Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that members of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community who follow Hindu customs and traditions cannot be excluded from the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.A division bench of Justice Sanjay K Agrawal and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma passed the ruling recently while quashing a family court order dismissing a joint divorce petition involving a tribal husband and wife belonging to a scheduled caste. The couple had filed a case in the family court in Jagdalpur, Bastar, seeking dissolution of their marriage under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act. The couple married on April 15, 2009, and have been living apart since April 2014.The Jagdalpur Family Court had dismissed their petition on August 12 last year, citing Section 2(2) of the Act, which states that the Act does not apply to STs unless otherwise directed by the Center through a notification.The HC said both parties made it clear that their marriage was solemnized as per Hindu rituals, including the ‘saptapadi’ ceremony, and said they proved that they were following Hindu traditions and not tribal customs.“When tribal members voluntarily choose to follow Hindu customs, traditions and rituals, they cannot be excluded from the ambit of the provisions of the 1955 Act,” the high court observed. The HC said that Section 2(2) was a “protective measure” of tribal customary law and not an “exclusive measure” against “Hindus”. Relying on the Supreme Court ruling, the bench said that if there is evidence that tribals follow Hindu traditions, they should be governed by Hindu law in matters of inheritance and marriage.
Bob Harlan Cause of Death: Former Green Bay Packers chairman dies at 89
Bob Harlan, former President of the United States green bay packersPassed away on Thursday at the age of 89. Under Haran’s leadership, National Football League The team became one of the most elite on and off the court.
A Packers statement read: “The Packers family is saddened by the news of Bob Harlan’s passing. Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformative. From his inspiring hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless efforts to rebuild Lambeau Field, Bob returned the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and cherished flagship of the NFL.” “Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife Madeleine and the entire Harlan family.”
Bob Harlan Cause of Death
Harlan’s cause of death is unclear. However, a Packers press release noted that Haaland was in the hospital at the time of his death. He was at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay.
Harlan was recently hospitalized following a battle with the disease pneumonia.
Who is Bob Harlan? all about family
In June 1989, Harlan was elected CEO and ninth president of the Packers, a position he held until 2008.
Packers President and CEO Ed Policy said of his passing: “Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformative. From his inspirational hiring of Ron Wolfe to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless efforts to rebuild Lambeau Field, Bob returned the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure that our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise has a solid foundation for success that will last a generation.”
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Harlan was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Marquette University in 1958. He then served as sports publicity director for six years. In 1965, he was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals as head of communications relations and the speakers bureau. However, three years later he ended up becoming their public relations director.
Haaland is a Hall of Famer who led the $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field, ensuring the Packers’ future. He is married to Madeline Keller, and the couple has three children: legendary sportscaster Kevin Harlan, sports agents Brian and Michael.
Many join a Packers fan in mourning Haaland’s death Comment on
Bihar: JDU cadre bets on Nishant to succeed father Nitish Kumar
New Delhi: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is a rare regional heavyweight who has been outspoken in his disdain for dynastic politics and has made a point of keeping his family, including his only son Nishant, out of the limelight. As politics wanted, Nishant is now seen I want to go As his father ends his two-decade run in Bihar, the cadre is keen to step in to keep the party rooted in its support base.as Nishant Kumar Although he appeared to be on the verge of making his political debut, the decision was driven as much by filial considerations as by political necessity.Signs of uneasiness on the part of JDU workers about the post-Nitish era were evident after the chief minister filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha, with some crying, some holding slogans, some knocking down furniture and throwing plates at the party’s headquarters in Patna, which will host a luncheon as it became clear that their “leader” is likely to pass the baton to the BJP nominee.JDU MP Kaushalendra Kumar, who has chosen to represent his home state of Nalanda in the Lok Sabha since 2014, said supporters of Bihar’s longest-serving CM are sad. “They will feel slightly more at ease if Nishant joins politics,” he said, stressing that everyone in the party would eventually act according to Nishant’s words.Kaushalendra, like Nitish, hails from the Kurmi community and members of the community, including the party’s legislators, are believed to be pushing for Nishant’s entry into politics.Some party members said he would soon enter politics. While JDU top brass is yet to confirm the post allotted to the 50-year-old engineering graduate, there are indications that he will join the new Bihar government as deputy chief minister.Nitish will start serving in the Rajya Sabha once the outgoing members retire on April 9, and party workers said there is still a month to finalize the details.The JDU’s core support base has traditionally included Kurmis, backward castes and Dalits, and while it has shown signs of fraying over the years, the Kurmis have remained staunchly supportive of Nitish.Since Nitish’s main cronies are from the upper castes, the party’s grassroots believe that his son should play a key role to convey continuity and prepare for the battle ahead as his father shows signs of withdrawing from the tough arena of national politics.
Dubai KHDA switches Indian schools to remote learning until end of semester due to US-Israel war on Iran
Thousands of students in Indian curriculum schools across Dubai will continue to study from home until the end of the semester after the emirate’s education regulator confirmed the extension of distance learning amid the war between Iran, Israel and the United States. The decision, announced by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), comes against the backdrop of continued precautionary measures and wider adjustments to the academic calendar in the UAE.The move affects schools following the Indian Council e.g. CBSE ICSE, whose academic year traditionally runs from April to March. These institutions will now complete the remainder of the semester online before the start of the next academic year in early April, rather than returning to classrooms in person.
Why Dubai offers distance education to Indian students
The decision is part of wider precautionary measures taken by UAE authorities in response to the changing regional security environment. In recent days, Gulf governments have taken steps to ensure public safety and maintain stability while daily life continues.Earlier this week, the UAE temporarily shifted schools and universities across the country to remote learning as tensions escalated in the region over missile interceptions and air defense activities linked to the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict. This move allows students and educators to stay safe while education continues uninterrupted.
Classes not back yet: KHDA expands distance learning for Indian schools in Dubai
The education department then decided to move up spring break by a week, further adjusting school schedules. Following this change, KHDA clarified that schools following the Indian academic cycle will simply complete the current semester with online classes instead of reopening for a short period before the holidays.
When will Dubai schools reopen?
KHDA has confirmed that the new academic year for these schools will begin on Monday, April 6, 2026, marking the start of the 2026-2027 academic cycle. For students, that means the semester will end remotely, followed by a scheduled spring break before they return to class for the next academic year. Officials also assured the school that support will be available if the institution faces operational or academic challenges during the transition.Dubai has one of the largest number of Indian foreign students in the world. Dozens of schools in the emirate follow the requirements of Indian education boards such as CBSE and ICSE and mainly cater to the children of Indian professionals working in the Gulf region. Institutions such as Delhi Private School Dubai and Credence High School Dubai are part of a network of Indian curriculum schools serving thousands of families.As these schools follow a different academic cycle to many international schools in Dubai, starting in April rather than September, the disruption could impact exam schedules, term completion and progression to the next grade. Education authorities stressed that the remote learning format will ensure academic continuity while maintaining student safety.
During Iran, Israel, U.S. war, parents adjust to school calendar changes
The sudden shift to online learning and early spring break required many families to adapt quickly. Parents across the UAE have been rearranging work schedules, childcare arrangements and travel plans to accommodate the revised academic calendar.Some families had planned to vacation later this month, while others welcomed the early break as an opportunity to stay home and avoid uncertainty while regional tensions remain high. Parents who spoke to Emirates media said that although changes in schedules may disrupt daily life, most families are prioritizing safety and appreciate that education authorities are taking preventive measures.
Digital classrooms become the norm again amid war between Iran, Israel and the US
For many Emirati students, the return of online learning is a throwback to the pandemic years, when digital classrooms became the global norm. Most schools in Dubai are fully equipped for distance education, with sophisticated platforms for virtual classes, assignments, assessments and teacher-student interaction.
Dubai students stay at home: KHDA orders Indian schools to conduct remote learning till end of semester
The school has been running online classes since early March, making the transition smoother than it otherwise would have been. Experts say the UAE’s investment in digital education infrastructure helps ensure that academic learning can continue even during unexpected disruptions.
