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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Best homecoming for BSF jawan Purnam Shaw in 17 yrs of service
Rishra: Homecoming for Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Shaw has never been this sweet. Literally so. Sweets have been pouring in from all quarters. His mother ensured her son's favourite rasgullas were there before he arrived in Rishra on Friday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His sisters, who stay in Kharagpur and Durgapur and came to meet him, also brought packets of sweets. Several other relatives and even neighbours have dropped by to greet the man who acquired national fame after being held captive in Pakistan for a fortnight. Purnam strayed across the international border with Pakistan at Ferozepur on April 23 and remained in the custody of Pakistan Rangers until May 14, when he was repatriated to India. 'During the captivity, there were times when I doubted if I would ever be able to see my parents, wife, and son again. It was a fortnight, but to me, it seemed an eternity. Being a soldier, I will be back on duty as soon as I am summoned. But the experience of being behind enemy lines when the two countries were at war is something I will never forget," he told TOI after finishing lunch late on Saturday afternoon. Purnam returned to duty at Ferozepur barely two months ago and would have returned in Aug during the holy month of Sawan and the Rakhi festival had he not ventured into Pakistan last month. "When I was posted in Kashmir, we had to be very careful because crossing the line of control could mean being fired at. That is not so in Ferozepur. Here, there are posts at intervals to demarcate the international border. I was somewhere between two posts and still don't know how I managed to cross the line or what was going on in my mind that I did not realise I was trespassing," he said. But he is glad the nightmare is over and that he is now safely back home. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The welcome he has received has been overwhelming. "I have done duty at many challenging places in the past 17 years since I joined the BSF, including Guwahati, Tripura, Nagaland, and Manipur in the north-east, Malda in West Bengal, and Kashmir on the western front, and now Punjab. But this homecoming has been unlike any one I have had before," Purnam told TOI. Though it has been over 24 hours since he returned home, the constant stream of visitors and well-wishers has meant that he is yet to get time alone with his parents, wife, and son. But he does not mind the adulation, as he says it was everyone's prayers that enabled him to return home. When the excitement dies down and the spotlight shifts, Purnam wants to thank his wife Rajani for being so courageous during his ordeal and travelling to Pherozepur to meet his commanding officer and press for his release from Pakistan. "She is pregnant and has been advised rest. But she set out for a strange land in my search. I never knew she was this brave," remarked Purnam.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nag Panchami 2025 date: When is Nag Panchami? Know date, timings, rituals and more
Nag Panchami 2025 date & timings: Nag Panchami is one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism, especially observed during the holy month of Sawan. This day is dedicated to worshipping Nag Devta (the Snake God) and holds great spiritual meaning for devotees of Lord Shiva. Celebrated with full faith and traditional rituals, Nag Panchami is believed to bring blessings, peace, and protection from negative energies. Let's take a look at the Nag Panchami 2025 date, puja timing, and the complete list of rituals followed on this important occasion. When is Nag Panchami 2025? In 2025, Nag Panchami will be celebrated on Tuesday, 29 July. Every year, this festival is observed on the Panchami tithi (fifth day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Sawan, according to the Hindu calendar. The day is considered highly auspicious for worshipping both Nag Devta and Lord Shiva. People celebrate Nag Panchami to seek protection from snake bites, remove negativity from life, and to get rid of Kaal Sarp Dosh, an unfavourable astrological condition. Nag Panchami 2025 date and puja timing Nag Panchami Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2025 Panchami Tithi Begins: 28 July 2025 at 11:24 PM Panchami Tithi Ends: 30 July 2025 at 12:46 PM Nag Panchami Puja Muhurat (Auspicious Time): 29 July 2025 from 5:41 AM to 8:23 AM The early morning hours are considered best for performing the Nag Panchami