Jashpur: A workshop regarding financial inclusion was organized in the meeting room of District Panchayat last day in which CSR Bank Mitra, Bank Sakhi and RM from RO office, Mr. Mayur, CS CFI Vertical Head Mr. Shailendra and CSC District Manager were present.In the workshop, training was given on Social Securities Scheme and other banking products and Bank Mitra and Bank Sakhi who did excellent work in social scheme in the district were honored.

Raipur . Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today attended the three-day 73rd annual convention of Brihanmaharashtra Mandal organized at Chaubey Colony in the capital Raipur. He announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for the successful organization of this important convention.On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Sai honored the intelligent people associated with Marathi society who have achieved special achievements by presenting mementos and praised their contribution to the society.

Raipur . Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai has extended hearty congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state on 'National Youth Day', the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12.

Shri Sai has said in his greeting message that Swami Vivekananda ji showed the country and the world the path of service to mankind through his sermons and energetic lectures.His thoughts have given a new direction to the entire society. Vivekananda ji is a great source of inspiration for the youth. It is a matter of honor and pride for Chhattisgarh that Swami Vivekananda ji spent some time in Raipur.The memories associated with Swamiji give a special identity to the capital Raipur. The Chief Minister said that Swamiji's philosophical and ideological life values will always inspire us

Jashpurnagar : As per the instructions of Collector Rohit Vyas, a one-day entrepreneurship awareness camp has been organized today by District Trade and Industry Center Jashpur at Government Rambhajan Rai NES College, Jashpur. In which about 200 college students participated.In the camp, the youth were provided technical information for new entrepreneurs and setting up new industries.During this, General Manager of Industries Department Shri M.S. Pankra gave detailed information about the departmental schemes while giving information related to setting up of new industries to the students. Also, information related to Antyavasya schemes was given by Mr. Yogesh Dhruv, Executive Officer of Antyavasya.

Jashpur: Collector Rohit Vyas heard the problems of common citizens through public darshan in the district office on Monday. The villagers and citizens of the district presented their problems directly to the Collector in public darshan. A total of 56 applications were received in the public darshan.On which the Collector instructed the concerned officers to resolve all the applications received immediately on priority. These include applications for financial assistance, PM housing construction, compensation, transfer, demarcation, land disputes, land records reform and other applications in Jandarshan.

Raipur: A meeting of the sub-committee of the Council of Ministers regarding the return of cases related to political movements will be held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma from 4.30 pm on January 9 at the Deputy Chief Minister's residence office C-3, Civil Line, Raipur.In the meeting of the Council of Ministers sub-committee, the cases registered from various districts related to purely political movements will be reviewed.

Raipur: General Manager of South East Central Railway, Bilaspur, Tarun Prakash paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai at the Chief Minister's residence office this evening and congratulated him for the New Year. Divisional Railway Manager Raipur Dayanand was also present on this occasion.

Raipur . Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade reviewed in detail the work of the Women and Child Development Department at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan. He has given instructions to take strict action against officials for any negligence in implementing government schemes.He also directed to pay the difference in salary to the officers who did not make 100% entry in the nutrition tracker. Mrs. Rajwade instructed the officials to conduct regular surprise inspections of Anganwadi centres.He also directed to ensure the quality of nutrition, diet and other facilities being provided to the beneficiaries by regularly checking them. During the meeting, departmental officers gave information about departmental programs and schemes through power point presentation.

Raipur . The Forest Department of Chhattisgarh has once again achieved major success against wildlife smugglers. In a major action, the joint team of Forest Division Bastar, State Level Forest Flying Squad Raipur and Wildlife Trust of India has seized 43 kg of pangolin scales (bark of Sal Khapri).This campaign to arrest forest smugglers was conducted under the guidance of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Shri Srinivas Rao.

Raipur : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev will attend the Chaliho (Chalisa) festival at Chakarbhata in Bilaspur on 9 January in the evening.

As per the scheduled schedule, the Chief Minister will leave from Raipur Police Ground Helipad at 2.40 pm by helicopter and reach Bilasa Devi Kenwat Airport, Chakarbhata, Bilaspur at 3.10 pm and will participate in the Chaliho (Chalisa) Mahotsav organized at Shri Sindhu Amardham Ashram, Jhulelal Nagar.

