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Vani Vivek

16 May 2017,Tuesday

48,000 WannaCry attack attempts seen in India: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/48k-ransomware-attack-attempts-seen-in-india-quick-heal-tech/1/955035.html

Cybersecurity company Quick Heal on Tuesday said it has detected over 48,000 WannaCry ransomware attack attempts in India, with West Bengal witnessing most incidents. The Pune-based company said 60% of the attempts by WannaCry ransomware were targeted at enterprises, while 40% were on individual users. Over two lakh computers in at least 150 countries are said to have been infected.

Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) A cyber security firm today said it has detected over 48,000 ransomware attack attempts in the country, with West Bengal witnessing the most incidents. Quick Heal Technologies has "detected over 48,000 MS-17- 010 Shadow Broker exploit hits responsible for WannaCry ransomware outbreak in India", it said in a statement. "Our observation is that the attack is not focused towards any particular industry but it is widely spread across industries especially those organisations which are online and connected," Quick Heal Technologies managing director Sanjay Katkar said. The Pune-based company said 60 per cent of the attempts by the malicious WannaCry ransomware were targeted at enterprises, while 40 per cent were on individual customers. It said there have been over 700 distress calls by customers in the last few days, following the discovery of the attacks which has impacted 150 countries globally. The top five cities impacted by the WannaCry ransomware are Kolkata followed by Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Pune and Mumbai, while the top top five states with maximum detections are West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, NCR (Delhi), and Odisha, it said. The company claimed it "successfully detected" the ransomware activity and "cleaned the malicious file responsible for file encryption from all the attacked systems". It said computers running on the desktop and server editions of the Microsoft Windows operating system are most impacted.

Mansha Mahajan

24 Jul 2017,Monday

Plea in SC to let Tirupati temple exchange old notes of ?8cr

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/plea-in-sc-to-let-tirupati-temple-exchange-demonetised-notes-worth-rs-8-29-crore/story-e8jlnzvcByMskkwSTQWD3N.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A journalist has requested the Supreme Court to direct the government to let Sri Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara temple exchange ?8.29 crore of banned notes donated by devotees. The man, in his petition said, non-acceptance of the devotees' offerings was discriminatory and meant that their wishes will remain 'unfulfilled'. This is the world's second richest temple with assets worth ?50,000 crore.

A man from Andhra Pradesh requested the Supreme Court last week to direct the government and the federal bank to let Sri Tirumala Tirupati Venkateshwara temple exchange Rs 8.29 crore of banned banknotes donated by devotees.Visited by millions, the shrine dedicated to god Venkateshwara in Tirupati is the world?s second richest with assets worth Rs 50,000 crore and an annual income of around Rs 650 crore.It has several crores of old Rs 500- and 1,000-rupee banknotes stashed in collection boxes for donations. These have become defunct after the government recalled the two high-value notes and temple authorities missed last year?s December 30 deadline to get them exchanged.VV Ramanmurthy, a journalist, said in his petition that non-acceptance of the devotees? offering to the temple was not only discriminatory but also meant their wishes will remain unfulfilled.?That the pilgrims and devotees offerings made to Lord Venkateshwara Swami was not accepted/redeemed by Reserve Bank of India, due to which about Rs 8.29 crore consisting of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were packed and kept in boxes with Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam,? read the petition that advocate Shravan Kumar filed on his behalf.The Tirupati board runs a string of temples in cities and towns such as New Delhi, Rishikesh, Guwahati, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kanyakumari.The petitioner said collections at temples in Chennai and Hyderabad are deposited in banks once a week, but it is done once in six months in the other places.Ramanmurthy contended that not accepting public money for charity and services infringes the devotees? fundamental right to practice their religion.He said the board will be unable to utilise the money for its services. Besides, possession of demonetised money is a criminal offence.The petition follows the Supreme Court?s directive on July 4 to the government and RBI to come up with a policy to offer a window to people who could not deposit their old notes for legitimate reasons before the December deadline.Another petition with a similar plea was filed by siblings Arushi and Apurv Jain after they found Rs 60 lakh in old notes in lockers of their parents, who died in a road accident nine years ago. They appealed for a window to exchange the money.The two were given access to the locker this March after they became adults. But the succession court in Saket gave them the permission three months after the deadline to deposit defunct notes ended.A bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud on Friday took note of the duo?s plea and asked the finance ministry to file a response within four weeks.The government recalled 500- and 1,000-rupee notes last November, wiping out 86% of the money in circulation in a cash-driven economy.Religious shrines reportedly received a surfeit of donations in old notes after the demonetisation exercise was announced. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that runs most Sikh shrines, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar, had asked its officials not to accept defunct notes after December 30.In Jammu and Kashmir?s Vaishnodevi temple, another popular Hindu pilgrimage site, donations of Rs 1.90 crore in scrapped notes were recorded after the government?s demonetisation decision.

Parmeet Kaur

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Maha to pay farmers ?2.43 cr per acre for land acquisition

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-nagpur-highway-maharashtra-to-pay-farmers-in-shahapur-2-43cr-per-acre/story-62OjBqrWWqvGDDhnfThNnM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The farmers in Khardi village in Thane will get a compensation of ?2.43 crore per acre from the Maharashtra government, for their land acquired for the Mumbai-Nagpur super communication highway project. The compensation for non-agriculture land is higher, in some cases as high as ?12.60 crore to ?18.11 crore for an acre of such land in Khardi and Kasara villages.

In a move to stem farmers? protests against land acquisition for the ambitious Mumbai-Nagpur super communication highway, the state government seems to have opened its purse strings. This week, the Thane district collectorate finalised land rates for farm land in Shahapur taluka, which is the highest compensation paid to farmers in Maharashtra for a public project,so far. Farmers from Khardi village in Shahapur taluka stand to get Rs 2.43 crore for an acre of land under this project. The ready reckoner rate for this village for every hectare of land is around Rs29.59 lakh ( Around 2.4 acres make one hectare of land).The compensation for the 23 villages in this taluka, which will lose land to the 706-km highway, ranges from Rs52.16 lakh to Rs5.84 crore for an hectare for land. This works out to Rs21.66 lakh to Rs2.43 crore for an acre of land. A copy of the land rates announced for every village per hectare is with HT. After Khardi, farmers from villages like Dalkhan, Birwadi and Kasara will get a generous compensation of around Rs74.84 lakh and Rs68.93 lakh for an acre of land. This is a one-time compensation that will be paid to farmers if they opt for direct settlement with the state government. Read:?Congress and Shiv Sena up the ante against Maharashtra government for blanket loan waiverGiven the wide range, however, not all farmers will be happy with the rates announced. So far, the compensation given to farmers for the Shendre-Bidkin industrial park near Aurangabad under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor for nearly Rs23 lakh an acre was being considered as one of highest payouts for farm land. (In the case of DMIC, however, separate compensation was also given for orchards).Thane district collector Dr Mahendra Kalyankar confirmed the final land rates for farm land in Shahapur taluka.?We are trying to offer the highest land rate possible for every district affected by the project. It?s history in making,?? said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.The compensation for non-agriculture land in Shahapur taluka is even higher, in some cases as high as Rs12.60 crore to Rs18.11 crore for an acre of such land in Khardi and Kasara villages. However, only 10 to 15% of non-agricultural land comes under the highway, with officials claiming these rates could get revised as they seemed exorbitant. The proposed eight-lane highway, which will run across 10 districts to link Nagpur to Thane, is facing stiff opposition from farmers over land acquisition. In a bid to tone down these protests, the government is offering competitive land rates to woo the farmers. The land rates are being worked out by committees appointed for every district led by the collector that considers a variety of parameters including ready reckoner rate of every village, average of last three years of sale deeds, the number of land transactions, compensation as per Land Acquisition law etc, 25 per cent more incentive offered by the state for direct sale.Read: Maharashtra farmer complains against IMD for ?wrong? rain forecastLast week, Nasik district collector had announced land rates for the district in the range of Rs40 lakh to Rs80 lakh for one hectare of land. But this had only intensified protests against the project with farmers from Nasik, not wooed by the compensation offered for their irrigated lands.?We have considered a variety of factors and the rates get jacked up also by the number of land transactions that have taken place in that village. In Khardi, for instance, in the recent past, we noted nearly 500 land sale deeds. This was comparatively far less in Chande village that has among the lowest compensations in Shahapur,?? said a Thane district collectorate official.The Thane collectorate has also worked out rates for Kalyan taluka, which are far lower than Shahapur, with the highest compensation being Rs1.50 crore for an hectare of land or Rs62 lakh for an acre of land. The lowest compensation here is around Rs61.14 lakh for an hectare of land or Rs25.47 lakh for an acre of land.The district administration may revise the land rates for Kalyan taluka given that farmers are likely to react negatively given the high rates offered in neighbouring Shahapur taluka.

Daisy Mowke

08 Jan 2017,Sunday

Mumbai to host smoked food festival from January 13

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mumbai-smoked-food-festival-hyderabadi-biryani-smokey-woodman-pizza-high-street-phoenix-lifefd/1/851848.html

A Smoked Food Festival will be held at High Street Phoenix, Mumbai from January 13-29. Over 15 restaurants will come up with more than 100 smoked preparations for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians at the event. Smoked cheese, spinach croquette, black forest ham bruschetta and smoked Hyderabadi biryani are some of the dishes that will be offered at the festival.

Over 15 restaurants will come up with more than 100 smoked preparations at the Smoked Food Festival, which will commence on January 13 in Mumbai.

Chhavi Tyagi

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

A Kerala temple has 'Judge Uncle' deity for legal issues

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/need-a-lawyer-litigants-in-kerala-go-to-judge-uncle-temple-praying-for-a-miracle/story-IQ5uNdR1CraUDY9cmsduAO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

'Judge Uncle' is the presiding deity at the Devi temple in Kerala, and locals believe the judge saves 'innocents' trapped in legal hassles. Eighteenth-century judge Govinda Pillai, known for impartial judgements, had wrongly sentenced his nephew to death. Pillai ordered his own death for the error, and his soul is believed to be confined in a 'stone' at the shrine.

Neck-deep in legal trouble, a mining baron from Bellary from Karnataka has finally decided to knock on the doors of the ?Judge Uncle? in neighbouring Kerala?s Kottayam district.The judge in this case is the presiding deity of a small shrine located at the corner of the Cheruvally Sree Devi temple of Kottayam with an ever growing reputation of helping people wriggle out of legal mess. The belief is Judge Ammavan (Uncle) does not disappoint and the mining baron mired in legal cases has made the trip to the temple to make a special offering.Those who throng the temple are controversial figures and to give them anonymity, the shrine opens just for 15 minutes and that too only in the night, after the main Cheruvally temple closes after evening prayers.Visitors at the temple are the veritable who?s who of south India: Malayalam actor Dileep is in jail for his alleged involvement in the abduction and sexual assault of a top actress and his brother Anoop was at the temple to offer special prayers on his behalf.P Gopalakrishnan, the president of the Travancore Dewasom Board that administers the famous hill shrine at Sabarimala was also here last November when a petition challenging its age-old tradition of not allowing women into the temple was being heard at the Supreme Court.The top court is yet to give its ruling on whether to allow women into Sabarimala, but devotees of ?Judge Uncle? believe his blessings are a sure shot way to salvation. The Bellary baron is facing a myriad of court cases including some relating to mine lease violations.?One of my cases will come up before the court soon and my astrologer advised me to visit the Judge Uncle,? he said on the condition of anonymity.According to folklore, the temple has its roots in 18th century when the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore had a judge named Govinda Pillai who was known for his impartial judgments. Once, his nephew was involved in a criminal case and Pillai ordered his execution. Later, evidence surfaced about the nephew?s innocence.Pillai was filled with remorse and he approached the king, requesting that he be punished for his erroneous judgment. The king said the judge must decide his own punishment, following which Pillai ordered his own execution. He also ruled that his body be exhibited at a public place for three days.Pillai?s commitment to justice moved many and the people later built a temple to ?give eternal peace to his soul?. The case diary with Pillai?s own observations on Palmira leaves ordering his execution serves as the deity of the temple.?People from faraway places come here. And many believers request the temple to keep their identity confidential,? said temple manager Gopinathan Nair.?People involved in minor disputes to major crimes come here with lot of hope,? said Deva Narayanan, a retired government employee. The Bellary mining baron currently doing the rounds of the temple happens to be just one of them.

Daisy Mowke

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Alia doesn't need my guidance to choose films: Soni Razdan

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/alia-bhatt-doesn-t-need-my-guidance-to-choose-films-says-mom-soni-razdan/story-wxMu5BbWAKC9AFgDFBkgfL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Alia Bhatt's mother Soni Razdan has said Alia does not need her guidance to choose films. "[S]he's quite a sorted individual who follows a strong instinct... As her mother, I'm always there, but Alia knows what she wants both professionally and personally," she added. Soni further said she was impressed by Alia's performances in Udta Punjab, Highway and Dear Zindagi.

Soni Razdan is proud of daughter, actor Alia Bhatt?s professional choices. With hits such as Udta Punjab, Kapoor and Sons, and Dear Zindagi, she believes that Alia?s success proves that she is on the right path. Soni feels that the only thing that her daughter needs to do now is continue with her hard work. ?Alia doesn?t need my guidance regarding the kind of films she should do. Rather, she is quite a sorted individual who follows a strong instinct. And this seems to have worked in her favour. We [Soni, Alia?s father Mahesh Bhatt and her sister Shaheen Bhatt] are all proud of what she has done for herself at such a young age (Alia is 24 now). She should just stay dedicated to her craft and the rest will fall in place. As her mother, I am always there, but Alia knows what she wants both professionally and personally,? says the actor-director, who has been a part of films such as Saaransh (1984), Sadak (1991) and Monsoon Wedding (2001). My sweetie pie ??? A post shared by Soni Razdan (@sonirazdan) on May 21, 2017 at 11:54pm PDTSo which film did she like Alia best in? Soni says, ?I enjoyed most of her films be it Highway (2014), 2 States (2014) or Udta Punjab (2016). But if you ask me to choose the ones I loved, I would say she impressed me with her performances in Udta Punjab, Highway and Dear Zindagi (2016). But as I always say an actor is never bigger than her role. So I feel she is lucky to have got such opportunities. Also, what I liked is that in each of these films, Alia was different. That is commendable,? she adds.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Mansha Mahajan

03 May 2017,Wednesday

Lupin loses ?3,300 crore from valuation in two days

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lupin-extends-losses-loses-m-cap-by-rs-3315-cr-in-2-days/1/944567.html

Pharmaceutical major Lupin has lost ?3,315 crore from its market valuation in just two days. Lupin shares plunged by 3% during intraday trade on Wednesday after US health regulators issued observations for its plant. The observations were made in Form 483, which are made when investigators feel practices are such that products may become adulterated or render injuries to health.

New Delhi, May 3 (PTI) Registering losses for the second day, Lupin today fell by 3 per cent on US health regulators observations for its Goa plant. The stock of the company declined by 3.09 per cent to end at Rs 1,264.20 on the BSE. During the day, it slipped 3.3 per cent to Rs 1,261.35. On the NSE, it fell 2.98 per cent to close at Rs 1,264.90. On the volume front, 2.50 lakh shares of the company were traded on the BSE and over 18 lakh changed hands at the NSE during the day. The stock had fallen by nearly 3 per cent in the previous session also, wiping out Rs 3,315.25 crore from its market valuation in two days. The stock was the worst hit among the blue-chips on both the indices, the Sensex and the Nifty. "Recently, the companys manufacturing facility underwent an inspection by the USFDA... subsequently, the USFDA issued Form 483 citing three observations," Lupin Ltd had said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Chhavi Tyagi

13 Jun 2017,Tuesday

J&K Police invites school student to inaugurate library

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/baramulla-jammu-kashmir-police-invites-school-student-inaugurate-library/1/977859.html

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday invited a school student to inaugurate the police public library in Baramulla instead of a politician. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nitish Kumar dedicated the library, set up to cater to the needs of the aspirants for competitive and government exams, to the people of Baramulla.

Setting an example, the Jammu and Kashmir Police today invited a bright school student to inaugurate the police public library in Baramulla instead of a politician. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nitish Kumar dedicated the library to the people of Baramulla.

Ankush Verma

17 Jul 2017,Monday

US bride cancels wedding, throws party for homeless instead

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-bride-to-be-calls-off-wedding-throws-party-for-homeless/story-aySGhZtTBZeawrRQFEYNUP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A woman in the US state of Indiana who called off her $30,000 wedding threw a party for the homeless at an event centre she had booked for the reception. Not revealing why she called off the wedding, the woman said, "I started feeling really sick about just throwing away all the food I ordered for the reception."

An Indiana woman who called off her $30,000 wedding threw a party Saturday for the homeless at the swanky event centre she had booked for the reception.Sarah Cummins told the Indianapolis Star she called off the wedding a week ago, but declined to give a reason.She was left with a non-refundable contract for the Ritz Charles in Carmel and a plated dinner for 170 guests.Cummins says she decided that rather than throw away the food she would bring some purpose to the event and contacted area homeless shelters.A school bus pulled up Saturday from one organization and about a dozen homeless veterans stepped off to join the party. They were greeted by Cummins in a sleeveless top and pastel pants rather than a wedding dress.?For me, it was an opportunity to let these people know they deserved to be at a place like this just as much as everyone else does,? Cummins said.Several local businesses and residents donated suits, dresses and other items for the guests to wear.Charlie Allen, who?s spent three months at a homeless mission, received a donated jacket.?I didn?t have a sport coat,? he said, tugging gently at the lapels. ?I think I look pretty nice in it.?Three of Cummins seven bridesmaids, along with her mother and aunts, came to support her at the event. Guests dined on bourbon-glazed meatballs, goat cheese and roasted garlic bruschetta, chicken breast with artichokes and Chardonnay cream sauce and wedding cake.Cummins, a 25-year-old Purdue University pharmacy student, said her ex-fiance, Logan Araujo, footed most of the bill for the wedding contract, with Cummins and her parents, along with one of Araujo?s family friends, paying the rest.Cummins said she is not sure yet what she will do with the wedding dress.?It?s too painful to think about.?

Daisy Mowke

28 Mar 2017,Tuesday

First look of Shraddha, Arjun starrer 'Half Girlfriend' out

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/half-girlfriend-first-look-shraddha-kapoor-arjun-kapoor/1/914428.html

The first look of the Shraddha Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor starrer upcoming romantic comedy film 'Half Girlfriend' has been released. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Chetan Bhagat. Arjun will play the character 'Madhav Jha' while Shraddha will portray 'Riya Somani'. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film will release on May 19.

The first look of Half Girlfriend is everything romantic. Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor are set to get drenched in love with their upcoming film. It is for the first time that the two have been paired opposite each other, and the crackling chemistry between the two in this first look poster is enough to up the curiosity.And here's the first look of #HalfGirlfriend... Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. pic.twitter.com/1EQWmC4GhG The film is based on Chetan Bhagat's novel of the same name, and revolves around the story of a Bihari boy who falls in love with a rich Delhi girl. In an earlier interview to IANS, Arjun had said that Half Girlfriend is not any frivolous romantic comedy. "There is pathos and drama in Half Girlfriend. It's not just a frivolous rom-com (romantic-comedy). It's a drama. That film has a journey. It's a romantic journey and for me that is very exciting," he said.Directed by Mohit Suri, the film is set to hit the screens on May 19.

Ankush Verma

13 Jul 2017,Thursday

Islamic State on the run, will soon be wiped out: Trump

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/islamic-state-on-the-run-will-soon-be-wiped-out-of-syria-and-iraq-donald-trump/story-AxqgiaxAItxpOyUr1oWSoN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the Islamic State was "on the run" and will soon be "wiped out" of Syria and Iraq. Trump's statement comes after Iraqi forces declared victory over the militant group in Mosul, retaking full control of the country's second-largest city three years after it was seized.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the Islamic State was ?on the run? and will soon be ?wiped out? of Syria and Iraq, days after the Iraqi forces with the help of the US-led international coalition re-took Mosul from the terror group.Iraq has declared victory over the IS in Mosul, retaking full control of the country?s second-largest city three years after it was seized by the terror group.?ISIS is on the run and will soon be wiped out of Syria and Iraq, illegal border crossings are way down (75 per cent) and MS 13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are being removed,? Trump tweeted.The US President had on Tuesday spoken with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and congratulated him on ?the liberation of Mosul? by Iraqi security forces.He said that the development marked a major milestone in the fight against ISIS.?The President praised the heroism of the Iraqi and American soldiers and underscored his commitment to the total defeat of ISIS,? the White House said in a statement.?He stressed the need to consolidate gains to prevent ISIS or any other terrorist group from returning to liberated areas,? it said.ISIS is on the run & will soon be wiped out of Syria & Iraq, illegal border crossings are way down (75%) & MS 13 gangs are being removed.? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2017Commander of US forces in Iraq Lt Gen Stephen Townsend told Pentagon reporters that the IS has lost its capital in Iraq and the largest population centre they held anywhere in the world.?Iraqi militia forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, and the global coalition also deserve a share of the credit for their sacrifices to achieve this hard-won victory,? he said.?Make no mistake, this victory alone does not eliminate ISIS, and there?s still tough fighting ahead. There are still pockets of resistance in Mosul, hold-outs, and hidden IEDs that will take weeks to clear, as well as remaining ISIS enclaves in Hawija and western Anbar,? Townsend said.There are also humanitarian and stabilisation efforts desperately needed to ease the suffering of Mosul citizens and start the city on the road to recovery, he said.Though the Moslawis have suffered greatly, the east side is already springing back to life less than six months after its liberation. And Moslawis have already started to return to their neighbourhoods in the west.?But still, the loss of one of the twin capitals and a jewel of their so-called caliphate is a decisive blow to ISIS and certainly something for the Iraqis to celebrate. They can also celebrate the remarkable turnaround their security forces have made in the course of the past three years,? Townsend said.However, he said that there was still no news about the IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.?There?s been a lot of media interest in the whereabouts and status of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Despite all the helpful reports to us from every source imaginable, I?m unable to confirm or deny where he is or whether he is alive or dead. Let me just say for the record, my fervent hope is it is the latter,? he said.IS is an evil enemy who will resort to any lengths to maintain their hold on the territory they claim as their caliphate, Townsend said.?But make no mistake, it is a losing cause. Our partners in the international coalition against ISIS will stand side by side against ISIS until they?re defeated in both Iraq and Syria,? Townsend asserted.

Abhishek Bansal

05 Apr 2017,Wednesday

No change in fee structure, word limit for RTI queries: Govt

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rti-rules-amendments-central-government/1/921016.html

The Centre has said that it is committed to easy and full implementation of the RTI after it faced criticism for the proposed amendments to the rules. "It has been alleged that the size of the RTI has been restricted to 500 words... But there is no change in fee structure or word limit in RTI," the government stated.

Sumedha Sehra

13 Jul 2017,Thursday

They were elated to lift me: MLA carried by people in mud

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjd-mla-manas-madkami-odisha-malkangiri/1/1000919.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Manas Madkami defended being carried on people's shoulders to prevent his clothes from getting dirty in a patch of muddy water in Odisha's Malkangiri on Tuesday. "It was the overwhelming affection of supporters which prompted them to act in such manner. They felt elated while lifting me and crossing the water body," he said.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Manas Madkami loves his sparkling white shoes so much that he wouldn't mind being lifted and carried by his supporters to prevent them from getting dirty.This was evident when he allowed a couple of men carry him across a muddy patch during a visit to his home constituency - Malkangiri on Tuesday (July 11). The video of the incident has now gone viral.The act was captured on camera when MLA Madkami and Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi had visited some panchayats in Motu area in the district to take stock of welfare projects. #WATCH: BJD MLA Balabhadra Majhi carried by his supporters to cross a waterlogged stretch in Odisha's Malkangiri yesterday pic.twitter.com/GZV8MCdSYw While Nabarangpur MP crossed the muddy water without the help of supporters, MLA Madkami preferred to be carried by his supporters to keep his shoes and crisp white dress clean and dry. Madkami said that his supporters did it out of love and affection for him. Close enough ????1. Malkangiri MLA Manas Madkami2. Shivraj Singh Chouhan was furnished with a "human chair" during his floods survey#Odishapic.twitter.com/8FIJeZgMVh"It was the overwhelming affection of supporters which prompted them to act in such manner. They felt elated while lifting me and crossing the water body," the MLA said.He said that he had not forced anybody to lift him.Last year, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister was mocked for allowing cops to carry him across a water body during a visit to a flood-affected Panna region. ALSO READ:

Prashanti Moktan

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Most Indian men are male chauvinist pigs: Bhumi Pednekar

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/indian-men-in-general-are-mcps-and-their-parents-are-to-be-blamed-bhumi-pednekar/story-SIFB2DrFNh3JYGFc1cDbNO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Bhumi Pednekar has said that in her opinion, most Indian men are MCPs (male chauvinist pigs). "The people that need to blamed are those mothers and fathers who are inculcating these dated, old-school teachings to their sons," added Bhumi. She further questioned, "How is it OK for you to eve-tease a girl or touch her inappropriately?"

When she made her film debut in 2015, Bhumi Pednekar was the antithesis of the Bollywood heroine ? playing an overweight bride whose husband refuses to accept her and her body type. In her second film, Pednekar plays another newly-wed, but this time she is a feisty woman who leaves her husband after discovering he doesn?t have a toilet in the house.Bhumi Pednekar during a jewellery exhibition in Mumbai onJuly 15. (IANS) Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, which releases August 11, focuses on a serious problem that plagues millions of Indians. A World Bank report said more than half of Indian households don?t have toilets, which poses countless health and safety hazards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, or Clean India Mission after he came to power in 2014 to modernise sanitation in the country.Pednekar spoke to Reuters about the film and how it opened her eyes to the issue of open defecation.Did you find it hard to relate to the issue in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha?When they (filmmakers) first told me about it, I said, ?This is not an urban problem.? But the truth of the matter is, all my life I have seen people squatting beside the railway tracks and doing their business. I remember when the July 26 floods happened in 2005. I was walking back from college and I had shit floating all around me. It is definitely an urban problem. But yes, it is definitely a bigger rural problem. Through the film, we are commenting on the Indian mindset. There is a line in the film where a character says, ?Jis ghar mein tulsi hai us ghar mein shauch kaise bana sakte hain?? (How can you build a toilet in your house when you have a ?tulsi? plant - which Hindus consider holy).All these years, I thought this was an issue because the government doesn?t provide enough infrastructure or there is poverty. But the bigger problem is that people don?t believe in using the toilet. They don?t believe that it is a necessity and a right. In 2017, the women of your house need to go and defecate in the open? That is sad. Bhumi Pednekar during a jewellery exhibition in Mumbai onJuly 15. (IANS) And it is mostly women who bear the brunt?The men too, but this is harder on women. This film opened my eyes to a lot of things. Fifty-four percent of our country does not have access to bathrooms. Whatever toilets the government has provided, people have turned them into shops or godowns. Fifty percent of rape cases in India happen when women defecate in the open.Not only is it a health scare, because for 12-14 hours, you?ve controlled yourself, you are not going and relieving yourself from a process that is as natural as breathing? you are working, taking care of the children, sweeping the floor, cooking food, working in farms. And then when you do get a chance to relieve yourself, you don?t have any peace of mind because you don?t know when you?ll be attacked or molested. You don?t know when someone will come take a video or take a picture. And this is such a private act. Even if we have a friend sitting outside the bathroom door, we are uncomfortable. Imagine sharing it with 20 other women. Shooting those scenes were the toughest for me ? I just couldn?t get to it, even though I was acting. If it was tough for me, imagine how much we are hurting the self-respect and dignity of women who are actually going through this every day.Do you think a film like this can help spread awareness about the issue?Definitely. Films are the largest and most impactful medium. In today?s times, it needs to be entertaining, yes, but if you have a chance of giving a message or changing a mindset, why not? People worship stars, so why not use that to the benefit of our society? Primarily, this is a beautiful love story between Keshav and Jaya. They are simple, straightforward characters, and the villain in their love story is a toilet. Did you meet the woman on whom this story is based?This film is not based on a particular story. We have been inspired by all these women and I have read about them in-depth. When you start reading about them, you understand their mindset. It is so difficult for them ? it is a violation of their privacy, their health and security. Even otherwise, Indian women are perpetually scared. On the days I don?t have my car and I am coming by cab at 2 am, my mum is up because she is worried. You can belong to any strata of society? In both your films, you play a woman who is willing to stand up to her family and in-laws, which is very atypical. Is that a conscious decision?I have been very lucky to get these roles. And these are not women that come from money. They are girls whose fathers probably mortgaged their houses to get them married. And the next day, they have the balls to leave their husband. In that social economic strata, the story of spirit is so high. They are real feminists, they just have not had the chance to act upon what they believe in. Hypothetically, if I am in an unhappy marriage, my parents will not say, ?drop it and come back?. For them, it is not easy. Did you learn anything about the men in these women?s lives?I already have an opinion about men ? not men that belong to this socio-economic strata, but Indian men in general. Most of them are MCPs (male chauvinist pigs), and the people that need to blamed are those mothers and fathers who are inculcating these dated, old-school teachings to their sons. How is it OK for you to eve-tease a girl or touch her inappropriately? Today, because of social media, a lot of these cases are coming out and you understand the hypocrisy of the average Indian male. Follow @htshowbiz for more

Tanya Dhingra

05 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Soundarya Rajinikanth and Ashwin's divorce finalised

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/soundarya-rajinikanth-and-ashwin-are-officially-divorced/1/994509.html

Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth and her husband Ashwin Ramkumar were legally granted a divorce by a family court in Chennai on Tuesday. Soundarya Rajinikanth had confirmed her separation in September last year while tweeting, "We have been separated for over a year." Nothing has been revealed yet about the custody of their son.

