Candidates appearing for JEE Advanced 2026 exam in Patna on Sunday. ANI

Patna: More than 14,000 students appeared for JEE Advanced 2026 across Bihar on Sunday, of which around 9,000 candidates took the exam at around 18 centers in Patna.The exam was conducted in two shifts – Paper 1 from 9 am to 12 noon and Paper 2 from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Students emerging from centers across Patliputra found the paper a bit tough, with Mathematics in Paper 1 and Physics in Paper 2 emerging as the toughest sections.According to the candidates, more importance was given to coordinate geometry and vectors in mathematics, while questions from integration were less than expected. Physics in Paper 2 was described as long and calculation-heavy.“Topics like ray optics and rotation dominated the paper. On the other hand, Chemistry was relatively easy compared to other subjects. Overall the paper was difficult. Now, it all depends on how many questions I solve correctly. For this, I will match it with the answer key,” said Shashank Srivastava, a student.Students said Paper 1 consisted of four categories of questions – single correct question (SCQ), multiple correct question (MCQ), matrix matching and integer-based questions.Abhyanand, an academic and former Bihar DGP (retired IPS), said the negative marking pattern has been comparatively relaxed this year. “It was not as rigorous as it used to be in previous years. However, the Physics questions were a little tougher than before. Mathematics was challenging but possible with good practice. For Chemistry, the questions were a little better than the standard level – we can call it moderate,” he said.Physics expert Anand Kumar Jha said that Physics in Paper 2 and Mathematics in Paper 1 will probably decide the rank. “This year’s JEE Advanced was a little easier compared to last year’s paper, so a slight increase in the cutoff is expected,” he said.This exam, conducted by IIT Roorkee this year, is the gateway for admission to other premier institutes including IIT and IISc Bengaluru.

As the world celebrates World Hypertension Day, Punjab Government’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is emerging as an important safety net for patients suffering from hypertension and related diseases by ensuring affordable and timely health care.High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer” by doctors, gives little warning before it triggers stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. This condition is now common in all age groups.With hypertension rising as a major health concern in Punjab, the state government is focusing on prevention, early detection and treatment. While CM Di Yogshala promotes healthy living, Aam Aadmi Clinic ensures prompt diagnosis – over 1 crore people have been screened and 24 lakh have been treated – and MMSY provides cashless care, helping prevent serious complications.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the burden of hypertension is increasing rapidly in India due to poor eating habits, stress, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and irregular daily routine. Doctors warn that many patients remain unaware of their condition until serious complications develop. Amid this crisis, Punjab’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has become a vital safety net, helping thousands of people receive treatment without the burden of unaffordable medical bills.Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that regular check-ups are being done at all health facilities including 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics, where people aged 30 years and above are being screened for high blood pressure and linked to timely treatment. He said more than 1 crore people aged 30 and above have been screened and 24 lakh have been enrolled for treatment. “Monthly follow-ups, free medicines and timely referrals ensure continuous care with strong rural-urban primary health care coverage,” he said.A landmark initiative of the Punjab Government aimed at making yoga accessible to every section of the society, CM The Yogashala has conducted over 10,600 yoga classes with approximately 3 lakh participants. The initiative promotes yoga, stress management and healthy lifestyle to help control high blood pressure and other lifestyle diseases.Hospital admissions related to stroke, heart emergencies and kidney diseases caused by uncontrolled blood pressure are covered under the MMSY scheme, providing financial relief to families already struggling with emotional distress.Most of the hypertensive patients in Punjab belong to the middle-aged and elderly population, with the highest burden seen in people aged 40 to 80 years. Data from the State Health Agency (SHA) shows that Gurdaspur recorded patients up to 94 years of age, while SAS Nagar recorded cases up to 98 years of age, underscoring the deep reach of the disease among senior citizens.The highest and widespread cases in both genders were reported in districts like Patiala, SAS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Faridkot. In Amritsar and Ludhiana, hospital records show a particularly high concentration among women aged 50 to 77 years.Dr Saurabh Sharma, associate professor and head of the department of cardiology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, says hypertension is no longer just an old person’s disease.“Modern lifestyle brings a different set of health challenges for all age groups. While most cases of hypertension are seen in people aged 40 to 90 years and above, we are also seeing cases in teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties,” he says.Dr. Sharma says that lifestyle factors like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and irregular routine play a major role. He warned that complications are emerging earlier than before. “What we’re seeing now is not just high blood pressure, but its complications coming from earlier — stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.”On schemes like Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, Dr Sharma says they are important as they ensure that patients do not delay treatment due to financial fear. “In a hypertensive emergency, delay is often the difference between recovery and tragedy.”Health officials say the importance of the scheme lies not only in treatment but also in timely intervention. In earlier years, many families used to delay hospitalization due to financial fear. Such delays often prove dangerous, sometimes even fatal. Under the Sehat Yojana, patients are increasingly seeking medical attention earlier, thereby increasing their chances of recovery.For middle-class families, pensioners and government employees, the scheme has become a buffer against catastrophic health care expenditure.

