Latest news with #2019
India Gazette
17 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes part in International Yoga Day celebrations in Udhampur, hails Indian Army and Op Sindoor
By Tanya Chugh Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 21 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the 11th International yoga Day celebrations in Udhampur of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh met the army personnel here in Udhampur, praised their efforts in Operation Sindoor. 'Your bravery is widely admired across the nation. I salute the valour and courage of the Indian Army,' Rajnath Singh said while addressing the He gave a clear message that Operation Sindoor was not just a reaction, and it is not over yet. 'The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam was not merely an isolated incident from across the border, but a direct attempt to target India's social and communal harmony. We not only foiled their nefarious plans but also delivered such a powerful response that Pakistan was forced to kneel down, leading us to announce a temporary halt to Operation Sindoor. As we have stated earlier, Operation Sindoor is not yet over,' said the Union minister. 'This operation was not just a reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack. Through Operation Sindoor, we have sent a clear message to Pakistan that sponsoring terrorism against India will have increasingly severe consequences. Operation Sindoor is the natural progression of the 2016 Surgical Strike and the 2019 Air Strike.' 'With this operation, we have conveyed to Pakistan that its long-standing campaign of inflicting wounds on India through terrorism will no longer succeed. Any terror attack on Indian soil will now come at a very high cost to Pakistan. India is fully prepared to take every necessary step in its fight against terrorism,' he added. 'Pakistan aims to weaken India from within. But it must never forget that for India's unity and integrity, Major Somnath Sharma sacrificed his life, and so did brave soldiers like Brigadier Usman, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Today, I am in Udhampur, just a few hours from Naushera--the very place where Brigadier Usman laid down his life for Bharat Mata,' said Singh. Expressing the importance of Yoga in our lives, the minister said, 'as our nation observes International Yoga Day, it is important to reflect on the true meaning of Yoga. Yoga means union. Uniting every section of society with India's culture and spirit is the essence of yoga. If even one section of society is left behind in this effort, the circle of India's unity and security will break. Therefore, today, let us practice not just physical yoga, but strive for unity in thought and society as well. This must be done with patience and deep resolve.' 'Today, the entire country is observing Yoga Day with enthusiasm--and not just India, but the whole world is embracing our cultural legacy. Yoga, an ancient tradition over a thousand years old, was once practised only by sages. Today, people across the globe are performing yoga. This is a reflection of India's growing global influence,' he added. He further added, 'In today's world, where stress, anxiety, and unrest are widespread, yoga has emerged as a powerful is not merely about sitting quietly with eyes closed--it's about mindfulness and inner control.' The theme of this years yoga Day celebrations is 'Yoga for one Earth, one health,' aligning it with sustainability and global well being. Speaking about the theme of this year's Yoga day celebrations, the Defence Minister said, 'Every year, we celebrate Yoga Day with a unique theme. This year's theme, 'One Earth, One Health', reflects India's belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--that the whole world is one family.' The Union Minister arrived in Udhampur on the evening of 20th June and took part in cultural celebrations and Bada khana with army personnel. (ANI)
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
My family and I lost S$500,000 to a scam. Taking responsibility for it was hard, but it helped me grow
I learnt the most painful lesson of my life in 2019. Together with my wife, my in-laws and my brother, we lost nearly half a million dollars to a scam. The financial loss was devastating – but the real damage was personal, relational, and emotional. You might be wondering: How does a mature, educated person fall so hard for a scam? The prime reason: Trust. One day, a friend introduced me to a charismatic forex trader, a well-mannered gentleman who exuded confidence and credibility. He shared an investment opportunity which promised good returns in the form of fixed monthly payouts with a simple one-month withdrawal notice. I'm not usually one to trust strangers at first sight, but my friend's introduction had lowered my guard. I decided to invest a small sum to test the waters. But when the returns came as promised, I started gradually increasing my investment sum and even rolled the profits back into the scheme. There were no red flags – no pressure, just consistent 'results' from a 'professional' who seemed to know what he was doing. What began as a cautious experiment grew into a six-figure commitment within a few years. During