Soundarya Rajinikanth and Ashwin Ramkumar have finally ended their 7-year marriage today. The legal proceedings are all over and a family court in Chennai granted the couple a divorce on Tuesday. Soundarya, who married a Chennai-based industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar in 2010, took the decision after a difference of opinion. According to a report in the Times Of India, the couple has been living separately for seven months before the matter reached the court. A mutual consent divorce petition was filed in a family court last year. Soundarya and Ashwin have a one-year old son Ved. In September last year, Soundarya Rajinikanth took to Twitter and confirmed the news of their separation. She wrote, "News about my marriage is true. We have been separated for over a year and divorce talks are on. I request all to respect my family's privacy."News about my marriage is true. We have been separated for over a year & divorce talks are on. I request all to respect my family's privacy.A graphic designer by profession, Soundarya has worked in Tamil films such as Baba, Sandakozhi and Sivaji among others. She is also the founder of Ocher Picture Productions. Soundarya is most popular for directing her father in India's first motion capture 3D Tamil film Kochadaiiyaan. On the work front, Soundarya is awaiting the release of Velai Illa Pattathari 2, a sequel to the blockbuster Tamil film of the same name. The film stars Dhanush and Kajol in the lead roles, while Amala Paul, Samuthirakani and Vivek will be seen in pivotal roles.

Rini Sinha

02 Jul 2017,Sunday

Sridevi denies report of daughter auditioning in dance show

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dance-plus-season-3-did-sridevis-daughter-khushi-kapoor-audition-for-the-show-heres-what-the-actress-has-to-say-lifetv/1/992410.html

Actress Sridevi has denied reports of her younger daughter Khushi Kapoor auditioning for a television dance reality show. "The other day, we were laughing at the rumour," added Sridevi. It was reported that Khushi auditioned for Remo D'Souza's dance show and didn't reveal her identity. Reportedly, she wasn't recognised until she performed before Remo.

Indian film actress Sridevi's daughter has been hitting the headlines lately. According to reports, the actress' daughter Khushi Kapoor secretly auditioned for the dance reality show Dance Plus Season 3. The reality show that premiered last night on Indian TV is judged by choreographer-director Remo D'souza.Ever heard of the #bollywhack? #DancePlus3 is here to take dance #EkLevelUp. Tune-in 1st July onwards, Sat-Sun at 8pm. ____ #HouseOfSuraj #Contestants #Dance #StarPlus #DanceLoversA post shared by STAR PLUS (@starplus) on Jun 27, 2017 at 8:05am PDT"Khushi is not participating in any kind of dance class or any show. It is not at all true. We don't know where this came from," IANS quoted the actress as saying.

Tarun Khanna

11 Jan 2017,Wednesday

PM Modi reduced Gandhi to his spectacles: Bapu's grandson

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-reduced-gandhi-to-his-spectacles-kejriwal-kanhaiya-hope-for-new-politics-says-mahatmas-grandson-at-india-today-conclave-south/1/853857.html

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Tuesday said that PM Narendra Modi has reduced the name of Bapu to his spectacles. "But the question is why does he need those spectacles? He needs it because there is room for veracity," he added. He further said that Arvind Kejriwal, Kanhaiya Kumar bring hope for new politics in India.

In a candid conversation with India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai during a session at the India Today Conclave South 2017 on the second day of the event, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, said, "The present Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the name of Mahatma Gandhi to his spectacles.""But the question is why does he need those spectacles? He needs it because there is room for veracity," Gandhi said.BJP speaks about Sardar Patel because he also stood for veracity, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said.PRAISE FOR KERJIWAL, KANHAIYAMaking a nuanced comment about the need for idealism-based politics, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, "There is great hope in India for non-cluster, non-family, non-right-wing politics. Right-wingism is about being on the side of majority (ignoring others).""Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal brought a fresh hope on Jantar Matar few years ago. I don't know how will Kejriwal perform but he brought some fresh hope," Gopalkrishna Gandhi said."Kejriwal, Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh (Mevani) bring hope for new politics of India," said Gandhi adding, "The governments come and go but he electorates and the electorate vending machine stay. I believe, India will produce such people, who will protect the country from its leaders."ADVICE FOR RAHUL GANDHIOn a query drawing comparison between him and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi over electoral politics, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, "I was playing safe by not joining politics. Rahul Gandhi has taken a big risk by joining politics."He said, "I would like Rahul Gandhi to tell India, "I don't want to become the prime minister of India. I want to serve my party for life because it fought for the freedom of the country. I want to serve my party. But I want a prime minister to emerge from the ranks of the Congress. But, I am giving up all hope to become prime minister of India"." 6 OTHER STATEMENTS GOPALKRISHNA GANDHI MADEResponding to a question about ideology-based politics, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, "End of ideology is a good thing. It means the end of ideologues. It also means the end of (political) posturing.""Constitution does not give any ideology. It speaks of justice. My idea of ideology is justice.""Hindu party of India is BJP. But, it did not win the majority vote. Majority vote was scattered. Hindu vote got consolidated."

Chhavi Tyagi

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Smriti Irani shares an old picture with husband

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/smriti-irani-shares-an-old-picture-with-husband-and-internet-can-t-stop-admiring/story-UCd5VU1siBMAXHfyVTguoL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Union Minister Smriti Irani reposted an old picture of herself with her husband Zubin Irani on Instagram with the caption, "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love...the things you are, the things you never want to lose - The Wonder Years." The picture, posted on Thursday, has received more than 10,300 likes.

Union textiles minister Smriti Irani has reposted an old picture that her husband Zubin Irani shared on Instagram and the internet can?t stop swooning over the couple.The former television actor reposted the picture, in which she is seen with her husband and smiling, on Thursday on her Instagram account.?Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love..the things you are, the things you never want to lose - The Wonder Years,? the picture was captioned. #Repost @iamzfi (@get_repost) ??? #tbt Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love ?? the things you are, the things you never want to lose - The Wonder Years A post shared by Smriti Irani (@smritiiraniofficial) on Jul 26, 2017 at 9:29pm PDT Irani is one the few politicians in the country who does not shy away from sharing her personal moments in public. Her Instagram account is full of personal pictures of her and her family.Here are some of the posts Irani has shared in the past. My babies toooo ???how time flies ?????kal hi ki to baat thi....... #Repost @iamzfi (@get_repost) ??? Then & Now my babies ? A post shared by Smriti Irani (@smritiiraniofficial) on Jul 25, 2017 at 9:24am PDT #when #yourbabygirl overshoots #you in height and #you can't help but #smile ??????????? A post shared by Smriti Irani (@smritiiraniofficial) on Jul 12, 2017 at 5:42am PDT #when #theyare #happy to gang up against #you ??? A post shared by Smriti Irani (@smritiiraniofficial) on Jul 11, 2017 at 10:04am PDT And, here are some of the adorable comments by the users on the social media platform.

Niharika Prabhakar

28 Jul 2017,Friday

JNU students should take oath to protect nationalism: BJP MP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jnu-students-should-take-oath-to-protect-nationalismbjp-mp/1/1012209.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students must take an oath of protecting the shine of India's pride and nationality, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said on Thursday while supporting the JNU Vice-Chancellor's plan to install a battle tank inside the campus. She further stated that "anti-India" slogans had been raised inside the JNU campus and such activities cannot be allowed to continue.

New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The students of JNU must take an oath of protecting the shine of Indias pride and nationality, a BJP MP said today while supporting a demand by the Vice Chancellor to install a battle tank inside the campus. Meenakshi Lekhi, raising the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha, also criticised attempts to create a "controversy" following the call by the Jawaharlal Nehru University vice chancellor Jagadesh Kumar to install the tank. She said "anti-India" slogans like India will be broken were raised inside the campus and such activities cannot be allowed to continue. "It is very unfortunate. A controversy is being created following the vice chancellors views. The JNU is run by tax- payers money. Anti-India slogans were raised inside the campus. It is an insult of those protecting the border," Lekhi said. The BJP MP from Delhi said the JNU students should take an oath that they will protect the countrys pride and nationality. Justifying the JNU vice chancellors demand, she said replica of aircraft were installed at various places including schools and students find them very interesting. "There was an aircraft in my sons school. It was encouraging for the students. There is nothing wrong in the VCs demand," she said. On July 16, while participating in an event at the JNU to celebrate the Kargil Vijay Divas, requested minister of state for external affairs V K Singh to install a tank inside the campus. The JNU VCs demand drew widespread criticism from a number of political parties as well as some students of the university. During the zero hour, YSR Congress MP Renuka Butta demanded intervention by the central government in probing the drug racket busted recently in Hyderabad.

Prashanti Moktan

21 Jun 2017,Wednesday

Akshay is bigger star than Khans in Bollywood, says Salman

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-khan-tubelight-akshay-kumar-khans-of-bollywood/1/983857.html

Salman Khan has referred to Akshay Kumar as the "bigger star" in Bollywood than Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and himself. Salman said that Akshay, who does four to five films a year, is the man who works hard, makes the maximum amount of money and supports many production companies, film units and directors every four months.

He is one of Bollywood's biggest stars. If his films set the box office on fire, his personal life often finds place in the juicy columns of tabloids. But Bollywood's Bajrangi Bhaijaan thinks that there is another actor who is a bigger star than all the Khans. In an interview to DNA, when Salman was asked about superstardom, he said, "Today, when they say (superstars) I think there is Aamir, Shah Rukh, me, and Akshay Kumar. We do fewer films - I do two films a year, Aamir does one film in three years, Akshay does four-five films a year. So you do the math."Salman is a huge admirer of Khiladi Kumar and said that he works more than any of the Khans in Bollywood, and therefore, he truly deserves the tag of a superstar. "The man who works that hard and makes the maximum amount of money, and supports those many production companies, those many units, and those many directors every four months is a bigger star," added the 51-year-old actor. Akshay is known to do 3-4 films a year, while Salman mostly sticks to 1-2 films. Talking about doing less films than Akshay, the Wanted actor said, "I think Akki is the only one who understood that back in the day, char-paanch lakh ke liye itni jyaada mehnat kar rahe the, ab crores ke liye utni mehnat nahi kar rahe hain. When we were paid so little per film, we did more films. Now we get paid so much more for a film, and we are doing fewer films." On the work front, Akshay will be next seen in Toilet Ek Prem Katha, while Salman is awaiting the release of Tubelight.

Aarushi Maheshwari

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Man uses forged letters of Swaraj for helicopter tickets

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/man-arrested-for-using-forged-letters-of-swaraj-for-helicopter-tickets-to-vaishno-devi/story-8Pmc0yA8WG7wmZgfTiP28N.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A man has been arrested for allegedly using forged letters of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for helicopter tickets to the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, said Jammu police on Saturday. The police said, "the accused acquired these tickets through the quota based on forged letters of the office of Sushma Swaraj". He sold the tickets in the black market.

A man has been arrested for allegedly using forged letters of External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to get heli-tickets to the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, police said in Jammu on Saturday.The accused, Sandeep, sold these tickets in the black market in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, they said.?Police has solved the forgery case regarding selling of heli-tickets to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in black market. The accused acquired these tickets through the quota based on forged letters of the office of Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs,? a senior police officer said.A case was registered against Sandeep at Katra police station.SSP Reasi had constituted a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Sumir Kotwal, Additional SP Katra, to probe the matter.

Tarun Khanna

18 Mar 2017,Saturday

Don't lose faith, hum honge kamyab: Kejriwal to AAP cadre

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arvind-kejriwal-aap-workers-letter-keep-up-the-faith-fight/1/906884.html

After facing defeat in recently held Punjab and Goa Assembly elections, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to party cadre, stating "hum honge kamyab" (We shall overcome) and they shouldn't lose faith. The 65-year-old BJP hasn't given up in Karnataka, 130-year-old Congress hasn't given up in Maharashtra, hence there's no reason for us to give up, he wrote.n

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to party workers, demoralised after the AAP's recent loses in Punjab and Goa Assembly elections. The party was especially betting big on Punjab, which sent four AAP leaders to the Lok Sabha in the 2014 general election. The party won 20 constituencies in Punjab, narrowly beating the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bhartiya Janata Party combine's 18 seats to emerge as the principal opposition in the state. In Goa, on the other hand, AAP failed to open its tally, losing in all the constituencies the party contested in. Delhi chief minister Kejriwal's morale-boosting letter, sent to all APP volunteers, comes just ahead of Delhi municipal polls, scheduled for April 22.ALSO READ | Congress to use Punjab Assembly elections results against AAP in MCD poll campaigns

Aarushi Maheshwari

11 Mar 2017,Saturday

Mumbai gets its first floating hotel

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/soon-dine-aboard-a-floatel-in-mumbai/story-ujUVt3YiSoim9d7rFEB43N.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=inshorts_full_article&utm_campaign=inshorts_full_article

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday inaugurated the first floating hotel or floatel in Mumbai. AB Celestial, a three-tier yacht featuring restaurants and a sky deck, is harboured near Bandra-Worli Sea Link toll plazas. "The floatel will give a 360-degree view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea and has a capacity to cater to around 650 guests," an official said.

Soon Mumbaiites will be able to dine on the sea with the iconic cable-stayed Bandra Worli Sea Link in the back drop. The city?s first floating hotel or floatel will be inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday evening.The vessel is harboured near the BWSL toll plazas since a few months now, and can be accessed via a jetty near the sea link?500 meters before the toll plazas. The floatel, AB Celestial, is built in the United State of America. The three-tier vessel is a venture by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in partnership with AB Hospitality and WB International Consultant.According to MTDC officials, the state-of-the-art floatel has three restaurants and a banquet hall. It has a sky deck, two galleys, and will have two multi-cuisine restaurants including a club lounge equipped with a round-the-clock coffee shop.?The floatel will give a 360-degree view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea and has a capacity to cater to around 650 guests. Mumbai receives the maximum number of foreign tourists so the floatel will certainly become a huge attraction for the tourists and for Mumbaikars as well. The floatel would also enhance the image of Mumbai,? an MTDC official, requesting anonymity.The floatel was launched in 2014 by then tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal, but was not opened to public due to issues of permissions, officials added.Currently, states such as Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry already run floating hotels and attract a high number of tourists. Globally too cities including New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, Saigon in Vietnam, etc have floating restaurants.READ?MOREHead to a pop-up meal in Mumbai where the menu is a secretMumbai restaurant offers discount to customers with inked fingers

Ankur Vyas

19 Dec 2016,Monday

98 tigers died across the country in 2016: NTCA

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/98-tigers-died-in-india-in-2016-says-national-tiger-conservation-authority/1/837787.html

With 98 reported deaths, there has been a 25% rise in the number of tiger deaths this year, National Tiger Conservation Authority reported. Number of tiger deaths in 2015 was 78, it added. The NTCA has stated that all tiger deaths will be treated as poaching unless proven otherwise, making it 65% of the total deaths this year.

The euphoria over rise in world tiger population early this year may have been misplaced for India as the official data placed before Parliament shows that 98 tigers died in the country till November 16, 2016, a steep 25 per cent rise over last year when 78 deaths were reported.The figures collected by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also take the wind out of government efforts to encourage tiger foundations for sensitising the public and fighting poachers to save the big cats. The environment and forest ministry released Rs1.82-crore grant in 2016 for tiger conservation against Rs30 lakh the previous year.Also Read: Tiger population is rising, but will it get doubled by 2022?"Poaching and poisoning continue to be tigers' worst enemies in the wild," environment minister Anil Madhav Dave told Mail Today, explaining the challenges before the government. "The villagers and some criminal social groups living in or at the fringes of tiger reserves get lured by the money thrown by poaching syndicates of south-east Asia, where there is a huge demand for tiger body partsâ?¦ we are battling that to save our big cats." Curiously, a high percentage of tiger deaths in the NTCA data remain unexplained, as the official records show "details awaited" or "cases under scrutiny" as the stated reason for the death. Environmentalists point out that in such cases, the deaths are considered as unnatural, with poaching as the most common motive.Also Read: Tiger population in Pench reserve risen to 53: SFRI reportThe NTCA has also issued an advisory stating that all tiger deaths will be treated as poaching unless and until proven otherwise. Hence the number of poaching cases under such a condition is over 65% of the total tiger deaths reported in 2016.Madhya Pradesh alone accounts for nearly 31 of the 98 deaths this year. The state reported four tiger deaths within a fortnight in November, with one death due to overdose of tranquiliser.POLITICAL NEXUSThe central Indian state, whose tourism arrivals is soaring every year banks heavily on tiger population in its three famous reserves. However, tiger population in Madhya Pradesh has come down from 700 in 2000 to less than half, at 301 in 2016. The state now trails behind Karnataka and Uttarakhand in tiger population.There are many anti-poaching measures initiated by NTCA which coordinate with state forest departments, but to little avail. In fact, poaching cases increased by more than 100 per cent this year. The figures attribute nearly 30 tiger deaths to poaching this year, which is more than double of last year's figure of 14. Top forest officials that Mail Today spoke with expressed helplessness in their fight against poachers and at times cited "political pressures'' leading to more frequent man-tiger conflict.Some point fingers at archaic resources at hand, immobility against hi-tech and heavilyarmed poachers around Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Some poachers belong to criminal social groups like Pardis, Bahelias, Bawarias and Bongias and are very strongly networked in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.RED CORRIDORS

Chhavi Tyagi

16 Dec 2016,Friday

AIADMK rejects demand for information on Jaya's treatment

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/white-paper-jayalalithaa-aiadmk-dmk-pmk/1/836293.html

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has rejected opposition parties' demand for issuing 'white paper', a government report giving information on an issue, on the treatment given to Late CM J Jayalalithaa. AIADMK Spokesperson C Ponnaiyan termed the demand for white paper as a planned campaign against Sasikala Natarajan, the long-time close aide of Jayalalithaa and prospective party general secretary.

AIADMK has rejected the demand for issuing a white paper on the treatment given to late chief minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa.The party spokesperson C Ponnaiyan termed the demand for white paper as a 'planned campaign' against Sasikala Natarajan, the long-time close aide of Jayalalithaa.Earlier, opposition DMK and PMK had demanded a white paper on the treatment given to the former Tamil Nadu chief minister.READ| DMK, PMK demand white paper on treatment given to JayaThe opposition parties said, "There are apprehensions among the public and party supporters on the matter."'NO WHITE PAPER ON JAYALALITHAA'"The Tamil Nadu government should release a white paper on the treatment given to former chief minister Jayalalithaa. Since AIIMS doctors had also treated her, the treatment details should be informed to public by the Centre," DMK leader MK Stalin said.Stalin was supported by PMK founder S Ramadoss, who said that, there were 'apprehensions' among the public and AIADMK workers over the treatment given to Jayalalithaa as well as her death.  WATCH:READ| Jayalalithaa's death: Chennai NGO files PIL, demands CBI probeResponding to the demand, Ponnaiyan said, "They (DMK and PMK) are doing politics over the matter. Doctors monitored Amma. Specialists from Apollow Hospita, AIIMS and Dr Richard Beale from London and also from Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore worked as a team.""Ramadoss and Stalin are not the ones who are not aware about it," Ponnaiyan contended. 'OPPOSITION SEEKS CLARIFICATION' Ramadoss and Stalin's demand came in the wake of conflicting reports about Jayalalithaa's health and medical treatment given to her before her demise in Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

Akshita Jain

11 Dec 2016,Sunday

Centre asks Bihar to use state funds first for flood relief

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bihar-flood-relief-state-centre-narendra-modi-nitish-kumar-rajnath-singh/1/831983.html

The Centre has rejected Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's request to provide flood relief assistance to the state and has instead directed the Bihar government to spend its State Disaster Response Fund first. Union Minister for Home, Kiren Rijiju has also sought details from the Bihar government on how the available funds have been used to help the flood victims.

The Narendra Modi administration and Bihar Government are at loggerheads, yet again. This time the bone of contention is the flood relief assistance which Bihar government has sought from the Centre to deal with aftermath of massive floods that hit the state this year. The Centre rejecting the request made by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide flood relief assistance to the state to deal with the post-flood situation has directed the Bihar government to first spend the funds it has under State Disaster Fund before seeking any kind of central assistance.It may be noted that the Bihar government at present has Rs 1,859 crore in the State Disaster Fund and the Centre has directed it to spend this amount first as relief and rehabilitation for flood victims and compensation to farmers for crop losses. Making its intent clear, Union Minister for Home, Kiren Rijiju has also sought details from the state government on how funds available in the State Disaster Funds have been used for victims of flood.BIHAR CM WRITES TO RAJNATH It may be mentioned that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in first week of November had written a strongly worded letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh requesting for a special flood relief assistance of Rs 4,112  crore to the state to provide relief and rehabilitation to the flood affected victims. In fact the Bihar Chief Minister was also miffed at the fact that despite him meeting PM Narendra Modi and assurance given by the Centre in August that a central team would be sent to Bihar soon to assess the flood losses did not turn up till early November.Also read: More than 33 lakh people affected in Bihar floods, toll reaches 95It is only after this strongly worded letter was shot to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that a central team had come to Bihar on 11-12 November to take stock and assess damage caused to the state because of floods. DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF RS 4,000In fact Bihar government in its own report submitted to the Centre pertaining to losses caused due to floods had made and assessment that the damage caused to the state was in excess of Rs 4,000 crore rupees. In fact in the letter, Nitish Kumar had question the intent of the Central government in providing any kind of financial assistance to Bihar to deal with the huge losses the state has suffered due to recent floods which has affected several districts.

Chhavi Tyagi

11 Feb 2017,Saturday

Quality of primary public education deteriorating: Javadekar

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-education-summit-prakash-javadekar-right-to-education-cce-aadhaar/1/880339.html

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the quality of primary public education is deteriorating and added that people are forgetting that scientists, entrepreneurs, and politicians today have all attended local schools. "100% Right To Education is a must. One major fallacy of the RTE was that whoever entered the school just wanted to 'finish' it," he added.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar flagged off the India Today Education Summit by talking about the problems, reforms and solutions the education sector needs today. Javadekarâ??s speech touched on a host of subjects. He talked about how education holds the key to our future with 40 crore parents being directly connected to it. "Every time a child goes to school, a new parent joins the force. The constituency keeps growing. The most important thing is prioritising the importance of skill," the minister said.Also read | Also read | We have to take emergency measures to check air pollution in Delhi: Prakash JavadekarMEASURES FOR STRENGTHENING TEACHER EDUCATION1. Conduct an all-India exam to decide entry to teacher training courses.2. Ensure a transparent online system of teacher rationalization and deployment.

Daisy Mowke

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Dia Mirza walks the ramp for Anju Modi at India Couture Week

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-couture-week-dia-mirza-anju-modi-fashion-lifest/1/1013031.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Dia Mirza turned showstopper for designer Anju Modi's 'Sunehri Kothi' collection at the India Couture Week. Dia walked the runway in an organza lehenga and an embroidered maroon velvet blouse, paired with a sheer white dupatta. "I took inspiration from the miniature art of 16th Century Rajasthan, especially Kishangarh. Dia looks like a princess from Rajasthan," said Anju.

Actress-producer Dia Mirza, who is also a nature lover, felt overjoyed to walk in a creation inspired by nature on the ramp.Dia closed designer Anju Modi's India Couture Week show on Thursday by sashaying down the "environment-friendly" runway in a traditional outfit, which is a part of the 'Sunehri Kothi' (Golden chalet) collection."Thank you for making me a part of this. I am a complete nature lover, but I can't imagine art, motifs inspired by nature. This collection really depicts that," Dia said while praising Anju."She has been responsible for safeguarding our heritage. She has taken handicrafts and textiles to the next level. I felt exquisite wearing this beautifully handcrafted outfit."It's delicate, intricate and has a resonance of an era gone by," added the actress, who looks up to her mother for style.According to her, every little girl looks up to her mother."All of my life, I remember looking up to my mother's starry eyes--my mother has an amazing personality. All this intrigued me about her.""The way she carried herself, her personality reflected so strongly in anything that she wore. That's what completes your garment. It's your character and your personality," said Dia.The "Bajirao Mastani" designer chose a good combination of green and maroon for her lehenga in organza. The maroon, full-sleeve, velvet blouse and off-white and golden dupatta that she wore around her head, and heavy jewellery and make-up made her look like she had just finished shooting a period film."I took inspiration from the miniature art of 16th Century Rajasthan, especially Kishangarh. Dia looks like a princess from Rajasthan," said Anju, who used cow and deer motifs for her collection.Also Read: Disha Patani to Athiya Shetty: The star-studded runway of ICW 2017Anju relived the mystique of Radha, with her sharp features dressed in lehengas made from hand-woven textiles, and worn with fitted blouses.She took cue from architectural and artistic influences of the craft of Meenakari, the intricate and detailed brushwork, the remnants of the colours -- handmade from minerals, vegetables, indigo, and embellished with precious stones, pure gold and silver.Many of her designs are inspired by the Kishangarh School of Art that Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh personally introduced to her.Vaishnavi's art finds great resonance in Anju's collection, which shone bright, thanks to Vishal Jewels' uncut diamonds, polkies and rubies that were flaunted by the models, who moved to the sound of flute, sarangi and the voice of a classical singer.

Mansha Mahajan

30 Apr 2017,Sunday

Essar group seeks ?4,000 crore as refund from I-T dept

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/essar-group-seeks-rs-4000-cr-refund-from-i-t-dept/1/941903.html

Ruias-owned Essar Group is seeking a refund of ?4,000 crore capital gains tax deducted in 2011 when it sold stake in telecom venture to UK's Vodafone. Essar's Mauritius unit, Essar Communications, had sold 22% in Vodafone Essar for $4.2 billion. Vodafone, however, paid $3.32 billion after withholding $0.88 billion as tax deducted at source, which wasn't due under India-Mauritius treaty.

Parmeet Kaur

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Go, meet voters: Amit Shah to Delhi BJP leaders

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/unhappy-amit-shah-pulls-up-delhi-bjp-leaders/1/1002618.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

BJP President Amit Shah has expressed displeasure over the state of affairs in the BJP's Delhi unit at a meeting with the unit's office-bearers. He reportedly asked them to spend more time meeting common people rather than just the top leaders. He also addressed the issues of lack of coordination between office-bearers and subordinates, and favouritism in the party.

If the Delhi BJP leaders thought they enjoyed the pleasure of the central leadership after the emphatic victory in MCD elections, an utterly rude shock awaited them.Upset with the lax attitude of Delhi BJP leaders and bickering within the state party unit, the party's national president Amit Shah on Friday took them to task and noted that the party leaders spent more time meeting the top leaders than reaching out to the common people.In a meeting with Delhi BJP office bearers on day one of his Delhi pravaas, Shah also set a target of securing 51 per cent votes in the next assembly polls. He expressed displeasure over the state of affairs in Delhi unit after several leaders came out in open alleging the current leadership has failed to follow the policies of the party and that favourites of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari got the key posts.The BJP president was meeting Delhi BJP leaders at the NDMC convention centre in the national Capital. The meetings would continue on Saturday at Delhi BJP headquarters. This is the first ever brainstorming session of Amit Shah with Delhi BJP leaders."A majority of leaders in Delhi are not working hard enough. All they are doing is making efforts to meet and please Amit Shah, Ramlal and Arun Jaitley. No one is spending time to meet the common people," Shah was quoted as saying by a BJP leader who was present in the meeting.Sources said he was also unhappy with the haphazardly executed vistarak program in Delhi. According to Delhi BJP, only 60 per cent of over 13,000 booths in Delhi were covered. Also the party was far behind the target of adding 1.5 lakh new members to the party.Even after a BJP leader present in the meeting told Shah that the party would get 41 per cent votes in a triangular fight in Delhi if elections were held immediately, Shah - who had a target of 51 per cent in Delhi- was not convinced. The leaders gave a detailed presentation on the voting pattern, caste equations and demographic division in the Capital and also the factors that led to BJP's successive defeats in elections. Shah also directed the state leadership to improve its presence at the booth level to strike good rapport with the voters.During the meeting, some among the party leaders also cited lack of coordination between office bearers and the subordinates. Taking strong note of this, Shah directed Delhi BJP general secretary Kuljeet Chahal to put before him all communication sent from the central office ever since he became the BJP president in August 2014.He also took note of the complaints that the communications from central leadership was not circulated to party workers at the district and block levels.An action report has been sought regarding all communications on Saturday.

Shubhodeep Datta

15 Jan 2017,Sunday

RSS should include more women in its ranks: Advani

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rss-women-lk-adavni-prajapita-brahma-kumaris/1/857944.html

Senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani on Sunday suggested that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should give more space to women in its ranks. Advani said this while speaking at a function organised by spiritual group 'Prajapita Brahma Kumaris' in New Delhi. Further, during his address, Advani also lamented that India appears "incomplete" without Sindh in its territory.

Sidelined by the BJP in the official league of 'Margdarshak' (supreme guides), senior parliamentarian LK Advani today suggested to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to give more space to women in its ranks.

Mansha Mahajan

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Tata Motors CEO earned a salary of ?22.5 crore

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tata-motors-ceo-butschek-draws-rs-22.55-cr-salary-in-fy17/1/1015521.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Tata Motors CEO Guenter Butschek took home over ?22.55 crore last fiscal, while other key officials saw their remunerations cut amid mounting losses. Executive Director Satish Borwankar, who has taken over as COO, saw a cut of 12% to ?2.14 crore. However, most independent directors, except Nusli Wadia, who was removed from the board last year, saw their remunerations grow.

New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) Tata Motors CEO and Managing Director Guenter Butschek took home over Rs 22.55-crore salary last fiscal, while other key officials saw their remunerations cut in a year when the company was saddled with losses. However, most of the independent directors of the company except Nusli Wadia, who was removed from the board in December last year, saw their remunerations grow in high double digits, as per the companys Annual Report for 2016-17. Ravi Pisharody, erstwhile Executive Director and former head of the companys commercial vehicles (CV) business unit who had quit the company last month, saw his salary drop by 17 per cent to Rs 2.3 crore in the last fiscal. Likewise, Executive Director Satish Borwankar, who has taken over as chief operating officer, drew a remuneration of Rs 2.14 crore last fiscal, a cut of 12 per cent. Tata Motors Chief Financial Officer C Ramakrishnan also saw his salary trimmed by 2 per cent during the year to Rs 4.1 crore. Similarly, Company Secretary Hoshang Sethnas salary was reduced by 6 per cent to Rs 1.22 crore in the year. As for Butschek, the report said he "joined on February 15, 2016 hence percentage increase in the remuneration is not comparable". He was paid Rs 22.55 crore last fiscal. Independent Director R A Mashelkars remuneration was at Rs 1.56 crore, up 47 per cent, while that of N Munjee was at Rs 1.44 crore, an increase of 27 per cent.

Shubhodeep Datta

18 Apr 2017,Tuesday

Govt must be fined for allowing Art of Living fest: Sri Sri

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/sri-sri-says-ngt-not-art-of-living-should-be-fined-for-yamuna-floodplain-damage/story-SrCC3u9CexazwsnCTaQBSL.html

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday said the Centre, Delhi government, and the National Green Tribunal should be fined for allowing his foundation to organise the World Culture Festival on Yamuna floodplains in March 2016. "If the Yamuna was so fragile... they should have stopped the World Culture Festival," Sri Sri added.

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday said the Centre, Delhi government and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) should be held responsible for allowing his foundation to organise the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains in March 2016 ? if any environmental damage was caused.?If, at all, any fine has to be levied, it should be levied on the Central and state governments and the NGT itself, for giving the permission. If the Yamuna was so fragile and pure, they should have stopped the World Culture Festival,? said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a statement issued on Tuesday. The tribunal had allowed the festival on March 11-13, 2016, saying that as the matter was ?fait accompli?, they could not ban it. The three-day World Cultural Festival of Art of Living soon grabbed headlines for allegedly polluting and harming the ecosystems at the Yamuna floodplains.An interim environment compensation of Rs5 crore was imposed on the foundation for its alleged ?environment damaging activities? by the NGT while efforts were made to ascertain the exact cost of the damage.?World over, cultural programmes are held on riverbanks. The whole idea was to bring awareness to save the river. The Art of Living that has rejuvenated 27 rivers, planted 71 million trees, revived several ponds is being projected as destroying a dead river. What a joke,? said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.Even though the petitioner in the case and convener of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, Manoj Misra, chose to reserve his comments on Tuesday, he had earlier said: ?I have already stated in the petition submitted to the NGT that any activity on the Yamuna floodplains would be violating the green court?s earlier order and would prove detrimental to the floodplain.? ?The Art of Living had obtained all the necessary permission including the NGT?s. The NGT had the application file for two months and they could have stopped it in the beginning. It defies all principles of natural justice that you give permissions and slap a fine for not violating any rules,? the statement read. An expert panel, headed by Shashi Shekhar, secretary of ministry of water resources, submitted a report to the NGT, stating that it would take more than Rs 42 crore and at least 10 years to rehabilitate the floodplain after the damage caused by the three-day festival in March 2016.?I invite all honest environmentalists to study the case and unveil the truth,? he said.

Prashanti Moktan

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Not suffering from depression, it's just a big term: Kapil

http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/kapil-sharma-breaks-silence-on-rumours-of-depression-it-is-just-a-big-term-for-me/story-qV7RWTQ8YDQ2nWY5lHFdvL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Comedian and television show host Kapil Sharma has said that he is not suffering from depression, while adding, "It's just a big term for me." He added that apart from low blood pressure, he isn't facing any health issues and is feeling perfectly fine now. Kapil also clarified he has no stress and pressure regarding The Kapil Sharma Show's TRP.

Comedian and TV?show host Kapil Sharma has finally spoken on the rumours of his depression. In an interview to Dainik Bhaskar, Kapil cleared the air surrounding his ill health and said that he merely has blood pressure problems, not depression.According to several rumours floating around since past few months, Kapil has been under a lot of stress due to the falling TRPs of his show, The Kapil Sharma Show. ?It (depression) is just a big term for me (laughs). Apart from low blood pressure, I am not at all facing any health issues. I have started taking care of my diet and body. I am perfectly fine now,? he said in the interview.Mumbai: Comedian Kapil Sharma Bollywood actors Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi during the promotion of film Bank Chor on the sets of The Kapil Sharma Show in Mumbai, on June 8, 2017. (Photo: IANS) (IANS) Kapil further explained how was busy juggling between his film and the show which led to stress. ?For the past few months, I was juggling my time between The Kapil Sharma Show and my film, Firangi. I was working day and night. I wasn?t getting much time to take care of my health. Also, I had stopped doing regular exercises and workouts. This led to developing low blood pressure. Now, I have changed my routine and my health is completely fine,? he said.When asked whether the falling TRPs were the cause behind his ill health, he refuted the claims entirely. ?Believe me or not, I get to hear such kind of news from the media people itself. Nobody from Sony Channel has come to me and spoken about it. In fact, the channel people have always been kind to me; they support me a lot. ?The Kapil Sharma Show? is not going off air; we are busy shooting for it,? he said.There were also rumours that Kapil made his guests on the show wait for hours before cancelling on them. ?I was under a lot of pressure and that?s fair enough. We all have our ups and down in terms of health; don?t we? I felt sick and that?s okay. It was genuine and people around me understood that. However, I did not keep anyone waiting on the set,? he said.TRPs for The Kapil Sharma Show took a nosedive since his PR nightmare of a fight with co-actor Sunil Grover on a flight where he got physically violent with him.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Deepali Aggarwal

03 Aug 2017,Thursday

Imran Khan accused of harassing women party leaders

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-pti-lawmaker-ayesha-gulalai-accuses-imran-khan-of-harassing-women-party-leaders/story-CJtab5yD6hPhysSKeMj7XJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A woman lawmaker of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Ayesha Gulalai, has accused party leader Imran Khan of harassing women leaders in the party and sending them obscene text messages. "My integrity matters to me the most and I cannot compromise when it comes to my honour and dignity," Gulalai said announcing her resignation from the party.

A woman parliamentarian of Imran Khan?s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has stirred up a major row by accusing the cricketer-turned-politician of sending her ?obscene? text messages and harassing women leaders of the party.Ayesha Gulalai, elected to the National Assembly in 2013 from a reserved seat for women in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, also announced her decision to quit the PTI because she could not compromise on her honour and dignity.Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Gulalai said the ?honour? of women in the PTI is not safe because of 64-year-old Khan, whom she called a ?fake Pathan?. Gulalai, who hails from the conservative South Waziristan tribal region and is the sister of leading squash player Maria Toorpakai, said Khan is a ?characterless person? who considers himself an angel but his conduct is ?highly indecent?. There was no response to the allegations from Khan though PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry dismissed Gulalai?s allegations and claimed she had ?sold her soul? for money.The lawmaker said she had received numerous text messages from Khan, and the first one was sent from his Blackberry in October 2013. She declined to read out the messages but asked journalists to contact the telecom authority in this context. She urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the matter for the sake of the honour of women members of the PTI as there is speculation that Khan might one day become the prime minister. Gulalai said her decision to quit the PTI had nothing to do with a case regarding Khan?s assets that is being heard by the Supreme Court. ?The criterion for awarding party tickets is entirely different in the PTI,? she said.She said she had the courage to come out against Khan and his clan as she is a brave Pathan and honour was more important to her. The lawmaker went on to say that Khan was more impressed by Western culture and wanted to replicate it in Pakistan.?Their change is confined to social media while workers like me work on the ground, whom they call inferior workers. When I used to attend meetings, Imran Khan gave tips on how to ridicule rivals and target them,? she said.Gulalai also accused the PTI government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of corruption and said chief minister Pervez Khattak was acting like a ?mafia boss?.She rejected reports that she was joining the PML-N party of former premier Nawaz Sharif but praised him for respecting women.

Ayushi Ahluwalia

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

OPS offers ?10K for getting TN CM to respond on Jaya's death

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jayalalithaa-death-ops-offers-rs-10k-to-anyone-getting-reply-from-cm-palaniswami/story-In5KTqUWfO2WIbRqfoPN6K.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

AIADMK faction leader O Panneerselvam on Sunday offered ?10,000 to anyone asking and getting a reply from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on ordering a judicial probe into the death of late CM J Jayalalithaa. He further added that his party's "dharma yudh" would continue till the "mysterious knots" in Jayalalithaa's death were not removed.

AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction leader O Panneerselvam offered on Sunday Rs 10,000 to anyone asking and getting a reply from chief minister K Palaniswami to whether he would order a judicial probe into the death of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.He stated this while participating at the birth centenary celebrations of late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran here.Former chief minister Panneerselvam reiterated that his party?s ?dharma yudh? would continue till the ?mysterious knots? in the death of Jayalalithaa were removed.Panneerselvam-led AIADMK faction had on March 8 staged a one-day fast here and in the district capitals, demanding an independent probe into the demise of Jayalalithaa.Hitting out at AIADMK (Amma) leader V K Sasikala, he said she was unlike Jayalalithaa or her mentor M G Ramachandan who did not bring their family members into politics.Sasikala wanted to bring 16 of her family members, who were ?removed? from AIADMK by Jayalalithaa for trying to dominate the party.Even Sasikala was removed from the party by Jayalalithaa, but she was readmitted after she apologised, Panneerselvam said

Dishant Sharma

26 Jan 2017,Thursday

Federer reaches his 28th Grand Slam final at Australian Open

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jan/26/roger-federer-v-stan-wawrinka-australian-open-semi-final-live?CMP=share_btn_tw

Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Switzerland's Roger Federer overcame compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets on Thursday to reach his 28th Grand Slam final and his sixth Australian Open final. Chasing his fifth Australian Open title, Federer on Sunday will play the winner of the semi-final between one-time Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.

2.38pm GMT 14:38 12.10pm GMT 12:10 12.01pm GMT 12:01 2017. Serena and Venus Williams in the women?s final, Roger Federer in the men?s with Rafael Nadal joining him if he beats Grigor Dimitov tomorrow. The veterans are dominating this Australian Open, although Dimitrov is playing well enough to pour cold water on all this romantic nostalgia. I?ll have coverage of Nadal v Dimitrov tomorrow, but that?s all from me for now. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye.Updated at 12.27pm GMT 11.52am GMT 11:52 Federer is asked about the possibility of meeting Rafael Nadal in the final for the first time in six years. ?It?s real now. I can actually talking about playing a finals for the first time. I?ve been dodging that bullet for the last couple of days. But this is the last one. I?ll leave it all out here in Australia and if I can?t walk for another five months, that?s ok. Rafa is the biggest challenge. This court allows me to be offensive. I?m probably his number one fan. We?ve had some epic battles over the years. It would be unreal to play here. I don?t think both of us though we were going to be here potentially playing in the final because I went to open his academy in Mallorca with him a few months back and I told him ?I wish we could do a charity match or something?, but I was on one leg and he had the wrist injury and we were playing some mini tennis with some juniors and we were like ?it?s the best we can do right now?. A few months later, we are maybe going to be in the finals. It?s a very special tournament for us already.? 11.48am GMT 11:48 Federer is asked about the possibility of playing Grigor Dimitrov in the final. ?He?s got a very complete game. He can mix it up very well. It?s either going to be him ... or Rafa. Talking about Grigor, I like his game. A lot of players come out and watch him. I didn?t think he was going to be this consistent in this tournament.? 11.47am GMT 11:47 More from Federer. ?I did feel he gave a bit of a cheap break. I didn?t really deserve it at that moment. But I served it out. Everything happened so quickly at the end. I had to check the scoreboard. I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought I would come this far in Australia. I?ve got a couple of days off. I?m so happy.? 11.45am GMT 11:45 Roger Federer speaks. ?Thank God. I thought he relaxed and I couldnt? serve as well I did. He let it go and it worked for him. It was hard to stop the bleeding and I was playing tight. Stan was playing nothing to lose. It was very tricky. Good tennis in the fifth. I?ve had a leg thing going on for the week and I felt it from the second game. I don?t know. I don?t really take injury timeouts, but Stan already took his so I thought people won?t be mad and Stan won?t be mad. That physio, he has magic hands. If you go off the court, that means the treatment is ... further ... up ... the ... leg.? 11.43am GMT 11:43 Stan Wawrinka leaves to a huge ovation from an appreciative crowd. What an effort it was from the world No4, who was in tears at the end of the second set. What heart he showed to fight back when he returned from a medical timeout with tape on his right knee. But there was no denying Federer in the end. 11.42am GMT 11:42 Federer makes a perfect start, a low forehand into the left corner forcing Wawrinka to hoist a backhand wide. Then he runs around a forehand, drilling it down the line to force an anguished Wawrinka to net his forehand for 30-0. Another big forehand is enough to make Wawrinka hit wide again and Federer has three match points. He misses a first serve. He sends the second to Wawrinka?s backhand and the world No4 sends his return long! That?s it! After missing most of last year with a knee injury Roger Federer has reached the Australian Open final at the age of 35! He embraces his vanquished opponent and close friend at the net before accepting the adulation from the crowd.Updated at 12.11pm GMT 11.38am GMT 11:38 Fifth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 5-3 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): After three hours, Wawrinka is serving to stay in the match. He does so, holding to 15 with a vicious backhand. Federer will serve for the match and a place in the Australian Open final. 11.35am GMT 11:35 Fifth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 5-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate the break, Federer rediscovers his rhythm on serve and speeds into a 40-0 lead without breaking stride. He holds to 15 with a joyous smash and he?s a game away from his 28th grand slam final. 11.33am GMT 11:33 Fifth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 4-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka takes the first point, but Federer takes the next two thanks to excellent returns. Then Wawrinka squirts a backhand horribly wide to hand Federer two break points, his first of this set, and the world No4 double-faults! Rather uncharitably, the crowd cheers as Federer breaks.Updated at 11.40am GMT 11.29am GMT 11:29 Fifth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 3-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Down 0-15, Federer responds well to win the next two points. Some effective serve and volley makes it 40-15. He hasn?t done that for a while. But at 40-30, Wawrinka hammers a forehand into the right corner to force deuce. Federer has to dig deep, but he?s putting nothing into his shots now and eventually nets a backhand to gift Wawrinka a break point. Now Wawrinka?s tight. He nets a backhand. It?s advantage Federer after he dominates the net and he does enough with a volley to force a sliding Wawrinka, who almost does the splits, to net a forehand. A vital hold. 11.23am GMT 11:23 Fifth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 2-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka shows the first sign of weakness on serve for a while, netting a backhand to make it 0-15. Then, when Federer cracks a backhand from left to right, he nets a volley for 0-30. Wawrinka?s response is a second serve ace out wide. Oh, I say! Then Federer skews a forehand into the crowd to make it 30-all, before knocking a backhand return wide off a second serve. Wawrinka holds with a massive forehand down the line. Four points in a row and he holds and it was all thanks to that second serve ace at 0-30. 11.18am GMT 11:18 Fifth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 2-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): An ace down the middle from Federer is a fine way to start the game. He can?t put away two smashes during the next rally and loses it when he nets a volley, before serving well for 30-15. The camera picks out Mirka, his wife, in mid-prayer. Does she know something we don?t? Wawrinka makes it 30-all with a superb return and then defends well, earning a break point when Federer nets a tentative backhand. Wawrinka has a look at a second serve and his return is outstanding. Federer hangs in there and it?s his turn to attack. Wawrinka?s defence is also good. Federer tries a drop shot. It?s not great, but Wawrinka pokes his backhand wide at the net and Federer goes on to hold. That could be huge. Federer breathes an almighty sigh of relief. 11.13am GMT 11:13 Fifth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 1-1 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Federer leaves a return short, allowing Wawrinka to barrel a forehand away for 15-0. This is a fine service game from Wawrinka, who swerves an ace out wide to lead 40-0. He holds to love.Updated at 11.30am GMT 11.11am GMT 11:11 Fifth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 1-0 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Federer finally returns, without any taping on his knees, and begins the final set with an ace. Wawrinka, who was busily keeping himself warm during the timeout, challenges unsuccessfully. Federer holds to 15. How he needed a routine service game. ?You may have pulled off the greatest jinx of all time, Jacob,? says Krishnan Patel. ?12-5 and 4 breaks since the time you said you couldn?t see Wawrinka coming back.? 11.06am GMT 11:06 While we wait for Roger Federer to return from his medical timeout, here?s a Joy of Six on the great man. 11.06am GMT 11:06 ?If StanTheMan manages to come back to win and go on to won the tournament does that mean that he?s a ?greater? player than our beloved Sir Andy?? says Jordan Spooner. ?Yes ? Andy is more consistent but Stan would have 4 majors compared to Andy?s 3. Personally I would be happy to have an extra major than be called consistent. Oh yes ? Andy, Stan and me are on first name terms!?I can see where you?re coming from, though Murray also has two Olympic titles and is the world No1. You can spin it either way. One thing: the form he?s been in, I doubt Murray?s going to stay on three majors. 11.03am GMT 11:03 Roger Federer has left court. He had the trainer on at the end of the fourth set. Well, if it worked for Wawrinka... 11.02am GMT 11:02 Serving for the set, Wawrinka slices an ace down the middle to lead 30-0. A big serve brings up three set points and Federer nets a backhand return! We?re heading into a fifth set and even Federer might be powerless to resist this Wawrinka comeback! Updated at 11.19am GMT 10.59am GMT 10:59 Fourth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Wawrinka?s on the defensive during the first point, but it?s Federer who loses it, sending a frustrated forehand long. That gives Wawrinka the encouragement to wallop a forehand into the right corner for a 0-30 lead. Federer tries to serve-volley, but Wawrinka opens up his racquet and guides a crosscourt forehand past him to earn three break points! Federer saves the first two with some stubborn serving. He approaches the net on the third. Federer volleys into the right corner, but Wawrinka moves smoothly, reaches down and flicks a forehand from right to left to break! He?ll serve for the fourth set! He was down, out and injured after the second set and now look! 10.55am GMT 10:55 Fourth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-4 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka finds the line with a forehand winner for 15-0. Federer wastes a challenge for no apparent reason. On we go. Wawrinka clips a forehand into the corner to lead 30-0. But Federer enjoys a little slice of luck when a forehand clips the top of the net and forces Wawrinka forward. Federer picks him off with a backhand down the line for 30-15, then smashes for 30-all. Suddenly it?s an awkward game for Wawrinka, who?s relieved to see a Federer backhand flash wide. Wawrinka nets a forehand, though, and the game goes to deuce, but he holds after a couple of staunch points. 10.49am GMT 10:49 Fourth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-3 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Two successive aces from Federer, a hold to 15. Another comfortable hold. For Federer, the finishing line is in sight, but they remain on even terms in this set. 10.47am GMT 10:47 Fourth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 3-3 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka holds to 15, a stress-free game. There?s no sign of his injured knee holding him back. It feels like both players are biding their at the moment. Updated at 11.17am GMT 10.42am GMT 10:42 Fourth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 3-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Federer begins the game with a double-fault. He ends it with a preposterous forehand down the line to hold to 15. 10.40am GMT 10:40 Fourth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 2-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka settles himself down with a hold to 15. The intensity momentarily dips. 10.36am GMT 10:36 Fourth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 2-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): At 40-0, Wawrinka lobs Federer at the net. Federer runs back to the baseline and tries a tweener. Wawrinka wins the point with a smash. But Federer holds to 15, Wawrinka netting a forehand. The pendulum has swung again. 10.34am GMT 10:34 Fourth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 1-1 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka bangs an ace down for 15-0. Federer responds with a peach of a backhand pass from left to right for 15-all, which should make him feel a bit better about the way this has gone in the past 30 minutes. The game goes to 30-all and a baseline rally ensues. It ends with Wawrinka sending a backhand long and Federer has a break point. A brutally strong forehand from Wawrinka forces an error from Federer, whose forehand goes long for deuce. A double-fault from Wawrinka gifts Federer a second chance, though. Here?s another long rally. Federer?s in control, though, and there?s a hint of desperation about Wawrinka?s final shot, a backhand that drifts long. Federer breaks to stop the rot. 10.29am GMT 10:29 Fourth set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 0-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Federer looks completely confused, a double-fault making it 15-30. The wind was taken out of his sails when Wawrinka went for that medical timeout and he hasn?t been able to handle the situation. Wawrinka?s loose. With nothing to lose, he?s just come back out and spanked the fuzz off the ball. He earns a break point when Federer sends a forehand wide. Federer serves wide and moves forward; Wawrinka just wallops a backhand pass from left to right to seal a third successive break. Federer has lost from two sets up on four occasions. He?s in serious peril of it happening for a fifth time now. 10.24am GMT 10:24 That medical timeout seems to have affected Federer more than Wawrinka, who takes a 30-0 lead with an ace out wide. Another storming backhand from Wawrinka brings up three set points and Federer nets a backhand. A horrible, unfocused third set from Federer and the 2014 champion is right back in this! Against all the odds, we?re heading into a fourth set!Updated at 11.04am GMT 10.21am GMT 10:21 Third set: Federer* 7-5, 6-3, 1-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Federer looks frazzled now, netting a volley to make it 0-15, then dragging a simple forehand wide to make it 30-all. Wawrinka earns a break point, bullying Federer with a forehand down the line. Monstrous hitting from Wawrinka unsettles Federer, who sends a forehand miles long. Wawrinka breaks again and will serve for the third set! 10.17am GMT 10:17 Third set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-4 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate that unlikely break, Wawrinka marches into a 40-0 lead. He holds to 15 when Federer knocks a backhand wide. This semi-final has taken a surprise turn and we can?t be sure where it?s heading now.Updated at 10.58am GMT

Aarushi Maheshwari

01 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Homeless burglar cooks food, takes showers during break-ins

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/burglar-cooks-food-takes-shower-before-leaving/1/871315.html

A homeless burglar brings his own food for cooking and takes showers during break-ins, US authorities have said. "The bad thing is, he trashed the house," an official said while referring to a break-in. The 33-year-old accused, Jacob Merchant, has been charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of breaking and entering.

Police say an Ohio burglar made himself at home in houses he broke into by cooking and showering before leaving.Authorities in Youngstown say, 33-year-old homeless Jacob Merchant brought his own food to cook during break-ins.

Saloni Tandon

28 Jun 2017,Wednesday

Pregnant Serena Williams poses nude on cover of Vanity Fair

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/serena-williams-magazine-cover/1/988927.html

American tennis player Serena Williams, who is seven months pregnant, has posed nude on the cover of the August edition of Vanity Fair. In an interview to the magazine, Williams revealed she took at least five tests to confirm the pregnancy. Serena, who is engaged to the Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian, won the Australian Open while she was pregnant.

Serena Williams is showing off her pregnancy with a nude photo on the cover of the August issue of Vanity Fair.The tennis superstar is seen in profile with her right arm covering her breasts and her pregnant stomach prominently on display. The magazine unveiled the cover Tuesday.

Prashanti Moktan

31 Mar 2017,Friday

Kartam Bhuktam on Independence Day, tweets Kaabil's director

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/raees-vs-kaabil-sanjay-gupta-shah-rukh-khan-akshay-kumar/1/917052.html

Kaabil's director Sanjay Gupta, in a veiled reference to Shah Rukh Khan's next film and Akshay Kumar's 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' sharing the same release date, tweeted, "Kartam Bhuktam (you'll pay for your actions) on Independence Day." In the now deleted tweet, Sanjay wrote, "I believe in (Karma)... I love how you go after all that f*** with you."

2017 began with the clash of the titans - Shah Rukh Khan's Raees and Hrithik Roshan's Kaabil battling it out at the box office. Kaabil's producer Rakesh Roshan cried foul and alleged that the exhibitors were giving SRK's film the upper-hand, with a greater distribution of screens. In the race, it may have been Raees who won, but Kaabil did not give up without a fair fight.Now, weeks after the clash, Kaabil's director Sanjay Gupta seems to have sly-tweeted about Shah Rukh Khan. With Akshay Kumar announcing the release of his Toilet: Ek Prem Katha on the same day as Shah Rukh Khan's next directed by Imtiaz Ali, the Independence Day weekend is going to witness another gigantic box office clash.Sanjay tweeted, "KARMA, you beauty! I love and believe in you so much. I love how you go after all that f*** with you. KARTAM BHUKTAM on Independence Day."

Pragya Swastik

19 Mar 2017,Sunday

Dubai launches world's fastest free airport Wi-Fi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dubai-airports-unveils-free-airport-wi-fi-with-fastest-speed/1/907545.html

Dubai Airports, which manages both the Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports, has launched the world's fastest free Wi-Fi service across its terminals with speeds up to 100 Mbps. Called the 'WOW-Fi', the service provides Wi-Fi speed about ten times faster than many households have in the UAE. Free unlimited Wi-Fi at Dubai airports was launched in December 2016.

Dubai, Mar 19 (PTI) Dubai Airports has announced worlds fastest free Wi-Fi service across its terminals to provide millions of passengers superfast internet access while they wait for their flight. Aptly called WOW-Fi, the service offers a top speed of up to 100 megabits per second (mbps), about ten times faster than what many internet users would get at home in the UAE. The service provides internet connection surpassing all other airports, according to a statement released here by Dubai Airports. The launch of the service follows Dubai Airports launch of an upgraded free unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi connection across Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) in December last year. The unlimited free Wi-Fi at DXB connects with just one click and offers speed that sets a new benchmark for airports globally.

Parmeet Kaur

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Pay ?96 crore for polluting Mumbai river: SC to civic bodies

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/pay-96-crore-for-polluting-mumbai-river-supreme-court-tells-civic-bodies-industries/story-uEWnTInEMsqSbeT5ifjWLM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Dombivli Industries Association and the Dombivli, Ambernath, and Ulhasnagar municipal bodies will have to pay ?96 crore for polluting the Ulhas river in Thane. The Supreme Court has passed an order vacating an earlier High Court judgement which had put on hold a National Green Tribunal's order asking the bodies to pay the fine to restore the river.

Two municipal bodies and an association of industries will have to pay Rs96 crore for polluting the Ulhas River in Thane, after the Supreme Court vacated a Bombay high court order that had put on hold the penalty.On July 5, the SC passed an order staying the HC judgement, which had put on hold a 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. The NGT had asked the municipal bodies and association to pay the fine. The SC order, which was made public on Monday, effectively stays all previous orders of the HC in this matter.The SC said the civic bodies and the industries have the option of either filing a review in the NGT or taking the matter to the SC itself, within three weeks.In July 2015, the western bench of the NGT had passed a judgement indicting the Dombivli Industries Association (DBESA), Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, Ambernath Municipal Council and the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation of polluting the Ulhas River with untreated effluents and raw sewage. The judgment imposed a penalty of Rs96 crore to restore the river and ordered that a time-bound revival plan be put in place.READ: Unfazed by censure, Maharashtra?s polluting factories make its rivers filthiest in IndiaThe matter came to light three years earlier in 2012, when NGO Vanashakti filed a petition with the NGT, asking it to direct the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to shut polluting industries discharging untreated waste into the Ulhas River, as it violates environment rules. Following the NGT order in July 2015, the government agencies moved the HC, which stayed the tribunal?s order of depositing the amount, and constituted another committee above the one formed by the tribunal. The current SC order was in light of a special leave petition filed by Vanashakti in the SC, challenging the HC?s decision. ?We find no reasonable ground to entertain such apprehension (by the HC),? read the order by the SC bench of justice Arun Mishra and justice Amitava Roy. ?The impugned order is set aside... The appeals stand disposed of.??We are relieved that years of hard work have not gone down the drain and we are deeply thankful to the SC for intervening,? said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti. ?The judicial delays were giving polluters a long rope and destroying the river. The pollution control boards failed their duty, and it led to a pristine river becoming polluted.? A senior official from Ulhasnagar corporation said government agencies will approach SC. ?We will ask for relief from penalty as we have begun restoring the river and a revival plan is in place,? he said

Chhavi Tyagi

06 Jan 2017,Friday

Petition seeking Bharat Ratna for Jaya rejected by Madras HC

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bharat-ratna-for-jayalalithaa-rejected-madras-high-court/1/850870.html

The Madras High Court on Friday rejected a petition seeking Bharat Ratna for late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, saying that it cannot give such directions to the Central government. Tamil Nadu cabinet in December had recommended late AIADMK Chief Jayalalithaa for the Bharat Ratna and had also suggested the Centre to install her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament Complex.

