North Kolkata Calling !!

It's time to make money by supplying dead or alive mosquitoes.A Philippine village, exhausted by mosquito bites along with deaease that it brought, was compelled to announce bounties for mosquitoes. This unusual declaration by Mandaluyong City was the result of the growing mosquito-born desease in Quezon over the weekend. Around 28,234 cases of dengue was recorded in Philippines this year. It shows a 40% increase compared to the last year. Residents will be rewarded with one peso (just over 1%) for every 5 mosquitoes or mosquito larva they turn up with!

A big humpback whale swallowed Adrian(24) along with his yellow kayak. He was kayaking with Dell, his father, in Bahia El Aguila near San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan. Dell, who was few meters away, encouraged his son to be calm and turned his video on. The whale, however, spat out without harming him. Later Adrian said that he thought it had swallowed and eaten him.

It is not unusual to find uninvited guests in a wedding.Sometime they are overlooked and often they are fed with wedding delicacies. Taking this opportunity some even replaces expencive gifts presented by guests. This time an unexpected...in fact..a very unexpected guest decided to savour few delicacies. It was a hungry leapord that entered the wedding ceremony of Akshay Srivastava and Jyoti Kumari in Lucknow's Para area.Guests were not alarmed since they took it as  fake - maybe just to exite the kids. It entered from the lawn and leapt on the rooftop. Later,  the forest officer along with  guards and four tranquiliser experts were on the spot .The tiger was hiding behind broken furnitures. Without warning it sprang towards a guard named Muqaddar Ali . He staggered back but not before his right hand was slashed by the tiger's claw ! Two tranquillizers were needed to capture it.  The wedding house finally turned from terror to triumph once again.

I forgot the name but some renowned Artist said the above words. Vilayat Khan have repeatedly protested against an Artist's freedom -even during his era. At present things have reached a certain stage from where there is no return. Artists are frustrated and quite a few numbers are having heart problems too (KK). Who is to blame? Probably we are all responsible or maybe the Time itself. I would like to relate a story of Tansen here.He was performing before Akbar the Mughal Emperor.Soon the Emperor noticed that some among the audiences were repeatedly moving their heads and loudly saying ',Aha aha' at the wrong time.He immediately requested Tansen to stop for a while. He announced that those found moving their heads or shouting Aha will have too move out. Tansen began once again. After sometime few heads started moving and there were few Ahas too.Akbar ordered the audiences (who were not moving their heads with Ahas) to leave the darbar. From Tansen to the present day Artist...

Tigers , the endangered species , are mercilessly killed merely for using their bones as glue.There is a demand for 'Tiger bone glue'and buyers are willing to pay hefty premium to procure the same.This is made by pressure cooking the bones for 2/3 days.It becomes a sticky sap like substance which are finally sold in  cake form. South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network's general secretary Krishna Acharya said' I am worried by the alarming findings in World Wildlife Crime Report 2024, which highlights the persistent & evolving threats posed by illegal tiger bone trade.'

Just a year and half ago AI founder Sam Altman rubbished India's ambition in building foundation AI models with limited budget. During a fireside chat with IT & electronics minister Aswini Vaishnaw he reversed his comment. "I think India should be one of the leaders of the AI revolution." said he.

238 girls between 9 and 14 were vaccinated against cervical cancer. The Bengal Obstetric and Gynaecological Society(BOGS) visited two schools on World Cancer Day. The school authority took the required permission from the guardians before the vaccination. The two schools are Surah Kanya School, Beliaghata and Mansoor Habibulla Memorial School, Kudghat. Around 100 cancer survivors showed their skills at Medical Superspeciality Hospital.They showed their talent through dance, songs, skites and recitation . Thespian Chandan Sen decided to direct a play to involve cancer survivors.            

A child could be born without sperm or egg- believes present day scientist.According to Durgesh Nandan Jha's report a report by Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (UK's fertility watchdog) says that some scientists are more or less sure , this could happen within two to three years while some other scientists think it could take at least 10 years. Till date this has shown results in mice but not in non human primates.

He, as a young cricketer, never dropped a catch in the field. This helped him to save a child. A 2 year old baby ,somehow, crawled out of the 3rd floor balcony.A painting work was going on and,for this reason, there was an opening made on the balcony wall.This happened on this Sunday afternoon to a family's baby who lives at Dombivli. A young cricketer who was in the compound saw something falling out of the balcony.Without wasting any time he rushed and extended both his hands and caught the child ! It was a fall from a 30 ft height.Apart from minor injury, the baby was safe and sound. " Not dropping a catch is something I am used to with cricket.I am glad this helped save a child's life."said the cricketer.

