Winter is finally here ― and so are the memes.

Sunday’s Season 8 premiere of “Game of Thrones” gave fans plenty to talk about. Even with all the revelations, reunions, and (dragon) riding, one highlight was Bran Stark’s existence.

Bran’s character has had quite the evolution over the years. Beginning as an adventurous child who lost the use of his legs after being pushed out of a window in Season 1, he went on to become a powerful seer and eventually the Three-Eyed Raven.

That means he often says bizarre things, leaving other characters unsure how to respond. It’s both uncomfortable and delightful to watch. 

Because Bran is mostly stationary, he spends the better part of the premiere staring intensely at people and brooding in corners.

The result? Memes galore.

If your night was dark and full of terrors, let your day be full of Bran weirdness:

An Indiana man is suing his parents for a pretty ballsy act: destroying his very valuable porn collection.

The man, who is being identified only as “Charlie,” claims the porn stash has an estimated value of $28,940.72 according to WXMI TV, and includes more than 400 VHS tapes, more than 1,600 DVDs, 160-plus CDs, and 70 sex toys, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Charlie is seeking a total of $86,822.16, which includes the value of the missing items and the amount it would cost to replace them.

Some of the films worthy of inclusion include “Frisky Business” and “Big Bad Grannies,” according to The Associated Press.

Things came to a head this week after Charlie filed a lawsuit against his parents. According to court documents, he moved to his parents’ home in Grand Haven, Michigan, in October 2016 while going through a divorce.

Although Charlie stayed with his parents for about 10 months, he was asked to leave in August 2017, after what WXMI TV termed a domestic situation.

A few months later, the parents traveled to Indiana to drop off their son’s possessions, but didn’t include his massive porn collection.

That aroused Charlie to file a police report about the trashed porn collection with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, but the prosecutor’s office declined to file charges against his parents.

A month after filing the police report, Charlie sent an email to his dad explaining his situation.

“If you had a problem with my belongings, you should have stated that at the time and I would have gone elsewhere. Instead you choose to keep quiet and behave vindictively,” he said, according to ABC News.

According to the lawsuit, his father responded saying he was doing his son a favor.

“Believe it or not, one reason for why I destroyed your porn was for your own mental and emotional heath,” he said. “I would have done the same if I had found a kilo of crack cocaine. Someday, I hope you will understand.”

The one-eyed monster. Pecker. Dong. Peen. Trouser Snake.

The penis is a body part with many nicknames ― and just as many myths about how it functions and sizes up. 

What’s the deal with curved penises? Does the size of a man’s shoe really hint at the size of his package? To answer these and other pressing penial questions, we talked to penis doctors ― OK, they’re actually called urologists ― to get some hard and fast answers. (Pun very much intended.) 

BELIEF: A curved penis is not normal. A penis should be totally straight.

TRUTH: Penises come in all sorts of fun shapes and sizes. A curved penis is generally no big deal ― some even say the curve is more effective in hitting the G-spot during sex.

While a little angle to the dangle is fine, in the extreme, a curve can be problematic, said Aaron Spitz, a urologist and author of The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis.

The condition, known as Peyronie’s disease, is caused by a thickening and stiffening of an area of the normally stretchy cylinders that fill with blood to create an erection, he said. (The disease is thought to happen in about six out of 100 men between the ages of 40 and 70.)

“Because the affected area doesn’t stretch and expand like the rest of the cylinder lining, it creates an indentation, angle or twist and often with some shortening as well as some softening of the erection,” he said. “This can make sex difficult or impossible.” (Luckily it can be treated by an experienced urologist.)

BELIEF: A man’s shoe size can tell you a lot about the size of his penis.

TRUTH: Nope. In a 2002 study published in the British Journal of Urology, researchers found that the supposed association of penile length and shoe size had no scientific basis.

To ensure accuracy ― penis size isn’t something you’d want to be self-reported and inevitably overestimated ― the doctors measured the length of each man’s flaccid penis while it was fully stretched (in order to approximate erect size). In spite of there being a wide range of shoe sizes (5.5 to 13 in European sizes) and penis length (which ranged 2.4-7.1 inches), there was no correlation between the two things.

BELIEF: Men feel so much less during sex when wearing a condom.

TRUTH: Yes, the extra layer of rubber to the mix can reduce penile sensation for guys, but there are ways to make sex with condoms more pleasurable. Turek said to make sure that the fit is not too tight and try to find as thin a condom as possible. Second, remember that lube is aways your friend and ― when used correctly ― will make your condom usage feel much, much better.

If condoms still bum you out, count your blessings; modern-day rubbers are a vast improvement to what men used in day’s past. 

“Just so you know, the current barrier contraceptives are much better than the pig intestine, vulcanized rubber and sealed linen cloth devices which have been used over the last several centuries,” Turek said. 

BELIEF: Daily ejaculation hurts your sperm count.

TRUTH: Masturbating ― or daily sex with a partner ― will lower you sperm count, but only temporarily.

“It doesn’t slow down your production of sperm, it just clears the shelves of stock, until it can be restocked,” Spitz said.

If you’re trying to conceive with a partner, there may even be some perks to frequent masturbation.

“Interestingly, when a guy ejaculates frequently, even though the count declines, the quality of the sperm may increase since those sperm have not been waiting around as long,” Spitz said. “So there may be a ‘shelf life’ effect for sperm for some guys.” 

BELIEF: Blue balls happen when a man endures prolonged periods of sexual arousal without an orgasm. It’s very painful.

TRUTH: Yes, blue balls are definitely “a thing,” but generally not very painful, Turek said. (If there’s real pain with sex, he suggests heading to the doctor; other medical issues may need to be looked into, including pelvic muscle spasm, prostatitis or an infection.)

