#forever star india awards

[marwahstudios]

Sandeep Marwah Presents Star Awards 2024 for Excellence in Education

Ghaziabad, India – In a remarkable celebration of educational excellence, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Founder of Noida Film City, President of Marwah Studios, and Chancellor of AAFT University, presented the prestigious Star Awards 2024 to outstanding educators for their significant contributions to the field of education. The ceremony was held during the Hand in Hand Workshop organized by Meena Baluja at Hotel Radisson Blu, Ghaziabad.

Addressing a gathering of educators, Dr. Marwah, a global advocate for creative and experiential education, expressed his admiration for the role teachers play in shaping society. “Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever,” said Dr. Marwah. He emphasized the evolving role of education in today’s world, urging teachers to embrace innovation, creativity, and empathy in their approach to teaching. “Education is no longer just about imparting knowledge. It’s about nurturing creativity, instilling values, and preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow,” he added.

The Star Awards 2024 were presented to a select group of educators for their extraordinary contributions to education. These included innovative research, the development of new teaching methodologies, and efforts to bring about positive behavioral changes in students. The awards also recognized outstanding work in curriculum development and creating more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environments.

The workshop provided a platform for educators to share their experiences and learn from one another, with the focus on fostering collaborative and innovative approaches to teaching. The event highlighted the critical need for continuous professional development in the education sector to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of students.

In a special moment during the event, Dr. Sandeep Marwah was also honored for his visionary leadership in establishing AAFT University, one of India’s leading institutions for creative and media education. Through his pioneering work at AAFT University, Dr. Marwah has contributed to the transformation of the education landscape in India, particularly in the creative arts, media, and film studies. The university has become a hub for nurturing future talent in these fields, combining traditional academic values with cutting-edge, experiential learning techniques.

Speaking after receiving the honor, Dr. Marwah reiterated his commitment to the advancement of education in India. “The future of any nation is built in classrooms. We must continue to invest in our educators and institutions to ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed for success in the 21st century,” he remarked.

The Star Awards 2024 were a fitting tribute to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of teachers who are making a difference in the lives of their students every day. The event brought together educators from diverse backgrounds, all united in their commitment to fostering a better future through education.

[dkpageant12]

Youngest Pageant director of India - Jimmy Garima Kumari

Jimmy Garima Kumari stands as India's youngest beauty pageant director, managing both national and international platforms. She directs prestigious events like Mrs. Universe International and Pride of India Miss/Mrs/Miss Teen India. Her leadership and innovative vision have revitalized the pageant industry, promoting inclusivity and empowering women worldwide. Jimmy's dynamic presence and entrepreneurial spirit set her apart as a trailblazer in her field.

Background and Upbringing[edit]

Born in Jharkhand, India, and raised in a disciplined environment as an army brat, Jimmy Garima Kumari's early life was characterized by diverse cultural experiences and a strong sense of responsibility. Her upbringing laid a solid foundation for her future endeavors in the beauty pageant industry. Completing her education in Delhi, she graduated with commendable academic records, paving the way for her impressive career.

Entry into the Beauty Pageant World[edit]

Jimmy Garima's foray into the world of beauty pageants began with her participation in the Forever Miss India 2022 competition. In January 2022, she not only enrolled but excelled, ultimately winning the title of Forever Miss Delhi 2022. This achievement marked the beginning of her rise to prominence, distinguishing her in a competitive field with over 110 participants from across the nation.

Landmark Achievements[edit]

At just 20 years old, Jimmy Garima Kumari has achieved the extraordinary feat of becoming India's youngest national and international pageant director. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her ownership of numerous national and international pageants, showcasing her leadership and innovative vision.

Transforming Mrs. Universe International[edit]

Jimmy's role as the director of Mrs. Universe International is one of her most notable accomplishments. This international beauty pageant celebrates the grace, elegance, and achievements of married women worldwide. Under her leadership, the pageant has transcended cultural boundaries, emphasizing the strength, intelligence, and beauty of married women. Her efforts have elevated the pageant's status, making it a prestigious and globally recognized platform.

Expanding Her Influence[edit]

In addition to Mrs. Universe International, Jimmy Garima Kumari directs the Kaushalya Award and Pride of India Miss/Mrs/Miss Teen India. She also holds the title of Miss India The Rising Star 2022, further solidifying her reputation as a transformative figure in the beauty pageant industry.

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Leadership[edit]

As the owner of DK Pageant Organisation, Jimmy has demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial skills. Her organization manages and hosts beauty pageants on both national and international levels, providing aspiring talents with opportunities to shine. Her leadership and innovative approach have breathed new life into the pageantry scene, setting new industry standards.

Personal Traits and Public Image[edit]

Jimmy Garima Kumari's physical presence, standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing 47 kilograms, is complemented by her dynamic personality and unwavering determination. Her commitment to inclusivity and her ability to highlight the multifaceted beauty of women have made her an influential role model.

Future Outlook[edit]

As the youngest beauty pageant director, Jimmy Garima Kumari is poised to continue shaping the future of the industry with her passion, dedication, and forward-thinking vision. Her innovative leadership ensures that she will remain a key figure in beauty pageants, empowering others and setting new benchmarks.

Conclusion[edit]

Jimmy Garima Kumari's journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and boundless ambition. As India's youngest national and international pageant director, she continues to break barriers and redefine standards in the beauty pageant industry. Her visionary leadership and commitment to empowering others ensure her lasting impact on the industry and the lives of those she inspires.

Reference Links[edit]

Jimmy Garima - The Rising Star 2022

Jimmy Garima - Youngest Pageant Director

Introducing Miss Delhi 2022 Jimmy Garima Kumari

Social Links[edit]

Instagram Profile

READ MORE :- Youngest Pageant director of India - Jimmy Garima Kumari

[horisendining]

Turn Your Birthday Into A Goan Fairytale: Unforgettable Birthday Celebrations In Goa

Dreaming of a birthday celebration unlike any other? Look no further than Goa, the crown jewel of India’s west coast. With its sun-drenched beaches, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine, Goa offers a kaleidoscope of experiences to make your birthday truly unforgettable.

Planning Your Perfect Birthday Escape

The first step to your dream birthday celebration in Goa is crafting the perfect itinerary. Consider the vibe you’re going for. Do you envision a luxurious retreat with pampering spa treatments and gourmet meals? Or perhaps a lively beach party with friends and music under the stars is more your style?

