherish the actual moment. Sometimes, photos and words are not able to capture it. At the end of the day, it is an emotion and can’t always be captured but is ALWAYS felt. The last few months have been a whirlwind of happy emotions, and I’m so lucky I found you to share them with. Here’s to new beginnings and growing with each other to become better versions of ourselves every day! Thank you for being genuinely the best, @amansmehta! I love you, always and forever.”

‘Animal’ director Sandeep Reddy Vanga reveals Ranveer Singh rejected ‘Kabir Singh’ calling it ‘too dark’; shares Shahid Kapoor’s ‘track record’ was a concern

Armaan Malik commented under the post with much love, ‘Congratulations to both of you ❤️ this is so special!’.
Sharmin Segal made her acting debut in 2019 with the film ‘Malaal,’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In this movie, she shared the screen with Meezan Jafri. Following her debut, Sharmin expanded her involvement in the film industry by working as an assistant director on several projects with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Notable films in which she contributed as an assistant director include ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela,’ ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi.’ In addition to her film ‘Atithi Bhooto Bhava,’ a horror comedy, Sharmin is set to feature in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming project, ‘Heeramandi.’ This film is a period drama that boasts a star-studded cast, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao HydariRicha Chadha, and Sanjeeda Shaikh.

Read More

Chhattisgarh: Counting of votes underway in Chhattisgarh assembly elections

RAIPUR: Counting of votes in elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly got underway Sunday morning, with security personnel maintaining a strict vigil in counting centres in the state’s 33 districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), a poll official said.
The elections were held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Voter turnout stood at 76.31 per cent, which was slightly lower than the 76.88 per cent recorded in the 2018 polls.”Counting of votes for all the 90 seats started at 8 am in 33 district headquarters. A three-layer security mechanism is in place at each counting centre,” Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Kangale said.
“The counting of postal ballots began at 8 am. Half an hour after the postal ballots are counted, the process of counting votes from the EVMs will begin,” she said. A total of 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers have been appointed for carrying out the counting process smoothly, the official said. In every counting hall, there are 14 tables arranged in rows of seven, except for Pandaria, Kawardha, Sarangarh, Bilaigarh, Kasdol and Bharatpur-Sonhat Assembly seats where 21 tables have been arranged, she said. While Masturi and Jashpur constituencies will see 24 rounds of counting, Manendragarh and Bhilai Nagar constituencies will have 12 rounds of counting, the official said.
A total of 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Patan seat, represented by Baghel, witnessed a triangular contest with BJP fielding the chief minister’s distant nephew and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel. Amit Jogi, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) state president and son of former CM late Ajit Jogi, is also in the fray from Patan.
In Ambikapur constituency, the BJP fielded a fresh face, Rajesh Agrawal, against Deputy CM Singh Deo. Agrawal had joined the BJP after quitting the Congress ahead of Assembly polls in 2018. Nine ministers, including Tamrdhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural constituency), Ravindra Choubey (Saja) and Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), state Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant (Sakti) and state unit chief and MP Deepak Baij (Chitrakot), were among the other prominent Congress candidates.
From the BJP, apart from Raman Singh, the other prominent candidates are state unit chief and MP Arun Sao (Lormi constituency), opposition leader Narayan Chandel (Janjgir-Champa), Union minister Renuka Singh (Bharatpur-Sonhat), MP Gomti Sai ( Pathalgaon), former ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur South), Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) and Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli). Two former IAS officers OP Chaudhary (Raigarh) and Neelkanth Tekam (Keshkal) also contested on BJP tickets.
The Aam Aadmi Party fielded 53 candidates, including its Chhattisgarh unit president Komal Hupendi, who contested from Bhanupratappur seat. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GPP) formed an alliance to fight the polls. While the main fight is between the ruling Congress and BJP, a three-way contest played out in several seats of the Bilaspur division where former CM Ajit Jogi’s party and the BSP have pockets of influence.
In the 2018 polls, the Congress swept the polls winning 68 seats, leaving the BJP, which had ruled since 2003, a distant second with 15 seats. Exit polls have predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP, with the ruling party having a slight edge. Of the 90 assembly seats in the state, 51 are in the general category, 10 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 29 for Scheduled Tribes.

Read More

Ex-MIM Granddaughter: Ex-MIM granddaughter joins CM Shinde's group | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Former Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) corporator from Cheetah Camp in Anushakti Nagar assembly constituency Shahnawaz Shaikh, along with 15 others, joined CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday. tnn
We also published the following articles recently

Anil Bhoir, Yogesh Hatekar leave Uddhav Thackeray faction to join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena
Anil Bhoir and Yogesh Hatekar, appointed as deputy district chief of Ambernath city by Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, have left the party and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Their shift in allegiance comes after their promotions were announced through the party’s mouthpiece, Samna Newspaper. They officially joined the party in the presence of Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, further diminishing Uddhav Thackeray’s influence in Ambernath.

Former Mumbai mayor Datta Dalvi arrested for ‘abusing’ CM Eknath Shinde
Former Mumbai mayor Datta Dalvi was arrested for allegedly abusing Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. A case was registered against Dalvi on a complaint by Bhushan Palande, a Shinde Sena leader. Sanjay Raut is scheduled to visit Bhandup police station. The alleged remarks were made at a gathering of Shiv Sena Thackeray group. Shinde faced criticism during an election campaign in Rajasthan.

Former Mumbai mayor Datta Dalvi arrested for alleged offensive remarks against CM Eknath Shinde
Former Mumbai Mayor Datta Dalvi was arrested for using abusive language and making objectionable remarks against CM Eknath Shinde. Dalvi was charged under Sections 153A(1)(a), 153B(1)(b), 153A(1)(c), 294, 504, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language; imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration; obscene acts and songs; and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace. The incident occurred at a public meeting of Senas (UBT) Konkan office-bearers. Dalvi claimed that the language he used was from a movie and not abusive. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut supported Dalvi, stating that the word used was not unparliamentary and criticized the government for arresting Dalvi. MLA Sunil Raut also expressed support and warned of street agitation if Dalvi is not released. Additionally, there were reports of Dalvi’s car being vandalized.

Read More

Explore the impact of the pandemic on human relationships with the play 'Vodka & No Tonic' | Ahmedabad News

This play explores the fragility of interpersonal relationships through a series of short stories that follow the complex realm of feelings as they change and transform inside the four walls of the house.
The play comprises of five short stories adapted from Lockdown Liaisons by Shobhaa Deand is performed by Ira Dubey, Joy Senguptaand Lillete Dubey.
The play premiered in 2021 under the name Lockdown Liaison, but then changed its name to Vodka & No Tonic. On asking what the idea was behind renaming the play, director Lillete Dubey said, “The term Lockdown brought back a lot of memories. Some of the audience members were a bit hesitant to watch the play since the word “lockdown” in the title brought up recollections of the difficult times.” She adds, “In fact, the play is not at all about any of these. It represents the changes and challenges about human-relations that were affected during the lockdown.”
These five monologues- ‘ VODKA AND NO TONIC – Performed by Ira Dubey, ‘A QUEST ENDS’ – Performed by Joy Sengupta, ‘A WHIFF OF ETERNITY’ – Performed by Ira Dubey, ‘ LEAVING’ -Performed by Joy Sengupta and LOCKDOWN FUNERAL – Performed by Lillete Dubey, revolves around the fact, that we often see a crisis like this as a ‘situation’, and often miss out on how the relationships are impacted during that time.
The show has travelled across Baroda, Jaipur, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Singapore, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Delhi, Guwahati, Goa, Kolkata, and Pune. Lillete said, “It gives me a great joy to share that we have been invited to London to perform this play in the coming year. It just makes us realise how the disastrous situation like the pandemic brought everyone around the world closer, and how the relationships across were impacted, which everyone can relate with.”
She adds, “All fives monologues touch separate issues of the human-relationships, which the audience can relate to, along with the powerful performances of Ira and Joy.”
“Ahmedabad has always been a special city for me, and I am so glad to see audiences being pulled to theatre shows again here. I have often performed here, mostly at Natrani Amphitheatreand really looking forward to have a great one tonight too,” she says as she signs off.