In a major set back for the AIADMK, the Madras High Court today rejected a petition seeking Bharat Ratna for late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.Madras High Court dismissing the petition said they cant give any such directions to the government.Tamil Nadu cabinet in December had recommended late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa for the Bharat Ratna.The Cabinet had also suggested the Centre to install a life-size bronze statue in the Parliament Complex.The Cabinet also passed a resolution to construct a memorial for Jayalalithaa and to change Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Memorial name into Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Selvi Jayalalithaa Memorial. The memorial is expected to cost around Rs 15 crore.Meanwhile, Sasikala Natrajan, the new AIADMK general secretary has urged PM Narendra Modi to issue a commemorative coin and special postal stamp for Puratchi Thalaivar MGR on his birth centenary.ALSO READ: No CBI inquiry into Jayalalithaa's death, Supreme Court rejects Sasikala Pushpa's petitionJayalalithaa death mystery: Opposition demands hospital videos be made public

Chhavi Tyagi

19 May 2017,Friday

Chidambaram's son Karti leaves for London after CBI raids

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karti-chidambaram-corruption-inx-media-london-cbi-scanner-p-chidambaram/1/957585.html

Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram left for London on Thursday after the CBI raided his residence in connection with money-laundering in the Aircel-Maxis deal. "Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," P Chidambaram said.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram who is under CBI scanner for an alleged case of bribery and corruption, on Thursday left for London. "Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," his father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an investigation against both father and son related to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearances given to INX Media. The CBI, on Tuesday had carried out searches at Karti's homes and offices in four cities to probe charges that he had received money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea to help them evade a tax probe. POLITICAL VENDETTA: CHIDAMBARAMSlamming the government, the senior Congress leader said, "The government, using CBI and other agencies, is targeting my son and his friends. The government's aim is to silence my voice and stop me from writing, as it has tried to do in the cases of leaders of opposition parties, journalists, columnists, NGOs and civil society organizations. All I will say is, I shall continue to speak and write."Whereas, Karti Chidambaram has maintained that he will come out clean as there was nothing to hide. He said he had cooperated with probe agencies and has paid all his taxes. "The case against me has been foisted purely out of political reasons and vendetta. Nothing can be proven against me and I have not done any crime. It has been done mainly to muzzle my father's voice against the government," he said.CBI FILES FIR The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct. It alleged that Karti received money from INX Media for using his influence to manipulate a tax probe against it in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board conditions for an investment from Mauritius. With inputs from PTI

Prashanti Moktan

24 Jul 2017,Monday

HC rejects Dileep's bail plea in actress abduction case

http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kerala-actress-assault-case-dileep-s-bail-plea-rejected-by-hc/story-L2olOQ7x4wfmV7F6RmL4JL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Kerala High Court has rejected the bail plea of actor Dileep, who was arrested two weeks ago in connection with the abduction and assault on a Malayalam actress. The court noted that Dileep's release at this point would affect the ongoing investigation. The police suspect Dileep of paying men to abduct and assault the actress.

The Kerala high court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Malayalam superstar Dileep, who was arrested two weeks ago in connection with the attack and sexual assault on a popular woman actor. Rejecting the bail plea, the court said it was a serious case and his release at this juncture would affect the ongoing investigation. The court agreed with the prosecution that if he was released he would influence some of the witnesses. The prosecution said many involved in the case including his manager Apunni were absconding. The court also approved scientific evidences presented by the prosecution.The actor had moved the high court after Angamally judicial magistrate court rejected his bail plea last week. His counsel said he would move the Supreme Court soon. Lodged in the Aluva sub jail, Dileep will be produced before the local court to extend his judicial custody.The 31-year-old actor was abducted by a gang of criminals and sexually assaulted in a moving car over a period of three hours on February 17. The assailants recorded the assault on their mobile phones and threatened to release the clip if she dared approach the police. During the attack, the main accused, Pulsar Suni, reportedly hinted that they were committing the crime at somebody else?s behest.After the actor lodged a complaint, police arrested all the accused directly involved in the crime. An investigation aimed at identifying the conspirators behind the attack finally led to Dileep?s arrest two weeks ago. The police believe that Dileep paid men to abduct and assault the actor, and take videos of the assault as proof, in order to exact revenge upon her and ?teach her a lesson?. Follow @htshowbiz for more.

Radhika Chugh

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Mud slide delays train services on Konkan Railway route

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mud-slide-affects-train-services-on-konkan-railway-route/story-QnxYcFWNiwQZ2Rspgmw56J.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Train services on the Konkan Railway route were held up for more than two hours on Friday due to a mud slide caused by heavy rain. The mud slide happened between the Kanakavali and Oros stations and affected the plying schedule of four trains. The track is likely to be open for traffic soon, officials said.

Train services on the Konkan Railway route were held up for more then two hours on Friday afternoon due to mud slide because of heavy rain, near Kankavali station.The incident occurred between Kanakavali and Oros stations, at around 12.45pm. Konkan Railway sources said no train was passing from the spot at the time of incident.Four trains including Bikaner-Koiembtur were held up because of the incident at various stations. The Konkan Railway spokesperson said that the track is likely to be open for traffic soon.The Konkan Railway route is known as one of the difficult terrains, especially during monsoon. Hence, special monsoon timetables are implemented on the route, besides restricting speed.

Radhika Chugh

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Protestors pelt stones at police outside Ghaziabad Haj House

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/protesters-pelt-stones-at-police-outside-ghaziabad-haj-house/story-6y2Ykyaa9JWCBcBV9OihkN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Nearly 500 protestors pelted stones at the police outside Ghaziabad's Ala Hazrat Haj House and demanded that the facility be opened to pilgrims immediately. The Haj House, which is located along the Hindon river, has remained sealed since its inauguration last year after a petition was filed against it at the National Green Tribunal.

Police resorted to lathicharge as nearly 500 protesters, gathered at the newly constructed Haj House in Ghaziabad, turned violent and pelted stones at the cops. The protesters, led by members of the district Congress committee, on Monday gathered outside the Ala Hazrat Haj House in the city and demanded opening it for Haj pilgrims immediately. The facility was inaugurated by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav last September but has remained locked ever since.Members of the Muslim community also offered namaz outside the locked facility and demanded its proper utilisation as the annual Haj pilgrimage nears.Police said there were around 400 to 500 protestors at the gate who, around 9:30pm, started pelting stones at police personnel deployed in view of the agitation. The protesters also blocked traffic on GT Road, resulting in heavy snarls from?Mohan Nagar to Ghaziabad city. Police have picked up ?four to five persons who were the brain behind the entire protest?. Heavy contingent of police and PCR vans were deployed at the site and also in the sensitive areas of Ghaziabad city.?We demand that the Haj House be opened immediately as it has been locked by the district administration. The Haj House was developed to facilitate the pilgrims. The facility is fully developed, but no one can use it and the pilgrims have to go to Delhi to move ahead for their pilgrimage,? said Naseem Khan, district president of minority cell, Ghaziabad.?It is sheer negligence that Haj pilgrims cannot use a facility developed for their use. We feel that the present government is biased and is acting against the sentiments of the community. We will stay here till the Haj House is opened for the pilgrims,? said Puja Chadda, a local Congress member.Following the demonstration, the city police posted a contingent at the site.?Our personnel are posted at the spot, keeping a close watch over the developments. We told the protesters that the facility has not been locked by the district administration and they have no role in opening or closing it,? said Akash Tomar, superintendent of police (city).An appeal against the 4.3-acre complex, built along the river Hindon, is pending with the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The petitioners, all Ghaziabad residents, had contended that the Haj House had come up on river land and should be demolished.The tribunal had on September 2, 2016 said in its order, ?We make it clear that any steps or construction taken in the meanwhile shall be subject to the orders of the Tribunal passed in this Application (sic).?Earlier, on July 27, HT had published a report on the facility lying non-functional. In the report, UP minister of state for Waqf, Mohsin Raza, had said that the decision was taken by the previous state government and the present government has maintained the status quo.?The decision was already made by the previous government as the matter was with the NGT even before the present government assumed office. The decision was taken to protect the environment and the river?s ecology. If thousands of pilgrims arrive here it is bound to create garbage issues for the river zone. So, the closure was an earlier decision taken up to avoid contempt of court,? Raza had said.

Tarun Khanna

22 Apr 2017,Saturday

Muslims don't vote for us, but we gave them sanctity: Prasad

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muslims-dont-vote-for-us-but-we-gave-them-sanctity-prasad/1/934926.html

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday said that though Muslims don't vote for the BJP, the BJP government has given them "proper sanctity". "We have got 13 chief ministers of our own. We are ruling the country. Have we victimised any Muslim gentleman working in the industry or service? Have we dismissed them," he asked.

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said Muslims do not vote for the BJP, but the government has given them "proper sanctity". "We have got 13 chief ministers of our own. We are ruling the country. Have we victimised any Muslim gentleman working in the industry or service? Have we dismissed them? We dont get Muslim votes. I acknowledge very clearly, but have we given them proper sanctity or not?" Prasad asked at the Mindmine Summit here. He was responding to a question related to development having an impact on culture and diversity. "We salute diversity and culture of India. There are two ways of looking at it. Let me be very frank today. There has been campaign against us for a very long time, but today we are here because of blessings of people of India," Prasad said. In recent Assembly elections, the BJP scored an impressive win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The party also formed government in Goa and Manipur. Its main rival Congress was able to get a clear majority in Punjab only. As IT minister, Prasad said, he has visited many Muslim-dominated villages where many Muslim youth are running Common Service Centres which help people avail of government services through Internet. The minister cited the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi short-listing a Muslim tea garden labourer in Jalpaiguri, Karimul Haque, for his exemplary work. Prasad said Haque has converted his motorcycle into an ambulance, rushes whosoever falls sick to hospital and in the process, has saved nearly 2,000 lives. "We never saw religion of Haque or whether he voted for us or not. If there are certain uncalled for voices, the Prime Minister addresses the concerns, the CMs (chief ministers) address concerns. Yogi (Adityanath) is a popular leader. You are seeing his instances of good governance and inclusive development," Prasad said. The minister said he has issues with those in the Left and journalists spreading "hatred" against Modi. "We have a problem with some of our friends. Mostly, the Leftist friends and journalists who entertain a pathological hatred against Narendra Modi. Good luck to them," Prasad quipped. According to Prasad, the Left is "left out" all over the world and had been defeated in India. "They are left out in Bengal, are surviving in Kerala and Tripura, but the Left has got a very good campus in Delhi, which is the JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and I always say the Left also needs some consolation prize. So, JNU is their consolation prize, we dont mind that," Prasad said.

Shubhodeep Datta

18 Dec 2016,Sunday

Minor drugged, gang raped in East Delhi's New Ashok Nagar

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/again-minor-raped-by-landlord-friends-in-delhi-s-new-ashok-nagar/story-5NlSQgZWMSewf8FezwbFgJ.html

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly drugged and gang raped by three men in East Delhi's New Ashok Nagar on Friday afternoon. All the accused were the girl's neighbours and were later arrested. The police said the girl had come to Delhi from Bihar a week ago to take care of her aunt and uncle who had met with an accident.

A 15-year-old girl was drugged and allegedly gang raped by three men in east Delhi?s New Ashok Nagar area on Friday afternoon. All the three accused in the case have been arrested.The incident took place a day after a 20-year-old woman was allegedly driven around in a car for over two hours and then raped by a driver in south Delhi?s Moti Bagh area.According to the police, the three men ? all neighbours ? allegedly barged inside the girl?s house and made her sniff chloroform, while she was in the kitchen. After she fell unconscious, the men allegedly took her to their room, where they were consuming alcohol, and then took turns to rape her.According to the police, the accused ? identified as Prashant, the landlord of the girl, Vikas and Sanjeev ?allegedly raped the 15-year-old and then dumped her in and fled. Read: Woman allegedly raped in car in Delhi?s Moti Bagh area, accused arrestedAfter the girl regained consciousness, she returned to her home and narrated her ordeal to her uncle and aunt. She knew the men as they often visited the girl?s house.Police said the girl had come to Delhi from Bihar a week ago to take care of her aunt and uncle who had recently met with an accident. ?The girl came to Delhi because her uncle had undergone a foot surgery after he met with an accident. Since they did not have any children, the girl had offered to take care of them,? a senior police officer said.The girl alleged that the incident took place when she was cooking in the kitchen and her uncle and aunt had gone to the hospital. The three men barged inside and put a cloth on her nose, following which she became semi-conscious. She said that she tried to resist but was overpowered by the men.After the girl?s uncle and aunt returned home, they found her missing and started looking for her. When they could not find her, they raised an alarm and asked locals to help them find her. Read: Five-year-old raped by her uncle in Delhi?s Dilshad Garden?A while later, the girl returned and her guardians were shocked to see her in that condition. Her aunt then approached us and we immediately registered a case. A team then swung into action and the men, including the landlord were nabbed. The girl has identified the accused and they were arrested,? a police officer said.Police suspects that the men had planned the rape. ?There were bottles of alcohol that we found in the room where the men raped the girl. It appears that they were having a party and planned the rape. They knew that the girl was alone at home and was not strong enough to resist their bid. They are being questioned,? a police officer said.

Rini Sinha

12 Feb 2017,Sunday

Akshay Kumar's 'Jolly LLB 2' banned in Pakistan: Reports

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jolly-llb-2-banned-pakistan-release-kashmir-akshay-kumar/1/880952.html

As per reports, the Akshay Kumar starrer 'Jolly LLB 2' has been banned by Pakistani censor board for referring to the Kashmir militancy issue. As per a source, in the film, Akshay comes across the case of a man who's killed and declared a Kashmiri militant, while the real Kashmiri militant goes into hiding, which wasn't acceptable to the board.

The trouble for Jolly LLB 2 does not seem to end. After the makers of the Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi-starrer were made to remove four scenes from the film before its release, comes the news that Jolly LLB 2 has been banned in Pakistan.According to a report in DNA, a reference to the Kashmir issue spelled doom for the film's Pakistan release. The report quotes a source as saying, "In the movie, Akshay Kumar plays a lawyer who treats his profession casually until he comes across the case of an innocent man who is killed and declared a Kashmiri militant, while the real Kashmiri militant goes into hiding in Uttar Pradesh. Bringing up the issue has not gone down well with the Pakistani censor board. They've banned the film, as they intend to ban all Indian films that bring up the Kashmir issue."Ever since the ban on Indian films in Pakistan was lifted, only Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam's revenge drama Kaabil was released in the neighbouring country. Shah Rukh Khan's Raees, which marked the debut of Pakistani actor Mahira Khan, was declared unfit for public viewing on the grounds that the "content undermines Islam."

Dishant Sharma

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Roger Federer wins record 8th Wimbledon singles title

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jul/16/wimbledon-2017-roger-federer-v-marin-cilic-in-mens-singles-final-live?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer won a record 8th Wimbledon men's singles title on Sunday, while also becoming the oldest male player to win The Championships in Open Era. The world number five defeated Croatia's Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, to lift a record 19th Grand Slam title. Notably, Federer won the title without losing a set throughout the tournament.

4.14pm BST 16:14 The Wimbledon singles are over for another year. Garbine Muguruza is the women?s champion, while fresh-faced Roger Federer is the ruler of the men?s game again. Federer has made history again. Eight Wimbledon titles in the bag, now it?s time for him to win his 20th grand slam title. Next stop: New York. And with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic nursing injuries, there?s maybe only one man who can stop Federer from rounding up his tally at the US Open. You know who I mean. He?s a Spaniard with a very big forehand and an obsession with perfectly ordered water bottles. Anyway, that?s all from me today. As ever, thank you for reading and emailing over the past fortnight. Bye!Updated at 4.50pm BST 4.10pm BST 16:10 This victory will lift Roger Federer up to No3 in the rankings. Murray-Nadal-Federer-Djokovic. Wawrinka?s the man to drop out of the top four. 4.04pm BST 16:04 Roger Federer speaks. ?It is cruel sometimes, but he fought well and he?s a hero, so congratulations on a wonderful tournament, Marin. You should be really proud. You had a wonderful tournament and sometimes you don?t just see great in a final. I?ve got to take more time off, I don?t know. I?m going to be gone again for the next six months. Better than winning this trophy is being healthy. I?m feeling great. The tournament I?ve played, not dropping a set, it?s magical. It?s too much. It?s belief that I can achieve such heights. I wasn?t sure if I was going to be here after last year. I had some tough ones, losing to Novak. I kept on believing and dreaming and here I am today with the eighth. It?s fantastic. It?s such a special court. So many legends have marked this court, the women?s game, the men?s game, mixed, doubles. From day one to finals day, Centre Court is always packed and it?s a dream to play here. I hope I can come back next year to try to defend the title.? 3.59pm BST 15:59 Marin Cilic speaks. ?I never gave up when I started a match. That was my idea today. I gave my best and that?s all I could do. I had an amazing journey here. I played the best tennis of my life. I want to thank my team, they gave so much strength to me. It was really tough today and I?m hoping I?m going to come back here and try one more time.? 3.58pm BST 15:58 Roger Federer glides across the glass to collect his trophy. You want to check to see if his feet are touching the ground. He lifts the trophy in the air and gives it a big old kiss. Five years they?ve been apart. Been a while.Updated at 5.05pm BST 3.57pm BST 15:57 Federer?s four children are perched over the edge of his box as the presentations get underway. Marin Cilic receives a big round of applause as he comes up to collect his consolation prize.Updated at 8.07am BST 3.56pm BST 15:56 The average number of slams for a GOAT is 19 ... N-n-n-n-nineteen pic.twitter.com/2xh5L285qh 3.55pm BST 15:55 3.55pm BST 15:55 He?s crying now. ?Do you think that Federer, as the winner, now gets to announce the new Dr Who?? says David Wall. He?d make a good time lord actually.Updated at 8.09am BST 3.54pm BST 15:54 Roger Federer, 36 next month, has just won a grand slam without dropping a set. His second of the year. This isn?t normal. But he?s making it normal. 3.53pm BST 15:53 Roger Federer?s name is on the trophy here. He just needs to add the final few flourishes. History beckons. His heart is beating that little bit faster as he walks to the baseline to serve. Cilic, like a condemned man heading to the gallows, takes his place, ready to return. The sun?s come out at last. Of course it has. But Federer still needs some points. He loses the first, sending a backhand long. 0-15. But he steadies himself with an accurate serve. Another one makes it 30-15 and he gees himself up with some Swiss-German. He has two championship points when Cilic screws a forehand return off to the right. Applause. Silence. A missed first serve. A rally. It?s not over yet. Cilic finds the angles to force Federer to hit a forehand long. 40-30. Federer misses another first serve. There?s only one thing for it: a second-serve ace down the middle. That?s it! Roger Federer is the Wimbledon champion again! He looks very emotional, almost in tears, but he remembers that there?s a man who?s feeling a fair bit more emotional than him right now and he walks to the net to shake hands with poor Marin Cilic. It?s all over. Federer is the owner of an historic eight Wimbledon titles and a mere 19 majors overall. Take that, Rafa.Updated at 8.16am BST 3.48pm BST 15:48 Third set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-6, 4-5 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic is serving to stay in the final, although he in reality he left it spiritually a long time ago. He is, however, determined to make Federer serve for it. His fifth ace of the match sets him up for a rare simple hold, even though there is the blemish of a double-fault. Federer will serve with new balls for his 19th grand slam title. ?Given this has been such an anti-climax, and is finishing so quickly, do you think they could ask Federer to knock up against one of those back-walls, so we get to see a bit more of him playing on centre court?? says David Wall. ?Even he can only have a couple more years on the tour and it?ll leave an enormous hole when he does retire.?Updated at 3.54pm BST 3.45pm BST 15:45 Third set: Cilic 3-6, 1-6, 3-5 Federer* (*denotes server): There?s rain in the south-west London area, but it?s not going to stop Federer. Another hold. Another step closer.Updated at 3.53pm BST 3.42pm BST 15:42 Third set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-6, 3-4 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic sends down an ace to make it 15-0, but it?s 15-30 when he flicks a backhand wide. He challenges to no avail. Then he nets a forehand, even though Federer was stranded on the baseline. Two break points. They double up as championship points. And it really is Federer?s to lose now. Cilic wheels into another forehand ... and dumps it into that blasted net. Federer is two games away from his eighth Wimbledon title. 3.38pm BST 15:38 Third set: Cilic 3-6, 1-6, 3-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer sails through another service game. It feels as though Cilic?s best hope is a tie-break. 3.36pm BST 15:36 Third set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-6, 3-2 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic holds with an ace out wide. He clenches his fist, glaring at his box, resolve and steel returning. You forget athletes are humans with real emotions. The sport of tennis is so hard because you're out there all by yourself.Updated at 3.44pm BST 3.33pm BST 15:33 Third set: Cilic 3-6, 1-6, 2-2 Federer* (*denotes server): He?s obviously not winning this and it?s a terrible final, but I?d say Cilic has done a lot to enhance his reputation in the past few games. It would have been very easy for him to throw in the towel. But Federer?s still so miserly, scrooge-like when he?s serving. He offers Cilic false hope by letting this game drift to deuce - the drama! - but he still holds. 3.29pm BST 15:29 Third set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-6, 2-1 Federer (*denotes server): Alarm bells are ringing when Cilic spoofs a forehand into the net for 0-30. Somehow, though, he fights to 40-30, one backhand winner taking the breath away. This is gutsy from a man who is enduring some very public turmoil. Unfortunately the chap on the other side of the net is not making this any easier, making it deuce with a searing crosscourt backhand, earning a break point when Cilic nets a forehand. Admirably Cilic saves it with some serve-volley. Then he holds. This hurts, but tanking would hurt even more. ?Is this a record for unforced errors?? says Henry C. ?I feel sorry for Cilic but has got to be one of the worst finals ever. Hoping that something will change, but it is saying something when the first two sets lasted less than the Women?s final.?Updated at 3.33pm BST 3.22pm BST 15:22 Third set: Cilic 3-6, 1-6, 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer lopes forward off a second serve, planting a deft backhand volley out of reach for 15-0. He holds to 15. No mercy. There?s no room for the stuff at this level. 3.19pm BST 15:19 Third set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-6, 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic holds to 15. The comeback starts here. It would be frankly hilarious if he wins this. 3.14pm BST 15:14 Marin Cilic is now receiving treatment. Though I?m not sure there?s a doctor in the world who can find a cure for Federer. 3.13pm BST 15:13 Marin Cilic has taken some pills. There hasn?t been a retirement in a Wimbledon final since 1911. Cilic is now having tape taken off his left foot, revealing it to be heavily bruised.Updated at 3.22pm BST 3.12pm BST 15:12 Federer leads 15-0 when Cilic sends a forehand return wide. It?s 30-0 when he attacks a short return with a whipped forehand. Soon he has three set points. He takes the first with a swinging ace down the middle. I don?t mean to be insensitive, but this is the worst men?s final for a long time. The doctor is back on court.Updated at 3.17pm BST 3.10pm BST 15:10 Second set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-5 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic is now using serve-and-volley on every point, which is enough to make you think he isn?t interested in long rallies. He?s drawn into one at 40-30, though, and he nets a forehand for deuce. Federer?s not going to give him anything now. He gives a second serve the treatment, a sweet backhand return earning him a break point. Federer can?t take it, though, knocking a return miles wide and challenging the call for absolutely no reason at all. But when Cilic sends down an 134mph serve, Federer?s flicked return brings up a second break point. Federer knocks a backhand down the line, the stretching Cilic hangs out his racket and volleys long. Federer will serve for a two-set lead. Updated at 3.27pm BST 3.04pm BST 15:04 Second set: Cilic 3-6, 1-4 Federer* (*denotes server): Of course, it?s one way to get the crowd on your side when you?re playing Federer. The sympathy vote. It?s not going to knock Federer off course, though, as he holds to 15. They retreat to their chairs. There?s no sign of Cilic requiring any more treatment. 3.02pm BST 15:02 Second set: Cilic* 3-6, 1-3 Federer (*denotes server): Another cheer for Cilic when he wins the first point of this game with a big serve. The game goes to 30-all. The last time I saw something like this in a grand slam final was when Sabine Lisicki collapsed emotionally in the 2013 final. It?s not clear if he?s distressed or physically hurting. But he does manage to hold to 30, keeping this final alive.Updated at 3.15pm BST 2.59pm BST 14:59 The medical team and supervisors have left the court. It seems that Cilic, who was bawling his eyes out a moment or two ago, is going to continue. He doesn?t want this to end early. But this is awful to see, even though he?s given a huge ovation by the crowd as he prepares to serve.Updated at 3.17pm BST 2.58pm BST 14:58 Might that slip in the first set have hurt Cilic more than we first suspected? He hasn?t been moving well now I come to think of it.Updated at 3.00pm BST 2.57pm BST 14:57 Marin Cilic is sobbing in his chair. Something?s up here. A trainer and a supervisor are consulting him. This has come out of nowhere. This final could be over. Oh no.Updated at 3.11pm BST 2.56pm BST 14:56 Second set: Cilic 3-6, 0-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic can barely do anything right now. Federer holds to 15 and all he has to do at the moment is wait for Cilic to miss. 2.54pm BST 14:54 Second set: Cilic* 3-6, 0-2 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic makes himself feel a bit better with an ace for 30-15. It?s not long before Federer has a break point, though, with Cilic?s game in danger of coming apart at the seams. The errors keep on coming. Cilic pulls a backhand wide and Federer leads by a set and a break. 2.50pm BST 14:50 Second set: Cilic 3-6, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server): The good news for Marin Cilic is that this isn?t over yet. The bad news is that Federer hasn?t lost a grand slam match from a set up since the 2014 Wimbledon final. He?s such a strong frontrunner. That?s probably why Cilic hit his chair with his racket during the changeover. He suspects this final might already be running away from him. Federer begins the set with a straightforward hold to love.Updated at 2.59pm BST 2.47pm BST 14:47 Serving to stay in the set, Cilic?s pulled back to 30-all from 30-0. He decides it?s time to serve and volley, but he sets Federer up for a backhand pass, which is a bit like showing Leo Messi on to his left foot. Set point. A big serve forces Federer to return wide, but an errant forehand from Cilic brings up a second set point. Cilic is showing signs of strain. He misses a first serve. His second serve clips the top of the net and skitters wide to gift Federer the first set! That was all a bit flat.Updated at 2.57pm BST 2.42pm BST 14:42 First set: Cilic 3-5 Federer* (*denotes server): When he?s in the mood, Federer?s flash by like a Kryptonian going for a jog round the park. He holds to love and Cilic was never in the game.Updated at 2.48pm BST 2.40pm BST 14:40 First set: Cilic* 3-4 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic gambols into a 40-0 lead. Federer makes it 40-15 with a crisp forehand return down the line, then 40-30 with a preposterous, hypnotic backhand drop shot that draws a deeply satisfied sigh from the crowd. Suddenly there?s uncertainty in Cilic. From a position of dominance, it?s deuce after a double-fault, the class of Federer unsettling the Croatian. Fortunately for Cilic, Federer can?t take advantage. He holds to keep the distance between them to a single break.Updated at 8.20am BST 2.35pm BST 14:35 First set: Cilic 2-4 Federer* (*denotes server): With Federer ahead, Cilic looks to haul himself back into the set with some aggressive hitting. Federer?s backhand slice seems to head wide - it?s called out - but the umpire overrules the line judge. The point?s replayed, Federer skips into a 15-0 lead and it?s 40-0 before Cilic has time to regroup. Federer clinches his first hold to love without any problems at all in the end, but that could have been a much tougher game. 2.32pm BST 14:32 First set: Cilic* 2-3 Federer (*denotes server): Trailing 0-15, Cilic goes for a drop shot. Federer reads it. The 35-year-old springs forward to dink. Cilic hurtles forward, prods a backhand from left to right and falls heavily, leaving the court open for Federer to dab a backhand away for 0-30! That exchange seems to take the wind out of Cilic, who?s facing three break points after an awful forehand. He saves the first two, Federer?s returns drifting long. Not the third, though. Cilic doesn?t move his feet and he nets a poor backhand to hand the first break to Federer. ?Could the Prime Minister?s presence be a bad omen for fans of Roger Federer?? says David Wall. ?She?s been poison for what seemed to be sure-things in recent times.? Will Federer end up shedding a solitary tear?Updated at 2.37pm BST 2.27pm BST 14:27 First set: Cilic 2-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic is starting to use his power to good effect, returning heavily and drawing an error from Federer for 0-15. It?s tense. Federer?s second double-fault of the match makes it 30-all. Hitting deep, Cilic is starting to boss a few rallies. A penetrative backhand makes Federer net a slice, bringing up the first break point. Federer nets a first serve. He goes for a body serve with the second, though, and Cilic stiffs a backhand into the net. The game goes to deuce and Federer ends up holding to considerable relief around Centre Court. 2.22pm BST 14:22 First set: Cilic* 2-1 Federer (*denotes server): You?d almost think Federer?s feeling the pressure. He?s missing a lot early on. Cilic holds to 15 without ceremony.Updated at 2.26pm BST 2.19pm BST 14:19 First set: Cilic 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server): We begin with a see-saw rally, Federer on top at first and making most of the running before Cilic takes control with a big forehand down the line, forcing the Swiss to net a backhand. A smooth serve makes it 15-all. But Cilic appears to have shaken off the nerves. He repels a big first serve and asserts himself with a huge forehand for 15-30. Sensing danger, the crowd cheers when Federer makes it 30-all at the net. The game goes to deuce after Federer?s first double-fault, but he holds. There?s a lot of nervous energy out there. 2.14pm BST 14:14 First set: Cilic* 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): Here we go, the 131st men?s singles final, with Marin Cilic serving first after Roger Federer elected to receive. It begins. Cilic sees a second serve rammed down his throat and dribbles a forehand into the net to make it 0-15. A purposeful, urgent start from Federer, while Cilic looks a little tight, slamming a forehand long to make it 15-30. The Croatian?s nervy. He?s grateful to see Federer miss a couple of backhands, but the game goes to deuce when Cilic slaps a forehand into the net. Here?s early pressure. But Cilic does well to deal with it and hold. A break there would have been sub-optimal.Updated at 2.27pm BST 2.09pm BST 14:09 They?re walking to the baselines. It?s time. 2.09pm BST 14:09 You?d think she would invest in a good pair of gloves.Mirka Federer has spent 35.7% of her life clapping - 13.923 years in total - and has worn through 193 pairs of palms. 2.07pm BST 14:07 Tok! Tok! Tok! They?re knocking up. In the press centre, there?s a huge queue to get on Centre Court. I think people are excited. It?s 14 years since Federer?s first Wimbledon final, when he beat Mark Philippoussis in straight sets, and five since he won his seventh title, beating Our Andy in four. 2.06pm BST 14:06 ?I asked this about yesterday?s final as both women carried their own bags onto court (as well as their flowers), yet today the men are having their bags carried for them,? says David Wall. ?Did Mugaruza and Williams just chose to carry their own gear then, or have they stopped offering that to the women? I think it?s a good tradition, they?re in the final so should get all the special treatment going (in fact I?m disappointed there aren?t rose bearers casting petals in front of the players for them to walk on).?I have no idea, David, but it?s a good question. 2.04pm BST 14:04 Roger Federer won the toss and elected to receive. Time for some photographs. Almost time to get down to business. 2.03pm BST 14:03 It?s time for the coin toss. Here?s some info on the young chap who?s taking part.Luca Schmetzer (aged 11), who attends Allfarthing Primary School, Wandsworth, will take part in the coin toss ceremony on Centre Court.Luca is representing Place2Be, a children?s mental health charity which provides emotional and therapeutic services in schools across the country helping children cope with issues including bullying, bereavement and family breakdown.The Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, invited HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to nominate a charity in her new role as Patron of the All England Club.Updated at 2.03pm BST 2.01pm BST 14:01 The players are making that familiar walk through the corridors of Centre Court. Well, it?s familiar for one man. Not so much for Marin Cilic. Cilic is leading the way here. They?re walking past so many photographs of old champions, so much history, so much pomp. The sense of occasion - it?s impossible not to feel it. It?s nothing new for Federer, of course, and he looks so relaxed. He?s seen it all before. Eventually they emerge to a huge ovation. The camera doesn?t linger long on Cilic, who?s smiling slightly. It?s soon fixated on Federer, following him as he makes his way to his chair, before finding his father in the crowd. Of course Federer Snr?s wearing a RF cap. Updated at 2.24pm BST 1.49pm BST 13:49 Theresa May?s in the Royal Box today. This is where I?m contractually obliged to do a joke about strong and stable tennis. 1.47pm BST 13:47 You might have heard that Roger Federer is the oldest man in the Wimbledon final since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974. Rosewall got absolutely destroyed by Jimmy Connors that day. All yours, Marin. 1.44pm BST 13:44 Pictures! Get yer Tom Jenkins pictures here! Tom?s never knowingly taken a bad snap, so this Wimbledon gallery?s bound to be worth a look. Get clicking! 1.41pm BST 13:41 It was in 2001 when Croatia last had a male singles champion to celebrate. And what a final! One of the greatest of all time! Goran Ivanisevic, who had taken three days to defeat Tim Henman in the semis, and Pat Rafter on a Monday afternoon. It was an epic. You can read about it in more detail in this Joy of Six from 2013. 1.37pm BST 13:37 Pre-match reading:Updated at 1.37pm BST 1.35pm BST 13:35 1.30pm BST 13:30 This has been Roger Federer?s route to the final: 6-3, 3-0 (ret), 7-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. Marin Cilic, by contrast, came through a five-set quarter-final and a four-set semi-final. He was a set down to Sam Querrey on Friday and a break down in the fourth set. 1.25pm BST 13:25 Quite the paragraph from Goran Ivanisevichttps://t.co/Gw2im0Y5K8 pic.twitter.com/zqDsmTIpET 1.23pm BST 13:23 ?What a match between the British-Japanese pair and De Groot and Buis,? says Chris Page. ?That it is Whiley and Kamiji?s fourth consecutive Wimbledon doubles title. They lost the first set 6-2, but there was no doubt in my mind that they would come back to win. They?re almost telepathic. They took the second set comfortably, then the third was a 6-0 walk-over - including a 30 stroke rally! Follow that, Roger and Marin...?If you haven?t treated yourself to the delights of wheelchair tennis before, you?re missing out. It?s a terrifically absorbing sport: physical, skilled, inventive. After Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett?s triumph yesterday, this is another fine moment. 1.22pm BST 13:22 Roger Federer leads the head-to-head 6-1. That one, of course, came in New York three years ago, when Marin Cilic overpowered Federer to reach the US Open final. The caveat there is that Federer was knackered after fighting back from two sets down to beat Gael Monfils. Federer is not knackered today. 10.24am BST 10:24 Hello. It?s interesting. If you?re actually at Wimbledon, you don?t actually have to watch a Roger Federer match to know how it?s going. You don?t even have to listen the umpire calling out the score after each point. All you need to do is stand outside Centre Court and listen to the crowd. If they?re in a state of unbridled glee verging on pure lust, if they?re oohing and aahing and panting and fawning after every point, you can safely interpret that as Federer dominance. Enthusiastic applause: Federer?s won the point. Grudging applause: the other bloke?s not playing ball.This is how it?s supposed to go. This is Federer?s kingdom, his palace from palace. There?s no desire for him to be pushed too hard. There?s no interest in an upset. Sure, it?s nice to see Federer?s opponent muster some defiance, just to keep the show going for as long as possible, but he?s not actually supposed to win. He?s supposed to be a good boy, know his place, let the master do as he pleases and lose in straight sets. You are the comedy sidekick, there to be willingly loaded into a cannon, to have a custard pie slammed in your face and raise no objections; take it, it?s all you?re good for here. This is the deal. There might be some pretence from the crowd that they?d like to see something resembling a contest, some confected jeopardy, like a tie-break in the first set, which is really about as dangerous and adventurous as splashing out on the Creuset pan instead of the John Lewis own brand (other brands are available). The Fed-lust can only stand so much risk.Centre Court, in all its stuffy blazered glory, really just wants to bask in reverie for Roger. He?s nice like Tim, but he?s even better at tennis. Andy is stubborn and pretty brilliant, so he?s an excellent alternative. Novak is mysterious and brutal, but he can be a bit bad-tempered. Rafa is sweet and amazing and Spanish, a fine young man, ever so handsome, but he isn?t an artist. None of them turn up on court wearing a cardigan or a blazer - that?s true class. None of them are Roger. They love Roger. WE LOVE YOU ROGER. I LOVE YOU ROGER. MARRY ME ROGER. Did I say that out loud? Oh, what am I like!This is what stands in front of Marin Cilic today: Federer the player and Federer the legend. He isn?t supposed to win. It?s not that the seventh seed isn?t an interesting player, of course, or incapable of playing the kind of tennis that could urinate all over the eagerly anticipated Swiss coronation. It?s just that he isn?t Roger. Nor is the former US Open champion much of a character, a card. He?s just a guy who?s good at tennis. Unlike Goran Ivanisevic, the last Croatian man to win Wimbledon, there?s no Good Marin, Bad Marin and Emergency Marin. There?s just Marin. It might not be enough to win their affections.It could be enough to win this final, though. Cilic is playing excellent grass-court tennis this year and he crushed Federer on the way to winning the US Open in 2014. At his best, shorn of nerves and anxiety, he is a mighty proposition. If the 28-year-old doesn?t freeze, he could do something here. He was two sets up against Federer in their quarter-final last year. Underestimate him at your peril. But for all that it has been possible to catch a few signs of Federer frailty over the past fortnight, he still won that match and he still hasn?t really come close to dropping a set at this tournament. And last year he had that knee injury. This time he?s well rested, having worked out how best to protect his physical resources after that knee injury, and he?s been untouchable this year, playing quick, sharp-shooting, ask-no-questions tennis that is intended to kill the argument as quickly as possible. It?s brought him another Australian Open title, his 18th major, and titles in Miami and Indian Wells. It could bring him an historic eighth Wimbledon title.This is Cilic?s second grand slam final. It?s Federer?s 11th here and his 29th overall. He?s 36 in less than a month. This isn?t normal. But he isn?t normal. You wonder when it?s going to end. Is it going to end? You know what they want on Centre Court. More Roger. They can?t get enough Roger. And do you know? It?s because there?s nothing else quite like it.Play begins at: 2pm BST.Updated at 12.40pm BST

Chhavi Tyagi

23 Apr 2017,Sunday

NOTA introduced for the first time in MCD elections

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mcd-election-2017-delhi-municipal-polls-aap-bjp-congress/1/935885.html

For the first time in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, the None Of The Above (NOTA) option was made available during polling which took place on Sunday. While the total number of voters in the Delhi civic polls stood at more than 1.32 crore, the voter turnout was recorded low at 54%.

Delhi residents will vote in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections today. The result of the poll is bound to have an impact beyond the borders of the capital.With AAP, Congress and BJP in the fray for the crucial polls, the national capital witnessed an aggressive campaign.The election will determine if Arvind Kejriwal's AAP will retain power in Delhi. AAP made inroads in the 2015 Assembly polls by winning 67 seats out of 70.The BJP, meanwhile, has fielded new candidates across the 267 wards. Earlier this week, the party had expelled one of its candidate from Narela for allegedly involving sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar in the campaign.The Congress, which finished second in the Rajouri Garden bypoll, is hoping for a resurgence and banked on its big guns during campaigns to shore up its fortune, despite unabated infighting. It has fielded 271 candidates.GOING STRONG DESPITE LOSSESThe AAP, which suffered a humiliating defeat in the recent bypolls and still smarting under its poor performance in Punjab and Goa polls, has refused to acknowledge the results as a "trailer of MCD polls".While the BJP's move to field new candidates was seen as a strategy to counter anti-incumbency, the party claims it was to "give opportunity to the next generation".The BJP is betting big on the contest. Addressing booth-level workers during campaigning, party chief Amit Shah had said a favourable verdict in the MCD polls could be a stepping stone to victory in the next Assembly elections in the city.The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2012 into North, South and East Municipal Corporations. While NDMC and SDMC have 104 wards each, EDMC has 64.There are 1,004 candidates vying for seats in the NDMC area, 985 in SDMC's and 548 in EDMC's. The BSP and the JD(U) have fielded 211 and 95 candidates while the SP has entered the fray with 28. The SP today said it has 30 candidates altogether but two of them have died.TUSSLE OVER EVM CONTINUESThe Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India is also in the fray. The run-up to the polls have also been dominated by allegations of tampered EVMs - a charge made by Kejriwal, but rejected by the Election Commission.The Generation-1 electronic voting machines (EVMs) are to be used for the MCD elections, which the Commission has described as "foolproof". The State Election Commission is gearing up to carry out the electoral exercise that will be spread over 13,000 booths spanning 272 wards.Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to vote in the polls and of them more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters. Out of the 13,022 polling stations, police authorities have declared 3,284 as sensitive and 1,464 as hypersensitive.NOTA INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIMEFor the first time in MCD elections, the None Of The Above (NOTA) option will be available. The total number of voters in the civic polls stands at 1,32,10,206 which include 73,15,915 men, 58,93,418 women and 793 voters in the other category.This would be the first civic poll after the latest delimitation which has redrawn the civic wards. As per the new delimitation exercise, based on the 2011 Census, each ward now has an average of 60,000 people with an estimated 40,000 voters.Delhi has 70 Assembly seats and before the delimitation, every constituency had four wards, but, now it ranges from 3- 7.(Inputs from PTI)ALSO READ | MCD election: Yogendra Yadav calls Arvind Kejriwal betrayer of Delhi, seeks resignation after civic polls

Ayushi Ahluwalia

12 Jul 2017,Wednesday

India's biggest prison does not have a hangman: Reports

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/19-prisoners-on-death-row-but-india-s-biggest-prison-tihar-has-no-hangman/story-nSo4vKo4tptwS18E64yW5N.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

India's biggest prison, Tihar jail, does not have a hangman on its payroll, according to reports. There is no official record of any executioner even though the post has existed in the prison manual ever since its construction in 1957, the report added. Notably, the jail currently has 19 prisoners on death row, which is the highest to date.

February 9, 2013, 8 am. Convict Afzal Guru hanged inside Tihar jail. The identity of the executioner: Classified. Was a hangman brought from another state? Or was it a jail staff who tied the noose? It remains a secret because there is not a single hangman in India?s largest prison . According to available records, there was never one. The prison in west Delhi has 19 prisoners on death row -- the highest to date. The 19 include the four convicts in the 2012 December gang rape case whose conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in May. Prison officials said though there is a post of an executioner in the prison manual ever since its construction in the mid 1950s, jail records do not show any name who has worked as one. Over the past years, the jail has received letters from the public offering to be executioners. After the December 16 verdict by the lower court, they had received calls from the public. ?We received 2-3 letters from citizens offering their services to kill convicts on the death row. They were residents of a Meerut village, the same place where a hangman employed at a UP jail lives. They were aware that Tihar does not have a hangman and were willing to do the job,? said an official.According to jail rules, any person who is mentally sound is eligible to be an executor. ?Any jail officer can be the executor. In 1989, we had used the services of a hangman from Meerut jail. It was the execution of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, killers of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. He was officially paid Rs 200,? said a jail officer. According to rules, the allowance for one hanging is two hundred rupees. Sunil Gupta, who served as the law officer in Tihar for three decades, told HT that an executioner?s role is not a positive one. ?A prison is a place for reform. Having an executioner kind of kills the purpose. At Tihar, we believe that prisoners spend time so that they can be reformed.? Gupta said another reason why the jail did not have a hangman was because the man would have no job. From 1989 till 2013, there was no execution. ?If there were a salaried man, he would be getting paid for no work.?

Tarun Khanna

14 Apr 2017,Friday

Anna Hazare to launch public protest if RTI Act amended

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/hazare-opposes-proposed-changes-in-rti-act-writes-to-pm/1/928609.html

Activist Anna Hazare has urged PM Narendra Modi not to amend the RTI Act, threatening to launch a public protest if it is amended. "Bringing changes in the RTI Act, which people have got after years of agitations, is like damaging their fundamental right," he said. Hazare also opposed the proposed limit of 500 words for an RTI application.

Ahmednagar (Maha), Apr 13 (PTI) Amid reports that the Centre is planning to amend the RTI Act, social activist Anna Hazare has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him not to do so as it would dilute its provisions and would be an "injustice" to common people. "The central government is mulling to bring changes in the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has given information about it on its website," Hazare said in the letter made public today. "It is the fundamental right of the people to know how their money is being spent and what kind of work the government is doing. Bringing changes in the RTI Act, which people have got after years of agitations, is like damaging their fundamental right. We feel that it is an attempt to weaken this historic law," he said. The government has proposed a new set of rules for processing Right to Information applications, complaints and appeals and has sought suggestions from the public by April 15. The proposed rules, aimed at replacing RTI rules of 2012, have been placed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on its website for comments from public. Hazare said he was opposed to the proposed change in allowing withdrawal of appeal to the CIC. If this is allowed, there can a situation where the applicant would be pressurised to withdraw his appeal, he said. The anti-corruption crusader said he was also against the proposal to terminate the appeal proceedings upon the death of the applicant. Pointing out that there have been 56 cases of murder of RTI applicant in the last year, Hazare said the proposed change will make the things more dangerous. Hazare also opposed the proposed limit of 500 words for an RTI application saying that it would be unjust for common people.

Mansha Mahajan

19 Apr 2017,Wednesday

Apple, Coca-Cola, Airtel ads found to be misleading

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/apple-coke-airtel-among-cos-pulled-up-for-143-misleading-ads/1/931401.html

Apple showing iPhone 7 as an iPhone 7 Plus is among 143 advertisements dubbed misleading by regulator ASCI, which also pulled up Coca-Cola and Airtel for such campaigns. ASCI pulled up Coca-Cola over a Thums Up campaign, saying it encourages dangerous practices and disregards safety. A total of 191 complaints were received against Nivea, Amul, and Standard Chartered among others.

Apple showing iPhone 7 as iphone 7 plus variant is among 143 advertisements dubbed as misleading by regulator ASCI, which also pulled up Coca-Cola India, Bharti Airtel and others for such campaigns.Mobikwik, HUL, Nivea, Amul, Opera, Standard Chartered Bank and Pernod Ricard are among the companies against which a total of 191 complaints were received by Customer Complaints Council (CCC) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for January.ASCI upheld a total of 102 complaints in healthcare category, 20 in education, seven in personal care, six in food and beverages and eight advertisements from other categories.APPLE SHOWS WRONG IMAGE FOR iPhone7According to ASCI, Apple India was found using a wrong image in its advertisement for iPhone 7."The advertisement text states 'The amazing iPhone 7 is here', but shows an image of iPhone 7 Plus variant, which is misleading by ambiguity and implication," said ASCI.The sector watchdog said although the advertisement had the Apple trademark with iPhone7 but said it didnt have any reference to series in the advertisement text."In absence of any visual of iPhone 7 variant, it was concluded that the advertisement is likely to mislead the consumers about the product advertised and its corresponding features," it said.Comments from Apple could not be obtained.ASCI also upheld a complaint against Coca-Cola India for Thums Up campaign, in which the soft drink major has showcased a rider performing a wheelie in normal streets, traffic conditions, right amongst a few people."This is contradictory to the disclaimer made in the advertisement ?- the actions are for representational purposes alone and must not be copied by viewers... It was concluded that though the overall advertisement is not objectionable, regardless of the disclaimer the specific visual... encourages dangerous practices, manifests a disregard for safety and encourages negligence," it said.When contacted, a Coca-Cola India spokesperson said: "On receiving feedback, we have on boarded suggestions from ASCI and modified the TV commercial (TVC). The revised TVC has been updated on air and on digital media."Similarly, it has also pulled FMCG major HUL for its advertisement of Rin Antibac, where it had claimed that the detergent powder with Ayurvedic extracts removes germs.However, ASCI said the claim "was not substantiated, and is misleading by implication and exaggeration as the advertised product does not have the property to provide germ protection in wear conditions".Commenting on the matter, a HUL Company Spokesperson said: "We, as a responsible marketer and member of ASCI, have always complied with its guidelines and recommendations. We have suitably modified the said advertisement as per their recommendation."Similarly, Standard Chartered Banks claim of "up to 10 per cent extra cashback on all spends with your Standard Chartered credit card" was found to be "false and misleading by ambiguity" as the cash back was limited to Rs 10,000 only.When contacted Standard Chartered Bank said: "The up to 10 per cent cash back offer was a campaign launched last year. The cash back cap and all other relevant details were shared with customers over multiple communication channels. However, ASCI felt that we needed to make certain modifications, and we have taken their inputs on board."The regulator also upheld three complaints against leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel for "misleading" claims for free Calls Local + STD and a free upgrade for Airtel-V Fiber."The ad claim, "Free Calls Local + STD" cannot be said free as the prevailing price for data without advertised incentive is less i.e. from the consumers point of view, they have to make a payment of Rs 149 to avail this offer although they get only 300MB data versus 500 MB data," it saidHowever, when contacted Airtel declined to comment.COMPLAINT AGAINST OPERA MINIComplaint against Opera Software Asa claim for its mobile browser Opera Mini was also upheld where it had claimed that it saves data cost up to 90 percent while browsing"The advertisements claim, Saves data cost up to 90 per cent while browsing, was not substantiated with supporting data and is misleading by exaggeration," the CCC said.When contacted an Opera spokesperson said:" We adhere to the highest ethical standards and never share any exaggerated or misleading data with our consumers. Hence, our claim of Opera Mini saving up to 90 per cent data in our advertisement, is entirely true. We have proven our claims by internal and external tests from time to time over the years."MOBIKWIK NOT INDIA'S SAFEST WALLET? Digital payment firm MobiKwik also failed to substantiate its claim of "India's most secure e-wallet" for Mobikwik e- wallet and found to be "misleading by exaggeration".It also upheld complaint against Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation for ad of Amul Butter where it had claimed it to be a rich source of Vitamin A and stated that "Eat milk with every meal and live every day, worry-free"."It was considered the latter part of the statement to be misleading by implication and is encouraging excessive consumption of butter which may not be advisable from the health point of view," it said.Similarly, FMCG firm Nivea was also pulled for claims in the commercial of Nivea Protect & Care Deodorant. It was "considered to be misleading by ambiguity and implication that several other major ingredients of Nivea Creme are added to the deodorant product".Also Read

Shubhodeep Datta

03 Mar 2017,Friday

Delhi govt ties up with private hospitals for free surgeries

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-govt-ties-up-with-private-hospitals-here-are-30-surgeries-you-can-get-done-for-free/story-dzDsfOSA5rlXiyWRAQtwOL.html

The AAP government has tied up with as many as 41 private hospitals in Delhi to facilitate 30 types of surgeries free of cost for patients referred by the national capital's government hospitals. These hospitals will be compensated at government rates for the complete treatment. It will include pre-surgery consultation, surgery, medicines, and follow-ups for a month after discharge.

The AAP government has tied with 41 private hospitals in Delhi to facilitate 30 surgeries free of charge for patients referred by government hospitals in the Capital.It will reimburse these National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers-accredited hospitals at Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates for the complete treatment.It will including pre-surgery consultation, surgery, medicines, food and hospital stay, and follow-ups for a month after discharge.Patients visiting Delhi government hospitals have to wait anywhere between three months and two years to undergo these surgeries. List of surgeries to be done at private centres:1. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Minimally invasive gall bladder removal2. Thyroid surgery: Surgery performed to treat nodules and cancer of thyroid and hyperthyroidism3. Haemorrhoidectomy: Surgery to remove haemorrhoids, swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus4. Stapled Haemorrhoidectomy: Procedure to remove abnormally enlarged hemorrhoidal tissue and repositioning the remaining hemorrhoidal tissue back to its normal position5. Haemorrhoidectomy + Fissurectomy: Surgery to remove haemorrhoids along with repair of a tear in the lining of the anus6. Fissurectomy: Surgery to repair a tear in the lining of the anus7. Fistula High End: Surgery to repair abnormal connection between organs above the anorectal ring, muscular structure between anus and rectum8. Fistula Low End: Surgery to repair abnormal connection between organs below the anorectal ring, muscular structure between anus and rectum9. Appendectomy (Laparoscopic): Surgery to remove the appendix10. Excision of Pilonidal Sinus With Flap Cover: Surgery to remove an abnormal skin growth at the tailbone that contains hair and skin and covering the area with a skin flap11. Excision of Pilonidal Sinus with Primary Closure: Surgery to remove an abnormal skin growth at the tailbone that contains hair and skin and suturing the wound12. Thyroidectomy (Total/Subtotal): Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland13. Breast Lumpectomy: Surgery to remove cancerous lumps from the breast14. Cataract with IOL with Tension Rings: Cataract removal surgery15. Mastoidectomy: Surgery to remove diseased cells of mastoid bone in inner ear16. Tonsillectomy: Surgery to remove tonsils 17. Tympanoplasty: Surgery to repair eardrum18. Septoplasty: Surgery to correct deviated septum, the cartilage diving the two nostrils19. Nasal Polyps/Sinusitis (Fess) ? Unilateral: Surgery to remove non-cancerous growth within the nose20. Nasal Polyps/Sinusitis (Fess) ? Bilateral: Surgery to remove non-cancerous growth inside the nose21. Cortical Mastoidectomy with Myringoplasty: Surgery to remove mastoid cells without affecting the middle ear along with closure of perforation in eardrums22. Peritonsillar Abscess Drainage: Surgery to drain pus near the tonsils23. Septoplasty + Turbinoplasty/Conchaplasty: Surgery to correct deviated septum along with reduction of turbinate bone that protrudes into the breathing passage24. Myringotomy with Grommet Insertion: Surgery to insert a small tube in the eardrum to drain a thick sticky fluid from behind the eardrum 25. CABG: Heart bypass26. PCNL ? Unilateral: Minimally-invasive procedure to remove stones from the kidney by a small puncture wound through the skin27. PCNL ? Bilateral: Minimally-invasive procedure to remove stones from the kidney by a small puncture wound through the skin28. Cystoscopy (therapeutic): A scope inserted through the urethra and into the bladder to check its insides29. Prostate (TURP): Surgery used to treat urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate30. Kidney stone removal

Arshiya Chopra

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Install alarms in hostels to check ragging: UGC to varsities

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/install-alarm-bells-in-hostels-to-check-ragging-ugc-to-universities/story-UIqmlUsqqL21kjsaH86agO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The University Grants Commission has directed universities across the country to install alarm bells in hostels to keep a check on ragging-related activities. A circular issued by UGC also stated that if institutions fail to punish perpetrators suitably, it will attract punitive action. Notably, 288 ragging complaints have been received by the anti-ragging call centre so far this year.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the universities across the country to install alarm bells in hostels to identify troublemakers as part of the anti-ragging measures. The commission issued a circular on Wednesday, asking all the higher educational institutes to take steps to prevent ragging and warned them of punitive action if they failed to take action against those found guilty. ?Any violation of these regulations will be viewed seriously. If an institution fails to take adequate steps to prevent ragging or does not act in accordance with these regulations or fails to punish perpetrators suitably, it will attract punitive action by the UGC,? reads the circular issued by Jaspal S Sandhu, secretary, UGC.So far, as many as 288 ragging-related complaints have been received by the anti-ragging call centre. Last year, the number stood at 515 and in 2015 it was 423. Most of the complaints have been received from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Madhya Pradesh. Universities have been asked to step up anti-ragging mechanisms by constituting an anti-ragging committee, anti-ragging squad, setting up anti-ragging cell and installing CCTVs. Some of the measures also include identification of troublemakers and surprise checks in hostels, student accommodations, canteens, recreational rooms, toilets and bus stops. Students in distress can call the national anti-ragging helpline 1800-180-5522 round-the-clock. The commission has also made four short films and a documentary film to counsel students on ill-effects of ragging.

Parmeet Kaur

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

Sena slams Centre over inaction against K'taka flag demand

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/karnataka-government-demanded-separate-flag-but-pm-modi-won-t-act-against-him-uddhav/story-kEG3LRXXKTTxdITAScAqnO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has criticised the BJP-led Centre for not taking action against Karnataka government's "offensive" demand for a separate flag. He said it was part of BJP's plan to win the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. The state government should also be slapped with sedition charges over the demand, he added.

For the first time after Shiv Sena almost lost its grip on its bastion of Mumbai in the civic polls earlier this year, party chief Uddhav Thackeray accepted that they didn?t fare as well as they expected.In the concluding part of this three-part interview in Sena?s mouthpiece Saamana, Thackeray said like everyone else even he believed that the Shiv Sena would win more than 100 of the 227 seats. He also blamed non-Marathi Hindus for the party?s low tally and said they rallied behind the BJP. After a bitter battle with the BJP, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats in the country?s richest municipal corporation and the BJP got 82. This was the first time in 25 years that any party had come so close to the Shiv Sena?s tally in Mumbai. In a discussion with Sena MP and executive editor of Saamana, Sanjay Raut, he said, ?In Mumbai?s case, the Marathi-speaking voters definitely stayed with the Shiv Sena. My party is really grateful to them.?He added, ?I just really feel bad about one thing. In 1992-93 riots in Mumbai did not spread as per civic wards. Wherever there was unrest, being Hindu the Shiv Sainiks saved every one by putting their lives at stake. I don?t think it is right to vote out those who have helped you in times of crisis.?Thackeray said several Shiv Sainiks are still battling criminal cases because they rushed to protect the Hindus of Mumbai and in return none of those expressed any gratitude to Shiv Sainiks. ?We don?t expect them to say thank you, but they should have remembered that it was Sena that saved them. Even today, I saved Mumbai?s octroi revenue from being washed out by the Goods and Services Tax. I didn?t do that only for the Marathi population in the city. I did it for the entire city,? Thackeray said.The Sena chief also hinted that mid-term polls in Maharashtra are unlikely despite increasingly choppy relations between the ruling parties. ?I don?t pay attention to empty threats from all over. BJP president Amit Shah visited Matoshree and clearly told me there won?t be any mid-term polls,? he said. Thackeray also criticised the Modi government, which Sena is a part of, for not taking a strict view of the Karnataka government?s ?offensive? demand for a separate flag. He also called for sedition charges to be slapped on the state. ?Unfortunately, I am the only one speaking out here. No one in other states or in the country is bothered. If I were to say the same thing about Maharashtra, people would have criticised us from all over.?