“Here’s the deal with blue balls: Ejaculation, like a sneeze, is a reflex,” he said. “There are ‘wind up’ and ‘release’ phases to both. Emission is when you rear your head back and shut your eyes, and sneezing is the actual ejaculation.”

It’s during emission when sperm are being pumped from the scrotum through the vas deferens and into the prostate, Turek explained.

“Since the semen gets loaded up during the act, if it’s not released, the blue balls sensation may occur,” he said. “It’s not overtly painful, but mostly bothersome or unpleasant in nature.”

NEW DELHI — In a first, the Election Commission on Monday imposed a nationwide campaign ban on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for 72 hours and on Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati for 48 hours from Tuesday for their “provocative” communal remarks, which it said had the “propensity to polarise the elections”.

A 72-hour campaign ban has also been imposed on Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan for his alleged “khaki underwear” jibe against actor-politician Jaya Prada, who is his rival BJP candidate in Rampur Lok Sabha seat.

The all-India ban on all four leaders ― two from the ruling BJP and two from opposition parties ― comes into force from 6:00 am Tuesday.

While Adityanath, Mayawati and Gandhi were found guilty of violating the model code, the EC said Khan not only violated the poll code, he also disregarded its November 2013 directive asking politicians to desist from “deeds or actions construed as being repugnant to the honour and dignity of women”.

For the first time a pan-India ban has been imposed on politicians, while any restriction on a chief minister and a union minister is unprecedented.

While there was no immediate reaction from Adityanath, Mayawati alleged the order has been passed “under pressure” and it would be remembered as a “black day” in the EC’s history. She has faced action for appealing to Muslims to not vote for the Congress to avoid their anti-BJP votes getting divided.

Her alliance partner and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asked the EC whether it is capable to issue similar directives to the prime minister to stop him from asking for votes in name of the Army.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the Balakot air strike are under examination of the poll panel. The poll authorities in Maharashtra’s Latur, where he made the speech, have told EC that prima facie the comments are violative of its orders asking parties against using the armed forces in their campaigns.

The EC order to bar Adityanath and Mayawati came soon after the Supreme Court asking the poll watchdog about the action it has initiated against them.

However, a senior EC functionary said the commission had examined the two issues on April 14-15, and came up with the final decision after lots of deliberation as it felt a clear message needed to go out to the politicians.

In its order, the commission said it “strongly condemns” the impugned statement made by the UP chief minister and “censured” him for “misconduct”.

Using its constitutional powers, the EC barred him from “holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (print, electronic and social media) in connection with the ongoing elections for 72 hours (three days) from 6.00 am on April 16.”

In another order, the EC censured and “strongly” condemned Mayawati for her remarks, and barred her from campaigning for two days.

On different ban periods for the leaders, a senior EC official said, “It is for the second time that Adityanath has been issued a show cause notice. On April 5, he was asked to be ‘careful’ in future, following his ‘Modiji ki sena’ remarks. Besides, Khan had faced a similar ban in 2014 for campaigning in UP.”

“However, this is the first show cause and action against the BSP president ... The severity of the action is, therefore, different,” he said.

Adityanath was served the notice for his speech at a rally in Meerut, where he compared the Lok Sabha elections to a contest between ‘Ali’, a revered figure in Islam, and ‘Bajrang Bali’ (a name for Hindu god Hanuman).

The poll panel observed that Adityanath, being a chief minister, has an “added responsibility to not only uphold the basic tenets, including secularism, of the Constitution of India, but also to display the same in his public appearances”.

The EC said it is convinced that Adityanath made a “highly provocative” speech which had the “tone and tenor” to aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred between religious communities.

The poll panel told Mayawati that being a senior leader, she should have “desisted” from making comments that have the “undertone and propensity to polarise the elections” in several constituencies due to the reach of the media.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had summoned a representative of the EC earlier on Tuesday while agreeing to examine the poll panel’s contention that it has limited legal powers to deal with hate speeches of politicians during electioneering.

During 2014 LS polls, the EC had imposed state-specific ban on BJP leader Amit Shah and SP’s Azam Khan from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh for their controversial remarks. The ban on Shah was lifted in a few days after he assured the poll body that he would not disturb public tranquillity and law and order. Since Khan had not given a similar assurance, the ban on him had continued.

A similar ban was placed on BJP leader Giriraj Singh in 2014 from campaigning in Jharkhand and Bihar for his controversial remarks that people who do not vote for Narendra Modi will have to find a place in Pakistan.

Action against Maneka followed her remarks on Thursday when she asked Muslims to vote for her as they will need her once the Lok Sabha elections are over.

In its order on Khan, the EC noted the SP leader “has not changed his way of campaigning and he is still indulging in using very objectionable language in election campaigning.” PTI

The Lok Sabha polls in the Vellore constituency in Tamil Nadu is likely to be cancelled over excess use of money power, sources aware of the development said Monday. 

The Election Commission is learnt to have prepared a recommendation in this regard to be sent to the president.

“It would be sent today itself,” an official said on Monday.

Since the president signs the notification for Lok Sabha elections, it is he who rescinds it.

The decision came after a large sum of cash was allegedly seized from the DMK candidate’s office a few days ago.

The district police had filed a complaint against DMK candidate Kathir Anand as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain BSP chief Mayawati’s plea against the Election Commission barring her from campaigning. 

The EC had on Monday imposed a 48-hour ban on election campaigning on Mayawati. The BSP supremo alleged the decision appeared to have been “taken under pressure” and would be remembered as a “black day”.

Mayawati had termed the ban a “sudden unprecedented order based on wrong facts”.

The EC imposed a nation-wide ban on Mayawati, among other leaders, for their “provocative” communal remarks, which it said had the “propensity to polarise the elections”.

The action follows her speech in Deoband last week where she appealed to Muslim voters to not vote for Congress to avoid division in the anti-BJP votes.

