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The civil and police administrations are on high alert as lakhs of devotees will witness the annual event under tight security.

The seaside pilgrim town of Puri is set to celebrate the Rath Yatra festival on Friday, with the administration being ready to smoothly conduct the event.

The civil and police administrations are on high alert as lakhs of devotees will witness the annual event under tight security.

“By the grace of Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath), we are fully prepared to conduct a smooth Rath Yatra on Friday. We are getting complete support and cooperation from the servitors. All arrangements are in place to make the mega event successful,” Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee told reporters on Thursday.

After completion of all rituals, the pulling of chariots of the sibling deities – Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath – will begin at 4 pm.

Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad are expected to participate in the event.

About one lakh have reached Puri by Thursday evening, police sources said.

Some of them had the opportunity to witness the ‘Nabajouban Darshan” (youthful appearance) of the trinity.

The deities appeared before the devotees after a fortnight. The public ‘darshan’ was stopped after the bathing ritual on June 11.

“The deities do not appear before devotees since it is believed they fall ill after the bathing ritual. They remain in quarantine at ‘Anasar Ghar’ (isolation room) for a fortnight before the Rath Yatra,” said Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in the Jagannath culture.

Keeping in view the huge footfall, Odisha DGP Y B Khurania said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the event.

The town is heavily fortified with deployment of approximately 10,000 security personnel, including eight companies of Central Armed Police Forces.

Khurania said that for the first time, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been opened in Puri to monitor the entire festival from close quarters.

Over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed across Puri and on the roads to Konark, 35 km away and famous for the 13th-century Sun Temple, for surveillance.

This apart, the DGP said that the National Security Guard (NSG) snipers will take positions on rooftops along Grand Road in front of the temple.

Police drones, anti-sabotage teams, bomb squads, and dog squads are also deployed. The Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy will secure the seafront, he said.

Meanwhile, IMD in its evening bulletin forecast said thunderstorms with lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph likely to occur in several districts including Puri on Friday.

While the Indian Railways runs 365 trains to Puri, the Odisha government has engaged around 800 buses to transport devotees from different districts.

Andre Crews said he loves his son, but also spoke about the challenges parents usually face with toddlers.

Andre Crews, a fitness coach, has left social media in chuckles with a video describing his three-year-old son. In the video, labelled “Toddlers Are Terrorists”, Crews described what his child eats or doesn’t eat, and also talked about his other activities. He jokingly even said how he has been “held hostage” by his son, named Jameson.

He recorded the video while walking his dogs, and captioned it, “The struggle is real every night, toddler parents. Stay strong.”

Crews said he loves his son, but also spoke about the challenges parents usually face with toddlers, such as their eating habits, playing, toys and bathing, among other things. He said he was just venting his “fatigued frustration”.

The video was posted on June 3 and went viral with over 3.4 million views and more than 200,000 likes. Internet users have flooded the comment section with their own experiences with a toddler.

One user said, “I want this video as my screensaver at work. So when I get up and grab that Celsius and coffee chaser at 2pm, you’re wisdom plays for the non-kiddo having masses I work with.”

“It’s the fact that you look like you going home with a vest on lol because you don’t know what you getting ready to walk into,” another said.

“Honestly I’m more surprised you escaped long enough to make this video lol,” a third wrote.

Another user comment read: “The meanest humans are all between 2 & 4 yrs old.” One even said, “It’s preparation for the teenage years. Gotta be strong!”

“The sleep deprivation is horrible”

While speaking to Newsweek, Crews said that toddlers like his son “have all the leverage and cannot be negotiated with.” “Toddlers have very little understanding of their emotions and how to express themselves, so their behaviors can be wildly erratic.”

“We just have to do what they say in the middle of the night or everyone pays the price. The same can be said if we’re out in public and something upsets him,” he added.

“If I don’t get him his yogurt or come lie down next to him or rub his back until he falls asleep, he will scream and not only wake up my wife and dogs, but our neighbors in the townhouse community,” he continued.

“Having a toddler is like living with your best friend from college who habitually drank too much, blacked out, did terrible things, but somehow woke up before you the next morning and brought you a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.”

“The sleep deprivation is horrible, but I love being Jameson’s dad. He is hands down my favorite person; at least during daylight hours. I am blessed to have a happy, funny, smart, hardworking son. I know that this phase is just temporary, so I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible,” Crews said.

However, the decision by Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal (JSP Nepal), led by Upendra Yadav, will not immediately affect the coalition government’s longevity as the ruling alliance has sufficient strength in the House of Representatives.

A key Madhesi party in Nepal has formally withdrawn support to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led ruling coalition, reducing it to a minority in the National Assembly.

However, the decision by Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal (JSP Nepal), led by Upendra Yadav, will not immediately affect the coalition government’s longevity as the ruling alliance has sufficient strength in the House of Representatives.

Oli’s party said it didn’t see any reason for the JSP Nepal to withdraw support.

JSP Nepal decided to withdraw its support to the government during the party’s executive council meeting held on June 23 and 24.