Luxurious Birthday Sojourn

For those seeking an indulgent escape, consider staying at a luxurious beachfront resort. Many resorts offer exclusive birthday packages that include spa treatments, private dining experiences, and even personalized activities. Imagine unwinding with an Ayurvedic massage on your birthday morning, followed by a gourmet breakfast overlooking the glistening ocean. Later, celebrate with a private candlelit dinner on the beach, complete with breath-taking sunset views and personalized decorations.

Unforgettable Beachside Celebrations

If you crave a vibrant and social atmosphere, opt for a beachside shack or a hotel with a lively bar scene. Goa’s beaches come alive at night, with bonfire parties, live music, and delicious fresh seafood. Rent a beach hut with your closest friends and let the party flow with refreshing cocktails, delectable local cuisine, and lively music. Here, you can create lasting memories dancing under the starlit sky with the sound of the waves crashing in the background.

Exploring Goa’s Hidden Gems

Goa offers more than just stunning beaches. Venture beyond the coastline to explore the state’s rich heritage and vibrant culture. Hire a local guide and embark on a historical tour of Goa’s Portuguese colonial architecture, charming markets, and ancient temples. For a truly unique experience, take a yoga or meditation class on a secluded beach, or explore the lush green interiors of Goa on a nature trek. These experiences will add a touch of adventure and cultural immersion to your birthday celebration.

A Culinary Adventure Awaits

Goa’s culinary scene is a melting pot of flavours, influenced by Portuguese, Indian, and Konkani traditions. Indulge in a decadent seafood feast, savour the tangy flavours of a Goan curry, or try your hand at making some local delicacies with a cooking class. Don’t forget to explore the vibrant nightlife with its trendy bars and restaurants offering everything from local specialties to international cuisine.

Horisen Dining: The Perfect Setting for Your Birthday Celebration

No birthday celebration in Goa is complete without an exceptional dining experience. Horisen Dining offers a truly unique and unforgettable setting for your special day. Soar above the vibrant city lights and breath-taking scenery as you celebrate with your loved ones in our luxurious sky pod. Our attentive staff will ensure your every need is met, while you indulge in a delectable menu curated by our award-winning chefs.

Capture the Memories

A Birthday to Remember Forever

A Birthday Celebration In Goa offers a chance to create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come. Whether you seek a luxurious retreat, a vibrant party, or a combination of both, Goa has something to offer everyone. With its stunning scenery, delectable cuisine, and vibrant culture, Goa provides the perfect setting to turn your birthday into a truly unforgettable experience.

So, pack your bags, gather your loved ones, and get ready to celebrate your birthday in style in the heart of beautiful Goa!

[aumolc]

Eternal song

Source: Google photo of the flag of India that flutters proudly https://youtu.be/xXrHPkz9QF4 This song was sung by late Lata Mangeshkar who died not so long ago but this song has immortalized her in the Galaxy of stars that look down from the Heaven on the humanity and where Lata will live forever even if she had sung no other song. She was awarded the highest award a nation could bestow upon…

[newagesispage]

                                                                       JULY2023

THE RIB PAGE  

Elliot Page has given us a memoir titled Pageboy. ** Another good offering looks like The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle.

*****

Another book release is A Tour De Farce: The complete history of the 3 Stooges on the Road by Gary Lassin.** And let’s not forget Ed Begley Jr. Who has written, To the temple of tranquility and step on it.

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Naomi Watts married Billy Crudup. ** Andy Richter married Jennifer Herrera and Conan was the last- minute officiant.

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DQ is getting rid of cherry dip. What the fuck? W was just discussing cherry dip the other day with a friend that had worked at DQ and she did not even know they had it. Try advertising the product, people before getting rid of it. Why does fast food always screw it up?? KFC let go of their lil’ lemon parfait and Steak and Shake stopped serving lemon, lime and orange freezes. C’mon. Somebody could open a restaurant with just the stuff that other places discontinue.

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Chelsea Peretti has directed, ‘First time female director.’

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A Federal Court overturned the Arkansas law that kept Dr.’s from providing gender transition treatment for transgender youth.

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Days alert: It’s like Nicole never learns not to lie. Never! At least she admits she is the queen of lies. ** The Body and Soul soap within a soap is too fucking funny! ** Terrell Ransom Jr. The actor that played Theo Carver as a young man may be on the way back!!** Xander and Sarah forever!!** C’mon, let’s try Li and Kristen and Chloe and Rex!!

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The 2024 Hollywood Walk of Fame has been announced!! The year will give stars to Chadwick boseman, Kevin Feige, Gal Gadot, Maggie g

Gyllenhaal, Chris Meledandri, Chris Pine, Christina Ricci, Michelle Yeow, Ken Jeong, Eugene Levy, Mario Lopez, Jim Nantz, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michael Shur, Kerry Washington, Raul De Molina, Lili Estefan, Glen Ballard, Toni Braxton, Def Leppard, Charles Fox, Sammy Hagar, Brandy Norwood, Darius Rucker, Gwen Stefani, Dr. Dre, Jane Krakowski, Otis Redding, Angie Martinez, Billie Jean King and Carl Weathers.

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The 76th Tony’s came on June 11. My best dressed were Rachel Brosnahan, Lea Michele, Lupita Nyong’o and Jessica Chastain. Winners included Jodie Comer, J. Harrison Ghee, Sean Hayes, Bonnie Milligan and Alex Newell. The big musical, play and revival awards went to Kimberly Akimbo, Leopoldstadt, Parade and Top dog/Underdog. Aaron Rodgers was there to support his friend, C.J. Cormac who produced Ain’t no Mo.

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Censure Adam Schiff for telling the truth??** Pelosi told her Republican colleagues that they looked miserable. It is a fitting twist on the “you look marvelous” era. I mean, they do always look miserable. ** John Durham keeps saying he does not keep up with the news so he couldn’t know if there was anything to the Trump/ Russia controversy. He did admit that Trump made use of the Russian hackers. He poo pooed the Mueller investigation that brought half a dozen convictions. ** Greene and Boebert have been fighting on the house floor. How do people this ignorant get elected.

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The Wagner mercinary group staged a March for Justice in Russia.

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President Biden hosted Modi of India and the man took questions from reporters, a first!

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Sofia Coppola is bringing us her take on Priscilla. The film is based on Elvis and me.

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Georgia poll worker Ruby Freeman was completely cleared of fraud in the election.

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45 bags of human remains were found in a gulch in Guadalijara, Mexico.

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President Biden had to have a root canal. He also called Chinese President Xi a “dictator” at a fundraiser. ** Hunter Biden pled guilty to filing taxes late and will avoid charges that he lied about his drug use when purchasing a handgun. McCarthy called it a sweetheart deal. ** Comer admits that they have these investigations to bring down Biden’s poll numbers.

