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Deepali Aggarwal | 27 Jul 2017,Thursday | Man tipped as China's next president faces corruption probe | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/25/china-future-president-ousted-xi-jinping-iron-discipline-sun-zhengcai?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Top Communist Party of China politician Sun Zhengcai, who was considered a potential successor to President Xi Jinping, is reportedly being investigated for corruption by his party. The probe against Zhengcai, who was recently ejected from his role as Party's Secretary for Chongqing city, eliminates him from the contest to become China's next President. | He studied agriculture in rural England and was tipped by some as China?s future leader.But on Tuesday morning Sun Zhengcai?s political obituary was splashed across the front page of the Communist party?s official mouthpiece in a damning editorial entitled: ?Rule strictly over the party with iron discipline.??The investigation into comrade Sun Zhengcai sounds the alarm bell for the party,? the People?s Daily article warned, as it announced that the youngest member of China?s political elite had been ejected from power for a ?serious violation of discipline?.?Top cadres must hold firm political positions, temper their political characters ? and act in a manner consistent with the party?s central committee with [president] Xi Jinping as its core,? the broadsheet declared. Just a few weeks ago, Sun, a 53-year-old former agriculture minister who studied farming at Hertfordshire?s Rothamstad research centre in the 1990s, was the high-flying party chief of one of the world?s fastest-growing cities, the sweltering Yangtze port of Chongqing.Many believed he was being groomed for greatness and would use that job ? handed to him in late 2012 after the sensational downfall of flamboyant party leader Bo Xilai ? as a springboard from which to leap into one of seven highly-coveted spots on China?s top ruling body, the politburo standing committee. Places on that elite council will be up for grabs later this year when Chinese leaders flock to Beijing for their quinquennial enclave, the 19th Communist party congress.Such a promotion would likely have put Sun ? part of the so-called sixth generation of post-revolution leaders ? in line to succeed either Xi or premier Li Keqiang at the next party congress in 2022.But Xi?s unforeseen decision to purge Sun has shredded not only those expectations but also the playbook governing how one-party China conducts political leadership successions. In doing so, some experts fear Xi may also have set in motion a new phase of political turbulence in the world?s number two economy.?A smooth leadership transition is really crucial to the survival of Chinese Communist party rule in China and this really throws a monkey wrench into the machine,? said Susan Shirk, a US expert in elite Chinese politics who was deputy assistant secretary of state under Bill Clinton.Shirk said that for almost two decades China?s rulers had abided by an unofficial succession system designed to prevent both cut-throat and destabilising internecine power struggles and the rise of strongman dictators who could cling to power until they died or were violently overthrown.According to those unwritten rules, presumptive heirs to the Communist party?s top two jobs, general secretary and premier, should be informally anointed five years ahead of a full leadership transition, as had happened with Xi and Li in 2007. Some had seen Sun as one of those two likely heirs ? the other was Guangdong party chief Hu Chunhua, who remains in power ? and the decision to bring him down now brought ?intense uncertainty about how the game will be played in the future?, Shirk said. ?I think that has got to make the people at the top ranks of the Chinese communist party very uneasy about the risks that presents.?As with much about Chinese politics, the exact nature of Sun?s alleged crimes remains murky, as does the political rationale behind his defenestration.The first hint of his undoing came when one of Xi?s feared corruption-busting teams descended on Chongqing late last year. In its subsequent report the group accused his administration of failing to eliminate the poisonous and pernicious ?ideological legacy? of Bo Xilai, a bitter Xi rival, who had been ousted five years earlier after the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood sparked China?s biggest political scandal in decades. Then, in mid-July, came the unexpected and unexplained announcement that Sun had been replaced by a Xi loyalist who vowed to purify the city?s ?political ecosystem?. Sun is rumoured to have been taken into custody while attending a conference in Beijing.Cheng Li, the director of the Brookings Institute?s China Center, said it was unclear if Sun was facing accusations of corruption or political offences such as conspiring against Xi: ?It could be either ? or both.?Many believe Xi, who some suspect hopes to stay in power beyond 2022, viewed Sun as a power-hungry competitor who had to be eliminated. Li, an authority on the Communist party?s elite, said that even before the purge: ?I have talked to many people who know Sun [and they said] ? ?That guy has a very strong personal ambition; you simply cannot believe what he says and what he promises?.?In Chinese, you use the term ?yóu? [slippery or cunning].?Bill Bishop, the publisher of the influential Sinocism newsletter, said Sun?s demise was further proof that Xi ? who took power in 2012 and has been called China?s most dominant leader since Mao ? was a masterful and steely political strategist.As he sought to cement his status as China?s omnipotent ?Chairman of Everything?, Xi was using anti-corruption investigators to pick off rivals, who were replaced with supporters. Sun?s successor in Chongqing, Chen Min?er, who worked under Xi during his five years as Zhejiang province?s party boss, now appears poised to claim a seat at the party?s top table at this autumn?s congress.?Xi certainly looks like he would make Machiavelli ? and Mao ? quite proud,? Bishop said.Shirk, the chair of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California, San Diego, said she saw Sun?s downfall not as as sign of Xi?s strength, but of the fragility of China?s political system. ?If [Xi] upturns the smooth succession now, I think he?s setting himself up for trouble, for some pushback from the rest of the party elite.?If they feel they are being put at risk and the whole party is being put at risk by a leader who is trying to claim too much of the power and privilege for himself, then I think there is a risk.?I?m not saying it is necessarily an elite coup or something like that, but it could be.?For Sun Zhengcai, there is little doubt what now lies ahead.?He?ll end up in jail,? said Li.Additional reporting by Wang Zhen |
Vani Vivek | 13 Jul 2017,Thursday | Company makes ?17,000 gadget to tell users if they smell bad | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/13/no-sweat-app-alert-office-workers-stink?CMP=twt_a-technology_b-gdntech&utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Japanese company Konica Minolta has created a gadget called Kunkun Body that checks users' body odour for ?17,000. It can test for smells near the head, behind ears, under armpits, and around feet and rate them in three levels of severity. For example, on detecting high readings of smells, the gadget's connected smartphone app would display, "Immediately care is needed." | Worried your body odour is out of control but suspect your colleagues are too polite to say anything about it? Now there?s an app for that, too.A Japanese tech company has begun selling a device that allows people to self-test their sweaty exteriors for three categories of smell.The pocket-sized detector, which looks like a tape recorder, connects by Bluetooth to a smartphone app that divulges the potentially ominous results in a suitably discreet manner.Konica Minolta, the firm previously best known for producing cameras and printers, believes there is a market for the odour checker in Japan because people are ?particularly sensitive to smell?.There is even a word in Japanese for the behaviour of office workers who annoy others with their noxious aromas ? sumehara, or ?smell harassment?.At a launch event in Tokyo on Thursday, this reporter discovered the inevitable consequences of walking 30 minutes in the searing summer sun to get to the venue.A check behind the ear revealed fairly high readings of sweat smells and middle-fat odours. ?Immediately care is needed,? the app warned in a message on the results page.There was, however, nothing detected in the category kareish? ? which translates as old-age smell, commonly associated with the substance 2-nonenal.Daisuke Koda, who is the incubation lead at Konica Minolta Japan?s business innovation centre, said the idea arose after a discussion he had with several male colleagues, all aged about 40, two years ago.They were discussing the increasingly intense summer heat and confided in each other that they sometimes were afraid of how they smelled.?We looked for a device to measure body smell, only to find that there was no device at all to tell the different types of smells,? Koda told the Guardian.?That prompted us to think it might be an opportunity for a new business and we continued our research further deeper.?Studies showed that the number one etiquette concern in the workplace was body smell, Koda added. At the same time, people found it difficult to speak out about another colleague?s odours.?We see challenges that these people are aware of but nobody has a solution for,? he said.The resulting device is called Kunkun Body, which takes its name from the Japanese word for sniff. It can be used to test for smells in four locations: near the head, behind the ear, under the armpit and around the feet.The device is available to Japanese buyers as part of a set of care products in a crowdfunding drive launched on Thursday morning. Early adopters are offered discounts on the recommended retail price of 30,000 yen (US$265 or £206) with the devices set to be delivered later this year.The company said it had no current plans to sell the device outside Japan.It?s not the first device aimed at addressing smell-related worries in Japan. Last year, Sony released a portable aroma diffuser called Aromastic. Owners of the device, dubbed an ?aromatic Walkman?, can select which scent they want to be emitted in their vicinity.In a bid to beat the notoriously hot and humid summer conditions, people in Japan often carry around handkerchiefs to wipe away sweat and parasols to block the sun?s rays.In June last year, retailers and manufacturers reported an increase in sales of antiperspirants and wipe products compared to the previous year, according to a report by Jiji Press. |
Rini Kapoor | 24 Dec 2016,Saturday | Duo held with 16 kg gold at Mumbai airport | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/duo-held-with-16-kg-gold-at-mumbai-airport/1/842134.html | Two fliers were held at the Mumbai airport for allegedly carrying nearly 16 kilograms of gold in their baggage, according to reports. The duo, identified as N Jadhav and P Jadhav, had reportedly taken a flight for Mumbai from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. They have been detained by the Income Tax department. | New Delhi, Dec 24 (PTI) Two fliers, allegedly carrying nearly 16 kg gold, have been held at the Mumbai airport after they took a flight from the Indira Gandhi International Aiport (IGIA) here. |
Krishna Veera Vanamali | 18 Jul 2017,Tuesday | Resolving regulatory probe of NSE top priority: CEO Limaye | http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/resolving-regulatory-probe-of-nse-is-top-priority-new-ceo-vikram-limaye/story-sN9u0Fxth1aSlt8FX603SN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The new CEO of National Stock Exchange (NSE) Vikram Limaye has said his immediate priority is to resolve a probe from market regulator SEBI about whether NSE employees provided unfair access to co-location servers to select brokers. Co-location servers are placed at exchanges to speed up algorithmic trading. Notably, the probe has delayed the initial public offering of the NSE. | The new chief executive of India?s embattled National Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Monday his immediate priority was to resolve a regulatory investigation facing the country?s largest bourse and improve relations with stakeholders.Vikram Limaye took over the NSE on Monday, with the exchange facing a probe from market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) about whether company employees provided unfair access to co-location servers to select brokers.Co-location servers are placed at the site of exchanges to speed up algorithmic trading.The probe has delayed a much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of the NSE that bankers had said could raise up to $1 billion.Limaye, a 50-year-old finance industry veteran who was previously CEO of infrastructure lender IDFC Ltd, also has to face regulatory scrutiny after NSE suffered a technological glitch that caused widespread disruptions in trading last week.?The immediate priorities for me are to resolve the co-location issue with SEBI,? Limaye told Reuters in an interview on Monday. ?Then, we need to obviously improve various stakeholder relationships whether it?s with SEBI, government, clients, media, employees,? he added. Limaye said the NSE was in talks with SEBI to settle the issue of unfair access to brokers. ?That we believe will be the fastest way to resolve this,? Limaye said. ?We will have to file an official application for consent in order to start that process.? Sources told Reuters last month that the NSE was in talks with the market regulator to settle the issue, in an effort to move ahead with its listing, and accept a penalty. SEBI has not said whether it would be open to a settlement.Limaye said he had ?no visibility? on when the exchange could go public, as the regulatory probe had to be resolved first.He said he would also focus on better communication to fix the bourse?s image. ?Unfortunately, what we haven?t done a good job (at), historically, is communicating,? he said. ?So, I firmly believe even the co-location issue could have been managed a lot better.?A number of high-profile executives have left the NSE, including co-founders and former CEOs Chitra Ramkrishna and Ravi Narain.Limaye is the first chief executive to come from outside the exchange?s founding team since it was set up in 1992. |
Daisy Mowke | 15 Jul 2017,Saturday | I'm disappointed: Kabir Khan on Tubelight's performance | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/i-m-disappointed-it-s-disheartening-director-kabir-khan-on-tubelight-bo-performance/story-aC6qLFV530krJtDVSAmfxN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Filmmaker Kabir Khan, while speaking about the Salman Khan starrer film Tubelight's performance at the box office, said that he is disappointed. However, he added that it is unfair to pitch every film of his against his 2015 film 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', which also starred Salman. Notably, 'Tubelight' became Salman Khan's lowest Eid opening in four years. | Kabir Khan and Salman Khan duo gave the year 2015 its most successful Bollywood movie-- Bajrangi Bhaijaan. This year, audience was expecting a similar kind of collaboration between the two, when their film, Tubelight, arrived in cinema halls on June 25.But it all turned out exactly the opposite. The film failed to impress the critics and the audience, so much so that some of them even dubbed it as Salman?s ?worst? film.?I am disappointed,? Kabir says in an interview with PTI. Bhaigiri! ? #4DaysToTubelight @SohailKhanofficial @kabirkhankk @man_on_ledge @TubelightKiEid A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Jun 18, 2017 at 10:30pm PDT?You make a film with a lot of love and conviction and if it doesn?t do well the way it was expected to do, it?s disheartening.?The filmmaker, however, says Tubelight will always remain special irrespective of what response it received at the box office. Bonding Bonding... #Matin @kabirkhankk @man_on_ledge @TubelightKiEid A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Jun 17, 2017 at 9:30am PDT?We can?t expect every film to do the business like Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Every film of mine is put against ?Bajrangi Bhaijaan? and it is unfair. I am extremely proud of Tubelight.?It?s too early to analyse what went wrong with the film. Maybe people were not able to identify with the character of Salman. But I was happy with what Salman did and even he was playing this part?. Zhu Zhu, what a beautiful Lady!! #Tubelight #MainAgar @kabirkhankk @man_on_ledge @TubelightKiEid @sonymusicindia A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Jun 14, 2017 at 10:30pm PDTRecently, it was reported that Salman would refund distributors to compensate for the losses incurred by Tubelight.When asked about it, Kabir says, ?I am not a producer, I am a line producer of the film. I can?t talk about it as it?s about business. I think it is a great thing. It?s a good gesture by Salman. (But) For the film itself the cost is successful.?Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Nandini Sinha | 27 Jul 2017,Thursday | China warns Botswana over Dalai Lama visit | http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/don-t-harm-us-by-inviting-dalai-lama-china-to-botswana/story-4SGmNutTL0bqv2gzmc4VwL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | China has slammed Botswana over a visit by the Dalai Lama next month, warning Botswana not to "harm" China's core interests. The Dalai Lama is expected to address a human rights conference in Botswana and meet its President next month. China opposes countries keeping contact with or hosting the Tibetan leader and warned countries against interfering in its internal affairs. | China on Wednesday fumed over the Dalai Lama?s planned visit to Botswana, warning the African country not to ?harm? Beijing?s ?core interest?.Beijing opposes countries keeping contact or hosting the Tibetan spiritual leader, who it calls ?a wolf in sheep?s clothing? and accuses him of secessionist activities in Tibet.?China has stated its position clearly on the Dalai Lama?s visit to the relevant countries,? Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. ?We require relevant countries to earnestly respect China?s core interests. China will not interfere in other countries internal affairs. We will not accept other countries to do things that will harm the core interests of China.?The Dalai Lama will attend a three-day human rights conference at Gaborone in Botswana from August 17.China is Africa?s largest trade partner. China?s state-run companies have the contract of building key infrastructure projects in Botswana.In 1959, after a failed uprising in Tibet, the Dalai Lama fled to India and has lived in self-imposed exile since then.China uses various tactics to settle scores if any country invites him.In the case of neighbouring Mongolia, it imposed a kind of economic blockade, crippling the economy of the poor country.Following his April visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as its own, Beijing had retaliated by changing the name of six cities in the northeastern Indian state. |