UAE authorities urge reliance on official information in war between Iran, Israel and US
In addition to the decision on distance learning, the education department reminds parents and students to rely only on government channels and official announcements from school administrations. During a time of regional uncertainty, officials warned against sharing unsubstantiated rumors online and encouraged the public to seek information from trusted sources.For students at the Indian School in Dubai, the near future will involve completing courses, assignments and semester assessments online. After spring break, schools are expected to reopen in April for the start of the new school year. While the current situation has resulted in temporary adjustments to the education system, authorities stress that these measures are precautionary and aimed at ensuring safety and continuity. For many families in the UAE, the message is clear: learning continues – at least for now, at home.
3 Tips to Avoid Paying Too Much Social Security Tax
millions of americans rely on social Security They are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their Social Security taxes in order to generate retirement income, part of a financial trend this tax season.
according to IRSfederal rules currently allow up to 85% of Social Security benefits to be taxed based on the combined income threshold.
However, retirees can use a variety of legal planning strategies to increase their Social Security income and reduce their tax burden.
Also, you can get the maximum benefit if you wait until age 70 to file for Social Security; however, if you’re not careful, you could pay a lot of taxes on that income.
Read more: These 10 states are Social Security gold mines for retirees
Ways to avoid tax burdens and increase social security benefits
States that do not impose social security taxes
Some states do not tax your Social Security benefits or any other type of income. If you have the option of moving to another state, you may want to investigate states that don’t have income taxes.
According to Marca, such as FloridaTexas and Tennessee can help you save significant amounts of money in retirement. However, the overall tax landscape should be considered, as taxes on IRA withdrawals, pensions, and estate taxes may offset savings.
Apply for social security at age 70
According to Marca, if you wait until you are 70 to apply for Social Security benefits, you can receive your full Social Security benefit.
It has another advantage. You have more time to transfer funds to a Roth account. To reduce your tax burden, Marca recommends that you do this before you start receiving social security.
You will end up having to take required minimum distributions, and you may have to withdraw much more than you anticipated.
These distributions are calculated as a percentage, which means someone with a large holding may be obligated to withdraw more than $100,000 per year. If you include Social Security, you could end up facing extremely high tax rates.
Read more: Social Security recipients may receive additional retroactive payments; here’s how
Withdraw funds from Roth before applying for Social Security
While Social Security is an excellent source of income, you shouldn’t rely solely on it to get you through retirement. The cost of living can exceed your Social Security benefits, and most people are aware of this possibility. This is why people are used to 401(k) Plans, IRAs, and other investment accounts.
However, there is a drawback to traditional retirement planning. Withdrawals are considered regular income and, combined with Social Security, can put you into a higher tax bracket. Therefore, Marca recommends withdrawing cash from these accounts or converting them to Roth accounts before enrolling in Social Security.
If you don’t need the money now, you should consider doing a partial Roth conversion instead of taking direct withdrawals from the account each year.
Middle East tensions: PM Modi, Macron discuss need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve issues
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and reiterated the need to resume dialogue and diplomacy as India continues to engage with the international community on the situation in West Asia.After a phone call with Macron, the prime minister said they would continue to work together to stop hostilities in the region. Prime Minister Modi posted on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke to his Saudi and Omani counterparts.