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Everybody seems filled with anxiety and the world seems a little more rude but murder is down 12%.

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The bodies of 81 immigrants went into the water off the coast of Greece.

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Ted Kazinsky and Pat Robertson have died.

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Danny Bonaduce has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and had brain surgery. He is recovering nicely.

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A new landfill was halted in Peoria, Il. The current landfill should be full in a year or two. It was discovered that an old diamond mine, Black Jewel no. 2, was discovered underneath. The hazards are being looked into.

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Chris Licht is out at CNN.

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Mike Pence and F X Suarez have jumped into the Republican Presidential ring.

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Netflix got what they wanted. They did lose a few customers but got a big bump in new customers after they wouldn’t allow people to share. They are getting away from their old tag line: Love is sharing a password.

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Pat Sajak is finally retiring from Wheel of Fortune. Ryan Seacrest is taking over? That sounds about right. The blandness continues.

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Scary Clown 45 was indicted on June 13. ** When Trump runs, GOP loses. - John Thune** A new poll shows 59% of the country wants Trump to end his campaign.

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Can’t wait for the Doc, Chasing Chasing Amy.

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2 Southern Baptists churches were expelled for having women pastors.

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The Supreme Court has left Native Americans to adopt or foster their own children.

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Stetson and other cowboy shit is quite popular right now. The 70’s are coming back hard.

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A company out of Washington state called Recompose will let your loved ones go back to the earth naturally as mulch.

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American Auto and Grand Crew were cancelled. Damn, NBC, didn’t you learn your lesson with Brooklyn 99? American Auto and Grand Crew are some of the funniest shows on tv. ** Mindhunter and Perry Mason were also cancelled.

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Pete Davidson was charged with reckless driving. He has checked into rehab.

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Paul McCartney has a picture book of the things he saw as the Beatles invaded America. Eyes of the Storm: 1964 looks awesome.

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The PGA? The Saudi’s? What?? The Saudi’s are taking complete control of the PGA. They won’t tell us all the details.  Is that a security risk? Many of the players and 9-11 victims feel betrayed. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is looking into it.

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Trevor Noah is starting a podcast that is still to be named.

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Oceangate  lost 5 passengers that paid $250,000 each to ride to the Titanic in a submersible named Titan. Contact was lost and the mystery began. It looks like the ship claimed 5 more.

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I hate the word, homophobia. It’s not a phobia, you’re not scared, you’re an asshole. - Morgan Freeman

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R.I.P. Astrud Gilberto, Cynthia Weil, Mike Batayeh, Wade Goodwyn, treat Williams, Cormac McCarthy, Bill Lee, Marlene Clark, Daniel Ellsberg, Beyond Wonderland victims, Glenda Jackson, Carol Higgin Clark, Sheldon Harnick, Frederic Forrest, Julian Sands, Titan victims, Alan Arkin and Rick Bennett

[ceom]

Sherry Brown Shepherd - The Real Super Woman Award 2023 - Forever Star India Presents

A Beauty pageant that looks for the beauty in you - in and out ..... Come be a part of this learning.

[laresearchette]

Sunday, January 15, 2022 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN (Paramount +) THE LAST OF US (HBO Canada) 9:00pm YOUR HONOR (Crave)  9:00pm MILF MANOR (TLC Canada) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT?: 28TH CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS (CW Feed) THE WAY HOME (Premiering on January 22 on W Network at 8:00pm) BURNED BY LOVE (TBD - Lifetime Canada)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA ALL THINGS VALENTINE A DASH OF LOVE DATE WITH LOVE LOVE, ONCE AND ALWAYS     THE PERFECT BRIDE THE STORY OF US

CRAVE TV THE LAST OF US (Season 1, Episode 1)

NETFLIX CANADA SHIVA BABY

GRAND SLAM OF CURLING (SN1) 1:00pm: Canadian Open - Men’s Final (SN/SN360) 6:00pm: Canadian Open - Women's Final

NFL FOOTBALL (TSN4/TSN5) 1:00pm: Dolphins vs. Bills (TSN4) 4:30pm: Giants vs. Vikings (TSN4) 8:15pm: Ravens vs. Bengals

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 3:30pm: Warriors vs. Bulls (SN1) 6:00pm: Thunder vs. Nets (SN1) 9:30pm: 76ers vs. Lakers

NHL HOCKEY (SNPacific) 5:00pm: Canucks vs. Hurricanes (TSN2) 5:00pm: Habs vs. Rangers (TSN3) 7:00pm: Coyotes vs. Jets

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS (TSN) 7:00pm: Early Round Coverage Day #1 (TSN) 11:00pm: Early Round Coverage Day #1

HEARTLAND (CBC) 7:00pm: A surprise visitor causes Amy to see Finn differently. A weekend trip to the cabin has Jack struggling with his past while Katie finally opens up. Lou and Peter’s dinner party doesn’t go as planned. Are they serving HORSE?

DOUG AND THE SLUGS AND ME (CBC) 8:00pm::  A POV documentary about a filmmaker uncovering the story of her best friend’s dad, the lead singer of Doug and the Slugs.

HOW TO FIND FOREVER (City TV) 8:00pm: Marley is great at organizing other people's engagements but unlucky with love. However, the man who could jeopardize her latest project may also be Mr. Right.

WALKER INDEPENDENCE (W Network) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE)

IRREVERENT (Showcase) 9:00pm: Mack tracks down the real reverend to recover his stolen money, but he must officiate a full Christian wedding without anyone noticing that he's a complete fraud.

THE END IS NYE (Nat Geo Canada) 9:00pm:  The largest supervolcano eruption in modern history threatens to ignite the globe; Bill explores the origin of volcanoes, how to survive their wrath and even ways to harness their boundless underground energy.

UNEARTHED: SEVEN WONDERS (Cottage Life) 9:00pm:  Seven wonders of ancient Egypt are home to mysteries still unsolved thousands of years after their construction, and today, investigators use cutting-edge technology and forensic analysis to reveal new secrets of these colossal engineering marvels.

MEETING THE BEATLES IN INDIA (Super Channel Fuse) 9:30pm:  In 1968 the Beatles travel to Rishikesh, India, to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

BROTHER VS. BROTHER: NO RULES (HGTV Canada) 10:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Two brothers go against each other as they each mentor home improvement experts for a prize.