“All citizens have the rights to move about and put forth their point of view. But here, the Election Commission has suddenly given an order which has cruelly deprived me of my rights on the basis of wrong facts.

“This order will be remembered in the history of Election Commission as a black day,” Mayawati told reporters while claiming that the “hurried” decision seems to have been taken under pressure.

“The intention behind this order is clear that as BSP chief I am not able to make an appeal to the people to uproot the BJP from power...The EC knows that campaigning for the second phase ends Tuesday evening and the Agra joint rally was scheduled. Now, I will not be able to make an appeal to the voters of Agra, Mathura and Fatehpur.

“Would such a sudden order, in a democratic set up like India, not be called murder of democracy,” she posed.

Mayawati also alleged that Election Commission has “closed its eyes and ears” on speeches by BJP president Amit Shah Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other saffron party leaders. 

“Shah and Modi have been given an open hand to spread hatred among different communities and play with the security of the country,” the BSP president said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the Balakot air strike are under examination of the poll panel.

About the rally in Agra scheduled Tuesday, Mayawati said senior BSP leaders will go there with her message.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will examine a couple’s plea seeking entry of women into mosques and send notices to the Centre, National Commission For Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board over the plea. 

The apex court sent notices to the various bodies after a couple from Pune moved court asking women be allowed inside mosques. 

PTI reported that a bench headed by Justice SA Bobde issued notice to the Centre and asked it to respond to the plea filed by a Pune-based couple.

The bench told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that it will hear the matter because of the apex court’s judgment in the case involving Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.

“The only reason we may hear you is because of our judgment in the Sabarimala temple case,” the bench said.

The couple sought the court to declare that the ban of entry of women in mosques was unconstitutional because it went against fundamental rights. 

(With PTI inputs)

Voting has begun for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and we are already past the first phase of elections. There are six more phases to go and to ensure that you make an informed decision, you can look up the details of the candidates who are contesting from your constituency before going to the polling booth. 

You can check the background of candidates either on the Candidate Affidavit Portal of the Election Commission or by downloading the ‘Voter Helpline’ app. 

Here are the steps to check it on the portal:

1. Go to the Candidate Affidavit Portal. 

2. Select your state. A drop down menu with the names of all Lok Sabha constituencies will appear. 

3. Click on the name of your constituency. 

4. A list of all candidates from that particular constituency and their party will open. 

5. You can download every candidate’s affidavit. 

Alternatively, you can download the Voter Helpline app and check candidates’ details. 

“Do you have Wi-Fi?” “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” “The Wi-Fi is so slow right now!”

In 2019, the term “Wi-Fi” comes up frequently. But do you know what “Wi-Fi” actually stands for? Or how it got this name? HuffPost decided to explore Wi-Fi’s origin story. 

You may be under the impression that Wi-Fi is short for “wireless fidelity.” But you would be wrong. (Don’t worry, the U.S. military apparently believed this for a while as well.)

It turns out Wi-Fi stands for ... nothing.

Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, formerly known as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. (It’s worth noting that while many people write “wifi,” “Wi-Fi” is the official spelling.)

Wi-Fi Alliance founding member Phil Belanger shared the history of the term with Boing Boing back in 2005. It seems the wireless industry was seeking a user-friendly name to refer to technology that adhered to standards known as IEEE 802.11.

“We needed something that was a little catchier than ‘IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence,’” he explained. The Wi-Fi Alliance hired Interbrand to come up with ideas, and the brand consultancy proposed 10 names, including Wi-Fi (which sounds lot like “hi-fi,” AKA “high fidelity”). 

“The only reason that you hear anything about ‘Wireless Fidelity’ is some of my colleagues in the group were afraid. They didn’t understand branding or marketing. They could not imagine using the name ‘Wi-Fi’ without having some sort of literal explanation,” Belanger continued. “So we compromised and agreed to include the tag line ‘The Standard for Wireless Fidelity’ along with the name. This was a mistake and only served to confuse people and dilute the brand.”

Belanger also noted that “wireless fidelity” doesn’t even mean anything but was rather “a clumsy attempt” to find two words that could go with “Wi-Fi.” Though the tagline, “The Standard for Wireless Fidelity,” appeared in early communications and swag circa 2000, the Wi-Fi Alliance opted to drop it after about a year or so. 

“So we were smart to hire Interbrand to come up with the name and logo. We were dumb to confuse and water down their efforts by adding the meaningless tag line,” he concluded. “Please help reinforce the good work that we did and forget the tag line.”

So there you have it. Though “Wi-Fi” may have been a play on “hi-fi,” the name stands for nothing. 

A group of six eminent Indian journalists and academicians have issued a statement, condemning the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and demanding that he be set free. 

“His arrest, and the attempt to extradite him to the US are, clearly, attacks on freedom of the press and its right to publish,” read the statement, which has been published on Newsclick. 

The signatories of the statement are N Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu Group of Publications, Arundhati Roy, Indira Jaising, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, P. Sainath and Romila Thapar. 

Assange as editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks is primarily a journalist, although he is a “journalist of a new type” who has operated on a scale that is unprecedented, the statement read.

“The journalism WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief stand for is a journalism of outrage — outrage against the injustices and atrocities that take place round the world — but always with an eye to factuality, substantiation, and precision.”

London police had dragged Assange out of Ecuador’s embassy last Thursday after his seven-year asylum was revoked, paving the way for his extradition to the United States.

US prosecutors announced charges against Assange, accusing him of conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to gain access to a government computer as part of one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.

The writers and academicians said, in the statement, that charging Assange with conspiracy bypasses the protection of law that exists for the press internationally — including the First Amendment in the US.

This indictment strikes at the very heart of journalism and creates a precedent to attack the press anywhere, the statement read. 

“We demand that Assange be set free immediately. We demand that the authorities concerned take the necessary steps to preserve the sanctity of journalistic practice.”

Read the full text of the statement here. 

(With Reuters inputs)

When Nealie and Andrew Barker and their five children checked into a house through home-rental service Airbnb in March, they soon made an unsettling discovery that interrupted their European vacation.

“We just found a camera hidden in a smoke alarm case in the private living room of a listing. We were traveling with children,” Nealie Barker wrote in a Facebook post. “The host admitted to the concealed camera over the phone only after presented with our irrefutable proof.“

The family relocated to a hotel that night. After a complaint to Airbnb, the service eventually refunded the family’s money and apologized.  

Multiple Airbnb travelers have reported finding hidden cameras in their vacation rentals. Under Airbnb rules, hosts must disclose if they are actively recording on the property, and hosts are not allowed to use surveillance devices in bedrooms and bathrooms, even if they do disclose it. But what about the cameras that are not being disclosed? 

As the Barkers’ case showed, hidden cameras can be placed in unassuming objects, and many are very, very small. Here are some sensible things you can do to make sure you are not being secretly watched during your Airbnb stay, according to security experts. 

1. Look for objects out of place

Jack Plaxe is founder and director of Security Consulting Alliance in Kentucky. He said travelers can ask themselves, “If someone were trying to record me, where would they place the camera to get the images that they want?”

Look for things in unusual places, said Carrie Kerskie, the CEO of Griffon Force, a Florida-based group that advises clients on identity theft and personal privacy concerns, like hidden cameras. “If you see a smoke detector in a place that looks kind of odd, if there are two of them kind of right next to each other, that could be a red flag,” Kerskie said. 

2. Shine a light to pick up the reflection of lenses 

One easy practice is turning off the lights in a room and using a light to slowly scan where you suspect a camera may be. “[Cameras] have a lens that is like glass,” Kerskie said. “If you’re looking at a clock radio that is next to the bed and you see an unusual spot that’s reflecting more than just the surface of it, that could be a sign.”

“If you turn off the lights and shine a [light] over a suspected device, you will most likely get a reflection off the lens,” said Andrew Barker, who found the hidden camera in his family’s Airbnb rental. “It is helpful but could also create false positives where something shiny in the device gives off a reflection and it isn’t actually a hidden camera.”

3. Scan the Wi-Fi network 

This is how Barker, who works as an IT consultant, said he discovered the hidden camera in his family’s Airbnb rental. On his travel blog, he outlined how renters can use a network scanner app that will list the devices that are connected on the network, along with their IP addresses and their manufacturers. In Barker’s case, his suspicions were aroused when a manufacturer was named “IPCAMERA.”

“If the camera was not on the same network, I would not have found it,” he told HuffPost. 

Barker used an Android app called Network Scanner. There are also apps like Fing, which is available on both iOS and Android, that can similarly scan the Wi-Fi network and list all the other devices that are using that same network. 

“If you see something else on there,” Kerskie said, “that could be an indication that there is a camera.”

Of course, if the hidden camera is being powered by a private network that you do not have access to use, a scan of your host’s Wi-Fi network will not pick it up. Understanding that not every hidden camera operates the same is part of the security challenge. 

“Not every camera is going to be IP-addressable or Wi-Fi-enabled,” Plaxe said. “Some of these small hidden cameras just record onto a SIM card that’s embedded in the device.”

4. Unplug and cover your suspicions  

If you suspect you’re being watched but can’t confirm it, one simple low-tech, low-cost solution to this anxiety is covering up objects of concern. 

“If you have suspicions about something in the room, like, for example, an alarm clock, it’s very simple to take a piece of clothing out of your suitcase and drape it over the alarm clock,” Plaxe said. “If there’s a lens there, it’s not going to capture any images of you with your T-shirt sitting over it.”

You can also unplug objects that do not need to be plugged in. Some hidden cameras need a plugged-in power source to function. Kerskie said she unplugs alarm clocks: “Anytime we travel, whether it’s in a hotel or we’re in an Airbnb... first thing I do with all the clocks, especially on the nightstands in the bedrooms, I just unplug them and put them in a drawer.” 

Privacy risks are inherent with using Airbnb

Plaxe said the Airbnb privacy risks are broader than hidden cameras.

“These type of systems work only where this is a level of trust. Airbnb certainly takes some steps to try to ensure the people listing properties on there don’t have criminal backgrounds and are legitimate users,” he said. “But they really don’t do an in-depth check, unfortunately. For that reason, you really are accepting some risk when you use these properties.”

“I always go with a mindset that when you’re in a common area, you could be getting videotaped,” Kerskie said. “The bedrooms, bathrooms, that’s a different story. That’s where I do the sweep.” 

But don’t get too paranoid, Barker advises. His family continues to use the Airbnb service.

“I think that cases of hidden cameras are rare. I know that if a host wants to hide one, I wouldn’t know it was there and my basic techniques would not help,” Barker said. “It’s a risk-reward game. I take some minimum reasonable steps to give me some peace of mind. If I spent all my time looking for hidden cameras, I would have no time to enjoy my trip.”

The president of Seychelles, Danny Faure, implored the world to do more to protect the “beating blue heart of our planet” in a Sunday speech broadcast live from the depths of the Indian Ocean. 

Faure, dressed in a Seychelles T-shirt and pink shorts, delivered his plea for the world’s seas while sitting in an underwater craft more than 400 feet below the ocean’s surface. According to The Associated Press, it was the first time a political speech had been broadcast live from a submersible underwater.

“The ocean is huge, covering almost 70% of our planet, but we have managed to seriously impact this vast environment through climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, plastic and other pollution,” said Faure, who is the leader of an archipelago under threat from climate change and other manmade environmental impacts.