Pragya Swastik

01 Feb 2017,Wednesday

All railway coaches to have bio-toilets by 2019

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/union-budget-2017-railways-e-tickets-arun-jaitley/1/871638.html

While presenting the first unified Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced that all railway coaches will have bio-toilets installed by 2019. Jaitley also said the service tax on the purchase of e-tickets booked through IRCTC will be withdrawn. A Rail Safety Fund with a corpus of ?1 lakh crore will be created over next five years, he added.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today presented the first unified Budget as the Rail Budget was merged with it after 92 years. The Budget proposed to withdraw service tax on the purchase of e-tickets booked through IRCTC making railway travel cheaper.Jaitley also announced that by 2019, all coaches of Indian Railways would be fitted with bio-toilets taking a step further towards making the railways clean and more environment-friendly.The Finance Minster announced several measures for improving Railways as he outlined the focus of the government on passenger safety, development, cleanliness and accounting and financing.

Mansha Mahajan

08 Apr 2017,Saturday

Kingfisher Villa sold to actor Sachiin Joshi for ?73 crore

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kingfisher-villa-sold-auction-vijya-mallya-goa-sbi/1/923678.html

An SBI-led group of lenders has managed to sell Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Villa in Goa, after three failed attempts, to film production company Viiking Media & Entertainment, owned by actor-businessman Sachiin Joshi, reports said. Joshi reportedly paid marginally more than the property's previous reserve price of ?73 crore. Notably, Mallya owes over ?9000 crore to the SBI-led consortium.

After three failed attempts, a State Bank of India-led group of lenders has finally managed to sell the Kingfisher Villa. The Goa property was once owned by disgraced businessman Vijay Mallya but was taken over by lenders after he failed to repay the loans he took for the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.Economic Times reported that the bungalow was sold to film production company Viiking Media & Entertainment, which is owned by actor-businessman Sachiin Joshi. The Times of India further added that Joshi paid slightly more than the property's previous reserve price of Rs 73 crore and that SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya had confirmed the sale took place. The prime property is located in Goa's Candolim and had become legendary for the parties that the high-flying Mallya threw at the villa. Three previous attempts to auction off the property at Rs 85.29 crore, then Rs 81 crore and finally Rs 73 crore previously failed. The last attempt to sell the property was on March 6.Mallya owes over Rs 9000 crore to lenders and has been declared as wilful defaulter after Kingfisher Airlines was grounded in 2012. 

Sanira Mediratta

14 May 2017,Sunday

Relative may sue Johar for false claims in biography: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karan-johar-an-unsuitable-boy-relatives-halwai-lying/1/953604.html

According to reports, a relative of Karan Johar may sue Johar and his book's publisher for false claims in his biography 'An Unsuitable Boy'. Johar wrote that on his father's side, his relatives were halwais (sweet-makers) and only his father was 'educated'. The relative, however, claims that Johar's grandfather was a government employee and his uncle was in the IAS.

Karan Johar's autobiography An Unsuitable Boy became a runaway bestseller within hours of hitting the stands. The book released earlier this year and the candid confessions in it by Karan Johar charmed readers and critics all across the country.However, as it turns out, Karan Johar may have lied about his family members in the book. According to a report in Indian Express, what Karan Johar has written about his father's family may be fiction and not fact.In An Unsuitable Boy, Karan Johar has written that on his father's side, his relatives were halwais (sweet-makers). He added that his father was the only family member who was somewhat educated and could speak in English which is why he got to sit at the sales counter. Shortly after, his father quit the job.The report says that in actuality, Karan Johar's grandfather was a government employee based in Lahore before starting a sweet shop in Delhi. Karan Johar's eldest uncle, Ved Prakash Johar, was a graduate of Lahore's Government College and was pally with the poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Ved later got a journalism degree from Columbia University in New York and joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). One of his other uncles was with the Indian Army and another aunt, college-educated, was a teacher.Apparently, only one uncle of Karan Johar was a halwai and he ran a sweet shop and restaurant called Nanking in Delhi's Connaught Place.

Niharika Prabhakar

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Mumbai man arrested for breaking LCD screen on Tejas Express

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/man-who-broke-lcd-screen-of-tejas-express-arrested/story-kbODoE0JYLUVHPLRdYsM2N.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Tuesday arrested a man who broke an LCD screen on the luxury train Tejas Express. The accused was presented before a court where he was fined ?22,000 for damaging government property. The RPF reportedly traced the man using mobile call data records and the passenger reservation chart.

A Dadar resident was on Tuesday arrested for breaking and damaging an LCD screen on the Mumbai-Goa Tejas Express last month.The Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested Nandadeep Sandeep Keer, after going through the passenger reservation chart from the IRCTC and scanning cell phone call records. The case was registered on June 10. The high-speed train from Mumbai to Goa, the fastest so far between the two cities, made its first trip amid much fanfare in May.Read more: Tejas Express: Grand launch, theft to arrest, 5 times the Mumbai-Goa train was in the newsThe train boasted of amenities such as WiFi, GPS and CCTV cameras, unique features such as automatic doors, secured gangways, infotainment screens for each passenger, reading lights above every seat and vaccum bio-toilets, among other facilities.But soon after the first trip, the train came back with fewer headphones, damaged infotainment screens and with waste strewn all over.Keer damaged the LCD screen on seat number 49 on the C11 coach, said an RPF official. Keer, however, had himself booked on seat 54.He was arrested under 145(b), 145 (c) and 147 of the Railway Act and in court. He has been fined Rs 22,000 for damaging government propertyRead more: Tejas Express 1st Mumbai-Goa trip: Passengers steal headphones, damage screens

Daisy Mowke

13 Dec 2016,Tuesday

Syrians in Aleppo post 'goodbye messages' on Twitter

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aleppo-civil-war-civilians-twitter-heartbreaking-messages/1/833233.html

Civilians in Aleppo, Syria posted 'goodbye messages' on Twitter as a cry for help after the Syrian army took control of eastern Aleppo. "I can tweet now but I might not do it forever. please save my daughter's life," a user tweeted. Another tweet read, "Perhaps my final message from E. Aleppo. Regime forces are closing in".

While millions of people lead comfortable lives on one side of the world, there is Aleppo in Syria, where people don't know whether they will be alive the next moment. The largest city in Syria, Aleppo, is at the verge of a man-made apocalypse. The Syrian army has forced itself into east Aleppo where the rebel groups settled themselves. While the Syrian channels portray a pretty picture of the situation showing residents celebrating as the Syrian army take over a neighborhood, many civilians are tweeting their final goodbyes on the social media as a cry for help. Also Read: Aleppo's Toy Smuggler, the man who risks his all to bring joy to Syrian children.The residents of Aleppo are sharing messages on social media, begging for help, as they suffer. The Syrian army, meanwhile, took control of eastern Aleppo and declared victory. Also Read: Unusual Syrian activist killed in an airstrikeThe situation is so grave that the residents have given up and are ready to die. Some bid goodbye, others seek help to save their children. People on social media are calling it 'holocaust' and believe the rest of the world failed innocent civilians in Syria.See some of the heartbreaking messages Aleppo civilians are posting on social media. To everyone who can hear me!#SaveAleppo#SaveHumanitypic.twitter.com/cbExEMKqEYThis is the picture was not taken a century ago, but this week. Sorry.#Aleppo#safealeppopic.twitter.com/HIBEi2sesCI can tweet now but I might not do it forever. please save my daughter's life and others. this is a call from a father.Final message - I am very sad no one is helping us in this world, no one is evacuating me & my daughter. Goodbye.- Fatemah #AleppoMy dad is injured now. I am crying.-Bana #AleppoPerhaps my final message from E. Aleppo. Regime forces are closing in and bunker busters are raining down. https://t.co/YameIrLdyP

Chhavi Tyagi

28 Dec 2016,Wednesday

Sasikala Pushpa's husband attacked outside AIADMK office

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sasikala-pushpa-supporters-clash-aiadmk-headquarters/1/844463.html

Suspended AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa's husband and lawyer were attacked outside AIADMK headquarters on Wednesday by party workers in Chennai. Pushpa recently said she will contest late CM J Jayalalithaa's aide Sasikala Natarajan for the party General Secretary post, which has remained vacant after Jayalalithaa's demise. Condemning the attack, Pushpa said, "I'm being denied an opportunity."

The AIADMK headquarters at Chennai witnessed violence on Wednesday over filing of nomination for the party's most powerful post of general secretary.

Tarun Khanna

01 Apr 2017,Saturday

Cow mummy in UP, yummy in Northeast: Owaisi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/asaduddin-owaisi-beef-cow-slaughter-mummy-up-yummy-northeast/1/918044.html

Taking a jibe at BJP's crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has said, "cow is mummy in UP but yummy in Northeast". His remark came after Nagaland's BJP leader Visasolie Lhoungu said, "Ban on cow slaughter like the one in UP won't take effect in Nagaland if our party comes to power next year."

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party president Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for its 'hypocrisy' on beef and ban on cow slaughter. This week, Nagaland BJP chief Visasolie Lhoungu told the Hindustan Times, "Ban on cow slaughter like the one in UP won't take effect in Nagaland if our party comes to power next year. The reality here is very different and our central leaders are aware of that." Reacting to this and the Yogi Adityanath government's drive to strictly enforce Uttar Pradesh's ban on cow slaughter, Owaisi said the BJP's hypocrisy is that in Uttar Pradesh cow is revered as a mother but in the Northeast it is the animal's meat is part of the normal diet.Since coming to power in UP, Adityanath has ordered strict enforcement of the state's existing ban on slaughter. The Uttar Pradesh government has also taken strict action against abbatoirs operating illegally and without a license. 

Daisy Mowke

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Abhishek, Jacqueline, Riteish wish Priyanka on her birthday

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/bollywood-stars-wish-pride-of-our-nation-priyanka-chopra-35th-birthday/story-FV0votKpvfUhp3ajzU9EyK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

On the occasion of Priyanka Chopra's 35th birthday, Abhishek Bachchan tweeted, "Happy birthday Chopps....Take a break, even if it's just for the day". "Happy birthday!! Onward and upward," wrote Jacqueline Fernandez. Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "Happy Birthday Dear...keep shining...have the brightest one". "Happy birthday @priyankachopra...a bigger person than a star!" tweeted filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh.

Popular Bollywood celebrities like Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ritesh Deshmukh, among many others wished Priyanka Chopra on her 35th birthday on Tuesday.Priyanka -- an actor, singer and film producer -- won the Miss World 2000 pageant and has received numerous awards, including a National Film Award and five Filmfare Awards. In 2016, the government honoured her with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour.She made her Bollywood debut with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy in 2003 and was later seen Andaaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, among other films. Priyanka was also lauded for her breakout role in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz. Later, she went on to appear in films like Don, Krrish, Fashion, Kaminey, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi!, Mary Kom, Dil Dhadakne Do and Bajirao Mastani. In 2015, she began starring as Alex Parrish in Quantico. She also ventured into Hollywood with Baywatch in 2017. Here is what Priyanka?s friends and co-workers from Bollywood wrote on Twitter on her birthday:Happy birthday Chopps @priyankachopra. Have a super year. Take a break, even if its just for the day. Much love.? Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) July 18, 2017Happy happy birthday @priyankachopra!! Onward and upward ?? Jacqueline Fernandez (@Asli_Jacqueline) July 18, 2017Happy Birthday Dear @priyankachopra ...keep shining .. have the brightest one. Much Love?? pic.twitter.com/WF2V2OdQsU? Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) July 18, 2017Happy Birthday @priyankachopra!!! Keep shining ??? big big hug and love.? Dia Mirza (@deespeak) July 18, 2017Happy Birthday to the Most Beautiful and Gorgeous... Pride of our Nation @priyankachopra.... Char Chirga Tere Balan Humesha.... pic.twitter.com/J3i9FRdvz5? King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) July 17, 2017happy birthday @priyankachopra .. a bigger person than a star!? sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) July 18, 2017#HappyBirthdayPriyanka @priyankachopra Wishing you love, joy, health, happiness, success, the works! Only the best, for the best! Love ya!? VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) July 17, 2017To the girl who was born to Shine...@priyankachopra Wish you a birthday that's even more brilliant than you are! Love ? pic.twitter.com/EnvWqnsRnZ? Shekhar Ravjiani (@ShekharRavjiani) July 18, 2017

Tarun Khanna

11 Mar 2017,Saturday

Goa CM, BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar loses from his constituency

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/assembly-election-results-2017-live-uttar-pradesh-punjab-uttarakhand-goa-manipur-modi/1/901863.html

Goa Chief Minister and BJP leader Laxmikant Parsekar has lost his Mandrem seat by over 6,000 votes. Parsekar had replaced former CM Manohar Parrikar after he was appointed as Defence Minister in the Modi government. The loss is seen in the backdrop of infighting against Parsekar within the party.

AAJ TAK LIVE TV WITH LIVE ELECTION RESULTS I congratulate Shri. Narendra Modi and the BJP on their victory in Uttar Pradesh & UttarakhandMy heartiest congratulations to Capt Amarinder Singhji & all our party workers who worked tirelessly @capt_amarinderTo all Congress workers across India: We stand resolute & committed to our values & our belief in an India united in strength & purposeOur fight continues and will not end till we win the hearts & minds of peopleCongratulations to @AmitShah, party office bearers & state units for their exemplary work in taking the party to new heights.  Spoke to @capt_amarinder & congratulated him on the win in Punjab. Also wished him a happy birthday & prayed for his long & healthy life.  .@BJP4India takes lead over @INCIndia in #ManipurWatch #Verdict2017 : https://t.co/TFg6M7I5XDpic.twitter.com/N0J8NNjN3oIn Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand we are disappointed. The alliance had lot of expectations: Sanjay Jha, CongLIVE https://t.co/4fqxBVUizLpic.twitter.com/AxCle4efLiIn a nutshell there is no leader today with a pan India acceptability who can take on Modi & the BJP in 2019.At this rate we might as well forget 2019 & start planning/hoping for 2024.How the hell did almost all the experts/analysts miss this wave in UP? It's a tsunami not a ripple in a small pond.Celebrations galore at BJP HQ as Ashoka Road gets barricaded. #ElectionResults@newslaundrypic.twitter.com/3zdaWhfHBA.@narendramodi be like#ElectionResults2017@BJP4Indiapic.twitter.com/0KVevi8dGT#ElectionResults2017: Meanwhile in the Delhi @BJP4India headquarters (Photo: @NeerajGupta20) pic.twitter.com/SR7may7Q0B  In #UttarPradesh, @BJP4India hasn't left much to imaginationWatch #Verdict2017 : https://t.co/TFg6M7I5XDpic.twitter.com/UyufTVNxcM#Verdict2017It's BJP everywhere in UP. @rahulkanwal shares the latest numbers from UP assembly polls. Live:https://t.co/oIU1FtZewBpic.twitter.com/vnUtSdIF1APunjab is proof that the Congress can win an election despite Rahul Gandhi. #PunjabElection2017Modi magic still working in Uttar Pradesh. Demonetisation, what demonetisation??#ElectionResultsScenes of celebration @BJP4India HQ in Delhi. Pic by @the_hindu photog Sandeep Saxena pic.twitter.com/0oQ8s6FOayThe brilliant @MANJULtoons strikes again on #ElectionResults day.Only the guy in the middle is not getting his wish today. ð??? pic.twitter.com/D9JA8jJOGe#UPElection2017 Results LIVE: Counting of votes underway, #BJP emerges as clear winner with lead in 287 seats https://t.co/0eCLGTAeEQpic.twitter.com/p8l2eOX1iEThe Loha Singh Live Blog: Assembly Election Result updates with a punch ð??? Grab some popcorn ð??? and read ð??? https://t.co/sQ5MPCReyUpic.twitter.com/ATo9PXtyQk@KyaUkhaadLega AAP is ready with victory posters ð???ð???ð??? pic.twitter.com/lyQUr0PEGdBJP leading in Uttar Pradesh: Party workers celebrate in Lucknow #ElectionResultspic.twitter.com/SmmoBRNKSV#UttarPradeshElection2017 Counting shuru ho gayi hai, humari badi jeet hogi: Shivpal Yadav, SP #ElectionResultspic.twitter.com/7C91hJWhcJ#ResultsWithNdtv@ndtv at Lucknow counting centre , drone cameras being used to monitor activity pic.twitter.com/VKhU0XCPGUMuscle, money power openly used by parties: Irom Sharmila https://t.co/d91oCpXEtZ Read @ANI_news story #Manipurpic.twitter.com/gdQ1KJMv3h#ABPResults UP Assembly Election Result Live: @samajwadiparty accuses EC of being biasedhttps://t.co/6I474e06FOpic.twitter.com/DAjGeq1RDh#UttarPradeshElection2017 Security arrangements in place outside counting centres in Moradabad #ElectionResultspic.twitter.com/XlwpiN5ZecSP-Congress alliance will win today,and we will expose the people who were conspiring against CM: Rajendra Chaudhary,SP #ElectionResultspic.twitter.com/iEq4OAiloXSamajwadi Party workers perform Havan in Lucknow #ElectionResultspic.twitter.com/SP9iJcdwfX                                                                                                                                               

Tarun Khanna

20 Feb 2017,Monday

Akhilesh dares PM Modi, BJP chief Shah to ban meat exports

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akhilesh-yadav-modi-government-beef-politics-returns/1/886750.html

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has challenged PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to issue a blanket ban on meat exports. This came after Shah vowed to shut down all slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh if voted to power. "He (Shah) should ban the use of leather and start wearing khadaus (wooden sandals)," Yadav said.

Politics over "pink revolution" has bounced back with vengeance against the country's flourishing meat industry.BJP president Amit Shah has vowed to shut down all slaughterhouses in the state, the nation's leading producer of buffalo meat, if voted to power.In return, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is seeking re-election for a second term, has now challenged the Modi government at the centre to issue a blanket ban on meat exports."I suggest the PM and the BJP's national president go back to Delhi and put an end to exports of meat. Also, they must end the facilities and subsidies provided to any slaughterhouse with immediate effect," said the Samajwadi Party leader in an interview to India Today, cycling along the Gomti riverfront. PINK REVOLUTIONDuring his election campaign in 2014, Narendra Modi attacked the then Congress-led UPA government for spawning a "pink revolution" -- a term he used for growing meat exports and state subsidies to abattoirs."He (Shah) should ban use of leather and start wearing khadaus (wooden sandals). Is this a business started by the SP?" Yadav said.According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority, the country's exports of animal products stood at Rs 30,137 crores in 2015-16, of which buffalo meat alone accounted for Rs 26,681.56 crore.More than 95 per cent of meat exports come from buffaloes, which do not enjoy the sacred status of cows, whose slaughtering is banned in most of the states.The surge in the trade is primarily attributed to rising demands in international market."Any business with growing profit will flourish. I ask them to stop export of meat. Where does the meat go from the slaughterhouses?" argued Yadav. He insisted animal products were also widely used by drug-making companies, many of them in Gujarat, the home state of Modi and Shah. "He (the BJP president) must also close pharmaceutical companies in Gujarat," challenged Yadav.Data shows Uttar Pradesh accounts for the highest share of 28 per cent of the country's total population of buffaloes.HOME TO SECOND-LARGEST NUMBER OF SLAUGHTERHOUSESAccording to an RTI reply by the Animal Husbandry Department last year, the state is home to the second-largest number of slaughterhouses followed by Maharashtra, where a meat ban in 2015 caused a political storm.  Registered abattoirs number 316 in Maharashtra followed by 285 Uttar Pradesh, the RTI response revealed.India, according to a report by credit-rating agency ICRA last year, is likely to record a 50 percent jump in its exports of buffalo meat to Rs 40,000 crore in the next five years, compared with Rs 26,682 crore in FY16. Since 2008, ICRA noted, the exports in the sector have registered a compounded annual growth rate of 29 percent. Asked the sacred cows were also being allegedly butchered along with other livestock in his state's slaughterhouses, Yadav said stringent laws were already in place to prosecute the offenders."We have made laws against cow slaughter and those found guilty are punished," he said. His government, Yadav added, would deal with any such complaint without prejudice. "I ask all of you to give information about which SP leader has occupied land (for slaughterhouses)? Which slaughterhouse is involved in cow slaughter?" he contended.BJP FAILED IN FULFILLING ACHCHE DIN PROMISEThe Samajwadi Party leader accused Modi's BJP of failure in realising its "Achche Din" promise for the voters.People of his state, said the UP chief minister, weren't satisfied with the central government."Modi is our prime minister. Obviously, there is a lot of cheering for him and people are happy to see him. UP sent the maximum MPs to the Lok Sabha, but now public here wonder what the (central) government has done for them," he said when pointed out the prime minister still retained his charisma on voters.Yadav sought to portray development as a key plank for his government to seek another tenure, citing expressways as an example."I would like to say that it is for the first time that a balanced work has been done. ...I've connected 50 districts through a four-lane highway. It has happened for the first time," he insisted.The chief minister downplayed criticism that many roads, other than highways, remained dilapidated across the state, saying most of them were under construction."For the time in the state, people of UP are happy about the development work we have done. They wish to give us a second chance because of our developmental work. They have seen work progressing from cities to the villages," he said.CENTRE TO BLAME FOR METRO DELAYIn response to the prime minister's stinging assault on the Yadav government over its metro project, the CM attributed the delay to the centre."Here, you can see that the Samajwadi Party (government) built the metro within a record time of two years. Let them (the centre) first give us the NoC (no-objection certificate). We've to give that NoC to the railways. There are security checks and trial runs before final clearance," he retorted. "I'm not accusing but the railways have its own procedures and security checks."Yadav also sought to project his alliance with Rahul Gandhi's Congress party in Uttar Pradesh as a beginning. "The future of the alliance of SP-Cong can't be concluded as of now but will begin from UP," he remarked. "Maintaining the balance is our success," the SP leader said when asked about the prospects of the tie-up between his cycle and Gandhi's hand symbols.He, however, played down suggestions that he might face a political sabotage from within the SP. "In politics when there are issues in a party. Such doubts are frequently raised. But in my understanding, this won't impact us a lot," Yadav said. Asked whether he had his father, Mulayam Yadav, on board, the chief minister said: "Netaji is with us. His blessings are with us. He has been involved in campaign trail as well."BEST POLICE-RESPONSE SYSTEM ACROSS STATEOn law-and-order, he rejected PM Modi's accusations of biased policing, saying the state government had developed the "best" police-response system across the state."The nation's best police response system has been made by SP. The concept of (helpline) UP 100 is such that no one can complain that their call wasn't received. Police will reach the spot and help the needy, get the case registered and take action," he said. "After the UP 100 initiative, no one can dare interfere with governance."Yadav also specifically listed out pro-woman programs, which he said benefited hundreds of thousands in the state. "We started the Samajwadi Pension Yojana with 25-35 lakh women getting benefited. And today, we give pension to 55 lakh women, which is sent directly to their accounts. We have decided to provide Rs 1,000, besides pension, to each financially backward woman. This is a huge initiative."In her remarks, the CM's wife, Dimple Yadav, however, described woman safety as a national and not solely a state issue."There is problem with regards to women's safety, not only in UP but everywhere. But the point is that the issue is discussed during elections only and put aside later," she argued.

Saloni Tandon

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Dravid to be India's batting consultant for overseas tours

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ravi-shastri-anil-kumble-team-india-head-coach/1/999487.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Former captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed India's batting consultant for overseas tours, BCCI announced on Tuesday. Dravid would take up the role alongside his current position of coach of India 'A' and U-19 teams, for which he was recently given a two-year extension. Dravid has been appointed alongside Ravi Shastri as head coach and Zaheer Khan as bowling coach.

Former captain Ravi Shastri has been appointed the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team till the 2019 World Cup, as first reported on India Today. Shastri's first assignment will be a full-fledged tour of Sri Lanka featuring three Tests, five ODIs and a one-off T20 International starting July 26.  WATCH FULL VIDEOMeanwhile, Zaheer Khan has been named bowling coach while Rahul Dravid will be batting coach for overseas tours.BCCI said that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who conducted the interviews, recommended these appointments in the "best interest" of Indian cricket.The term of the appointments will be till the World Cup 2019."Shastri has been the team director in the past, and brings with him a wealth of experience, both as player and as coach," said board's acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary."Zaheer is a contemporary cricketer who assumed the mentoring role to a young fast bowling unit even during his playing days with India. His inputs and wisdom will be of immense value to our young fast bowlers, who have shown tremendous potential in the last couple of years. And, as the Indian team is to play plenty of Test cricket overseas in the next two years, Rahul Dravid's expertise as batting consultant will be immensely helpful for youngsters," he added. The CAC had interviewed five candidates on Monday - Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Shastri - before finalising on the latter.Shastri was involved in a three-way race along with Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody as the advisory committee met in Mumbai to select the new coach.Shastri was overlooked last year as the CAC went ahead and picked Anil Kumble for a one-year term. Many had felt Shastri was the hot favourite to replace Duncan Fletcher as the full-time coach until Kumble threw his hat in the ring.Last year, Shastri had said he was disappointed after missing out on the coaching job because the team had done "wonderfully well" under him.As team director from 2014 to 2016, Shastri had a good run as India won an ODI series against England, reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and 2016 World T20, won a T20I series in Australia and clinched the Asia Cup.But he soon made way for former captain Anil Kumble, who was selected coach by the CAC in 2016. Shastri was also one of the applicants last year but he was overlooked despite his good run.Kumble's one-year tenure came to a controversial end when he resigned following differences with skipper Virat Kohli.In a statement hours after tendering his resignation, Kumble said he was told by the Indian board that Kohli was not satisfied with his 'style of coaching'.ZAHEER KHAN NAMED BOWLING COACHFormer India pacer Zaheer has been named bowling coach. The 38-year-old has played 92 Tests and picked up 311 wickets and has 282 scalps to his name from 200 ODIs -- and as captain of the Delhi Daredevils has nurtured several talented young players.Zaheer is well respected in the Indian cricket fraternuity and has played with current members MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.RAHUL DRAVID BATTING COACH FOR OVERSEAS TOURSBCCI appointed Dravid as the batting coach for overseas tours. He is also coach of India's A and U-19 teams. Known as the 'The Wall' fo his solid defecne, Dravid accumulated 13288 runs in 164 Tests and 10889 runs in 344 ODIs.

Daisy Mowke

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Censor Board orders 48 cuts in 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz'

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pahlaj-nihalani-cbfc-48-cuts-babumoshai-baandookbaaz/1/1015923.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani has ordered 48 cuts in the Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer n upcoming action thriller film 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz'. "We are just doing our job," Nihalani said when asked about the number of cuts that have been ordered. Directed by Kushan Nandy and also starring Bengali actress Bidita Bag, the film is scheduled to release on August 25.

The latest victim of Pahlaj Nihalani-led CBFC's (Central Board of Film Certification) draconian measures is Nawazuddin Siddiqui's upcoming film Babumoshai Bandookbaaz. Nihalani has ordered 48 cuts in the film - yes, you read that right. F-O-R-T-Y E-I-G-H-T cuts.When asked about the number of cuts that have been ordered in Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, Nihalani told India Today Television, "We are just doing our job."The blow from the censor board comes just days after news broke that Pahlaj Nihalani might have to step down as the CBFC chairman owing to the numerous controversies that his methods have landed him in. While there is no update on that front, his order of 48 cuts for Babumoshai Bandookbaaz have come as a shock to the makers of the film.Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bidita Bag in the lead roles and is directed by Kushan Nandy, has been embroiled in controversies for quite some time now. First, Chitrangda Singh walked out of the film saying that she was uncomfortable with the numerous explicit scenes in the film.After that, the filmmakers roped in Bengali actress Bidita Bag.The casting director of Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, Sanjay Chouhan, then said in an interview how it was not possible for him to cast a 'fair and handsome actor opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui'. Nawaz did not take the comment lying down and went on Twitter to say how he never concentrated on his looks."Thank U 4 making me realise dat I cannot b paired along wid d fair & handsome bcz I m dark & not good looking, but I never focus on that. (sic)" read Nawaz's tweet.Babumoshai Bandookbaaz is slated for a release on August 25 this year. But it remains to be seen when the CBFC finally gets around to clearing the film. Or if Babumoshai Bandookbaaz too has to knock on the Revising Committee's door to get a certificate.OPINION: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the finest actor we have. Why the racism, Bollywood?

Chhavi Tyagi

18 May 2017,Thursday

Declare Hurriyat a terror group, says General VK Singh

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/hurriyat-general-vk-singh-separatist-leaders-terrorist/1/956672.html

BJP leader General VK Singh has demanded that the Hurriyat Conference be declared a terrorist organisation and separatist leaders be immediately jailed under the Public Safety Act of Jammu and Kashmir. He further said that Hurriyat leaders should not be allowed to live in comfort while under house arrest and instead be locked up in central prisons on terrorism charges.