THE CURSE OF OAK ISLAND (History Canada) 10:00pm: The team's high hopes of finding the fabled treasure are intensified when it procures what could be the final piece of the puzzle.

THE TERRITORY (Nat Geo Canada) 10:00pm:  When a network of Brazilian farmers seizes a protected area of the Amazon rainforest, a young Indigenous leader and his mentor must fight back in defense of the land and an uncontacted group living deep within the forest.

[fsia2020]

FSIA The Real Super Heroes & Real Super Women Awardees List 2020

Forever Star India Award is the India`s biggest online platform and it is the biggest community of participants, awardees and pageant participants where they can create their own profile and they can update it on regular basis. Everyone can view the FSIA verified member profiles of the Real Super heroes & Real Super Women Awards 2020 here.

There are our Real Super Heroes and Real Super Women Awardees 2020 are following below:

1. Leena Dudhagara                        2. Aryansh Arora                              3. P Mareeswari

4. Dr. Gurpreet Kaur                       5. Sanjay More                                  6. Dr. Brijesh Byrappa

7. Shilpa Venkat                                                8. Ram Dayal Bairwa (RES)            9. Harsha Gala

10. Rashmi Rao                                  11. Tapasi Mohanty                         12. Afsana Firoji

13. Nalini Srinivas                             14. Varsha Majethia                        15. Pooja Pandey

16. Adv Dr Shivangi Zarkar            17. Dr Vinay Malik                            18. Naina More

19. R.G. Anand                                  20. DR. DEEPIKA KAPOOR             21. Dr. Archana Chawla

22. Anupama Thakur                      23. Manisha Bhujbal                       24. Priti Waghela

25. Venika Sukhija                           26. Dr Sayantan Dey Sarkar          27. Pooja Gupta

28. Trupti Padhi                                29. Prerna Rajora                             30. Junjaram Thory

31. Pawan Vij                                     32. SOMA LAHIRI MALLIK             33. Roneeca Sahu

34. Risha Chaudhuri                        35. Sherin Chacko                            36. Mrs. Gurjitkaur Bhatia

37. Amita Singh                                38. Deepak Kumar Taank              39. Dr. shubham Kaushal

40. Anjali Jangam                             41. Dipshikha Singh                         42. Anjali Pandey

43. Chirag Bhatt                                                44. Nupur Patil                                  45. Sunita Mallik

46. Manjula Srinivasa Guptha     47. SOMEN SAHA                             48. Dr. Sachin Parhe

49. Sanjana Bakshi Datta               50. Dr. Bhushan Paraskar              51. Surekha Kamble

52. Deepak kumar Jain                  53. Dr. Rahul Banerjee                  54. Manoj Jain

55. FURGAN KHAN                          56. Shrenik Patil                                57. DURLOVE TRIPATHY

58. Pankaj Chaudhari                      59. Dr. Anmol Bagaria                    60. Dr. Anmol Bagaria

61. KOLLU BALAKRISHNA              62. PRIYABRATA DAS                      63. DINESH CHAND SHARMA

64. Ravee Kiran Tripurana             65. Appu Keshari                              66. Adv. Shubham Gajanan Kawalkar

67. Chaitali Mondal                          68. Sharmistha Basu                        69. Md Ariful Islam          

70. Sonu Sood                                   71. Shailendra Yadav                       72. PRAKASH HEDAOO

73. Shrimohan meena                    74. Dr. Isaac Raj Alanka                  75. Ankit Jhunjhunwala

76. Dr. Avinandan Mondal            77. Anil Toche Neurotherapist    78. TANUSRI BANERJEE

79. Govinthasamy mahendran   80. Prashant Tupkari                       81. Dr. Ashish Atloye      

82. Mohsim Shaikh                          83. Jivhala Sanstha                           84. Siva Reddy

85. Ankush Prakash                         86. NILESH WAGH                            87. SUBHAM SHARMA

88.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Nanglia

     89.

Shalini Jadhav

            90.

Sai Hansika Chakrat

 91.

Sandhya Dalai

[asrastrovastuconsultant]

Forever Star India Awards is the India`s biggest online platform and it is the biggest community of participants, awardees and pageant participants where they can create their own profile and they can update it on regular basis.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Music is so good for the soul, and during these hard times we must all help each other to find moments of joy.

- Dame Vera Lynn (1917-2020)

Dame Vera Lynn, the beloved British singer, died 103 years old on 18 June 2020. Surprise at her death is swiftly replaced by the sad realisation that it marks the end of a chapter in British history. Many of those who grew up with her music have died during the Covid-19 pandemic. How poignant that her death should come on the day that President Macron arrived in the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of General De Gaulle’s rallying cry to the Free French and to give the Légion d’Honneur to London, the city that weathered the blitz in 1940.

From the battlefields of France, the Netherlands, Italy and North Africa to the Far East, whenever soldiers gathered around a radio set or gramophone, the smooth vocal tones of Vera Lynn were sure to be heard.

It is impossible to gauge whether the outcome of the war was swayed by songs like ‘There'll Always Be an England’, ‘We'll Meet Again’, ‘(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover"‘ and ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’.

But for countless men in uniform, the lyrics and the slim, wholesome young blonde woman who sang them seemed to offer a vision of what they were fighting for.

To modern ears, the words might sound corny but at a time when Britain stood proudly against the Germans, their patriotic appeal was irresistible.

Vera Lynn epitomised an archetypical, essentially decent Britishness, practical and fair-minded - notions which shone through the songs she sang.

Even her version of the German soldiers' favourite song, ‘Lili Marlene,’ managed to sound like a patriotic lament, a far cry from the darker sexual undercurrents implicit in the versions by Marlene Dietrich and Lale Andersen - ironically both of them anti-Nazis who became the German forces' sweethearts.

Vera Lynn's most famous song remains We'll Meet Again, recorded in 1939.

Lynn’s wartime popularity was boosted because of the song.   The song’s appeal to love and stoicism - "Keep smiling through/Just like you always do/ Till the blue skies/Drive the black clouds far away" -- made it the perfect war-time anthem. It proved powerfully uplifting for departing soldiers, and it has endured as the defining song of the British campaign. The song re-entered the UK charts at No 55 amid the 75th anniversary celebrations of VE Day.

As she wrote later in her 1975 memoir, Vocal Refrain: “Ordinary English people don’t, on the whole, find it easy to expose their feelings even to those closest to them.” We’ll Meet Again would go “at least a little way towards doing it for them”.