Prashanti Moktan | 15 May 2017,Monday | 1st reaction was 'I've to play Sanjay's mother now': Manisha | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/manisha-koirala-nargis-dutt-ranbir-kapoor-biopic/1/954185.html | Actress Manisha Koirala, while talking about being approached to play Nargis Dutt, said, "My first reaction was, 'What? I have to play Baba's (Sanjay Dutt) mother now?'" Manisha added, "I was always a tomboy on the set when shooting with Baba. I had my reservations as I would end up playing mother's roles. I know how the industry functions." | In March this year, Bollywood fans woke up to the news of Manisha Koirala making her big comeback with Sanjay Dutt biopic. The 46-year-old actor, who took a hiatus from films after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, is all set to bounce back after 5 years. She will essay the role of Sanjay's mother Nargis Dutt in the biopic directed by Rajkumar Hirani. But it's not easy to play Dutt's mother when she has worked with Sanju baba in a handful of films in the 90s. Koirala in an interview to Mid-Day opened up on signing the film and playing Nargis Dutt on screen. She told the daily, "When casting agent Mukesh Chabbra called me for it, my first reaction was, 'What? I have to play Baba's (Sanjay Dutt) mother now?' We have done several films (Yalgaar, 1991; Sanam, 1997; Kartoos, 1999). I was always a tomboy on the set when shooting with Baba. I had my reservations as I would end up playing mother's roles. I know how the industry functions."But she did not want to miss the chance of portraying Nargis Dutt on 70mm. "I pondered over it for a while and then said yes. I thought to myself, when will I get to play Nargis Dutt again. When I told my mother, she was excited about it. She told me about Nargisji and her trademark white sarees. I am looking forward to the film," she added. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Vicky Kaushal and Karishma Tanna. |
Rini Kapoor | 26 Dec 2016,Monday | Officers must report to work by 9:45 am: Delhi Chief Secy | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-s-new-chief-secy-says-officers-must-report-at-work-by-9-45am/story-SXjZHFE1QNN0f3J0sPXPbM.html | In a bid to ensure punctuality, Delhi's Chief Secretary MM Kutty has asked all officers working in the Delhi secretariat to report to work by 9:45 am. This comes after Kutty noticed that many officers were coming late to their offices. The newly appointed chief secretary has instructed secretaries of every department to take strict action against habitual late-comers. | Delhi?s new top bureaucrat has cracked the whip on lax officers, warning of strict action on babus who come to work after 9.45am, as part of a raft of tough new measures.Newly appointed chief secretary MM Kutty has broken away from his predecessor KK Sharma?s low-profile style, and asked secretaries of every department to ensure punctuality after noticing that a large number of officers were often late.?The general administration department needs to ensure all officers working in the Delhi secretariat mark their attendance through biometric system by 9:45 am,? he told officers, as per the official minutes of the meeting.An official present at the meeting also said that Kutty asked secretaries of every department to take action against habitual late-comers.The 1985 batch IAS officer was working as additional secretary in the Union environment ministry and took charge on December 1.He had earlier served as principal secretary to former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and as finance secretary in the present Aam Aadmi Party administration. He was also with the Delhi government during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.?He is known for the punctuality and would expect the best from his officers. He will review the progress in the next meeting,? said the officer.Apart from housing the offices of ministers, the Delhi secretariat has office of all important departments such as urban development, home, social welfare, public works, finance and planning.He has also directed the revenue, trade and tax, excise and transport department to improve collection as they are the major revenue-generating departments.Kutty has directed secretaries to review position of court cases to ensure timely reply and effective representation to avoid contempt of court. ?Any laxity in this regard may be viewed seriously and responsibility of the concerned officer be fixed,? he said.In his earlier stint with the Delhi government, Kutty was part of acommittee set up to resolve the issue of contractual employees in the city administration?s various departments. He has also served in the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi and was part of a panel that worked on the trifurcation. |
Chhavi Tyagi | 03 Jun 2017,Saturday | UP minister's gun stuck during MRI scan, damages ?5cr unit | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mri-scan-machine-lohiya-hospital-up-satyadev-pachauri-pistol/1/969864.html | Uttar Pradesh minister Satyadev Pachauri's guard's gun got stuck in an MRI machine as he entered the chamber flouting the protocol and damaged the unit that costs nearly ?5 crore. Reportedly, the minister, who had fallen unconscious while he was giving a speech at BJP government's third anniversary celebration in Hardoi, fled from the MRI room soon after the incident. | BJP Minister Satyadev Pachauri of Kanpur is Yogi Adityanath government's most prominent minister. Pachauri fell unconscious while he was giving speech at PM Modi's three-year term in Hardoi.Satyadev is Minister of Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture, Textile, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion in the Government of Uttar Pradesh.When he was taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, the MRI machine at the facility pulled up Satyadev's gunner's pistol. The pistol damaged the MRI machine worth about Rs 5 crore, according to a Jagran report.Lucknow-MRI machine at Lohiya Hospital pulled UP Min Satyadev Pachauri's gunner's pistol inside,when he came for MRI;machine stopped working pic.twitter.com/GqyR4p0YxyYesterday, when Satyadev Pachauri was taken to the Lohia Institute, he flouted the protocol of passing through the MRI machine. While ignoring the instructions, he entered the MRI chamber, where the machine pulled up the pistol as soon as he was exposed to the machine's magnetic field.As soon as the minister saw the pistol being pulled out and sticking to the machine, he fled from the MRI room. The MRI machine at the Lohia Institute is a 3 Tesla MRI machine which costs around Rs 5 crore. |
Chhavi Tyagi | 14 Dec 2016,Wednesday | NGO files PIL in SC demanding CBI probe into Jaya's death | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jayalalithaa-death-chennai-ngo-pil-supreme-court-cbi-probe/1/834041.html | A Chennai-based NGO has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court demanding a CBI probe into Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death. The petition has also sought for the recovery of all medical documents during the AIADMK Chief's stay in Chennai's Apollo Hospitals for more than two months. | A Chennai-based NGO today filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court demanding a CBI probe into the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.The petition has also asked for the recovery of all medical documents during the AIADMK chief's stay in Chennai's Apollo Hospital for more than two months.Jayalalithaa, 68, died of cardiac arrest on December 5. Her stay in Apollo since September 22 was marked by secrecy, forcing many to ask questions about her health and the future of the AIADMK.ALSO READ: What exactly happened to Jayalalithaa? We got this from doctors who know Last week, senior Tamil actor Gautami Tadimalla had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising questions about the "secrecy" maintained by the Tamil Nadu government during Jayalalithaa's treatment.ALSO READ: How did Jayalalithaa die? Tamil actor Gautami Tadimalla writes to PM Modi for answers |
Ankur Vyas | 22 Dec 2016,Thursday | Aadhaar card mandatory for privileged darshan at Tirupati | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aadhar-card-must-for-pilgrims-to-get-privileged-darshan/1/840286.html | The Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati has made Aadhaar cards mandatory for availing 'privileged special entry darshan' and free laddus. Those without an Aadhaar card can, however, submit any other authorised identity card midway on the 10-km-long stairway to the shrine. The devotees not submitting an identity proof can visit the shrine, but without a privileged entry. | Tirupati, Dec 21 (PTI) Devotees of Lord Venkateswara who want to trek the Tirumala hills here on foot will now have to produce their Aadhar card as identify proof for getting authorised tickets for privileged special entry darshan and laddus. At present, devotees after reaching Tirumala are given some laddus free of cost and subsidised laddus besides special entry into the shrine, temple PRO Talari Ravi said today. The devotees who do not have Aadhar card can submit any authorised identity proof to avail the facility midway on the 10 km long stairway leading to the shrine. |
Prashanti Moktan | 02 Jun 2017,Friday | Missed watching my kids grow up due to jail term: Sanjay | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sanjay-dutt-kids-iqra-shahraan-missed-grow-up/1/968586.html | Sanjay Dutt has said he has missed watching his kids grow up owing to his prison term. He is the father to twins Iqra and Shahraan. "Now all three of us don't seem to get enough of each other. I forget the world when I am with them. I want to involve myself more in their day-to-day lives," added Sanjay. | Sanjay Dutt is a doting dad. But all those years in prison have been too tough on him. Dutt says he missed watching his twins grow up, and is now making up for the lost time by spending as much time with them as possible.Sanjay and Maanayata are parents to twins, daughter Iqra and son Shahraan.Dutt even keeps a track of all that keep going on at his twins' school.In fact, the actor attends all the parent teacher meetings that take place at Shahraan and Iqra's school. Even amidst his busy schedule, Sanjay and Maanayata make it a point to be present at all such meetings. And that's not all.Dutt, who is currently shooting, makes sure he attends all important competitions that his children take part in and cheers them.The Khalnayak star says, "I have missed watching my kids grow up and so now all three of us don't seem to get enough of each other. I forget the world when I am with them. I want to involve myself more in their day-to-day lives. They are both my strength and weakness."Dutt and son Shahraan have frequent discussions on football. From the rules and regulations of the game to suggesting to each other how to score a goal, the father-son duo loves discussing the sport. On the other hand, whenever daughter Iqra paints something, father Sanjay is the first one to see the drawing. On the work front, Sanjay will soon be seen in director Omung Kumar's Bhoomi. |
Sanira Mediratta | 23 Mar 2017,Thursday | Kangana Ranaut has directed a short English film | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kangana-ranaut-director-chick-flick-queen/1/383025.html | Kangana Ranaut directed a short English film titled 'The Touch' in 2011, which revolves around the life of a young boy who has a 'healing touch' in his hands. Kangana, who turned 30 on Thursday, made her Bollywood debut with the 2006 film 'Gangster'. She also won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her role in the movie. | Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut is surely one talented woman. After wooing the heart of the nation with her epic performance in 'Queen', the actor is now reportedly all set to make her directorial debut.Ms Ranaut who has returned from the New York Film Academy where she completed a two month course on screenplay writing, seems to be in no mood for wasting time. After having recently produced and directed a short feature film called The Touch, she now has a chick flick on her mind.It has also been added that Kangana will be taking a lot of inspiration from her personal experiences and will not venture into the business of remakes. |
Arshiya Chopra | 27 Jul 2017,Thursday | DIG Roopa gets notice to publish apology in newspapers | http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/get-an-apology-published-in-newspapers-notice-to-d-roopa-who-exposed-sasikala-jail-bribery/story-6bkLpyGZoBypMDJYZm9aFK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | DIG Roopa, who submitted a report alleging VK Sasikala being given VIP treatment in jail, has been issued a notice asking her to publish an apology in leading newspapers. The notice has been served by transferred Karnataka DGP HN Satyanarayana Rao, who was blamed in the report for taking bribe to give Sasikala special treatment in jail. | Former Karnataka deputy inspector general of prisons Roopa D Moudgil, who alleged that AIADMK leader VK Sasikala received preferential treatment in Bengaluru Central Prison by paying a bribe, has been issued a legal notice by former director general of police (prisons) HN Sathyanarayana Rao seeking unconditional apology for saying there were allegations of bribery against him.In her controversial report, Moudgil had said she heard allegations Sasikala paid a bribe of Rs 2 crore to senior prison officials, including Rao, for getting privileged treatment, which, among other things, including a private kitchen.Moudgil was transferred to the position of inspector general of police and commissioner for traffic and road safety, Bengaluru. Rao was also transferred, but without charge as he is set to retire at the end of the month.In a notice dated July 16 and released by his lawyers, Rao has denied all the allegations and sought a public apology from Moudgil within three days of receiving the notice.The notice says Rao will file defamation suits, both civil and criminal, for Rs 50 crore even if Moudgil apologises, as her report, coming just a few days before Rao?s retirement, ?has caused untold mental agony to him?.Reacting to the notice on Thursday, Moudgil stuck to her stand.?I have done my duty... There is a complaint pending with the anti-corruption bureau, and it has to look into the matter,? Moudgil said.Moudgil said Australia-based NRI VC Prakash had said in connection with the Election Commission bribery case that he knew the jail officials and had facilitated a meeting between them and Sasikala. ?The ACB will have to look into to this lead,? Moudgil said. ?I?m sure the truth will emerge.?In the notice, a copy of which HT has accessed, Rao?s lawyers have accused Moudgil of leaking her report to Rao on the alleged irregularities even before it reached him. ?Thus, it is clear that publicity was the main intention in writing such a complaint,? the notice says.The notice says Moudgil had some axe to grind against Rao ?and to achieve same you have made baseless allegations and the same has tarnished the image of my client.?Accusing Moudgil of taking photos elsewhere in the prison compound, the notice questions why she could not take photos of the alleged privileges that had been allowed to Sasikala. ?The reason is obvious that you could not take photo of a non-existent kitchen,? the notice says.?You claim that you have taken pictures of irregularities inside the prison. But you have not taken the picture of Sasikala?s separate kitchen and other royal facilities, which are the prime subject of your allegations. You could not take pictures because nothing like that existed,? the notice says.Meanwhile, the inquiry ordered by the chief minister headed by a retired Indian Administrative Service officer is underway. Rao, Moudgil, and jailer Krishna Kumar were transferred to ensure a fair probe, the government had said. The State Human Rights Council is also looking into the matter. |
Rini Sinha | 27 May 2017,Saturday | Deepika to replace Varun as lead in Badlapur sequel: Reports | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/deepika-padukone-badlapur-2-dinesh-vijan-sriram-raghavan/1/963560.html | According to reports, actress Deepika Padukone will replace actor Varun Dhawan for the lead role in the sequel to 2015 film 'Badlapur'. According to a source, Badlapur producer Dinesh Vijan has discussed the film's concept with Deepika and she has loved it. While the script isn't ready yet, Deepika will have a character-driven role in the sequel, added the source. | Badlapur, directed by Sriram Raghavan, was a turning point in Varun Dhawan's career and established his acting credentials. Made on a modest budget, the film went on to earn thrice its budget, and brought its director Sriram Raghavan (Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddaar) much-needed commercial success.Now, according to latest reports, a Badlapur sequel is being planned and it might just star none other than Deepika Padukone. Badlapur was a bloody, revenge thriller where the hero, played by Varun Dhawan, went on a killing rampage to punish those that were responsible for the end of his family. Will Deepika Padukone, then, for the first time be playing an ambiguous anti-heroine in Badlapur 2, if she is indeed doing the film?According a report in DNA, Badlapur producer Dinesh Vijan is keen on roping Deepika Padukone in for the film."A sequel to Badlapur, with a female protagonist and a completely new cast, is being planned. Dinesh has bounced the idea off to Deepika and she has loved it. It's a character-driven role, just like Varun's was in Badlapur. The script isn't ready yet and once that's done, the producer will give the actress a full narration and get her dates blocked for the film," a source was quoted as saying.Badlapur producer Dinesh Vijan, who has turned director with the upcoming film Raabta, has collaborated with Deepika Padukone thrice; Cocktail, Love Aaj Kal and Finding Fanny. His new Raabta stars Kriti Sanon as the leading lady, but even then Deepika Padukone is the star of the title track video. |
