Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Masaba Gupta took to social media to share a heartwarming glimpse of her mother, Neena Gupta, embracing her nani duties with love and affection.

The cherished moments captured the veteran actress enjoying her role as a doting grandmother. On Thursday, Masaba posted a sweet video of Neena singing the classic song ‘Dum Maro Dum’ while holding the baby. Capturing this sweet moment, the fashion designer wrote, “Mozart for babies < Nani singing whatever comes to mind. It’s a miracle I turned out ok. @neena_gupta.” In the video, Neena is casually dressed, cradling the baby in her arms while singing the iconic song, as Masaba lovingly captures the candid moment on camera.Last year in October, Masaba Gupta and actor Satyadeep Misra were blessed with a baby girl. The couple announced the happy news with a joint statement on Dussehra. They also shared an adorable picture of their baby girl’s feet and captioned it, “Our very special little girl arrived on a very special day. 11.10.2024. Masaba and Satyadeep.”Masaba and Satyadeep tied the knot in a private court ceremony in January 2023, surrounded by close family and friends, including Masaba’s parents, Neena Gupta and Vivian Richards. In April of the same year, the couple shared the joyful news that they are expecting their first child. Neena also wrote on her Instagram handle, “Humare bacchon ka baccha aane Wala hai. Isse zyada Khushi ki baat Kya ho sakti hai (My children are about to have a child. What could be a happier news?)”For the unversed, Masaba’s parents never tied the knot, and she was brought up by Neena. She reestablished contact with her father when she reached the age of 20. Reportedly, Neena Gupta had a short-lived relationship with West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards during the 1980s. At that time, Richards was married but separated and was a father to two children.--IANSps/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Actress Preity Zinta turned back the clock and revisited her appearance at Cannes 2024.Sharing a video from the film festival on social media, Preity wrote, “Throwback to the same time last year when I officially got back to showbiz ! It was so nice to be all dressed up in Cannes after forever & I loved every moment of it…Ting!,” along with a red heart emoji.Preity was a sight for sore eyes in Cannes 2024 as she posed in a shimmering pearl white gown. Assisted by the celebrity fashion stylist Leepakshi Ellawadi, her outfit was accessorized with a set of pearl earrings.Makeup artist Jay Kanojia gave her nude shimmering eyeshadow, along with winged eyeliner, and thick eyebrows. Her makeup was completed with contoured cheekbones, and nude lipstick. As for hair, stylist Malinge Florian tied those tresses into a messy bun, leaving a section of hair framing her face.Personifying elegance, the diva faced the camera by the riverside in the video.Her second look for Cannes 2024 was a mesmerizing pink saree by designer Seema Gujral with intricate sequin work. She paired her saree with a matching blouse with a plunging neckline. The saree was complemented with silver earrings studded with purple emeralds and a simple diamond bracelet.For those who do not know, Preity made her Cannes debut back in 2006. During her primary visit, she attended the premieres of “The Wind That Shakes The Barley” and “Paris, Je T’aime.”She returned to the festival in 2013, when she was representing the luxury watch brand Chopard as its brand ambassador. Her third appearance was 11 years later in 2024.Coming to her work commitments, Preity will be making her Bollywood comeback with Rajkumar Santoshi’s “Lahore 1947,” where she will be seen alongside Sunny Deol.–IANSpm/

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India total exports of goods and services clocked a robust 12.7 per cent growth in April to touch the $73.80 billion mark compared with the corresponding figure of $65.48 billion during the same month last year, despite the global economic uncertainties triggered by the US tariff hikes, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Thursday.The country’s merchandise exports shot up by 9.03 per cent to $38.49 billion during the month with high-value electronics and engineering goods registering the highest growth.Electronic goods exports increased by a whopping 39.51 per cent to $ 3.69 billion in April from $2.65 billion in the same month last year.Engineering goods exports increased by 11.28 per cent to $9.51 billion during the month from $8.55 billion in April last year while gems and jewellery exports increased by 10.74 per cent to $2.5 billion from $2.26 billion.Ready-made garments also registered a strong double digit growth of of 14.43 per cent to $ 1.37 billion during the month from $ 1.2 billion in April last year.Similarly, rice exports increased by 13.63 per cent from $0.95 billion to $1.08 billion during the month, reflecting the better performance of the agricultural sector on the back of a better monsoon and adequate availability of fertilisers.Marine products exports also performed well with a 17.81 per cent year-on-year increase from $0.49 billion to $0.58 billion during the month while drugs & pharmaceuticals exports grew by 2.37 per cent from 2.43 billion to $ 2.49 billion.India’s services trade imports reached $17.54 billion, up from $16.76 billion in April 2024, leaving a surplus for services trade at $17.77 billion during the month.This helped to reduce the country’s overall trade deficit as the merchandise trade deficit rose to $21.54 billion for April.India’s total imports of merchandise and services for April this year are estimated at $82.45 billion, registering a growth of 15.72 per cent over the same month last year. The overall trade deficit works out to a manageable $8.65 billion.–IANSsps/pgh