Raipur . Today on the first day of the new year, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai held a meeting of secretaries and heads of departments of all the departments in the ministry and decided to bring transparency and transparency in the government work as well as promptly and effectively resolve the issues related to the general public. Gave instructions.Chief Minister Shri Sai bluntly said in the meeting that any laxity in administrative work will not be tolerated. He said that officers and employees from senior administrative officers to lower level should come to office on time and discharge their responsibilities with full promptness.Chief Minister Shri Sai said that to achieve the goal of developed Chhattisgarh, we all will have to work with team spirit.

Lalita Pawar, a legendary actress in Indian cinema, is best remembered for her powerful portrayals of negative characters, particularly the iconic role of Manthara in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan. While her on-screen persona as a wicked mother-in-law defined her later career, few know that Lalita began her journey as a glamorous leading lady in the 1930s.Born in 1916, Lalita’s career took off with her remarkable versatility. She famously played 17 characters in the 1930 film Chatur Sundari and received widespread acclaim for her looks in Daivi Khazana (1933). However, her life and career took a tragic turn during the filming of Jang-e-Azadi in 1942. During a scene, actor Bhagwan Dada slapped her so forcefully that it caused severe injury to her left eye. The incident was compounded by incorrect medical treatment, leading to facial paralysis on her right side. This forced Lalita to step away from films for years.In 1952, she returned to cinema with a role in V. Shantaram's Dahej, marking the beginning of her transition into negative roles. Her performance as a harsh mother-in-law set a precedent, and she became synonymous with such characters throughout the 1950s and 60s. Despite the challenges, Lalita’s extraordinary talent captivated audiences.

Her portrayal of Manthara in Ramayan (1987) brought her widespread recognition and further solidified her legacy. At the peak of the show’s popularity, each episode reportedly earned a staggering Rs. 40 lakh, reflecting the cultural phenomenon it became.

Lalita’s personal life was as turbulent as her career. Her first marriage to producer Ganpatrao Pawar ended after he had an affair with her younger sister. She later married filmmaker Raj Kumar Gupta, with whom she had a son, Jai Pawar. Unfortunately, Lalita faced yet another setback when she was diagnosed with mouth cancer, a condition she believed was a karmic consequence of her negative on-screen roles.

Lalita Pawar passed away in 1998, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.

As New Year is approaching, here's a list of big-budget movies that Bollywood fans can expect. The list includes movies that star actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan. 

1. Ramayana

This upcoming mythological epic will have actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in lead roles playing Lord Ram and Sita. The film has been directed by Nitesh Tiwari. As per media reports, the budget for this film is over Rs 800 crore.

2. Sikandar

This movie will be directed by AR Murugadoss and stars Salman Khan in a crucial role. Other than Salman, the film will have actors like Rashmika Mandanna and Suniel Shetty. Sikandar is set to have a budget of Rs 400 crore. 

3. Alpha 

This upcoming film will have Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh in lead roles. The film has been directed by Shiv Rawail. 

4. War 2

This will be a sequel to Hrithik Roshan's War. The film will be a spy thriller. It has been directed by Ayan Mukerji.

5. Lahore 1947 

Starring actor Sunny Deol in the lead role, this movie will be on the partition of India.

As per media reports, this year ending observed a noticeable decline in box office collections when compared to the previous year. Movies this year have resulted in a cautious approach from studios, with some big-budget projects being shelved due to financial constraints and creative uncertainties, but the above list of movies shows the coming year will be better for all Bollywood lovers, as they have a lot on their plate that will make them move to their nearest theatres.  

Billionaire Gautam Adani recently opened up about his views on work-life balance in an interview with the news agency IANS. Sharing a personalised take, Adani said, “If you enjoy what you do, then you have a work-life balance. Your work-life balance should not be imposed on me, and my work-life balance shouldn't be imposed on you. You only need to see if I spend four hours with my family and find joy in it, or if someone else spends eight hours and enjoys it, that's their balance. But if someone spends eight hours and their spouse leaves, that's another story."
Adani emphasised that the essence of work-life balance lies in mutual happiness and personal satisfaction, adding, “If it brings you happiness and the other person is also happy, then that's the true definition of work-life balance.”
When Narayana Murthy sparked debate on 70-hour work week
Adani’s views on work-life balance comes after Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy stirred a nationwide discussion last year by advocating for a 70-hour work week, asserting that such dedication is vital for India to compete with advanced economies. Defending his stance after widespread debate, Murthy reflected on his personal experience, saying, “I used to work 85-90 hours a week till I retired. I received a scholarship from my pre-university days in 1961, and many of my peers benefited from government-subsidised education. Those of us who have reaped such benefits owe it to the country to work hard for the betterment of society."
Murthy stood firm on his belief, adding, “I don’t regret it. Hard work is an enormous responsibility for those of us who have been privileged by the system.”
Bhavish Aggarwal supports Murthy’s stand
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal also voiced support for Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week philosophy. Speaking on a podcast, Aggarwal remarked, “When Mr Murthy said that, I was publicly in support of it and got trolled on social media. But I don’t care. I strongly believe one generation will have to do tapasya to build the number one country in the world."
Aggarwal expressed scepticism about the traditional concept of work-life balance, adding, “If you are enjoying your work, you will find happiness in life too. Both will be in harmony.”

The contrasting perspectives of these influential leaders underline the subjective nature of work-life balance. While some champion relentless effort for societal progress, others advocate for a happiness-driven, individualistic approach to balance.

Australia beat India by 184 runs on Monday (December 30) to win the Boxing Day Test played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and take a 2-1 lead in the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The win in front of more than 70,000 fans on Monday has not only ignited Australia’s hopes of winning the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2014-15 edition but also boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the second season in a row. Australia played the WTC final in 2023 and managed to get the better of India by 209 runs at The Oval to win the title.

After losing the Boxing Day Test for the first time in 13 years against Australia at MCG, India can’t win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy now, but a win in the fifth and final Test, which is scheduled to take place at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7, 2025, will help Rohit Sharma’s men retain the BGT. In addition to that, the first Test win at SCG since January 1978 will also help India keep alive its hopes of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s from June 11 to 15 next year.

India need nothing less than a win to keep its chances alive of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final. A draw or a defeat in Sydney will knock India out. India has 114 points in the WTC 2023-25 as of now, and a win will take Rohit Sharma-led side’s tally to 126 out of possible 228. 126/228 points will help India end the WTC 2023-25 cycle with 55.26 PCT%.

Australia has 118 points as of now, and the defending champions can finish with a maximum of 154 points out of a total of 228 if they win the next three matches. Three wins in the next three matches will guarantee Australia a place in the WTC 2025 final against South Africa. In fact, they will qualify if they win one of the remaining three Tests as well.

But if Australia lose against India in Sydney and then Sri Lanka beat them with a scoreline of 2-0 or 1-0, then India will finish above them in the points table and qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s next year.

There is also a possibility where both India and Australia can finish with identical points. And this will happen if India wins the Sydney Test and the Sri Lanka-Australia Test series in January-February finishes 0-0. In that case, India and Australia will end the WTC 2023-25 cycle with 126 points each out of a possible 228.

If both India and Australia finish with equal points (126) and PCT% (55.26), then the team with more series wins will reach the final. But since both India and Australia will end the 2023-25 WTC cycle with three series wins each, the team with the higher percentage of points earned in away matches will advance.

In the 2023-25 cycle, India played two matches in the West Indies (1 win, 1 draw), two in South Africa (1 win, 1 defeat), and five in Australia (2 wins, 2 defeats, 1 draw), and out of a possible 108 points, earned 56 (51.85% win). On the other hand, during the same period, Australia played five Tests in England (2 wins, 2 defeats, 1 draw), two Tests in New Zealand (2 wins), and two Tests in Sri Lanka (2 draws) and finished with 60 points out of 108 available (55.56 win%).

Television actress Tejashwi Prakash got injured while shooting for her upcoming show Celebrity MasterChef. The actress informed her fans about this through a post on social media. The actress posted a photo on her Instagram Stories on Sunday in which she has a burn mark on her hand. Sharing the picture, she wrote, The show must go on. It is worth mentioning that Tejashwi is preparing to return to television after a short time after her successful performance in the show Naagin 6. The actress is quite famous for her role in her show Swaragini Jodein Rishton Ke Sur. In the year 2021, she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 15 and emerged as the winner. She made her Marathi film debut with Mann Kasturi Re. Celebrity MasterChef is a cooking-based reality show just like Laughter Chefs. The show will feature Tejashwi along with Deepika Kakkar Ibrahim, Gaurav Khanna, Nikki Tamboli, Rajiv Adatia and many other popular celebrities. The makers have already released the promos of the show on social media. Choreographer and director Farah Khan has been roped in as the host of cooking-based reality show Celebrity MasterChef. Farah revealed her passion for experimenting with recipes and discovering new dishes. Talking about the show, Farah said, "I have always been a foodie. I love experimenting with recipes, exploring new dishes and adding my own twist to it. I have showcased my love for food by launching my own digital cooking channel. When I was approached to host Celebrity MasterChef, I immediately accepted the opportunity. Not only do I love the format, but I have also been fortunate to be friends with our fabulous chef judges, the talented Ranveer Brar and Vikas Khanna." She further added, "I was a part of MasterChef when it first came to India. I am well acquainted with most of the incredible celebrity lineup that will be joining this season, so it is going to be an exciting journey as a host." The show Celebrity MasterChef will soon air on Sony Entertainment Television. (IANS)

The world's richest man Elon Musk has expressed support for Poornima Ramarao, the mother of OpenAI engineer and whistleblower Suchir Balaji, who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. Balaji's mother has alleged foul play in her son's suspicious death.

Suchir Balaji is known for his contributions to training AI systems like ChatGPT. While local police found no evidence of foul play during their initial investigation, San Francisco's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has officially ruled his death a suicide.

Balaji's mother has demanded an FBI probe, arguing that evidence revealed through a private autopsy and investigation casts doubt on the police's conclusion of suicide.

Balaji's mother wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Suchir's apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom and based on the blood stains it looks like someone stabbed him in the bathroom. This is a brutal murder which has been declared a suicide by the authorities. Lobbying the city of San Francisco will not stop us from getting justice. We demand an FBI investigation." Elon Musk supported his claim and responded to his X post, saying, "It doesn't look like suicide." Balaji's mother has once again contacted Musk for further assistance in the case. Earlier, Musk had also tweeted about Suchir Balaji's death. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed that 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI employee, committed suicide. Officials have ruled out any evidence of foul play. Balaji's family has been notified, although no additional details have been released for publication at this time. Balaji's death comes after he made public allegations three months ago, in which he accused OpenAI of violating US copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT. The AI ​​program has since become a global sensation, widely used by millions of people.

Famous director Sanjay Gupta on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction over the state of the film industry. He says that the film industry is now at the mercy of two OTT platforms. Sanjay Gupta has refrained from naming anyone. Recently, he said in a post on social media platform X, I started working in the film industry since my teenage. I have been working as a director for thirty years. I never thought nor expected that the entire system would collapse like this and become at the mercy of two OTT platforms. Really. Many users replied to the director's post and said that the industry needs to go back to the drawing board. One user commented, it is not OTT, but Covid that has reshaped many industries and the cinema industry is one of them. OTT took advantage of the opportunity that the cinema industry could not provide during Covid. It is the failure of producers and directors who could not bring the audience back to the theaters. The problem is that Bollywood is focusing more on formula based films than technical value based films. Telugu films are still able to pull audiences to the theatres. Watch RRR, Pushpa, Hanuman and others. Also blame PVR/INOX and their expensive popcorns. A small family of four has to spend Rs 2000 to watch a movie. Blame the producers who double, triple the ticket price for some films. So introspect before blaming others. Another user said, this is called disruptive change, just like filmmakers got more screens than multiplexes, while thousands of single screen theatres closed due to this. Change is the only constant. Another user wrote, this decline is not due to OTT, but due to lack of good entertaining content. For decades Bollywood was making films based on propaganda or some mediocre action movies. People get better entertainment in regional cinema and OTT. Leave propaganda and start making entertainment. Sanjay Gupta is known for remaking American action-thrillers and crime films. He has often cast Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham in his films. --(IANS)