BharatMatrimony Reacts To Married Woman's Viral 'Fake Profile' Claim

BharatMatrimony founder and CEO Murugavel Janakiraman has responded after a married woman discovered her image on the matrimony platform without her permission. In a statement to NDTV, Mr Janakiraman clarified that the profile in question was mistakenly thought to be created on EliteMatrimony, BharatMatrimony's exclusive matchmaking service, when in fact, it originated on a different online platform within the BharatMatrimony network. 

Mr Janakiraman explained that BharatMatrimony allows third-party account creations, such as parents or family members creating profiles on behalf of their loved ones, a common practice that constitutes about 25% of their user base. Unfortunately, this practice can lead to occasional misuse of public images in fake profiles-a challenge the entire matchmaking industry faces. "This is an industry-wide issue, as there isn't a foolproof way to completely prevent it," he noted.

Reassuring users, Mr Janakiraman emphasized BharatMatrimony's commitment to safety, highlighting their robust verification processes amidst the six million new registrations they receive annually. He affirmed that only a minimal fraction of these accounts are found to be fraudulent. 

"Millions have found their life partners through us and consider our service a boon. We have always been a pioneer in the matchmaking industry, with immense trust and credibility, and we continue to evolve and make our platform more safe and secure," Mr Janakiraman said. 

The video of the incident was posted on Instagram by Swati Mukund who called the platform a "BharatMatrimony Scam" and warned others to be cautious while using it. In the clip, she clarified that she had never used any matrimonial app to meet her husband, featuring him in her video to dissuade any claims that BharatMatrimony facilitated their match. "More acrimony than matrimony, I guess!" she added, highlighting her frustration.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swati Mukund (@swatimukund)

The viral video begins Ms Mukund addressing the issue, saying, "So, this is a post on India's number 1 and supposedly most trusted matrimonial app, BharatMatrimony." A screenshot from the app appears in the video, showing her photo along with the overlay words "BharatMatrimony Scam."

"As you can see, the picture used is of mine and for the record, this is my husband. No, I didn't find him on any of these apps," she clarified.

She was shocked after finding her picture was used in the app's elite subscription service, a feature that promises to carefully curate profiles for users paying a premium for the service.

"What really appalled me is the fact that this is BharatMatrimony's elite subscription service, where they are actually charging people pots of money and claim that they are screening and carefully curating profiles to make sure their users find the right life partner," Ms Mukund said.

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Kamala Harris Dials Trump To Concede Presidential Election, Say Her Aides

US Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him for winning the 2024 presidential election, one of her senior aides said, following a bitter and contentious race.

Democrat Harris discussed with Mr Trump the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a President for all Americans, said the aide, confirming that Ms Harris will deliver remarks in Washington later today.

During the acrimonious campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate had described Mr Trump as a unique threat to democracy, but her campaign in the end underwhelmed voters.

She will deliver her concession speech in Washington today (2.30 am IST).

Mr Trump had never conceded defeat four years ago when his supporters ransacked the US Capitol. He returned to the White House with wider margins than before despite a criminal conviction, two impeachments while last in office and warnings from his former chief of staff that he was a "fascist."

At 78, Mr Trump will be the oldest President during his inauguration scheduled on January 20. Had Ms Harris won, she would have been the first woman president of the US. "It's a political victory that our country has never seen before," Mr Trump said earlier today in his victory speech.

Global leaders swiftly pledged to work with Mr Trump, despite concerns in some parts of the world about his "America First" approach. Among the most worried countries will be Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders who dialled Mr Trump to congratulate him. "Had a great conversation with my friend, President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors," PM Modi said in a post on X.

Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Mr Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have scoffed at the billions of dollars in US assistance to Ukraine under outgoing President Joe Biden, with their aides musing about forcing Ukraine to make concessions to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and said he hoped the new US leader would help Ukraine find a "just peace."

Ms Harris entered the race in July after the visibly ageing Biden dropped out. She ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Mr Trump's inflammatory messaging and use of racist and sexist tropes. But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for change after the Biden years.

Hispanic and Black Americans, seen as crucial voting blocs for Harris, moved in greater numbers toward Mr Trump, who won a majority of Latino men, exit polls had shown.