rituals and chanting mantras. Why is Nag Panchami important? Nag Panchami has deep cultural and spiritual significance in Hindu tradition. According to legends, snakes are considered close to Lord Shiva, as he wears one around his neck. Worshipping them on this day is believed to bring prosperity, health, and protection from harmful planetary effects. In rural areas, people even feed real snakes with milk as part of the tradition. Traditional rituals of Nag Panchami Here's a simple step-by-step guide to performing Nag Panchami puja at home: Wake up early, take a bath, and wear clean, traditional clothes. Take a vow (sankalp) to observe the Nag Panchami vrat (fast). Offer milk, water, flowers, and Bel leaves to a Shivling. Worship an image or idol of Nag Devta with devotion. Prepare and offer milk, curd, sweets, and fruits to the Snake God. Light a lamp and chant Nag Panchami mantras with faith. Nag Panchami Mantra Chanting mantras during the puja enhances its spiritual benefits. A powerful mantra to chant during Nag Panchami is: Sarve Nagaah Priyantaam Me Ye Kechit Prithviitale, Ye Cha Helimarichisthaa Ye'ntare Divi Sansthitaah। Ye Nadeeshu Mahanaagaa Ye Saraswatigaaminah, Ye Cha Vaapeetadageshu Teshu Sarveshu Vai Namah॥ This mantra is believed to please the Snake God and bring blessings to the devotee's home. Nag Panchami in the English Calendar While Nag Panchami is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, it usually falls in July or August as per the Gregorian calendar. The exact date changes every year depending on the Panchami tithi during the month of Sawan. Nag Panchami 2025 is a spiritually significant day for Hindus across India. The rituals and puja timings must be followed properly to receive the full divine blessings. Whether you observe it at a temple or in your home, participating in the traditions of Nag Panchami with sincerity brings peace, protection, and spiritual growth. So mark your calendar for 29 July 2025, observe the rituals on time, and celebrate the grace of Nag Devta and Lord Shiva.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
NIA, IB grill 'spy' Jyoti; probe Pak, China visits
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency, Intelligence Bureau and military intelligence officials are questioning Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, police said on Tuesday. A probe into her financial transactions and travel details is also underway, they said. Hisar-based Jyoti (33), who ran a YouTube channel titled 'Travel with JO', was arrested from the New Aggarsain Extension on May 16. She was booked under the relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act and the BNS, police said. Jyoti was among 12 people who have been arrested from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks on charges of espionage, with investigators pointing at an alleged Pakistan-linked spy network operating in north India. A senior Haryana Police officer in Hisar on Tuesday said the central agencies and military intelligence officials are also probing her travel details, as she had reportedly visited Pakistan, China and some other countries. An attempt is being made to draw a complete chain of events to see which countries she visited and in what sequence, the officer said. Earlier, police said her known sources of income did not justify her foreign travels, adding that her financial transactions were also under scanner. A forensic analysis of Jyoti's laptop is underway, police said, adding that they would also question those who were in touch with her. On Sunday, Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan said that Pakistani intelligence operatives were developing Jyoti as an "asset". She was allegedly in touch with a Pakistani official posted in the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi during the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the SP said. Sawan said while Jyoti did not have any direct access to any information related to the military operations, she was directly in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs). "This is modern warfare that is not just fought on the borders. We came across a new modus operandi wherein PIOs were trying to recruit some social media influencers," the SP said. Sawan also said Jyoti went to Kashmir before the Pahalgam attack and visited Pakistan before that, adding that police are trying to establish the "links" between these visits. Jyoti, whose YouTube channel at present has 3.87 lakh subscribers, came in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023, when she went there seeking a visa to visit the neighbouring country.