Moradabad, May 15 (IANS) Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav has triggered widespread outrage with his caste-based remarks regarding Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who has been actively briefing the media on ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Speaking at a party event in Bilari Tehsil, Moradabad, Yadav not only identified the caste of Vyomika Singh and other officers but also suggested the BJP was selectively targeting or ignoring officers based on perceived religious and caste backgrounds.While referring to Wing Commander Singh, Yadav mistakenly addressed her as “Divya Singh.” After being corrected by SP MP Aditya Yadav, he went on to name Singh and other military officers, including Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Air Marshal AK Bharti, and described their caste affiliations. His remarks drew strong flak from various quarters. He has been accused of undermining the integrity and unity of the armed forces.Yadav said: “They (referencing BJP leaders like Vijay Shah) didn’t even know who Vyomika Singh is or what her caste is, nor do they know about Air Marshal AK Bharti. Otherwise, they would have abused them too. Let me tell you — Vyomika Singh belongs to the Jatav (Dalit) community from Haryana, and Air Marshal AK Bharti is a Yadav from Purnia. All three belong to the PDA segment. One was abused because they thought she was Muslim, one was assumed to be Rajput, so nothing was said, and they have no information about the third.”He further added: “This war was fought by a Muslim, a Jatav, and a Yadav. All three belong to the PDA (Picchda-backward, Dalit, Aalpsankhyak-minority) category. So, how can the BJP claim credit for this operation?”Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned Yadav’s comments, calling them an affront to the Indian Army’s values and national unity. In a post on social media platform X, the CM stated:”The army uniform is not seen through a casteist lens. Every soldier of the Indian Army upholds ‘Rashtradharma’ (national duty), not the identity of any caste or religion. The SP General Secretary’s act of categorising a brave woman officer by caste is not only indicative of his party’s narrow thinking but also a shameful insult to the valour of our forces and the dignity of the nation.”Targeting the SP’s politics further, he added: “This is the same mindset that dares to divide even patriotism in the name of appeasement and vote-bank politics. The public will give a fitting response to this distorted casteist thinking.”Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also took to X to criticise Yadav’s remarks, writing: “The army is above caste and religion. Its only duty is to protect the nation. Viewing the armed forces through the prism of caste and religion reflects a petty mindset. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly emphasised women’s empowerment in the armed forces. Everyone should trust his leadership.”BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said on X, “Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav used a casteist slur against Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. Such derogatory language can only be the result of a deeply hateful mindset.”–IANSbrt/dan

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Celebrated singer Lucky Ali is all set to mark a special milestone with his first-ever performance in Sikkim as part of the state’s 50th Statehood Day celebrations.

Known for his soulful voice and timeless music, the artist expressed his excitement about being part of such a historic occasion, calling it an honor to share his music with the people of Sikkim for the very first time. Indie pop icon Maqsood Mahmood Ali, better known as Lucky Ali, will take the stage at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on May 16 as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood. This much-anticipated concert will be Ali’s first-ever appearance in the state.Speaking to the media, the singer drew a heartfelt comparison between Gangtok and Mussoorie, the hill station where he spent his school years, saying the capital city evoked a strong sense of nostalgia. He praised Gangtok for its remarkable cleanliness and commended the state’s strides in becoming both an educational hub and a model for organic living—an ethos he personally embraces through his own organic farming practices.Lucky Ali also spoke about his passion for football, expressing his excitement about being part of the Sikkim Premier League, whose final is set to take place at Paljor Stadium. He applauded Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay for actively promoting the sport in the state through initiatives like the SPL, calling such tournaments vital for nurturing local talent.“I’m very happy and honored to be here. I love this place—it reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in Mussoorie, and Gangtok feels very similar to other Himalayan towns. The mist rising into the hills brings back memories of my early years. Gangtok, to me, is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever seen. I’ve been noticing the cafes and the vibrant life here—it has a very progressive atmosphere. And I really admire the emphasis being placed on education; that’s such a positive thing,” said Ali.He added, “I feel people in Sikkim are gentle and friendly in nature, this I learned while coming from down South (India). These are some of the qualities that we wish to take back.”Lucky Ali, son of legendary actor-comedian Mehmood, is known for his tracks such as ‘O Sanam,’ ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena,’ ‘Na Tum Jano Na Hum,’ ‘Kitni Haseen Zindagi,’ ‘Safarnama,’ and ‘Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai,’ among others.–IANSps/

