BJP, Chandrababu Naidu's TDP Finalise Seats For Lok Sabha, Andhra Polls

The BJP, N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena have finalised seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections late this evening. The BJP will fight in six Lok Sabha and ten assembly seats, TDP will contest in 17 Lok Sabha and 144 assembly seats while Jana Sena got two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats that will see a simultaneous contest.

As per sources, the BJP will fight parliamentary elections from Araku, Rajahmundry, Anakapalle, Tirupati, Narasapuram and one more seat while Jana sena from Machilipatnam and Kakinada.

The announcement came after senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, went into a huddle with Mr Naidu and Mr Kalyan on Monday to finalise candidates.

BJP chief JP Nadda announced the alliance of his party with the Telugu Desam Party and the Jana Sena on March 9. "Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP), as well as being committed to the progress of the country and the upliftment of state and people of Andhra Pradesh, have decided to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together in Andhra Pradesh," a joint statement released by the TDP BJP and the Jana Sena said.

The TDP, which was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance until 2018, expressed interest in reviving the alliance after suffering a crushing defeat in the 2019 elections. Mr Naidu's party had walked out of the NDA over financial support for Andhra Pradesh. "I took the decision not for selfish reasons but for the interests of Andhra Pradesh. For four years I made all efforts, went to Delhi 29 times, asked many times. This was the Centre's last budget and there was no mention of Andhra Pradesh," Mr Naidu had then explained his decision.

A joint statement issued by the parties highlighted their "old ties". "The BJP and the TDP have a very old relationship together. The TDP joined the NDA in 1996 and has worked together successfully in governments led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi," it said.

In 2014, the TDP and the BJP fought the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls together, while the JSP supported the two parties, it added.

Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said that he was ready to fight against the alliance and alleged that Chandrababu Naidu's cycle is "rusted and he is fetching support from other political parties".

Elections for Lok Sabha are expected to be held in April-May in which the ruling BJP is eyeing a third term and has set a target of winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies.

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Dravid's Blunt Take On Scheduling Issues Amid BCCI's Red-Ball Cricket Push

Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid suggested that the domestic cricket scheduling should go through an 'all-round review' after players like Shardul Thakur and R Sai Kishore expressed their concerns. Shardul said that players need more breaks between the matches in order to avoid injury and his sentiments were echoed by Sai Kishore. Following India's win over England in the fifth Test match in Dharamsala, Dravid was asked about the concerns and he said that the BCCI should consult the players who are "going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line."

"I've heard the same as well. I saw some of the comments Shardul, I think, made. And in fact some of the boys who've come into the team as well, also comment about how tough the domestic schedule is, especially in a country like India with the amount of travel involved. So yeah, we need to hear the players. That's a very important thing in a lot of these things," Dravid said.

"You need to hear your players, because they are the ones going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line, and if there are enough voices saying that, then yeah, I think there's some need to look at it, and see how we can manage our schedules."

Dravid also urged the BCCI to look into the scheduling of other competitions like Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy to manage the pressure on the cricketers.

"It's a long season already in India. It's tough," Dravid said. "The Ranji Trophy is a long season, and if you add a Duleep and a Deodhar on top of that...Last year, if I'm not mistaken, the Duleep started in June, it was just a month after the IPL, and your problem in this situation is your best players, the guys who are pushing for selection for India, are the ones that end up playing the most cricket. Because they keep getting selected at the next level, more and more, and their teams are the ones probably who are playing the semi-finals and the finals, or that kind of situation. They are the ones who end up playing a lot of cricket, and you also want them to be playing for India, and India A tours, and so it can get quite tough on a lot of those boys, and maybe we need to hear them out."

"Maybe we need to re-look and see whether some of the tournaments that we are conducting are necessary in this day and age or if they are not necessary. There needs to be an all-round review [involving] coaches and players, especially the guys who are part of the domestic circuit," he added.

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World's Oldest Bread Found in Turkey, Dating Back 8,600 Years

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists in Turkey unearthed what they believe to be the world's oldest bread. The find dates back to an impressive 6600 BC and was located at Catalhoyuk, an archaeological site in southern Turkey's Konya province. 

The bread residue was found near a partially destroyed oven structure in an area called "Mekan 66," surrounded by ancient mudbrick houses. According to a press release from Turkey's Necmettin Erbakan University Science and Technology Research and Application Center (BITAM), the bread appears to be a round, spongy remnant and was identified through analysis.

It was determined that the organic residue was 8,600-year-old, uncooked, fermented bread, CNN reported. 

"We can say that this finds at Catalhoyuk is the oldest bread in the world," archaeologist Ali Umut Turkcan, head of the Excavation Delegation and an associate professor at Anadolu University in Turkey, told Turkish state news outlet Anadolu Agency Wednesday.