“We need decisive, coordinated, international action,” Faure added. 

Only about 5% of the world’s oceans are currently protected, AP said. U.N. member countries have agreed to increase that percentage to 10% by 2020, a goal that won’t likely be met ― but even if that target is reached, it won’t be enough to ensure the health of ocean ecosystems and maintain their biodiversity, experts have warned. 

Faure’s underwater visit was part of a series of British-led scientific expeditions, a project dubbed First Descent, aimed at exploring and conserving the Indian Ocean ― described by the project’s website as the least explored and least protected of the world’s oceans.

Faure said his deep-sea experience had shown him first-hand how humans have “managed to seriously impact this environment through climate change.”

“I can see the incredible wildlife that needs protection,” he noted in his speech. “Over the years we have created these problems, we must solve them and we must solve them together.” 

MUMBAI — Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal has decided not to bid for acquiring stake in the cash-strapped airline, sources said Tuesday.

The full service carrier, which is currently operating less than 10 aircraft, is awaiting fresh fund infusion under a debt resolution plan.

Airline sources said Goyal, who had stepped down as chairman of the carrier last month, has withdrawn the bid for the airline.

On April 12, sources said that Goyal had also put in bid for the carrier.

SBI Capital Markets has the mandate for Jet Airways’ sale on behalf of the SBI-led consortium of the domestic lenders to the debt-ridden private carrier.

Last month, Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal stepped down from the board of the airline, which has more than Rs 8,000 crore debt.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday sought a report from the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) after Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed was seen at a road show TMC held while campaigning for the 2019 elections. 

The FRRO in Kolkata has been asked to send a detailed report on whether Ahmed violated visa conditions by allegedly participating in poll campaigning.

Ahmed, according to The Indian Express, campaigned for TMC‘s Raigan Lok Sabha candidate Kanhaiya Lal Agarwal in North Dinajpur district. 

Agarwal’s election agent Musharraf Hussain told News18 that Ferdous is a famous actor in Bangladesh and they requested him to take part in road shows for the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha election. “He agreed.”

Violation of model code of conduct?

Soon after Ferdous did a roadshow, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cried foul and accused the TMC of violating the model code of conduct. 

“How can a foreign national (Ferdous) campaign for TMC. Tomorrow, they will invite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to campaign for the TMC. We condemn this, as a Bangladeshi film star should not be a part of India’s biggest democratic festival. The TMC is scared of us and hence bringing foreign actors here,” West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

The BJP has also approached the Election Commission to look into the matter. BJP leader Mukul Roy also termed it a violation of the model code of conduct and demanded that the candidature of the TMC candidate be cancelled, according to another News18 report. 

Senior Principal Secretary in the Election Commission KF Wilfred told News18 that there is no such specific rule, but they need to look into his (Ferdous’) purpose of visit when he applied for visa.

“No foreign national, under any circumstances, would be allowed to enter India to participate in political campaigns/road shows. Follow-up in such cases can only be done if someone comes forward with a complaint.”

LUCKNOW — Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha’s wife Poonam Sinha joined the Samajwadi Party on Tuesday. 

“Poonam Sinha has joined the Samajwadi Party in presence of SP leader Dimple Yadav in Lucknow,” said the Samajwadi Party in a tweet.

The party’s official Twitter handle also carried a picture showing Poonam Sinha joining the party in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav, an MP from Kannauj.

Sinha is likely to be fielded from Lucknow seat against Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is a BJP candidate, said party sources.

Singh filed his nomination from the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat on Friday.

Lucknow is going to polls on May 6 along with a total of 51 constituencies across seven states in the fifth phase of elections.

KORBA — Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his “why are all Modis thieves” barb, adding using derogatory language has become synonymous with the “naamdar” (dynast).

Addressing a rally in Korba, Modi said it has become a fashion for the “naamdar” to speak in derogatory terms.

“Is this the language to speak? We have to throw out such people. Abusive language is the norm. The Sahu community here would have been called Modi in Gujarat. Are they all thieves,” Modi said.

Targeting the Congress, Modi said naxal influence in the area where BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi was killed by them, had been considerably reduced. “Why did this happen now,” he said, referring to the naxal attack which claimed Mandavi’s life.

Mandavi and four security personnel were killed last Tuesday when their convoy was attacked by naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district.

Modi claimed that the Congress was “hand in glove” with naxals.

“Perpetrators of violence and terror are dancing with joy after Congress manifesto assurances. Will you allow Congress to compromise on your national security,” he said.

“The Congress is encouraging naxals in Chhatisgarh,” Modi said. Encouragement to naxalism is seen in Congress manifesto which calls for scrapping of sedition law, he said.

“Congress ka haath vikas ke saath ya vinash ke saath,” he said. “Does Chhattisgarh want landmine or electricity and water pipeline,” he added.

Modi said the Ayushman Bharat scheme has been stopped in Chhattisgarh after the Congress government came to power in the state last year.

Similarly, the state government had stopped sending list of farmers who will be beneficiaries of the PM Kisan yojana, he said.

Modi said on 23 May when “Modi sarkar” will be re-elected, the PM Kisan yojana will be implemented and a host of other schemes for farmers would also be initiated including pension for farmers, farm labourers and small traders.

Modi accused the Congress of doing a PhD in betraying people. “Its neeyat and niti (intention and policy) are not clean. Ek parivar ki gulami (slavery of one family) is the Congress party’s identity,” he said.

The Congress poll manifesto will give an open license to those who misguide peaceful tribals in forests, Modi said referring to naxals.

The Congress’ panja (palm) wants our armed forces to be stripped of their special powers and weaken them, Modi said.

Congress party’s poll promise to strip the army of special power has led to celebration among those forces who are engaged in spreading violence, Modi said.

