British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has completed 100 days in office. He took charge as UK’s first Indian-origin PM on October 25th, 2022. Sunak became the third Conservative leader in a year to move into 10 Downing Street after Boris Johnson’s tenure was marked by corruption scandals and his successor Liz Truss was PM for just 50 days.
Sunak promised to run the country with ”integrity, professionalism and accountability”. He paid a surprise visit to Ukraine after becoming PM and met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sunak is said to be one of the richest people to become PM. He is a Hindu and at 42 is Britain’s youngest PM since 1812. Reports say that he has lived down to expectations and that he missed out opportunities to carve out a fresh start.
(Pic: Harsh Singh, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) North Chennai)
Toned and tanned, at 6 feet 2 inches with broad shoulders and bulky biceps, clean shaven and sporting sunglasses, he automatically fits into that ‘tall, dark and handsome’ mould. So, you can’t blame onlookers for wondering if he is a movie star. As ASP Tiruchendur when he was on duty for the local body elections, a woman mustered the courage to ask him: “Sir, are you cinema police?” The ‘Bheem-Boy in Khakhi’ smiled and continued with his instructions on the walkie talkie.
(Pic: Harsh Singh, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) North Chennai)
From being lean and bullied in his school years, Harsh Singh today relishes the respect that a well built physique commands. Years of pumping iron in the gym and a steely resolve to have heads turn, have given him a robust image that is so essential for a cop. Influenced by a staple of action movies like ‘Sarfarosh’ and ‘Gangajaal’ and the six packs of Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan during his student years in Lucknow, Harsh’s journey is as much about brain as it is about brawn.
Having missed the IAS by a whisker, Harsh’s father Hari Shankar Singh, who ultimately made it to the State Civil Services and retired as the Chief Development Officer in Uttar Pradesh was initially keen on seeing his son in the bureaucracy. Along with his wife Sudha Singh, a homemaker, the duo used their savings to rustle up a huge collection of books ranging from Religion to History to Politics and set up their home library and this served to whet the literary appetite of their son. “I became a voracious reader from a young age and my parents would flaunt my general knowledge before visitors, with justifiable pride.”
Academically quite a bright spark, Harsh earned a BTech degree from JSS College, Noida and topped it with an MBA from IIT Roorkee. Armed with these twin degrees, he sailed through campus placements and ended up in Oracle in Bengaluru and later at Deloitte in Hyderabad where he was a Consultant engaged in auditing Enterprise Risk Assurance of US systems. The cushy corporate lifestyle made his dad do a rethink on the son’s career front and he didn’t quite fancy Harsh’s unstinted efforts to clear the Civil Services Exam. Persistence paid and in his final attempt, Harsh notched up the 244th Rank and got into the Indian Police Service in 2018.
The maiden posting as ASP (Training) in Tirunelveli in 2020 came with an additional piece of uniform – the face mask as the covid lockdown had just been ordered. “My endeavour was to create awareness and I kept criss-crossing the 30 police stations in my jurisdiction with my striking force. I had not fully mastered Tamil by then and so I had one of my constables who was from Mumbai write Tamil sentences like “thalli thalli nilunga” (physical distancing) which I memorised and shouted on the public address system.”
The next stint as ASP in Thiruchendur – a melting pot of fishing communities, witnessed agitations over a power plant that he handled with tact by “allaying apprehensions” of the local people. In his 18 month tenure here, what stands out was Harsh’s role in rescuing a young Dalit Merchant Navy cadet who had been trapped in Iran and was being ill-treated and even denied proper food by a shipping company. “Initially the manpower agency in Chennai which used to head hunt in fishing hamlets in Tamil Nadu gave me a different picture. Later, a fellow cadet from Pakistan got in touch with me and revealed the truth that this lad from Tamil Nadu was indeed being mistreated. After issuing a stern warning to the recruiter in Chennai, we managed to have him sent back safely to his family in Tuticorin. This intervention gave me immense satisfaction.”
The State elections in the volatile region called for “diplomatically handling both sides, which I think I managed well.”
A brief 3 month period in Kottaikuppam in Villupuram, along the Puducherry border, involved putting down “rowdyism” and “liquor smuggling.”
Photography: Gurunath Prabhu
It was baptism by fire in July, 2022, when 36 year old Harsh was posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) in Chennai North. “The opportunity to be a part of the Prime Minister’s bandobust and other VVIP convoys for the Chess Olympiad was a big learning curve.” Does our muscle man prefer Law & Order postings? “Traffic calls for a multi-dimensional approach. It’s a more visible role. And I guess personality plays a part here as well.” A complete ‘boots on the ground’ sort of officer, the social media was replete with pictures and videos of him wading through water during the recent monsoon and also overseeing traffic diversions necessitated by the ongoing Metro Rail construction.
‘Dive right into special drives’. That has been his goal in traffic. Harsh was in the thick of enforcement against drunken, rash and negligent driving when he was recently distressed to come across “a just wedded man meeting with a fatal accident in Anna Nagar”. The initiative to replace defective number plates was quite a hit with the traffic police managing to have about 6000 plates changed by motorists the same day. More than 2500 motorists who drove on the wrong side were booked on a single Monday.
The Prince Charming met his match in a doctor from Bengaluru – Dr.Vidhya Gowda who now works for a private hospital in Chennai. Composing poems has been a hobby. “I’ve written over 50 poems. One of them titled ‘Why Should I Let My Dreams Die?’ was published in the Hindustan Times.” No prizes for guessing any romantic lines he may have coined to woo his bride!
A news buff, Harsh grew up watching and admiring many anchors on NDTV like Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt. “I think I was in Std. 6 when we got our cable connection. I used to wait for ‘The Big Fight’. Today, it’s ‘Cut the Clutter’ by Shekhar Gupta.”
Evidently, this macho cop has not let any of his dreams fade away, much less die. For he, to borrow the title of another favourite programme, has always tried to ‘Walk The Talk’.
(Sanjay Pinto is an Advocate practising at the Madras High Court, Columnist, Author of 4 books & Former Resident Editor – NDTV 24×7)
The Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park is here to foster a love for the most authentic and delicious sushi, and so sushi fans are in for a real treat. Chef Gobu’s culinary team says, “We guarantee that our guests will experience a special variations of Japanese food that not many people here would have previously tried. They can anticipate savouring a fusion of traditional and contemporary food. We would be presenting a unique fusion of ingredients like black quinoa, sweet potatoes, and edamame, that all come together to harmoniously create the best array of sushi.
Some of the dishes that we’re introducing in this unique new menu are the Cappuccino Roll (a special assortment of veg and non-veg sushi curated by our chef), California Roll (sushi from the waters with the flavours of crab, avocado, and salmon), Uramaki (sushi from the region of Alaska- King Crab rolled tobiko, crispy vegetables and rice), Teriyaki Chicken & Shiitake Sushi (sushi rice wrapped around teriyaki chicken and shitake mushrooms), Sushi Bowl -Veg (Temaki sushi rolled and served with the bowl of mix vegetables and dressed with cashew mayo and crispy nori), Sweet Potato Tempura and Avocado Rolls (sweet potato and avocado rolled in sushi rice and dressed with sriracha mayo), Black Quinoa & Bell Pepper Sushi (Black quinoa and sushi rice combined and rolled with bell peppers), and last but certainly not the least, the Philadelphia and Kappa Maki Sushi (American favourite Philadelphia cream cheese rolled with cucumbers).
Food is best enjoyed when it is simple and steeped in tradition, just like the sushi at Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park. Chef Gobu and his team are eager to take our guests and patrons on this exciting Japanese culinary journey, so call to reserve your table now.
“Sushi with a Twist” on 3 rd February to 26th February 2023 at Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park
Date: 3 rd – 26 th February
Restaurant – Cappuccino
Time: Lunch and Dinner
Address: 132, TT Krishnamachari Rd, Austin Nagar, Alwarpet, Chennai
The US Department of Justice is conducting an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system to see if Tesla’s claims about the reliability of its driver assistance systems could leave drivers with a false sense of security.
