Author: PTI

Selena Gomez on quitting Instagram: It was the most rewarding gift I gave myself

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Actor-singer Selena Gomez says taking a four-year break from Instagram was one of the best decisions she made for her mental health. The 31-year-old artiste, who is the most followed woman on the platform with 429 million followers, said staying away from social media made her “happier”.

I took four years off of Instagram and I let my team post for me. I felt like it was the most rewarding gift I gave myself. I was more present. I was happier, Gomez said in a recent appearance at the 2024 TIME 100 Summit. She, instead, began connecting with her friends over the phone. It’s more human. I think it’s important to take breaks, she added.

Gomez will be next seen in the fourth season of the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building” and musical comedy “Emilia Perez”.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Andhra Pradesh: BJP’s Anakapalli candidate Ramesh declares nearly ₹500 crore worth assets

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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BJP leader C M Ramesh has declared his family assets, both movable and immovable, worth ₹497.6 crore even as the liabilities stand at ₹101.6 crore.

Ramesh filed his nomination for Anakapalli Lok Sabha constituency. He will take on Deputy Chief Minister and Madugula MLA Budi Mutyala Naidu.

According to the affidavit, Ramesh’s immovable properties are valued at ₹252.66 crore and his wife Sridevi has ₹193 crore worth assets in the category.

Ramesh has movable assets worth ₹39.4 crore while the wife has ₹12.53 crore. The couple together possesses ₹9.15 crore worth of gold and jewellery.

He has studied upto the intermediate level and is facing seven criminal cases.

Ramesh quit the Telugu Desam Party after it was trounced in the assembly polls in 2019 and joined the BJP.

Ramesh was in the news recently as Rithwik Projects, a firm run by his family bought ₹45 crore worth electoral bonds and donated ₹30 crore to the Congress party.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Banks could boost revenues by 6% with Generative AI: Accenture report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Banks can significantly increase employee productivity and revenues by incorporating generative AI (GenAI) in their operations, according to a report by IT company Accenture.

Accenture analysed publicly available employee data to estimate the impact of generative AI on banking tasks. The company modelled the financial implications for over 150 large banks globally, including Indian public and private sector banks, over a three-year period.

“Banks that move quickly to scale generative AI across their organisations could increase their revenues by up to 600 bps (basis points) in three years,” the research revealed. Banks which effectively adopt and scale generative AI could increase employee productivity by up to 30% by streamlining numerous language-related tasks, it said.

“Operating income could increase by around 20%, while return on equity levels could rise by 300 bps…operate more efficiently, the technology could lead to 1-2% in cost savings, with cost-to-income ratios declining by up to 400 bps,” the study further said.

Accenture said banks will need to optimise the usage of their generative AI applications and upskill existing employees while attracting specialized AI and data talent to support the scaling and operationalization of the technology.

It said 41% of all banking occupation have a high potential for automation. “To unlock generative AI’s full potential, banks in India need to adopt a holistic and long-term strategy such that it integrates into their value chains. This will require reimagining traditional processes keeping AI at the core and building a robust foundation of data and digital powered by cloud,” Manoj Singodia, MD and Lead-Financial Services, Accenture in India, said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Polls Phase 3: Out of 57 candidates in West Bengal, 13 are crorepatis

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Out of the 57 candidates contesting in the four Lok Sabha constituencies going into phase 3 polling on May 7, around 23% are crorepatis with an average asset of ₹1.84 crore, an analysis of their affidavits pointed out.

Of the 13 crorepati candidates, three are from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Independents while the Congress and the All India Secular Front have two each.

Three Independent candidates are also crorepatis.

The BJP, CPI(M) and the Bharathiya Jawan Kisan Party have one crorepati candidate each, the analysis conducted by the West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a statement.

“The average of assets per candidate contesting in the West Bengal phase three Lok Sabha elections is ₹1.84 crore,” it added.

Khalilur Rehman, TMC candidate from Jangipur constituency, has assets valued at over ₹51 crore while Independent candidate Mohammed Jamal Saikh contesting from Maldaha Dakshin seat has a total asset of ₹41,000, the study said.

