Muhammed Ajsal netting the winner for Kerala against Railways in the Santosh Trophy qualifier at Kozhikode
| Photo Credit: K. RAGESH

Kerala scraped through by a goal against Railways as it opened its campaign on a winning trophy in the Santosh Trophy qualifying tournament on Wednesday (November 20, 2024). The host won 1-0 at the Corporation Stadium, thanks to the goal scored by Muhammed Ajsal in the 72nd minute.

It wasn’t the most convincing of shows by Kerala in what was going to be potentially its biggest challenge in the group.

The goal came off an excellent through ball by Nijo Gilbert, following a feeble clearance from the Railway defence. Ajsal slotted the ball neatly into the corner.

Earlier, an old-fashioned hat-trick by Dhileepan helped Pondicherry beat Lakshadweep 3-2. Mohammed scored both goals for Lakshadweep to give his team the lead twice.

The results

Group H: Kerala 1 (Muhammad Ajsal 72) bt Railway 0.

Pondicherry 3 (Dhilipan 29, 79 & 90+3) bt Lakshadweep 2 (Mohammed 18 & 41).

Samprokshanam rituals carried out in Tirumala temple
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Special Samprokshana rituals were performed on Wednesday (November 20, 2024) for the ceremonial idols of Sri Sita Lakshmana Sameta Sri Ramachandra Murthy at the Tirumala temple to address a minor fracture in the Utsava idol of Sri Rama.

A fracture, identified in 2021 in the middle finger of the idol’s left hand, was temporarily repaired with a golden shield. Traditionally, such restorations are carried out during the Maha Samprokshana ritual held once every 12 years. However, with the next Maha Samprokshana scheduled for 2030, a special committee of Jeeyar Swamijis, Agama advisors, and priests proposed an interim Samprokshana. The recommendation, made during the recent Brahmotsavams, was approved by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

The ceremonies, which began on Tuesday (November 19, 2024) night at the Sampangi Prakaram with the conduct of Kalapakarshana, Bimba Vastu, Mahashanti Tirumanjanam, and Sayanadhivasam, were concluded with a special homam and Kalavahanam on Wednesday. The event was attended by Tirumala pontiffs, TTD Additional Executive Officer Venkaiah Chowdary, and other temple officials.

“The award recognises India’s support for Dominica in healthcare, education, and information technology under PM Modi’s leadership,” read a statement by the office of the Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
| Photo Credit: X/@narendramodi

Dominica has conferred its top award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contributions to the Caribbean nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and his dedication to enhancing the bilateral partnership between India and Dominica.

The Prime Minister, who is in Guyana on the last leg of his three-nation visit, was conferred the “Dominica Award of Honour” by President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica during the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana on Wednesday (November 20, 2024).

“Honoured to be conferred with the highest national award by Dominica. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

“The award is a recognition of PM’s statesmanship and contribution to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening India-Dominica ties,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X.

Guyana and Barbados will also confer their top awards on Prime Minister Modi, bringing his tally of international honours to 19.

Dominica announced its top award to PM Modi a few days ago.

“In February 2021, Prime Minister Modi supplied Dominica with 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine — a generous gift that enabled Dominica to extend support to its Caribbean neighbours,” read a statement by the office of the Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

“The award also recognises India’s support for Dominica in healthcare, education, and information technology under PM Modi’s leadership and his role in promoting climate resilience-building initiatives and sustainable development on a global level,” it read.

The statement quoted Prime Minister Skerrit as saying that the award is an expression of Dominica’s gratitude for PM Modi’s solidarity with Dominica and the wider region.

In accepting the offer of the award, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of collaboration in tackling global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts and affirmed India’s commitment to working alongside Dominica and the Caribbean in addressing these issues, the statement underlined.

