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New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Padma Viswanathan, a Canadian-American writer of Indian-origin, has made it to the 2026 International Booker Prize shortlist as the English translator of a Portuguese language novella. "On Earth As It Is Beneath" by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia, described by judges as a "brutal, haunting and hypnotic novella set in a remote Brazilian penal colony, where the boundaries between justice and cruelty collapse", is among the six worldwide contenders for the coveted literary honour. The annual prize worth GBP 50,000, divided equally between the author and translator, was won last year by Kannada writer-activist Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi for the short story collection "Heart Lamp". Each shortlisted title guarantees a prize of GBP 5,000 -- also split 50-50 between the book's author and English translator. "What struck us most is how spare, unflinching, uncompromising and relentless it is. Maia builds an entire moral universe out of very little: a remote prison, a handful of men, and the rituals of punishment that govern their lives. "The novel reads almost like a dark fable about power, where brutality is ordinary and civilisation feels frighteningly thin," the judging panel, which also include award-winning Indian novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy, said of the work translated by US-based Viswanathan. The 58-year-old professor of creative writing at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville is an accomplished playwright and author, whose novels have been published in eight countries. The list, announced on Tuesday, is dominated by women, with five of the six authors and four of the six translators being female. The authors and translators represent eight countries -- Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, the UK and the United States. "With narratives that capture moments from across the past century, these books reverberate with history. While there's heartbreak, brutality and isolation among these stories, their lasting effect is energising," said author Natasha Brown, chair of this year's judging panel. The other books include "The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran" by Shida Bazyar and translated from German by Ruth Martin; "She Who Remains" by Rene Karabash and translated from Bulgarian by Izidora Angel; "The Director" by Daniel Kehlmann and translated from German by Ross Benjamin; "Taiwan Travelogue" by Yáng Shuāng-zi and translated from Taiwanese by Lin King; and "The Witch" by Marie Ndiaye and translated from French by Jordan Stump. The announcement of the winning book will take place on May 19 at a ceremony at Tate Modern in London. The International Booker Prize is awarded annually for a single work of fiction -- either a novel or a collection of short stories -- written in another language, translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland. PTI MG MAH MAH
Filmmaker Jayan K Cherian; stills from his latest film 'Rhythm of Dammam', on the Siddi Community of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada (north Karnataka). The stunningly shot and evocative Rhythm of Dammam, in Siddi Bhasha, is the first fictional feature ever to be made on the Indian Siddi community that traces its ancestry to Africa. In the film, the pre-teen Jayaram, who lives in Karnataka's Yellapura, is afflicted by his dead grandfather's visions, as his impoverished family fights over supposed buried treasure. But Jayaram is a chosen one, the visitations will lead him to discover his community's ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 12 (PTI) Malayalam superstar Mohanlal says he will definitely come and work in Hindi movies if filmmakers in Bollywood offer him roles. One of the most influential Malayalam cinema stars, Mohanlal has been part of over 300 films, including all time hits such as "Manichitrathazhu", "Kireedam", "Bharatham", "Drishyam" and "Pulimurugan". "I have done a couple of Hindi films also. But now most of my other films are dubbed into Hindi. When somebody calls me for a role I'll definitely come and work. I don't mind. I don't have a choice. As actors we don't have a choice. Let it come. Let ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Chennai: Hours before Union home minister Amit Shah was to arrive in Madurai, Thuglak editor and an associate of Shah, S Gurumurthy on Saturday met PMK founder S Ramadoss. The PMK leader, however, ruled out the possibility of meeting Amit Shah during his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.Gurumurthy met Ramadoss for the second time amid reported tension within PMK regarding alliance strategies and insistence by Anbumani Ramadoss to remain party president. The hour-long meeting took place at the T Nagar residence of A K Vijay Mahesh, son of former Union minister and PMK leader A K Moorthy, sources sai ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India's Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts entered the International Space Station (ISS) to warm hugs and handshakes on Thursday as the Dragon spacecraft docked to the orbital laboratory after a 28-hour journey around Earth. The new spacecraft -- fifth in the Dragon series, named Grace -- achieved a soft capture with the Harmony module of the space station at 4:01 pm IST over the North Atlantic Ocean and it took another two hours to establish communication, power links and pressure stabilisation. This is the first time an Indian astronaut has travelled to the ISS. "The ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has alleged that a controversy over the 'imposition' of Hindi language in Maharashtra was being created to divert people's attention from core issues and underlined the need to improve the quality of education. Claiming a drastic cut in the budgetary allocation for education, the former Maharashtra chief minister said the focus should be on providing quality education to students and strengthening infrastructure in the educational sector. "The budgetary allocation on education should be increased. The controversies over English an ...Read More >