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Shell faces shareholder pushback over gas strategy
Unlock the Editor's Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. A fifth of Shell's shareholders have cast doubt on its strategy to become the world's biggest supplier and trader of gas and LNG, questioning whether it makes sense from an economic or climate perspective. Wael Sawan, chief executive of the UK-listed energy major, told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting on Tuesday that 'over the coming decade, we want to be the leading integrated gas and LNG player'. He added that Shell's focus on gas would be its biggest contribution to the transition to cleaner fuels. Shell has leaned heavily into gas, forecasting a 60 per cent increase in demand for liquefied natural gas over the next 15 years, driven primarily by Asia. But a special resolution at the AGM, filed by three UK local authority pension funds and the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), called for Shell to give more information on its LNG business and its spending on gas and asked how the goals were compatible with the company's climate goals. The resolution won 20.56 per cent support from shareholders. 'We believe that shareholders still don't have the information they need to properly assess the risks associated with this strategy,' said Sarah Brewin from ACCR at the AGM. She claimed Shell had significantly more exposure to LNG than its peers, that Asia may find cheaper alternatives to LNG, and that Shell's estimates for future demand may be affected if governments around the world introduce new emissions regulations. Andrew Mackenzie, Shell's chair, said he had not been surprised by the scale of the protest, and that it was in line with climate protest votes in previous years, which have ranged from 18 to 30 per cent of investors. 'I do not think there is a company that discloses more information on LNG than Shell,' said Sawan, at the AGM. He added that the company views gas as an essential part of the energy transition because it helps to displace coal and heavy fuel oils. 'Actually, the biggest contributions to lowering CO₂ emissions have come from gas, both here in the UK, as well as places like in the US,' he said. Sawan also argued that the increasing rollout of renewable energy will need more gas-fired power stations to back up electricity grids. 'Otherwise the power cuts that we saw in Spain can materialise again,' he said. He added that Shell was working on ways of cutting its carbon emissions and to capture and store carbon dioxide to enable it to meet its net zero targets. The size of the protest vote means the company will now have to hold a consultation with shareholders about its LNG strategy. Shell said that the level of votes on the resolution required it to 'explain what actions we intend to take to consult shareholders . . . and report back within six months'. Mackenzie said the company would provide a 'summary note' before its next AGM that 'captures the multiple disclosures' that the company will make on the subject.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Re-elected Shell CEO, asked about BP, says bar for deals is high
By Shadia Nasralla LONDON (Reuters) - Shell shareholders on Tuesday re-elected Chair Andrew Mackenzie and CEO Wael Sawan, who said when asked about a potential deal for rival BP that the bar for mergers and acquisitions was very high. Media reports earlier this month suggested Shell was working with advisers to evaluate a potential acquisition of BP, whose shares have lost around 26% of their value in the past year versus Shell's drop of 12%. Sawan won the support of 98.7% of shareholders at the group's annual general meeting and Mackenzie of 91.4%. In contrast, BP Chair Helge Lund only received around 76% at its AGM after years of share underperformance, and is set to leave his post in the coming months. Echoing previous comments when asked about media reports that Shell was studying a bid for BP, Sawan said Shell's current share price makes buybacks an especially attractive way of spending money. Mackenzie told reporters he endorsed everything Sawan has said on the topic. An activist resolution asking Shell to provide further information on its expectations for huge liquefied natural gas demand growth underpinning its LNG sales target, and how this is compatible with goals to cut carbon emissions, received around 20.6% support. The level of votes cast for the resolution requires the company to consult shareholders further on the issue within six months, Shell said. "LNG will be the biggest contribution Shell will make to the energy transition," Sawan told shareholders, pointing to the option of replacing more polluting fuels like coal with gas. "LNG is a versatile low-carbon fuel that is going to be essential for the energy transition." The majority of natural gas is made up of methane, a greenhouse gas and significant contributor to climate change alongside carbon dioxide. "We continue to raise concerns about the lack of visibility around Shell's pathway to net zero post 2030," said Vaishnavi Ravishankar, head of stewardship at Brunel Pension Partnership. Brunel is one of three institutional investors who co-filed the resolution alongside the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, which together represent around 0.25% of Shell's shares, according to a Shell spokesperson. All other Shell board members, including Finance Chief Sinead Gorman, were also re-elected.