Headaches in any form can be disruptive to our lives, but not all of them are the same. 

According to experts, most people don’t know the difference between various types of headaches, like sinus headaches and migraines. That can make a painful situation so much worse.

Knowing which issue you’re dealing with is vital to treating it. So HuffPost reached out to the experts to help walk you through the differences, dispel some myths and help you learn more about what you may be experiencing. Here are the different types and what you can do about each of them:

Tension Headaches

If you’re a human being living on this planet, you’ve likely experienced this kind of head pain. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache by far, with 80% of people experiencing at least one at some point in their life, according to Matthew Robbins, a neurologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

When you’re dealing with a tension headache, you’ll probably feel dull pain on both sides of your head, along with some tension or tightness in your neck or scalp.

“The main triggers can be having a cold or other illness, changes in caffeine intake and being on the screen for long periods of time,” added Huma Sheikh, an assistant professor of neurology at Mount Sinai-Icahn School of Medicine. Emotional and physical stress, hidden depression, alcohol use and jaw clenching can also contribute.

As for treatment, most tension headaches go away in time or can be relieved with over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen. You can also try drinking more water, getting a massage or getting more sleep, which have been shown to help with headache relief.

Sinus Headaches

Ever feel pain around your eyes and temple and automatically assume you have a sinus headache? Surprise! Many of these presumed sinus headaches likely aren’t sinus headaches after all, according to experts.

“Many supposed sinus headaches are actually migraines in disguise,” said Noah Rosen, a neurologist and director of Northwell Health’s Headache Center in New York City.

True sinus headaches take place when there’s an associated infection in one of the sinuses. The National Headache Foundation says these are rare and usually involve “gnawing pain over the nasal area” that often gets worse as the day goes on. Typically, an individual suffering from a sinus headache will experience signs of infection, like redness, swelling, fever and post-nasal drip that’s discolored.

One reason for the misconception is that nerves in the sinus areas are often involved in migraine headaches, Sheikh explained.  

“Therefore, sometimes people who are having a migraine may have pain in areas of the sinuses, including under or over their eyes, that may be painful with their headaches,” Sheikh said. A migraine can also involve a runny nose and watery eyes, further leading people to incorrectly assume they have a sinus infection.

“Many times patients see their [ear, nose and throat] physician first before seeing a headache specialist,” Sheikh said, “And for many years, people may be diagnosed with sinus headaches incorrectly when they are actually having migraines.”

A true sinus infection will usually be resolved by treating the underlying infection. “If it’s from a true bacterial infection, then antibiotics are used,” Robbins said. For a viral infection, you can wait it out, treat the pain and possibly use decongestants, he added.

In some cases, such as when the sinuses are chronically blocked or easily become infected, surgery may be recommended. But remember that true sinus headaches aren’t common, so if you seem to be getting them frequently, something else may be going on.

“People who generally are thought to have frequent sinus headaches should really be investigated to see if it’s migraine,” Robbins said. “And then migraine should be treated if that’s true.” 

Migraines

One of the most distinguishing and notable features of a migraine is severe pain that’s disabling to the point where you miss out on work and personal commitments. Experts say if you’re getting repeat, severe headaches, you’re more likely to be experiencing a migraine than a tension or sinus headache.

Compared with a tension headache, a migraine is much more likely to be throbbing or one-sided, Rosen explained, and will often get worse with routine physical activity. Other signs include light sensitivity, nausea and sensitivity to sound and smell. Some people also experience sensory disturbances called auras, in which they might see zigzags or bright dots in their vision or experience tingling on one side of their body.

So how exactly does this type of headache arise? Migraines are essentially a “disease where the pain pathways in the brain and peripheral nervous system are more sensitive than in those who do not have migraines,” Sheikh said.

Migraines often have family ties. “An individual with migraine has an almost 70% chance of having a first-degree relative who also has the condition,” Rosen said.

The issue can be treated in two main ways: acute treatments that address the attacks themselves and preventative treatments to reduce their frequency and severity. Acute treatments could be over-the-counter medicines like anti-inflammatories and acetaminophen, or a class of drugs called triptans, Robbins said.

“Other complementary methods of treating headaches involve yoga, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, which involve non-medication techniques to decrease the over-sensitivity of the central and peripheral nervous system,” Sheikh said.

Some physicians may also recommend Botox or a more technological treatment for qualifying patients. 

When To Seek Treatment

It can be challenging to tell if your headache is something you should be worrying about. If your attacks are severe, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention.

“There’s a long list of scary causes of headaches that most of the time are not what people have, but on occasion they are,” Robbins said. “Especially if the headache is associated with some other symptoms, like feeling numb or weak or having a disturbance of vision or symptoms like that.”

Other red flags include new headaches in someone who’s age 50 or above, neurological symptoms like weakness or numbness in one of your limbs, fever, weight loss, lack of response to usual treatment or a change in headache frequency or characteristics.

Of course, there are other reasons to see a doctor, beyond worrying that your headaches may be a sign of a scary medical condition. One big reason, Robbins pointed out, is that plenty of effective treatments for headaches and migraines are now available that allow people to find relief, be proactive in how they manage their condition and keep it from worsening over time.  

You might think you can get by on five hours sleep, that snoring is harmless, and having booze will help you nod off – but these are all myths, researchers say. 

These widely-held sleep myths are not only shaping poor bedtime habits, but might also pose a “significant public health threat”, according to a new analysis.

“Sleep is a vital part of life that affects our productivity, mood, and general health and wellbeing,” said study lead investigator, Rebecca Robbins, from New York University.

“Dispelling myths about sleep promotes healthier sleep habits which, in turn, promote overall better health.” 

Researchers from New York University reviewed more than 8,000 websites to identify the most common assumptions about sleep.

