At Oscars, Host's "Powerful Russian" Joke Days After Trump-Zelensky Spat

The Oscars - Hollywood's biggest night of the year - was its usual festival of glitz, humor and emotional actors. However, the more than three-and-a-half hour broadcast on Sunday was a largely politics-free evening and had only one mention of the Ukraine- Russia conflict, despite a week of politics around the war.

During the event, first-time host Conan O'Brien - who kept it mostly light - made a veiled dig at the Donald Trump administration. Referencing the success of "Anora" - which is a tale of a Brooklyn sex worker battling her Moscow oligarch in-laws - O'Brien joked about standing up "to a powerful Russian".

"Anora" was the big winner at the Oscars, scooping five awards, including best picture.

"Anora is having a good night... That's great news... I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian," the comedian-actor said.

Conan O'Brien lands a SOLID uppercut on trump without saying his name: "I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian."

HUGE APPLAUSE. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TopTO7GPMp

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) March 3, 2025

The joke drew resounding applause from the audience.

The witty remarks came after a meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, which descended into an extraordinary on-camera argument.

Trump and Vance raised their voices and accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and ungrateful for US military assistance, as the Ukrainian pushed his demand for US security guarantees as part of any truce.

Trump spoke by phone with Putin last month and then announced negotiations to end the war would begin quickly, blindsiding the European Union and Zelensky.

Russia has openly gloated over Friday's clash between Trump and Zelensky, praising Trump for altering US policy and denouncing the Ukraine President for challenging Trump's proposals.

On the other hand, European leaders have leapt to Zelensky's defence. The West and Ukraine describe Russia's 2022 invasion as an imperial-style land grab. Russian President Vladimir Putin casts the conflict as part of an existential battle with a declining and decadent West which he says humiliated Russia after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 by enlarging the NATO military alliance and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

Russia currently controls just under a fifth of Ukraine - or about 113,000 square km - while Ukraine has seized about 450 square km of Russia in an incursion into neighbouring Kursk province, according to open source maps of the war and Russian estimates.

मैच से पहले घबराया हुआ था गेंदबाज, विराट-रोहित ने पिलाई ऐसी घुट्टी, रचा इतिहास

वरुण चक्रवर्ती ने न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ मैच में 5 विकेट लेकर इतिहास रच दिया. वह सबसे कम वनडे खेलकर पांच विकेट हॉल अपने नाम करने वाले भारतीय बन गए हैं. इससे पहले यह रिकॉर्ड बीसीसीआई के अध्यक्ष रोजर बिन्नी के बेटे के नाम था.जीत के बाद वरुण ने बताया कि वह मैच शुरू होने से पहले काफी नर्वस थे लेकिन विराट, रोहित, श्रेयस और हार्दिक पंड्या ने उनसे आकर बातचीत की.

"Artistes Are Not Slaves Of Congress": BJP Rips Into DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's "nuts and bolts" comment about cine artistes has drawn indignant protests from the state's Opposition BJP. The state's Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said it was up to the artistes whether they join a political protest or not and it showed a "bad mindset" on his part. "Artists are not slaves of the Congress party, and despite their support, movies are not succeeding," he said in a statement.

"Artistes are not your party workers. Don't treat artists the way you treat your party workers. Learn to respect artists," read a rough translation of his vernacular post on social media platform X.

"Dear DCM DK Shivakumar, it is not upto the Congress party's discretion whether or not film artists will come to the political march. Your statement that artists who march for the Congress party will get recognition, otherwise they will not, does not bring glory to your position.

"Threats and hooliganism have no place in democracy. The BJP government had provided significant support to the film industry. If actor Ambareesh were alive today, he would have given a fitting response. The film industry must condemn these statements, as they are an insult to artists. D.K. Shivakumar should apologize," he said in a statement.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal Secular said it was the prerogative of actors to support any movement launched in the state. "Some might have decided against participating to stop identifying themselves with any party," he said.

On Saturday, Mr Shivakumar, in an outburst at the inauguration of Bengaluru International Film Festival, slammed the film fraternity for its thin turnout at the event as well as the Congress's Mekedatu padayatra. "If the government does not grant permission for shooting, they cannot make a film. They cannot proceed with shooting. I also know exactly where to tighten the nuts and bolts, please understand that," he had said.

Then he had doubled down on the comment in face of criticism. 

"This film festival is not a private event of some politicians and some actors. It is a programme for the entire industry, yet only a few actors have participated. Why should the government conduct the film festival if the actors, directors, producers and exhibitors are not interested? Treat it as an appeal or as a caution, but the film fraternity must attend such events in the future," read a statement from his office.

The statement also clarified his stand about the foot march, underscoring it was about ensuring drinking water for Bengaluru.

"Mekedatu padayatra was to get drinking water for Bengaluru. It was a fight for the interest of the state. In spite of the Covid, Siddaramaiah and I took out a 150 km padayatra. No one from the film industry, with the exception of a few, turned up to show their support in spite of us extending invitations to all. I am angry about it," he said.

The 2022 foot march demanded the implementation of a balancing reservoir in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district.

Vivek Ramaswamy Trolled For Barefoot Interview, Sparks Debate On Culture

Vivek Ramaswamy, the 39-year-old entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, has found himself at the center of a heated debate after a clip of him giving a barefoot interview at home resurfaced online. The video, which was recorded during a live stream last year, has sparked a wave of strong reactions on social media, with some critics labeling his actions as "uncivilised" and "anti-American".