In later years, the song, with its reminders of home and exhortations of courage, has become an indispensable part of national commemorations. And, with its swooping and strangely haunting melody, it has entered into popular culture. It forms an ironic accompaniment to the explosion of atom bombs in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964); it is deployed with alienating effect in the Pink Floyd song Vera (The Wall, 1982); and it provides the eerie aural backdrop to the Tower of Terror ride in Walt Disney World, California.

But when Lynn began singing it at the age of 22, she had little idea that she would be singing it for the rest of her life.

Indeed the song found favour again this year when Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare public address to the nation, urged Britons to remain strong during the coronavirus lockdown.

"We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again," the monarch said.

Vera Lynn was born in London's East End on March 20, 1917 as Vera Margaret Welch.

She began singing in local clubs at age seven and joined a child dance troupe, Madame Harris' Kracker Cabaret Kids, at 11. By 15, she was a teenage sensation as a vocalist with the Howard Baker Orchestra.

She adopted her grandmother's maiden name Lynn as her stage name, making her first radio broadcast in 1935 with the Joe Loss Orchestra.

She worked with another of the great names of the pre-war period, Ambrose, whose clarinettist and tenor sax player, Harry Lewis, she was to marry. The couple had one child, a daughter.

In war-time, Vera Lynn came into her own, hosting a BBC radio programme, "Sincerely Yours", appearing in a forces stage revue, and making three films.

So what did Vera Lynn have that propelled her to stardom during the war, when she became the “forces’ sweetheart”? Youth primarily. She was in her early 20s when war broke out – Elsie Carlisle, the iconic singer at this time, was in her 40s and recorded very little during the war, while Gracie Fields, who was astonishingly popular in the 1930s, had the temerity to marry an Italian and sat most of the war out in North America.

The country was aching for a new female singing star and Vera Lynn – youthful, toothily wholesome rather than glamorous, and with an innate modesty that suited an austere and dangerous age that had no time for displays of ego – fitted the bill. She had a powerful, bell-like voice – at times she almost recites the words and employs oodles of vibrato to underscore the emotion of her songs – that was perfect for a singalong. It is when the audience joins in with her songs that you get a lump in the throat.

She came to represent so much, especially to the service personnel she entertained tirelessly during the second world war. She visited Burma, Egypt and India to give concerts for troops stationed there, an act of courage that should not be underestimated. These were difficult, dangerous journeys and not for nothing was she later awarded the Burma Star. She symbolised resilience and indefatigability, embodying a strength of character that transcended mere art. Nazism had no chance against this winsome, optimistic, joyful yet tender young woman.

Lynn gave up singing after the war but was persuaded out of retirement in 1947 and began a whole new international career, with appearances in the United States in 1948.

She became the first British artiste to have a US number one with "Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart", her most successful record, in 1952. However Vera Lynn's career foundered in the rock and roll era and she cut back on public appearances.

Artistically, it must have been infuriating to be forever associated with the wartime struggle and she did attempt to move on, recording a few Beatles numbers in the 1960s and even making a country disc in 1977. But nothing could shift the way she was seen by the public: a symbol, quintessentially British, of that unimaginably long, bleak, ultimately triumphant wartime struggle; an icon frozen in time.

She accepted her status as a living museum of wartime music and culture with customary good grace. “I never thought the ‘forces’ sweetheart’ tag would stay with me,” she told the Radio Times in 2014, “but it has, hasn’t it? I thought it would last for the war period, then I’d just be another singer. Of course I’ve never minded that everybody always connects me with that time. It was so important.”

For decades, she was a beloved figure at celebrations to mark the anniversaries of the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings in France or VE Day, the end of the war in Europe on May 8, 1945.

Her last public performance came in 2005, at the 60th anniversary celebrations for VE Day in Trafalgar Square. She performed a snatch of We’ll Meet Again, and told the crowd: “These boys gave their lives and some came home badly injured and for some families life would never be the same. We should always remember, we should never forget and we should teach the children to remember.”

She was awarded an OBE in 1969, and made a dame in 1975, for her charity work. She has given her name to her own breast cancer and child cerebral palsy charities, and has also worked with charities for military servicepeople, including Forces Literary Organisation Worldwide (Flow)

In 2009, at the age of 92, she became the oldest living artist to make it to No 1 on the British album charts, with a greatest hits compilation outselling the Arctic Monkeys.

During the build-up to her 100th birthday in 2017, Dame Vera said she found it "humbling" that people still enjoyed her songs.

The Queen wrote to her: "You cheered and uplifted us all in the war and after the war, and I am sure that this evening the blue birds of Dover will be flying over to wish you a happy anniversary."

Her songs spoke to people caught up in war, trying to respond to its emotional extremes as best they could. They encapsulate fellowship and battling through, not jingoism, for all the flag-waving that accompanied her appearances at commemorative events. “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when.” The lyrics could not be more banal, yet her genuine spirit invested them with deep humanity. As HM Queen Elizabeth II herself understood, what keeps us going in times of war and pandemic is the thought that we will be reunited with our loved ones, when the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

RIP Dame Vera Lynn

We’ll meet again....

[mysticalmusicwhispers]

aditya is going to be grounded forever and ever and ever once he gets caught lmao. indus might even throw a slipper at him 😔someone please help him (not yao he's going to make it worse. or maybe yao can give him nice doodles and presents as a way of consoling him. he probably won't feel bad but at leas he will try to make his friend less sad lmao. and iran would help!! even as they're like "wtf you're SUCH A BAD INFLUENCE" @ yao. their combined efforts would likely make aditya very happy!!) the poor baby will not be having any fun for a Very Long Time :(

HM i think nyo china should live in a place of residence that makes me want to eat the rich whenever i walk past it, filthy capitalist that she is. but should that be the penthouse apartment of a high-rise condominium or should it be a lovely landed property? or maybe she has 2 houses an apartment for yao and sometimes herself in the suburbs of their primary school and a rich people house in the city that is near the elite high school she WILL get yao into (but this might mean moving yao away from his friends in middle school 😔) . decisions are hard. but yes she definitely buys her way out of trouble with her neighbours all the time

"you should follow his example in the things he's a model at not in things he does badly" i CHOKED i don't think i've heard a more chinese parent quote than this for the past 3 years they would totally say this and of course their disgruntled kids would complain that yao is um not the most respectful of the law dhwkntke