"It is a smaller version of a loaf of bread. It has a finger pressed in the center, it has not been baked, but it has been fermented and has survived to the present day with the starches inside. There is no similar example of something like this to date," he added.

Microscopic analysis confirmed the team's suspicions. Images from a scanning electron microscope revealed air spaces and identifiable starch granules within the sample. Salih Kavak, a biologist at Gaziantep University in Turkey, explained in the press release that this finding "eliminated our doubts" about the bread's authenticity.

Further analysis revealed the chemical makeup of the sample, including both plant material and indicators of fermentation. This suggests that flour and water were combined to create the dough, which was then prepared near the oven and likely stored for some time.

"It is an exciting discovery for Turkey and the world," Kavak said.

A thin layer of clay encasing the structure acted as a preservative for organic materials like wood and bread, explains archaeologist Turkcan.

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Czech Republic's Krystyna Pyszkova Wins Miss World 2024

Czech Republic's Krystyna Pyszkova on Saturday won the coveted Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai, which saw Indian contestant Sini Shetty only making it to the top 8.

Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named the first runner-up.

Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska from Poland crowned her successor at the star-studded finale.

Pyszkova is the second Miss World from Czech Republic after 2006 pageant winner Tatana Kucharova.

According to the official Miss World website, Pyszkova is a Czech model who is pursuing separate degrees in law and business administration.

Pyszkova, who is in her 20s, is also the founder of the Krystyna Pyszko Foundation. The model, who is fluent in English, Polish, Slovak, and German languages, is an advocate for sustainable development through education.

"Her proudest moment was opening an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania where she also volunteered. She enjoys playing the transverse flute and the violin, and has a passion for music and art having spent nine years in an art academy," read Pyszkova's profile on the website.

India, which hosted the event after 28 years, was represented by 22-year-old Shetty.

Mumbai-born Shetty, who was crowned Femina Miss India World in 2022, was bested by Zaytoun who claimed the last spot in the top 4 of the competition.

India has won the prestigious title six times -- Reita Faria Powell (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).

The 71st Miss World pageant, which witnessed participation of contestants from 112 countries, was held at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC.

Part of the 12-judge panel for the finale included film producer Sajid Nadiadwala; actors Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde; cricketer Harbhajan Singh; news personality Rajat Sharma, social worker Amruta Fadnavis; Vineet Jain, MD of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Limited; Julia Morley, Chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organization; Jamil Saidi, Strategic Partner & Host - Miss World India, and three former Miss Worlds, including Chillar.

Filmmaker Karan Johar and former Miss World Megan Young hosted the event, which kickstarted on a high note with performances by singers Shaan, Neha Kakkar, and Tony Kakkar.

A video message by Chopra Jonas highlighting the importance of 'beauty with purpose', a tagline associated with the Miss World pageant, was also played at the event.

Earlier, the cast of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's maiden web series "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" -- Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh -- walked the stage with 13 fast-track Miss World contestants on the show's newly released song "Sakal Ban".

The month-long Miss World contest commenced with "The Opening Ceremony" and "India Welcomes the World Gala" by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in New Delhi on February 20.

It featured a series of rigorous competitions, including talent showcases, sports challenges, and charitable initiatives -- all aimed at highlighting the qualities that make these competitors the ambassadors of change.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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India's Sini Shetty Out Of Miss World 2024 Race

India's Sini Shetty is out of the Miss World 2024 race. At the grand finale of the 71st edition of the pageant, being held in India after 28 years, Ms Shetty was bested by Miss Lebanon who made it to the top 4.

Ms Shetty, a 22-year-old trained Bharatanatyam dancer born and raised in Mumbai, was crowned Miss India World in 2022.

A 12-member jury consisting of Miss World 2017 winner Manushi Chhillar, actors Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde, Julia Morley, chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, film producer Sajid Nadiadwala, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and news personality Rajat Sharma presided over the Miss World 2024 pageant.

Representatives from 112 countries participated in the event being held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai's BKC. It was hosted by Karan Johar and Megan Young, the winner of the Miss World 2013 pageant.

Manushi Chhillar is the most recent Indian to win the pageant. Earlier, Reita Faria Powell, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Diana Hayden, Yukta Mookhey, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas had won the competition.