Young Republican activist used racial slur in WhatsApp chat, discussed killing of black Americans: report
A group of young Republicans repeatedly used racial slurs and discussed dozens of ways to murder black Americans in a WhatsApp group chat, the Miami Herald and The Floridian reported.The WhatsApp group was created last September by Republican Miami-Dade County Secretary Abel Alexander Carvajal, a 23-year-old sophomore at Florida International University School of Law and co-founder of the school’s Turning Point USA chapter, the report said. The organization was originally called “Uber Ret—s Yapping Inc.”Carvajal, who used the chat administrator name “MaoTze Abel,” a reference to Chinese Communist dictator Mei Zedong, conducted communications overseen by him and other members in which he and other members used variations of the “N” word and other slurs more than 400 times. Users also hurled anti-Semitic and deeply misogynistic slurs at Jewish women and joked about appealing to Nazi propaganda. Some users were later recruited by Carvajal into local party leadership, The Daily Beast reported.“Total death for black people!” Dariel Gonzalez, a former board member of the Florida International College Republicans, reportedly wrote. On another occasion, he claimed that an African American student left the organization after another user called her the “N” word. Thereafter, he applied to become a committee member of the city chapter of the Republican Party.Another member of the group identified by the Miami Herald was Miami Dade College student William Begerano, who last year tried to start an anti-abortion rights group at the school and who also appeared to have published a tirade in which he fantasized about killing black people.Sometime in early October, Ian Valdes, president of the academy’s Turning Point USA chapter, renamed the group chat “Gooning in Agartha.” These terms refer to masturbation in a trance state and to the mythical civilization considered the home of the Aryan race by members of the Nazi regime.After the band’s name was changed, Valdes joked that he would become “completely Afro,” while Gonzalez described Agatha as “heaven on earth.” Valdez further wrote that he “would never marry a Jew,” and Gonzalez suggested it was best to “keep your dick away from them” for fear of “having a little dick running around.”Florida International University confirmed to the Miami Herald that the group chat is now the subject of a criminal investigation.A local Republican source told The Floridian that Carvajal’s role as local party secretary “is not tokenistic; it has a responsibility to represent all members of the organization,” including the region’s 170,000 African Americans registered as Republican voters, “with professionalism and respect.”The Daily Beast reached out to the Miami-Dade Republican for comment. Carvajal told the Miami Herald that he typically ignores messages sent to the group, but “I guess in a way, I have some responsibility.”He also told The Floridian that he was unaware of the racist comments because they were posted to his WhatsApp group and he sometimes appeared to respond to them. Asked if he would resign over the slurs, he said: “No.” “Of course not, because you know, the information conveyed in a chat is not mine.”Miami-Dade County Republican Party Chairman Kevin Cooper told the Miami Herald, “Anyone associated with this conversation should resign immediately.”“I am appalled and appalled by these remarks. Racism and anti-Semitism have no place in the Republican Party,” he said. “I am proud to be the first Jewish chair of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, a party comprised of diverse members from all races and backgrounds.”The reports mark the second time a leaked group chat has exposed violent and racist language from young members of the Republican Party.In October, Politico obtained thousands of messages from a private group run by a senior member of the New York State Young Republicans in which users wrote “I love Hitler” and referred to black Americans as “watermelon people.”In a log of an exchange with the Florida organization, Valdez wrote, “If this chat gets leaked, we’re screwed.” Gonzalez responded, “This isn’t my worst,” to which Valdez replied: “Some of the ones I’ve seen on Telegram are definitely worse.”
Why Lionel Messi and Alex Rodriguez are at the White House today. Trump ends football debate
A number of sports superstars, from soccer legend Lionel Messi to baseball icon Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Rod), were at the White House on Thursday. The pair met with President Donald Trump, before the 79-year-old spoke about Inter Miami’s MLS win and congratulated the Argentinian and club co-owner Jorge Mas. Notably, another boss, British great David Beckham, was not present at the event.
Videos of Arod and Messi appeared on social media.
Why Messi is in the White House
Messi and other Inter Miami players were invited to the White House to commemorate their 2025 MLS Cup win in December. The club flew to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s game against D.C. United in Baltimore.
Inter Miami flew to the nation’s capital on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s game against D.C. United in Baltimore.
What did Trump say about Messi?
As Messi stood next to Trump, the president began talking about the Iran conflict. “The U.S. military, along with its outstanding Israeli partners, continues to completely destroy our enemies at a level we have never seen before. We are destroying Iran’s missiles.”
Then he turned his attention to Messi. “my son [Barron] Said: “Dad, do you know who is going today?” I said no, I still have a lot of things to do. He said: “Messi!” He’s a big fan of yours, he’s a big fan of yours, he thinks you’re a great guy and I think you met a while ago. “
“He’s a huge football fan, but he’s also a huge fan of yours and a gentleman named Ronaldo.”
Trump once compared Messi to the great Pele. “You’re probably better than Pele. Who’s better? Him or Pele?” he asked. The crowd responded by naming the 2022 World Cup winner.
This is Messi’s first visit to the White House. The eight-time Golden Globe winner turned down an invitation from former President Joe Biden to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
His management team said at the time: “Messi stated that he was deeply honored and honored to receive this recognition, but due to scheduling conflicts and previous commitments, he was unable to attend.”