Analysing the education details of the 57 candidates, it was found that 26 have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard. Thirty-one candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above.

The phase three polling is scheduled in Jangipur, Maldaha Dakshin, Maldaha Uttar, and Murshidabad on May 7.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Hyderabad BJP candidate Madhavi Latha’s assets worth ₹218 crore

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency K Madhavi Latha has declared her family assets, both moveable and immovable worth ₹218.38 crore.

Latha’ s family has liabilities to the tune of ₹27 crore.

The BJP candidate’s family owns 2.94 crore shares of Virinchi Ltd valued at ₹94.44 crore. Latha’s husband Vishwanath Kompalle, an IIT Madras alumni, is a founder of the fintech and healthcare company.

According to an election affidavit she filed, the family has movable assets worth ₹165.46 crore including three dependents and immovable – ₹55.92 crore.

She will take on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi and the Congress has announced Mohammed Waliullah Sameer as its candidate.

She mentioned that she possesses a Masters degree in Political Science.

Owaisi has declared family assets at ₹23.87 crore and liabilities of ₹7 crore.

He possessed a pistol and a rifle, according to his affidavit filed on April 19.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

With ₹5785 crore assets, TDP candidate Chandra Sekhar stirs poll attention

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Telugu Desam Party’s candidate for Guntur Lok Sabha seat P Chandra Sekhar has captured headlines after he declared his family assets —both movable and immovable— at ₹5,785 crore, in his election affidavit, potentially making him one of the wealthiest contestants in the current electoral race.

According to an affidavit filed by him, his individual assets stood at ₹2,448.72 crore while his wife Sriratna Koneru has ₹2,343.78 crore worth assets and children have nearly ₹1,000 crore.

A press release by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) had earlier said, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul Nath topped the richest contestants list in the Phase-I of the Lok Sabha polls held on April 19, with nearly ₹717 crore worth of assets.

Chandra Sekhar’s family has a liability of ₹1,138 crore to JP Morgan Chase Bank of USA in the form of Line of Credit.

From Burripalem village in Andhra Pradesh to working as physician teacher at Johns Hopkins University – Sinai Hospital to founding UWorld (online learning and study resources platform), Chandra Sekhar’s journey is trul y fascinating.

The Doctor-Entrepreneur-Politician completed his MBBS at NTR University of Health Sciences Vijayawada in 1999 and pursued MD (Internal Medicine) from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania in 2005.

He secured 27th rank among 60,000 students who took the EAMCET medical entrance examination ( MBBS) in the state which was considered the most competitive examination in the country.

Chandra Sekhar with an interest in public service, has been working on behalf of the TDP’s NRI wing since 2010 to support several welfare programmes of the party.

Though he desired to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Narasaraopet segment in 2014, TDP allotted the ticket to R Sambasiva Rao due to political issues.

In a joint filing with his wife, he declared ₹605.57 crore as per US Tax Cycle Year January 2022 to December 2022 in that country.

He has investments and shares in several US-based firms.

He also possesses luxury cars such as Rolls Royce Ghost, Mercedes Benz and Tesla in the USA.

Chnadra Sekhar will take on YSR Congress Party’s K Venkata Rosaiah in the elections.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Chevella BJP contestant Vishweshwar Reddy declares family assets worth ₹4568 crore

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Chevella Lok Sabha constituency K Vishweshwar Reddy has emerged as one of the wealthiest contestants in Telangana after he declared his family assets worth ₹4568 crore, according to an affidavit he filed with the election authorities.

Reddy holds 17.77 lakh shares of Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd worth ₹973.22 crore at ₹6170 apiece while his wife Sangita Reddy has 24.32 lakh shares worth ₹1500.85 crore.

Sangita Reddy is Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group founded by her father Dr C Prathap Reddy.

According to the affidavit, Reddy has assets worth ₹1250 crore while the wife has assets to the tune of ₹3209.41 crore and the rest with their son.

Vishweshwar Reddy began his political career with BRS (then TRS) and became MP from Chevella. He quit the party, and he joined Congress and unsuccessfully contested the 2019 general elections. Later, he joined the BJP.