Read More

India Vs Australia: IND vs AUS, 5th T20I: When and where to watch, live telecast, live streaming, predicted playing XIs, venue | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: In the wake of India’s triumphant T20I series against Australia, the spotlight shifts to the upcoming clash against South Africa, slated to commence on December 10. The Indian cricket team, fresh off a 3-1 series victory, is poised to fine-tune its strategies in the fifth and final match against Australia, treating it as a preparatory workshop for the challenges that lie ahead.
Key players like Shreyas Iyerand Deepak Chahar are under scrutiny as they aim to regain top form after prolonged absences from T20 internationals.Iyer, despite a lackluster performance in the recent Raipur T20I, seeks redemption at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue where he previously showcased his prowess with a century in ODIs against Netherlands.
Chahar, on the comeback trail from injury, faces a similar scenario after a decent but not outstanding outing against Australia. His variations are touted as assets against the docility of the Chinnaswamy track. Meanwhile, the management contemplates reintroducing off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar, considering his improved fitness and potential impact.
As the team aims for cohesion and fine-tuning, the match against Australia serves as a litmus test for individual performances and strategic adjustments before the South African challenge. With several players in good form and a series victory already secured, India eyes maintaining momentum and confidence as they look ahead to their next cricketing assignment.
Here’s everything you need to know about the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series between India and Australia:
What:India vs Australia5th T20I
When: December 3 (Sunday)
Where: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Time: 7.00 PM (IST)
Where to watch: Live stream/telecast on Jio Cinema, Sports 18 Network and DD Sports
Where to follow Live: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports
Playing XIs (Likely):
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj GaikwadShreyas Iyer Suryakumar Yadav (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku SinghAxar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
Australia: Josh Philippe, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Aaron Hardie, Tim David, Matthew Short, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha

Read More

Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor grace kids' taekwondo competition, Taimur wins gold - pics inside

On Sunday, KareenaKapoor and Rani Mukerji graced a taekwondo competition where Bebo’s son Taimur won a gold medal! Also seen at the competition was Karan Johar’s son Yash as they all posed with each other. A fan page shared multiple pics from the event. While Rani was seen in a red tee and denims, Kareena wore a simple white shirt, face stripped of makeup.In the pic, Rani posed with Yash, as little Taimur was seen excited over winning the gold medal. The kids also posed with their trainer. Take a look….
Kareena has often been praised for being a hands on parenting, and not painting a ‘whitewashed’ image of her kids, keeping it real. In a recent cover interview with The Dirty Magazine, Kareena Kapoor delved into the nuances of marriage, parenting, and her approach to leading life on her terms, shedding light on her journey with Saif Ali Khan and their parenting philosophy.

Giorgia Andriani poses with her pet in Bandra; Kareena Kapoor Khan shells out boss lady vibes at airport

Kareena Kapoor, married to Saif Ali Khan for over a decade, discussed the evolving perspectives on marriage and its connection to parenthood. She emphasized that the contemporary reason behind tying the knot often revolves around the desire to have children. Reflecting on their relationship, Kareena highlighted their decision to marry after five years of living together, primarily driven by the aspiration to start a family.
Their union in October 2012 marked a pivotal moment as they embraced parenthood with the birth of their sons, Taimur Ali Khan in 2016 and Jehangir Ali Khan in 2021. Addressing parenting strategies, Kareena emphasized their commitment to treating their children as individuals, fostering respect and freedom to chart their unique paths. She underscored the importance of happiness in their upbringing, stating her responsibility for her mental health as crucial in enabling a conducive environment for their growth.

Kareena Kapoor’s recent forays into the digital domain include her OTT debut in Sujoy Ghosh’s adaptation of ‘Devotion of Suspect X’ titled ‘Jaane Jaane‘ on a leading OTT channel.