Mr Trump is the first US President in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term, and the only person to be elected President as a convicted felon -- he is scheduled to face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26.

He is also a longtime sceptic of climate change who is expected again to reduce US global commitments, although one of his top campaign surrogates was fellow billionaire Elon Musk, owner of electric vehicle maker Tesla.

With inputs from AFP

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PM Modi Dials Trump After His Record Win. What They Discussed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate the American leader on winning the fiercely contested US presidential election. Both leaders agreed to work together for world peace.

Mr Trump in his victory speech today said one of the first things he would do is to stop wars. India, too, is a trusted mediator of both the West and Russia in calling for peaceful negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

President-elect Trump conveyed in the phone call that "the whole world loves PM Modi", and that India is "a magnificent country" and PM Modi is a "magnificent man", sources said. Mr Trump told PM Modi that he considers him and India a true friend, sources said, adding PM Modi was one of the first world leaders Mr Trump spoke to after his victory.

PM Modi also posted about the phone call on X. "Had a great conversation with my friend, President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors," PM Modi said.

Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

India is no stranger to Mr Trump's style of working. Both nations have seen ups and downs during Mr Trump's last reign as US President from 2016 to 2020. While Mr Trump had been supportive of India on the fight against global terrorism, the billionaire businessman had been extremely tough on tariffs on American goods.

Mr Trump's new presidency is likely to open new opportunities for India though certain sectors, especially pharma and IT, may face the heat if he decides to impose restrictions on imports and H1B visa regulations.

PM Modi's friendly ties with Mr Trump will have a positive bearing on Indo-US relations, but India may have to adapt its strategies to maintain cooperation in areas of mutual interest, experts told news agency PTI.

"Trump's presidency can be a new opportunity for India. Trump will impose tariffs and import restrictions on countries that he thinks are not friendly to the US, like China and even some European countries, and this can open markets for Indian exports," former Vice Chairman of the government's think tank NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar said.

Barclays, in a research report on Wednesday, said trade policy is where Mr Trump is likely to be "most consequential" for emerging Asia, which includes India and China.

However, some experts say Mr Trump's trade protectionist views could have some negative impact on India's exports and might exert some pressure on the rupee in the short term. Since Mr Trump's protectionist philosophy of economics is well-known, the process of globalisation may become more strategic and less fair to emerging economies, including India, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy visiting Professor Pinaki Chakraborty said.

Mr Trump defeated the Democratic presidential candiate Kamala Harris in a stunning political comeback. World leaders swiftly pledged to work with Mr Trump, led by Israel and Ukraine where the course of wars could depend on the new US President's isolationist "America First" foreign policy.

With inputs from agencies

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Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: Who Is Winning The US Election Right Now?

Millions have voted in one of the most consequential elections in the history of the United States and while most polls showed Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat, polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight has named the Democratic nominee as its favourite to win, switching from the Republican candidate.

The aggregator, which is a key election forecaster, had Mr Trump as its favourite to win for around two weeks and its simulations showed that, out of 100, Mr Trump won 53 times and Ms Harris 47. In a first since October 17, however, Ms Harris became the favourite on election day, leading Mr Trump in simulations 50 to 49. 

The Economist's final forecast said Ms Harris has a 56% chance of winning, but noted that the lead is narrow and Mr Trump could also win. 

Polymarket, a betting platform, said former president Trump has a 62.3% chance of winning against Vice President Harris' 37.9%.

Speaking to NDTV on Tuesday, Allan Lichtman, known for his 13 'Keys to the White House' system, predicted Ms Harris will be the first woman president of the United States. 

"Consign them (opinion polls) to the flames. Yes, we are going to have Kamala Harris, a new path-breaking president, the first woman president and the first president of mixed African and Asian descent. It is foreshadowing where America is going. We are rapidly becoming a majority-minority country old white guys like me, we are on the decline," Mr Lichtman said.

'If It Is Fair"

Both candidates also spoke to the media on election day. 

