Latest news with #Adil
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Businessman loses Rs 1cr in Bitcoin investment fraud
Rajkot: A Bhavnagar resident running a logistics business and his friend fell victims to an online crypto-trading scam, losing over Rs 1.08 crore to cybercriminals who lured him with promises of high returns on Bitcoin investments. On Dec 14, 2024, the businessman Deepak Solanki (40) was contacted via Telegram by a woman identifying herself as Priya Agarwal, who lured him into investing in Bitcoin with promises of high returns. Initially, she shared screenshots of profits from Bitcoin trading, which convinced Solanki of the scheme's authenticity. He was then sent a trading link. After discussion, Solanki and his friend Adil Sheikh decided to invest. On Feb 13, 2025, Adil invested Rs 2 lakh and Solanki pooled in Rs 1 lakh. Post transfer, their trading accounts showed a credit of $2,000. On Feb 18, they saw their first profit of $100.68, and further profits showed $184.94 on March 6 and a cumulative $1,786.92 by March 12. On March 12, they successfully withdrew $50 to Adil's account. Encouraged, they began transferring larger amounts over time. Between Feb 13 and April 24, 2025, they transferred a total of Rs 1.08 crore into various bank accounts, including payments labeled as capital gains tax, regular margin equivalent, and penalties — all purportedly required to withdraw their trading profits. Despite these payments, the total funds displayed in their trading account $3.57 lakh - were never transferred back to them. It was at this point that Solanki realized he had been scammed.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Indie musician Aksomaniac on his track ‘Kanmashi' and choosing music as a career
A few weeks before he quit college and moved to Mumbai, Aron Kollassani Selestin, a 22-year-old indie musician from Thiruvananthapuram, was racking his brains for the perfect verse for his song in a cafe in Kollam. Two days went by and he kept staring at his notebook, and empty espresso mugs. Aron was looking for the perfect lyrics in the language he struggles to write in — Malayalam. Finally, on the third day, Aron aka Aksomaniac put pen to paper, jotting down the verses of his latest single 'Kanmashi', produced by Fatboi Raccoon, featuring vocalist Archa Quaser. ''Kanmashi' started with just an instrumental consisting of a bass line and drums that Fatboi Raccoon had sent me. Once I heard it, I added a piano roll as an interlude to it, which gives a surreal feel to the track, flowing through emotions of fear, intrigue, and bliss.' The artiste blends a range of music genres in this song, exhibiting a fluid quality — from Carnatic notes to R&B — while addressing themes of self-exploration and self-love. The verses in Malayalam mention Manmadhan and Gandharvan, mystical beings associated with sex and love. 'I told Fatboi that this song should be about figuring out one's sexuality. R&B is also about intimacy and all those narratives. It has a bespoke nature,' says Aron over a Zoom call from Mumbai. 'It is representative of how I feel. My feelings were dynamic when I was figuring out my identity as a person. And the place I am from is not much open about such things. It is not the conventional thing to dress the way you want, putting kanmashi (kohl), wearing bangles, growing long hair or having a septum piercing,' says Aron. Origin story The artiste's relationship with music began at the age of six when he joined Carnatic vocal classes with his sister. He later joined a tabla class at 10, which he later quit to learn keyboard. 'I was about to quit that too, but somehow, I started growing into it,' says Aron. 'My father used to take me to the classes meticulously. My weekends were busier than weekdays when I was a child. He sacrificed his weekends for me. And that is when I started giving my music the dedication my father gave to my music,' Aron recalls, practising nine hours a day. He describes his routine as regimented, which became more rigorous in lockdown. 'I was one of the students who did not have to write class 12 board exams. During this time, I made cover songs — to hone my skills in vocals, production, shooting and editing. A friend of mine, Raveen, suggested that we make original music. And within a week, we created three songs via Google Meet. That's when a shift happened in me, it felt way more satisfying listening to my songs. I started chasing that feeling.' Aron debuted in 2021 with 'Mistakes', a track about longing. His discography includes 21 songs and collaborations with artists such as Unkill ji, Adil and Moksh Vibe. Moving to Mumbai Earlier this year, Aron moved to Mumbai in 'a polarising call', quitting a degree in computer science in the final year. 'It was a necessity for me. The seriousness with which I am trying to make music needs to be facilitated by such decisions. I moved to Mumbai because my label is there and there are also people I could count on. On metrics like financial stability, security and so on, moving to Mumbai, to do music full-time might seem like a stupid decision but it was a personal decision; a massive gamble and I would not recommend it to anyone,' he says. 'My parents did not support this decision,' he says. The artiste believes that his parents have created a platform to launch him through their hard work, and he does not expect them to understand the industry, as he has gaps in his knowledge about it too. 'I wouldn't have gotten into music if it wasn't for my father and I am still doing something he facilitated, just in a different way.' In May, Aron won the Indian Music Diaries 2025 EP of the Year award for 'Explained Twice', released in 2024. 'That EP did not almost come out. I wanted a visually heavy album, but I did not have the money to make it. We still put it out. 'Close by Me' is my second song; it is also one of the three songs I wrote during the pandemic. We finished 'Veer Off', a week before it started streaming.' 'Explained Twice' was an exhibition and an attempt to understand the artiste's limitations and do the music he likes. He adds, 'The EP gave me so much confidence in my work as a producer and a songwriter.' Aron is currently working on two EPs. One of them, titled 'Varthamanam', will be in Malayalam, as the musician aims to challenge his abilities yet again. The second EP is a dance project, that brings together different dance cultures. He adds, 'I am glad that I am getting an avenue to speak, which most people do not; I journal in a way that most people don't. I am happy that I can tell stories through my songs.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