that time, we connected over shared values, talked about business and exchanged stories about our lives. He came across as sincere, humble and sharp. He even supported me as a donor in my corporate fundraising career. My trust in him was built slowly over those years. The more we connected and the more money I made, the more my confidence in both him and the scheme grew. Eventually, he became someone I considered a friend. I never imagined I could be wrong about him. PULLING OTHERS IN As I fell deeper and deeper, I began encouraging others around me to join the scheme. I won't lie, I did receive a recurring referral commission; however, I also genuinely believed it was a great opportunity. I told myself it was a win-win: People around me would benefit, and I would earn a little extra. Why think twice? In total, I introduced over 20 people to the scheme, including close friends and family. Like me, they were drawn in by the personal relationship they had with the individual bringing them in. We were all in. Then one day, everything came crashing down. I still remember the day I received the shocking news: The 'trader' had been arrested and charged for fraud. The jig was up – it was a Ponzi scheme. I felt physically sick. In that moment, I didn't know what was worse, that my money was gone, or that I had unknowingly led people I cared about into the same trap. It was beyond awful to realise that I wasn't just a victim; I was an accomplice, an unintentional instigator of harm. My emotions were all over the place. All the same, I knew I couldn't wait. I broke the news to those affected. For three nights, I couldn't sleep. I lost my appetite. My wife, daughter, and I were devastated. We had to tighten our belts overnight, and our thoughts ran wild with worst-case scenarios – what if we never recovered from this? BROKEN FRIENDSHIPS We were hurting about the financial loss. But even more so, we agonised over the emotional fallout: Strained relationships, broken trust, and deep shame. Some friends were gracious and understanding, and I'll forever be indescribably grateful. Others weren't. A few relationships never recovered – and honestly, I don't blame them. They had every right to be angry, to question and criticise my judgment now. By then, I was no longer in close touch with the friend who had originally introduced me to the trader. Nevertheless, it felt like our friendship, too, was over. The case went to court but as it unfolded, the victims were divided. Some supported the prosecution, hoping to recover their funds since the trader's accounts were frozen. Others held onto hope that if the case was dropped, payouts might resume. Two camps, two versions of denial – and I felt caught between them. Then came another gut-wrenching twist – I was called to testify as a prosecution witness. Truth be told, I didn't want to do it. Rationally, I understood that the scammer had done wrong to myself and so many others. Still, he had been my friend. I still felt lingering gratitude to him, especially for his support earlier in my I had no choice. The law compelled me. I had to do the right thing. TAKING OWNERSHIP If you're thinking 'This could never happen to me', I understand. I once thought the same. But scams don't always look like scams. They often come to us disguised as opportunity, friendship and success. Eventually, I came to a painful but important realisation: Though the trader had been at the crux of it all, it wasn't just his fault. It was also mine. I had enabled him by placing relationships above reason and emotion above evidence. I had wanted to trust him so much that I'd failed to see when that trust had crossed over into blindness. I had to confront my blind spots and take ownership of my actions and decisions. I began rebuilding – not just my finances, but also my mindset and capabilities. With strong support from my mentors and friends, I immersed myself in deal-making – this time making sure to do thorough due diligence at every single step. I dove deeper into stock investing, trading psychology and financial literacy. I took charge of my own investments instead of outsourcing my financial future to so-called experts. Today, I'm fortunate enough to have bounced back to an even stronger financial standing than before, with good returns from my own investment portfolio. But more importantly, I've built resilience. I may have learnt my lesson the hard way, but I'm now writing this to tell you that you don't have to do the same. Always exercise caution. Ask tough questions. Do your homework. And remember: the most important investment you'll ever make is in your own education and awareness. NEW BEGINNINGS Out of this painful pitfall, I found a new purpose: To help others avoid falling into the same pit. I founded the Rainmaker Community, a business and social network where people gather monthly to learn and grow together, not only about growing in wealth but also in wisdom, human connection, and character. We don't promise returns or chase hype – we build relationships and pursue purpose. I'm not proud of what happened. But I am proud of how I responded. It taught me this valuable lesson: That failure can indeed become life's most powerful teacher, but only if you're willing to meet it with honesty and humility.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Woman alleges triple talaq, cheating by husband