“The party will now officially convey its decision to the Speaker of the Parliament after convening a meeting of our Parliamentary Party in a few days,” JSP Nepal vice president Shiva Lal Thapa told PTI.

Last year, while assuming the leadership of the government with the support of Nepali Congress, Oli had promised to end corruption, bring good governance, make economic progress and amend the constitution, he said.

“We had extended support to the government on these four agendas. However, now after a year, we don’t see that the government is concerned about these issues. Therefore, we decided to withdraw support to the Oli-led government,” he added.

In the National Assembly, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) with its 18 members is the largest party; followed by Nepali Congress with 16 members; Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has 11 members while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) has eight seats.

Among the rest, the JSP Nepal has three seats; the Rashtriya Janmorcha and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party each have one seat and there is one independent. That leaves the ruling coalition of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) with 27 seats in the 59 member house.

However, JSP-Nepal’s decision will not immediately affect the coalition government’s longevity, though it will put some moral pressure on the government, said Sunil Manandhar, former environment minister and central member of CPN-Maoist Centre.

The ruling alliance has sufficient strength in the House of Representatives, therefore, it will not weaken the strength of the ruling alliance, he pointed out.

It cannot affect the lawmaking process either. “It can only prevent the government in the process of constitutional amendment, which is one of the key agenda of Oli-led government,” he added.

Reacting to the decision of JSP Nepal, Pradeep Gyawali, deputy general secretary of CPN- UML said that it would have been better if the party did not withdraw its support to the government. “We didn’t see there is any reason for the JSP Nepal to withdraw support to the coalition government.” Reacting to JSP-Nepal’s decision, Pradeep Gyawali, deputy general secretary of CPN-UML said that it would have been better if the party did not withdraw its support to the government.

“We don’t see there is any reason for the JSP-Nepal to withdraw support to the coalition government,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the US should treat the applications of Indian students on the basis of merit after the US embassy issued guidelines requiring details of social media accounts of applicants.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the US should treat the applications of Indian students on the basis of merit after the US embassy issued guidelines requiring details of social media accounts of applicants.

“Visa and immigration matters pertain to the sovereign functions of any country. But we have seen the guidelines issued by the US embassy, requiring the provision of social media identifiers in visa applications,” Mr Jaiswal said.

He added that, “But it is our belief that all visa applications of Indian nationals should be treated on the basis of merit. We remain engaged with the US side on all mobility and consular issues to ensure that the legitimate interests of Indian nationals are safeguarded.”

The US Embassy in India, in a social post had asked Indian students to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on their application form. 

“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the embassy said in a post on X.

The US Embassy in India shared the information in a brief statement issued on Thursday, which also cautioned against “omitting” social media information as it could lead to “visa denial and ineligibility for future visas”.

This week, the US has resumed processing student visa applications and has asked all students applying for visas to make their social media accounts public for background check.

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the US embassy in India posted on X.

This comes in the backdrop of the US’ effort to “enhance security and ensure the integrity” of the visa process.
 

Deepika Padukone is beyond gorgeous in minimal chic looks for her equally gorgeous Cartier jewellery to take centrestage on the cover

When your work and your style do all the talking for you, there hardly remains any room for an introduction. Deepika Padukone is one such person. A phenomenon in her own right, we aren’t surprised to see her as the latest cover star for Vogue India in collaboration with jewellery legacy house, Cartier, of whom she is also a global brand ambassador. The brand’s impeccable craftsmanship and Deepika Padukone’s effortless nature to turn dust to gold are one dynamic combination that this cover story is a fantastic representation of. The idea behind the mood board of the outfits featured in the issue is monochrome to lay as the perfect canvas for Cartier’s pieces of art. Her angular strapless gown from Louis Vuitton, yet another brand she is a global brand ambassador of, remains a minimalistic structure for her Cartier high jewellery set to shine in. The necklace and earrings set in rubies, emeralds, diamonds and aquamarines resemble candies that any woman would have a hard time saying no to. Her makeup and hair too are kept minimal with a matte coral touch on the lips for obvious reasons.

A black dress can do no wrong. It most certainly did not for Deepika Padukone in a ruffled Coperni pick that could send us to Paris for a romantic dinner date in the blink of an eye topped with Cartier‘s exquisite jewellery set sprinkled like fairy dust. Even a black dress for this fashionista opens the scope for experimentation of a brilliant kind.

In a series of close-up images, Deepika Padukone one can see a hint of her outfits. One in a sleek velvet strapless look and the other forming a pinstriped sleeveless one. The drop necklace adorned with diamonds and precious stones though make up for the minimalistic approach to maximum effect.

A 2015 documentary about her life pointed to her ice queen image and steely ambition but also revealed her warmer side.

Magazine legend Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor of fashion bible US Vogue after 37 years in the post, US media reported Thursday.

British-born Wintour, 75, has been one of the most influential and formidable figures in fashion and magazine journalism for decades, famous for her ever-present sunglasses and unchanging bob haircut.