New Delhi/Hyderabad, Dec 18 (UNI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy emphasised the Modi government's commitment to preserving and promoting India's regional languages. Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Reddy highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the central government to strengthen India's linguistic diversity. Reddy noted that India is unparalleled in its cultural and linguistic diversity, with 121 languages spoken across the country. "Our Constitution initially recognised 14 official languages, but this number has increased to 21 under Prime M ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) India's Shubhanshu Shukla became the 634th astronaut to travel to space as he entered the International Space Station on Thursday after a 28-hour journey. Shukla and three other astronauts were formally welcomed on the space station by the members of Expedition 73 with warm hugs and handshakes. Axiom mission commander Peggy Whitson handed out astronaut pins to Shukla, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungarian Tibor Kapu, who marked their maiden voyage to space. "I am astronaut 634. It is a privilege to be here," Shukla said in brief remarks at the fo ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticising General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a function held at Raj Bhavan on June 19. The Governor described the incident as a breach of protocol and an insult to the constitutional office. The letter, dated June 26, refers to an awards ceremony for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, where Sivankutty -- who also serves as President of the Association's Kerala chapter -- objected to the presence of a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage, ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will unite for the cause of the Marathi language, in a joint morcha in Mumbai on July 5 against the "imposition" of Hindi and the state government's three-language formula for Classes 1 to 5. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) on Friday said it will support the protest march, with Pawar asserting that the people of Maharashtra are not anti-Hindi, but it is not right to impose the language on young students. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray will be seen together at the ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
The Delhi government issued an advisory against illegal animal sacrifices on Eid-ul-Azha, emphasizing cultural heritage and enforcement of animal welfare laws. Sacrifices are restricted to designated areas, banning roadside rituals. Existing laws cited include the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, prohibiting unauthorized animal sacrifices. The Delhi government has issued a crucial advisory ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, prohibiting the illegal sacri ...Read More >
Jaipur, June 26: A man was arrested and sent to jail on Thursday for raping two minor daughters for about five years here, a senior police official said. Police filed an FIR after recording statements of the girls and their mother through a hidden camera. The woman had refused to file a case due to fear of society and her husband. The case was registered at Sadar police station and the investigation was handed over to a senior police officer. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Amit Kumar told PTI, "On June 20, the mother reached the hospital with two daughters complaining of stomach ache. B ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) India's forex reserves dropped by USD 1.01 billion to USD 697.93 billion for the week ended June 20, the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the reserves had jumped by USD 2.29 billion to USD 698.95 billion. Forex reserves had touched an all-time high of USD 704.885 billion in September 2024. Also Read | Ahmedabad Plane Crash Probe: Parliamentary Committee To Grill Boeing and Air India Executives, DGCA Officials; Sources Say 'Multiple Shortcomings' Matter of Concern. For the week ended June 20, foreign currency assets, a major component ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 7 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday barred Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah ground and the Jama Masjid in the old city here, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed that he was put under house arrest. "Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar deeply regrets to inform that the authorities have once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Eidgah as well as at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside," the management of the historic mosque said in a statement. ...Read More >
Raipur, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A villager was brutally murdered in Puvarti village, located within the Jagargunda police station area of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. Puvarti village holds significant strategic importance as it is the native place of Maoist commander Hidma and Battalion 1 chief Deva Barse. The village has produced 22 hardcore Maoists. The attack was allegedly carried out by a group of ten to fifteen Maoists, who ambushed the victim and killed him using sharp weapons, police sources said. The Maoists accused the villager of being a police informant, a charge that has often ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Ranchi, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath's chariot along with goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra are set to roll out on Friday evening on way to their annual nine-day sojourn to Mausi Bari in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi amid tight security. The chariots of the deities will start rolling around 4.30 pm from Jagannath temple in Dhurwa with traditional rituals. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren extended their wishes on the occasion of Rath Yatra. "Heartfelt greetings to all devotees on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless this auspicious ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 10 (PTI) 'I'm Still Here' (Portugal), a 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles will be the opening film of the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) beginning here on December 13. The movie, a Brazil-France co-production, deals with the story of a mother and activist searching for her missing husband, a dissident politician during the military dictatorship in Brazil. The festival will be officially inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function to be held at the Nisagandhi auditorium on December 13 evening, St ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reacted to a viral video that shows an SBI branch manager in Bengaluru refusing to speak Kannada during an interaction with a customer, sparking a fresh language row in the southern state. The incident took place at the Surya Nagara branch in Anekal Taluk area in Bengaluru earlier this week, and the video of the incident has gone viral since then. Condemning the bank manager's behaviour, he said that the woman's refusal to speak in Kannada or even in English and the apparent disregard for citizens was highly unacceptable and deeply disrespec ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 3 (ANI): Monday kick-started on an exciting note for the fans of actor Prabhas as his first look as 'Rudra' was unveiled in the morning. The poster features him in the guise of a hermit, his matted hair flowing wildly, his forehead smeared with sacred chandan, gripping a crescent moon staff that hints at divine power and celestial energy. Sharing his look from the film, Prabhas on social media wrote, " (Om symbol) The Divine Guardian 'Rudra' (Om symbol) Unveiling my look as 'Rudra'. The embodiment of strength and wisdom as the unwavering protector in #K ...Read More >
BENGALURU, India -- An innovative portable shelter recently exhibited in one of India's largest cities shows how smart, cheap ways to help workers escape the heat are gaining traction in a country that's particularly vulnerable to climate change-driven extreme temperatures. The Neralu shelter, winner of a design contest in the southern city of Bengaluru, was displayed at the Sweat and Concrete 2025 event in late May alongside a theatrical performance about heat impacts on outdoor workers and exhibits on heat-related studies. Organizer Kanishk Kabiraj said the aim of the exhibition is to raise ...Read More >
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit back at the Election Commission after sources in the poll panel dismissed his allegations of rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, reported PTI. Gandhi said evasion would not protect the EC's credibility, but telling the truth would. In an article titled "Match-fixing Maharashtra", published in an English daily, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged large-scale manipulation in the Maharashtra polls and claimed that similar tactics would be used in Bihar and other states where the BJP fears defeat. Reacting to t ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) India's Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts on the International Space Station relished delicacies such as 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal halwa' and 'aam ras' as they began their 14-day stay on the orbital lab. Shukla shared these details in an 18-minute interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday from the International Space Station that is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400 km. "Yes, I brought 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal ka halwa' and 'aam ras'. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian cuisine. All of us ...Read More >
The Huddle was a two-day conclave featuring thought leaders from the world of politics, business, academics, sports and the arts. This conclave saw Sri Lanka's the then leader of Opposition, Mahinda Rajapaksa, politicians Jairam Ramesh, Arif Mohammed Khan, tennis player Sania Mirza, the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh, among other leaders and academics share their ideas. Photo: MURALI KUMAR K A Mixed Legacy: The many facets of Indira Gandhi : Srinath Raghavan, Academic & Author, Jairam Ramesh, Economist & Politician, Shekhar Gupta, Journalist In conversation with Mini Kapoor, Ideas Editor, ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Apple is very keen on India where it has seen record business during the December quarter with iPhone emerging as the top-selling smartphone model, a top company official said on Friday. During the company's earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said India offers a huge growth opportunity for the company. "We have had great results in the emerging market. I am particularly keen on India. India has set a December quarter record. iPhone was top selling in India for the quarter. It is the second-largest smartphone market in the world and third largest for PCs and tablets. So ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey has once again targeted the Gandhi family, accusing them of favouring Pakistan at India's expense concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). In a post on X, Dubey highlighted India's financial contributions to Pakistan under the treaty, suggesting that the Gandhi family's policies have been detrimental to India's interests. Dubey, in a post on X, wrote in Hindi (translated in English): "The Gandhi family fed the snake called Pakistan with both water and blood for 77 years. But read this document carefully -- in return for att ...Read More >