“The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the army since mid-April 2023, first attacked the village, located 100 km north of Al-Jazira’s capital Wad Madani, on Tuesday (November 19, 2024) evening,” eyewitnesses said. File
| Photo Credit: AP

An attack by paramilitary forces that began Tuesday (November 19, 2024) evening has left 40 people dead, a medic told AFP from a central Sudan village, following a month of escalating violence in Al-Jazira state.

“All 40 people suffered direct gunshot wounds,” the medic said from Wad Rawah Hospital, just north of Wad Oshaib village, requesting anonymity for their own protection after repeated attacks on medical personnel.

Explained | The status of the civil war in Sudan

“The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the army since mid-April 2023, first attacked the village, located 100km north of Al-Jazira’s capital Wad Madani, on Tuesday (November 19, 2024) evening,” eyewitnesses said.

“The attack resumed this morning,” one eyewitness told AFP by phone on Wednesday (November 20, 2024), adding that fighters were “looting property”.

It is the latest in a month-long series of attacks on Al-Jazira villages by the RSF following the defection of a key paramilitary commander to the Army’s side last month.

According to the United Nations, over 3,40,000 people have been displaced from their homes in the state, a key agricultural region that was formerly considered Sudan’s breadbasket.

Also Read: Russia vetoes UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in war between Sudan’s rival forces

The U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday (November 15, 2024) that the violence in Al-Jazira “is putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk”.

The war between the Army, led by Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has already killed tens of thousands of people across the country.

It has also uprooted over 11 million people, more than 3 million of whom have fled across Sudan’s borders.

Villages under siege

The brutal war has seen both sides accused of war crimes, with RSF fighters accused of laying siege to entire villages, carrying out summary executions and systematically looting civilian property.

Eyewitnesses, rights groups and the U.N. have reported villages in eastern Al-Jazira coming under total siege in recent weeks, causing compounding humanitarian crises.

In the village of Al-Hilaliya, residents have been cut off from essential supplies, with dozens falling sick “allegedly due to poisoned food.”

The U.N.’s Dujarric said on Friday (November 15, 2024) that many of the displaced arriving in neighbouring states “had walked for days and arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs.”

Even in areas safe from the fighting, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are facing epidemics including cholera, decimated infrastructure and a looming famine.

“They are now sheltering in the open, including children, women, older persons and people who are sick,” Dujarric added.

According to health officials and the U.N., the conflict has forced 80% of health facilities in conflict-affected areas to shut down.

Sudan is currently facing what the U.N. has called one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory, with 26 million people suffering from acute hunger.

Union Ministry withdraws salary clearance tied to iGOT courses, cancelling previous order for government employees’ training certification. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has withdrawn its office memorandum linking the clearance of salary to the mandatory completion of Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) courses. The order was issued on Monday (November 18, 2024), and it now stands cancelled.

In its office memorandum dated November 18, the Ministry had asked all its Accounts Officers to “clear the salary bills of only those officials who have been certified regarding their training of mandatory iGOT courses”.

“In other cases, where certificates are not provided, salary bills may be kept on hold till further orders,” it stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently launched the 2024 National Learning Week, aimed at developing the skills of civil servants in India. iGOT is an online learning platform that provides training to government employees in India. The platform is part of the Digital India stack and is being developed to enable learning anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

First-look poster of ‘Rudhiram’, featuring Raj B Shetty and Aparna Balamurali.
| Photo Credit: sreegokulammoviesofficial/Instagram

The makers of Rudhiram have released the film’s first-look poster. Starring Raj B Shetty and Aparna Balamurali, the film is directed by Jisho Lon Antony.

The poster features Kannada actor-filmmaker Raj in a protective PPE kit, sitting on a rock in a contemplative posture, while Aparna Balamurali stands beside him, gazing into the distance. “The axe forgets, but the tree remembers,” is the movie’s tagline.

Rudhiram was billed as Raj’s Malayalam debut. But the actor first featured in a Malayalam film with his portrayal of an antagonist in Mammootty’s Turbo. He recently starred in Kondal.