ALSO HIS POOR TEACHERS... I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CLUB THAT'S SO SAD OH MY GOD

hmm i think that like. even without a mentor's guidance yao will probably become less unruly and wild as he ages, as a process of growing up and becoming less focused on causing Chaos (he's directing that feralness to like. making an actual plan to take over the world probably), because society's tolerance for buckwild bullshit decreases as you get older and older, and the likelihood that he'll miss out on awards and other accolades if he continues this sort of behaviour, which his ambition won't allow for. BUT what i think won't change is the fact that he's an arrogant asshole and he becomes more and more so as he grows up with a lifetime of academic and extracurricular excellence. so im just saying imagine said sub in high school absolutely tearing apart one of his assignments. like just covering the whole thing in red-inked ruthless rebuttals and giving him a c. yao has never gotten a c in his life and is both humiliated and impressed because the sub is RIGHT, and they managed to outlogic him (which up till now only his friends + nyo china could probably yao doesn't associate with dumb people). and then he progresses amazingly in that class during the sub's remaining time with them and gets nyo china to let the sub teach him when they land a job. like i feel as though he would greatly benefit from an older mentor who won't tolerate his bullshit and would challenge him to reach new heights and this might be person!! (this thought is kinda unrefined and doesn't fully explain the Vibes but i need a nap now + it's not really Baby au anymore it's Slightly Less Baby au fhwinfkwg good afternoon to you and good night for me!)

They’re so sweet omg ☺️ Yao and Iran giving Aditya little presents... I love it. Their small gang of bastards has to stick together after all. Also yeah RIP India; at least they still have time to interact at school, but at-home hours is rough. (also, Yao’s neighborhood is moderately far from Aditya’s, but what about Iran? o-o I feel like they’d live a bit closer (?), maybe a couple streets away, and Iran isn’t on Indus’s blacklist yet............ (but then again, Indus probably banned any of his friends coming over lol). Also, Yao makes a plan to somehow get into the house across from Aditya’s and flash morse code at night with flashlights so they can talk, and hopefully it entertains his house arrested friend! Iran is dragged along for the ride and just goes with it lol. Jury is out on whether they get caught.)

Nyo China’s many houses.... :| she would do that oh my god. Also I think (?) there was a whole crackdown a while ago in China on people who were buying houses they didn’t live in, so they could get their kids into good schools in that residential area.... that radiates her vibes and I hate it. Miss China, how does it feel living in a penthouse, or just being rich in general O-o I LAUGHED at “decisions are hard” that’s everything about nyo china. “hmm yes I can’t choose which house I actually want to live in so why not just buy all 5??? yep, sounds like a good idea!” O_________O can’t relate

lol thank you; I was trying to channel Chinese parent energy and I’m glad it came through! The kids are grumbling that Yao could just be 100% awful or 100% academically stellar, but no, he has to be a genius AND a delinquent (just choose one, god) also yes they have a lil club just for them! Only people who have the honor of suffering get to join :)

And to your last paragraph, HELL YES IT’S CANON NOW. “Yao doesn't associate with dumb people” I’m crying omg. Yao takes all honors/gifted classes and doesn’t speak to anyone who doesn’t 😭 The big red C glaring at him from the top of his (once beautiful) essay stabs him viscerally in the chest and he needs to take a few days before looking at it again in order to recover his strength ego. He reads through all the comments and each one shreds his ego even more lmao; they’re not even mean comments but he just knows the sub is Completely Correct and sinks into a low like he’s never had. But yesss @ the whole episode pushing him to do better in order to keep up his Academic Excellence, and maybe impress the sub whom he now views as superior and whom he actually has respect for.

May I propose the sub is miss Vietnam o-o... she probably should be in the gang of ancients (as the only other kid who can rival Yao in Logic and fistfights, but isn’t friends with him like the other ancients because he sucks and she doesn’t like his bs) but shhhhh.... we can make a spin-off AU and nobody needs to know... lol anyways, I feel like if the substitute is Vietnam, she and Yao would have some sort of antagonism (not too tense but not friendly bickering either) at the beginning; Yao really wants to impress her and do better in class but Vietnam just. Does not like how he’s an asshole, especially to other people he thinks are below him sksksk. But they slowly warm up to each other especially as Yao gets ~reformed~ ever so slightly, and then it turns into friendly bickering and Long Debates on various intriguing topics (Yao always plays devils advocate in those :|). But yeah I definitely think she’d be a good candidate ig, since she doesn’t take bs even from the star pupil who is also an ass. And she’s a sub at first, so it gives her a little bit more room to throw hands whenever she wants instead of having to control herself lol

[dkpageant12]

Youngest Pageant director of India - Jimmy Garima Kumari

Jimmy Garima Kumari is a pioneering figure in the beauty pageant industry, recognized as India's youngest national and international pageant director. Originating from Jharkhand and raised in Delhi, Jimmy has quickly risen to prominence in the pageantry world. She first gained widespread attention by winning the title of Forever Miss Delhi 2022 at the Forever Miss India 2022 competition. This achievement marked the beginning of her influential career in beauty pageants. Jimmy is the visionary director behind Mrs. Universe International, a prestigious pageant celebrating the grace, elegance, and achievements of married women worldwide. Her leadership has transformed the pageant into a globally recognized platform that transcends cultural boundaries. In addition to her role with Mrs. Universe International, she directs the Kaushalya Award and Pride of India Miss/Mrs/Miss Teen India, further expanding her impact in the industry. She also holds the title of Miss India The Rising Star 2022, underscoring her influence and dedication to the field. As the owner of DK Pageant Organisation, Jimmy Garima Kumari has demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial skills, organizing and managing beauty pageants on both national and international levels. Her innovative approach and commitment to promoting inclusively and empowering women have set new standards in the beauty pageant industry. Standing at 5 feet 4 inches, Jimmy's dynamic presence and unwavering determination continue to inspire many. Her active social media presence, especially on Instagram, provides a glimpse into her vibrant personality and professional achievements.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Digital World Innovations

READ MORE :- Youngest Pageant director of India - Jimmy Garima Kumari

[postoastblog]

12 Best Performances By Surekha Sikri That Prove She Is An Actor Par Excellence

A three-time National Film Award Winner, star of Indian Soap Operas, and Hindi theatre veteran, Surekha Sikri is undoubtedly one of the finest actors we have. Her latest performance in Badhaai ho has made us realize and made this very clear that the roles she opts for are actually written for her only. The way she does justice to each one of the roles is really remarkable. She is born on 19 April 1945 in New Delhi, British India. She belongs to Uttar Pradesh and she spent her childhood in Almora and Nainital. She also attended NSD. When I first heard about her, she is already in limelight due to her famous Dadisa’s role in the famous soap opera Balika Vadhu. She is always in limelight due to her hard-hitting characters and realistic acting. Some examples of her stellar performances are-

Surekha Sikri made her film debut in Kissa Kursi Ka (1978), with the role of Meera. Though her character wasn’t on the right side, she succeeded in making her impression on the audience.