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New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced that the National Selection Trials (NST) 2 and 3 for Shotgun events (Trap and Skeet) will be conducted in New Delhi and Bhopal, from May 21 and June 1, respectively.These trials will help in finalising the Indian squad for a packed international calendar later in the year, including two ISSF World Cups (Italy and Greece), the 16th Asian Championships (Kazakhstan), the ISSF Junior World Cup (India-September) and the 3rd Asian Youth Games (Bahrain-October).The NST 2 will be held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi from May 21-26, 2025, with Skeet qualifications scheduled on Day One, with the finals subsequently scheduled on May 23. The Trap event will take place from May 24-26, 2025.The Selection Committee will consider the scores of the ISSF Junior World Cup, Suhl, Germany, for those junior athletes participating in the event, as NST 2 coincides with it. Scores of such shooters will not be marked “Zero”. In view of this, there will be no separate selection trials for junior athletes in the shotgun category, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) informed in a release on Thursday.The NST 3 will be hosted at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Bhopal, from June 1-8, 2025. The Skeet event will run from June 1-4, followed by the Trap competition from June 5-8, with each discipline concluding in finals on the last day of their respective schedule.Eligibility for the upcoming Selection Trials is based on performances at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) and the 3rd Digvijay Singh Memorial Shooting Championship. To qualify, shooters must have recorded a minimum score of 110 (Seniors) and 100 (Juniors) in Trap and Skeet (Men), and 95 (Seniors) and 90 (Juniors) in the corresponding Women’s events.Additionally, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees and Arjuna Awardees will be eligible to participate irrespective of their scores.Meanwhile, the NRAI will be conducting the National Selection Trials 3 and 4 in Rifle and Pistol events for Group ‘A’ shooters, from June 24 to 30, 2025, at the Trishul Shooting Range, Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur, Dehradun. These trials will help in shaping the Indian team for the 16th Asian Shooting Championships 2025 in Kazakhstan in August and ISSF World Cup in China and Egypt later in the year.–IANSbsk/

Chandigarh, May 15 (IANS) In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police have uncovered a well-organised smuggling racket operating from within the jail premises, leading to the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Security Gurpreet Singh posted at the Sangrur Jail, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, a raid inside the Sangrur Jail had led to the recovery of 12 mobile phones, four smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams of heroin and other contraband items. The preliminary investigation has also pointed to the involvement of a Class IV employee identified as Parshant, whose role in facilitating the smuggling activities came to light,” said the DGP, while confirming the arrest of the employee. He said that pursuing backward and forward linkages, the investigation further led to the arrest of Amritsar-based drug smuggler Manpreet Singh, who is an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh, currently lodged in Sangrur Jail. Police teams have recovered 4 kg of Heroin, Rs 5.5 lakh drug money and one 9 mm Glock pistol along with two cartridges from the accused Manpreet’s possession. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and disclosures are expected, said DGP Yadav, while reaffirming that no individual, regardless of their rank or position, will be spared if found involved in illegal activities. Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (Sangrur) Sartaj Singh Chahal said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused DSP Gurpreet Singh was actively involved in the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into the jail premises. He said the probe has also revealed that the accused DSP had received Rs 40,000 cash from inmate Gurchet’s relative and Rs 26,000 in his wife’s account via UPI, to facilitate 25 grams of heroin and two mobile phones into the jail premises. Of the total 25 grams of heroin, 12 grams of heroin have been recovered from another inmate identified as Ravi, who was further selling the drugs to inmates on the directions of Gurchet. The SSP said 19 accused, including DSP Gurpreet Singh, employee Parshant, drug smuggler Manpreet Singh, inmate Gurchet’s mother identified as Banto and 15 inmates have been arrested. –IANS vg/dan