ALSO READ:‘Barroz’ trailer: Mohanlal is the guardian of treasure in this fantasy adventure

Rudhiram is produced by VS Lalan under the banner Rising Sun Studio. Jisho has co-written the script with Joseph Kiran George. Sajad Kaaku has done the movie’s cinematography while Bavan Sreekumar is the editor. The movie is touted to be a revenge drama.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with Telugu film actor Nagarjuna and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur during the unveiling of commemorative stamps honouring Tapan Sinha, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Raj Kapoor for their significant contributions to Indian cinema at the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa on November 20, 2024).
| Photo Credit: PTI

The 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) kick-started with a star-studded opening ceremony at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Goa, on Wednesday.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju inaugurated the nine-day festivities in the presence of Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, festival director Shekhar Kapur, and others.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State L. Murugan sent video messages.

The festivities began with a dance that paid tribute to India’s pursuit of excellence in spirituality and for being the spiritual leader of the world.

Many prominent actors, producers, and filmmakers, including Nagarjuna Akkineni, Amala Akkineni, Jaideep Ahlawat, Boman Irani, Rajkummar Rao, R. Sarathkumar, Subash Ghai, Nithya Menen, Amar Kaushik, Jayam Ravi, Randeep Hooda, R.K. Selvamani, Chidananda S. Naik, Ishari K. Ganesh, and Pranita Subhash were felicitated.

‘Power of stories’

Mr. Kapur spoke about the power of stories as a language of unity in a polarised world.

“Within nations and communities, we talk to each other through stories. Stories are how we communicate and understand each other,” he said.

The event also saw Mr. Irani take the stage to pay tributes to some of India’s greatest cinema legends — Mohammed Rafi, Tapan Sinha, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Raj Kapoor.

Special commemorative stamps, introduced by the Government of India to celebrate these legends, were unveiled.

Dr. Sawant said, “Ever since former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar brought IFFI to Goa, both IFFI and Goa have been synonymous. I am grateful for all the developments that have taken place in Goa since.”

Through a video message, Mr. Vaishnaw said the IFFI had become an important milestone in the Indian film industry.

“We have a vibrant content economy, where people are coming up with some very innovative content showcasing the rich traditions, culture, heritage, language, literature and cuisines of India,“ he added.

Taking place across four venues, the 55th edition of the IFFI is set to continue till November 28.

This year, the festival has received 1,676 submissions from 101 countries. The nine-day festival will present over 180 international titles from 81 countries, which include 16 premieres in world, three in international, 43 in Asian, and 109 in Indian categories.

Also Read: Boman Irani’s directorial debut ‘The Mehta Boys’ to premiere at Chicago South Asian Film Festival

Notably, the organisers have included a segment this year to celebrate Goan films, under which 14 films will be screened.

The festival has chosen Australia as the country of focus this year to foster its collaboration with India through a memorandum of understanding between Screen Australia and the NFDC.

Also Read: Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appointed IFFI festival director

Celebrated Australian director Philip Noyce, best known for making iconic films such as Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Salt, and The Bone Collector, is set to be presented with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.

नई दिल्ली. बॉलीवुड के दिग्गज म्यूजिक कंपोजर और सिंगर एआर रहमान ने पत्नी सायरा बानो से तलाक का ऐलान कर दिया है. सिंगर ने सोशल मीडिया पर ऐलान किया कि वो अपनी 29 साल की शादी खत्म कर रहे हैं जिसके बाद उनके बच्चों ने इसपर अपना रिएक्शन भी दिया. इन सबके बीच एआर रहमान का वो कमेंट सोशल मीडिया पर चर्चा का विषय बना हुआ है जिसमें उन्होंने पत्नी सायरा बानो के बारे में बात की थी.