Her supporting role as Rajo in Tamas (1988) stayed in people’s hearts forever. The movie is based on Bhisham Sahni’s novel, which made her win her First National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. This shows the heart-wrenching effects on people during the partition.

Her performance in Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989) was unbelievable because the role she played in the movie was way far from her age in real life. And she portrayed the character really well. The movie explores the effects of Hindutva extremism on minor communities. The movie won two national film awards.

Surekha’s role as Radha in a TV series Banegi Apni Baat (1993) remains one of Indian TV history’s most remarkable characters. The show was based on the class divide, gender differences.

The role of Fayyuzi in the first part of the Muslim Trilogy that is Mammo in 1994 whose director was Shyam Benegal, made Surekha Sikri win her second National Film Award. She was the protagonist’s legal guardian, who comes in an encounter with her long-lost sister, Mammo unexpectedly. Her role and character had a perfect balance of warmth and emotions.

In Kirdaar: Rehman Ke Joote, TV Series (1993-1995), Surekha Sikri managed really well to hold her performance and show her astonishing acting skills. Despite having Om Puri and Irfan Khan kind of stupendous actors in the series, she managed to get her part of fame. It was directed by Gulzar, which involves various short stories by Indian writers.

Surekha played the role of Ittan Bai in Sardari Begum (1996) was the second part of Shyam Benegal’s trilogy. Though the role was very brief, she still succeeded to make the place in the audience’s heart with her brilliant acting as always.

Hari Bhari (2000) was a collaboration of Surekha Sikri and Shyam Benegal to give life to his story of 5 women and their struggles with reproductive rights. Surekha has played the role of the eldest in the family, which shows the journey of life she has lived to the life of her granddaughter if the customs and traditions won’t change.

The final part of Benegal’s trilogy, made Surekha repeat her role as Fayyuzi in Zubeidaa (2001). With her performance in Zubeidaa, she proved again how finely she is seasoned with acting skills.

Surekha Sikri is an alumnus of NSD and she has continued acting throughout her career. Her act in the play Parindon Ki Mehfil was based on the 12th century Persian Poem written by Farududdin Attar, “Mantiq-Ut-Tayr”. Her acting was so brilliant in the play that people still remember her performance. Acting is in her blood. It's like she can act on anything at any time.

In Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002), she just had 2 scenes in the entire movie, but still, her anguish role was on point, and she was really appreciated for her fantastic acting skills.

Star Bestsellers’ Kabaad, TV Series (1999-2000), is one of the best tales of Star Bestsellers. It starred Surekha Sikri and Raghubir Yadav, which shows how a simple conversation between two people from completely different backgrounds curbs their loneliness. And undoubtedly, her performance was remarkable which made the simple story worth remembering for a lifetime.

No matter how small or big the role she played, she has always shined like a star and the best part about this is that she has started getting recognition and awards which she really deserves.

[newstfionline]

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Student loan debts (WSJ) U.S. taxpayers could ultimately be on the hook for roughly a third of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. This could amount to more than $500 billion, exceeding what taxpayers lost on the saving-and-loan crisis 30 years ago. While defaulted student loans can’t cause the federal government to go bankrupt the way bad mortgage lending upended banks during the financial crisis, they expose a similar problem: Billions of dollars lent based on flawed assumptions about whether the money can be repaid.

Costa Rica to close non-essential businesses next week over COVID-19 (Reuters) Costa Rica will for the next week close non-essential businesses, including restaurants and bars, across the center of the country due to a sharp increase in new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, the government said on Thursday. From May 3-9, restaurants, bars, department stores, beauty salons, gyms and churches must close in 45 municipalities in central Costa Rica, where almost half the population lives and over two-thirds of new cases have been registered. The government will also impose travel restrictions during the week.

After a Year of Loss, South America Suffers Worst Death Tolls Yet (NYT) In the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, the mayor is warning residents to brace for “the worst two weeks of our lives.” Uruguay, once lauded as a model for keeping the coronavirus under control, now has one of the highest death rates in the world, while the grim daily tallies of the dead have hit records in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Peru in recent days. Even Venezuela, where the authoritarian government is notorious for hiding health statistics and any suggestion of disarray, says that coronavirus deaths are up 86 percent since January. As vaccinations mount in some of the world’s wealthiest countries and people cautiously envision life after the pandemic, the crisis in Latin America—and in South America in particular—is taking an alarming turn for the worse, potentially threatening the progress made well beyond its borders. Last week, Latin America accounted for 35 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the world, despite having just 8 percent of the global population, according to data compiled by The New York Times.

France Proposes More Surveillance to Hunt for Potential Terrorists (NYT) The French government, responding to several attacks over the past seven months, presented a new anti-terrorism bill on Wednesday that would allow intense algorithmic surveillance of phone and internet communications and tighten restrictions on convicted terrorists emerging from prison. “There have been nine attacks in a row that we could not detect through current means,” Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister, told France Inter radio. “We continue to be blind, doing surveillance on normal phone lines that nobody uses any longer.” The draft bill, prepared by Mr. Darmanin, came in a political and social climate envenomed by Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, who applauded a letter published this month by 20 retired generals that described France as being in a state of “disintegration” and warned of a possible coup in thinly veiled terms. Published in a right-wing magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, the generals’ letter portrayed a country ravaged by violence, swept by hatred and prey to subversive ideologies bent on stirring a racial war. “If nothing is done,” they said, “laxity will spread inexorably across society, provoking in the end an explosion and the intervention of our active-service comrades in the perilous protection of our civilization’s values.”

Toll of Afghan ‘forever war’ (AP) After 20 years, America is ending its “forever war” in Afghanistan. Announcing a firm withdrawal deadline, President Joe Biden cut through the long debate, even within the U.S. military, over whether the time was right. Starting Saturday, the last remaining 2,500 to 3,500 American troops will begin leaving, to be fully out by Sept. 11 at the latest. Another debate will likely go on far longer: Was it worth it? Since 2001, tens of thousands of Afghans and 2,442 American soldiers have been killed, millions of Afghans driven from their homes, and billions of dollars spent on war and reconstruction. The U.S. and NATO leave behind an Afghanistan that is at least half run directly or indirectly by the Taliban—despite billions poured into training and arming Afghan forces to fight them. Riddled with corruption and tied to regional warlords, the U.S.-backed government is widely distrusted by many Afghans.