Chennai, May 15 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday inaugurated the 127th annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) in Udhagamandalam (Ooty), marking the grand start of the summer festival season in the Nilgiris.The event, which drew large crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of the Chief Minister, will run for 11 days, from May 15 to May 25.Organised by the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops in association with the Nilgiris district administration, the flower show is among the most anticipated attractions in the state’s tourism calendar.Owing to a sharp rise in expected tourist footfall this year, the duration of the event has been extended from the usual five days to eleven, providing a more relaxed and engaging experience for visitors.Chief Minister Stalin, accompanied by members of his family, was taken on a guided tour of the spectacular floral displays, many of which highlighted themes of Tamil royalty.Among the key attractions was a majestic castle facade built using more than 1.3 lakh flowers, measuring 70 feet in length and 20 feet in height.Another exhibit — a “royal castle” — was crafted using over two lakh carnations, roses, and chrysanthemums.Other floral marvels included a ‘divine swan’ made with over 50,000 flowers, a flower-adorned throne where Stalin posed for photographs, and artistic arrangements shaped like swings, musical instruments, elephants, and tigers.Stalin also inaugurated the newly renovated Fern House at the GBG, inspected various stalls set up as part of the show, and visited the Italian Garden.The inauguration ceremony featured a range of cultural performances, including Bharatanatyam and traditional dances by the Badaga, Toda, and Kota tribal communities.Members of the Tibetan community in the Nilgiris also performed during the event.Member of Parliament from Nilgiris Constituency and former Union Minister A. Raja ,Nilgiris Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru, Superintendent of Police N.S. Nisha, and senior officials from the Forest Department and district administration were also present.The Chief Minister is on a five-day official visit to the Nilgiris, which began on May 12.As part of his itinerary, Stalin has been participating in key public welfare initiatives, notably the distribution of pattas (land ownership documents) to thousands of eligible beneficiaries — an important step toward empowering landless families and promoting rural development.He is also scheduled to visit Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, to meet with tribal community members and assess their developmental needs.–IANSaal/pgh

Nouakchott, May 15 (IANS) An appeals court sentenced former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to 15 years in prison on charges of corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering.Aziz, who led Mauritania from August 5, 2009, to August 1, 2019, had initially been sentenced to five years in prison in the first instance.His lawyer, Mohameden Ould Ichidou, said his client intends to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the verdict was “tainted by abuse of power.”On the other hand, Ibrahim Ould Ebety, lawyer for the civil party representing the state, praised “a rigorous procedure,” saying that the evidence presented in court was “based on material facts,” Xinhua news agency reported.The verdict was delivered during a session specifically convened to announce the judgment in the “Decade of Corruption” case, which centres on Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s decade-long presidency. During his rule, he and several top officials faced multiple corruption-related charges.As part of the ruling, the court also ordered the dissolution of the “Al-Rahma Charity Association,” a foundation led by Badr Ould Abdel Aziz, the former president’s son. The association’s assets were ordered to be confiscated.Ould Abdel Aziz’s legal team is expected to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal with the Supreme Court.The Court of Appeal in Nouakchott concluded its examination of the defendants and heard final submissions on April 23.Ould Abdel Aziz and his co-accused returned to court in December 2023 after appealing their earlier convictions.In that same month, a court specialising in corruption sentenced the former president to five years in prison and revoked his civil rights.The case has become the longest-running trial in Mauritanian history. Proceedings began on January 25, 2023, with initial verdicts announced on December 4, before the matter was escalated to a higher court.Charges brought against Ould Abdel Aziz and his former associates included corruption, illicit enrichment, money laundering, awarding improper benefits through government contracts, and undermining the interests of the state.In connection with the investigation, authorities froze assets totalling 41 billion ouguiyas (approximately $100 million). Reports indicate that over half of the seized assets belonged to Ould Abdel Aziz and his family.Ould Abdel Aziz served as president for two terms, from 2009 to 2019. He chose not to contest the June 2019 elections, instead backing his ally and successor, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who assumed office in August 2019.–IANSint/jk/dan