"We've got to get it done. Today is voting day, and people need to get out and be active," Ms Harris told Atlanta station WVEE-FM, describing Mr Trump as "full of vengeance. He's full of grievance. It's all about himself."

The former president, who voted near his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, said he felt "very confident" and that he wanted to be "very inclusive." But he aired concerns about the vote count - heightening fears that he would reject the result, citing fraud, if he lost. "If it's a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it," he said.

In the most important swing state of Pennsylvania, a court approved a request to extend voting hours in a county after voting machines experienced a software glitch. 

The ruling means that voting will stay open for an additional two hours in Cambria county, which broke roughly 70% to 30% in favour of Mr Trump in 2020. The case was brought by the local board of elections, which said a "software malfunction" at electronic voting machines had "prevented voters from scanning their completed ballots".  The Cambria County Court of Common Pleas ordered that voting hours be extended from 8pm to 10pm local time (0830 IST). 

"This morning's ballot processing issues in Cambria have resulted in delays - this is unacceptable, plain and simple," Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley said after the case was filed.  "Our legal team acted immediately to support extended hours to give voters the opportunity to vote - we need voters to stay in line!" he added. 

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Harris vs Trump - America Elects 47th US President. Election Result Today

The wait to know who will win - Kamala Harris or Donald Trump - is nearly over. Americans have decided who their next President will be. After a months-long, bitterly-contested election campaign, dozens of millions of citizens across the United States voted today. The counting of votes happens immediately after voting ends.

Voting began across the country at 6 am local time in each time zone and will end at 8 pm local time. The US has six time zones, of which four are on the US mainland while two are in US territories across the globe. The four main time zones are Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Standard Time, while the two other time zones include Alaska Standard Time and Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, which are observed only by Alaska and Hawaii respectively.

The US Presidential election is closely watched around the world as US's policies have for long had a big impact on other countries. The 2024 US presidential election has been extraordinary in terms of political discourse reaching new lows.

During the election campaign that lasted several months, America and the rest of the planet witnessed an ugly and divisive contest - that saw personal attacks, derogatory language, racist slurs, inflammatory rhetoric and even assassination attempts.

WHO HAS THE EDGE?

The latest opinion polls suggest that Kamala Harris has a razor thin lead over Donald Trump - 1 percentage point. However, if the electorate is seen in terms of gender, as per the latest Reuters/Ipsos polls, Kamala Harris has a 12 percentage point lead over Trump among women, while Trump has a 7 percentage point lead over Harris among men.

For those backing Kamala Harris, her promise to protect abortion rights was one of the most compelling reasons to vote for her. The perception that Donald Trump, who made racist and offensive remarks, also played a part in those voting against him.

For those backing Donald Trump, a strict immigration system was one of the topmost reasons for supporting him. High inflation and concerns about the economy during the Biden term in which Kamala Harris was the Vice President were among the reasons to vote against the Democrat nominee.

The election has been very close and both candidates have been neck and neck in the race. While Harris might have a 1 percentage point lead over Trump, there is uncertainty of the final outcome.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

No matter who wins, Harris or Trump, history will be made today.

If 60-year-old Kamala Harris, the first woman Vice President in US history, wins, she will become the first woman, first Black woman, first Indian-American, and first South Asian American to win the presidency.

On the other hand, if 78-year-old Donald Trump, the only US President to be impeached twice and the first to be criminally convicted, wins, he would become the first US President in more than a century to win non-consecutive terms.

UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTION

US follows the electoral college voting system. There are a total of 538 electoral college votes; 435 House of Representatives, 100 Senate seats and 3 seats from Washington DC. A candidate needs a minimum of 270 votes to become the President.

Every state has a certain number of electoral votes. California has the maximum number of seats with 54, followed by Texas (40) and Florida (30). On the other hand, states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, and Vermont have a minimum number of 3 seats.

Out of the total 50 states in USA, there are 7 which are considered battle ground states or swing states. These are crucial for both candidates as these seven states alone have the potential to decide on who will be the next President. These states are - Nevada (6 seats), Arizona (11 seats), North Carolina (16 seats), Georgia (16 seats), Wisconsin (10 seats), Michigan (15 seats), and Pennsylvania (19 seats).