She was widely seen as the inspiration behind “The Devil Wears Prada,” a hit 2003 novel and 2006 movie, in which the role of a tyrannical magazine editor was played by Meryl Streep.

Wintour, who took the helm at US Vogue in 1988, announced her departure at a staff meeting, but she will stay on as group owner Conde Nast’s global chief content officer and as editorial director at Vogue, People magazine reported.

Wintour, who held the title of Vogue’s editor-in-chief, was made a British dame in 2017 and in February this year was made a companion of honour, joining a select group never numbering more than 65 recognized for major contributions in their field.

At the ceremony in London in February, she removed her trademark sunglasses to receive the award and said she had told King Charles III that she had no plans to stop working.

Wintour, who was raised in the UK by a British father and an American mother, is described by many as the single most powerful person in the global fashion industry.

Her choice of covers for the monthly magazine was seen as authoritative in the publication’s heyday, and she was renowned for her strict control over content, sometimes axing work without discussion.

A 2015 documentary about her life pointed to her ice queen image and steely ambition but also revealed her warmer side.

Economist Martin Wolf said even with maintaining the current growth rate – which would involve pushing skilling of young workers, expanding education and increasing participation of women in the work force — it is an achievable goal

The goal of making India a developed country by 2047, is “plausible” if the economy stays to the current growth rate of 6 per cent, economist Martin Wolf told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. If the growth rate goes slightly higher, the climb might be easier, he said. “I have always felt India could grow at 8 per cent a year. And if that happened, you would definitely become developed”.

But even with maintaining the current growth rate – which would involve pushing skilling of young workers, expanding education and increasing participation of women in the work force — it is an achievable goal, said the chief economics commentator for Financial Times, London, who received the Commander of the British Empire award in 2000 “for services to financial journalism”. 

But there is a caveat. During his ongoing visit in Delhi, Mr Wolf said staying on an even course might not push India into a textbook definition of “developed” but it would still be very well off and “sophisticated”.  

“I expect it to be very clearly the third-largest economy in the world and a great power. That should happen, simply the combination of numbers with growth continuing at about the average, which is very much consistent of 6 per cent a year or so, which India has had over the last three decades.

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have been broadcasting unusual messages concerning nationality in a bid to avoid being attacked as doubts linger over the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have been broadcasting unusual messages concerning nationality in a bid to avoid being attacked as doubts linger over the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, according to maritime risk analytics firm Windward and ship tracking data on Thursday.

The signals have been used since conflict broke out between Israel and Iran early this month, which led the U.S. to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire after 12 days of war but the maritime threat remains elevated, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said.

“The perception among shipowners is that due to the convoluted nature of shipping it’s hard to know or ascertain clearly a chain of ownership to nationalities which may be under higher threat in shipping, namely the UK, U.S. and Israel,” said Ami Daniel, chief executive officer of Windward.

Fifty-five vessels transmitted 101 atypical messages across the Gulf and Red Sea from June 12-24, Windward said, including “China owned” and “Russian crude”, in the hope of preventing attacks because those countries are less likely to be targeted than Western ships.

“We have noted that the United States has also updated the travel advisory for India. This happened, I think, on the 16th of June,” Jaiswal said, adding thereafter New Delhi has been informed by the US authorities that there has been no change in the advisory level for India, which “remains at level 2, same as before”.

“And the US’ travel advisory level for India has been at level 2 for several years,” he added.

The travel advisory for India also says that the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas, which stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal.

It also advised its citizens not to travel to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and Leh, due to terrorism and civil unrest.

The MEA spokesperson, in his response to the query during a weekly media briefing here, said, travel advisories are “periodically issued” by countries based on their “assessment of various factors”.

“We have noted that the United States has also updated the travel advisory for India. This happened, I think, on the 16th of June,” Jaiswal said, adding thereafter New Delhi has been informed by the US authorities that there has been no change in the advisory level for India, which “remains at level 2, same as before”.

“And the US’ travel advisory level for India has been at level 2 for several years,” he added.

The travel advisory for India also says that the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas, which stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal.

Rajnath Singh Arrives in China Ahead of SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet

India has consistently trashed Pakistan’s allegations about its involvement in Balochistan and said Islamabad must look within and stop backing terror instead of making wild allegations. India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document. There was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there was mention of the incidents that happened in Pakistan, so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either,” a Defence Ministry source said.

Addressing the summit, the Defence Minister called upon SCO members to unite to eliminate terrorism for collective safety and security. He said the biggest challenges faced by the region are related to peace, security and trust deficit, with radicalisation, extremism and terrorism being the root cause of these problems.

“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action. It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” Mr Singh, taking in a veiled swipe at Pakistan.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said India had exercised its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross-border attacks. “During the Pahalgam terror attack, victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity.

He stressed the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terror and to bring them to justice. He termed any and every act of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable. SCO members, he said, must condemn this evil unequivocally.

The Defence Minister’s refusal to sign the joint statement reflects India’s stern stand against terror now and falls in line with the global messaging in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor