Latest news with #Mindy
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
US woman travels to Pakistan to marry man she met online; converts to Islam, becomes Zulekha
US woman travels to Pakistan on a 90-day visa to get married to a man she met online. (Photo: @haleemasaddawn) Mindy Rasmussen, a 47-year-old Illinois woman, traveled to Pakistan to meet her 31-year-old boyfriend, Sajid Zeb Khan, whom she met online and fell in love with. The US woman has gone viral for her Chicago to Upper Dir lover story that has the support of both families. Mindy met Sajid online through Facebook a year ago and reached Pakistan earlier this month on a 90-day visit visa. Pakistani media reported that Rasmussen converted to Islam and adopted new name Zulekha as she solemnized her marriage with Sajid. Sajid said there was no force on Mindy to travel to Pakistan and to convert to Islam -- neither from him nor from his family. 'She is a mature woman capable of making her own choices. We are tying the knot of our own free will," Sajid told the Dawn. Mindy said she informed her family members including her father, older sister and younger brother, that she was going to Pakistan to marry the man she met online. They all supported the decision and were excited. The US woman said it was her first visit to Pakistan and she was welcomed with flowers at Islabamad International Airport by Sajid. Then they traveled to Dir where she received a warm welcome from his family members and neighbors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Restaurant Owner Discovers Plane in Jungle. What's Inside Leaves Him Frozen Learn More Undo 'It's my first visit to Pakistan, and I must say it's a beautiful and peaceful country,' she said, as quoted by Pakistani media. 'The kindness and hospitality I've experienced here are beyond anything I expected.' Mindy also said to Pakistani media she would encourage other foreigners to visit Pakistan and explore its culture, hospitality and beauty. Mindy said her husband Sajid is a loving and humble man whose sincerity and respect drew her closer to him.
Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
More than 320,000 in California Told To Keep Windows Closed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Wildfire smoke in Southern California has prompted officials to issue an air quality alert for roughly 320,000 people until 6 p.m. local time on Monday. A spokesperson with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) told Newsweek the advisory could be extended, and if so, an extension would be issued by Monday afternoon. Why It Matters The smoke is coming from two wildfires, the Wolf fire in Banning Pass and the Mindy fire in the Anza area, the AQMD advisory said. Both fires ignited on Sunday afternoon. As of the most recent update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Wolf fire in Riverside County is at 1,400 acres and 0 percent contained. The Mindy Fire, also in Riverside County, is at 100 acres and 70 percent contained. What to Know The air quality alert is impacting the cities of Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Indio, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Desert Country, La Quinta, and Coachella. The most recent U.S. Census data estimates that around 320,000 people live in the impacted areas. Wildfire smoke can cause harmful fine particle pollution levels that affect everyone, the alert said. People are encouraged to take several actions to protect their health against the impacts of smoke: remain indoors with windows and doors closed; avoid intense outdoor physical activity; run the air conditioner and/or an air purifier; wear an N-95 mask if you must spend time outdoors; do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers; avoid other sources of pollution like fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling, and gas-powered equipment. A stock photo shows a helicopter fighting a forest fire. A stock photo shows a helicopter fighting a forest fire. Toa55/Getty "Particles in wildfire smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing," the alert said. "Everyone can be affected, but people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk." The air quality alert will remain in place until 6 p.m. local time Monday evening. An extreme heat warning also remains in place for part of Southern California on Monday. Northern California also faces a wildfire threat, with a red flag warning in place. "Lightning from dry thunderstorms can create new fire starts and combined with gusty winds may cause a fire to rapidly grow in Oregon and northern California," a forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) said. What People Are Saying South Coast AQMD in an air quality alert: "Based on webcam and satellite imagery, winds are transporting the smoke from the Wolf and Mindy wildfires to the north into the Banning Pass and San Bernardino mountains, and into the San Jacinto wilderness and Hemet." CAL FIRE in an update about the Wolf Fire: "Firefighters made good progress over night. Multiple aircraft along with hundreds of firefighters on the ground, will continue to establish containment lines. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place." What Happens Next The cause of each fire remains under investigation. Evacuation warnings and orders have been lifted for the Mindy fire but remain in place for the Wolf fire.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California's Wolf Fire mapped after residents told to flee 1,100-acre blaze
At least four large wildfires erupted in California over the weekend following extreme high temperatures, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes. The largest currently ablaze in the Sunshine State has been dubbed the Wolf Fire, which erupted at around 3:09 p.m. Sunday near Banning and has spread across 1,165 acres. No casualties have been reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated. Cal Fire officials said 300 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze as it continues to rage into the early hours of Monday morning, 'at a moderate rate in medium to heavy brush.' Their biggest challenge with the Wolf Fire is the location because the flames are burning on the tip of the mountain, and ground crews are having difficulty accessing it, Cal Fire told NBC News Sunday. Nearly a dozen evacuation orders have been issued for areas surrounding the blaze, and locals have been advised to take shelter 20 miles south in Hemet High School. Four helicopters have been deployed throughout the night to try and contain the fire. Sixty miles north in San Bernardino County, the second largest fire, the Lake Fire, continues to burn, growing to 485 acres since it erupted around 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Silverwood State Recreation Area. There, the fires prompted a group of about 100 visitors to flee in their beachwear, as bystanders with boats and jet skis helped evacuate them to a safe area. It is at 15 percent containment. On the outskirts of the Sequoia National Park, the Saddle Fire burns across 206 acres in Tulare County, but officials have managed to contain it at 85 percent. The flames erupted at around 10 p.m. Sunday, and local crews continue to battle the blaze throughout the night, said Cal Fire. 'Steep terrain and access made this fire difficult for personnel to raise containment,' a spokesperson added. Two more fires continue to rage in Riverside County, California. The Mindy and Mandalay Fires both erupted Sunday at around 10 p.m. While fire officials have managed to tackle 50 percent of the Mindy Fire, which spread across 100 acres, crews have been struggling to grapple with the smaller Mandalay Fire, across 83 acres. On Sunday night, Cal Fire downgraded evacuation orders for the Mindy Fire to warnings, advising residents to 'use caution when driving in the area.'