The silence that screams: How the NC is failing the very people it once claimed to represent
Mudasir Dar is a social and peace activist based in South Kashmir. He is a Rashtrapati Award recipient in world scouting and has contributed to many local and national publications on a diverse range of topics, including national security, politics, governance, peace, and conflict. LESS ... MORE In the political history of Jammu and Kashmir, there have been many moments that demanded dignity over debate, empathy over ego, and leadership over opportunism. The aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack was one such moment — a moment where tragedy met humanity, and where the institution of governance was expected to rise above political calculations. It did. But what followed from the political opposition, particularly the National Conference (NC), was a masterclass in how to squander moral capital for the sake of momentary noise. Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a young ponywallah from Hapatnar in South Kashmir, was not a figure of power or prestige. He was an ordinary man whose final act was one of extraordinary courage. When terrorists struck in Pahalgam this April, Adil tried to shield a group of tourists. In doing so, he lost his life. His death could have remained another statistic in a region too familiar with conflict. But something different happened. On June 14, lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha made an uncommon visit to Adils family, stepping well outside routine protocol. He did not stop at offering hollow condolences or posing for cameras. Instead, he used his own discretionary authority to promise Adils widow, Gulnaz Akhter, a government job through the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme. It was a generous move, since Gulnaz had yet to meet the formal educational rules for the position. However, the LG, moved by the magnitude of the familys sacrifice and the tragic context, placed human need far ahead of rigid paperwork. It was a moment when governance showed it still had a heartbeat. Yet, rather than rallying behind the gesture or even nodding at its meaning, the National Conference chose to respond with jittery suspicion and cheap party jabs. NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq fired off a tweet wondering whether the lieutenant governors off-the-cuff promise in south Kashmir was now being undermined by his own office. In both timing and tone, the tweet looked less like a search for clarity and more like a slick, if desperate, bid to grab back a political story that had already slipped through the partys fingers. What the NC fails to realise is that such acts of pettiness are no longer viewed in isolation. They are read as part of a deeper crisis of relevance — a party that once symbolised regional aspiration is now seen as clinging to performative opposition, unable to digest that delivery and governance are now taking precedence over slogans and symbolism. Instead of standing with Adil's grieving family, the NC chose to question the integrity of an administrative act that they themselves failed to undertake when it was their responsibility to lead. After the Pahalgam attack, the NC had issued elaborate statements, condemning the act of terror and pledging support to the victims. But those words vanished into the ether. There was no institutional outreach to the bereaved families, no efforts at rehabilitation, and no show of empathy beyond the camera flash. In the absence of state action from elected representatives, it was the Lieutenant Governor's office — often portrayed by NC as a distant authority — that responded with immediacy, compassion, and discretion. That is the real reason the NC feels so uneasy. For decades, the party shaped almost all local stories about who suffered and what identity meant. Now that those stories are facing practical policies and a calmer, post-partisan kindness, the solid ground they assumed was theirs is cracking. Rather than ask why they've been out-manoeuvred politically and out-brightened morally, they fall back on the easiest move-questions, tweets, and quiet sabotage. It is also not lost on the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the NC, since forming the government after the 2024 elections, has presided over a visible administrative breakdown. From power shortages to water scarcity, from dysfunctional municipal services to recurring protests in Jammu, the people are not seeing the delivery they were promised. These are not abstract policy gaps; these are lived, daily failures. While the NC leadership tweets in outrage, Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel under electricity cuts, Water shortage and unfulfilled promises. The contrast becomes painfully evident when juxtaposed with LG's handling of the Adil Hussain case. While the ruling party was absent, the unelected executive did the work of a public representative. It wasn't political strategy; it was a sense of institutional duty. And that shift — from old-style rhetorical politics to a results-oriented administrative culture — is precisely what is unsettling parties like the NC. Besides, the meaning behind the LG's visit is hard to overlook. A Hindu lieutenant governor from Uttar Pradesh stood in the small house of a Muslim ponywallah from south Kashmir, mourning his death and honouring his bravery. Whether planned or not, that gesture pushed back against long-standing accusations that the Indian state treats Kashmiris as less-than-human. The sight itself, simple