Nandini Sinha | 21 Jul 2017,Friday | Coral Reef in Mexico to get its own insurance policy | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/20/mexico-launches-pioneering-scheme-to-insure-its-coral-reef?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Insurance giant Swiss Re is preparing an insurance policy for the Mesoamerican Reef in Mexico to prevent its further deterioration, reports said. Under the scheme, which is reportedly the first for a natural structure, the premiums will be paid by hotels and government, and money to pay for the repair of the reef will be released if a storm strikes.n | A stretch of coral reef off Mexico is the testing ground for a new idea that could protect fragile environments around the world: insurance.The reef, off the coast of Cancún, is the first to be protected under an insurance scheme by which the premiums will be paid by local hotels and government, and money to pay for the repair of the reef will be released if a storm strikes.Coral reefs offer a valuable buffer against storm damage from waves but their condition has deteriorated in recent years, the result of human exploitation and destruction of the reefs, as well as climate change, plastic waste and the acidification of the oceans.Under the Cancún insurance policy, pioneered by the insurance company Swiss Re and the Nature Conservancy, a US environmental charity, local organisations dependent on tourism will pay in to a collective pot likely to amount to between $1m (£770,000) and $7.5m for the insurance premiums on the policy, and a 40 mile (60km) stretch of reef and connected beach will be monitored. If any destructive storms damage the reef system, the insurer will pay out sums likely to be $25m to $70m in any given year.Any payouts will be used for restoration of the reef, for instance by building artificial structures that can increase the height of the reef in case of storm damage.Corals from the reef can be removed and rested for a period of weeks or months, to help them regrow, at which point they can be safely reattached to their native habitat to regenerate the growth of the reef system. The advantages of such restoration go far beyond the hotels that border the seafront. As well as providing a natural brake against destructive storms, coral reefs provide nurseries for fish when they are growing, and form a vital part of the marine ecosystem. Their health or decline is seen as one of the key indicators of the state of the natural environment globally.The Cancún scheme, which is to be run by Swiss Re and the Nature Conservancy, with backing from the Mexican government, is thought to be one of the first in the world to tie environmental benefits and the ?eco-system services? provided by natural environmental features to firm monetary costs and rewards. It could provide a model for similar projects in the future, linking the protection and preservation of the environment to payouts in case of disaster.Hotels and private companies are signing up to the scheme at present, and the plan is for a fund backed by the government that will cover the premiums. This is scheduled to be activated in September, with further contracts to be signed in November and December, and full coverage will then begin from next January.?Public-private partnerships are the key,? said Mark Tercek, chief executive of the Nature Conservancy, in an interview with the Guardian. He predicted that more governments would see the advantages of such an approach when the Cancún scheme begins formal operation.?I used to get very frustrated that not enough was happening [to protect the environment],? said Tercek. ?We have to push business leaders to go further, to stick their neck out to tackle issues beyond the short term.?Tercek said the Cancún scheme would provide an example for businesses, governments and insurance firms that would be ?very scalable around the world?.A future target for similar insurance products could be mangrove swamps, which also protect the shore against storm damage, and are equally under threat, with many destroyed to make way for housing development or farming, and others in peril from climate change. |
Mansha Mahajan | 26 Jul 2017,Wednesday | Railways cancels caterer's contract as lizard found in food | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lizard-in-railway-food-ministry-cancels-caterers-contract/1/1011377.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Ministry of Railways has cancelled a caterer's contract after a passenger found dead lizard in vegetable biryani served on Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express. The passenger had ordered and eaten the dish without noticing the lizard but felt unwell later, a co-passenger tweeted. The incident follows CAG's report stating food on trains is "unfit for human consumption". | New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The railway ministry today cancelled a caterers contract after a passenger found a dead lizard in his vegetable biryani served on a Delhi-bound train from Howrah, a ministry spokesperson said. The passenger had ordered and eaten the dish without noticing the lizard but felt unwell later, a co-passenger, Meghna Sinha, said in a series of Tweets yesterday. "In view of the Railways zero tolerance policy towards poor quality and overcharging of food, the railway administration has terminated the contract of the catering contractor, R K Associates, for the Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express," Railway Ministry spokesperson A K Saxena told PTI. Sinha had shot a photograph of the biryani packet, uploaded it on Twitter and tagged the Indian Railways. In another Tweet, she tagged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. The ministry tweeted today that the catering contract on Poorva Express was given to R K Associates on May 15, 2014, for five years. The caterer was fined Rs 10 lakh last year and Rs 7.5 lakh, it said in another Tweet. The passenger, who had asked for the biryani when the train was near Jhajha, Bihar, also uploaded a complaint on Twitter. Responding to the complaint, the ministers office asked the traveller for travel details. "Kindly share your PNR number," it tweeted and tagged the concerned catering department. The passenger underwent a health check-up in Patna, Buxar and then again at Mughalsarai in UP, where senior rail officers were also present, officials said. The spokesperson said in the last six months, the administration had terminated the contracts of eight catering units. "It is unprecedented the number of contracts that we have terminated in the past six months. In the last year, 16 such contractors were also blacklisted. We have also financially penalised the offenders," Saxena said. |
Daisy Mowke | 02 Aug 2017,Wednesday | Picture of Sushant in spacesuit at NASA shared online | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sushant-singh-rajput-gets-trained-at-nasa-for-chanda-mama-door-ke-and-the-pics-are-out-of-this-world/story-wxgOz5dlEgOAIVcopDZgHO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A picture of Sushant Singh Rajput in a spacesuit at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been shared on Twitter by producer Viki Rajani. The actor has started undergoing training for his role as an astronaut in the upcoming film 'Chanda Mama Door Ke'. Directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, the film will release on January 26, 2018. | Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput is all set to get special training at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) for his upcoming film, Chanda Mama Door Ke, where he plays an astronaut. In a new picture shared on Twitter, Sushant is seen wearing a white spacesuit. Taran Adarsh shared the picture and wrote, ?Sushant Singh Rajput to undergo special training at NASA?s Space & Rocket Center... Enacts the part of an astronaut in #ChandaMamaDoorKe.? Earlier, talking to a website al.com, the actor had said about real astronauts, ?Their training is something else, much deeper. They are trained to be put in a situation where you?re facing problems for the first time. So, with all your experience, with all your skills, with all your way of concentrating and not being anxious ? it?s not a question of pass or fail, it?s a question of life or death.?Sushant Singh Rajput to undergo special training at NASA's Space & Rocket Center... Enacts the part of an astronaut in #ChandaMamaDoorKe... pic.twitter.com/W4b9BYELCE? taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 2, 2017Sushant visited the NASA centre in the US in July to prepare for the space adventure to experience zero gravity. Earlier, Sushant shared his photos from the visit to the US Space & Rocket Center. Dressed in a space suit and a cap, the actor was in full astronaut mode. Another photo was accompanied with a post stating: ?From a miniature Rocket to a life size one, this grown up kid will never cease to Dream. My mother always wanted her ?Sushant in Space?. (sic).?From a miniature Rocket to a life size one , this grown up kid will never cease to Dream.My mother always wanted her' Sushant in Space '!! pic.twitter.com/9z4pI61PRF? Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) July 22, 2017Neutral buoyancy, space walk drills and Orion simulations are were so much fun !! Can't wait to try more :) pic.twitter.com/8Xy1xBpngJ? Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) July 23, 2017Sending SOS from this tiny boxCause tonight I'm feeling like an..!!?? pic.twitter.com/7WanvgsiWF? Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) July 23, 2017The actor is reportedly being trained in neutral buoyancy, undergoing spacewalk drills and moon walks, experiencing zero gravity and Orion simulations. Directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, the film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and R. Madhavan.Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Mansha Mahajan | 12 Mar 2017,Sunday | 8 lakh people respond to govt queries on suspicious deposits | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/8.38-lakh-people-respond-to-i-t-queries-under-ops-clean-money/1/901619.html | The I-T Department has received responses from 8.38 lakh persons out of the 18 lakh SMS and email queries sent to people for suspicious deposits post demonetisation. The department sent queries to 17.92 lakh people whose tax profiles were "not in line" with their cash deposits. The department had sought online responses on sources of cash deposited by these people. | New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Income Tax Department has received responses from 8.38 lakh persons out of the 18 lakh SMS/email queries it had sent to 17.92 lakh people for suspicious deposits post demonetisation. "More than 12 lakh responses have been received from 8.38 lakh distinct PANs/persons which are under verification," Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The tax profiles of 17.92 lakh people were "not in line" with the cash deposits made by them during the 50-day demonetisation period. Under the Operation Clean Money launched on January 31, the I-T department sought online response on source of cash deposited by these persons. The government had on November 8, 2016, demonetised 500 and 1,000 rupee notes and asked holders of such currencies to deposit them in bank accounts by December 30. "In case explanation of source of cash is found justified, the verification is closed. The verification is also closed if the cash deposit is declared under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana," Gangwar said. He said an appropriate action in non-compliant cases is taken as per law, which includes searches, surveys, assessment of income, levy of taxes, penalties and filing of prosecution complaints in criminal courts. In a separate reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Gangwar said during April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, the I-T department conducted searches in 1,838 groups of assessees, seizing undisclosed assets worth Rs 2,607 crore. These assessees admitted to undisclosed income of Rs 33,210 crore. During the same period, the department conducted 14,472 surveys that resulted in detection of undisclosed income of Rs 31,929 crore. |
Shubhodeep Datta | 23 Dec 2016,Friday | Wanted to quit earlier, but Modi asked me to continue: Jung | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/wanted-to-quit-earlier-but-pm-modi-told-me-to-carry-on-najeeb-jung/story-o7v5BSjfG6yQlOHOs1lMHI.html | Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who tendered his resignation on Thursday, has said that he had offered to quit earlier but went on following the insistence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moreover, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation. Further, Jung reportedly said he would also like to write a book. | Najeeb Jung called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, a day after springing a surprise by tendering resignation as Delhi?s Lt Governor even as he said that he had wanted to quit earlier but was asked by the PM to continue.Jung reached the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) at South Block in New Delhi around 11.30 am and spent a little over an hour inside.Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. On Thursday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.Rejecting speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him, Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV that there is no politics behind his decision and that he wanted to quit earlier as well.?I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on,? he said.?After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds,? Jung was quoted as saying.Jung also said that he would like to write a book.Read: What does Najeeb Jung?s departure mean for Delhi?s governance?Over the last two years, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.The Delhi chief minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung?s sudden resignation from the post.Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter- sweet times and spent some light moments.Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung.Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, ?He resigned due to personal reasons.?Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, ?We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.?He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city).?Sisodia said he shared a ?good rapport? with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. ?We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough.?On who could be next LG of Delhi, the deputy chief minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.Sources close to Jung had said on Thursday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.The chief minister was in Ranchi when the news of Jung?s resignation broke. Read: Who will become lieutenant governor of Delhi after Najeeb Jung |
Parmeet Kaur | 22 Jul 2017,Saturday | Mumbai cops stop patrolling island due to lack of boats | http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-cops-stop-patrolling-elephanta-island-due-to-lack-of-speed-boats/story-y2jcYuvOgkIS9pTIRkFS6J.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Mora coastal police in Mumbai have stopped their daily patrolling of Elephanta Island after passenger boat services from Mora were terminated due to heavy rains. Residents have complained that the local police is not taking the required measures for their security. The island has a population of around 2,000 people and is visited by 3,000- 4,000 tourists every day. | The police have stopped visiting and patrolling on the Elephanta Island, the popular tourist spot for past few days, as the passenger boat services from Mora in Navi Mumbai have been terminated due to heavy rains. The Mora coastal police do not have speed boats (or any boats) to go the island. The island, which has a population of around 2,000, comes in the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai police. Every day, police officials from the Mora coastal police station leave for the island in the morning in the passenger boats that ferry the local villagers and come back in the evening.However, that boat service has been terminated temporarily due to heavy rains and high tides over the past few days. As the police have no other options, they have stopped visiting the island for now.?Because of incessant rains and high tides, it has become very difficult to negotiate with the sea. The passenger boats that ferry people to the island could easily overturn during such situations. Due to lack of transportation system, our officials are not visiting the island for the past several days,? said an official from Mora police station.Mukunda Bhosale, senior police inspector of Mora police station said that police officials will be sent to the island, as soon as the passenger boat services are started. However, he refused to comment on how they would tackle the situation if a major crime or terror attack takes place on the island when there is no boat to visit the island.Hemant Nagrale, the police commissioner of Navi Mumbai was unavailable for comments.According to the Maharashtra tourism department, 3,000-4,000 tourists including foreign nationals visit the Elephtanta Island every day when boats are available from the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The number of tourists increases during weekends and festivals like Christmas and New Year.How safe is the Elephanta Island?The Elephanta Island, previously known as Gharapuri, houses three villages- Rajbunder, Shetbunder and Morabunder, with a population of around 2,000. According to the Gharapuri Gram Panchayat officials, around 8 lakh tourists visited the island in 2016 and around 30% of them were foreign tourists.?There is enough to do when it comes to safety and security of the people at the island. Tourists who come from Gateway of India are checked by the Mumbai police before they board the ferries. But there is no such system to check the people who come from other places of Navi Mumbai. We have asked the local police to take some requisite measures many a time, but to no avail,? said Sunil Padte, sarpanch of Gharapuri gram panchayat. |
Tanya Dhingra | 30 Jul 2017,Sunday | Harry Styles has world's most handsome eyes, chin: Study | http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/this-celebrity-has-the-world-s-most-handsome-eyes-and-chin-who-is-he/story-7Oz3vYPTVgyn0GKPh5LVwJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | According to a study by the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, One Direction singer Harry Styles has the world's most handsome eyes and chin. The study uses The Golden Ratio to assess symmetry of faces of celebrities and rank them in order of attractiveness. Meanwhile, actor Ryan Gosling won in the world's most handsome nose category. n | One Direction star Harry Styles has the world?s most handsome eyes and chin, according to a new study published by the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery.Harry Styles was recently seen in Dunkirk.The study uses the Golden Ratio, a form of measurements to detect how symmetrical a face is, to identify exactly which male celebrities are objectively the most handsome, reports Aceshowbiz.com.A better look at his chin?
(AFP)
Styles is on top of the most gorgeous eyes category due to the length of his eyes and the distance between them, with 98.15 per cent of the perfect ratio. Harry beat the likes of Ryan Gosling.