India last hosted the event in 1996 which saw Irene Skliva of Greece win the coveted title.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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"I Have Lovely Memories With Her": Vindu Dara Singh On Ex-Wife Farah

Actor Vindu Dara Singh recently opened up about his divorce from Naseeb Apna Apna actress Farah Naaz. In conversation with Siddharth Kannan, the star revealed that his father, the late actor Dara Singh, advised him to think before marrying a girl from a different religion. Recalling that his father has always given him the right advice, Vindu said, “Always…Jo bhi vo kehte the sahi hota tha. [Whatever he used to say was always right]. I remember I was in love with Farah, and we were going to get married and Dad said, ‘Vindu sochle acchi tarah. Love tak to thik hai, par shaadi jab hoti hai…When it's different religions—Hindu and Muslim—jab shadi hoti hai it's a little hard. [Vindu think once because love is fine but when the marriage takes place between two religions, Hindu and Muslim, it gets a little hard].' I said, ‘Ni dad kuch hard nahi hai [No, dad nothing is hard] because we were both in love and we didn't care much about religion.'”

Vindu Dara Singh added, “But aagey chalke [moving forward] you realise that what dad has said was right. When religion comes into the picture things change, equations change. Tabhi hum bolte hain Hindu aur Muslim mein shadi karna theek nahi hai. Agar agey chalkr koi ek bhi zada religious hogaya to dusre ko problem ajati hai because they were born in that religion. [That is why we say, it is not right for Hindus and Muslims to get married. If moving forward one becomes more religious it is hard for the other one].”

Vindu Dara Singh added that his marriage had both pros and cons. The actor said, “Vo dad ki baat mujhe aaj bhi strike hoti hai. [I still remember my father's words]. But I have a beautiful, fantastic son from that marriage [Fateh Randhawa] and I have very lovely memories with her [Farah Naaz], which I cherish. We are friends. And I have the best son, I couldn't get anything better than that. Fateh is a darling. Iske pros and cons dono ho gaye. Ek to dad ki baat and jo 4-5 sal maine Farah ke sath bitaaye the, they were brilliant. [This has both pros and cons. Firstly, I regret not listening to my father's advice and secondly, I have spent a brilliant 4-5 years with Farah].”

When asked if the split was because of religion, Vindu Dara Singh said, “When we met she never cared about her religion. She also used to smoke. No one else in our family used to smoke. I used to ask her to quit smoking. But one day, she said to me ‘You send for Hajj then I will quit smoking.' I was like what is the big thing in that? I made all the settings and sent her for Hajj. When she came back from Hajj, she was a completely different woman. Everything about her was changed. That's when I remembered whatever Dad said to me. From there, things started to go downhill. But it is ok.” 

Vindu Dara Singh added that after their divorce Farah Naaz didn't allow him to visit their son for six months. He said, “We were fighting. For six months, she didn't let me see my son. But my system is that I forget the previous day after waking up from sleep. She herself called me after a few months. And after that, there was no problem between us. She is a wonderful lady. She is a wonderful mother.”

For the unversed, Vindu Dara Singh got married to Farah Naaz in 1996. In 1997, the couple was blessed with a son. Vindu and Farah parted ways in 2002.

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Dakota Johnson, Coldplay's Chris Martin Engaged: Report

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Fifty Shades Of Grey actress Dakota Johnson are reportedly preparing to walk down the aisle after six years of dating, according to Mirror UK. As per the report, the couple got engaged but have kept details of their relationship private. Chris Martin reportedly proposed to Dakota Johnson, with blessings from his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow and their children, Apple and Moses. The couple, who have been together for several years, have often been seen enjoying holidays together. A source close to the couple revealed, “The couple got engaged a while ago and have kept the news private. But now they are being open about it with their circles. They have been besotted with each other from day one so taking this next step was inevitable. They are in no rush to plan the wedding but are just enjoying making their commitment official.”

The way I never knew that Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have been dating for Almost SEVEN Years ??? pic.twitter.com/G4vMEaE5Fy

— S 🇵🇸 (@VELVETHERHYTHM) March 7, 2024

Madame Web actress Dakota Johnson was spotted wearing an emerald green ring on her wedding finger at her 34th birthday celebration in LA last October, fueling speculation about their engagement. Additionally, Dakota Johnson recently expressed her desire for motherhood in an interview with Bustle Magazine. She said, "I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart. How do I feel about motherhood? I'm so open to that. I've gotten to this place where I really want to experience everything life has to offer. And especially being a woman, I'm like: ‘What a magical thing to do. What a crazy, magical, wild experience. If that's meant to happen for me, I'm totally down for it. We're not here for very long, so if I'm meant to be a mother, bring it on.”

Last year, Chris Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow shared a selfie with Dakota Johnson on social media. Gwyneth Paltrow, who described Dakota Johnson as a "very good friend" during an Instagram Story Q&A in October 2023, further solidified their connection with another photo the following month, where they were seen smiling while holding hands. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow married in 2003 and "consciously uncoupled" in 2014 before finalising their divorce in 2016. For the unversed, Chris Martin began dating Dakota Johnson in 2017, according to People magazine.

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