Patna Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar’s Kishanganj, Maulana Asrar-ul-Haque Qasmi, passed away early on Friday following a heart attack. He was 76.

According to district officials, he died at the Kishanganj Circuit House. He will be buried at his native Tarabadi village.

Qasmi was a noted Islamic scholar and a popular face of the party in the state, particularly in Seemanchal comprising Kishanganj, Purnea, Araria and Katihar districts.

He won the Kishanganj seat on a Congress ticket in the 2009 general elections after five consecutive failures. He retained the constituency in 2014 despite the Narendra Modi wave in Bihar and across the country.

He had defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dilip Kumar Jaiswal by a margin of over 1 lakh votes in 2014.

He was a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and also a founder member of the All India Milli Council.

(IANS)

Srinagar Indian and Pakistani armies traded heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, defence sources said.

The Pakistan Army used automatics and mortars to target Indian positions on the LoC in Kamalkote area of Uri sector late on Wednesday, the sources said.

“Indian positions retaliated effectively. Firing exchanges continued till Thursday morning. No casualty has been reported from our side,” they added.

Two Indian soldiers were injured on Wednesday in Pakistan firing in the same area.

(IANS)

New Delhi Actress Priyanka Chopra’s maiden venture as an investor in social and dating application Bumble, which has been launched in India, aims at bringing social change and women empowerment by letting only the woman make the first move in heterosexual matches.

India is the first country in Asia to get Bumble, which was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd shortly after she left Tinder, a dating app she co-founded.

Herd told IANS here: “It was Priyanka Chopra’s idea to get Bumble to India. We always had India on the radar but we thought it might be a long time from now. When Priyanka and I were sitting next to each other at a dinner, we were sharing our missions and visions about the planet, and what we care about.

“We realised we care a lot about the empowerment of girls and women around the world, and she said it’s remarkable what you’re doing with Bumble, and this is so important for India. Let’s take it there.”

Bumble has 45 million users in 140 countries. Apart from being a date-finding platform, it also facilitates friendships with its “BFF mode” and business networking via Bumble Bizz.

US is the largest market for Bumble, but its high-growth markets include Australia, Canada, UK, Germany and Netherlands. For the Indian market, language and cultural localisation has been done.

Available in Hindi and ‘Hinglish’ on iOS and Android, Bumble has incorporated a religion filter, apart from letting users mention astrological signs, whether the person drinks or smokes, has pets or not, and the option for women to only mention the initial of their first names — giving them the choice to disclose only what they want.

“In India, Bumble started in October 2018, and it’s doing well so far. It goes to show there’s a real need, and the statistics are promising in a short time. You would assume it’s just another dating app, but it’s so much beyond that. Only 30 per cent users are using it exclusively for dating, and there’s a huge chunk looking at the business networking and friend finding. We are just trying to facilitate the digital empowered version of what we all need in the physical realm — which is connections in business, friendship and love,” said the 29-year-old Herd.

Sarah Jones Simmer, Chief Operating Officer, Bumble, said they understand that there may be reserved mindsets about dating in India, but they saw the country as a progressive society.

“Our eyes are open to the challenges, but we see them as opportunities,” Simmer said, adding that they may look at spreading their wings later by creating a physical place for people to connect — akin to a Bumble Spots pilot they are doing in the US.

As for competition, there are apps like Tinder, Truly Madly and OKCupid in India. But Herd is confident about what she is offering.

“Competition is a great thing. It means that the need is validated… But with what we have, there is no competitor. We are approaching this with a true desire to create change and impact, and to empower women and men globally. A lot of the platforms that you may think are competitors, are truly just entering the market for numbers. That’s what sets us apart.”

Bumble was launched in India officially at an event here on Wednesday night. It was attended by newly married Priyanka and her American singer husband Nick Jonas.

The idea, as Priyanka’s manager Anjula Acharia — who is also a strategic advisor for Bumble in India — said, emerged as they felt women in India don’t just need dating apps, but something which helps them in all areas of life.

“Priyanka is very purpose-driven. She is very driven by things that make the world better and have a social impact,” Acharia, who has a huge role to play in the actress’ successful crossover from Bollywood to Hollywood.

The actress will be the brand’s face in the country, but her “celebrity status is only the icing,” Herd said.

“We never even approached our work with Priyanka thinking she’s a celebrity. We clicked with her passion to chase a common vision and mission with us and that is what became so special about this collaboration. Her celebrity status is just the icing on the top because what’s special about Priyanka is that she is not just the face of the brand here, but also very invested in this. She cares about it.”

(IANS)

Chandigarh Security agencies have been put on high alert in Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab on Thursday following intelligence reports that Kashmiri terrorist Zakir Musa could be hiding in the area.

The intelligence reports have suggested that Musa could be disguised as a Sikh and wearing a turban. He is the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind chief and is said to be aligned with a global terror group.

Army troopers, Punjab Police and other para-military were stationed in and around important places like the Bathinda railway station and checking was being carried out since early Thursday.

Security agencies have put up posters carrying photographs of Musa, including one of him disguised as a Sikh, at various places to make the public aware in both districts.

Posters of Musa had earlier been put up in the frontier districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar in November following similar reports that he could be hiding in Punjab.

Musa, who heads the terrorist outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), a cell of Al-Qaeda, in Kashmir Valley, is said to be well-acquainted with places and people in Punjab.

He was a student in an educational institution in Punjab’s Mohali district, adjoining Chandigarh, from 2010 to 2013 before joining the militant ranks.

He had succeeded Burhan Wani as the chief of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen following Wani’s death in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir in July 2016.

Punjab Police officials said here that the high alert had been sounded to nab the terrorist.

In recent weeks, the Punjab Police and Jammu and Kashmir Police have busted modules, including engineering students, who had carried out terror activities in Punjab.

(IANS)

New Delhi It was a cold Thursday morning in the national capital with the air quality remaining ‘very poor’ as the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average, the Met said.

The humidity at 8.30 a.m. was 93 per cent, an unfavourable condition for pollutants to disperse.

The sky will remain clear throughout the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told IANS.

The average PM2.5 readings at 9 a.m. was recorded at 186 micrograms per cubic metre while the average PM10 readings at the time were 346 micrograms per cubic metre.

The maximum temperature was likely to hover around 26 degrees Celsius.

On Wednesday, the maximum temperature settled at 25 degrees Celsius, the season’s average while the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.8 degree Celsius, the season’s average.

(IANS)

New Delhi The Indian maritime forces on Tuesday was celebrated for their role in the 1971 India-Pakistan War as leaders from across party lines hailed its men and women on Indian Navy Day.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the firsts on Twitter to pay their tributes to the naval force.

“On Navy Day, my good wishes to all men and women of the Indian Navy. Nation is proud of your commitment to protecting our maritime frontiers, securing our trade routes, and providing assistance in times of humanitarian emergencies,” their Commander-in-Chief tweeted.

“Navy Day greetings to all valorous personnel of the Indian Navy and their families. India is grateful to our Navy for protecting the nation and the commendable role the Navy plays during disaster relief,” Modi said.

In the attack in 1971, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields killing over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel.

Three missile boats of the Indian Navy, INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer played a pivotal role in the attack. Navy Day is celebrated annually on December 4 every year to honour that maritime operation.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Navy Day “serves as a reminder to our enemies, of our strength and valour when the hour beckons”.

“Navy Day is celebrated to honour the victorious, martyrs and veterans of the Indian Navy. This day also serves as a reminder to our enemies, of our strength and valour when the hour beckons. My best wishes to all ranks of the Indian Navy. Jai Hind,” he tweeted.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also paid their tributes to the Navy.

(IANS)

New Delhi Google on Tuesday announced eSIM wireless service on its Pixel 3 smartphone with Reliance Jio and Airtel telecom carriers in India.

Google was the first smartphone vendor to support built-in eSIMs with its Project Fi — now called Google Fi — network last year.

“Sprint in the US, EE in the UK, Airtel and Reliance Jio in India, and Truphone and Gigsky in various countries will also roll out eSIM support for Pixel 3 in the coming months,” Kerrie Lenhart Hogan, Director, Partnerships at Google, said in a statement.

“If you’re in Germany, look out for the ability to purchase Pixel 3 with eSIM functionality from Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone soon.”

Pixel 2 was the first major smartphone with eSIM — an embedded SIM that lets you instantly connect to a carrier network with the tap of a button.

With eSIM, users can connect across devices in the Google ecosystem — from Android smartphones to Chromebooks to Wear OS smartwatches.

“To enable a consistent and simple experience across the ecosystem, we’re also creating a programme that allows Android device makers to build eSIM-capable smartphones,” said Google.

Launched in October, “Pixel 3” costs Rs 71,000 for the 64GB variant in India and up to Rs 80,000 for the 128GB storage variant.

The “Pixel 3 XL” is available at Rs 83,000 for the 64GB variant and up to Rs 92,000 for the 128GB model.

(IANS)

Srinagar Minimum temperatures continued falling across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday with Srinagar recording its coldest night of the season so far at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, a weather office said.

The minimum temperatures were likely to drop further due to clear night sky as mainly dry weather was expected in the next seven days in the state, he said.

Pahalgam was at minus 5.5, Gulmarg minus 4.0, Leh minus 10.6, Kargil minus 9.7, Jammu city 8.9, Katra 8.6, Batote 3.4, Bannihil 2.5 and Bhaderwah 1.3 degrees Celsius.

“Drass town in Kargil district which is the second coldest inhabited place in the world had recorded minus 14 as the minimum temperature on Monday,” he added.

(IANS)

New Delhi It was a misty morning in the national capital on Tuesday that witnessed ‘very poor’ air quality as the minimum temperature was recorded at 8.6 degrees Celsius, the season’s average, the Met said.

“The rest of the day will be partly cloudy with a haze or smoke cover later in the day,” an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.

Meanwhile, humidity at 8.30 a.m. was 97 per cent, an unfavourable condition for pollutants to disperse.

The average PM2.5 readings at 9 a.m. was recorded at 197 micrograms per cubic metre while the average PM10 readings at the time were 383 micrograms per cubic metre, both in the ‘very poor’ category on a scale of 60-100.

The day’s maximum temperature was likely to hover around 27 degrees Celsius.

On Monday, the maximum temperature settled at 27.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average while the minimum temperature was recorded at 8.6 degree Celsius, the season’s average.

(IANS)

The city of Srinagar recorded the season’s coldest night temperature at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius with the weather office on Sunday forecasting a further fall in temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir.

“Srinagar witnessed the coldest night of the season as the minimum temperatures dropped due to clear night sky,” an official of the Met Department said.

“As mainly clear weather is expected during the coming three to four days there is a likelihood of further fall in the temperatures.”

The minimum temperatures recorded in Pahalgam and Gulmarg were minus 5.1 and minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, respectively.

At minus 9.3 degrees Celsius, Leh town was the coldest in the state followed by Kargil at minus 9.0 degrees.

Jammu city recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius, Katra 9.2, Batote 4.1, Bannihal minus 1.1 and Bhaderwah 2.1 as the minimum temperatures on Sunday.

(IANS)