India News
John Le Carre dies at 89
The spy-turned-novelist was known for writing Cold War thrillers. His elegant and intricate writing defined the Cold War espionage genre that was often ignored by critics. The author has a career of six decades, spanning 25 novels, 1 memoir and sales of over 60 million books worldwide.
Spy fiction maven David John Moore Cornwell, known more popularly by his pseudonym John le Carre, has died at the age of 89 on Saturday in southwestern England. Le Carre, who is survived by his wife Jane and four sons, died of pneumonia, the writer’s family informed in a brief statement.
The spy-turned-novelist was known for writing gripping, yet slow Cold War novels. His elegant and intricate writing defined the Cold War espionage genre that was often ignored by critics. The author had a career spanning six decades, 25 novels, 1 memoir and sales of over 60 million books worldwide.
After the news of his death was made public, writers and authors took to social media to pay their tributes and condolences. Author Margaret Atwood tweeted that his George Smiley novels are key to understanding the mid-20th century.
The CEO of Curtis Brown Group, Jonny Geller, said the world has lost a great figure of English literature, a man of great wit, kindness, humour and intelligence and he has lost a friend, a mentor and an inspiration.
Salman Rushdie said Le Carre was one of the greatest and most influential writers of the past century. He said Le Carre’s novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a masterpiece.
Also Read: Rajasthan urban local polls: Congress beats BJP
Born on October 19, 1931, in England, Le Carre’s career began in the 1960s with Call for the Dead in 1961 and A Murder of Quality in 1962. In 2016, he also released a memoir called The Pigeon Tunnel that detailed his fractured relationship with an abusive, conman father and a lonely upbringing after his mother abandoned him aged five.
Le Carre was a spy for MI5 during the late 1940s and ran agents in the erstwhile Soviet Union. George Smiley is his most famous character along with Smiley’s Soviet counterpart Karla, who breaks a key character in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in a Delhi prison.
Education
Farmer’s son Nilkrishna Gajare Nirmalkumar from Maharashtra scores 100 NTA score in IIT-JEE Mains 2024
Nilkrishna Gajare’s father is a farmer and had to discontinue his own education after Class 12 as he faced financial difficulties. Gajare faced financial challenges growing up. However, his unwavering dedication and strategic approach to preparation set him apart from the crowd.
Nilkrishna Gajare, who hails from Maharashtra’s Washim, achieved an extraordinary feat by securing a perfect score of 100 in the JEE Main 2024 examination. His journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of success is a source of inspiration for many people.
Nilkrishna Gajare’s father is a farmer and had to discontinue his own education after Class 12 as he faced financial difficulties. Gajare faced financial challenges growing up. However, his unwavering dedication and strategic approach to preparation set him apart from the crowd, which resulted in his remarkable achievement of emerging as topper of one of India’s toughest Engineering entrance exams.
Nilkrishna Gajare had a strategic plan that helped him succeed in IIT-JEE 2024. According to Nilkrishna persistence is important and one should never stop trying until they understand a topic. He said being curious and asking questions are important traits of a good student. He said one should not be ashamed of asking questions.
Nilkrishna spent around 10-15 hours every day studying on his own for the JEE Main exam. He mentioned that he used his class notes for Physics and Physical Chemistry. For organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry, he relied on both notes and practice questions.
As for Mathematics, he believed that practicing regularly was the most important thing for him. Other interests of Nilkrishna include archery. He has participated at both state and national levels, and he finds joy in the sport. He said archery helps him understand the importance of focusing his attention on his goals. Nilkrishna likes watching movies and said they are a great source of enjoyment and relaxation.
He likes to watch a movie after exams and occasionally treats himself to one each week too. Gajare aims to keep up the pace for the JEE-Advanced exam and hopes to get into the IITs. He said he wants to secure admission in IIT-Bombay in the computer science branch.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Lok Sabha elections: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav files nomination from Kannauj
The Samajwadi Party has announced Akhilesh Yadav as its official candidate for the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat today
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, submitted his nomination for the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency ahead of tomorrow’s second round of voting. In front of Ram Gopal Yadav and other party leaders, the chief of the SP, who had previously contested the seat in 2000, 2004 and 2009, submitted the nomination.
Speaking with media, Ram Gopal Yadav said that SP would win the seat by a huge margin. The BJP candidate might lose his deposit in the seat, he said.