Tesla has received requests from the Department of Justice for documents relating to Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD (full self driving) features. CEO of Tesla Elon Musk said that Tesla cars currently only offer driving assistance that can help drivers to change lanes or identify stop signs. It does not offer full autonomy and allow drivers to look away from the road. He also stated that a fully autonomous car will be launched soon.
The National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman told reporters that the use of ”full self driving” is misleading.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Honour by the India-UK Achievers Honours in London for his contribution to economic and political life and for his academic achievements at the Cambridge and Oxford Universities.
This Honour was announced at an awards ceremony last week and will be handed over to him in New Delhi at a later date. Dr. Singh said in a written message that he is very touched by this gesture.
As India is celebrating 75 years of independence, the first-ever India UK Achievers Honours covered 75 achievers. and 8 outstanding achievers. There was a rigorous selection process by an eminent jury who went through a plethora of nominations and shortlisted the achievers.
Novotel Ibis Outer Ring Road’s Blue Terrain, the poolside bar, is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the Bangalore breeze with its brand-new menu
The menu features a variety of fondues, including the classic Swiss cheese and decadent chocolate, Grills, Steaks, Jackfruit Tacos, Pork Ribs, and Corn Ribs to name just a few of the signature offerings. For those looking for something unique and celebratory, the bar serves cocktails such as Rum & Smoke, Forest G&T, Chai & Marmalade, Peachy Vessel, Flaming Irish coffee, and Snake coffee, to make your visit truly memorable
So come and experience the perfect combination of fun and flavor at Blue Terrain, Novotel Ibis Outer Ring Road.
Price for two INR 2000/-
Address: Novotel Ibis Outer Ring Road, Opp Rmz Ecospace Business Park Marthahalli, Sarjapur – Marathahalli Rd, Bengaluru
Cricketer Virat Kohli along with his actress wife Anushka Sharma went on a spiritual trip to Rishikesh. This trip comes just ahead of the Test series against Australia.
They visited Swami Dayanand Giri Ashram. Many pictures of Anushka and Virat worshipping at the ashram have gone viral on social media. According to reports, Virat and Anushka will take part in a public religious ritual at the ashram and later organise a religious feast.
The couple’s visit to Rishikesh is said to be days after they travelled to an ashram in Vrindavan along with their daughter Vamika and sought blessings.
Australia will be touring India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023. The test series will begin on February 9th in Nagpur while the ODIs will start on March 17th in Mumbai.
Actress Priiyanka Chopra who is married to musician Nick Jonas revealed her daughter Malti Marie’s face to the media and fans for the first time, weeks after she turned one. They welcomed their daughter via surrogacy last year.
This was done at the Jonas Brothers Walk of Fame ceremony and was attended by Nick Jonas, his brothers Kevin and Joe Jonas and their wives Danielle Jonas and Sophie Turner. Pictures showed Priyanka with Malti Marie sitting on her lap. Priyanka had earlier posted pictures of Malti Marie but without revealing her face.
In an interview with a magazine, Priyanka had stated that comments on her daughter were unwelcome. She said that she developed a thick skin on what people said about her but found it painful when people passed comments on her daughter.
When was the last time you got an innovatively designed calendar that you can flaunt in your home or office? The dates are invariably in small fonts. Or the branding is over the top. Or downright insipid that you would rather make do with your mobile phone calendar. Gone are the days when we had picturesque sceneries splashed on every page that the likes of a local business establishment Gem Granites used to bring out.
Twenty five years ago, I vividly remember shooting off an email to my bosses in NDTV – Dr.Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy with a long list of suggestions to make the channel’s presence felt in the region. One of them was to print calendars with the anchors, flagship shows and candid snapshots behind the scenes for each month of the year. That never happened in the form I had mooted but then the Headquarters in New Delhi had elegantly framed ‘show grabs’ along the stairway.
