Mahakumbh 2025: ‘Netra Kumbh’ opened, to offer eye tests and surgeries for pilgrims

Dec82024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Mahakumbh 2025: ‘Netra Kumbh’ opened, to offer eye tests and surgeries for pilgrims

INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

Prayagraj,: Crores of devotees are set to assemble for the world's largest religious event Mahakumbh beginning on January 13, 2025, on the holy banks of Sangam in Teerthraj Prayagraj. Besides ensuring a robust pilgrimage framework for pilgrims, the Yogi Adityanath government has placed strong emphasis on their health through the establishment of Netra Kumbh, a special initiative dedicated to eye care. Spread over nine acres, Netra Kumbh targets will examine the eyes of more than 5 lakh devotees and distribute 3 lakh pairs of glasses simultaneously. Moreover, eye patients would also be identified during these examinations who require surgical interventions. They will be facilitated to undergo free operations at hospitals near their homes. This will be possible because of stat...

Dec52024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Sharmila Tagore makes a meaningful comeback with ‘Outhouse’

ENTERTAINMENT, INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

Legendary actress Sharmila Tagore is making her much-anticipated comeback to the silver screen with the upcoming film “Outhouse.” On Thursday, the makers released the trailer of the film on social media. The trailer provides a peek into the lives of Nana (Mohan Agashe), Aadima (Sharmila Tagore), and her grandson Neel (Jihan Hodar) as they set out on a heartfelt quest to locate their missing dog, Pablo. Sharmila delivered a captivating performance as Aadima, a lively grandmother whose search for Pablo brings her into the life of Nana, a reclusive man grappling with his own challenges. The dynamic between Tagore and Mohan Agashe infuses the story with warmth and authenticity. Speaking about her comeback film, Sharmila Tagore shared, “This film is a beautiful reminder that life alway...

Dec52024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Sonu Sood says directorial debut Fateh’ is an ode to every hero who fights back

ENTERTAINMENT, INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

Actor Sonu Sood, who is gearing up for the release of his directorial debut, 'Fateh', has said that the film is an ode to every hero who dares to challenge the odds and fights back. The teaser of the film has been attached to the Allu Arjun-starrer ‘Pushpa: The Rule’ which released in cinemas on Thursday, and is getting a positive response. Talking about the film, Sonu Sood shared, “Stepping into the director’s chair for the first time with Fateh has been a journey of passion and purpose. This action saga calls to attention the unseen battles fought in the shadows of the digital world. I’m thrilled that the teaser of Fateh is out for the audiences who are watching ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ in theatres”. He further mentioned, “It’s a glimpse into a world we’ve poured our hearts into cre...

Dec52024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Student files plea in Madras HC to quash censor certificate for Tamil movie ‘Amaran’

ENTERTAINMENT, INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

An engineering student from Chennai, V.V. Vaageesan, has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking to quash the Censor Board certificate issued to the Tamil movie ‘Amaran’. The petitioner approached the court after his personal mobile phone number was displayed in one of the scenes in the movie, leading to immense difficulties. According to Vaageesan, he began receiving a barrage of phone calls after the movie was released in theaters on October 31, 2024. The callers reportedly assumed that the number belonged either to actor Sai Pallavi, who played the female lead in the movie, or to Indhu Rebecca Varghese, the character portrayed by her. Vaageesan had earlier issued a legal notice to the production firm, Raajkamal Films International, owned by superstar Kamal Haa...

Dec42024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Mumbai’s iconic, historical landmark Gateway of India completes 100 years

INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

Mumbai: Mumbai's most famous landmark, the Gateway of India on the Arabian Sea at Colaba -- built to commemorate the 1911 historic visit of King George V and Queen Mary of Great Britain -- turned 100 on Wednesday. Marking the momentous occasion, Chief Postmaster General of Maharashtra Amitabh Singh, released a Commemorative Special Cancellation and Picture Postcard in the present of top officials like Manoj Kumar, Abhijeet Bansore, Sudhir Jakhere, Yadagiri Nyalapalli and others. "This special cancellation and picture postcard aim to honour the Gateway of India's 100-year legacy, showcasing the grandeur and architectural beauty of the monument. It's to celebrate the centenary of this monument through a beautifully crafted post-card, offering a glimpse into the historical importance of...

Dec42024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Power sharing: Will follow instructions of Cong high command, says K’taka CM

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while answering media questions regarding a 'pact' between him and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on power sharing, clarified there was no pact in this regard and they would “follow the instruction of the high command.” Speaking on the issue in Mandya on Wednesday, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "We will follow the instructions of the high command.” When asked to react to the statements of CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM Shivakumar asserted, “When the Chief Minister has made the statement, I have no objection and it is final. No further questions or debate. I have answered questions in this regard earlier." Sources stated that CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar had agreed to share power equally in the five year term of the government. ...

Dec32024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Centre giving special packages to reduce fertiliser prices for farmers

INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, TOP STORIES

New Delhi: The government has provided special additional packages to farmers over and above Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) to further reduce the price of fertilisers in both the kharif and rabi seasons of 2024, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The government has ensured the smooth availability of fertilisers at affordable prices despite recent geo-political situations due to the Russia-Ukraine war by providing special packages over and above the NBS subsidy rates on a need basis so that the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of the fertilisers remains stable and market volatility are subsumed, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. Further, in order to diversify its sources, the government engages with ferti...

Dec32024 by thestatelineNo Comments

ICMR working to prevent neonatal mortality, stillbirths in India: Centre

Health, INDIA, SPECIAL, SPORTS, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is working on multiple projects to reduce the neonatal mortality rate, and prevent stillbirths in India, the Centre informed on Tuesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, said that ICMR has identified neonatal mortality as a national health research priority, and it has undertaken several key research projects on the health of newborns and children. Under its ‘Sankalp’ programme, the ICMR aims to “strengthen, implement and monitor the target of achieving single-digit neonatal mortality.” The apex body has also launched research to reduce stillbirths. “It is also developing a project on building evidence and designing solutions to prevent sti...

Dec32024 by thestatelineNo Comments

PM Modi lauds Rajya Sabha’s approval of amendments to Oilfields Act

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the Rajya Sabha’s approval of the landmark amendments to the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act 1948, to facilitate the ease of business and speed up the development of India’s rapidly growing energy sector. “This is an important legislation which will boost energy security and also contribute to a prosperous India,” PM Modi said on X while responding to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s statement. Hailing this as “a historic step into the future” Puri said, “The epochal amendments proposed will further strengthen and propel India’s energy sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and ensure policy stability, international arbitration, extended lease periods etc.” Since petro...

Dec32024 by thestatelineNo Comments

Bengal: Potato traders withdraw strike after govt assurance

INDIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES

Kolkata: West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders’ Association, on Tuesday evening withdrew the strike following assurances from the state government to resolve the stalemate over the ban on potato export to other states. On Tuesday, the prices of the two main popular varieties of potatoes ‘Jyoti’ and ‘Chandramukhi’ increased by almost Rs 9 a kilogram in the different retail markets in the state, especially in the state capital of Kolkata. Thereafter the state government representatives had a meeting with the representatives of the association, following which the latter announced the decision to withdraw the indefinite strike. An association representative said that the decision to withdraw the strike had been taken for two reasons. “First, because the prices of potatoes in the ...