In India’s devastating coronavirus surge, anger at Modi grows (Washington Post) As he surveyed the thousands of people gathered at an election rally in eastern India on April 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared jubilant. “Everywhere I look, as far as I can see, there are crowds,” he said, his arms spread wide. “You have done an extraordinary thing.” At the time, India was recording more than 200,000 coronavirus cases a day. In the western state of Maharashtra, oxygen was running short, and people were dying at home because of a shortage of hospital beds. In Modi’s home state of Gujarat, crematoriums were being overwhelmed by the dead. For Modi, the most powerful Indian prime minister in five decades, it is a moment of reckoning. He is facing what appears to be the country’s biggest crisis since independence. Modi’s own lapses and missteps are an increasing source of anger. As coronavirus cases skyrocketed, Modi continued to hold huge election rallies and declined to cancel a Hindu religious festival that drew millions to the banks of the Ganges River. Modi swept to a landslide reelection victory in 2019, offering Indians a muscular brand of nationalism that views India as a fundamentally Hindu country rather than the secular republic envisioned by its founders. He has cultivated an image as a singular leader capable of bold decisions to protect and transform the country. Now that image is “in tatters,” said Vinay Sitapati, a political scientist at Ashoka University in the northern Indian state of Haryana. Modi and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) built a formidable machine for winning elections, Sitapati said, but their mind-set of continuous campaigning has come “at the cost of governance.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia Edge Toward Détente (Foreign Policy) Iran’s relationship with Saudi Arabia could be entering “a new chapter of interaction and cooperation,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Thursday, as the two countries signal a rapid mending of diplomatic ties. Khatibzadeh’s comments came in response to an interview Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave to state television this week, when he said that problems between the regional rivals could be overcome and “good relations” could soon prevail. His recent comments offer a stark contrast with ones he made in 2018 when he compared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler and described Iran as part of a “triangle of evil.” Behind the scenes, the two countries have also been busy. Earlier this month, the Financial Times broke news of direct talks, held in Baghdad, with a primary focus on ending the war in Yemen.

Chloe Zhao's challenge to Chinese Beauty standards (Quartz) Although Chloé Zhao’s Oscars win has largely been censored in China, her chill, no-makeup look at the awards ceremony has become a hit among many Chinese women, who say Zhao made them feel they can also ditch cosmetics and stop appealing to mainstream beauty standards in the country. China has a set of rigid standards for women’s appearance, prompting online slimming challenges that encourage young girls to pursue body shapes that allow them to wear children’s clothes, or have waists with a width similar to the shorter side of a piece of A4 paper (around 21 cm). As such, Zhao’s no-makeup look is a much-needed endorsement for women in China, where few public figures dare to break away from traditional beauty requirements.

Hong Kong’s latest star TV host? City leader Carrie Lam. (Washington Post) In a city known for producing action-packed martial arts movies, there’s a gripping new TV show on the block. The title promises to captivate viewers: “Get to Know the Election Committee Subsectors.” The star? Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, not as a guest but as the host. The show, which premiered Wednesday on public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong, gives Lam a platform to promote electoral changes introduced by Beijing that further tilt the system against pro-democracy voices, add weight to industry-sector representatives and ensure only “patriots” loyal to the Communist Party can govern Hong Kong. People in mainland China have long been accustomed to state propaganda broadcasts. Hong Kong, however, traditionally had a freewheeling media environment. But almost a year after China imposed a security law that curtailed freedom of speech there, the public broadcaster has become a vital instrument of Beijing’s efforts to control the narrative. Wednesday night’s double-episode premiere featured furious agreement on the merit of Beijing’s electoral changes. The episodes scored only a few thousand views and mostly “thumbs-down” responses on YouTube. One user drew comparisons to George Orwell’s “1984.” If you missed the show, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch it again; episodes will air four times a day, every day.

Cambodians complain of lockdown hunger as outbreak takes toll on poor (Reuters) Residents in Cambodia’s capital gathered on Friday to demand food from the government, outraged at what they called inadequate aid distribution during a tough COVID-19 lockdown that bars people from leaving their homes. Authorities put Phnom Penh and a nearby town under a hard lockdown on April 19 to quell a surge in coronavirus infections that has seen Cambodia’s case total balloon from about 500 to 12,641 since late February, including all 91 of its deaths. Though private food deliveries are operating, markets and street food services are closed, making it difficult for poorer families to get supplies, with many without income because of the stay-home order. Amnesty International on Friday called Cambodia’s lockdown an emerging humanitarian and human rights crisis, with nearly 294,000 people in Phnom Penh at risk of going hungry.

Palestinian election delay (Reuters) It could have marked a political turning point. Palestinians were slated to go to the polls starting next month for the first time in 15 years—but on Thursday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced he will indefinitely postpone the elections. He blamed Israel, accusing authorities of stonewalling efforts to let Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem cast their ballots. But Israeli officials suggested Abbas was using Israel as a pretext to cancel a vote his faction might lose. Hamas, his party’s rival, has rejected the move, and some Palestinians took to the streets to protest.

The real threat to Chad’s military rulers: unemployed youth (Reuters) When Neldjibaye Madjissem graduated with a mathematics degree in 2015, he began searching for work as a school teacher. Six years on, he is still looking—and is angry. The 31-year-old blames Chad's government for lack of work, mismanagement of oil revenues and corruption. No wonder people are protesting on the streets in their thousands, he says. The battlefield death of President Idriss Deby last week, after 30 years of autocratic rule, sent the Central African country into a tailspin. But perhaps the greater threat for Chad’s rulers comes from the mass of unemployed young people tired of the Deby family and its international allies, particularly former colonial ruler France. At least six people died in violent protests this week. "The lack of jobs risks creating a great problem. The people are angry," said Madjissem, as he prepared a private lesson to a high school student in the living room of a tiny house in N'Djamena. His infrequent wage: $3 an hour.

Famine looms in southern Madagascar, U.N.’s food agency says (Reuters) Famine is looming in southern Madagascar, where children are “starving” after drought and sandstorms ruined harvests, the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. Amer Daoudi, senior director of WFP operations globally, speaking from Antananarivo, Madagascar, said he had visited villages where people had resorted to eating locusts and leaves. “I witnessed horrific images of starving children, malnourished, and not only the children—mothers, parents and the populations in villages we visited,” Daoudi told a United Nations briefing in Geneva. Malnutrition has almost doubled to 16% from 9% in March 2020 following five consecutive years of drought, exacerbated this year by sandstorms and late rains, he said.