Read More

Nikah: No band, baja, baraat as affluent Muslims solemnise nikah in the holy city of Medina | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Last month, Aamir Merchant, his family and close friends flew to MedinaSaudi Arabia. His fiancee Aafia Bakali’s family joined Aamir and his group in the holy city. It was not for the first time that most members of the two groups were in Medina, home to Prophet Muhammad’s tomb and the Masjid-e-Nabwi or the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s two holiest shrines (the other is Haram Sharif in Mecca).The visit became special because Aamir and Aafia solemnised theirnikah at the Prophet’s Mosque. Later, Aamir hosted a modest walima or the traditional post-wedding feast attended by guests from both the sides.
Aamir and Aafia are among a growing number of affluent Muslims who shun desi band, baja, baraat, and perform one of the sunnats or traditions of the Prophet-nikah-near the Prophet’s grave. The main purpose, confesses Aamir, is to seek the divine blessings under the benevolent shadow of the shrine.
“Nikah is an important sunnat of the holy Prophet and there cannot be a better place for a Muslim to get married than at the Prophet’s mosque,” says Dubai-based Aamir on phone.
Contrary to what many believe, marriage near the Prophet’s tomb does not cost much. If you exclude the air tickets and hotel bills, there is hardly anything else that the families of the bride and groom have to pay for the nikah ceremony at the holy precinct.
“If you hold nikah in Medina, you save money in many ways. There is no lavish decoration, no fabulous feast is needed. Both the bride and groom’s relatives reach the holy mosque between two namaz or prayers, engage a local kazi (a cleric who solemnises the nikah), offer prayers after the nikah, reach the hotel for a simple lunch or dinner, travel to Mecca for Umrah and return home,” says Mumbai-based businessman Parvez Malkani whose younger brother Tamjid Malkani’s nikah to Zara was solemnised in Medina.
Both Aamir and Parvez recalled the immense help they received from their friend Khalid Khereda who has been to Mecca and Medina numerous times. “Khalid was very cooperative and provided us with logistics and made our travel and stay very comfortable. We will remember the services he rendered,” says Aamir.
The opportunity to perform Umrah comes as a bonus to the people who opt to solemnise nikah in Medina. Unlike Haj which is annual, Umrah can be performed throughout the year. While it takes five days to complete the Haj rituals, Umrah rituals can be finished within two hours, all near the Kaaba and within the holy mosque’s premises in Mecca.
Some rush to Medina immediately after holding a nikah ceremony in India. City-based businessman Sabir Nirban’s son Moin Nirban was all set to marry Sarah in Medina in April this year when an emergency came up and the nikah had to be solemnised in Mumbai itself. “We flew to Medina the night nikah was done at the iconic Islam Gymkhana near Marine Lines. We prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque and asked for a long, happy marital life for the couple,” says Nirban. His son Moin says this also gives an opportunity to do “hidden charity”.
“Many of the close friends and relatives you invite to the nikah ceremony in Medina cannot afford to visit the Prophet’s Mosque or perform Umrah in Mecca on their own because of financial constraints. This way they get a chance to visit the holy sites and perform sacred rituals,” says Moin.
However, Nirban is planning his son’s walima (this post-wedding feast is hosted by the groom’s family while the bride’s family is exempted from it) later this month in Mumbai. “We have reduced the number of guests given the message of maintaining austerity we must follow. My son and daughter-in-law are scheduled to go on a honeymoon to Europe immediately after they perform Umrah and visit Medina post-walima event in Mumbai,” says Nirban.
Hopefully divine blessings will protect them wherever they go.

Read More

Maharashtra winks at rules, favours coop bank led by BJP MLC | India News

MUMBAI: The state cabinet has made an exception in the rules to allow the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank (MDCCB), whose chairman is BJP leader Pravin Darekarto conduct government transactions. The exception was made despite objections raised by the state’s cooperation department, say sources.
Darekar is an MLC from the BJP and former leader of opposition in the state council.According to the rules, only district central cooperative banks (DCCB) with an audit rating of A over a 5-year span are considered for government transactions. The bank said its auditors gave it an A rating over a 5-year period. However, in the cooperation department’s assessment, the bank had a B-plus rating for one year during this span.
“The MDCCB argued against the assessment of the cooperation department and finally an exception was granted by the state cabinet,” said a senior officer from the finance department.
Darekar said the bank had been a victim of political vendetta. “The objections against our bank were raised during the tenure of the earlier government for political reasons. We were not even asked to respond. We then sent our application with documents to show that our bank had an audit rating of A for five years. Now with the cabinet’s permission, the MDCCB will be able to do more work for Mumbai’s development,” said Darekar.
He added that banks with a net worth of Rs 150 crore had been allowed to conduct government transactions but the MDCCB had been denied this although its net worth was Rs 360 crore and turnover was Rs 12,000 crore.
In the past, several DCCBs have been given permission to conduct government transactions. In October, the apex bank of the state’s cooperative structure – the scam-tainted Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank – was allowed to conduct banking transactions with the government by the state cabinet. This led to questions from BJP ministers on why the MDCCB was not allowed to do so.
The MDCCB has faced a series of controversies under Darekar’s leadership. He had to resign from a directorship on the bank’s board after an inquiry revealed he had used bogus documents to claim that he was a labourer in order to contest elections from the labour category. However, he retained a director’s post through the urban cooperative bank category.
In August 2022, after the Shinde government came to power, Darekar was elected to the chairman’s post.

Read More