Just the other day, I received a slick desktop calendar brought out by the Greater Chennai Police accompanied by a personal letter from the Commissioner of Police Mr.Shankar Jiwal, IPS. It struck me as clever showcasing of the department’s feats, welfare and public outreach initiatives. Popping out from each of the twelve months are glossy photographs of police projects. From ‘Kaaval Karangal’ – a synchronised drive with NGOs to rescue, rehabilitate and reunite destitute persons and NCC like brigade ‘Students In Responsible Police Initiatives (SIRPI) targeting about a hundred schools in the city, to a drive to reform first time young offenders labelled ‘Paravai’ and the Nirbhaya Counselling Centre, the customised product serves the purpose of spreading the word, as it were. The Refurbished Police Quarters, New Patrol Vehicles, the Police Museum and Awards bagged by our officers in khakhi in Equestrian championships are also highlighted as you flip through the months.
Perhaps, from the next year, a dash of legal provisions could be added at the bottom of each page to empower citizens. The Police jurisdiction map and important phone numbers will also be a ready and useful reckoner. And it could be made available at police stations for the general public.
For now, here’s a calendar that takes you on a sort of date with the cops!
(Sanjay Pinto is an Advocate practising at the Madras High Court, Legal Columnist, Author of 4 Books and Former Resident Editor of NDTV 24×7)
The concluding function of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi will be held today. Only 12 Opposition parties will attend the function out of the 21 parties that were invited. Some of the parties are skipping the function due to security concerns.
Some of the parties who are attending the function include DMK led by MK Stalin, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. Tejashwi Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena etc.
The function is being held at Srinagar. Many senior Congress leaders are also attending the same.
The yatra began from Kanyakumari on September 7 and will end today in Srinagar after covering 3970 kms in 12 states and 2 union territories in 145 days.
Sania Mirza bid farewell to tennis after the Australian Open. Her friends and family threw a surprise party for her. Sania took to Instagram to post pictures of this surprise party. One picture shows her posing with her son and two other kids.
There are rumours of her separation from husband Shoaib Malik during the rounds on the internet. However, both of them are silent on the matter and have not responded to these rumours. It has been reported that he was not present at the party.
The party was hosted in Dubai after Sania returned from Melbourne after playing in the Australian Open. There were cakes, balloons and an Indian flag too. Sania was surprised to see her friends and family in the room as she opened the door.
Shoaib is said to have written a farewell tweet for Sania after she played her last Grand Slam match.
The Italian fine dine restaurant ALBA is proud to announce a limited-edition Pizza menu that truly celebrates people’s love for this ancient Italian dish
Be a witness to innovation with global flavors when you try the exotic Lebanese lamb Shish kebab pizza, the Japanese Teriyaki pizza, the one-of-a-kind Sambal Prawn Pizza or even the Indian Paneer Tikka pizza
These wood-fired sumptuous treats are all hand tossed with an option of the classic Neapolitan and contemporary New York Style base
Make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to try some exceptionally good pizzas only at ALBA
Amrtam Spa in Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park is the perfect destination for you to de-stress after a hectic day and get away from the influence of technology and the city’s busy life. Therapies at Amrtam Spa have curated holistic rejuvenation to help relax and feel flexible after a strenuous day at work or be it for a special occasion.
Apart from all the physical benefits, our spa experts’ s massages enable you to garner both mindful and soulful benefits and improve the lifestyle.
Coupled in Harmony: Give into a day of holistic rejuvenation with your loved one at Amrtam Spa and enjoy exclusive benefits at The Look Salon. Also, get a free additional dry manicure or face clean-up at The Look Salon on every 90 minutes package of couple treatment at Amrtam Spa. Add on to be availed within 30 days from the Spa service.
Book a spa today and pamper yourself for an unforgettable and pleasant experience that will refresh and prepare you for taking over the world!
The website of actor Kamal Haasan’s party Makkal Needhi Maiam has been hacked. This cyber attack on the website was discovered after a post on the website stated that the party would merge with the Congress party. It was titled ‘Big announcement for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by Makkal Needhi Maiam.” It further stated that the formal merger with the Congress would take place on January 30th 2023.
The website has been shut down for maintenance. Spokesperson of the MNM Murali Abbas told reporters that there are no plans of merger with the Congress and that the website has been hacked. The Twitter handle of the party has also been hacked.
Recently, Kamal Haasan joined Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi and marched along with him. According to Kamal Haasan, the yatra was one beyond politics.