सिंगर ने अपने पुराने इंटरव्यू में इस बात का खुलासा किया था कि उनकी मां और बहन ने उन्हें और सायरा बानो को मिलवाया था. पत्नी से पहली मुलाकात के बारे में बात करते हुए एआर रहमान ने नसरीन मुन्नी कबीर को बताया था, ‘1994 में, जब मैं लगभग सत्ताईस साल का था, मैंने फैसला किया कि अब शादी करने का समय आ गया है. किसी कारण से, मैं बूढ़ा महसूस करने लगा. हमेशा बहुत शर्मीला था और कभी लड़कियों से ज्यादा बात नहीं करता था’.

एआर रहमान ने कभी महिलाओं से नहीं की थी बात
वो आगे कहते हैं, ‘काम के दौरान मैं अपने स्टूडियो में कई युवा महिला गायिकों से मिला. मेरे मन में उनके प्रति बहुत सम्मान था. लेकिन मैंने कभी किसी लड़की की तरफ यह सोचकर नहीं देखा कि वह एक दिन मेरी पत्नी बन सकती है. मेरे पास लड़कियों के बारे में सोचने का समय नहीं था. मैं चौबीसों घंटे काम कर रहा था’.

फोन पर पत्नी को किया था प्रपोज
पत्नी से पहली मुलाकात के बारे में एआर रहमान कहते हैं, ‘वो बहुत सिंपल और सुंदर थीं. मेरे 28वें जन्मदिन पर हम पहली बार मिले थे. वो बहुत छोटी मुलाकात थी. हमने ज्यादातर फोन पर ही बात की थी. सायरा इंग्लिश में बात करती थी और मैंने उससे पूछा था कि क्या वो मुझसे शादी करना चाहती है’.

कपल ने 12 मार्च 1995 को शादी की थी. रिश्ते में आई दूरियों के बाद दोनों 29 साल पुरानी शादी ख़त्म करने का फैसला कर लिया.

Tags: AR Rahman, Entertainment news.

The rush of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala for darshan of Swamy Ayyappa has already started, but no announcement has been made by Waltair Division so far regarding operation of special trains from Visakhapatnam Junction to Kollam. The existing regular weekly Visakhapatnam-Kollam express has high occupancy, showing regret wait list.

The Railways is also yet to make any announcement on the operation of special trains from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad ahead of the holiday season, which begins with Christmas and concludes with Sankranti.

The existing special trains being operated by East Coast Railway (ECoR) from Visakhapatnam to Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Chennai, Kollam and Shalimar have reported more than 100% occupancy on both up and down routes, except the Shalimar–Visakhapatnam Special. Of these trains, 08539 Visakhapatnam-Kollam weekly special express had the highest occupancy of 159% during the last two months.

Ironically, the last run of these specials is towards the end of November. The delay in announcement of extension of the existing special trains and failure to announce additional specials has turned out to be a major impediment for travellers in planning their journeys during the peak festival season.

The ‘Mandala Pooja Mahotsavam’ at Sabarimala commenced on November 15 and will continue till December 26. ‘The Makara Vilakku Mahotsavam’ will be held from December 30 to January 19, 2025, and the ‘Makara Vilakku’ will be held on January 14.

The last run of existing weekly 08539 Visakhapatnam- Kollam special train is on November 27. With no announcement so far on extension of this train, and also on operation of additional specials to cater to the rush during the festive season, pilgrims are at their wits’ end.

Kanchumurthi Eswar, who was recently appointed Member of the Zonal Railway User’s Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) of ECoR, has written to ECoR General Manager seeking operation of daily special trains to Kollam. “Train no. 22504 Dibrugarh–Kanniyakumari Vivek Express, which passes through Visakhapatnam and Kollam, is also showing Regret WL on most of the days, as per the IRCTC website,” he says.

Due to lack of accommodation on trains, devotees going to Sabarimala are opting for private transport, despite the arduous long travel by road. The Visakhapatnam Region of APSRTC is operating special five-day, six-day and seven-day package tours for Ayyappa devotees going to Sabarimala, covering various temples en route. Five buses have been booked by Ayyappa devotees.