Madhye Pradesh is the second largest state in India. The state's cabinet has decided to ban liquor at nineteen religious towns.It met on this friday in the temple town of Maheswar. Chief minister Mohan Yadav said that as a first step to end drinking in the state, liquor shops in 19 holy towns will be shut.According to the CM  alcohol is a curse not only to the one who drinks - it brings trouble to the family too. There is a situation, however, which raises few questions. The famous Kal Bhairav Mandir serves liquor as the main prasad.In stalls outside, offering baskets carry a bottle of liquor and a coconut.In fact two counters are run by state government which sells liquor to the devotees.         

An US court rules that elephants cannot sue to get out of zoo.Since they are not human they cannot demand their release legally. In Colorado zoo five elderly African elephants will have to stay there as per the state's highest court's ruling .Hence Jambo,Lucky,Kimba, Loulou and Missy will remain at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. The case was filed by an animal rights project,known as Nonhuman Rights Project.

Bishop Marian Edgar Budde, after finishing her sermon, looked at President Donald Trump, sitting in the first row of pews. She asked the President to have mercy upon the people of the country who are scared now.She further said that there are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Republican, Democratic and indipendent families who fears for their lives.She concluded by saying that the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.These children feared that their parents will be taken away. After she finished Trump said something to Vance, who shook his head in apparent irritation.

Yes Japan has found immense wealth in Pacific Ocean .It consists of rare minerals that could vastly change it's economy. It is located around 1200 miles from Tokyo near Minami-Tori-Shima. This find could effect China's dominance, till now, in rare mineral market!

Two hermits attracted more attraction at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh.This world famous religious mela is held in India after every 12 years.In this year's Kumbh Steve Job's wife too participated. The hermits attraction was due to gold ornaments and luxury items they adorned themselves with. Mahamandaleshwar Arun Giri of Shri Panchadashanam Aawahan Akara wore heavy gold bracelet, gemstone ring and diamond watches-all weighing around 6.7kg. SK Narayan Giri, who is referred as Golden Baba (Golden Giri) wore 4 kg of gold jewellery. If estimated it comes to Rs 6 crore.

Satya Nadella the CEO of Microsoft recently announced that his company would invest 3 billion dollars in India within two years.His intention is to accelerate the development and adoption of AI .He believes that at least 10 million Indians could be trained in AI within the next five years.This will create a high- tech workforce that will be needed for global operations of his company. India's education system may have some problems but it produces highest number of English speaking STEM graduates in the world. STEM (Science, technology, engineering, maths)     

Wild bores were once a favourite target for hunters. No one has ever thought of keeping such an animal as a pet. A French horse breeder decided to keep one.He brought it when it was still a piglet in the year 2023. Now when it is fully grown, the authorities decided to remove it from public. Threat to euthanise the boar was also given by them. Elodie Cappe, the horse breeder, named it Rillette when it was brought as a pet. There was a case and the Court, on this Thursday, ruled in favour of the owner. Hence the wild boar stays with him !

We are aware of the love and war sentence. It is of course a romantic idea of some whose love have crossed all limits. A lover whose name is Nazrul Hasan aged 32 was inside a car with someone else's wife,named Noor Afsa aged around 29. The security guard, who was the husband of the woman, finding them in such a state, was unable to control his anger, and confronted them.The lover, finding the situation going against him, started the car and tried to speed up.Luckily the guard got hold of the car's bonnet.By that time the lover was driving at a speed of 80-90 kmph. The guard, however, still managed to cling to the bonnet.Finally another vehicle intercepted and forced it to stop.The husband, named Mohd Samir(32), immediately jumped upon them and dragged his wife out.There was commotion for around 30 minutes, which led to a traffic jam at Moradabad - Agra state highway. The security guard filed a complaint against the lover at Katghar police station.

At jallikattu event in Madurai's Avaniyapuram on Pongal, a 22 year old bull fighter was gored to death. In this year the participating bulls were 1,100 and the bull fighters were 900. This year around 75 people were injured.Among them 30 of them , including spectators, were severely injured. Bullfighter Naveen Kumar (22) suffered several injuries in chest when he was being gored by a bull.When taken to Government Rajaji Hospital he was declared dead. Pongal is a Hindu festival celebrated in Tamil and round the world. Several attempts to stop Jallikattu failed and the tradition continues.