The International Center for the Art of Living in Bengaluru hosted senior political leaders, spiritual figures and dignitaries as part of its ongoing 45-year celebrations in honor of founder Gurudev. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and humanitarian initiatives of the organization. The guests included Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, who participated in a special satsang and meditation program at the newly constructed Dhyana Mandir. Addressing the gathering, Governor Gehlot said, “Hate and violence can be controlled through love and knowledge. This message of Gurudev Ji is being transformed into actions and results through the Art of Living.” He also highlighted the organization’s work in areas including education, river revitalization, chemical-free farming, ethics in business, disaster relief and conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Union Minister Sanjay Seth lauded Gurudev’s efforts in making meditation and wellness practices more accessible. He said, “People used to think that meditation was done in caves and the Himalayas, but you have taken meditation to every home.” The celebration marks 45 years of the Art of Living and coincidentally with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar turning 70 on May 13. The organization said that policy makers, faith leaders, industry representatives and artists from India and abroad have participated in these events. During the event, Gurudev launched Psychosocial Peacebuilding: A Guide into the Heart of Sustainable Peace, a book by peacekeeping expert Dr Katrian Hertog, which focuses on sustainable peace-building practices. In this program folk music was also presented by Rajasthani singer Swaroop Khan. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated the Dhyana Mandir at the Ashram and launched several nationwide service initiatives related to education, health care, environmental protection and sustainable development.

The AI-generated image shows a young Briton visiting Australia.

Like countless young people dreaming of a fresh start abroad, 23-year-old Tom Cowan left home in search of better opportunities, brighter days and the promise of a more secure future.But while many Britons move to Australia chasing sunshine, beaches and a comfortable lifestyle, the Welshman’s journey around the world is rooted in something far more personal, the hope of one day returning home, buying a house and earning enough money to give his family a better life.The former business management student from Blaenau Ffestiniog in north Wales moved to Melbourne, nearly 17,000km away, earlier this year with one goal in mind – save £50,000 in two years so he can buy a house in Wales and support his family.

Tom says the decision was extremely personal

“My mother gave me and my little sister everything,” she said in a video documenting her life abroad. “She never spent money on herself. I want to be in a position where I can eventually give back.”Unlike many expats who pursue luxury, Tom has adopted a naked lifestyle. He shares a room with his girlfriend, works long construction shifts, avoids unnecessary expenses and spends his free time in outdoor public gyms rather than expensive fitness centers.“I don’t need new clothes or instant gratification,” he said. “I just want stability and opportunity for my family.”

From overdraft to foreign gambling

Tom’s journey began with a difficult financial situation. He says his bank balance after graduating from Liverpool University in 2025 was minus £400.Determined to move to Australia, he spent seven months working as a ground labourer, saving about £11,000 before flying to Asia and eventually settling in Melbourne in March.

economics immediately understood

Tom says he now earns around £20.50 an hour in Australia, which is significantly higher than the £15 an hour wage he earns for similar work in the UK. Despite the high cost of living in Australia, he claims that overtime opportunities and cheap shared accommodation have helped him save up fast.Their target is ambitious: saving around £400 a week for two years. So far, he has managed to set aside almost £2,000.Social media accountability turns her into an unexpected inspirationTo keep himself disciplined, Tom started documenting his savings journey on Instagram, expecting only a few people to see it. Instead, thousands did.Within a few weeks, his page gained over 2,000 followers, many of whom now keep track of his spending habits, gym routine and work updates.The reaction surprised him. Strangers have offered advice, jobs and even temporary housing.Tom says the online attention also keeps him accountable.“If I suddenly stopped saving money or stopped exercising, people would notice,” he joked.One of his most emotional videos – where he discussed leaving his family behind to pursue a better future – was recorded in Welsh rather than English.He admitted, “I can express my feelings better in Welsh.”

Why are more Britons eyeing Australia?

Tom’s story comes as increasing numbers of Britons are considering moving to Australia.New data from Australian property platform realestate.com.au reportedly shows that searches for rental homes by UK-based users have increased by 28 percent over the past year.Migration experts say pessimism over Britain’s economic outlook, political uncertainty and rising living costs are driving many young professionals to seek opportunities abroad. And Tom is far from alone.

‘The mountains will pull me back one day’

However, for now, Tom says he’s focusing on the bigger picture. He misses his family and the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, but believes the temporary hardship is worth it if it creates long-term stability.“I feel happiest when I’m working toward something,” he said.Some people may find their lifestyle joyless – long shifts, tight budgets and little social spending.But for Tom, discipline has become beneficial in itself. “It gives me respect for myself,” he said. “that makes me happy.”

The dream that sometimes draws people back home

British-born Annie Symonds once made the jump from London to Sydney in exchange for beaches and sunshine and gray skies.She established her life in Australia, gaining permanent residency and settling in the affluent Kirribilli suburb of Sydney after falling in love with an Australian man.But after seven years abroad, homesickness eventually drew him back to Britain.Their experience shows that many expatriates face the emotional pull of balancing career opportunities abroad with the allure of family, familiarity, and home.

Punjab Kings lost their sixth consecutive match in the Indian Premier League 2026 season, taking them to the brink of elimination from the playoff race. A team that was unbeaten in the first half of the season has suddenly fallen apart and is not looking forward to winning at the moment.

While the on-field performance has been disappointing, Punjab has also faced scrutiny for several controversies off the field. From Yuzvendra Chahal’s in-flight vaping video Arshdeep Singh called Tilak Verma ‘dark’Difficulties are increasing one after another for the team led by Shreyas Iyer.

PBKS vs RCB: highlighted | Achievement:

However, as Punjab looks likely to miss out on the playoffs, bowling coach James Hopes does not believe so off field controversy Are responsible for the downfall of the team

According to Hopes, Punjab’s season deteriorated as they repeatedly failed to control the tempo in games. He said that the team kept missing important moments during matches, which resulted in them losing in the second half of the campaign.

James Hopes said in the post-match press conference on Sunday, 17 May, “I don’t think any off-field thing derailed our campaign. The thing that derailed our campaign was our inability to control the pace in games. Every time it felt like we were going to do that, we would do something to hurt ourselves or harm ourselves.”

Loss doesn’t affect my mood: Shreyas Iyer

Playing in Dharamshala on Sunday. Punjab gave 222 runs against defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore. Any hopes of chasing the target soon evaporated after Punjab lost three wickets inside the first four overs of the innings.

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer all missed single-digit scores as Bhuvneshwar Kumar dominated the powerplay.

Reacting to the defeat, Shreyas Iyer blamed the top order, including himself, for the defeat. The Punjab captain admitted that the team failed to get the kind of starts he had hoped for throughout the season.

Shreyas Iyer said, “We were three runs behind and most of our run scorers were Prabhasimran and Priyansh. The start they used to give us in the powerplay, obviously we couldn’t do it this time and I also came in and got out early. Really disappointed.”

Despite the defeat, Shreyas said he is optimistic about Punjab’s playoff prospects and insisted that the defeat does not affect his outlook as a person. The captain said that he does not pay much attention to the failures and believes that the team still has a chance to turn things around.

Shreyas concluded, “I always remain positive despite the results. It doesn’t decide how my personality is and I always come with a strong outlook. I’m not someone who lives too much in the past. It’s over, it’s gone. Tomorrow again I’m going to see the sunrise and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Punjab Kings finished the Dharamshala stage with three losses from three matches. They will now head to Lucknow for their final group-stage game of the season against Lucknow Super Giants.

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Violent protests in Park Circus area of ​​Kolkata (courtesy: x.com/SudhanidhiB)

New Delhi: A clash broke out between protesters and police in Kolkata’s minority-dominated Park Circus area on Sunday, in which at least three policemen were injured.The protesters were protesting against the recent bulldozing action in the Tiljala area of ​​the city, where alleged illegal construction was demolished on the orders of the state government following the death of two people in a factory fire earlier this week.Also read: Friday prayers at Tiljala after 6-hour standoff with payloaderWest Bengal is now ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which came to power in the state for the first time in the recently held assembly elections, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).The use of bulldozers against alleged criminals, their properties and alleged encroachments is a common practice in BJP ruled states.According to police, a large number of people gathered near Park Circus Seven Point crossing on Sunday afternoon in protest against the anti-encroachment drive and attempted to block the roads.As security personnel tried to disperse the “unlawful assembly”, a section of the protesters allegedly pelted stones, leading to chaos in the area.Many vehicles parked on the roadside, including vehicles carrying central forces, were also vandalized.Additional Commissioner Ashesh Biswas later told reporters that action had already been initiated against those involved in the violence.“Some people tried to block the road. It was an illegal gathering. The police were trying to disperse them and there was stone pelting. Three of our colleagues were injured. We have already arrested some people,” PTI quoted Biswas as saying.“There was an attack on the police. We will identify those behind this and arrest all those involved. Strict legal action will be taken,” he said.Following the clash, heavy deployment of police and central forces was made in the area. Route marches and intensive patrolling were conducted in the surrounding areas to prevent further escalation of violence and restore normalcy.However, officials have not revealed any direct link between the violence and Friday’s Rajabazar incident in the state capital.Two days ago, tension had come to the fore in Rajabazar, where a standoff broke out after a group of people allegedly attempted to offer Friday prayers on a public road despite restrictions on blocking traffic.A large contingent of police personnel asked people to vacate the road, following which the situation became tense for a while.Although there is no formal notification, the BJP government has reportedly directed the police to ensure that except on special occasions, prayer meetings do not block roads or cause inconvenience to the public.Also read: Devotees adopt self-regulation, follow govt’s new namaz guidelines in Kolkata mosquesHowever, local community members argued that holding Friday prayers on the streets is a long-standing practice in the area. On the other hand, the administration says that it is important for the roads to remain clean for traffic movement and to maintain law and order.