With a team of sleep medicine experts, they ranked them based on whether each could be dispelled as a myth, or supported by scientific evidence – and these were the biggest three sleep myths believed by many. 

Myth 1: You Can Get By On Five Hours Sleep Or Less.

The claim that people can get by on five hours of sleep was among the top myths researchers were able to dispel based on scientific evidence. They say this myth poses the most serious risk to health from long-term sleep deficits.

To overcome this, Robbins and her colleagues suggest creating a consistent sleep schedule and spending more time – at least seven hours – asleep.

Myth 2: Snoring Is Harmless.

Another common myth relates to snoring – and while Robbins says it can be harmless, it can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing starts and stops over the course of the night.

The authors encourage patients to see a doctor if they are loud snorers, since this sleep behaviour may lead to heart stoppages.

Myth 3: Drinking Before Bed Will Help You Sleep.

The study authors also found sufficient evidence in published studies that, despite beliefs to the contrary, drinking alcoholic beverages before bed is unhealthy for sleep.

Alcohol reduces the body’s ability to achieve deep sleep, which people need to function properly, they say.

Other less common myths they dispelled in the study include: watching TV in bed helps you relax; if you struggle to sleep you should stay in bed; and hitting the snooze button is good for sleep. 

Study co-author Girardin Jean Louis says there needs to be a greater effort to inform the public about the importance of sleep and healthy habits to maintain.

“By discussing sleep habits with their patients, doctors can help prevent sleep myths from increasing risks for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes,” says Louis. 

The researchers acknowledge that some myths still cause disagreement among sleep experts – for instance, although sleeping in on weekends does disrupt the natural circadian rhythm, for people in certain professions, it may be better for them to sleep in than to get fewer hours of sleep overall.

These discrepancies, they say, suggest that further research needs to be done.

Facial fillers and Botox have become incredibly popular over the years, with millions of individuals undergoing each treatment. But there might be a natural alternative that can help treat the signs of aging and potentially help with other health issues. 

Enter facial acupuncture, a treatment that falls under the larger acupuncture umbrella, according to Amrit Singh, a registered acupuncturist and founder of 6 Babe Beauty in Toronto, Canada. Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that is a key aspect of traditional Chinese remedies; the treatment uses needles to stimulate balance and flow of chi, which is “the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine,” according to the English Oxford Dictionary. 

Facial acupuncture, or “cosmetic acupuncture,” as it’s sometimes called, is “a little bit more beauty-focused in that we are putting needles in the face to stimulate collagen production, improve skin quality, help heal acne, help heal acne scars, but we are also still using body points,” Singh said.

A typical facial acupuncture treatment involves about 40 needles in the face and 12 needles on the body, though that can vary depending on an individual’s skin goals. Needles are left in the skin for about 20 to 25 minutes. Singh added that the treatment is part of a holistic approach to healing, as it’s said to be able to address skin concerns as well as things like digestive issues or anxiety. 

“It’s actually quite a bonus, because you’re getting a beauty treatment, but we’re also working through your inner body systems at the same time,” she said. 

Like acupuncture, this treatment has been around for thousands of years, but in the past it was typically reserved for the upper echelons of Chinese society. Now it’s becoming more widely accessible. 

With all that being said, it should be noted that this form of alternative medicine hasn’t been very widely studied, so hard scientific data is lacking. 

To learn more about facial acupuncture ― including how and if it works for anti-aging and acne ― we spoke to Singh, as well as fellow acupuncturist Kacie Krecolowich, a registered acupuncturist and founder of Silk + Palm in Toronto, and dermatologists Dr. Hadley King, Dr. Samer Jaber and Dr. Loretta Ciraldo. Read on to see what they had to say about it. 

How does facial acupuncture help with anti-aging? 

Collagen production slows down as we age, which can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and a decline in elasticity. Facial acupuncture is said to help with collagen production, which would, in theory, help treat and prevent the signs of aging. 

Here’s what acupuncturists say about it:

Krecolowich called facial acupuncture “a natural facial rejuvenation treatment” that involves inserting acupuncture needles into specific points on the face. 

Essentially, the physical act of piercing the needles into the skin causes microtrauma to the skin, “which signals your body to send collagen to that area to heal,” Krecolowich added. She also said the microtrauma helps to encourage blood flow and increase healing speed, which ultimately gives a “glow” to the skin. 

And here’s what dermatologists think: 

“I think from a rejuvenating perspective, you could think of [facial acupuncture] as a very light dose of microneedling, which we know stimulates collagen and helps the tone and texture of the skin,” King, a New York-based dermatologist, told HuffPost.

She did note that facial acupuncture would use fewer needles than a microneedling treatment but agreed that “every time you insert a needle, it’s going to activate the wound healing cascade, and that does stimulate collagen and blood flow.” 

Jaber, a New York-based dermatologist at Washington Square Dermatology, told HuffPost that, although a dermal injury can stimulate the formation of new collagen, “there are so many other treatments that we know work. like microneedling or fractionated lasers.”

His advice, then, “would be to do a procedure that you know works over something that may or may not be effective.”  

Is facial acupuncture really a natural alternative to Botox?

Here’s what the acupuncturists say: 

“Yes and no,” Krecolowich said, noting facial acupuncture won’t prevent muscle movement in your face. Botox, on the other hand, temporarily paralyzes muscles. 

“I prefer the cosmetic acupuncture because you’re getting the other health benefits as well from it, and again, you’re boosting your own collagen production, which you aren’t getting with the Botox,” she said, adding that she’s seen great results with some of her clients. 

Singh said that she agrees facial acupuncture can be “an excellent option if you don’t want Botox” but acknowledged that some individuals like (and might prefer) the effects of Botox. 

“I have had patients who have done Botox and they come and see me and then they don’t do it anymore, or they cut it down by at least 50 to 70%,” she said. 