Last year, Ronaldo was in the White House.
India finally expresses condolences over Iran’s killing of Khamenei; foreign minister speaks
New Delhi: Foreign Minister Vikram Misri on Thursday signed a condolence letter on behalf of the Indian government and people at the Iranian embassy following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, sparking criticism over India’s silence.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to External Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi and posted on X about “telecom” without elaborating. Araghchi had said earlier in the day that the Iranian warship destroyed by a US submarine was a guest of the Indian Navy.On Friday, the two sides are likely to have their first high-level contacts since the war began, with Tehran seeking a meeting with visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh. It is reported that Misri may meet ministers who are coming to India to participate in the Resina Dialogue.After signing the condolence book, Misri meets with the Iranian ambassadorTehran has been hoping that India would express condolences for Khamenei’s killing and even condemn the US-Israeli attack on Iran. After signing the book, Misri met briefly with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali.Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov and Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmed Walaich were among the first to sign the book of condolences when it was opened in the morning. In his message, Misri expressed condolences on behalf of the Indian government and people. “We pray for peace for the departed souls,” he said. However, in 2024, after the death of then-Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, Jaishankar personally went to the embassy to sign a book of condolences. India later declared a day of national mourning.Misri signed the book on its first day of publication, but the fact that India did not offer condolences for Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday, drew criticism from the opposition. India has always had mixed feelings about Khamenei, who supports efforts to address shared regional interests with the Indian government, especially connectivity through the Chabahar port, but has also repeatedly angered India with his “misleading and unacceptable” remarks about Johnson and Johnson and Indian Muslims.Khamenei met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 when he traveled to Tehran for the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Iran in 15 years. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the meeting as a rare honor for the Prime Minister.Iran also denies that it is indiscriminately attacking the Gulf state, home to nearly 10 million Indians. Mohammad Fatali, Iran’s ambassador to India, said: “We are telling all our neighbors that we are attacking their American bases targeting us.” He also said that Iran and India have a good historical background and hope to further improve relations. “But in this situation, all governments and all people face a test,” he said.Iranian authorities have said that Tehran has always sought to maintain strong relations with India and does not want this relationship to be affected by any third country. It also believes that no country should find fault with international law.Iran has also made no commitments about the safe passage of Indian or other oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as it believes its actions will depend on circumstances. Iran insists it conveyed this message to its neighbors in an official communication: U.S. bases would be legitimate targets if Iran were attacked by the Trump administration. Tehran’s argument is that insurance companies and other companies seeking to avoid war are also responsible for the closure of the strait.
Who is Zobaidul Amin? Bangladeshi national arrested in US on global child exploitation charges; could face life in prison
A Bangladeshi man accused of running a massive online child exploitation operation will appear in a U.S. court after being moved from Malaysia to Alaska, where federal prosecutors say he targeted hundreds of minors around the world.Zobaidul Amin, 28, was brought to Alaska on Wednesday and is scheduled to make his first appearance in an Alaskan court.Authorities said he faces a series of serious federal charges related to alleged online child exploitation.According to court documents, Amin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022. Prosecutors allege he used social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat to identify underage victims and pressure them to create sexually explicit images and videos.Investigators say the alleged crimes involve not only victims in Alaska but also other parts of the United States and abroad. U.S. officials called the case one of the most extensive online child exploitation investigations they have ever seen.Before the U.S. charges were filed, Amin had been living in Malaysia and studying at a medical school.In September 2022, he was charged with 13 counts related to the possession and production of child pornography. U.S. authorities later worked with Malaysian officials to arrange his transfer to the United States.Justice Minister Pamela Bondi said: “Yesterday’s return from Malaysia of a Bangladeshi national who allegedly abused and sexually exploited hundreds of underage victims around the world is another successful example of the Government’s increased efforts to find criminals hiding abroad.”Amin faces charges including conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, operating a child exploitation enterprise, cyberstalking, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud, authorities said.If convicted, he could face 20 years to life in prison. Federal prosecutors said a judge will decide the final penalty after considering U.S. sentencing guidelines.