(AFP)
For a perfect chin, the study says the width of the chin at the mid point where it goes in the most should be 1.618 times the length of the lip. Harry?s chin is 99.7 per cent of this ratio. He comes out on the top of this category, beating Jamie Foxx, David Beckham, Idris Elba and Ryan Gosling. Gosling, however, won in the world?s most handsome nose category with 99.7 per cent of the perfect ratio. Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Dishant Sharma | 21 Jul 2017,Friday | Armstrong couldn't afford insurance before his moon mission | https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2009/jul/17/apollo-moon-auction-bonhams?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Astronaut Neil Armstrong, who became the first man ever to walk on the moon on July 21, 1969, could not afford life insurance before embarking on the mission. Armstrong and other members of the crew autographed envelopes emblazoned with Apollo 11 crew emblem, which they hoped could provide financial support to their families in the event of their demise. | Artefacts from the history of space exploration went under the hammer yesterday at an auction in New York. Auctioneers Bonhams presented nearly 400 lots, including many that were used on the surface of the moon. The auction coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, with over 50 items from that mission on sale. These included the star chart used by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to determine their position on the lunar surface, which went for $218,000. The chart comprises two rotating plastic discs 9 inches across, and a velcro patch on the back containing traces of lunar dust.In a letter accompanying the chart, Aldrin called it "the single most critical navigational device we used while on the moon."Other high-ticket items were the flight joystick from Falcon ? the lunar module of Apollo 15 ? and a mission checklist that lunar explorers on Apollo 16 attached to their wrist. The checklist was intended to guide astronauts John Young and Charles Duke through their mission on the lunar surface, but Nasa engineers couldn't help inserting a few cartoons. One page depicts an astronaut's close encounter with a nude woman; another captioned "Looks Bad, Feels Good" shows Young on the lunar surface, blocking the view of a TV camera with his hand. Both items sold for $206,000.Not everything was astronomically priced, however, so there were a few bargains to be had. Two lots of charts marking the orbital paths of Apollo 14 over the Earth and moon sold for $112 apiece. A couple of crew emblems from the 1970s space station Skylab sold for the same price. Although most lots went, a few failed to attract any bidders. A dust brush from the personal collection of Fred Haise, who flew on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, did not find a buyer. Despite being coated with lunar dust, having been used to clean camera lenses during Apollo 14, no one was prepared to pay the asking price of $125,000?175,000.Some artefacts provide a glimpse into the minds of the men who flew to the moon. Having failed to obtain life insurance for their dangerous mission, Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins signed a set of envelopes featuring the Apollo 11 crew emblem. They hoped that in the event of their demise the envelopes could be sold as a means of financial support for their families.Aldrin offered his own envelopes for sale in the auction, bringing in a total of $15,860.The full catalogue of lots sold in yesterday's Apollo auction at Bonhams can be viewed online (pdf) along with the prices fetched. If you want a piece of Nasa history of your very own, another auction is being held tomorrow in London. International Autograph Auctions will be offering up a variety of space memorabilia, including the flight suit worn by Collins during Apollo 11 which is estimated to be worth £7,000-10,000. |
Mansha Mahajan | 05 Apr 2017,Wednesday | Airtel promoter pays ?2 lakh to settle insider trading case | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bharti-airtel-promoter-pays-rs-2.17-l-to-settle-case-with-sebi/1/921188.html | Bharti Airtel's promoter firm Indian Continent Investment has settled an alleged insider trading case by paying ?2.17 lakh towards settlement charges to SEBI. The company, which bought Airtel shares between 2007 to 2010, saw its holding cross 5% in April 2008, requiring it to make necessary disclosures. However, it was alleged the promoter company failed to make such disclosures. | New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Bharti Airtels promoter firm Indian Continent Investment has settled an alleged insider trading case after paying Rs 2.17 lakh towards settlement charges to regulator Sebi. Indian Continent Investment had acquired 26,58,60,986 shares constituting 7 per cent stake in the company during July 2007 to December 2010. As a result, Indian Continent Investments shareholding in Bharti Aitel crossed 5 per cent on April 29, 2008, requiring it to make necessary disclosures under PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations. However, it was alleged that the promoter company failed to make such disclosure, prompting Sebi to initiate a probe. In a settlement order passed today, Sebi said it is disposing of "the adjudication proceedings initiated against the noticee (Indian Continent Investment). |
Tarun Khanna | 09 May 2017,Tuesday | Arvind Kejriwal asked me to pay ?5 cr: Ousted AAP MLA | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aam-aadmi-party-crisis-asim-khan-attack-against-arvind-kejriwal/1/949119.html | Ousted AAP MLA and ex-Delhi Minister Asim Ahmed Khan has alleged CM Arvind Kejriwal had asked him to pay ?5 crore. "They needed ?25 crore to buy cable network out of which ?5 crore were asked from me and ?20 crore were asked from four other MLAs," he said. Asim was sacked for allegedly demanding a bribe from a builder. | Launching a scathing attack against Kejriwal, ousted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Asim Ahmed Khan said Kejriwal and his aides demanded Rs 5 crore from him and the party has turned into a private limited company.Talking about his expulsion, Khan said false charges were framed against him when he tried to question the party's way of working. "The ones who are supporting Kejriwal are his own people. Everybody's secrets are confided among each other. He is the same Kejriwal who demanded Rs 5 crore from me," Khan said.Extending support to ousted AAP MLA Kapil Mishra, Khan said the way the former has shown confidence reflects there is genuineness in his claim. Khan then narrated the incident under which he became a victim of the party's corruption and was therefore, ousted from the party.ASIM KHAN'S ALLEGATIONS"I am not putting these allegations today. I talked about this at the time of Punjab elections. They needed Rs 25 crore to buy cable network out of which Rs 5 crore was asked from me," he said."The rest Rs 20 crore was asked from four other MLAs. They formed a team which went after me to pressurise me to give money. Then they started warning me that if I want to remain minister, I will have to give the money. I said they can remove me, but I won't give money. I was then framed under false charges and removed from the party. Now when there are allegations against Kejriwal and Satyendra Jain, why isn't any action being taken?" he said.It is not only rebels, but even leaders within the party have started questioning Kejriwal's silence on the allegations levelled by Mishra.AAP's Punjab convenor Gurpreet Ghuggi said since the allegations are serious and have been levelled by a former cabinet minister, workers expect a statement from the AAP chief. Ghuggi said though he has faith in Kejriwal, but he must explain his position.Also Read:Kejriwal bribe bomb: Kapil Mishra suspended; Is this the beginning of AAP's end?Sacked minister Kapil Mishra suspended from Aam Aadmi Party |
Chhavi Tyagi | 31 Jul 2017,Monday | MP primary school students forced to study in a toilet | http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/toilet-ek-school-katha-in-this-village-in-madhya-pradesh-school-kids-forced-to-study-in-toilet/story-y9qEX3uICXYNlPmqX7Fb6K.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A photograph of primary school students in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district shows that the children are being forced to study in a disused toilet as there is no school building. While the school is run by a single teacher, the local MLA is reportedly not aware of the existence of any such school in his constituency. | If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one tells much more than that.A photograph of a group of primary school students studying in a toilet instead of a classroom in Neemuch district belies the tall claims of the Madhya Pradesh government about its efforts to improve education in the state. The students are being forced to study in a disused toilet because there is no school building. The primary school run by a single teacher is not situated in a remote area but at Mokhampura village which is only 35 km away from the Neemuch district headquarters. Shockingly, the local MLA is not even aware that such a school exists in his constituency, though the officials of the state education department acknowledge the appalling situation. The school was set up in 2012. For a year, the school had functioned out of a rented room. Now, that?s not available.A photograph of the school which has 34 children clearly shows that the room in which they are studying is a toilet that was built by the government. If that?s not bad enough, a few goats are sometimes tied in the toilet ? perhaps to prevent them from getting wet in the rain. School teacher Kailash Chandra says that he has been forced to take classes in the toilet because there is no school building. ?When the weather is fine in summer and winter, the classes are held under a tree, but now the earth is wet so I cannot hold the classes under a tree and am forced to use the toilet,? he told HT.Kailash Chandra said that it is not as if the higher-ups have not been informed. ?I have informed them of the condition a number of times over the years, but no one is paying any attention,? he said. But Manasa BJP MLA Kailash Chawla simply refused to acknowledge that there was any school in his constituency where children were studying in a toilet. However, the district education office K C Sharma said that he had written to the state education department about the situation and had sent proposal for construction of a school building. |
Chhavi Tyagi | 17 May 2017,Wednesday | UP woman kidnaps man from his wedding venue for ditching her | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uttar-pradesh-furious-over-betrayal-woman-kidnaps-man-from-his-wedding-venue-in-hamirpur/1/955788.html | A woman kidnapped a man from his wedding venue in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur for allegedly ditching her. The man had dated the woman for several months and was getting married to the woman of his parents' choice. The kidnapper woman arrived at the mandap in an SUV, took out a pistol and asked the groom to sit in the car. | It was the biggest day in the life of Banda resident Ashok Yadav. Sitting at the mandap, he was moments away from tying the nuptial knot with the woman his family had selected for him.The wedding venue was full with guests from both sides waiting for the bride to arrive. Suddenly, an SUV stopped at the main entrance and what happened next was nothing short of a scene from a Bollywood masala flick but with a twist.HOW THE STORY UNFOLDEDALSO READ:Delhi: Man kills woman for argument with bar dancer girlfriend, arrested |
Ankur Vyas | 02 Apr 2017,Sunday | Prashant Bhushan calls Lord Krishna 'legendary eve teaser' | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/prashant-bhushan-yogi-adityanath-anti-romeo-squads-uttar-pradesh/1/918675.html | Asserting that Romeo loved just one lady, advocate Prashant Bhushan on Sunday called Lord Krishna a 'legendary eve teaser'. He asked Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath if he had the guts to call his 'anti-Romeo squads' as 'anti-Krishna squads'. "We have grown up with legends of young Krishna teasing Gopis. The logic of Romeo squad would criminalise this," he added. | Since Lord Krishna was a "legendary Eve-teaser," will Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath - who has unleashed 'anti-Romeo' squads in a crackdown on sexual harassment - have "the guts" to call these teams "AntiKrishna squads"?That's precisely the question lawyer and Swaraj Abhiyan co-founder Prashant Bhushan posted on his Twitter account earlier today. See for yourself. Romeo loved just one lady,while Krishna was a legendary Eve teaser.Would Adityanath have the guts to call his vigilantes AntiKrishna squads? https://t.co/IYslpP0ECv He later issued a clarification, saying his tweet was being "distorted.""My position is: By the logic of Romeo Brigade, even Lord Krishna would look like eve teaser." In another tweet, he added, "We have grown up with legends of young Krishna teasing Gopis.The logic of Romeo squad would criminalise this.Didn't intend to hunt (hurt) sentiments." BJP REBUKES BHUSHAN The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wasted no time in chiding Bhushan - whose remark is certain to irk many, many more - and said the lawyer had insulted Lord Krishna.Bhushan should first study India's tradition and mythology and then make such comments, BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said."Saddening" was how BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra chose to describe it.In a Hindi tweet, Patra said it takes several births to understand Lord Krishna, and suggested that it was unfortunate that the deity's name was being politicized.Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Tejinder Bagga said he has written to the police asking for a case to be filed against Bhushan under IPC sections 153(a) and 295. The complaint has been sent to the the Tilak Marg police station, Bagga said.He added: "He (Bhushan) always does this for cheap publicity. He has to give (a) written apology for this."OWAISI'S POTSHOT Bhushan's remark comes a day after MP Asaduddin Owaisi took a pot shot at the BJP's policies on beef in two states - Uttar Pradesh, where a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses is underway, and Nagaland, where there's no such policy yet.In fact, Visasolie Lhoungu, the Nagaland BJP chief, told the Hindustan Times, "(A) 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."All this prompted Owaisi to ask: Are cows 'mummy' in Uttar Pradesh and 'yummy' in Nagaland? ALSO READ | Yogi Adityanath backs anti-romeo squads to make UP safe for women; all that he said at GorakhpurALSO READ | Owaisi slams BJP over beef 'hypocrisy', says cow 'mummy' in UP, 'yummy' in NortheastWATCH VIDEO | Bhushan calls Lord Krishna 'legendary Eve teaser,' asks if Adityanath will call his teams 'Anti-Krishna squads' |
Dishant Sharma | 14 Jun 2017,Wednesday | Kumar Sangakkara scores 100th career century | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sri-lanka-kumar-sangakkara-100th-career-century-surrey-vs-yorkshire/1/978238.html | Sri Lankan cricket great Kumar Sangakkara scored his 100th career century while playing for English county cricket side Surrey in a one-day match on Tuesday. The 39-year-old left-hander, who hit a run-a-ball 121 against Yorkshire, now has 39 centuries in one-day cricket along with his 61 centuries in first-class cricket, 38 of which have come in Test matches. | Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara scored the 100th century of his illustrious career while playing for English county Surrey in a one-day match on Tuesday. |
Rini Kapoor | 01 Jan 2017,Sunday | Delhi airport crossed 50-million passenger mark in 2016 | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-airport-breaks-own-record-handles-82-flights-in-an-hour/story-geBamkdIXTLlvzYFELVAWM.html | With over 55 million fliers in 2016, the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi crossed the 50-million passenger mark in a year for the first time, according to reports. Notably, it also broke its own record of highest number of flight movements in one hour when it handled 82 flights in 60 minutes on November 16. | Delhi?s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) broke its own record of highest flight movements in one hour when it handled 82 flights in 60 minutes on November 16. The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) handled 40 landings and 42 take-offs between 11 am and noon on that day, and broke its previous record of 77 flight movements in an hour, officials said.Also, for the first time, the airport crossed the 50-million passenger mark in a year, with 55.65 million passengers, almost 10 million more than the previous year. With traffic growth at almost 20%, airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is changing the master plan to increase the capacity of the terminal and the airside. The new ATC tower and fourth runway will help reduce congestion in the air and handle more flights.Read: IndiGo, SpiceJet flights come face-to-face at Delhi?s IGI airportAccording to airport officials, air traffic continues to grow but in 2012-13, due to a dip in domestic traffic, the overall passenger traffic fell to 34.37 million from 35.88 million in the previous year.?As the busiest airport in the fastest growing aviation market, Delhi airport achieved another milestone by crossing a record 50 million passengers in 2016. With this, the Delhi airport has entered the league of 25 busiest airports worldwide. This year, Delhi Airport made yet another record by handling a whopping 82 flight movements in an hour. We look forward to attaining many more milestones in 2017,? said I Prabhakara Rao, CEO-DIAL.The Delhi airport has a major market share of air traffic volume to the Middle East, European, Asian and American regions. It has an annual passenger capacity of over 62 million, including Terminal-3 that can handle 34 million passengers. The airport handles over one lakh passengers every day and aircraft movements have also increased. Almost 1,185 arrivals/departures took place from here everyday. In order to expand the infrastructure and expand Terminal 1, DIAL will shift two domestic low-cost carriers to Terminal 2 by mid-January.As domestic airlines, especially budget carriers, are growing at a faster rate, DIAL has decided to double the capacity of Terminal 1, which now caters to only low-cost carriers. ?We will expand it and in the next three years, the capacity of T-1 will increase from 15 million per annum to 30 million per annum,? Rao added.Read: Delhi airport staff will have to carry Aadhaar card from Jan 1The new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower of the Delhi airport, which is the country?s tallest ATC tower, is ready and will be operational soon. The tower, which is among the tallest structure in Delhi, will give a 360-degree view of the airport to the controller and will eventually help in on time performance of the flight. The ATC complex and the 60-metre-high tower was built in 1999 and are at a considerable distance from the third runway, constructed in 2008.The tower will give controllers a commanding view of the airport, as well as a much larger working space, so that a larger number of controllers can operate and reduce the pressure on the controllers. The 101.9-metre tower is adjacent to the present ATC tower and once ready, it will be the tallest in the country and the 7th tallest in the world. The Delhi airport, which already has three runways, will become the first airport in the country to have a fourth runway, with construction likely to start this year. Airport officials are expecting to commission the fourth runway by 2018, which will take the per hour capacity of Delhi airport from 75 flights to 105. |
Ankur Vyas | 21 Apr 2017,Friday | India successfully test fires land-attack version of BrahMos | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-navy-test-fires-land-attack-version-of-brahmos-missile/1/934743.html | Indian Navy on Friday successfully conducted the first test fire of the land-attack variant of the BrahMos supersonic missile. The missile, with a 400 km range, was launched at sea off the Andaman and Nicobar islands. This is reportedly the first sea-to-land missile test in the country and also the first time the land-attack variant was fired from a ship. | The Indian Navy today moved towards acquiring a pin-point ability to attack targets on land with its first test of the land-attack variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The missile has a range of 400km. The successive successful launch of the supersonic missile took place at sea off the Andaman and Nicobar islands. This is the first time a land-attack variant of the missile was fired from a warship and also the first sea-to-land missile test in the country.HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW:1. The missile fired from ship squarely hit the specially created land target put up in one of the islands of Andaman and Nicobar. 2. According to officials of the Indo-Russian BrahMos corporation, the missile met all flight parameters during the test where it selected the designated target among the group of targets, hitting it precisely and destroying the target with its tremendous kinetic energy.3. The Navy has already inducted anti-ship versions of the BrahMos on its warships including the Rajput and is integrating them into two other ships of the class. 4. The missiles will also equip the three 7000-ton Kolkata class destroyers currently under construction at the Mazagon Docks Ltd, Mumbai. 5. The Indian Navy began inducting the first version of BrahMos Missile System in all of its frontline warships from 2005. BrahMos can be launched in single or in a salvo from ship towards single or different types of targets within an interval of 2-2.5 seconds in various trajectories. ALSO READ: |
Tarun Khanna | 18 Feb 2017,Saturday | Disclose Godse's statement in Gandhi murder trial: CIC | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/disclose-godses-statement-in-gandhi-assassination-trial-cic/1/885249.html | The Central Information Commission has ordered to make public the statement of Nathuram Godse along with other records related to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. "One may disagree with Nathuram Godse and his co-accused but we cannot refuse disclosure or circulation of his opinion," CIC stated. The CIC said since the information is more than 20 years old, it cannot be withheld. | New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) The statement of Nathuram Godse, along with other relevant records related to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, should be "proactively disclosed" on the website of the National Archives, the CIC has ruled. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said, "One may disagree with Nathuram Godse and his co-accused but we cannot refuse disclosure or circulation of his opinion. "At the same time, neither Nathuram Godse nor the holder of his theme or opinion can go to the extent of killing a person whose philosophy he cannot agree with," he said in his order. Godse, a right-wing activist, had assassinated the Mahatma on January 30, 1948. Petitioner Ashutosh Bansal had demanded the charge sheet and Godses statement, among other details, from Delhi Police which forwarded the application to the National Archives of India (NAI), saying the records have been handed over to it. The National Archives asked Bansal to inspect the records and cull out the information. After failure to get the information, Bansal approached the Central Information Commissioner (CIC). Acharyulu directed the Central Public Information Commissioner (CPIO-NAI) not to charge Rs three per page for photocopying because the Right to Information Act overrides any such provision of the Public Records Act by virtue of Section 22 of the RTI Act. Although neither Delhi Police nor the National Archives cited any objection on the disclosure of the information, Acharyulu said that the information sought does not attract any of the exemption clauses. He said since the information is more than 20-years-old, it cannot be withheld unless it attracts section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act which prohibits disclosure of information that prejudicially affects security of the State or relations with foreign countries. Acharyulu said in the present case, even section 8(1)(a) does not apply as the argument that disclosure of Godses statement could lead to enmity between Hindu and Muslim communities would not apply. |
Sonu Kumari | 29 Jul 2017,Saturday | Thane civic body restarts app to report pothole menace | http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/you-can-file-pothole-complaint-through-app-launched-by-thane-civic-body/story-phw0j8HMhvqmCPdEXPCPCL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Thane Municipal Corporation has restarted Star Grade, an application to report potholes, after several complaints were made about the same. It was launched two years ago and had reportedly become popular among residents. However, the app was stopped over non-renewal of its maintenance contract. Residents can upload pictures of potholes on the app and alert officials to take action. | You can now file complaints on potholes online. The pothole application, Star Grade, which had gained popularity last monsoon, was restarted after complaints related to potholes poured in. Launched by the Thane Municipal Corporation two years ago, the app had become popular among residents. ?The application started functioning two days ago. However, it is still in testing phase and we haven?t formally launched it. The formal launch will take place next week. People who knew about the application use it. We have received one complaint till now,? said an official from TMC requesting anonymity.The application had stopped because the contract with the agency had not been renewed. The official said, ?We had not renewed the contract of the agency which handled the application. We have signed an annual maintenance contract with the same agency.?He said the contract was not renewed as the corporation plans to expand the application. ?We want to include other complaints such as pipe burst, water leakage, uncollected garbage, unclean roads, water supply, open manholes, waterlogging, choked nullahs and poor conditions of the footpaths,? he added.The app has registered more than 1,000 complaints on an average in the last two monsoons. Last year, the application recorded more than 900 complaints out of which the maximum complains were from Majiwada, followed by Railadevi and Lokmanya Nagar areas.About the applicationThe residents can download the application, take the photo of a pothole and upload it on the app. The app is backed by GPS (Global Positioning System), so the location of the pothole will be automatically uploaded.Complaints are supposed to be addressed within 24 to 36 hoursThe app displays the status of the complaint along with the details of the complainant.The app is linked to TMC websitesAndroid users can download it from play store while the IOS and Windows users can log on to stargrade.thanecity.gov.in. |
Sumedha Sehra | 30 May 2017,Tuesday | Acid attack victims to be included in Disability Act | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/disability-act-acid-attack-victims/1/966098.html | The government is planning to bring 14 new categories, including acid attack survivors, under the Disability Act, 2016. Currently, it provides benefits to seven categories including blindness, hearing impairment, mental illness and leprosy. The new categories which will be added include muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, thalassemia, multiple disabilities (two or more disabilities). | The Centre is bringing in 14 new categories of physical and mental conditions, under the ambit of the Disability Act, 2016. Under the new notification, scheduled to be issued next month, acid attack survivors will be treated as disabled, a senior official in the social justice and empowerment ministry said.At present, the act provides the disability rights and benefits to seven special categories of people comprising blindness, low-vision, locomotive disability, hearing impairment, mental retardation, mental illness and leprosy.The new conditions will apply to people with cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, specific learning disabilities, deafness, autism, spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities (condition of any two disabilities or more) and acid attack survivors.PREVIOUS ACTSMinistry officials said the previous Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 mentions only seven categories with people having 40per cent and above disability getting full benefits. In 2001, disability assessment guidelines were prepared for these categories, but there was no measure to calculate the percentage of disability in a person."The ministry therefore formed a committee to review how to assess and measure the exiting as well as the proposed disability percentage in a person and accordingly entitlements would be given to the person," the official said.The proposed move has come in from all-round praise from social activists.BENEFITS FOR ACID ATTACK VICTIMSLauding the move, Shaheen Malik of Delhi Commission for Women said: "Adding acid attack survivors into special categories is one of the best things that this government is doing."Now, this will ensure if the disabled do not get a private job, he or she can get government entitlements. Also, after an acid attack, our studies get discontinued due to financial losses, so now we can opt for higher studies too," Malik said.As per 2011 census, India has 26,810,557 people under disabled population. Government officials said once the new disability assessment guidelines come, all district medical officers will be advised to follow new norms in issuing the certificate.A ministry official said, "Classification of a person's disability is being made with the difference of 10 per cent each. The health ministry is soon going to submit its report to the social justice and empowerment ministry and it will be notified soon. Presently, people with 40per cent and above disability are getting full benefits. Till then, existing guidelines have to be followed.""All district medical officers would be trained to calculate percentage of disability and understand the new guidelines. It has been noticed that people misuse their disability for benefits, even if they are not eligible. We are making it more clear and stringent so that people with serious disability (40per cent and above) do not get neglected," the official said. The committee which drew the new guidelines worked in collaboration with the Union health ministry on the lines of global norms. This committee also formed sub-committees with experts from AIIMS, NIMHANS, Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia.Also Read |
Chhavi Tyagi | 04 Apr 2017,Tuesday | Yogi Adityanath waives farmers' loan upto ?1 lakh in UP | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/yogi-adityanath-first-cabinet-meeting-up-farmers-loan-waiver-bjp/1/920330.html | During the first Cabinet meeting of the new Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, CM Yogi Adityanath waived farmers' loan of up to ?1 lakh. The state will spend around ?36,000 crore to fund the loan waiver which will benefit around 86 lakh farmers. Loan waiver for farmers was one of the biggest poll promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party. | Delivering on the Bharatiya Janata Party's poll promise, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today waived off farmers' loan of upto Rs 1 lakh. The decision taken in the first meeting of Adityanath Cabinet will add a burden of Rs 30,729 crore on the state exchequer and benefit nearly 2.15 crore farmers. Briefing mediapersons after a 90-minute meeting of the cabinet, senior minister Siddharth Nath Singh and Srikant Sharma said Rs 30,729 crore was required for waiving loans of small and marginal farmers.Besides, there were about 7 lakh other farmers who had taken loans which turned into non-performing assets (NPAs). In order to bring them back into the mainstream, their outstanding dues of Rs 5,630 crore have also been written off. The BJP, which won a massive majority bagging 312 seats in the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly, in its Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra (manifesto), had promised to waive the loans of small and marginal farmers.Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had said during campaigning that writing off farm loans would be among the foremost tasks of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.Although there is no Constitutional compulsion of convening the first cabinet meeting within a certain period, traditionally the ruling party has held it within a week or so of forming the government.The Adityanath government was sworn-in on March 19.Government sources said around 2.30 crore farmers in the state suffered losses due to natural calamities in the recent past and were unable to repay loans amounting to about Rs 62,000 crore.They also said that it could be difficult to handle the burden of loan waiver in a single financial year and that was one of the reasons to put the cabinet meeting on hold till a way was found to honour the prime minister's poll promise.With inputs from Balkrishna ALSO READ: Yogi Adityanath's first interview after taking charge of UP, says Ayodhya issue should be resolved through talksYogi Adityanath gives Uttar Pradesh's bureaucracy the jitters |
Tarun Khanna | 21 Jan 2017,Saturday | Caste-based reservation should end: RSS | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/caste-reservation-rss-manmohan-vaidya/1/862543.html | RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya on Friday said that the caste-based reservation should end at some point. "Ambedkar said that such a reservation policy is not good for any country if it continues perpetually," he added. However, RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale clarified Vaidya's remark, stating he meant till there is discrimination against certain population groups, caste-based quota should continue. | RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya has stirred a fresh controversy by questioning the caste based reservation in jobs."The caste-based reservation should end at some point. Dr Ambedkar said that such a reservation policy is not good for any country if it continues perpetually. This should end and a time must come when everyone should get more job opportunities," said Vaidya while speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival today.Sensing trouble over his remarks, fellow RSS leader Dattareya Hosabole tried to contain the damage saying, "What Manmohan Vaidya meant was that till there is discrimination against certain population groups, and equal opportunity is not provided to all, caste-based reservation should continue." |
Abhishek Bansal | 03 May 2017,Wednesday | India sends back 47 Pak students over mutilation of soldiers | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-sends-back-pakistani-students-exchange-program-lahore/1/944515.html | Amid rising tension after the mutilation of bodies of two Indian soldiers, the government has sent back a delegation of 47 Pakistani students. MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said an NGO had invited the students and their teachers as part of an exchange programme. The government advised the NGO that this is not the right time for such programmes. | Taking a tough stand against Pakistan in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, India has sent back a delegation of students from Pakistan.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said an NGO had invited a group of 47 Pakistan school children accompanied by their teachers as part of a student exchange program.India has advised the NGO that this is not the right time for such exchange programs.The delegation was coming to India on the same day when the Indian army soldiers were killed and their bodies mutilated .In a ceasefire violation, the Pakistan Army had on May 1 opened rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts along the Line of Control. Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) attacked an Indian joint patrol team and mutilated its two soldiers.Pakistan has denied violating any ceasefire or killing Indian soldiers.Students were to visit Pakistan Embassy The students from Pakistan were scheduled to go on a day-long trip to Agra today and participate in an exchange of experiences with Indian students tomorrow at the Pakistan Embassy here.Expressing regret over the return of the delegation, the NGO Routes2Roots said the trip had to be shortened and the students and teachers have been sent back to Lahore."Around 50 students aged between 11-15 years along with their teachers arrived in Delhi from Pakistan on May 1 and were supposed to meet their Indian pen friends and hosts of other programs which had to be cut short."Keeping in view the security and sentiments of fellow Indians the delegation has been sent back to Lahore safely," Rakesh Gupta and Tina Vachani, founders of Routes2Roots, said in a statement.In October last year, a similar programme by the NGO was cancelled after the announcement of surgical strike by India along the LoC in September."Even then as a precautionary measure we cancelled the exchange programme and now the same thing has recurred. If things go well, we will again bring the students, possibly within a month or two," Rakesh told PTI. Also read:Krishna Ghati beheadings: Pakistan Army chief Qamar Bajwa authorised attack on Indian soldiers |
Abhishek Bansal | 16 Mar 2017,Thursday | Donald Trump administration backs India's bid for NSG seat | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/trump-admin-also-backs-indias-nsg-bid/1/904450.html | The US on Wednesday said it is working with India and Nuclear Supplies Group (NSG) members to push for New Delhi's membership to the group. "The United States supports India's full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes, and we believe that India is ready for NSG membership," a US State Department spokesperson said. | The United States today said it is working with India and Nuclear Supplies Group (NSG) members to push for New Delhi's membership in the elite grouping, indicating that there is no change in America's policy on the issue under the Trump administration."The United States supports India's full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes, and we believe that India is ready for NSG membership," a State Department spokesperson told PTI.The spokesperson was responding to questions on the position of the Trump administration on India's bid to be a member of the 48-member NSG.The US and India have been working on this issue since the Bush Administration. Despite its best efforts, the Obama administration could not get the job done due to opposition from China. The baton now has been passed on to the Trump administration."We have worked and continue to work closely with our Indian counterparts and the NSG Participating Governments to help advance India's case for membership," the State Department official said, indicating that there has been no change in the US policy towards India's NSG membership bid under the Trump administration.CHINA'S STANCE ON ISSUE KEY The key to India's membership now lies with China.However, it is not clear if new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who would be in China this week, would be raising this issue with the Chinese leadership or if President Donald Trump is ready to take up the issue himself, as was done by President George Bush.Trump is set to host his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida next month.In January, the then South and Central Asia point person of the Obama administration, Nisha Desai Biswal, had described China as an "outlier" on the NSG issue.ALSO READ |