Here’s what dermatologists think: 

King said that the idea of facial acupuncture acting as a sort of natural Botox treatment to address the muscles under the skin was an interesting concept.

“I don’t know if there have been good trials of that, so I can’t fully endorse it because I haven’t seen data,” she said, “but that’s a possibility.”

“I think it’s not going to have as strong an effect as Botox, and I think that it’s something you’re going to have to keep doing quite regularly, so you’d have to decide if it’s worth the time and energy to be going regularly,” she added. 

Ciraldo, a dermatologist based in Miami, was on the same page, saying she doesn’t think people should go into a facial acupuncture treatment expecting fast results. She said she’s treated patients who get facial acupuncture but noted that they’ve been doing it for many years. “It seems like it takes quite a while to see results,” she said. 

“I think one of the problems that most of us have in the Americas is that we want the results yesterday,” Ciraldo pointed out. 

The science behind facial acupuncture’s potential Botox-like effects is limited, though there was one small study done in 2013 that showed “a significant improvement” in facial elasticity in five sessions. The study also concluded that more large-scale studies needed to be done for more reliable statistics.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, you can get facial acupuncture and Botox; the two aren’t mutually exclusive, Ciraldo said. She just advised waiting at least two weeks after having injections before going for acupuncture. Singh recommended waiting six to eight weeks, and Krecolowich suggested waiting four weeks. 

What about acne? Can facial acupuncture help? 

Aside from its supposed anti-aging benefits, facial acupuncture is also said to help treat and clear acne, even of the cystic variety. 

Here’s what acupuncturists say:

People have acne for different reasons, whether it’s a slow digestive system, hormonal imbalances or just using the wrong products, Singh said. There are two ways facial acupuncture can help, she said. 

“If it’s more of an internal condition, we’re helping to balance out hormones internally with the body points,” she said, adding that acupuncture points are on “meridians,” or energy lines that are connected to the body’s organs. To treat skin conditions, acupuncture points are stimulated along the arms, legs and torso, according to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

In a more physical sense, Singh and Krecolowich said that acupuncturists can also surround a breakout with needles to help with the blood flow and healing response in that specific area. 

“When you’re putting needles around the breakout, your body has to think about that area more again, so it’s going to send more blood and more white blood cells to the area, which is going to ease the bacteria under the skin that’s also causing the acne,” Singh said. 

Krecolowich added that surrounding the breakout can help shrink it or, sometimes, clear it up completely. The technique also helps to build back collagen where scars develop and help with hyperpigmentation, she said.

Here’s what the dermatologists say: 

The idea of using facial acupuncture as part of a self-care ritual that promotes relaxation and peacefulness is something King believes is “very good for the body and for the stress levels.” 

“Anything that’s good for stress levels is going to be good for health of the body, health of the skin and any skin condition that gets worse with stress, like acne,” she said. 

Jaber was in agreement, saying he thinks acupuncture is helpful for decreasing inflammation and stress, which “could certainly benefit skin conditions like acne that are worsened by stress.” 

So, should you try it? 

While it’s true that the hard scientific data regarding facial acupuncture is low, Ciraldo said the treatment doesn’t need to be totally discounted. 

“What I do honestly feel is if someone already knows that acupuncture has been good for them, and/or they already have a good acupuncturist who is practicing cosmetic acupuncture, I feel it’s definitely worth giving it a try,” she said. 

MUMBAI/BENGALURU — The management of India’s Jet Airways Ltd has proposed temporarily suspending all operations of the struggling airline, local media reported on Tuesday, as the company awaits promised funds from banks in a rescue deal.

Its shares fell as much as 18.3% to their lowest level since August 2015 following the news, as the future of the once-dominant Indian airline appeared increasingly uncertain.

Jet Airways is likely to temporarily shut down operations, said Indian business channel CNBC TV18, citing unnamed sources. The channel said Jet’s CEO has been authorized by directors at a board meeting to engage with its lenders one last time, and halt operations late Tuesday, if no funds arrive.

Separately, ET Now reported Jet’s management has proposed to suspend all operations as one option at Tuesday’s board meeting, or alternately continue with skeletal operations with any interim funds infused by State Bank of India (SBI), which leads Jet’s consortium of lenders.

Jet Airways did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Its banks tried to calm investors and hint at a rescue of the airline that is saddled with roughly $1.2 billion in debt.

“Lenders are committed to a revival plan for Jet Airways,” Punjab National Bank’s Managing Director Sunil Mehta told media on Tuesday. “SBI is working on the emergency funding, everything is under discussion, nothing is finalised.”

Mehta’s comments come after Jet informed all employees in a letter on Monday it was extending a suspension of international flights until Thursday due to a lack of funds.

Separately, an Indian government official told media the funding for the airline was likely to come through and that the banks were not looking to take the airline to bankruptcy court.

The airline, which over and above its bank borrowings owes money to its lessors, staff and others, has been struggling for weeks after failing to receive a stop-gap loan of about $217 million from its lenders as part of a rescue deal agreed in late March.

In a bid to rescue the 25-year old carrier, Jet’s lenders are attempting to bring in a new investor to buy a stake of up to 75 percent in the airline and initial expressions of interest were submitted last week.

Local media have reported that as many as six parties have submitted expressions of interest, though it is still far from clear if an acceptable bid will materialize.

Jet currently has roughly 44 flights, and only about seven operational planes, a senior pilot with the airline and a member of the pilots’ guild told Reuters on Monday.

The airline had more than 120 aircraft operating a year ago, but competition from low-cost carriers such as IndiGo and SpiceJet Ltd, together with high oil prices, hefty fuel taxes and a weak rupee have lately piled on pressure.

Shares in Jet partially erased earlier losses and were down 9 percent in late afternoon trade in Mumbai on Tuesday.