Udupi: A woman filed a complaint at the women's police station here on Wednesday, alleging that she was a victim of triple talaq . According to her complaint, she was married to Adil Ibrahim on Sept 4, 2013. The complainant stated that her family gave 60 sovereigns of gold jewellery, household items, and hosted the wedding on a grand scale. An additional 10 sovereigns of gold were given as gifts, and the entire wedding expenditure of Rs 8 lakh was borne by her father. Following the wedding, the couple lived in a rented house. However, just four days into the marriage, the complainant was allegedly asked by her husband and four of his family members to hand over her gold jewellery, claiming they needed it to settle debts. Trusting them, she said she sold 10 sovereigns of gold and gave them the proceeds. Within two months, she claimed, she pledged another 10 sovereigns for additional financial support. The complaint further alleges that the accused later sent lenders to her residence, subjecting her to mental harassment. She also claimed that 40g of gold and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash were taken from her under false pretences, and were never returned. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Вот что поза во сне говорит о вашем характере! Удивительные Новости Undo Eight months later, the woman alleged her husband sold more of her jewellery and even pledged 120g of her sister's gold to purchase a house in Brahmavar. She further claimed there were deliberate attempts to break the marriage and alleged that she was forced to give around Rs 8 lakh, and she borrowed the same from friends and relatives at her husband's insistence. Further, the complainant alleged that on Jan 3, 2025, her husband secretly married another woman and left for Dubai the next day. When she confronted him, he allegedly confirmed the second marriage and pronounced "talaq" three times over phone. Based on her complaint, a case has been registered under Sections 85, 318(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru faces surge in auto fares after bike taxi ban, commuters demand solutions
Bengaluru is observing a steep increase in auto rickshaw and taxi fares following a directive from the Karnataka High Court on Monday to cease bike taxi services across the state. Commuters are now reporting fare increases up to 25 per cent. Many said Uber had the steepest fare surge. Sukrutha Shavanak, a commuter, said the fare from Singasandra to Jayanagar, which comes up to around 8 km, costs ₹190, however, rides from Singasandra to Electronics City, which is 4 km, are priced at ₹180. 'This price hike has been in play even before bike taxis were banned,' she said. READ | Ola, Uber, Rapido bike taxis banned in Karnataka starting today: 'Not a side income, this is how we survive,' say driver Prathiksha Harish, a techie, echoed the same, saying ride fares have become costlier since mid-May. A ride from Electronic City to Koramangala 6th Block now costs ₹90 more than usual, she said. 'I used to pay ₹350 from home to office, but now I pay ₹440." Hindustan Times also observed that a 11 km taxi ride from Vajarahalli metro station to Srinagar, which would usually cost a maximum of ₹350, was now priced well above ₹450. READ | Bengaluru bike-taxi ban: Over 100 illegal two-wheelers seized on day 1 of enforcement Many are also encountering longer wait times, with auto rides only available if tips are added. A senior executive from a major ride-hailing platform attributed the surge pricing to increased demand, saying that the demand for autos has naturally spiked after bike taxis have been taken off the roads, which has led to higher fares, according to a Deccan Herald report. READ | 'Difficult but helpless': Uber responds on Karnataka government's ban on bike taxis Several commuters from Bengaluru lamented the new bike taxi ban on social media, with one writing, 'For a distance of 2.2 kms, fare from different apps for auto is Rs. 60-101. Actual fare should be 33. On what basis these exorbitant rate have been calculated. On top of it you ban bike taxi also?' 'First you failed to manage traffic, then you banned the one thing that worked—bike taxis. This isn't governance, it's punishment. We Need Bike Taxi,' another posted. 'Not even 8am, and #Bengaluru is choked already. Thanks to the #biketaxi ban, had to take an auto. Give me walkable shortest paths to the bus stops, and bike lanes, please. This is no way to create cities,' another post read. Ride-hailing platforms have often come under the radar of the transport department for illegally charging exorbitant rates. In this light, an advocate noted that affected commuters can seek legal remedies under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which addresses 'Unfair Trade Practices', the Deccan Herald report added.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Man convicted in hit and run that killed 10-year-old gets day parole
Colin Tweedie has been granted day parole less than a year after he was sentenced for the death of Talia Forrest. She was struck and killed while riding her bike in 2019. Kyle Moore has the story.