Saloni Tandon | 28 Jan 2017,Saturday | Williams sisters get richer by ?28.8 cr after Aus Open final | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/australian-open-final-serena-williams-vs-venus-williams/1/868470.html | The Williams sisters have earned combined ?28.8 crore (Australian $5.6 million) as prize money after the Australian Open women's singles final. Serena played against sister Venus in a Grand Slam final after eight years, with their last meeting being in Wimbledon 2009. Serena, the winner of the final, was awarded A$3,700,000 (?19 crore), while Venus got A$1,900,000 (?9.8 crore). | When two sisters, both above 35, clash in the final of a Grand Slam where, for some time, new starlets with their toned bodies and psychedelic dresses strutted their stuff, what does it say of the game? (Australian Open: Williams sisters add another chapter to great sibling rivalry)That tennis is all about the resilience and strategy? About bringing out some old tricks from memory and laying out some lessons for the upstarts?Such questions are being discussed in the beer-soaked Melbourne Park arena where, in the women's final on Saturday, and in the men's final on Sunday, four old timers, so to say, recovering from injuries and other personal agonies, are trying to push the boundaries of human achievement and vying for the singles titles. (Australian Open: Venus in dreamland as she twirls into Williams' family final vs Serena)If you add the men's doubles, where the Bryan twins (35) will be featuring, it may appear to some that this arena is also a revitalising spa with magical fountains from where the elixir of youth spouts.When Venus Williams 36, plays Serena Williams 35, it will be the oldest such final in women's tennis history. Serena is competing for her 23rd title and her elder sister for her 8th, having won her first title at Wimbledon in 2000. (Serena to meet Venus in all-Williams final at Australian Open)Venus has been written off and forgotten for a long time and her resurgence here is nothing but a slice of fantasy.She outclassed her rivals Katerina Kozlova, Stefanie Voegele, Duan Yingying and Mona Barthel without dropping a set. She lost a set to the rising start Coco Vandeweghe in the semi-final.Turning completely philosophical, Venus said when asked about her career: "It's triumph and disaster witnessed in real time. That is why people live and die for sport, because you can't fake it. People relate to the champion. They also relate to the person who didn't win because we all have those moments in life."Venus knows that she is the underdog in this match-up against her sister, because Serena holds too many guns, is more powerful and can turn it on at will.Head-to-head Serena is 16-11 up, but who knows, the elder sister might pull out some old tricks, a scorching forehand pass, perhaps?Serena has displayed a sense of achievement few in the world can. She is at the top of the world and she knows that. "I don't have to win another match as long as I live. I don't have to prove anything," she said about the final match. |
Mansha Mahajan | 25 Apr 2017,Tuesday | Where would Apple, IBM be without global talent: Urjit Patel | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/apple-ibm-cisco-are-big-because-of-indians-dont-deny-them-h-1b-visa-rbi-governor-urjit-patel/1/937545.html | Commenting on rising protectionism in major economies, RBI Governor Urjit Patel has asked, "Where would Apple be, where would Cisco be, where would IBM be if they were not sourcing the best products and talent from across the world?" "[I]f policies come in the way...then the big wealth creators in a country that advocates protectionism are ultimately affected," he added. | As the US under Donald Trump moves to make it difficult for Indians to get H-1B visa, RBI Governor Urjit Patel has warned against protectionism. Speaking in New York Patel said that big American tech companies are maintained and powered by talented Indians and without access to such skilled workers these companies may suffer."Where would Apple be, where would Cisco be, where would IBM be if they were not sourcing the best products and talent from across the world. And if policies come in the way of that, then the big wealth creators in a country that advocates protectionism are ultimately affected," he said."I don't think that we have heard the last word on US policy talk about this because there is a push back internationally that the world has benefited from an open trading system," the RBI governor said.Also Read: Trump to sign order that will make getting H1B visa harder for IndiansPatel's statement comes weeks after US president Donald Trump signed an executive order emphasising that the H-1B should be used to bring on only very specialised workers in the US and not generic programmers and coders. The move is aimed at companies like Infosys and TCS that often hire Indian programmers and coders in the US instead of hiring locals, who may demand higher wages for the similar job.Many in the US government also believe that Indian companies game the H-1B visa system and get disproportionate share of these visas. Nasscom, an industry body of IT companies in India, however, denies the allegations. "NASSCOM would like to clarify on the statements made by the White House on Indian Companies getting the lion's share of H-1B visas; and highlight that in FY 2015 only 6 of the top 20 H-1B recipients were Indian companies. Further, among the companies named, the two Indian companies namely TCS and Infosys together received 7,504 approved H-1B visas in FY 2015; which is only 8.8 per cent of the total approved H-1B visas," noted a Nasscom spokesperson. |
Daisy Mowke | 26 Jul 2017,Wednesday | Titanic stars Leonardo, Kate auction dinner date for charity | http://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/leonardo-dicaprio-and-kate-winslet-are-having-a-titanic-reunion-and-you-can-be-a-part-of-it/story-82lvs7qMlZqcl84aXLmfsJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | 'Titanic' actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are auctioning off a dinner with the two of them at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation's fourth annual gala on Wednesday for charity. The dinner is among other auction items available for bidders at the event which will take place in France. The non-profit organisation raised ?289 crore during its charity auction last year. | Ever yearned to swap tales of the sea with Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet?Well strap on your life jacket, because the pair are auctioning off a private dinner in their exclusive company for charity, a spokesman for the actor told AFP on Tuesday.The glamorous date -- planned for a restaurant of the winner?s choice in New York City in the fall -- is among several lots being offered at the star-studded Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gala in the French resort of Saint-Tropez on Thursday.The environmentally-minded charity raised $45 million during its auction last year, according to the Los Angeles Times.Oscar winners DiCaprio, 42, and Winslet, 41, played star-crossed lovers Jack and Rose in James Cameron?s 1997 retelling of the sinking of the Titanic, and were reunited in 2009 as a warring couple in Revolutionary Road.While saving the planet has been DiCaprio?s preoccupation for years, Winslet is involved with charities helping autistic children, as well as organizations for the homeless and disadvantaged people with cancer. The lot is the latest example of a burgeoning celebrity trend of offering dinner dates or other face-to-face meetings to raise cash for charity. British actor Idris Elba agreed to share Valentine?s Day this year with the highest bidder in aid of the ?W.E. Can Lead? initiative, which provides education for African youngsters. ?It is one of the easiest ways for celebrities to contribute,? a public relations specialist told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that it generates huge amounts of cash.Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Gaurav Shroff | 30 Jun 2017,Friday | Swimming microbots can remove harmful bacteria from water | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/microbots-to-remove-harmful-bacteria-from-water-developed/1/991071.html | Researchers have developed self-propelled microbots that remove disease-causing bacteria from water. The "two-faced" spherical bots have a magnesium side which reacts with water to produce hydrogen bubbles to propel them. The other face with gold traps bacteria which are then killed by the silver nanoparticles with an 80% efficiency. The bots can be easily removed from water using a magnet. | Berlin, Jun 30 (PTI) Scientists have developed magnetic microbots with silver nanoparticles that can zoom around contaminated water and clean up disease-causing bacteria. Drinking water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria can cause serious illnesses that, in areas with spotty medical services, are potentially life-threatening without proper treatment. Water can be disinfected with chlorine or other disinfectants, but there are some hardy bacteria and other microorganisms that are hard to remove. Treating water with a combination of disinfectants or increasing their concentrations can help. However, they remain in the water, and their byproducts can be harmful to human health. In recent years, researchers have been exploring the use of self-propelled micromotors to degrade and capture pollutants in water. Building on this work, researchers from Max-Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany and Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Spain wanted to see if they could engineer tiny robots to remove waterborne bacteria. The team designed "two-faced" spherical particles to perform the task. One face is made with magnesium, which reacts with water to produce hydrogen bubbles to propel the microbots. The other face is made out of alternating iron and gold layers topped by silver nanoparticles. Bacteria stick to the gold and are killed by the silver nanoparticles. |
Sonu Kumari | 02 Aug 2017,Wednesday | 20 stuck in Gurugram mall lift for 90 mins rescued | http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/20-people-trapped-for-90-minutes-in-faulty-elevator-at-gurgaon-mall/story-ObbrdLAIUElsJqnTSQETsL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Gurugram police on Saturday midnight rescued twenty people who were trapped in a mall lift for nearly 90 minutes. Police said that two out of six women fell unconscious in the lift due to lack of oxygen. Some trapped people had reportedly contacted the elevator control room, but the police were called when the staff couldn't fix the technical glitch. | Twenty people, including six female employees of a multi-national company, went through a harrowing time on Saturday after being stuck in an elevator at Sector 53?s South Point Mall for close to 90 minutes. The women, according to the police, were off-duty and were returning home after a party when the elevator got stuck between the second and third floors. Two of the women fell unconscious due to lack of oxygen, said the police.Some people stuck later called the elevator control room, but the staff could not rectify the technical fault after which the police were called. A police team soon reached the spot and after assessing the situation broke a glass on the backside of the elevator, cracked open the glass wall of the lift and rescue the people.The police control room received information about the incident at Saturday midnight, after which Sector 53 police station was informed and a team rushed to the spot.?When we reached the spot, two women had already fallen unconscious. The elevator was stuck in the middle of two floors and was not moving in either direction. We had to break the back glass with a hammer and then break the glass wall of the elevator,? said Rahul Dev, SHO sector 53 police station. The police then used a ladder to get people out of the lift.The police have not registered any case in the matter with Dev stating that a case could be filed if a complained is received.Saturday?s incident was not a stray one as Gurgaon has witnessed a number of tragedies involving elevators in the last few years.On April 7, 2009, Nishant Sharma, an employee with marketing and consulting company Sapient, was killed after getting stuck under an elevator when he was trying to go to his office on the 10th floor of Cyber Greens building in DLF Phase 3. His body was crushed after the elevator suddenly moved and trapped his leg. He was rushed to a private hospital with cardiac and respiratory seizure where he died on April 11. Five years later, on the night of May 26, 2014, eighteen members of a family, including children, from Sushant Lok were trapped for more than an hour inside an elevator at a deluxe hotel on MG Road. The police had to break the glass of the elevator and rescue the family. The police later arrested two bouncers who did not help the victims and even dissuaded the police from breaking the elevator?s glass.On April 22 this year, an elevator at Central Park-2 on Sohna road fell to the lower basement with a family reportedly stuck inside. |
Aarushi Maheshwari | 05 Jan 2017,Thursday | BJP releases flier where dead councillor asks for votes | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-dead-corporation-councillor-asks-for-votes/1/849329.html | Kerala BJP released a campaign flier wherein a late councillor seemed to request people to vote for her mother, who was standing for the by-elections held on Wednesday. The councillor, 23-year-old Kokila Kumar, died in a road accident in September. The flier portrayed her saying, "time did not allow me to complete the term you gave me to serve you." | In September last year, BJP's youngest councillor in the state died in a road accident. Kokila S Kumar, the councillor from Thevally ward of Kollam corporation was only 23. Following her death, the ward is holding a by-election today and Kokila's mother is contesting for her place. An election campaign flier released by the party is such that Kokila is talking to the voters herself and asking for votes for her mother.The flier says "time did not allow me to complete the term you gave me to serve you..fate has not allowed me to come and ask you in person..."\Kokila's father too had later died succumbing to the injuries from the accident. The notice goes on to say "at this time when my mother is seeking your votes, grieving for the loss of me and my father, I request you to bless her and make her win. I will not come to you with another wish."Speaking to India Today, the mother said "Yes, I am aware of the notice. What is wrong in it? It is for her mother. Not anybody else." |
Gaurav Shroff | 01 Mar 2017,Wednesday | Flexible material made using water tougher than steel | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/new-flexible-material-tougher-than-steel-developed/1/892429.html | Japan-based scientists have created a highly flexible material, five times tougher than carbon steel, by combining hydrogels with glass fibre. The reinforced hydrogel contains 40% water and is environment-friendly. The flexible material could be used in manufacturing, fashion, and even making artificial human body joints, which are subject to strong load-bearing tensions, researchers said. | Tokyo, Feb 27 (PTI) Scientists have created a highly flexible material that is tougher than steel, by combining hydrogels with woven glass fibre fabric, which may have a wide range of potential applications. Efforts are currently underway around the world to create materials that are friendly to both society and the environment. Among them are those that comprise different materials, which exhibit the merits of each component. Researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan focused on creating a reinforced material using hydrogels. Though such a substance has potential as a structural biomaterial, up until now no material reliable and strong enough for long-term use has been produced. To address the problem, the team combined hydrogels containing high levels of water with glass fibre fabric to create bendable, yet tough materials, employing the same method used to produce reinforced plastics. Researchers found that a combination of polyampholyte (PA) gels, a type of hydrogel they developed earlier, and glass fibre fabric with a single fibre measuring around 10 micrometres in diameter produced a strong, tensile material. The procedure to make the material is simply to immerse the fabric in PA precursor solutions for polymerisation. When used alone, the fibre-reinforced hydrogels developed by the team are 25 times tougher than glass fibre fabric, and 100 times tougher than hydrogels - in terms of the energy required to destroy them. Combining these materials enables a synergistic toughening. The team theorises that toughness is increased by dynamic ionic bonds between the fibre and hydrogels, and within the hydrogels, as the fibres toughness increases in relation to that of the hydrogels. Consequently, the newly developed hydrogels are 5 times tougher compared to carbon steel. "The fibre-reinforced hydrogels, with a 40 per cent water level, are environmentally friendly," said Jian Ping Gong, from Hokkaido University in Japan. |
Daisy Mowke | 22 Apr 2017,Saturday | Only 1 actress supported me: Abhay on fairness cream post | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/abhay-deol-fairness-cream-debate-interview/1/935490.html | Actor Abhay Deol has revealed that only one actress called to support him after he slammed Bollywood actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor for endorsing fairness creams. "I received a lot of support from people and media. From corporates and filmmakers, no. Why would they? I am calling them out for their practices," he added. | Abhay Deol shocked everyone when he took on the who's who of Bollywood and slammed them for promoting racism through their fairness cream endorsements. From Shah Rukh Khan to Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan to Shahid Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra to Sonam Kapoor, Abhay spared no one. The actor finally opened up in an interview about the posts that made everyone sit up and take notice.Talking to Outlook, Abhay said, "This may be my first such post on Facebook, but I have tweeted about the issue in the past. I have been making an effort in my own space... Honestly, I was just expressing my views - I did it for awareness, though with a bit of fun... The FB post was a little provocative, to make people think."He added, "My appeal is to those in high positions, who have power and lead very comfortable lives. It is not to a struggling actor who is new on the scene, and for whom endorsement of a product (s)he doesn't perhaps believe in fetches money. There should be a tacit code or understanding among privileged people not to endorse things that give others an inferiority complex."Abhay's posts targetted some of the most powerful names in Bollywood, but he did get some support for his cause. The Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara actor said, "I received a lot of support from people and media. From corporates and filmmakers, no. Why would they? I am calling them out for their practices. No one wants to rock one's own boat. I got one call from an actress saying I am doing the right thing, that's it." |
Aarushi Maheshwari | 17 Feb 2017,Friday | Air India flight stranded in Ankara over overweight landing | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/air-india-flight-ai-130-ankara/1/884932.html | Over 200 Air India passengers have been stranded in Ankara, Turkey for over 24 hours because the aircraft cannot take off after making an 'overweight landing'. The London-Mumbai flight was forced to land due to a medical emergency. It requires clearance from engineers at the airport because it landed with an additional 20 tonnes of fuel instead of minimum weight. | A flight that has adequate fuel to fly, passengers are ready and pilots eager to move on. Yet it cannot take-off. Have you ever heard of such cases? Over 200 passengers are stranded in Ankara flying in Air India Flight 130. They are experiencing the bitter circumstance every minute.AI 130 flew from London for Mumbai but enroute encountered with a case of medical emergency on board. The pilot had to contact the nearest Air Traffic Control to make an emergency landing at Ankara.But, later a technical issue prevented it from taking off and flying to its destination.The plane is a Boeing 787. And, since it was Boeing 787, it cannot take-off if it has made 'overweight landing'. What it means is that when a Boeing 787 lands, it shall have minimum weight. But as it happened in the present case, the plane had additional 20 tonne of fuel left when it landed. This additional fuel made categorised it as 'overweight landing'. Now, without a clearance from the engineering teams at the Ankara airport, the Air India flight cannot take-off again. |
Dishant Sharma | 03 May 2017,Wednesday | Misbah becomes 1st batsman with three scores of 99 in Tests | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/misbah-ul-haq-west-indies-vs-pakistan-test-cricket/1/944357.html | Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq became the first batsman in the history of Test cricket to register three scores of 99, after getting dismissed one run short of a century against the West Indies on Tuesday. The 42-year-old right-handed batsman, who was chasing his 11th Test century, also became the first player to score 99 in two consecutive Tests. | Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq created a unique record when he was dismissed for 99 against the West Indies on the third day of the second Test.Misbah, who was eyeing his 11th Test century, gloved a rising delivery from the home captain Jason Holder for an easy catch to Shai Hope at second slip, thus making him the first batsman in the rich history of Test cricket to score 99 on three occasions. Nine other players have two scores off 99, a list which also has his countryman Salim Malik.The 42-year-old right-handed batsman also became the first player to score 99 in two consecutive Tests.Last week, Misbah became the sixth player to finish a Test on 99 not out and the first since South African Andrew Hall in 2003.Misbah had the dubious honour of becoming the first player from his country to finish on 99 not out during their first innings of last week's seven-wicket first Test victory in Jamaica. |
