By: Shahnaz Husain
Is there a more perfect summer fruit than sweet, juicy watermelon? It’s supremely refreshing and hydrating—and as it turns out, has tons of benefits for your skin as well.
Watermelon is a summertime favorite.
Watermelon the ‘summer’s blessing’ contains 90 % water by weight and is packed with vitamins and nutrients, especially lycopene, ascorbic acid, and citrulline. Watermelons are packed with all the good stuff; they’re tasty, hydrating, and negative calorie food, which helps in burning calories. 
These wonderful ingredients are known to protect against many chronic illnesses from heart disease to cancer. When you’re incredibly thirsty and need to replenish fluids in your body, watermelon is the ideal summer go-to. Since 90 percent of watermelon is just water, it helps in nourishing the skin and makes it more radiant.
Nothing can beat a juicy slice of watermelon when the summer heat is burning you down. This luscious summer fruit is not only a delicious summer snack, but it also has several advantages for the skin.
 From keeping you cool to maintaining your skin health, let us look at some of the benefits of consuming watermelons in summer
Benefits of Watermelon for skin
1. Hydrates your skin:
Whether you apply a watermelon face mask or consume a fresh slice, it has a huge influence on keeping your skin hydrated. From acne-prone to sensitive, dry to combination, it’s a one-fruit-fits-all kind of thing. If you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, the strong anti-inflammatory properties in watermelon can help calm skin irritation, redness, and inflammation. Vitamin A, B6, and Vitamin C in Watermelon help in collagen production, which improves skin texture and suppleness, make the skin brighter, and fade spots and blemishes. Lycopene content in watermelons has a sun-protection effect, so you are less likely to get sunburnt. The vitamin A in watermelon keeps your eyes sparkly and healthy too and can prevent macular degeneration. 
At home, you may make your own moisturizing facemask using watermelon and honey. Honey is a humectant that replenishes moisture and works quickly to give you smooth, bright skin. It hydrates and cures dry skin.
Combine two tablespoons of watermelon juice and one tablespoon of honey in a mixing dish. On your face, apply the mixture. Allow it to sit for 10-12 minutes before washing it off. For the best results, do this once a week.
Additionally, watermelon juice helps to calm and lessen the redness of the skin that is prone to acne.
2. Prevent oily skin:
Watermelon is an excellent skin component, particularly for individuals with oily skin. The delicious red fruit reduces pores and has unparalleled moisturizing effects. It treats oily skin by controlling the oil-producing glands called sebaceous glands, allowing your face to be free of oil and acne.
Watermelon is beneficial for eliminating excess oil from your skin.
Mix one tablespoon of watermelon pulp and one tablespoon of banana pulp in a bowl with a spatula and apply to the face and neck. Allow 20 to 25 minutes for the face pack to dry. After that, wash it with warm water. This is the finest watermelon face mask for those who suffer from acne and pigmentation.
A mixture of mashed watermelon and tomato pulp can be used by those with oily skin to smoothen the skin. The malic acid in watermelon and lycopene in tomato act as natural exfoliators and soothe the skin
3. A natural skin toner:
Watermelon juice is a natural toner that is as good as rose water for your skin because of its natural extracts.
Vitamin C and antioxidants present in watermelon help regenerate skin cells and protect them from injury.  These nutrients prevent free radical damage and also protect your skin from any further disruption.
To tone your skin, gently apply fresh watermelon juice to it and rinse it off.
Watermelon seeds are a good source of magnesium which lowers cortisol levels that help reduce acne and also balances out your hormones.  
They also contain protein, fatty acids, and ceramides that help in locking the moisture in your skin.
4. Natural Exfoliator:
The grainy particles present in the fruit helps gently exfoliate the skin. 
Watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which brightens your skin quickly. The gritty particles in the fruit assist in gently exfoliating the skin while also moisturizing it. To naturally scrub off dead skin cells, apply a teaspoon of mashed watermelon to your skin.
To remove dead skin cells, rub watermelon and tomato pulp across the face or body in circular motions. The malic acid in watermelon and the enzymes in tomato help break down the glue that holds the dead skin cells together.
Combining mashed watermelon with yogurt and honey and then leaving the paste on the face for 10-15 minutes can be beneficial. The antioxidants in honey and watermelon can reduce inflammation, while yogurt can exfoliate the skin.
5. An Anti-Ager:
Watermelons are enriched with antioxidants and vitamins, which all involve offering you glowing skin. Antioxidants help combat free radical damage and enhance suppleness, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and makes skin appear tighter. Vitamins brighten dull skin and take off that layer that makes it look tired and overworked.  Mix watermelon pulp, milk, and honey. Make a paste and apply it to your face. Wash it with running or lukewarm water.  Watermelon has potent antioxidants that fight free radicals to prevent premature aging. Milk, on the other hand, is a natural cleanser that deep cleanses the skin and removes dead skin cells.
6. Cure sunburn:
Applying a watermelon and cucumber face pack to cure sunburn is recommended. Both watermelon and cucumber are excellent for your skin. Cucumber is a cooling substance that aids in the removal of tan. Watermelon has various aesthetic advantages, including moisturizing and soothing inflammation and itching. It also contains lycopene, protecting the skin from sunburn and skin cancer. It blocks UV rays at least twice as well as an antioxidant.
Mix a spoonful of cucumber pulp with watermelon juice to make the face mask. Apply the pack evenly to your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off.
The best time to eat watermelons is in the morning between 10 am to 12 pm, as breakfast or between breakfast and lunch. You can also have it as an evening snack, before 5 pm. Do not consume it at night or with your meals.
It must be avoided by diabetics and everyone with digestive issues.  Have it in moderation and never too much, otherwise, it sure can make you feel bloated, and gassy and even give you a stomach ache,
It’s totally safe, to use it for skin care. The only people who can’t use it are those who are allergic to watermelon.
(The author is an international fame beauty expert and is called the herbal queen of India)

By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Apr 29:

In a daring operation carried out on the night of April 27/April 28, a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 121 personnel from a small airstrip at “Wadi Sayyidna”, about 40 km North of Khartoum.
The passengers included medical cases, including a pregnant lady; besides those who had no means to reach Port Sudan, an official statement read.
This convoy was led by the Indian Defence Attaché, who was in continuous touch with IAF authorities all along, till they reached the airstrip at “Wadi Sayyidna”. The airstrip in question had a degraded surface, with no navigational approach aids or fuel, and most critically  landing lights (that are required to guide an aircraft landing at night).
Approaching the airstrip, the aircrew used their Electro-Optical/Infra Red sensors to ensure that the runway was free from any obstructions and no inimical forces were in the vicinity. Having made sure of the same, the aircrew carried out a tactical approach on Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), on a practically dark night.
Upon landing, the aircraft engines were kept running while eight IAF Garud Commandos secured the passengers and their luggage into the aircraft. As with the landing, the take off from the unlit runway was also carried out using NVGs.
This approximately two and a half hour operation between “Wadi Sayyidna” and Jeddah will go down in the annals of IAF history for its sheer audacity and flawless execution - akin to that carried out in Kabul, an IAF spokesman Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said.

IT News
Imphal, Apr 29:

With the rest of the country, Manipur will celebrate the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat on 30th April 2023 with the special screening of the episode at Raj Bhavan at Imphal.The first episode was aired on 3rd October 2014.
Prasar Bharati and other media units under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Imphal will celebrate the day in a befitting manner at Raj Bhavan, Imphal where Governor Anusuiya Uikey will grace the event as Chief Guest.
Special screening of 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat at 11.00 am and presentation of brief profile of inspirational personalities from Manipur who have been mentioned by Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat episodes are the other highlights of the function.Those personalities mentioned by PM from Manipur were Tababi Devi from Mayang Imphal Kokchai Awang Leikai, TS Ringphami Young and Avungshee Shimre Augustina of Dungrei Hunpung,Ukhrul, Th. Niranjoy Singh of Narankonjin Mamang Leikai, Lourembam Bino Devi of Singjamei Mathak Thokchom Leikai, Martina Devi, Phoijing Chingning, Nambol and Saikhom Surchandra Singh of Bramapur Bheigabati Leikai,Tensubam Leirak, Imphal East, Bijyashanti of ThangaTongbram Leikai.
Padma Shri awardees Th. Chaoba and Shanathoi Sharma will also be participating in the special screening.
A photo exhibition on the theme “Mann ki Baat “will also be put up as a part of the celebration.

IT News
Imphal, Apr 28:

Tension continues in the district headquarter of Churachandpur, even after the Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren had cancelled his trip to Churachandpur for the inauguration of the open-air gym scheduled today.
Large number of people gathered at the district headquarter continue to vandalise some of the chairs in front of police personnel today afternoon. Visuals of the incident showed huge crowds breaking chairs and damaging property inside a hall where Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had scheduled to visit today. They also set on fire sports equipment and the grounds where the event will be held.
Speaking to reporters at the sideline of the inauguration programme of the Agri Horti Expo for Organic and indigenous products and buyer sellers meet at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound in Imphal East, Chief Minister N. Biren said that the BJP government will not tolerate such anti-development action by any persons. He however said that there is no issue in Churachandpur.
“MLA of Churachandpur Assembly constituency had requested us to inaugurate an open-air gym. But some anti-social people came and vandalised it. We are not worried about threats from such people. MLA has requested me not to come today but after the gym is repaired. What are indigenous tribals? I don’t want to comment on them. They are involved in anti-developmental activities,” Chief Minister told reporters.
Following yesterday’s evening violent protest large gatherings in Churachandpur district have been banned and mobile internet services suspended in Churachandpur district.
The decision to ban large gatherings was taken following a police report citing “likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and properties” in the district, S. Thienlaljoy Gangte, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district wrote in the government order issued on Thursday.
The order also cited the “total shutdown called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum and the likelihood of mobilization of the public through social media and networking sites” for the suspension of mobile internet services. Apart from Churachandpur, mobile internet services have also been suspended in Pherzawl district for five days.