In India different States celebrates Makar Sankranti, an auspicious day, in different names. Kerala..Makaravilakku. Himachal Pradesh..Magha Saaji. Bihar..Til Sakraat. Pongal.. Tamil Nadu. Mahara Chaula.. Odisha. Haldi Kumkum.. Maharashtra. Maghi Sankrant...Goa. Uttarayan.. Gujarat. Magh Bihu..Assam. Khichdi..Uttar Pradesh. Pous Sankranti.. Bengal. Sugi Habba.. Karnataka.

Steve Job's, an American businessman and a co- founder of Apple Inc, who came to India to gain enlightenment. In fact he was enchanted by Indian Sadhus, especially Neem Karoli Baba. Now his wife wants to join the Maha Kumbh 2025 for spiritual purpose. Job's unfortunately died on the year 2011. His wife Laurene Powell arrived on Prayagraj and will take the holy dip in the river Ganga on 14th April.She is a follower of Swami Kailashnand Giri. Her Hindu name is Kamala.

After graduation he was doing his masters. He was in business then, trying to manage his late life education. He prepared for his MA final but was unable to appear. The reason for this was the Admit Card. from Calcutta University, which failed to come at the right time. Frustrated he left the education world and concentrated in business. Being a musician he,now, made an attempt to enter the music world. He recorded eight songs (composed and put to music by himself) on great personalities of India. They were Swami Vivekananda, Vidyasagar, Satyendra Nath Bose, Indira Gandhi, Kapil Dev, Satyajit Roy, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Hemanta Mukherjee.As far as he knew no-one before had attempted children songs on such a scheme on important Indian personalities.The sale of the Cassettes were good as the company reported-though he himself received no royalty. Now he tried to concentrate his mind in his business.His creativity never allowed him to deal with any single product.Hence he tried to d...

Elon Musk frequently warned about the Global population decline.According to him researchers at University of Washington shows that decline will be noted more in China and India than previously predicted. US, Canada & Australia might not be too affected due to semi stable population through migration. 'Population collapse is humanity's greatest threat.' believes Musk.

The Mumbai -Nanded Tapovan Express was approaching Manmad junction.Due to a sudden jerk a 30 year old man, named Sarvar Shaikh, lost his balance and fell off.Unaware of this incident the train ran ahead for 700m.Someone, who came to know about the incident, however, pulled the chain  and the train stopped. The train's loco pilot, after taking the required permission from the controller,manoeuvred the train in reverse. Unfortunately, in the meanwhile the reportedly injured Sarvar Shaikh died in a hospital !

She is considered as the world's oldest person. Her name is Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese lady.She died at the age of 116 in Ashiya town, Japan. She died on 29 December leaving behind four children and five grandchildren.She expired at a nursing home where she had been residing since 2019. She was born just before the Ford Model T was launched in the US. After the death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera at the age of 117, she became the oldest person in August 2024.

Zimbabwe is well known for its wild animals.What happens if someone is left there alone among lions and other wild animals? In fact, on December 27th 2024, a 7 years old boy roamed in Matusadona National Park which was next to his village. He was found 5 days later around 50km away. He ate wild fruits and drank water by digging into a river bank. It is a technique used by the elders in Zimbabwe's draught prone area. He roamed alone in forest and slept on perched rocks so that lions and other wild animals could not reach him. By spotting his footprints, he was finally found after five days. According to lawmaker Mutsa Murombedzi ' It was a miracle that he survived.'

A man named Pandurang Ulpe from Kasba Bawda in Maharashtra's Kolapur died of heart attack. He had just come back home on December 16th when he felt uneasy. He started vomiting and within a short time passed out.He was declared dead by the doctor when he was brought to a private hospital. His family was preparing for his cremation when news came that he was alive. How ? While coming back with the body in an ambulance they struck a road speed breaker.Everyone felt the sudden jerk. And then they noticed the dead man's figer movements. One of them felt his pulse  and found it moving. He was immediately taken to DY Patil Hospital. After several tests the doctors there declared him alive ! KMC's  Chief Health Officer Prakash Parva said that the episode will be probed.

Once upon a time we had a pet dog. One of my brothers brought her when she was perhaps a few days old. We were young and soon got attached with the Alsatian puppy. For 8 years she stayed with us and we have many sweet memories of her. She was more attached to me since I was a musician and,as we know, dogs usually love music. That is probably the reason why HMV record's logo shows a dog named Nipper sitting near a Gramophone, listening to the music attentively. It is indeed sad to learn from the TOl Newspaper today that a 33 years old man was so shocked by the death of his 'Bouncy' , a German Shepherd pet dog, that he hanged himself by  its chain round his neck. Rajashekhar C who lived in Bengaluru's neighbourhood of Madanayayakanahalli was a self-employed, who lived with his mother and elder sister.