More than 80 million Americans had already voted before the main election day (Nov 5), either via mail or in person, and lines at several polling stations on Tuesday morning were short and orderly.

Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Republicans have an easier path in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats are defending several seats in Republican-leaning states, while the House of Representatives looks like a toss-up.
 

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American Airlines Plane Diverted Due To "Noise In Cargo". Here's Why

A harrowing incident unfolded on October 31st when American Airlines Flight 954, en route from Buenos Aires to New York, was forced to make an emergency return to its departure airport. The cause of the disruption? A series of mysterious banging noises emanated from the cargo hold. 

Passengers and crew aboard the flight were understandably alarmed by the sounds, which resembled someone knocking from within the sealed compartment. As the plane ascended to 30,000 feet, speculation ran rampant, with many fearing a potential intruder or other serious security threat.

In response to the escalating situation, the pilot made the decision to turn the aircraft around and return to Buenos Aires International Airport. Upon landing, heavily armed police and specialized tactical teams swarmed the plane, initiating a thorough search of the cargo hold. 

American Airlines flight AA954 returns to Buenos Aires Airport after a ground worker gets trapped in the cargo hold.

Flight attendants alerted the pilots to a banging noise coming from the cargo hold as the aircraft was heading to New York. An hour into the flight the crew… pic.twitter.com/lT5synhhRB

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) November 1, 2024

In a statement, the airport's security told The Metro, "Noises were heard in the cargo hold, enough to give rise to suspicions that there was something unusual. The captain referred to a security problem due to hearing noises."

Initial reports suggested that an individual might have been accidentally locked inside the cargo area during loading. However, in a subsequent statement, American Airlines denied these claims, attributing the incident to a technical issue. 

American Airlines, in a post on X, said, "Reports of a person in cargo are not accurate. Flight 954 returned to Buenos Aires due to a reported noise in the cargo hold but, after a thorough search, it was determined there was no issue. Our customers will be re-departing later today and we apologize for the inconvenience."

Reports of a person in cargo are not accurate. Flight 954 returned to Buenos Aires due to a reported noise in the cargo hold but, after a thorough search, it was determined there was no issue. Our customers will be re-departing later today and we apologize for the inconvenience.

— americanair (@AmericanAir) November 1, 2024

Despite the airline's explanation, the bizarre circumstances surrounding the emergency landing have sparked widespread curiosity and debate. As investigations continue, the true cause of the mysterious noises remains shrouded in uncertainty. 

 

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"I'm A Product Of Poverty": Cardi B Slams Elon Musk Over 'Puppet' Remark

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B has publicly criticized Elon Musk after he called her a "puppet" supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Musk, an avid Donald Trump supporter, took a swipe at Cardi B, responding to a Trump fan account's post featuring a clip of her at a rally in Milwaukee for Harris. 

"Another puppet who can't even talk without being fed the words," Mr Musk said in a quote tweet, referring to a teleprompter malfunction that caused Cardi B to stall until she was handed her speech notes on a phone.

Cardi B quickly responded, "I'm not a puppet, Elon. I'm a daughter of two immigrant parents who worked hard to provide for me!" She continued, "I'm a product of welfare, section 8, poverty, and the reality of a system that's set up against you... But you wouldn't know anything about that. You don't understand the American struggle. PS fix my algorithm."

I'm not a puppet Elon.. I'm a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! I'm a product of welfare, I'm a product of section 8, I'm a product of poverty and I'm a product of what happens when the system is set up against you….But you don't… https://t.co/BBYQ2O0KYJ

— Cardi B (@iamcardib) November 2, 2024

Musk, who was born in South Africa to wealthy parents, including his father Errol Musk, who reportedly held a stake in a Zambian emerald mine, has faced criticism for his remarks on socioeconomic issues.

At the rally, Cardi B delivered a powerful speech on women's rights, condemning Donald Trump's alleged sexism. "Just like Kamala Harris, I've been the underdog, underestimated and discredited. Women have to work ten times harder to prove themselves, and still, we're questioned. I can't stand a bully, and like Kamala, I'll always stand up to one."

The 2024 U.S. presidential election is set for November 5.

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