Anmol Sharma | 25 Jul 2017,Tuesday | Frenchman becomes world's most expensive defender at ?436 cr | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/24/manchester-city-sign-benjamin-mendy-monaco-transfer-window?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Premier League club Manchester City has signed French side AS Monaco's Benjamin Mendy for £52 million (over ?436 crore), making him the world's most expensive defender. The 23-year-old left-back surpassed Kyle Walker, who recently signed for Manchester City from Tottenham Hotspur for over £45 million (around ?377 crore). Manchester City has now taken its summer spending to over £200 million. | Manchester City have taken their summer spending to more than £200m with the signing of Benjamin Mendy from Monaco and increased their total outlay in the transfer market since Pep Guardiola took charge 13 months ago to £385m.The transfer fee of £52m (?57.5m) for Mendy is a world record for a defender and is Guardiola?s latest signal of intent as he seeks to build a squad capable of winning major silverware in his second season at the Etihad Stadium.City?s spending is closing in on Real Madrid?s record for money outlayed in a single transfer window by one club, set when the Spanish club spent ?257m (£230m) in the summer of 2009 bringing in Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo.Mendy, who has signed a five-year contract with City, had been identified as a key target by Guardiola following the departure of the left-back Gaël Clichy at the end of last season and Aleksandar Kolarov, who left for Roma last week after seven years at the club. His signing completes a transformation of City?s defence since Guardiola?s appointment last summer.City confirmed over the weekend the £26.5m switch from Real Madrid of Danilo, who is expected to provide cover for the first-choice full-backs Mendy and the £45m signing from Tottenham Hotspur, Kyle Walker. They will line up alongside other expensive arrivals including the centre-back John Stones, signed last season for £47m, and the £34.9m goalkeeper Ederson from Benfica.The signing of Mendy, in particular, is a statement not only of City?s financial firepower but also of Guardiola?s determination to build the kind of ruthless attacking machine which he developed at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.Mendy, 23, came through Le Havre?s youth system before a move to Marseille in 2013. He switched to Monaco last summer for £11m where he established himself as one of the best full-backs in the world with his powerful and direct style of play as the club claimed the French title and reached the Champions League semi-finals.Like Walker, Mendy is at his most effective going forward and City will hope the duo can add a surge of energy in wide areas that was lacking last season; Guardiola received some criticism for switching between four and three at the back and deploying his full-backs in unfamiliar roles tucked into midfield. City?s new recruits indicate a move towards a more typical and consistent four-man defence, although Mendy and Walker are comfortable at wing-back.Mendy will join City?s squad in Los Angeles where Guardiola?s side are preparing to face Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup .?I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City,? Mendy said. ?They are one of Europe?s leading clubs and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager committed to playing attacking football. I am sure that over the next few years we will be successful.?Txiki Begiristain, City?s director of football, said: ?Benjamin has all the qualities we are looking for in a full-back. For such a young player he has a wealth of top-level experience. He is undoubtedly one of the world?s best full-backs, our No1 target in this position. We are all delighted to have him here at Manchester City.? |
Mansha Mahajan | 06 Jun 2017,Tuesday | 34 pilots accused of abusing DGCA officials on WhatsApp chat | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-police-dgca-pilots-accused-of-obscene-whatsapp-chat/1/972053.html | Delhi Police is examining a group of pilots after Directorate General of Civil Aviation filed a complaint against them for making obscene remarks about its officials in a WhatsApp chat. About 34 pilots of private fliers including Jet Airways were questioned over the matter. "The text...was highly objectionable...and obscene language was used against family members of DGCA officials," reports said. | The Delhi Police today said it is examining a group of pilots after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) filed a complaint against them for allegedly making obscene remarks against its officials in a WhatsApp group.Reports said at least 34 pilots of private fliers SpiceJet, Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo have been questioned by the Lodhi Road police in the national capital for posting messages against DGCA officer Lalit Gupta."The pilots have been called in for questioning on the basis of a complaint by the DGCA. They have been called in for an inquiry," PTI quoted a senior police official. "The text of the message was highly objectionable, unpardonable and obscene language was used against family members of DGCA officials," The Hindu quoted a senior DGCA official, who requested anonymity. Delhi Police examining a group of pilots after DGCA filed complaint against them for allegedly bad mouthing their bosses in a WhatsApp group pic.twitter.com/lvh6PPZ5vmWHAT IRKED GUPTA, DGCANews agency PTI said the pilots were grilled after Gupta, a DGCA Joint Director General, took offence at not being addressed with the correct designation in a letter written by them to him.It started with the DGCA releasing a notification seeking comments on increasing the notice period of airline pilots from six months to one year.Some pilots replied to the notification, but got Gupta's designation wrong. They wrote to Lalit Gupta, who is Joint Director General of civil aviation as 'Director General Civil Aviation'.To which Lalit Gupta took offence and replied to these pilots, questioning their mental alertness and rebuking them for not getting his designation properly.Lalit Gupta also copied the letter to their technical supervisor, asking for the alertness of these pilots to be reviewed. Gupta also asked for an unconditional apology from these pilotsIt was then that some pilots had a conversation about the DGCA on their WhatsApp group. DGCA forwarded the complaint to Delhi Police, saying the pilots were abusing its officer. Quoting sources in the DGCA, PTI said the aviation regulator has suspended at least ten Jet Airways pilots from flying duties and asked the airline to check their "mental alertness" since "they could not even quote a designation properly".Also Read:New rules for pilots: 1 year notice period for captains, 6 months for first officers |
Radhika Chugh | 29 Jul 2017,Saturday | Car rams into 3 men working on flyover, kills 2 | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/car-rams-into-men-working-on-flyover-crashes-down-2-dead/1/1012929.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A car reportedly rammed into 3 men working on a flyover on Mumbai's Western Express Highway on Friday afternoon, killing two and injuring one. The driver and a passenger survived the crash and fled from the scene. The driver was later arrested from his house and booked under IPC sections 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving). | Mumbai, Jul 27 (PTI) Two persons died and another was injured after being hit by a car on a flyover on Western Express Highway in the city today, police said. The vehicle then crashed 20 feet down, but its driver and a passenger survived the crash. The incident took place at around 3.30 pm. Ahtashyam Kapadiya, driver of the car who was heading for Kherwadi with a friend, lost control and it rammed into workers who were doing a welding job by the side of the flyover, said a senior police officer. One of the workers, Sandeep Daudke (26), died on the spot, while Lala Banshi (28) died in hospital. Another person was injured and admitted in a nearby hospital. |
Chhavi Tyagi | 10 Jul 2017,Monday | ?10L compensation for J&K man used as human shield by Army | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kashmir-army-jeep-human-shield-stone-pelter-10-lakh-compensation/1/998569.html | Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission has asked the state to give ?10 lakh within six weeks as compensation to the man who was used as a human shield by Army to avoid stone pelting. The man was tied to a military jeep by Major NL Gogoi on April 9. Gogoi claimed that his act saved at least 12 lives. | Taking suo-moto cognisance of the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission has asked the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to a local youth who was tied to the bonnet of an army jeep on April 9 as a human shield to avoid attack from stone-pelters.Major Leetul Gogoi's act had stirred a major controversy in the Kashmir Valley during Srinagar bypoll.The commission said the case was listed before Justice Bilal Nazki, chairperson of the J&K State Human Rights Commission, who directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to pay compensation to the tune of Rs 10 lakh to the victim Farooq Ahmad Dar within six weeks.A statement from the commission said they have also taken suo-moto cognisance of the matter.It also directed the state government to file a compliance report in the matter within six weeks.A video of the incident had gone viral leading to an uproar. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had also registered an FIR against the security forces. The Army had constituted a court of inquiry into the incident.Reflecting that the Army supports Major Gogoi's action, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had awarded COAS (Chief of Army Staff) commendation for sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations to him during a recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir.Major Gogoi had said he saved at least 12 lives with his decision to tie the stone-pelter to his jeep as a shield. According to him, stones and boulders were thrown upon his team near a polling booth and they were unable to safely evacuate ITBP personnel and polling staff inside Utligam polling station where petrol bombs were also being hurled.The accused has denied being a stone-pelter.Also read:Major Gogoi reveals how he saved 12 lives by tying Kashmiri man to his jeep as human shieldIndian Army chief honours Major Gogoi who had tied Kashmiri man to his jeep as human shield |
Chhavi Tyagi | 12 Jul 2017,Wednesday | 164% rise in terror-related civilian deaths in J&K in a year | http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amarnath-yatra-attack-164-rise-in-terror-related-civilian-deaths-in-kashmir-over-a-year/story-CYrrsoBJcbnLplM2Q4BTGO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths and 164% increase in civilian deaths alone over the last one year, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of data from the South Asian Terrorism Portal. Over the past 18 years, at least 52 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims have been killed in five terrorist attacks. | The killing of seven Hindu pilgrims in southern Kashmir en route from the holy cave of Amarnath is the latest bloody statistic in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), which has witnessed a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths?and 164% increase in civilian deaths alone?over the year ending June 30, 2017 according to an IndiaSpend analysis of data from the South Asian Terrorism Portal, run by the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, a nonprofit.Unidentified terrorists reportedly opened fire on a police vehicle at around 8 pm on July 10. When police retaliated, the terrorists fired indiscriminately, and a bus full of pilgrims returning from Amarnath was caught in the crossfire, according to the police. Others said there was no crossfire and the pilgrims were targets, with later reports saying the bus was attacked twice in three minutes.The Kashmir Police blamed the Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terror group, for the attack, alleging it was masterminded by Pakistani terrorist Abu Ismail. LeT spokesperson Abdullah Ghaznavi, however, denied the charges and blamed ?Indian agencies? for the ?highly reprehensible act?, the deadliest on Amarnath pilgrims in 15 years.Kashmiris, including separatists, were quick to condemn the attack.#Hurriyat activists join HR groups civil society members & students to condemn killings ofYatris & express solidarity withBereaved families pic.twitter.com/a5zPE2cdjg? Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) July 11, 2017Widespread criticism of the terrorists in Kashmir drew a reaction from India?s home minister, Rajnath Singh.The people of Kashmir have strongly condemned the terror attack on Amarnath yatris. It shows the spirit of Kashmiriyat is very much alive.? Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 11, 2017Over 18 years, 52 pilgrims killed in five attacksOver the past 18 years, at least 52 Amarnath pilgrims have been killed in five terrorist attacks. The deadliest attack was mounted by LeT terrorists on August 1, 2000. That attack left 21 pilgrims dead in Pahalgam. Source: News Reports The latest attack comes hours after a curfew and social-media ban was lifted in the Kashmir Valley after restrictions were imposed in anticipation of a possible attack to mark the death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani.Wani was gunned down by security forces a little over a year ago on July 8, 2016. What followed were violent protests, several months of curfew and an overall deterioration in J&K?s security situation.Death toll of security forces, civilians up in 1 yearThe number of security personnel killed in terrorist violence has nearly doubled from 51 in the year preceding Wani?s death to 98 in the following year, according to an analysis of data compiled by SATP.The SATP compiles data on fatalities due to terrorism from media reports. The data are provisional and compiled as on July 10, 2017.On July 8, 2017, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tributes to Wani on his first death anniversary. Sharif said Wani?s death ?infused a new spirit in the struggle for freedom? in the Kashmir Valley.First @ForeignOfficePk read frm banned LeT's script. Now Pak COAS glorfs Burhan Wani. Pak's terror suprt&spnsr'p need 2b condmnd by 1 & all? Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2017 Source:South Asia Terrorism Portal The 45% increase in deaths of civilians, security personnel and terrorists from 216 in 2015-16 to 313 in 2016-17 is the highest year-on-year percentage increase over the past five years.Civilian deaths have increased 164%, as we said, from 14 in 2015-16 to 37 in 2016-17 while terrorist deaths have risen 18% during this period to 178 in 2016-17.There has been a 42% increase in terrorism-related deaths in J&K since the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government (BJP) came to power in May 2014, compared with the last three years of the second term of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA-II), IndiaSpend reported on May 27, 2017.India has had successes against terrorism ? both on the security and diplomatic front.On May 27, 2017, Wani?s successor Sabzar Bhat was killed in an anti-terrorist operation by security forces.On June 27, 2017, United States designated Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin a ?global terrorist,? ahead of Modi?s meeting with American President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.Salahuddin also leads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella organisation for anti-India terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, known to operate out of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.Salahuddin has openly admitted to carrying out attacks against India, including on an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab, on January 2, 2016.(Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit) |
Saloni Tandon | 12 Jul 2017,Wednesday | What were India's achievements with Shastri as director? | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ravi-shastri-virat-kohli-team-india-coach-cac-test-cricket/1/999521.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Newly appointed India coach Ravi Shastri was the team director from 2014 to 2016. Under him, Virat Kohli became the Test captain and India became the top-ranked Test team in January 2016. Shastri also led India to the semi-finals of the T20 and ODI World Cups, besides winning four ODI, two Test, and two T20I bilateral series during his tenure. | The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulakr and VVS Laxman picked Ravi Shastri as Team India's new head coach on Tuesday after consulting with Team India captain Virat Kohli.Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan has been named bowling coach while Rahul Dravid will be batting coach for overseas tours. WATCH FULL VIDEOThe CAC met on Monday to interview five candidates for the coach's job. Shastri along with Virender Sehwag, Richard Pybus, Tom Moody and Lalchand Rajput were the one's running for the coach's job. However, Ganguly announced in a press conference that followed the interviews that they will only announce the coach after consulting with captain Kohli, who is in the USA. He also said that they're not in a hurry to name someone.However, looks like things were done quickly and Shastri is all set to lead Team India along with Kohli in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour later this month. The 55-year old, who had earlier chose not to apply for the coach's job once Anil Kumble stepped down, changed his mind after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extended the deadline for the applications to July 9. If reports are to be believed, it was also said that CAC member Sachin Tendulkar had urged him to apply for the post because of his close relationship with the current crop of Indian players.TEAM DIRECTOR (2014-16)Shastri had taken over as Team India's team director back in 2014 after India lost the Test series against England 1-3 while Duncun Fletcher was the coach of the national team. He left his post after the World T20 in India back in 2016, where the home side lost to West Indies in the semis. ('Elder brother' Ravi Shastri faces overseas test as India coach stint begins)Back then, he said that his job was to oversee things and everyone in the team would report to him.Under him, the Indian team won the five-match ODI series in England 3-1.Then the West Indies toured India for five ODIs, a T20I and three Tests. But the Windies went back home due to pay disputes just after the ODI series, which they lost 2-1. India then won the whitewashed Sri Lanka 5-0.India toured Australia towards the fag end of 2014 for a Test series and a triangular ODI series against England and Australia. It is under him that Virat Kohli took over as the full-time Test captain. Kohli led the side in the first Test at Adelaide in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's absence and lost the match by 48 runs. Dhoni then returned for the next two Tests but decided to sit out the last match due to an injury and step down as the Test captain, handing Kohli the full-time captaincy at Sydney -- the match ended as a draw. India lost four-match Test series Australia 2-0 and did not qualify for the finals of the tri-series.But he guided the team to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2015 Down Under Under, where they lost to eventual champions Australia by 95 runs.NO.1 TEST RANKINGThe lowest point during his term has to be losing the three-match limited-overs series against Bangladesh in 2-1 right before the Sri Lanka series in 2015.But the team bounced back when they toured Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series. This was Kohli's first full-time assignment as the captain. India lost the first match by 63 runs. However, Kohli's men came back strong and won the next two matches to clinch the series 2-1.India lost the following three-match T20 series to the touring South Africans 2-0 and the five-match ODI series 3-2. But they whitewashed the Proteas 3-0. India also became No. 1 Test side and stayed there for eight weeks until Australia took over in February 2016. |