He completed Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from University of Madras. And pursued MS in the US.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Rajnath Singh declares assets worth ₹7.36 crore, does not own any vehicle

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, filed his nomination papers on April 29. Singh is seeking a third term from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, once represented by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

According to the affidavit, the 72-year-old senior BJP leader is an active user of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and, YouTube. He also has a website. The Union minister does not own any vehicle but has a revolver (with a purchase price of ₹10,000) and a double-barrel gun (with a purchase price of ₹10,000).

No criminal cases are pending against him, as per his election affidavit. Singh has movable assets worth over ₹3.11 crore.

His wife has 750 gram gold worth ₹52.50 lakh and silver weighing 12.50 kg worth over ₹9.37 lakh. She has total movable assets worth ₹90.71 lakh. Singh has ₹75,000 cash in hand, while his wife has ₹45,000 cash in hand.

The combined worth of movable assets of Singh and his wife is over ₹4.02 crore. The minister has agriculture lands in five villages of Chandauli district worth ₹1.47 crore.

Singh has a house in Gomtinagar area of Lucknow worth ₹1.87 crore. His wife does not own any immovable assets. The combined worth of immovable assets of Singh and his wife is over ₹3.34 crore. Singh does not have any liabilities against him, the election affidavit stated.

He has done MSc from Gorakhpur University in 1971. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Singh had defeated Samajwadi Party’s Poonam Sinha while in 2014, he had defeated Congress candidate Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Before contesting his first election from Lucknow in 2014, Singh had won the Lok Sabha polls from Ghaziabad in 2009. Polling in Lucknow will be held in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

The Samajwadi Party has fielded Ravidas Mehrotra (MLA from Lucknow central) from this seat.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Three accused in Salman Khan firing case remanded to police custody till May 8

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A special court here on Monday remanded to police custody till May 8 three accused arrested in connection with the firing at Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra. Special MCOCA judge A M Patil remanded the accused, Vicky Gupta (24), Sagar Pal (21) and Anuj Thapan (32), to police custody and sent Sonu Kumar Chander Bishnoi (37) to judicial custody on medical grounds.

The police on Saturday invoked provisions of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against alleged shooters Gupta and Pal as well as Bishnoi and Thapan, who are accused of supplying two firearms and bullets, and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol, shown as wanted accused.

The accused were earlier booked under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

In the proceedings held on camera, the court sent Gupta, Pal and Thapan to police custody till May 8 and remanded Bishnoi to judicial custody. Public prosecutor Jaisingh Desai sought the custody of the accused, citing that the police needed to conduct a detailed investigation to unearth the conspiracy.

Police had registered the first information report (FIR) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 307 (attempt to murder) after two motorbike-borne men fired at Galaxy Apartment in Bandra, Khan’s residence, in the early hours of April 14. Gupta and Pal, both residents of Bihar, were apprehended from Kutch in neighbouring Gujarat on April 16, while Sonu Bishnoi and Thapan were held from Punjab on April 25.

Anmol Bishnoi, who stays in Canada and travels to the USA, had claimed responsibility for the firing through a Facebook post, though its IP address was traced to Portugal, as per police. Lawrence Bishnoi, accused of several crimes, is lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Defamation complaint filed against Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi before Delhi court

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A criminal complaint was filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP colleague Atishi before a court here on Monday, accusing them of defaming the BJP and its members.

The complaint was filed by Praveen Shankar Kapoor, the media head of BJP’s Delhi unit, before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tanya Bamniyal, who posted the matter for recording pre-summoning evidence on May 4.

The complaint alleged that the two Aam Aadmi Party leaders made “false, fabricated, and manipulated statements”, accusing the BJP of trying to buy and poach AAP MLAs and topple the state government, “with a malafide intention to lower BJP’s and its workers’ reputation in general public”.

“of malicious/ scandalous statements, you and your colleagues defame BJP and its members and try to gain political mileage by use of platform of press conferences to make such false statements knowing fully well that all social media platforms would carry such news as you are not only an MLA but a Minister in the govt of NCT of Delhi,” the complaint alleged.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow