Leh, April 29 (ANI): Buddhist monks performed rituals as the holy relics of Tathagata Buddha arrived at Leh airport on Wednesday. (@lg_ladkh

Leh: In a strong message for world peace, the sacred Piprahwa relic of Buddha has reached Ladakh from the National Museum in Delhi for a fortnight-long, first-of-its-kind exhibition starting from May 1.The festival seeks to strengthen the sense of community in Ladakh where Buddhists have a sizeable presence. Men, women and children of all ages came from across Leh to catch a glimpse of the remains, which were taken in a grand procession to the exhibition site Jiwetsal starting on Friday, which marks the 2,569th Buddha Purnima.The inauguration ceremony of the festival will be attended by several Union ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah; Chief Ministers of Buddhist majority states; Ambassador; And Buddhist leader. It is proposed to host several events, exhibitions and seminars during a fortnight in Leh and Zanskar.The relics will be available for public worship from May 2 to May 10, followed by an exhibition at Zanskar on May 11 and 12 and then at the Dharma Center in Leh from May 13 to 14. He will be taken back to Delhi on May 15.Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena received the remains along with senior Buddhist monks. Ladakh Police gave him a ceremonial guard of honour, while monks offered special prayers. The welcome ceremony saw Buddhist monks playing the gyaling, a traditional musical instrument used during prayers in monasteries.Over the past few years, the Piprahwa bone relics of Lord Buddha have been displayed in many countries, including Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, attracting global attention and devotion.The remains are associated with the Piprahwa Stupa at Kapilavastu (in present-day Uttar Pradesh), the homeland of the Shakya dynasty of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha, and were excavated by Willam Claxton Peppe in 1898. Sacred relics serve as profound symbols of the Buddha’s living presence and his universal teachings.Speaking to TOI, people present on the way said they felt blessed to be a part of the occasion and seeing the remains was no less than a dream come true for them.Sonam Wangchuk Shakspo, Deputy Secretary General of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace in Mongolia and Secretary of the ABCP-Indian National Centre, shared insights on how this exhibition is the need of the hour and much-awaited in Ladakh where Buddha is revered and his teachings are considered a guiding force.In fact, a request to bring the remains to Ladakh was made by the UT administration earlier this year, resulting in the demonstration. The timing of the arrival is also significant as it comes after a difficult year when Ladakh was rocked by unrest and protests turned violent in September last year. Led by activist Sonam Wangchuk and local bodies, the protesters were protesting over demographic change and industrial exploitation of the region’s resources, among other things. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, job reservation for locals and a separate Public Service Commission.

Candace Owens addressed Donald Trump’s criticism during a livestream after she called him “despicable” in a Truth Social post. Responding with sarcasm, he questioned the motive behind his comment and suggested that political pressure may have been involved. Owens framed the attack as part of an ongoing pattern, pointing to deeper dynamics while avoiding detailed refutations of the claims.

latest fight between donald trump And Candace Owens has gone public with a back-and-forth over social media posts that continue to make headlines. What started as a sharp criticism of Trump soon turned into a broader narrative, with Owens choosing to respond in her own way. He did not issue a formal denial, but responded immediately with a mixture of humor, sarcasm, and sharp comments.The controversy centered on a Truth Social post in which Trump used strong language against Owens while sharing a fake magazine cover. The moment could have ended here. Instead, Owens made it a talking point on his show, offering her consideration of the situation while raising questions about the motivations behind the attack.

Candace Owens responds with sarcasm and sharp comment

Owens began his livestream with a mix of disbelief and humor.“what did I miss?” she said about last week. “Oh, a presidential awards ceremony where I was awarded the Times’ Worst Man on Earth. Really? Okay Trump. Wow, why should I be credited with this honor?”She did not stop here. Elaborating on the moment, he said:“More importantly, to whom?” He continued. “What I enjoyed most was Trump’s Truth Social post about me, followed by a post crying about his administration’s ‘leftist rhetoric’ — ‘the shooting,’ if that’s what we’re calling it — is more of an ‘incident.'”His response was not focused on dismissing the criticism. Instead, it framed the situation as part of a larger pattern, suggesting that such comments were not new.

Claims of political pressure and ulterior motives

As the livestream continued, Owens changed from a comedic to a more serious tone. He suggested that the attack may have been influenced by behind-the-scenes dynamics rather than a disagreement.“Who asked for the tweet? What were they trying to achieve by it?” He said. “It was a little bit of politics,” he said. “Blackmail and secrets abound in Washington, DC. And once you discover those secrets, you have two choices: fall in line…or Don’t stand against us, or we will make your life miserable.”Owens also said Trump has criticized him many times before and called his latest remarks not an isolated moment, but part of a pattern.The exchange underscores how quickly political differences can turn into a public spectacle. Both are known for relatively straightforward styles of communication, and their words often carry far more weight than a post or stream. Right now, it is a war of narratives, with each side telling its own story.

Candace Owens breaks silence after Andrew Colvette chat leak as Charlie Kirk Show clip made viewers uncomfortable (Image via Getty)

Candace Owens is once again in the middle of an online storm, and this time it started with a strange clip and heated exchange on Ex. One user questioned a segment on Charlie Kirk’s show, calling it “awkward”, “uncomfortable” and “painful to watch”.The post immediately attracted attention because it described a pre-recorded segment that featured a woman in a server outfit, reading lines that did not sound natural. Soon after, another user, Andrew Colvet, added fuel to the situation. He shared a screenshot of a private chat that he claimed involved Candace Owens. In that chat, a line emerged and quickly spread online: “First question: Why did you kill your husband?”That one line evoked strong reactions. People began to question the tone, intent and context of the message. Was it serious? Was it a joke? Or was something taken out of context? Candace Owens responded directly, denying the claims and asking to be shown the entire conversation.

The situation unfolded in two parts, but both soon merged into one major controversy. First, the video clip. One user described it in detail and said, “What’s up with this weird pre-recorded thing on the Charlie Kirk show? An angry woman in a server outfit from an Italian restaurant and, for some reason, a trucker threw up some word salad, and now they’re just playing old clips of Charlie Kirk.”The same user added, “Very uncomfortable to watch. Painful prompter read. Speech clearly written by someone else. Objectively horrible so they’ll now pay people to tell us otherwise.” This criticism pointed to concerns about authenticity. The viewer felt the segment did not feel natural and suggested it seemed scripted or forced.But things did not stop here. Andrew Colvet then shared a screenshot of what he claimed was a conversation with Candace Owens. In his post he wrote: “ Funny, you said exactly that to my former employee Aubrey. Yes, Aubrey took a screen capture of your chat and bragged about it to her friends.The screenshot included a line that quickly spread online: “First question: Why did you kill your husband?” That line alone caused confusion and backlash. Without context, it seemed serious and harsh. Many people started reacting to it without knowing the entire conversation behind it.Candace Owens responded directly to this. He denied the way the screenshot was presented and said it was misleading. His reply read:“Why don’t you go the maximum and show the full context of that conversation in its entirety, not just a screen grab. It was an obvious joke mocking the (at the time) absurd neoconservative notion that anyone asking even a single question towards Erica was guilty of accusing her of murder.He continued, “Include full context and the specific person I was making fun of in that thread to share that sentiment, and for once, stop lying.” Their response shifted attention away from the message and onto the way it was shared. He argued that the line was taken out of context and was meant as sarcasm, not an actual accusation. Now, the online discussion is divided. Some people believe that the screenshot should be viewed in full before making a decision. Others felt that even as a joke, the wording was too strong.At the same time, the earlier criticism regarding the Charlie Kirk Show clip is still being discussed. People are questioning whether the segment was authentic or highly scripted. Both issues together have kept Candace Owens trending, as users continue to debate what is real, what has been edited, and what is being taken out of context.

Ganga Expressway raises hopes of increase in tourist footfall at religious and heritage sites on the route

Lucknow: Car owners traveling between Meerut and Prayagraj or vice versa via the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway will have to pay a toll of Rs 1,800 for a single journey.The Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) on Wednesday announced the toll for motor vehicles soon after the expressway was opened to the public. The toll for two-wheelers, three-wheelers and tractors will be Rs 905, while mini buses and commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 2,840 for a single journey.Buses and trucks, heavy construction machinery and earth moving vehicles will be charged Rs 5,720 and Rs 8,760 respectively, while vehicles with seven or more axles (heavy haulers, trailers, heavy cranes or earth movers) will have to pay the highest user charge of Rs 11,265 for a single journey.Commuters returning within 24 hours via the Ganga Expressway will have to pay a slightly lower fare as private toll companies appointed to collect the toll have been asked to deduct 80% of the actual round-trip charge (a car owner will be asked to pay around Rs 2,880 instead of Rs 3,600, and a two-wheeler rider will have to pay Rs 1,448 for a return journey instead of Rs 1,810). Similar tariff will be applicable on other categories of motor vehicles also.The six-lane Ganga Expressway will connect 12 UP districts between Western, Central and Eastern UP. Commissioned within a period of three years and three months under the public-private partnership model with a budget of Rs 36,230 crore, the expressway has been divided into four packages – the first 129.70 km stretch was developed by IRB Infrastructure, while the remaining three sections 151.70 km, 155.70 km and 156.8 km were constructed by Adani Road Transport Limited (a unit of Adani Road Transport Limited). Adani Enterprises Limited).Currently, passengers traveling from Meerut to Prayagraj via Aligarh, Etah, Kanpur and Fatehpur take an average of 11 to 13 hours to cover the distance of 700 km. With the option to travel safely at a maximum speed of 120 km an hour, the travel time will now be reduced to six to seven hours.Security personnel, camera monitoring for safety and securityUPEIDA Additional CEO Srihari Pratap Shahi said adequate arrangements and deployment have been made to ensure the safety of passengers on the expressway. He said a total of nine roadside facilities would be monitored through cameras and security personnel would be deployed to maintain security.Six police patrol vehicles will patrol each package to control traffic and prevent violation of rules. Similarly, 18 advanced ambulances, eight heavy-duty cranes, eight towing vans and four hydraulic cranes (used to lift and move a completely damaged or immobilized vehicle) will be deployed to keep the expressway free from undue obstructions and hazards.Officials said passengers in distress can make an emergency call on the centralized number 14449. Designed to maintain speeds up to 120 km/h, two main plazas have been established on the main carriageway at the starting and ending points of the high-speed corridor along with 19 exits to provide first aid to the injured. At 21 locations, one ambulance with a driver and two paramedics will also be kept on standby.The demand for additional police patrol vans will be raised in the coming days if congestion or blockages are encountered at places where the Ganga Expressway intersects with national highways.AI-based cameras to send alerts during accidentsAdani Enterprises, which will collect toll on three packages of the Ganga Expressway, said artificial intelligence-based surveillance cameras will be used to generate real-time alerts to detect car accidents. “The emergency response system will be activated immediately to reach individuals seeking help. The AI ​​system is equipped to provide precise location with geographic coordinates to emergency response vehicles,” the company said in a statement. Adani Enterprises developed the 464 km extension (about 80% of the total project). According to estimates given by the UP government, the expressway will help save Rs 25,000-30,000 crore annually by improving logistics.

EUT20 Belgium jersey launch event in Mumbai on Wednesday

Destino Legends Sports LLC, in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Federation, formally introduced the EUT20 Belgium to India at a press conference held in Mumbai on Wednesday. The event unveiled the league’s franchise ownership group, launched the official jerseys of all five city-based teams, and gave India its first real look at a cricket league built for something bigger, a global statement about the expansion of cricket beyond its traditional borders and into entirely new markets, audiences and territories.The EUT20 Belgium is a professional T20 franchise cricket league and the first of its kind in the European continent. Approved by the Belgian Cricket Federation as an associate member nation of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The league will be played in Brussels from June 6 to 14, 2026, and will be telecast in India via Sony Sports Network.At its core, the EUT20 represents a new stage for the Belgian game. This cricket is moving confidently towards new geographies, new fan bases and a future where the game does not simply remain within established boundaries, but evolves into a truly global arena.EUT20 Belgium franchise ownership is for a ten-year term, with all revenue from team kit sponsorship remaining with the respective franchise. Each team is built around the league’s 2-4-4-6 development model, which mandates the inclusion of local Belgian players in each starting XI alongside international icons and emerging associate talent. The structure is designed to create real cricket depth in Europe while ensuring a world-class competitive product on the field.The decision to launch EUT20 Belgium in Mumbai was a deliberate one. India is not only the largest cricket market in the world; It is the heartbeat of the game globally. The league is set to resonate here through the Sony Sports Network broadcast partnership, globally recognized cricketers familiar to Indian audiences and the involvement of Indian investors and stakeholders in the ownership ecosystem.Robin Choudhary, League Chairman and Managing Partner, Destino Legends Sports LLC, said, “India is not just a market for EUT20 Belgium. India is cricket. When the world’s most passionate cricket audience believes in something, that belief travels. We are here in Mumbai because we want Indian fans, Indian broadcasters and the Indian cricket ecosystem to see this league as their own. EUT20 Belgium will be in Indian living rooms from June, and we are Intent on earning their place there in the match.“eoin morganLeague Ambassador, EUT20 Belgium, said, “EUT20 Belgium is not just a cricket league. It is a statement of where the game is going. Europe has long been an untapped frontier for franchise cricket, and Belgium, located in the heart of the continent, is the perfect place to plant that flag. This is cricket expanding beyond traditional borders and reaching audiences who have never really had a league to call their own. The caliber of players, broadcasting infrastructure and ICC support make it a serious, credible competition. I’m proud to be a part of it.”The inaugural session will begin on 6 June 2026 in Hofstede, Belgium. Early season tickets are now available on the league’s official website, eut20belgium.be.About EUT20 BelgiumEUT20 Belgium is a professional T20 franchise cricket league in Belgium, organized by Destino Legends Sports LLC in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Federation. Sanctioned by the BCF and sanctioned by the ICC, the league is the first league of its kind on the European continent and represents a major step in the global expansion of cricket. Five city-based franchises – Brussels Royals, Ghent Gladiators, Liège Warriors, Bruges Knights and Antwerp Titans – will compete in the league’s inaugural season in Brussels in June 2026. The league is broadcast live in over 80 countries and features local Belgian talent as well as global international stars developed through a 2-4-4-6 player development model.About Destino Legends Sports LLCDestino Legends Sports LLC is the organizing entity behind EUT20 Belgium. The company’s mission is to professionalize and grow cricket in Europe through a world-class franchise competition model, bringing the elite game to new audiences while creating high-performance development pathways for local talent.teamsownersicon playerExcel United BrusselsAmit Kaushal and Purnima Kaushalshakib al hassanantwerp anchorZaheer Khan and Nagendra Siddautandre russellGhent GladiatorsMuhammad Shahid EdkandiTemba Bavumaliege red lionAnshad Ali MohammadAliFaf du PlessisJB BrugesUtsav SidgelRassie van der Dussen.

a historical BJP Win in West Bengal; Stalin’s second term in Tamil Nadu; Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to retain power for another term; Congress wins narrowly in Kerala; and maintaining strength Puducherry. These are the broad predictions of most exit polls for the five state elections scheduled for April 29.
If these appear largely to be in line with the expected lines, there are some outliers – including one exit poll predicting that the actor Victory‘s party can come to power Tamil Nadu. Exit polls are not an exact science and often get the results wrong. But the scale of what is at stake cannot be denied: about 18% of India’s voters have voted in these five states over the past few weeks, the results of which will be announced on May 4.