In an extremely hard hitting interview to India Today, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, General VK Singh has demanded that the Hurriyat Conference be declared a terrorist organisation and separatist leaders like Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate be immediately jailed under the Public Safety Act of Jammu and Kashmir. WATCH VIDEOGeneral Singh has also demanded that people like Syed Ali Shah Geelani should not be allowed to live in relative comfort while under house arrest.Instead, Singh wants that the Hurriyat leaders be locked up in central prisons on terrorism charges. He congratulated the India Today Group for Hurriyat Truth Tapes and described the special investigation as the most compelling evidence ever gathered against the 'terrorists' in the Hurriyat because the Hurriyat leaders have themselves admitted that they are paid by Pakistan to burn schools in Kashmir.General Singh said the onus is now on the Mehbooba Mufti government to commence immediate and unprecedented clampdown on the Hurriyat Conference leaders who only care about the well being of their own families and are nothing but stooges of Pakistan.India Today aired a special investigative report where Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan was caught on camera admitting that Pakistan is funding violence in the Kashmir Valley.Several top Kashmiri separatists were also caught on camera confessing to receiving funds from across the border.Some of them also admitted they raised money domestically, pledging to repeat the deadly events of 2016 if financed again. The stunning probe that rips apart the devious designs of anti-India forces in Kashmir includes Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba, and JKLF chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate).The investigation traces the terror funding trail. Hurriyat leader Naeem Khan stealthily travels down to Delhi to meet India Today reporters, who posed as potential funders.The investigation revealed that Pakistan's agents who are trying to destabilise Kashmir through street violence are hidden in Delhi.The expose was hailed not only by the government and the BJP but also by the Congress.Also read:India Today impact: NIA roped in to probe Pakistan link in Hurriyat tapes, says Kashmir minister Hurriyat hypocrisy: How children of separatist leaders lead a life of luxury

Daisy Mowke

08 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Salman, Karisma to do a cameo in 'Judwaa 2'

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sajid-nadiadwala-confirms-salman-karisma-cameo-in-judwaa-2/1/876114.html

Filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala has confirmed that actors Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor will make a special appearance in 'Judwaa 2'. The two actors starred in the 1997 film 'Judwaa'. Varun Dhawan will be playing the lead role in the film, which will also star Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu. Directed by David Dhawan, 'Judwaa 2' will release on September 29. n

Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI) Filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala has confirmed that actors Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor will make a special appearance in "Judwaa 2". The reports of the original "Judwaa" stars making a cameo in the upcoming reboot have been doing the rounds since the film was announced with Varun Dhawan in the lead role.

Mansha Mahajan

23 Mar 2017,Thursday

Extradition request for Mallya, 9 others pending in UK: Govt

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/request-for-extradition-of-mallya-9-others-pending-with-uk/1/911259.html

As many as 10 requests by India for extradition of fugitive criminals including Vijay Mallya, who is facing charges of loan default worth ?9,000 crore, are pending with the UK, the government said. Further, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said in the last five years, only one fugitive criminal, Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, has been extradited from UK.

Govt New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Ten requests by India for extradition of fugitive criminals including Vijay Mallya, who is facing charges of loan default to the tune of nearly Rs 9,000 crore, are pending with the UK, the government said today. In a written replyin Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said in the last five year, only one fugitive criminal Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, has been extradition from the UK.

Dishant Sharma

28 Mar 2017,Tuesday

At times I've let my emotions slip, I apologise: Steve Smith

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/steve-smith-india-vs-australia-test-cricket-border-gavaskar/1/914472.html

Following Australia's loss in the fourth Test on Tuesday, Australian captain Steve Smith said, "At times, I have been in my own bubble and have let my emotions slip. I apologise for that". "I have been pretty intense throughout this series", Smith added. Smith was seen swearing after the third umpire overturned a Murali Vijay-catch on the third day.

Australia captain Steven Smith was left to rue the mistakes his team made in the deciding Test match against India in Dharmasala but he can hold his head up high for the way the visitors competed throughout the series. (SCORECARD | BALL-BY-BALL UPDATES)India hammered the Aussies by 8 wickets on Day 4 of the fourth Test to clinch the series 2-1 and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (Rahane's captaincy draws high praise from Clarke, Ganguly)Watch: Biggest takeaways from India vs Australia Test seriesSmith was the best batsman on display from either side and ended up as the highest run-scorer with 499 runs in eight innings at an average of 71.28 with three hundreds to his name. But the No. 1 ranked batsman in the world still ended up on the losing end. (Great win, great summer for India: Sourav Ganguly to India Today)Smith though conceded that this was one of the best series that he has been a part of and praised his team for their performances. (Told myself to take a few hits for the team: KL Rahul)"Magnificent series. One of the best I have been a part of. Credit to India, they are a fantastic cricket side, particularly in their backyard. If you give them a sniff, they will take that. For Australia, this is the toughest conditions for us. To challenge them so much, I am proud," Smith said at the post-match presentation. (Ravindra Jadeja and I've been hand-in-glove all season: Ravichandran Ashwin)"The middle session yesterday, when you lose five for 70, you put yourself behind. Credit to India. Umesh was fantastic. They have all been fantastic. A lot of people wrote us off. They said it was going to be a 4-0 whitewash. I am proud of the way we have competed. We have probably let a few moments slip. Against India you can't do that," he added.

Saloni Tandon

21 May 2017,Sunday

Pakistan lawyers give PM Sharif 7-day deadline to resign

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nawaz-sharif-panama-papers-pakistan-resignation-lahore/1/959016.html

Pakistan's lawyers have threatened to launch a nationwide campaign if PM Nawaz Sharif does not resign by May 27. Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association and the Lahore High Court Bar Association called for the resignation after the SC's verdict on the Panama Papers, in which Sharif and his son were named for corruption. An inquiry has been ordered against Sharif.

The Supreme Court Bar Association and the Lahore High Court Bar Association have said they would launch a countrywide movement if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif doesn't resign on the Panama Papers scandal in seven days. According to a report by The Dawn, the two bar associations in a joint declaration said that following the Supreme Court's order on the Panama Papers case, the Prime Minister should no longer hold the position and resign within seven days.This comes after the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Lahore High Court Bar Association members clashed with the lawyers supporting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML_N) government. The incident took place at the all Pakistan lawyers' representatives' convention on May 19.SCBA President Rasheed A Rizvi was locked in the Lahore High Court's library by PML-N lawyers. The locks were broken by SCBA members and Rizvi was released during the ruckus. Police were called in to control the situation."Both bar associations are of the view that in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Panama Papers case (that questioned the moral authority of the premier to rule), PM Nawaz Sharif should no longer hold his office and should therefore resign," a joint statement issued by the both bar associations said after their convention in Lahore.It said the judgement in the Panama case has clearly indicted Sharif and his children for financial improprieties and corruption and a joint investigation team has been formed to probe him."For fair and independent inquiry against the premier, Nawaz Sharif should step down till the final report of the JIT. In case he does not resign till May 27 the lawyers throughout Pakistan will launch a nationwide campaign and movement to ensure his resignation," the statement said. The case against Sharif emerged last year after the Panama Papers leak linked his children to offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands in relation to the purchase of upmarket property in London.Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing.(With inputs from agencies)Also Read:Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif feels the heat as Opposition slams government for mishandling Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at ICJ

Mishika Bangia

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

PM Modi announces ?500 crore for flood-hit Gujarat

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-inspects-flood-havoc-in-gujarat-announces-relief-funds/story-nWFxFvxU8JKxX3NvEh1r7L.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a ?500 crore relief package for flood-hit Gujarat after he conducted an aerial survey in the state. He also announced compensations of ?2 lakh to kins of the 83 deceased and ?50,000 for injured. Modi assured all possible help and assistance from the Centre to normalise the adverse situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected on Tuesday the devastation in parts of Gujarat hit by floods and heavy rains, and announced a payout of Rs 2 lakh to family members of those killed.Gujarat, Modi?s home state, has been lashed by rains and several of its rivers are in spate after neighbouring Rajasthan opened dams, inundating and cutting off villages particularly in the state?s northern parts. At least 82 people have died since the monsoon rains began a month ago.?Everything possible will be done to help the farmers, who suffer immensely due to floods? While reviewing the situation, I could see the Government of Gujarat responded to the flood situation quite swiftly,? the Prime Minister tweeted.He flew over the affected districts in North Gujarat, and announced a relief package of Rs 500 crore. The PM also said a compensation of Rs 2 lakh will be paid for those who died, and Rs 50,000 will be given to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister?s National Relief Fund.The announcements came as rescuers from disaster response teams and the Indian military raced to reach marooned villagers, some of whom were airlifted by military choppers.A flooded Gujarat village is seen from the aircraft from which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the devastation. (PMOIndia/Twitter) Before the aerial survey, Modi took stock of the situation at a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad attended by chief minister Vijay Rupani and other officials.?The PM assured all possible help and assistance from the centre to normalise the situation in the flood-hit areas of the state,? Rupani said after the meeting.Several places in Banaskantha and Patan, which are otherwise prone to droughts, recorded 15 to 18 inches of rainfall between Monday and Tuesday morning. More than 1 lakh people have been affected, and electricity supply to these regions has been cut off.Heavy to very heavy rains are likely to lash the state in the next 48 hours, according to Met department.Three people have died in rain-related accidents in Banaskantha in the last 24 hours, according to the state flood control room. In the last 24 hours, some 50,000 people have been shifted to safety in the two districts. Over 1,000 people, including 40 stranded on roofs of their houses in Banaskantha, have been evacuated. Four helicopters of the Air Force (IAF), two Army columns and 18 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were working for rescue and relief operations.?Rescue and relief operations are going on in full swing. We will restore electricity supply (in Banaskantha and Patan) as soon as possible,? said deputy chief Minister Nitin Patel. Seven lakh food packets have been distributed in affected villages using IAF choppers, since more than 370 roads, including six National Highways and 20 State Highways, remained inundated across the state.

Gaurav Shroff

23 Mar 2017,Thursday

New Alzheimer's test can predict when disease will appear

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/22/new-alzheimers-test-can-predict-age-when-disease-will-appear?CMP=twt_gu

Scientists have developed a test that can predict the age at which a person could develop Alzheimer's. The test calculates the risk of onset of disease based on genetic markers developed from data of over 70,000 individuals having Alzheimer's and otherwise. Researchers said that while genetics can influence the risk of dementia, a healthy lifestyle can also curb the risk.

Scientists have developed a new genetic test for Alzheimer?s risk that can be used to predict the age at which a person will develop the disease.A high score on the test, which is based on 31 genetic markers, can translate to being diagnosed many years earlier than those with a low-risk genetic profile, the study found. Those ranked in the top 10% in terms of risk were more than three times as likely to develop Alzheimer?s during the course of the study, and did so more than a decade before those who ranked in the lowest 10%.Rahul Desikan, of the University of California ? who led the international effort, said the test could be used to calculate any individual?s risk of developing Alzheimer?s that year.?That is, if you don?t already have dementia, what is your yearly risk for AD onset, based on your age and genetic information,? he said.The so-called polygenic hazard score test was developed using genetic data from more than 70,000 individuals, including patients with Alzheimer?s disease and healthy elderly people.It is already known that genetics plays a powerful role in Alzheimer?s. Around a quarter of patients have a strong family history of the disease, and scientists have shown this is partly explained by a gene called ApoE, which comes in three versions, and is known to have a powerful influence on the risk of getting the most common late-onset type of Alzheimer?s. One version of ApoE appears to reduce risk by up to 40%, while those with two copies (one from each parent) of the high-risk version can increase risk by 12 times.The latest study takes a new approach, showing that, aside from ApoE, there are thousands of background genetic variations that each have a tiny influence on Alzheimer?s risk, but whose cumulative influence is substantial.The researchers first identified nearly 2,000 single letter differences in the genetic code (known as SNPs) and, after ranking them for influence, developed a test based on 31 of the markers. The test was then used to accurately predict an individual?s risk of getting the disease in an independent patient cohort.In people with the high-risk version of ApoE, those ranked in the top 10% of risk on the new test got Alzheimer?s at an average age of 84 years, compared with 95 years for those ranked in the lowest 10%.James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer?s Society, said: ?Preventing the development of dementia symptoms is the holy grail of Alzheimer?s research but to succeed we first need accurate methods to predict who is most likely to develop the condition. This study?s approach was fairly successful at predicting the likelihood of someone developing dementia over the coming year, but needs to be tested further in mixed, non-US populations.? Pickett added that, while the score could help to identify people for trials, it was too early to apply it as a genetic testing tool for use in the clinic.Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer?s Research UK, said that while genetic makeup can influence the chances of developing dementia, a healthy diet, regular physical activity and remaining mentally active can also drive down the risk. ?Genetics is only part of the story and we know that lifestyle factors also influence our risk of developing Alzheimer?s,? she said. ?The best current evidence points to habits we can all adopt to help lower our risk and indicates that what?s good for your heart is also good for the brain.?The findings are published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

Akshita Jain

17 Dec 2016,Saturday

Mumbai ATS seeks Centre's help in tracking ISIS recruit

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tabrez-khan-islamic-state-maharashtra-ats/1/834693.html

Mumbai's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has reportedly written to the Centre requesting them to provide all information about a Mumbra youth, who had allegedly left India to join ISIS. ATS also asked the forensic department to retrieve data from his mobile and laptop, for investigation purposes. The agency has also reportedly sought details of the youth's bank accounts.

Mobile and laptop seized from Tabrez Khan family have been sent for forensic tests. Tabrez Khan, a Mumbaikar had left his house to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The ATS believes that the laptop and mobile are important to understand what Ali, the ISIS recruiter, who recruited Khan, did during his month-long visit to Mumbai.Ali, a Saudi national, whose identity has been confirmed by Maharashtra ATS was in Mumbra in 2015 for a month, he is said to be the recruter for Khan. The ATS suspects that Ali recruited more people during his stay. The ATS has written to Centre requesting them to provide all the information about new ISIS recruit Tabrez Khan. The ATS wants to know about the present status of Tabrez, where is he now, at what position he is working for the banned terrorist organisation and if at all he has been apprehended by the Libiyan Enforcement Agency. "We have written to the Central Government requesting them to seek and provide detail about Tabrez Khan," said a senior ATS official.  Forensic department to retrieve data from mobile and laptop which can be used for investigation purpose. "We are getting the details of bank accounts which Tabrez and his family member hold so that we can get knowledge about money trail," added an official.The agency has also started recording statement of those people whom Tabrez and Ali met during their stay in India earlier this year.

Chhavi Tyagi

30 Mar 2017,Thursday

Nigeria summons Indian envoy over Greater Noida mall attack

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nigeria-summons-indian-envoy-over-attack-on-students-in-noida-mall/1/916301.html

Indian ambassador to Nigeria B Nagabhushana Reddy has been summoned by the Nigerian government to discuss the attack on Nigerian students at a mall in Greater Noida. The Nigerian government has further asked the Indian government to ensure immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack on its nationals.

Days after four Nigerian students were allegedly beaten up by a mob at a mall in Greater Noida, Nigeria has asked the Indian government to ensure immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack on its nationals.Indian ambassador to Nigeria B Nagabhushana Reddy was summoned by the Nigerian government to discuss the issue and share Nigeria's concerns with the Indian government.According to News Agency of Nigeria, Olushola Enikanolaiye, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, spoke to the Indian ambassador in that country. The Nigerian official asked for action against the offenders and called it necessary to prevent similar incidents in future. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME"It is a concern to us that Nigerian students in that place were harassed, beaten up and many of them were seriously injured," Olushola Enikanolaiye is said to have told the Indian ambassador. The Nigerian official said this was not the first time that people of his country were attacked in India. "Nigerians have suffered similar attack in the past," Olushola Enikanolaiye was quoted as saying. "We think this should not have happened considering the excellent relationship between two of us--the two countries have things in common and have been great friends," the Nigerian official said. JUSTICE WILL BE DONEThe Indian ambassador to Nigeria called the incident deplorable and said Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has issued a statement condemning the incident. He said the Indian government is determined to see that "justice is done".Ambassador Nagabhushana Reddy told the Nigerian official that five accused in the case have been arrested.  BE CALM, STAY VIGILANTNigeria has asked its nationals residing in India to remain vigilant. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has advised Nigerians living in India to remain calm and be watchful of their surroundings.She condemned the attacks on Nigerian students and called it deplorable and unwarranted. ALSO READ:Greater Noida: Boy dies under mysterious circumstances, parents blame Nigerian neighbours

Prashanti Moktan

05 Feb 2017,Sunday

Kaabil enters ?100 crore club on 11th day of its release

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khan-raees-mahira-khan-kaabil-hrithik-roshan-collection/1/875060.html

The Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam starrer 'Kaabil' has entered the ?100 crore club on the eleventh day of its release, as per the film's makers. The film collected ?9.22 crore on February 4, taking the total to ?106.25 crore. Notably, 'Kaabil' released on January 25, sharing its release date with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Raees'.

Although Shah Rukh Khan's Raees became the first film of 2017 to make it to the Rs 100 crore club, Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam-starrer Kaabil is not lagging far behind. The revenge drama joined the 100 crore bandwagon in its second weekend.MOVIE REVIEW: RAEESMOVIE REVIEW: KAABILEven though Kaabil's opening day collections were significantly lower than Raees, it has since picked up and is giving SRK's gangster drama stiff competition at the box office. Kaabil also became the first Bollywood film to release in Pakistam since their ban on Indian films, and reports suggest that the film is already running to packed theatres there. Raees, however, has a lead in the overseas collection.Here is the day-to-day breakdown of Raees box-office collection:Day 1 - Wednesday (Jan 25) - Rs 20.42 croreDay 2 - Thursday (Jan 26) - Rs 26.30 croreDay 3 - Friday (Jan 27) - Rs 13.11 croreDay 4 - Saturday (Jan 28) - Rs 15.61 croreDay 5 - Sunday (Jan 29) - Rs 17.80 croreDay 6 - Monday (Jan 30) - Rs 8.25 croreDay 7 - Tuesday (Jan 31) - Rs 7.52 croreDay 8 - Wednesday (Feb 1) - Rs 7.1 croreDay 9 - Thursday (Feb 2) - Rs 6.25 croreDay 10 - Friday (Feb 3) - Rs 6.60 croreDay 11 - Saturday (Feb 4) - Rs 8.5 crore (approx)Approximate eleven-day box-office collection of Raees: Rs 137.46 croreHere is the day-to-day breakdown of Kaabil box-office collection:Day 1 - Wednesday (Jan 25) - Rs 10.43 croreDay 2 - Thursday (Jan 26) - Rs 18.67 croreDay 3 - Friday (Jan 27) - Rs 9.77 croreDay 4 - Saturday (Jan 28) - Rs 13.54 croreDay 5 - Sunday (Jan 29) - Rs 15.05 croreDay 6 - Monday (Jan 30) - Rs 6.04 croreDay 7 - Tuesday (Jan 31) - Rs 6.10 croreDay 8 - Wednesday (Feb 1) - Rs 5.70 croreDay 9 - Thursday (Feb 2) - Rs 5.25 croreDay 10 - Friday (Feb 3) - Rs 6.40 crore

Prashanti Moktan

08 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Munna Bhai 3 to be my last Munna Bhai film: Hirani

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sanjay-dutt-biopic-rajkumar-hirani-munnabhai-sequel/1/876629.html

Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has said that 'Munna Bhai 3' will be his last film in the 'Munna Bhai' film series. He added that after this film, someone else could take the franchise forward but it has to be equally good. The film will mark the return of Sanjay Dutt as 'Munna Bhai' and Arshad Warsi as his sidekick 'Circuit'.

When Rajkumar Hirani announced the third installment of the Munna Bbhai series, fans were over the moon. However, Munna Bhai Chale Amrica hit a roadblock when Sanjay Dutt was incarcerated in 2013. Now, the director has some good news - Munna and his lovable sidekick, Circuit, are all set to return to the big screen!ALSO READ | Ranbir as Sanjay Dutt in Raju Hirani's film: 10 events from Sanju's life that SHOULD be in the biopicALSO READ | Sanjay Dutt biopic won't see Akshaye Khanna as Sunil Dutt. This is why

Rini Sinha

14 Jul 2017,Friday

Share great chemistry with Sushant after Raabta: Kriti Sanon

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/i-share-great-comfort-chemistry-with-sushant-singh-rajput-kriti-sanon/story-IdanK3UEwbBFQbTFdDq0qI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Kriti Sanon has said that she shares great chemistry with actor Sushant Singh Rajput after filming 'Raabta' and a music video together. Sushant and Kriti will be seen performing together at the upcoming IIFA awards. Speaking about her preparations for the performance, Kriti said, "We have rehearsed separately as well as together."

Kriti Sanon is all set for her debut performance at the 18th IIFA awards and says she is extremely ?excited? to perform with her Raabta co-star Sushant Singh Rajput.Sharing her excitement with ANI post the IIFA Press Conference, the 26-year-old said, ?I have never done a couple act before. After doing Raabta and another music video together, I share great comfort and chemistry with Sushant.?Talking about the preparations for the performance before the main event, the Dilwale star said, ?We have rehearsed separately as well as together. In fact, we are still in the process of rehearsing.?She further said, ?It?s great that IIFA is going live. Mostly the snippets are already out before the main event is aired, so this time I think it will be nice when people will not know who is actually winning which award.?The MS Dhoni: The Untold Story star, on the other hand, said, ?I have been performing in songs with Kriti for a while now but on stage, yes, for the first time. She is a great dancer. I am really nervous that IIFA is live this year because that I means I can?t screw up!?The Awards 2017, to be held at New York?s iconic MetLife Stadium, will witness power-packed performances by Bollywood superstars - Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor, Sushant and Kriti, to name a few.

Daisy Mowke

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Big B reveals he wrestled a real tiger in Khoon Pasina

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/daredevil-amitabh-bachchan-wrestled-a-real-tiger-in-khoon-pasina-see-pic/story-q2yn67lIJ04dMw7CWY6FcM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Amitabh Bachchan has revealed that he wrestled a real tiger in the 1977 film 'Khoon Pasina'. "Fighting a real tiger for 'Khoon Pasina'... a real task... shared it with stunt directors of today... they thought I was mad," he wrote on Twitter while sharing a photo from the film's set. The film also starred Rekha and late actor Vinod Khanna.

One of the most active Bollywood stars on social media, who keeps giving his fans an opportunity to know him better today shared a picture from his 40 year old hit film Khoon Pasina, where he is seen fighting a tiger.T 2489 - Fighting a real tiger for 'Khoon Pasina' .. a real task .. shared it with stunt directors of today .. they thought I was MAD .. pic.twitter.com/4aXJqOSmIt? Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 18, 2017In the black and white picture, Bachchan can be seen lying on the ground, his arms around the tiger, shooting the daring scene. Earlier too the megastar walked down the memory lane and shared a black and white picture with co-star Dharmendra from his movie Sholay.The photo was taken while the duo rehearsed for a scene.Big B captioned the Instagram image as, ?Rehearsing for SHOLAY ..?

Dishant Sharma

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Only 5% chance of Earth reaching Paris climate goal: Study

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/31/paris-climate-deal-2c-warming-study?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

According to a recently published US-based research, there is only a 5% chance that Earth will avoid warming by at least 2°C by 2100, the threshold set in the Paris climate agreement. The research studied global trends in the economy, emissions and population growth, and further stated that there is 1% chance that temperatures will rise by less than 1.5°C.

There is only a 5% chance that the Earth will avoid warming by at least 2C come the end of the century, according to new research that paints a sobering picture of the international effort to stem dangerous climate change.Global trends in the economy, emissions and population growth make it extremely unlikely that the planet will remain below the 2C threshold set out in the Paris climate agreement in 2015, the study states. The Paris accord, signed by 195 countries, commits to holding the average global temperature to ?well below 2C? above pre-industrial levels and sets a more aspirational goal to limit warming to 1.5C. This latter target is barely plausible, the new research finds, with just a 1% chance that temperatures will rise by less than 1.5C. ?We?re closer to the margin than we think,? said Adrian Raftery, a University of Washington academic who led the research, published in Nature Climate Change. ?If we want to avoid 2C, we have very little time left. The public should be very concerned.? Governments settled on the 2C threshold partly through political expediency but also because scientists have warned of severe consequences from sea level rise, drought, heatwaves and social unrest should the temperature rise beyond this. Such risks have been underscored by a separate study, also released on Monday, that shows unabated climate change will cause around 60,000 deaths globally in 2030 and 260,000 deaths by 2100. The study, by the University of North Carolina, found that rising temperatures will exacerbate air pollutants that will particularly threaten those with existing conditions. According to the University of Washington study, there is a 90% likelihood that temperatures will rise between 2C and 4.9C by 2100. This would put the world in the mid-range warming scenarios mapped out by the UN?s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It negates the most optimistic outcome as well as the worst case, which would see temperatures climb nearly 6C beyond the pre-industrial era. Rather than look at how greenhouse gases will influence temperature, the new research analyzed the past 50 years of trends in world population, per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon intensity, which is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each dollar of economic activity. After building a statistical model covering a range of emissions scenarios, the researchers found that carbon intensity will be a crucial factor in future warming. Technological advances are expected to cut global carbon intensity by 90% over the course of the century, with sharp declines in China and India ? two newly voracious consumers of energy. However, this decline still will not be steep enough to avoid breaching the 2C limit. The world?s population is expected to grow to about 11 billion people by 2100, but the research found that this will have a relatively small impact upon temperatures as much of this growth will take place in sub-Saharan Africa, which is a minor contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. It has long been acknowledged that emissions cuts promised under the the Paris agreement would not be sufficient to avoid 2C warming. However, it is hoped that periodic reviews of commitments will result in more severe reductions. Donald Trump?s pledge to remove the US, the world?s second-largest emitter, from the accord has cast a large shadow over these ambitions. ?Even if the 2C target isn?t met, action is very important,? said Raftery. ?The more the temperature increases, the worse the impacts will be. ?We would warn against any tendency to use our results to say that we won?t avoid 2C, and so it?s too late to do anything. On the contrary, avoiding the higher temperature increases that our model envisages is even more important, and also requires urgent action.? Raftery acknowledged that a breakthrough technology could ?dramatically? change the outlook but noted that major advances of the past 50 years, such as the computer, robotics, hybrid cars, the internet and electronic fuel injection, have improved carbon efficiency steadily at around 2% a year, rather than in huge jumps. Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University who was not involved in the study, said the research?s conclusions were ?reasonable? but said it was difficult to assign a precise probability to future temperature rises. ?I agree that staying below 2C and 1.5C are unlikely and very, very unlikely, respectively,? he said. ?But this research gives a false sense of rigor. Tomorrow someone could invent a carbon-free energy source that everyone adopts. ?If you look at technology adoption and action taken on the ozone layer and acid rain, it?s clear these things can change faster than people predict.? Dessler said the falling cost of renewable energy would be a major factor in reducing emissions but further impetus would be needed through new actions such as a price on carbon. ?It?s like you?re driving and about to collide with the car in front of you,? he said. ?You want to hit the brakes as fast as you can. The later you wait, the more painful it?s going to be.?John Sterman, an academic at the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, said the research was an ?urgent call to action?. MIT research has shown that emissions cuts in the Paris agreement would stave off around 1C of temperature increase by 2100 ? findings misrepresented by Trump when he announced the US departure from the pact.Sterman said the US must ?dramatically speed the deployment of renewable energy and especially energy efficiency. Fortunately, renewables, storage and other technologies are already cheaper than fossil energy in many places and costs are falling fast.?More aggressive policies are urgently needed, but this study should not be taken as evidence that nothing can be done.?

Tanya Dhingra

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Sara will rock the industry with her beauty, talent: Kareena

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sara-will-rock-the-industry-kareena-on-her-bollywood-debut-opposite-sushant-singh-rajput/story-EhtgBrVcyENePAXk8mTsiI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Kareena Kapoor, while talking about her step-daughter Sara Ali Khan's Bollywood debut, said that she's sure Sara is going to rock the industry with her beauty and talent. Kareena added, "I am sure she's going to be supremely talented. She has it in her genes, she is looking gorgeous." Sara will make her debut opposite Sushant Singh Rajput in Kedarnath.

Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has said she is confident that Sara, her husband Saif Ali Khan?s daughter, will impress everyone with her Bollywood debut and will rock the industry.Saif Ali Khan's daughter Sara spotted near Mumbai airport. (IANS) Sara, who is Saif and his former wife Amrita Singh?s daughter, is set to step into the film industry with director Abhishek Kapoor?s Kedarnath. ?I am sure she is going to be supremely talented. She has it in her genes, she is looking gorgeous. I truly believe that with her beauty and her talent, she is going to rock the industry for sure,? Kareena said.Sara will star opposite actor Sushant Singh Rajput in the film. @bollywoodinstafashion #saraalikhan #sushantsinghrajput #movies #bollywood #bollywoodstyle #starkid #dinner #bollywoodfashion #newstar A post shared by Bollywood Daily Life (@bollywood_insta_fashion) on Jun 5, 2017 at 3:25am PDT Kareena was speaking at the launch of Rujuta Diwekar?s book Pregnancy Notes. The Bajrangi Bhaijaan star?s sister-in-law, Soha Ali Khan, is pregnant with her first child and when asked what tips she would like to give her, Kareena replied, ?I am going to gift her this book so that it helps her. But she?s so fit. She?s carrying her pregnancy so well and looking so cute.? Balaji Motion Pictures is expected to join hands with KriArj Entertainment for Kedarnath. The romantic drama is expected to go on floors by this year end.Earlier, Sara?s name had cropped up for Agneepath fame director Karan Malhotra?s next with Hrithik Roshan and a Salman Khan production featuring his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Saloni Tandon

24 Jan 2017,Tuesday

Rest of India win Irani Cup as Saha scores double ton

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/irani-cup-rest-of-india-wriddhiman-saha-cheteshwar-pujara-gujarat/1/865058.html

Wriddhiman Saha scored his maiden double century as Rest of India beat Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat to win the Irani Trophy by six wickets on Tuesday. He shared a 316-run fifth-wicket stand with Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored his 37th first-class century. The Irani Trophy is an annual one-off match played between the Ranji winners and a Rest of India team.