Axios
26-06-2025
- General
- Axios
Local LGBTQ+ trailblazers reflect on a decade of marriage equality
Every Valentine's Day, Jimmie and Mindy Beall used to symbolically ask for a marriage license, knowing they'd be denied due to their sexual orientation. Ten years ago today, the answer finally changed. Why it matters: They were familiar faces at the Franklin County Courthouse — and first in its line for a license the day Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriages nationwide. Their right to be married feels increasingly threatened, they tell Axios, as LGBTQ+ people face a surge of political and legal challenges. Flashback: That 2015 morning "seems like it was yesterday," Mindy says. Jimmie had been tracking Supreme Court activity, so they arrived before the ruling was even announced with a tray of freshly baked cookies. That's what courthouse staff had often apologetically offered when they stopped by. News outlets nationwide shared their celebration photo and the Columbus City Schools educators quickly became "same-sex marriage pioneers," as one Dispatch story put it. What they're saying: "I never thought that I would see marriage equality in my lifetime, ever," says Mindy, 62. "When it happened, it was obviously a wonderful thing for us. But I didn't foresee what's happening now, either." "It was a question mark for a long time," Jimmie, 65, adds. "Then it was like an exclamation mark. And now it's like ... a comma." Between the lines: Mindy and Jimmie no longer feel that they need to hide their love, as getting married with federal protections "legitimizes" their 22-year relationship to many. But there are also unromantic, yet important, benefits involving paperwork they worry they could lose. Before getting married, something as mundane as a doctor's visit was complicated by only one of them being their child's legal guardian. Since Trump's reelection, Equality Ohio has handled a surge of LGBTQ+ Ohioans seeking legal advice regarding parenting rights, wills, powers of attorney and more, driven by concerns Obergefell could be overturned, executive director Dwayne Steward tells Axios. What's next: The Bealls' 10th wedding anniversary is next Valentine's Day, the date they finally — and fittingly — had their ceremony. But they're celebrating today, too, as the date it all became possible. Mindy's gift to Jimmie: a blanket with the Obergefell decision written in tiny text, forming a rainbow.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Never Have I Ever was monumental for Indian Americans; we felt represented: Pragathi Guruprasad
These days, with social media, everybody gets a platform, but that wasn't the case a decade ago. The first platform where you get to showcase your talent is important, and that was reality TV for me, says Pragathi. I want to constantly reinvent myself as a creator. I would love to explore other forms of creativity. You don't have to be boxed into just being a singer,' says Pragathi Guruprasad, who rose to fame by becoming the runner-up in the TV show, Super Singer Junior season 3, back in 2012. Thirteen years and numerous playback songs later, the Indian American has made her debut as a composer with the indie song, Adada. In a chat with us, she opens up about starting young, making her acting debut and more. 'Maitreyi & Mindy made me feel comfortable on the NHIE set' 'Most of the roles I've auditioned for in Hollywood are for South Asian Indian characters. I don't think Hollywood is quite there yet where an Indian looking girl can fare well in a general audition call. That's still reserved for white people, but we're slowly getting there. Never Have I Ever (NHIE) was my first acting gig, and I hold it close to my heart. The show was monumental for Indian Americans like me, as we felt represented. Working with Mindy Kaling (creator of Never Have I Ever ) was a dream come true. Maitreyi (Ramakrishnan) is a good friend of mine. During my first scene, I was nervous because it was my first time in front of the camera, and I didn't want to mess up. But Maitreyi and Mindy made me feel comfortable,' she says. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo 'REALITY TV WAS MY BIGGEST STEPPING STONE' These days, with social media, everybody gets a platform, but that wasn't the case a decade ago. The first platform where you get to showcase your talent is important, and that was reality TV for me. It was my biggest stepping stone. Everyone kept asking me, 'What's next?' The pressure got to me, and nothing felt enough. There was a period when I wasn't happy while singing. It took a process of healing to realise that happiness comes from within, and that happiness came with Adada. 'FOR YEARS, YOU WERE CONSIDERED A SINGER ONLY IF YOU WERE A PLAYBACK SINGER' It's important for more musicians to come up and for more collaborations to happen. Earlier, two or three female singers were singing for all the heroines. Now, there's more space for diversity. These days, when you find a song interesting, you tend to find out who the singers are. The process of discovery leads listeners to more music. Previously, when people heard SPB sir or Chithra amma 's songs, they thought about how well they had rendered the song, and the process ended there. But now, there's a musical search. That process is important to have an industry beyond film music. For years, you were only considered a singer if you were a playback singer, but that's not the case anymore. 'IT'S HARD WHEN YOU SING YOUR OWN COMPOSITIONS' It's quite hard when you sing your own compositions. I recorded Adada a hundred times. It's funny because the final version of Adada is the first version we recorded. 'I want to collaborate with Dhibu Ninan Thomas & Sean Roldan' 'Dhibu Ninan Thomas and Sean Roldan are at the top of my list. There is a soul in their music that connects with me. Sean is a good friend, but I haven't had the chance to work with him yet, and friendly collaborations are always great,' she says.