Commentator Ian Miles Cheong was quick to defend Ramaswamy, dismissing the backlash as "the dumbest argument" he's heard. Cheong pointed out that going barefoot in one's own home is hardly anti-American, and that perhaps critics have been influenced by sitcoms where characters wear shoes in bed, “I guess too many people grew up on sitcoms where they wear their shoes in bed.”

The dumbest argument I've heard against Vivek is that going barefoot in your own house is anti-American. I guess too many people grew up on sitcoms where they wear their shoes in bed. pic.twitter.com/JVfJMa6VKe

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 28, 2025

Despite Cheong's defense, many critics continued to express their outrage on social media. One user wrote, "Vivek will never be governor of Ohio. This is unacceptable for America." Another added, "Maybe at least have some socks on while you interview for a position in the most powerful empire on the planet, yeah?" A third user took issue with Ramaswamy's choice to go shoeless, writing, "Vivek lectures us about education while barefoot. Uncivilised."

However, not everyone was critical of Ramaswamy's actions. Many users came to his defense, pointing out that removing shoes indoors is a common practice in many cultures, including in South and East Asia. “Nearly all Indians go barefoot in their own homes. There's nothing wrong with it. Just a cultural thing”, a user commented, while another added another comment about Indian tradition, “In Indian tradition, it is customary to take off your shoes before entering someone's home, considered a sign of respect and hygiene, as it prevents bringing dirt and germs from outside into the house; this practice is widely followed.”

Political commentator Kim Iversen added to the debate saying, "I understand this is a ‘culture' thing, but you non-Asians wearing shoes in your homes need a culture shift." Iversen added that in her own home, shoes are not allowed, and that socks are also prohibited due to the risk of slipping on hardwood floors.

Ramaswamy himself addressed the backlash, saying, "This is America, folks. I let the dogs out in my house when I feel like it." His response has been commended by some, who see it as a sign of confidence and independence.

While some conservatives have criticised Ramaswamy's background, others have commended his response to the backlash. One user wrote, "Vivek showed extreme class when Coulter stated flat out because of his race she would not vote for him. He kept the conversation going and never fell into an offended or victim mentality. Well done by him."
 

सचिन तेंदुलकर की टीम ने लगातार तीसरा मुकाबला जीता

भारतीय क्रिकेट टीम के पूर्व स्पिनर राहुल शर्मा ने साउथ अफ्रीका मास्टर्स के खिलाफ हैट्रिक ली.उन्होंने लगातार तीन गेंदों पर तीन विकेट लिए.राहुल की हैट्रिक के दम पर इंडिया मास्टर्स ने आईएमएलटी20 टूर्नामेंट में लगातार तीसरी जीत दर्ज की.सचिन तेंदुलकर की कप्तानी में खेल रही भारतीय टीम टूर्नामेंट में शानदार प्रदर्शन कर रही है. सचिन की कप्तानी वाली टीम ने पहले मैच में श्रीलंका को हराया जबकि अपने दूसरे मैच में इंग्लैंड को पटखनी दी.

आईएमएल: भारत ने दक्षिण अफ्रीका को हराया, राहुल की हैट्रिक, 85 रन पर ढेर...

IML 2025: भारत ने इंटरनेशनल मास्टर्स लीग में दक्षिण अफ्रीका को करारी शिकस्त दी है. भारत की इस जीत में राहुल शर्मा की हैट्रिक भी शामिल है.

When Russian Cosmonaut Met A US Colleague And Sent A Selfie To Sunita Williams

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who flew on the International Space Station's Boeing Starliner on June 5 last year and has been stuck since due to technical problems with the spacecraft, was in for a little surprise.

Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, participant of three ISS expeditions, met astronaut Mike Massimino in India, the two took a selfie and sent it to Sunita Williams.

"She (Sunita) is one of the happiest colleagues of mine ever. Now she has been almost 8 months in the orbit. Yesterday I met a colleague of mine, Mike Massimino, from the United States and we took a selfie and we sent it to Sunita Williams," Oleg Artemyev told NDTV.

"She replied she is very happy," said cosmonaut Artemyev, adding that the two told her that they are looking forward to meet her in March.

Sunita Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Willmore have been at the ISS since June. A decision was made to return Starliner to Earth without its crew, and the spacecraft successfully returned on September 6 after NASA in August said that it was "too risky" to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Sunita Williams confirmed that the Crew-10 mission is scheduled to launch from Earth on March 12 and bring them home a week later on March 19.

Pressed to answer how difficult the life of an astronaut is, Cosmonaut Artemyev said, "The life of a cosmonaut is quite a complicated one. You have to spend a lot of time training, practising. You have to be a highly motivated person and a person who is looking for something new to be in this profession."

Cosmonaut Aetemyev said he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and presented him with both Russian and Indian flags, underscoring the great relationship between the two countries.

"Told PM Modi it's a great pleasure to meet that friend of our Russian President Vladimir Putin and as we say in Russia, 'A friend of my friend is my friend,'" said the cosmonaut.

"I presented to PM Modi Indian and Russian flags," he added.

Asked if he has a message for the Indian youth, he said, "Read a lot, dream a lot and to study a lot...Learn, learn learn."