yet forceful, mattered far more than a hundred official notes. It was governance using a word people understand: presence. When the NC twists this into a mere party debate, it shrinks a serious moment into just another score-settling exercise. The matter at hand is far bigger than handing one person a government post. It tests our ability as a society to see real sacrifice and honour it without slapping on a political filter first. It asks whether a government can meet public sorrow not with cold distance, but with open arms and genuine inclusion. Let it be recorded with clarity: when Adil Hussain Shah gave his life trying to save tourists in a place too often visited by death, it was not the elected government that stood by his family. It was not the political party that claims to speak for every Kashmiri. It was an act from the Raj Bhavan that affirmed dignity over delay, justice over jargon. In history, what matters is not what is tweeted in frustration but what is done with conviction. And no matter how hard the NC tries to reclaim this moment, the truth remains: they watched. Others acted. And in that truth lies the starkest contrast of all. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Khaleej Times
14-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Marina building fire: No access to belongings as tenants await return
After a fire broke out in the Marina Pinnacle building on Friday night, tenants are mapping out their plans and places to stay until they can return home. 3,820 residents were evacuated from the residence, and the fire was brought under control within 6 hours. Adil, a Moroccan expat, decided to send his wife and two children earlier for summer vacation after the fire broke out. The family had initially scheduled their summer travel for early July, but the incident has changed their plans. 'We were planning to travel in early July, but now I am sending my wife and two kids to Morocco earlier,' said Adil, who works for a real estate company and lives on one of the tower's top floors. 'Our floor appears to be damaged. We are not sure if my apartment is safe.' Luckily, the family's passports weren't in the apartment at the time. 'I had left them at the office after receiving our Schengen visas stamped from the agency. But now, we will have to do some last-minute shopping, as all our belongings are in our flat,' he added. His children, who study in a school in Al Barsha, will be staying in Morocco with their mother until August, while Adil will be in Dubai to manage the situation. With no update on when residents can re-enter their homes, many have quickly made alternate living arrangements. Indian expat Prateek M., who shifted to the 22nd floor of Marina Pinnacle just a few months ago, has temporarily moved into a hotel with his wife and young son. 'Neighbours from the next building shouted and told me our tower was on fire,' he said. 'I grabbed my son and told my wife to head straight to the emergency exit with me.' The family navigated through thick smoke with the help of rescuers. Prateek said that the visibility was poor while using the staircase. 'We had to hold on to the shoulders of the person in front of us,' said Prateek. 'Once we reached the parking levels, where it's more ventilated, we could breathe a little better.' He now hopes to access his flat soon to retrieve documents and check if his apartment has been damaged. 'The floors above mine look affected. Hopefully, my unit is safe.' Travel plans at stake Vara, a Georgian expat who runs a travel agency, is currently staying at a friend's house. She lives on one of the higher floors and has been preparing for a work trip to Georgia next Thursday, accompanying a group of UAE tourists. 'I have been packing souvenirs and small goodies for my group. Everything is still in my apartment,' she said. 'I need my laptop and some documents related to travel bookings. Without them, it'll be very difficult to manage the trip.' She's staying hopeful and said, 'It's a work trip, and people are depending on me. I may return after a few weeks and will then look into settling things at the apartment.' Helping others Reza, an Iranian resident who has lived in the building for three years, was not home at the time of the incident. He returned around 1am and saw smoke and flames from afar. 'The roads were blocked. It was clear that I wouldn't be able to go in,' he said. Instead of leaving, he chose to stay and help fellow tenants early Saturday morning. 'Some tenants didn't even have their phones. They couldn't book a cab to go to their friend's place. I helped them to get taxis so they could go to their friends or relatives,' he said. Reza remained near the building until Fajr prayer, then went to a mosque for a brief rest. His employer has granted him time off to handle the situation. 'I am grateful. Right now, I am just waiting to know when we can go back and collect our things.' Several residents of Marina Pinnacle say they are still waiting for instructions from the building management on when it will be safe to return. 'We are safe, and that's what matters. But we hope to return home soon,' said Prateek.
United News of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
JK: LG meets family of local victim of Pahalgam terror attack
Srinagar, June 14 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Saturday met the family members of Adil Hussain, the lone local Kashmiri who was killed along with 25 tourists by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22, and handed over an appointment letter to his wife. The Lieutenant Governor who met Adil's family at his native village in Haptnadh, Anantnag, and handed over the appointment letter to his wife Gulnaz Akhter. Sinha also assured the family members of concrete measures and continuous support so that they may live a life of dignity. "The whole country is proud of the bravery of Adil. The government job to Adil's wife symbolizes our deep gratitude to the brave civilian who sacrificed his life while protecting tourists at Pahalgam on 22nd April," the Lieutenant Governor said. UNI XC RB SS
