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Rome, May 15 (IANS) Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen earned her first win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in her seventh seventh all-time encounter, advancing to the semifinals of the Italian Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.Zheng was not only 0-6 against Sabalenka entering their first match on clay surface other than hard courts: She was also 0-2 at the quarterfinal hurdle in Rome. But in 1 hour and 37 minutes, she snapped both of those winless marks, saving all five break points that she faced and breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times, WTA reports.Zheng later credited her comfort level on clay with being the X-factor in comparison to their previous six tilts. Though Sabalenka was on a nine-match winning streak on the surface, Zheng boasts a 3-0 record in clay-court finals, and is 17-3 in her last 20 clay-court matches.”During all this time I’m trying to beat her on court. Sometimes I’m really close, but it’s just I never make it before. his is the first time we play on clay. I guess when I play on clay, I’m more comfortable because I got great experience on clay,” Zheng said post-match.”I was more patient than her. I’m just happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the World No. 1,” Zheng, who hit 27 unforced errors to just 15 winners, said.Zheng is the second Chinese woman to reach the semifinals in Rome after Li Na, who was runner-up at the tournament in 2012. She will bid for her second career WTA 1000 final against No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, who had earlier defeated Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to march into the last four.Gauff won both previous meetings against Zheng Qinwen (in Rome’s quarterfinals last season and in the championship match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh last year). She’s won nine of her 10 matches on the red clay in Madrid and Rome, according to WTA stats.–IANSbc/

United Nations, May 15 (IANS) Buddha’s principle of the middle path is relevant in today’s time of global uncertainty, India’s…

Bhopal, May 15 (IANS) After BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah on Thursday approached the Supreme Court challenging a High Court order that initiated suo motu proceedings against him for his derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Vivek Tankha questioned whether the BJP’s legal team was helping Shah in the matter.”Minister Vijay (Shah) is reaching the Supreme Court this morning. Is the BJP helping the minister through its legal team? This would go against the sentiments of the nation and the Indian Army. That is why the BJP is silent on the matter of dismissing the minister. Patriots will oppose this,” Tankha posted on his social media account.In another post, Tankha said, “Breaking News: If Vijay Shah’s appeal is mentioned in the Supreme Court and heard, Rajya Sabha MPs and senior advocates Vivek Tankha, Kapil Sibal, Indira Jai ​​Singh and KTS Tulsi will stand in court against Vijay Shah.”The development follows a stinging rebuke by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which described Shah’s remarks as “dangerous,” “scurrilous,” and “language of the gutter.” The court had ordered the police to register an FIR against him under charges of promoting enmity and hatred.Acting on the court’s directive, Madhya Pradesh Police registered a case late Wednesday night against Shah over his communal, sexist, and derogatory comments against Colonel Qureshi.The High Court is also set to hold a hearing in the matter, during which it will seek a status report from the state police on the FIR.Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had gained public attention for conducting regular press briefings alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during Operation Sindoor – the Indian armed forces mission targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.In a viral video, Shah was heard saying: “They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers after stripping them. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists’) sister in an Army plane to strike them in their homes. They made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent their own sister to reply to them.”Following public outrage, Shah issued an apology, saying he respected the armed forces and referred to Colonel Qureshi as a sister, apologizing “from the bottom of his heart.”–IANSpd/skp

Kolkata, May 15 (IANS) Trinamool Congress legislator from Tehatta Assembly constituency in Nadia district of West Bengal, Tapas Kumar Saha, who was named in the cash-for-school job case, died at a hospital in Kolkata on Thursday morning.Tapas Kumar Saha suffered from a brain stroke in his sleep at his residence at Tehatta on Wednesday. Thereafter, he was promptly shifted to Kolkata and admitted to a private hospital in the city. He died at the same hospital on Thursday morning, at the age of 65.Tapas Kumar Saha was a two-time Trinamool Congress legislator. From 2016 to 2021, he was an elected party MLA from Nakashipara Assembly constituency also in Nadia district. However, in 2021, the party nominated him from the Tehatta Assembly constituency and he won from there.Trinamool Congress insiders said that Saha was not in the best of health for the last few months, and he recently went to Bengaluru for a few days to undergo treatment for some ailments.“He was depressed ever since his name came up in the school-job case,” said a party leader from Nadia district who was close to Saha.In April 2023, the sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a raid and search operation at Saha’s residence at Tehatta in connection with the school job case.He was also summoned for interrogation at the CBI’s Nizam Palace office in central Kolkata during the investigation.The CBI accused him of accepting cash from several candidates in the district with promises of getting them school jobs.However, his relationships with the Trinamool Congress was not always smooth.In 2011, the party denied him the ticket from Tehatta Assembly constituency which he had strongly urged the party to give him. After that he remained suspended from the party for quite some time.However, his suspension was revoked, and in the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress nominated him as the candidate but from the Palashipara constituency in the same district.He got elected and then again in 2021, the party nominated him, but this time from Tehatta and Saha got elected yet again.–IANSsrc/rad