The Samajwadi Party has completely reversed its earlier plan to field former Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap Singh Yadav as their candidate, which is a significant political development.
Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav told reporters, people will find out when the nomination takes place, in reference to the speculations that he will contest for the seat. The historic victory of Kannauj is the subject of inquiry.
The former chief minister continued, the people have decided that the India bloc is coming as the future and the BJP will be history in this election.
Notably, elections for the Kannauj seat are scheduled for May 13, which would intensify the political drama that is now playing out in Uttar Pradesh. Previously regarded as the Samajwadi Party’s stronghold, the seat was lost by the party in the 2019 election when Subrat Pathak of the BJP won with a resounding victory.
The candidates competing for the following Uttar Pradesh seats will find out their destiny in the second round of voting, which is scheduled for tomorrow, Amroha, Meerut, Mathura, Baghpat, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Bulandshahar.
Notably, two Bollywood celebrities running as BJP candidates in the second round are Hema Malini from Mathura and Arun Govil from Meerut. There are 91 contestants from UP competing in the second phase.
The seats in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Mathura are up for grabs, with a maximum of 15 applicants per seat. In Bulandshahr, six candidates are vying for the presidency. There are twelve contenders running in Amroha, eight in Meerut, seven in Baghpat, and fourteen in Ghaziabad and Aligarh.
1,67,77,198 votes will decide these candidates’ fates.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Bihar: Election Commission extends voting timings for 4 Lok Sabha seats due to heatwave
The voting period has been extended by two hours for a total of 299 polling stations
In accordance to the rising temperatures in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the voting hours for the upcoming three phases of the parliamentary polls at 1,700 polling places spread across four parliamentary seats, Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria, and Munger. The extension of the voting hours was announced by poll officials on Wednesday.
Polling generally takes place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in most parts of the country, however, in certain isolated locations and in constituencies impacted by left-wing extremism, polls close two hours early to allow polling parties to move around easily.
The ECI gazette notification said the dates for the parliamentary constituencies of Banka (Katoria and Belhar assembly segments), which will hold elections on April 26, Madhepura (Mahishi assembly segment), Khagaria (Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Alauli, and Beldaur assembly segments), where voting will take place on May 7, and Munger (Suryagarha assembly segment), which will hold final phase elections on May 13, have been extended.
The voting period has been extended by two hours for a total of 299 polling stations in Simri Bakhtiarpur, 191 polling stations in Belhar AC of Banka, 172 polling stations in Katoria Assembly Constituency (AC) and 191 polling stations in Belhar AC of Banka, 207 booths in Mahishi AC of Madhepura seat, and 230 polling stations in Suryagarha AC of Munger.
In an effort to boost voter turnout, which fell to 49.26% in the first phase of polling on April 19 in Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Jamui from 53.47% in 2019 by 4.21%, the timing has also been extended.
Meanwhile, during the course of the next several days, temperatures in the southern states, namely Kerala and Karnataka, are predicted to rise by 2-3°C. In Southern Karnataka, where up to 14 constituencies are scheduled to vote in Phase 2, a heatwave warning has been issued. It is predicted to affect the districts of Tumkur, Davangere, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Koppal, Bagalkote, Kalaburgi, Raichur, Ballari, Chitradurga, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Gadag, and Davangere.
The EC stated that a likely factor influencing voter turnout is the increase in temperature.
-
2024 Lok Sabha Elections19 hours ago
Mallikarjun Kharge vows to continue politics till his last breath to defeat BJP
-
2024 Lok Sabha Elections23 hours ago
PM Narendra Modi slams Congress over Sam Pitroda’s inheritance tax remarks, accuses Congress of intending to impose higher taxes
-
Entertainment21 hours ago
Madhuri Dixit, Karisma Kapoor recreate Dil To Pagal Hai dance battle on Dance Deewane
-
2024 Lok Sabha Elections20 hours ago
Nitin Gadkari says he’s better now after collapsing at election rally in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal
-
Entertainment2 hours ago
Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Rekha, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari attend Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi premiere
-
India News4 hours ago
Tamannaah Bhatia summoned in illegal IPL streaming app case, to appear before cyber cell on April 29
-
Education54 mins ago
Farmer’s son Nilkrishna Gajare Nirmalkumar from Maharashtra scores 100 NTA score in IIT-JEE Mains 2024
-
India News3 hours ago
Landslide hits Arunachal Pradesh, highway linking Indo-China border affected