Wriddhiman Saha made a sterling comeback to slam his maiden hundred and help Rest of India lift the Irani Cup against Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat. (No pressure of competition vs Parthiv Patel, says Saha)Chasing 379 for victory, RoI were in trouble at 63/4 before Saha (203 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (116 not out) added 316 for the fifth wicket to script a six-wicket victory.Congrats! Rest of India on winning Irani Cup, 2017 @cheteshwar1@Wriddhipops@Paytmpic.twitter.com/tUZjCjobSWSaha was India's first-choice wicketkeeper in the Test team up until the Vizag Test against England before he had to be ruled out because of injury. He was replaced by Parthiv Patel for the last three Tests and the southpaw made it count with two half-centuries.WATCH VIDEO HEREHowever, now the selectors would be under pressure to think long and hard about which wicketkeeper to pick for the one-off Test against Bangladesh next month and the four-Test series against Australia which starts soon after.Rest of India had started the chase on a bad note as openers Akhil Herwadkar and Abhinav Mukund could only add 29 runs in 10 overs before Karan Patel sent back Herwadkar, who scored 20 runs in 49 balls.After seven overs, another opener Mukund (19) was also sent packing by Hardik Patel. He was caught by Dhruv Raval.Middle-order batsmen Karun Nair (7) and Manoj Tiwary (7) also failed to step up to the occasion as both were dismissed cheaply by Hardik Patel and Mohit Thadani.

Dishant Sharma

27 May 2017,Saturday

Revenue share is 'starving' grassroots: Cricket Australia

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cricket-australia-revenue-dispute-steve-smith-david-warner/1/964271.html

Cricket Australia Chief James Sutherland believes the revenue-share model which the body is trying to include in its ongoing pay negotiations with players is "starving" cricket's grassroots in the nation. Australian players may go on a strike if the negotiations over a new five-year pay deal for country's international and state cricketers cannot be resolved by the end of June.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland believes the revenue-share model which the body is trying to dump in its ongoing pay negotiations with players is "starving" the grassroots of the game of funding.Australia faces the possibility of an embarrassing player strike or lockout if the protracted negotiation over a new five-year pay deal for country's international and state cricketers cannot be resolved by the end of June.At the heart of the dispute is the arrangement whereby the players share a fixed percentage of up to 26 percent of Cricket Australia's revenue, which Sutherland's executive team want to end.The players, through their union, have remained steadfastly opposed to such a change but Sutherland says it is essential if the grassroots of the game is to get the investment it needs."The model was created in 1997, when players were poorly paid, but now our top male players are easily the most highly paid team sportspeople in Australia," he wrote in a column in The Weekend Australian on Saturday."The main issue in 2017 is the chronic under-funding of grassroots. This will require an investment over time of many hundreds of millions of dollars and we must start now."We believe we can achieve both a healthy increase in player payments and our grassroots funding objectives over the next few years by sensibly adapting the current player payments model."With more than 80 percent of the country's 5,584 cricket facilities currently having no provision for women and girls, meeting the needs of female players was the sort of project desperately required, he added.Sutherland said that because the agreement was for revenue rather than profit share, any new investment Cricket Australia made would need to guarantee a 32 percent return just to break even, "an untenable situation for any business"."The current model of player payments has done its job, but now risks starving other vital parts of the game," he concluded."That must change."Cricket Australia has come under fire for not explaining its position clearly enough in what has been a tense standoff with the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA).The ACA on Saturday blasted Cricket Australia for "lacking in common sense" by refusing mediation to end the dispute and said the governing body's "claims" on the grassroots needed to be closely examined."CA take 80 percent of revenue and yet blames the players for under expenditure on grassroots," it said on its website (www.auscricket.com.au)

Ayushi Ahluwalia

28 Jun 2017,Wednesday

RJD man may join BJP after claiming assault by Lalu's son

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rjd-leader-thrashed-by-lalus-son-tej-pratap-declares-to-join-bjp/1/988828.html

Speaking at a press conference organised by BJP leader Sushil Modi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Sanoj Yadav has said that he is considering joining the BJP. This comes after Yadav made allegations that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's son Tej Pratap had beaten him up during an Iftar party on June 23.

RJD leader, Sanoj Yadav who was allegedly beaten by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav has declared that he will be joining BJP soon. Yadav alleged he was beaten by Tej Pratap on June 23, the day Lalu hosted Iftar party at his official residence."I was humiliated by Tej Pratap despite having served the party for last 30 years. I never expected this from Lalu's son", said Sanoj Yadav, former RJD leader.According to sources, Sanoj Yadav, despite not being a official spokesperson of RJD was present on a television debate on June 22 where he was to defend Lalu and his family over allegations of corruption being leveled on them. Yadav, incidentally could not properly defend Lalu on the debate, which infuriated Tej Pratap. An angry Tej Pratap, when saw Sanoj Yadav at Lalu's Iftaar, he not only misbehaved with him but also beat him up."It's shocking that when Tej Pratap was abusing and thrashing me, Lalu was sitting a mute spectator like a "Dhritrashtra". Perhaps he was also scared of his son and did not intervene", said the former RJD leader.Soon after the incident, Sanoj Yadav resigned from all the post of the RJD and said that he was also fearing for his life from Tej Pratap Yadav. He said that, following the incident, BJP leader Sushil Modi contacted him and asked him to come and meet him at his Junta Durbar today. After meeting Modi on Tuesday, Yadav declared that he was soon going to join BJP.

Shubhodeep Datta

08 Apr 2017,Saturday

Kerala bar builds maze to beat liquor sale ban near highways

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-bar-maze-liquor-ban-highway-supreme-court-aishwarya-restobar/1/923849.html

A bar in Kerala has built a maze around its premises to beat the Supreme Court-ordered ban on the sale of liquor within 500 metres of any National Highway. The maze will increase the motorable distance to reach the bar, and thus it would not fall within the prescribed 500-metre distance. The construction of the maze reportedly cost ?2 lakh.

A bar in Kerala has come up with an exceptional way to get around the new rule banning alcohol near highways.Aishwarya Restobar in Paravoor, Ernakulam, now has a full-blown maze around the building, much like in Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire (the Triwizard Tournament, duh?).Reason?After the Supreme Court ruled a ban on the sale of liquor within 500 metres of national/state highways, things became difficult for Aishwarya Restobar as it was situated near NH 17. The only way to get around this was to take the bar further away from the national highway.Hence, as The News Minute reports, the owner of Aishwarya Restobar built the 250- 300 metre long maze to increase the distance between his bar and the nearest highway.So, technically, the bar is not longer 'situated within 500 metres from the highwayâ??. According to TNM, the construction of this maze cost around Rs 2 lakh.However, it is yet to know whether this trick will actually give the bar a free pass from the new liquor ban near highways.Kerala bar's ingenious idea to beat SC order: A twisted maze to the entrance https://t.co/m8Vi3uQVaZpic.twitter.com/oH0XbCcGruAlso read:Liquor ban: Left high and dry, states find ways to bypass order, protect revenue 

Chhavi Tyagi

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Abducted, raped 13-year-old wants to return to her 'husband'

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/raped-and-married-13-year-old-pregnant-girl-refuses-to-return-home/story-CkNJ9ZXr13PvaeUxYSELBM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The 13-year-old Delhi girl who was raped after being abducted in May and was rescued by the police recently, has expressed willingness to return to her 'husband', claiming that the 'rapist' had married her. The police said they are clueless about their future course of action because the pregnant minor girl has refused to return to her parents.

?Married? at 13 and three weeks pregnant, a minor girl rescued by the police has refused to go to her parents and expressed willingness to return to her ?husband? and alleged rapist ? a 22-year-old man ? currently in jail. The young man is behind bars as according to Indian laws, he married a minor and allegedly forced her into a physical relationship, getting her pregnant. The young woman?s father had filed a complaint of abduction on May 10, when the minor girl left home to buy ice-cream for her family. When they surrendered before a city court judge last week, she was three weeks pregnant. A case of rape was then filed against the man. Read: How a Delhi man searched for his ?missing? 13-year-old daughter for two monthsPolice said they are clueless about their further course of action because the minor girl has refused to return to her parents and wants to be together with the ?alleged rapist.?The 22-year-old Iddu Khan, who worked as a cook told the police that he had married the girl, following which he was booked under the Child Marriage Restraint Act. The police have also nabbed two of Khan?s friends who acted as ?witnesses? to the marriage. ?The marriage has no validity,? said Romil Baniya, DCP (south-east).The girl is currently under the care of the Children Welfare Committee, which will also take a call on the future of her pregnancy. The girl lived with her parents and two younger brothers in a single room accommodation in south east Delhi. The accused Khan lived with his group of friends in the same neighbourhood.

Chhavi Tyagi

29 Mar 2017,Wednesday

Molestation case against TVF CEO to be closed: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tvf-arunab-kumar-fir-mumbai-police-molestation-charges/1/914682.html

Mumbai Police will reportedly close the probe into the molestation case against The Viral Fever CEO Arunabh Kumar by this week without filing an FIR. While advocate Rizwan Siddhiqui urged the police thrice to file an FIR in the case, Mumbai Police claimed that they can do so only if any victim comes forward personally and not on social media.

Ten days after it began in inquiry into allegations of molestation against The Viral Fever CEO Arunabh Kumar, the Mumabi Police is likely to close the case, sources tell India Today. An advocate Rizwan Siddhiqui, had written to the force three times, urging it to file an FIR against Kumar, charging him with molestation.However, Mumbai Police sources tell India Today that the probe will be closed by this week without an FIR being filed as no victims have come forward. The cops are now wondering whether the original victim, who posted a blog on the web portal Medium, even exists. The sources added that no other girls who made similar allegations on social media have come forward.A top Mumbai Police officer said that Kumar will not be called to the police station to record a statement. The cops said that there is no need to call him as he is not official an accused. All the allegations have been made on social media, and the Mumbai Police does not consider these to be reliable. The advocate Siddhiqui too has failed to bring any victim forward. The Mumbai Police will soon reply to the advocate's letters, informing him that that the case does not stand and that the inquiry is being closed. The sources, however, maintain that if a victim comes forward even at this stage, an FIR will be filed immediately.  ALSO READ:

Aarushi Maheshwari

24 Jul 2017,Monday

Cat which was elected mayor of US town dies aged 20

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/cat-mayor-who-attracted-tourists-to-alaska-s-talkeetna-town-dies-at-20/story-z6fTQcbFMJgdbwUoqN6TDO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Stubbs, the cat which was elected as the honorary mayor of Alaska's town Talkeetna, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 20. Talkeetna, which is a town which has no human mayor, elected Stubbs in 1997. The cat, which liked drinking water and catnip from margarita glasses, was a tourist attraction in the town of around 900 residents. n

Stubbs, the cat who became the unofficial mayor and a tourist attraction for the small Alaska town of Talkeetna, has died at 20, his owners said.Stubbs went to sleep on Thursday night in the town about 96 km north of Anchorage and never woke up, the Spone family said in a statement on Saturday.?He was a trooper until the very last day of his life,? the family said.The cat, which liked to drink water and catnip from a margarita glass, was elected unofficial mayor of Talkeetna in 1997, news reports said.The Spones acquired Stubbs when they bought Nagley?s General Store and a restaurant in 2015 from his previous owners, the family said.Stubbs, who survived a dog attack in 2013, became a tourist draw for Talkeetna, a town of about 900 people near Denali National Park. More than 75% of visitors asked: ?Where?s the mayor?? or ?I have an appointment with the mayor,? the family said.Stubbs increasingly stayed at home this year instead of going to the store, where he was frequently passed from hand to hand by people taking photos with him, the statement said.

Rini Sinha

14 Jul 2017,Friday

Sci-fi film War for the Planet of the Apes hits the theatres

http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-moview-review-a-roaring-success-of-biblical-proportions/story-glCbJExOIdzG7YmLOuereN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Science fiction film 'War for the Planet of the Apes' which released on Friday, "is the rare blockbuster that arrives once, maybe twice every year", wrote Hindustan Times. Times of India said, "[It's] a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that balances action and special effects", while Mid-Day described it as "brilliantly-scripted". It was rated 4.5/5 (HT), 4/5 (TOI), 3.5/5 (Mid-Day).

War for the Planet of the ApesDirector - Matt ReevesCast - Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah MillerRating - 4.5/5Fifteen years ago, a virus called the Simian Flu all but wiped out humanity. It was because we interfered in matters we did not understand, and our arrogant belief that we could alter nature and escape unpunished.{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Review","author": {"@type":"Person","name":"Rohan Naahar","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rohan-naahar"},"datePublished":"2017-07-14","description":"War for the Planet of the Apes moview review: One of the finest blockbuster trilogies comes to a thrilling, sombre conclusion, thanks to Matt Reeves direction, and Andy Serkis? great performance.","inLanguage":"en","itemReviewed": {"@type":"Movie","name":"War for the Planet of the Apes","image":"http://i.imgur.com/xrWVs6P.png","sameAs":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3450958/","datePublished":"2017-07-14","director": {"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Reeves"},"actor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Serkis","sameAs": ""},{"@type": "Person","name": "Woody Harrelson","sameAs": ""}]},"publisher": {"@type":"Organization","name":"Hindustan Times","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/"},"reviewRating": {"@type":"Rating","worstRating":0.0,"bestRating":5,"ratingValue":"4.5"}}But the virus had a side-effect. It made Simians ? apes, chimps, monkeys of all sorts ? evolve quicker than they were meant to. Soon, like most oppressed beings suddenly empowered, they fought back. They were led in that first battle by an ape named Caesar, who had seen the compassion mankind was capable of, but also the cruelty.It?s been fifteen years since the fight on the Golden Gate Bridge, a fight the apes won, but after which they were forced to leave the dangerous cities. Caesar, battle-worn and scarred, has taken his apes, and his family, into the woods, where they lay in hiding, one eye always glancing over their shoulder for the last remnants of humanity to attack.Word has travelled over the snowy mountains that a violent militia has been formed by a cruel man, a man who calls himself The Colonel, like Apocalypse Now?s Kurtz, utterly consumed by insanity. He has imprisoned hundreds of apes at his large compound, which lies at the foot of snowy, forested mountains. He makes them work, under his boot-heels, tamed to the sound of his whip. He has madness in his eyes, they say. A torn, tattered American flag hangs limply off his balcony, from where, like Schindler?s List?s Amon Göth, he surveys his kingdom through a lens.He wants them to build a wall.War for the Planet of the Apes is the rare blockbuster that arrives once, maybe twice every year. In 2017, we haven?t seen a better one since Logan, a film with which it shares several similarities ? a hero driven by duty, a mute young girl whom he must protect, and a sombre tone that will surely test the patience of some audience members. But that?s what made me like it more.With this, Matt Reeves has made his fourth, unquestionably great movie. His grip on the war movie tone, aided by stunning, almost biblically grand visuals and music by two Michaels, Seresin and Giacchino, firmly establish him as one of the finest directors working within the studio system today. It might even be the first great post-human movie ? for more reasons than one. Technically, because it signals the arrival of an era in cinema where human actors could quite possibly be made obsolete, and thematically, because it suggests that human beings are a scourge that needs to be destroyed.Over the three films that span several decades, the Planet of the Apes reboot series tells an epic story of one creature?s rise, but it is also a Shakespearean tragedy ? a cautionary tale that chronicles the slow death of an entire species: Mankind.Our hubris, it suggests, is the reason behind our downfall. We have been led to believe, ever since we were little children, ignorant and malleable, that we are the apex predators, that we occupy the throne at the top of the food chain. This is a lie. We are simply at that stage in the evolution of our planet at which we happen to be the most intelligent life forms living on it. Faced with the prospect of billions of more years? worth of evolution, we could easily be overtaken by an even more intelligent species ? perhaps one of our own making.Like Bong Joon-ho?s terrific Okja, a film that could very easily be its close cousin, War for the Planet of the Apes harbours an unshakable contempt for humanity. And along with its immediate predecessor, the quietly brilliant Dawn for the Planet of the Apes, it firmly believes that we are beyond redemption, and that the only thing to do is for us to gracefully die out.But what are we without our fighting spirit? What are we without our silly delusions and false confidence? It?s what makes us human, dammit! So foolishly, we fight, even in the face of inevitable defeat, without realising ? and this is crucial ? that more often than not, we are the villains. In this particular situation, that face of inevitable defeat looks like an angry ape?s.And what an intricate work of art it is. Crafted by hundreds of immensely talented people, sculpted around a flawless central performance by Andy Serkis, a maverick and a maven. If this doesn?t get him an Academy Award nomination, then we must rally the troops, and like a bunch of apes, protest till they start firing arrows at our sides, yelling ?Apes, together, strong,? till we die.Watch the War for the Planet of the Apes trailer hereFollow @htshowbiz for moreThe author tweets @RohanNaahar

Mansha Mahajan

14 Jul 2017,Friday

TCS to close its Lucknow operations after 33 years

http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/tcs-lucknow-to-wind-down-operations-2-000-it-professionals-stare-at-crisis/story-G8yHsbiOPVbmuLQUryAZZN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Information technology giant TCS has decided to close its operations in Lucknow after 33 years and shift to Noida. The company will shift most of its projects to Noida by this December. Reports said at least 2,000 employees could be affected by the change, but the company said it would ensure the employees are accommodated.

Information technology major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has decided to close its operations in Lucknow and shift to Noida after 33 years in Uttar Pradesh?s capital city.The company will shift most of its projects to Noida, close to the national capital, by this December. At least 2,000 employees, of whom 50% are women, are likely to be affected by the change.Employees said the team leaders informed them on Wednesday about the company wrapping up operations at the Lucknow centre. They were reportedly asked to accept transfers or look for jobs elsewhere.But the company said it would ensure the employees are accommodated in Noida or its centres across India.?Rumours and reports are being circulated in the media about the company?s operations in Lucknow. TCS would like to clarify that it is only consolidating its UP operations in Noida and there will be no job loss as a consequence,? the company said in a statement on Thursday.The TCS decision is a setback for the state government that has plans to turn Lucknow into northern India?s IT hub.The government announced recently its industry policy to attract investment in UP and allocated Rs 40 crore in its annual budget for software education.Many employees have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union information and technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma to persuade the company to stay in Lucknow.According to a report, the lease of the building that houses the TCS office is set to expire next year and the company is reluctant to renew the contract.Officials of Shalimar group, owners of the building, confirmed that the lease term is ending.

Sanira Mediratta

05 Feb 2017,Sunday

World's oldest emoji discovered in document from 1635

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/worlds-oldest-emoji-discovered/1/875351.html

A group of scientists have discovered a smiley face on a legal document dating back to 1635, which is being considered the world's oldest emoji. The document was found in a village next to the Strazov Mountains of Slovakia. Previously, the oldest known smiley face was believed to be discovered in a 1648 poem, 'To Fortune' by Robert Herrick.

Scientists have found what they believe is the world's oldest emoji - a smiley face scrawled in a legal document dating back to 1635.A lawyer reviewing municipal account documents in a village next to the Strazov Mountains of Slovakia, signed his go-ahead by drawing a small circle with two dots and a line - an image recognised today as a smiley-face emoji.The discovery makes it the world's oldest known emoji."I do not know if its the oldest Slovakian smiley or the world's oldest. But it is certainly one of the oldest in the Trencin region," said Peter Brindza, head of the National Archives in Slovakia.

Sumedha Sehra

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out attack on Amarnath pilgrims

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/amarnath-yatra-terror-attack-laskhar-anantnag-jammu-kashmir/1/999147.html

The attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Amarnath shrine on Monday was carried out by around 5 men of the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jammu & Kashmir IGP confirmed. It was masterminded by Ismail, a Lashkar operative from Pakistan. Terrorists had opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims in the Anantnag district, killing at least seven and injuring 19.

Intelligence sources have said three to five Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were involved in the attack on Amarnath Yatra that killed seven pilgrims and injured 14 others, including policemen, when they struck at a bus carrying them on Monday night in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.According to the sources Ismail, a Lashkar operative from Pakistan, was heading the militant group. He is the Lashker Commander in South Kashmir and has been active in the region for last three years.Bodies of the seven Amarnath pilgrims killed in the attack and 19 injured have been airlifted to New Delhi from Army Base Hospital in Srinagar.Before starting the meeting over vice presidential poll today, Opposition leaders observed two minute silence in respect for the victims of Amarnath Yatra attack.  Mortal remains of #AmarnathYatra pilgrims who lost their lives, brought to Surat, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/bXD5KiNPSDRAJNATH SINGH CHAIRS MEETINGHome Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high level meet on Amarnath yatra attack and the situation in Kashmir at 11 am at his residence today. NSA, and chiefs of all other security, intelligence agencies were also present in the meet.DG CRPF has been rushed to Srinagar on instructions of Rajnath Singh and will not be present for the meeting. He will also visit the attack site. NSA Doval will also brief PM Modi on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the back drop of Batengoo terror attack. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and chairman Amarnath Shrine Board have also called high level security meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar.According to the sources, Governor Vohra has called all heads of security agencies including Army corps commander and DG  Police Dr SP Vaid in the meeting to review the security cover to Amarnath yatra after the Monday night attack. Meeting will start at 11 am.YATRA CONTINUESA fresh batch of 3,289 yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in an escorted convoy of 185 vehicles around 3 am, on Tuesday for the Valley.Zulfiqar Hasan, IG (Operations), CRPF, said, "The attack is being investigated by Jammu and Kashmir police. Yatra is going on and we will ensure that it goes on peacefully."Meanwhile, authorities blocked internet services in the Valley.On Saturday, the Amarnath yatra was suspended from Jammu side due to law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley which was under curfew in the wake of the death anniversary of militant commander Burhan Wani.MEHBOOBA MUFTI IN ANANTNAGJammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who visited patients and survivors of the attack in Anantnag, said she did not have enough words to condemn the attack. Office of Mehbooba Mufti confirmed that the CM will stay in Anantnag with families. "She wants to express complete support and solidarity with victims and hence she is not leaving back for Srinagar," it added.    The bus was attacked in Batengoo around 8:20 pm while returning from Baltal to Mir Bazar after darshan. The militants also carried out two attacks on security forces in the area.Police sources said, the militants attacked a mini bus carrying pilgrims from Gujarat. The bus was not officially registered with the Amarnath Shrine Board for the pilgrimage and was without police escort.The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries declared a shutdown in Jammu today following Monday night's attack on the Amarnath pilgrims. The Jammu bandh call was supported by the opposition National Conference, which called the attack part of a nefarious design to vitiate the secular fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.  The attack took place hours after the Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed to have busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba module with the arrests of two persons, including Sandeep Kumar Sharma alias Adil, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.Also read:Shutdown call in Jammu after 7 Amarnath pilgrims die in terror attack  When 30 Amarnath pilgrims were killed in terror attack 17 years ago

Chhavi Tyagi

11 Apr 2017,Tuesday

Karnataka has drinking water to last only till June 15

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-drought-water-resources-minister-mb-patil-bengaluru/1/925492.html

Karnataka Water Resources Minister MB Patil has said that the state has just enough water for drinking purposes till June 15. Patil also urged the people of Karnataka to use water judiciously. The state has been reeling under a severe drought for the past three years and available live storage in the state's reservoirs has reached an all-time low.

Karnataka water resources minister MB Patil has appealed to the state's denizens to use water judiciously, reminding them that there's just enough water for drinking purposes till June 15.Patil today held a meeting with officials belonging to various departments, to work out how best to optimally use water until the onset of the monsoon. With Karnataka reeling under a severe drought for the past three years, the state government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that citizens aren't facing too much trouble. But with the available live storage in the reservoirs touching an all-time low, there's very little the government can do to supply continuous drinking water.As of today, this is the level of water in the state's reservoirs.- Almatti dam: 12 TMC (TMC - one thousand million cubic feet)- Narayanapura dam: 15 TMC- Hidkal dam: 7.6 TMC- Hipparge dam : 0.8 TMC- Malaprabha dam: 1.7 TMC- Tungabhadra dam: 3.7 TMC- Bhadra: 8.5 TMC- KRS: 4.438 TMC- Kabini dam: 0.295 TMC- Harangi dam: 1.228 TMC- Hemavathi dam: 1.787 TMCWATER RATIONING BEGINS?"We will coordinate with different departments and ensure that as a team there will be efficient use of water," Patil said. However, he hinted that agencies such as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), KWSSB and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RDPR) can take a decision on rationing water. Similarly, district administrations can stop farmers from utilizing pumpsets, since Patil said, "there's is water for agricultural purposes and what we have is only for drinking." WATER SHORTAGE IN BENGALURUThe problem that Bengaluru is suffering today is due to the fact that only a third of the city gets Cauvery water on a daily basis, as per the tribunal's orders. The other parts of the city make do with borewells and water tankers. "We have allocated around 9 TMC of water to the peripheral areas of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) but that will take time," Patil said.He added that the BWSSB and BBMP would manage that issue in due course of time.Patil said that in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and surrounding areas, water is being supplied at 800 cusecs per day, and this should suffice till June 15. The KRS dam and the Kabini dam together have around 4.7 TMC, and the requirement for 60 days will be around 4.5 TMC, which is manageable, he said.ALSO READ | Bengaluru 'water warriors' challenge citizens in city to be 'water kanjoos' this summer

Mansha Mahajan

29 Jun 2017,Thursday

Waive Air India debt instead of selling it: Workers' union

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/waive-air-indias-debt-instead-of-selling-it-workers-union/1/989576.html

An Air India employees' union has met NITI Aayog's Arvind Panagariya and demanded the government waive the airline's debt instead of selling it to a private player. Expressing concerns about the 25,000 employees, it has further demanded salary dues should be cleared before Air India is privatised. Notably, the government has given in-principle approval for disinvestment of Air India.

New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) An employees union of Air India today met NITI Aayog chairman Arvind Panagriya and demanded that the government waive the airlines debt, instead of selling it to a private player. However, the move may have come a little too late as hours later the Union Cabinet gave its in-principle approval for the disinvestment of Air India. NITI Aayog, the government think tank, had earlier proposed privatisation of Air India because of its debt of Rs 52,000 crore. "We request you to waive Rs 30,000 crore and give opportunity to Air India management to keep flying the flag of national carrier," according to a letter the Air India Employees Union submitted to Panagriya. Expressing concerns about the uncertain fate of 25,000 employees of the airline, the union representatives have also demanded that if Air India is privatised, their salary dues should be cleared. The union members also highlighted that the airline had incurred huge losses because of "hasty decisions and wrong civil aviation policy of the Government of India" such as the purchase of 111 aircraft and surrendering of profitable routes to private carriers.

Pragya Swastik

28 Feb 2017,Tuesday

Over 10 lakh bankers go on nationwide strike

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bank-strike-cheque-cash-transactions-latest-updates/1/893072.html

Banking operations across the country came to a halt today as over 10 lakh bankers went on a nationwide strike against the government's "anti-people banking reforms". Around 85,000 branches of commercial banks and over 1 lakh branches of co-operative banks are on strike. Clearance of 40 lakh cheques totalling around ?22,000 crore is expected to be affected.

Banking operations across the country came to a halt on Tuesday as 10 lakh bankers staged a strike against the government's "anti-people banking reforms", said a bank union leader.The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), comprising nine unions.They also pressed for compensation to employees for extra work done on account of demonetisation.HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:ALSO READ | As demonetisation era ends, banks to levy cash transaction charge

Ayushi Ahluwalia

27 Jun 2017,Tuesday

LPG cylinder explosion at Delhi tea stall kills 5

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-okhla-lpg-cylinder-blast-safdarjung-hospital/1/988091.html

At least five people were killed and nine suffered burn injuries when an LPG cylinder exploded at a tea stall in Delhi's Okhla Phase I on Monday. As per reports, wedding preparations were going on at the site of the accident. Two jhuggies (shanties) located near the tea stall were also engulfed in the fire.

Five members of a family were killed and nine others injured when a LPG cylinder exploded inside their house in South Delhi's Okhla Phase-I on Monday night.Three women, a child and a man were among those killed in the gas cylinder blast in a jhuggi (shanty) infront of  Tata Steel office. The injured have been admitted to ESI Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital.According to reports, the blast took place when dinner was being prepared for relatives and guests who had gathered for a marriage which was fixed for Wednesday (June 28). Eyewitnesses said that the gas cylinder suddenly caught fire and despite attempts to douse the flame it spread quickly. The cylinder then exploded killing two women on the spot. Two other jhuggis also caught fire following the blast.Locals said the fire brigade arrived at the site more than 45 minutes after the first emergency call was made.