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) US-based company Axiom Space on Thursday announced a delay to its Mission-4 (Ax-4), which intended to carry astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the first Indian ever to go to the International Space Station (ISS).The mission earlier scheduled for launch on May 29, will now lift off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 8 at 9:11 a.m. ET (6:41 pm IST), the company said.Shukla, who will pilot the mission, will travel to ISS along with Commander Peggy Whitson (US), mission specialist Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and mission specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).“Ax-4 represents a pivotal moment in the growth of commercial human spaceflight. For the first time in history, astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will fly together to the International Space Station as part of a government-sponsored mission — with each nation returning to human spaceflight after more than four decades,” Axiom said, in a statement.Confirming the delay, NASA said the shift is occurring to accommodate “launch opportunities for several upcoming missions”.”The schedule adjustments provide more time to finalise mission plans, spacecraft readiness, and logistics,” added NASA, in a post on social media platform X.Shukla’s travel to space, onboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, comes four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight onboard Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.He was included in the astronaut selection process by ISRO in 2019, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 announced from the Red Fort that a son or daughter of India would go to space very soon.In January 2025, the 39-year-old astronaut was selected as the pilot for the Ax-4 mission — a collaborative mission between NASA and ISRO.“During the transit journey, I’m going to be acting as the mission pilot, so I will be working alongside the commander of the vehicle, managing the systems, navigating the vehicle, and looking at all the data that is available, and if required, intervening and, interacting with the systems, if something was to go wrong or there was a need for a manual intervention,” said Shukla, earlier speaking to IANS.While in space, he will partake in experiments aimed to advance the technologies to build Axiom’s own space station, and the effect of microgravity on cyanobacteria — a type of bacteria that has an anaerobic pathway.“Cyanobacteria are being studied to see how well they can perform the activity in microgravity and the possibility of utilising them for future missions to provide an environment, an oxygen-rich environment for the crew who is going to stay,” Shukla said.–IANSrvt/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Bollywood actress Kajol took to social media to wish Madhuri Dixit on her birthday, calling her the ‘original dancing queen.’

On Thursday, the ‘Diwale’ actress took to her Instagram stories and shared a smiling picture of the Dhak Dhak girl, writing, “Happy Birthday to the OG dancing queen…May you always stun us with your grace on stage and off of it @maduridixitnene.” In the image, Dixit is seen wearing a heavily embellished red saree and smiling while looking away from the camera.Despite being two of Bollywood’s most iconic actresses, Kajol and Madhuri Dixit have never appeared together on screen in a film. Not to forget, Kajol made headlines last year when she recreated Madhuri Dixit’s iconic look from the blockbuster film “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!.” Her outfit closely resembled Madhuri’s memorable appearance in the song “Didi Tera Devar Deewana.” Tagging Dixit, Kajol captioned the photo, “Hum Aapke Hai Kaun… Ode to the OG @madhuridixitnene #diditeradevardeewana #saree.”Meanwhile, Madhuri Dixit turned 58 on May 15. On her special day, the actress received heartwarming wishes from her family members, fans, and celebrities on social media. Madhuri’s husband, Dr. Shriram Nene, also penned a sweet birthday note for her. He shared a series of photos featuring the couple and their kids and wrote: “Happy Birthday to the one who’s brightened our lives in every way You’ve made everything lighter, warmer, and better—just by being you. I’d choose you all over again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the love, the laughter, and the light you bring Here’s to us, and to many more beautiful years ahead. I love you, always.”Work-wise, Madhuri Dixit last appeared on the big screen in “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” which was released in 2024. The horror-comedy featured her in a pivotal role alongside Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, and Tripti Dimri.–IANSps/

Los Angeles, May 15 (IANS) Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson believes the Academy didn’t give Avengers: Endgame the recognition it deserved, noting that while the blockbuster earned a nomination for Visual Effects, it was overlooked for a Best Picture nod.

“How did this film not get nominated for an Oscar?” Johansson told Vanity Fair in a new cover story promoting her forthcoming directorial debut “Eleanor the Great”, which is set to premiere at Cannes.She continued: “It was an impossible movie that should not have worked, that really works as a film — and also, it’s one of the most successful films of all time.”Explaining that commercial success should not preclude awards recognition, reports deadline.com.The discussion surrounding Marvel‘s place at the prestigious awards ceremony has long simmered, with “Avengers: Endgame” co-director Joe Russo recently chiming in on the matter.The ever-expanding MCU has seen its fair share of Academy nods, largely in the Visual Effects category, including for Black Panther, which won three Oscars.All three Iron Man films have been nominated, as have all the Avengers installments, Doctor Strange, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: No Way Home.However, as with many tent poles, these films have largely avoided a nomination in the Best Picture category.Johansson reaffirmed that she has left the MCU behind for good, despite former co-stars’ foray back into the multiverse.“It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity [returning] would make sense for me, for the character that I play,” she explained.“I miss my buddies and really would love to be with them forever, but what works about the character is that her story is complete. I don’t want to mess with that. For fans too — it’s important for them.”–IANSdc/

Chennai, May 15 (IANS) In a heartwarming gesture, several poor farmers from the state who stood to benefit from the…

Ayodhya, May 15 (IANS) In a spirited display of nationalism and gratitude, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday organised a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, to mark the resounding success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Indian armed forces.The Yatra, taken out in the holy city of Ramnagari Ayodhya, echoed with patriotic chants as slogans of “Jai Hind” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” rang through the streets.Beginning from Gandhi Park and making its way to the Chowk via Civil Lines, the procession was marked by a sea of national flags and enthusiastic participation from all walks of life.Former BJP MP Lallu Singh, Ayodhya MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, Samajwadi Party’s rebel MLA Abhay Singh, and members of the BJP Mahila Morcha joined the ‘Tiranga Yatra’, which turned into a powerful expression of unity and national pride.Speaking to IANS, many participants praised the decisive military action taken by India in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.The precision strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeted high-value terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, drawing widespread support from across the nation.”Pakistan was shown its place. A country which fosters terrorism needed to be taught a lesson, and India gave a befitting response to the terrorist outfits that aim to disrupt peace and prosperity in India,” said a retired Indian Army soldier who participated in the Yatra.”Our forces have demonstrated that we will act firmly against terror groups and enemies of the nation. The soldiers have proved that those who provoke us will not be spared,” he added.Another participant, a retired Subedar Major, expressed deep pride in the capabilities of the Indian military.”Indian armed forces have once again proven to be among the best in the world. They have shown that we will never back down and will always rise to fight terrorism and defend our nation,” he said.Several others echoed the sentiment, stating that the Yatra was a way to express respect for the soldiers who risk their lives to protect the country.”We are here to honour our forces. Their valour and bravery have always safeguarded us and given Pakistan a fitting reply. We are proud of them and love our country, and that’s why we have gathered here today,” said a local BJP supporter.”It is a matter of immense pride that the Indian Armed Forces, through ‘Operation Sindoor’, have delivered a strong and fitting response to Pakistan’s terrorism. The whole nation is proud and grateful to our brave soldiers,” added another Ayodhya resident and local BJP leader.–IANSsd/rad

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah has moved the Supreme Court against an order of the MP High Court ordering registration of an FIR over his controversial remarks on Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. In suo moto proceedings, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) to register a criminal case against Shah under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) within four hours, and warned the DGP of contempt action in case of any delay in compliance.A bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla of the MP High Court said that prima facie, an offence of promoting enmity between different castes, religion and language was made out.The Justice Sreedharan-led Bench opined that referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a “sister of terrorists” is an offence of hurting the sentiments and faith of the Muslim community.Talking about Operation Sindoor, Vijay Shah, on Monday, had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.”PM Modi is striving for the society. Those who widowed our daughters (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson,” Shah had said.The distasteful remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Indian Army officer who briefed the media throughout Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, sparked nationwide outrage.Following the incident, the Minister apologised from the “bottom of his heart” and said he respects the Armed Forces and mentioned Colonel Sofiya as “sister”.”I, Vijay Shah, am not only ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has hurt the sentiments of every community, but I also apologise from the bottom of my heart. Our country’s sister Sofia Qureshi ji has worked rising above caste and society while fulfilling her national duty,” he said in a video message posted on the social media platform X.In his petition filed before the top court, Shah sought quashing of the FIR as well as the suo motu proceedings initiated by the MP High Court.–IANSpds/svn