Mansha Mahajan | 09 Jun 2017,Friday | India signs pact to check tax evasion by multinational firms | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-signs-oecd-pact-to-check-tax-evasion-by-mncs/1/973395.html | India has signed the OECD multilateral convention that aims to check cross-border tax evasion by multinational companies. This will modify India's treaties to curb revenue loss through treaty abuse and profit shifting strategies by ensuring that profits are taxed where substantive economic activities generating the profits are carried out. Notably, more than 65 countries signed the convention. | New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) India today signed the OECD multilateral convention that aims to check cross-border tax evasion by multinational companies. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley signed the multilateral convention in Paris to implement tax treaty- related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting. More than 65 countries, including India, signed the convention. More countries are expected to sign the convention in coming days, a finance ministry statement said. "The Convention will modify Indias treaties in order to curb revenue loss through treaty abuse and base erosion and profit shifting strategies by ensuring that profits are taxed where substantive economic activities generating the profits are carried out and where value is created," the statement added. The Multilateral Convention is an outcome of the OECD/G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) which is resorted to by MNCs through tax planning strategies by exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules. It helps them artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations, resulting in little or no overall corporate tax being paid. The BEPS Project identified 15 actions to address BEPS in a comprehensive manner, the statement said. India was part of the Ad Hoc Group of more than 100 countries and jurisdictions from G20, OECD, BEPS associates and other interested countries, which worked on an equal footing on the finalisation of the text of the Multilateral Convention, starting May, 2015. The Convention enables all signatories to meet treaty- related minimum standards that were agreed as part of the final BEPS package, including the minimum standard for the prevention of treaty abuse under Action 6. |
Prashanti Moktan | 06 Apr 2017,Thursday | Never knew I was born for music, mother predicted it: Rahman | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/i-never-knew-that-i-was-born-for-music-ar-rahman/1/921047.html | Musician AR Rahman has said that he never knew that he was born for music and it was his mother who made the choice as she predicted he would become a music composer. Talking about his Academy Award wins, Rahman added, "It took 81 years for an Asian to win an Oscar in sound. For me, it took fourteen years." | Hyderabad, Mar 5 (PTI) Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman never realised that he was born for music and it was his mother who predicted that he would be a music composer. The music director said his mother made a choice and motivated him to make a career in music. "I never knew that I was born for music. My mom made the choice and she kind of predicted that I will be a music composer. The day I realized that music would be my passion and future was when I went to my studio that had no equipment. "It was just a shell; just a sound proof room with an AC that smelled new. I felt one day I will have all types of equipment all over this place that I cant afford now." Rahman, who participated in a panel discussion here on "Creativity in Innovation," alongside fellow Oscar winner Resul Pookutty, said his only aim was to practice and learn music. "Around 1986, I stopped playing for other composers. I felt practicing or learning about music was my investment. I didnt care about opportunities. "If you are good enough, people will come to you. You have to raise your standards and prove that you are passionate. Then you dont have to go behind people. I felt its a jinx to go behind people." |
Sonu Kumari | 26 Jul 2017,Wednesday | 4-year-old girl dies after falling into a tea pan in Delhi | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/four-year-old-girl-dies-after-falling-into-a-pot-of-hot-tea-in-delhi/story-l5Iykx1KvLu5WzsATz0KwM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A four-year-old girl died on Monday, two days after sustaining burns on her face when she fell into a pan containing hot tea in Delhi's Old Seelampur. Reportedly, her elder sister had prepared tea and kept it under the bed waiting for other family members to arrive when the girl fell off the bed and landed head-first into the pan. | In a freak accident in east Delhi?s Old Seelampur, a four-year-old girl died after she fell in a pot filled with hot tea.The girl fell into the freshly boiled beverage head first on Saturday, receiving severe burns to her face and upper body parts. She battled for life at a hospital for two days before succumbing to her injuries on Monday evening.The girl, Ayaat, lived with her parents and six other siblings in a cramped rented accommodation in Old Seelampur. Her father, Irfan, works as a tailor in the nearby Gandhi Nagar garments market.Left with little free space in their room, the siblings mostly spent their time on one large bed. Police said Ayaat?s older sister had just prepared tea in a saucepan and kept it under the bed as she waited for the older siblings and her parents to join her. But, Ayaat toppled off the bed, landing head-first into the uncovered saucepan. The siblings who tried to help also burnt their limbs.The child, meanwhile, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where she underwent treatment for two days, but the girl could not survive.?Our probe has not pointed to any foul play. It was an unfortunate accident,? said a senior police officer, adding no case was registered in this connection. |
Ayushi Ahluwalia | 30 Jul 2017,Sunday | Fake 'CBI' men steal jewellery worth ?20L in Delhi | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/fake-cbi-men-hold-women-hostage-at-karol-bagh-house-decamp-with-jewellery-worth-rs-20-lakh/story-PxvokDTH3Zdxggk5HA0HDK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A group of six men posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers stole jewellery worth ?20 lakh from a jeweller's house in Delhi's Karol Bagh area. The thieves entered the residence on the pretext of a CBI raid and held the jeweller's four-year-old grandson at gun-point as they ransacked the house. | It started like any other day at jeweller Nawal Kishore Khandelwal?s home in central Delhi?s Karol Bagh; he and his two sons left for their shop in Chandni Chowk, the women worked through morning chores and as they settled in for the afternoon, a man in khaki and five masked men rang the bell. ?My wife opened the door and the man identified himself as a CBI official. Five more men who were with him told her that they had come to raid the house. Before my wife could understand anything, the men pushed her inside,? said Khandelwal.For the next 10 minutes ? shortly after 1.30pm ? the suspects held a gun to Khandelawal?s four-year-old grandson Divyansh as they rummaged through the house before escaping with gold and diamond jewellery worth around Rs 20 lakh. The police said the incident, which took place on Wednesday, was the first time robbers had posed as police officers to carry out an armed robbery in a home in the middle of the day.Mandeep Singh Randhawa, the deputy commissioner of police (central), said a case of robbery and theft has been registered but the suspects are yet to be identified. ?One of them put a pistol to Divyansh?s head and threatened to kill him if anybody screamed for help or raised an alarm,? said the 61-year-old jewellery Besides Khandelwal?s wife Urmila and the child, the robbers held his daughter-in-law Megha hostage. One of the men took the keys to a locker from Megha and he ransacked the locker. The hold-up would have likely lasted longer had Khandelwal?s other daughter-in-law, Preeti, not spotted it and raised an alarm. Her scream?s led the men to flee, Khandlewal said, adding that they did not touch the cash and other jewellery in the house. The attack had left Urmila, 58, with a fracture in the left shoulder and Megha with a broken right foot.Three teams have been formed to investigate the case. The teams are collecting details about criminals who operate using similar methods, and are poring over electronic surveillance and human intelligence networks. The data of mobile phones active in the area during the crime are also being analysed for clues. |
Rini Sinha | 15 Jul 2017,Saturday | People say they loved my films, then ask my name: Pankaj | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/pankaj-tripathi-people-tell-me-they-love-my-work-then-ask-my-name/story-GqFyywr68PNLQ1aQFziU4I.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Actor Pankaj Tripathi has said that people come and tell him that they loved his films and then ask him his name. "Naam mein kya hai? People can forget your name, but if you excel at what you do, at least someone will remember you," added Pankaj. He is known for his films like 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Fukrey', among others.nn | Actor Pankaj Tripathi has been a part of popular films such as Agneepath (2012), Gangs of Wasseypur I and II (2012) and Fukrey (2013). Despite being a known face and a critically acclaimed actor, more often than not, people tend to ask him his name but that doesn?t bother him. Pankaj explains, ?I have been in the industry for many years now, but people still come up to me and say ?Sir, you?re such a good actor, we loved watching you in that movie. What?s your name?? While any other actor might get offended, I don?t mind this at all.?The actor believes in letting his work do the talking. ?Naam mein kya hai? People can forget your name, but if you excel at what you do, at least someone will remember you,? he says, adding that people have to Google to see who he is. However, Pankaj feels that there?s a positive side to this as well. ?The very fact that people make an effort to search and know more about me is a testament that I am doing my job well,? he says.Pankaj is now gearing up to act alongside actor Rajinikanth in the upcoming multilingual film titled Kaala Karikalan, where he will play the role of a policeman. All praises for the 66-year-old Rajinikanth, Pankaj says, ?He is a legend for me. His real-life is a far cry from the larger-than-life roles he plays on screen. Extremely humble, he believes in simplicity. The only reason I took up this role was to see this great man from close quarters.?Follow @htshowbiz for moreFollow@htshowbiz for more |
Mansha Mahajan | 30 Dec 2016,Friday | Prez approves ordinance criminalising holding of old notes | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-old-notes-ordinance-president-black-money/1/846350.html | President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday approved the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016 that criminalises possession of demonetised ?500 and ?1,000 notes. According to the ordinance, citizens can be penalised for holding more than ?10,000 in demonetised notes after March 31, 2017. The order will come into effect on Saturday, December 31. | President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the government's Ordinance criminalising the holding of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. The Ordinance says that holding, transferring or receiving of junked notes is illegal and punishable with imposition of penalty, says the Finance Ministry.The government however said non-resident Indians (NRIs) can exchange or deposit the junked high-denomination notes at specified RBI offices till June 30.A statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said Mukherjee has approved the promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016, which was passed by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.The deadline for deposits of the banned currency notes in commercial banks ended today.The Ordinance says there will be no jail term for holding demonetised notes. However, sources said a penalty of upto Rs 50,000 would be imposed on those who hold more than ten of the banned notes. Also Read:Demonetisation Ordinance w.e.f Dec 31: No jail for having banned notes, minimum Rs 10,000 fine |
Dishant Sharma | 02 Jan 2017,Monday | KCA chief resigns as Kerala board implements Lodha reforms | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tc-mathew-kerala-cricket-association-boss-resigns/1/847822.html | The President of the Kerala Cricket Association TC Mathew alongside several office bearers quit their positions on Monday, as the board looks to follow the Supreme Court's orders of implementing the Lodha Panel reforms. Mathew, who is a BCCI vice-president from the West Zone, is considered a possible candidate to take over as interim president of the BCCI. | The office bearers of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), led by its President T.C.Mathew, on Monday announced their decision to step down to see that the KCA implements the R.M. Lodha Committee reforms as directed by the Supreme Court. (If Supreme Court feels BCCI retired judges can run BCCI better, wish them best: Anurag Thakur)Addressing reporters here, Mathew said that they are stepping down to see that the Lodha Committee report is implemented. (Hope BCCI doesn't lose more face globally: Ajay Shirke)"Consequent to the order all those, including me, who have completed nine years are stepping down and we have decided to appoint the senior most member of the KCA - B Vinod - the new president and the secretary would be Jayesh George," said Mathew. (Supreme Court sacks BCCI boss Anurag Thakur, will Sourav Ganguly take over?)Mathew, speaking to India Today, said they have to follow the Supreme Court verdict and he will abide by that. "There is no other way. Supreme Court is the apex court of the country. We have to accept the verdict," he said.However, Mathew said that former cricketers would not necessarily make good administrators. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is the front-runner to take over as the new president after the elections are held. "There are former cricketers who are eligible. Just one cricketer cannot be a good administrators. There are proven cases in other bodies where players have not necessarily been good administrators."This decision has come hours after the Supreme Court cracked the whip on a defiant Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not complying with its orders to implement the Lodha Committee report. The court sacked its President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke. (RM Lodha hails victory for cricket as Supreme Court sacks BCCI president Anurag Thakur) |
Rini Sinha | 25 Mar 2017,Saturday | Censor Board demands removal of phrase Mann Ki Baat in film | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pahlaj-nihalani-mann-ki-baat-sameer-dakxin-chhara-censor-board/1/912638.html | Censor Board has demanded the removal of phrase 'Mann Ki Baat' from a dialogue in film 'Sameer', as it is also the title of PM Narendra Modi's radio show. The Board hasn't objected to an expletive in the same dialogue. "The board, despite granting us an A certificate, asked for certain scenes to be chopped mercilessly," said the film's director. | The Central Board of Film Certification headed by Pahlaj Nihalani has asked the makers of the film Sameer to delete the phrase 'Mann ki baat' from a dialogue in the film.The reason being that the phrase, as we all know it, is the name of the monthly radio address given to our country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In the last scene of Dakxin Chhara's film Sameer, after a series of twists, the actual identity of the lead character played by Subrat Dutta is revealed. At this point, the villain played by Zeeshan Mohammed tells him, "Ek mann ki baat kahoon? Tum character accha bana lete ho!" To which, the hero replies, "Waise sir, chai se ch***ya banana aap hi se seekha hai!"According to a report in Mid-Day, the censor board strangely had no problem with the expletive that comes in the second line since the board placed in the context of the character always offering tea while conversing in the film."They categorically asked for the words 'Mann ki baat' to be removed from the first sentence. When I approached the Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, he told me: PM ka radio show hai, delete the line," director Chhara was quoted as saying.When asked under what guidelines Chhara was asked to get the phrase deleted from his film, the director said, "We were not given an oral hearing before censor board members, which is supposed to be mandatory. The board, despite granting us an A (adults only) certificate, asked for certain scenes involving torture, and bomb blast, to be chopped mercilessly. If we comply, the impact of those scenes would be lost altogether."Sameer, directed by Dakxin Chhara, is a thriller based on the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts and among others, it stars Seema Biswas and Anjali Patil.Chhara at the moment plans to challenge the CBFC's 'Mann ki baat' decision. |
Daisy Mowke | 09 Apr 2017,Sunday | There is a volcano-spa in Colombia | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/volcano-mud-spa-el-totumo-colombia-travel-lifetr/1/923966.html | There is a natural mud spa in a volcano situated in Colombia. The mud spa can be accessed by climbing the 50-foot tall volcano by a staircase. Tourists also have the option of being treated to personal mud massages by attendants. It is then followed by a bath in a nearby lagoon to rinse off. | No, we are not kidding. There is an actual volcano-spa in Colombia that lures tourists every year with its magical healing power.Located near sea level, in the municipality of Santa Catalina in the northern part of the country, is the El Totumo Mud Volcano. You climb up to the 50-foot tall volcano by a staircase and what do you see inside? A natural mud spa!Legend has it that the site was once a real volcano until a priest sprinkled holy water, turning the steam and fire into a warm, succulent goo. If the idea of mud grosses you out, a sign at the base of the site will solve your problem. For, it prominently lists the mud's natural ingredients including calcium, magnesium and aluminum, among others. This mud is clearly beneficial to your body.Also Read:Check out India's top luxury spa resorts |
Shubhodeep Datta | 29 Jan 2017,Sunday | 1 dead after 30 vehicles pile up due to fog near Jaipur | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jaipur-agra-highway-accident-fog/1/869088.html | At least one was killed and nearly 28 others were injured on Sunday, as nearly 30 vehicles crashed into each other on the Jaipur-Agra Highway due to dense fog. The vehicle pile-up happened near Kanota, around 25 km from Jaipur. Of the injured, five are reportedly in critical condition. The accident involved private cars, buses, and trucks. | In a major accident on the Jaipur-Agra highway this morning more than 50 vehicles rammed into each other as dense fog reduced visibility.One person died in the incident while another 40 were injured in massive collision.Three of the injured are said to be critical.Photographs from the accident site show how the vehicles kept colliding in the dense fog.See photographs: Injured people were seen lying on the road. Blood could be seen on the clothes of some of the injured.The incident took place on NH- 11 as the visibility on the Agra Road fell below 1 metre and the vehicles piled up one after another. |
Prashanti Moktan | 31 Jul 2017,Monday | Jolie denies report of using cruel casting process for kids | http://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/accusation-of-exploitative-child-audition-is-false-upsetting-angelina-jolie/story-gYbfY47ebkRd6SHXvy4vFO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Angelina Jolie has denied reports of using a cruel casting process while auditioning children for her film. "Upset that a pretend exercise in an improvisation, from an actual scene...has been written about as if it was a real scenario," said Jolie. The casting involved a game where poor children were made to snatch money and justify the mock theft. | Angelina Jolie says accounts of her casting process for children to appear in her film First They Killed My Father are false and upsetting. An excerpt from a Vanity Fair profile of the director sparked backlash online earlier this week from people who criticized the methods as being cruel and exploitative.Adapted from Loung Ung?s memoir, the biographical drama centres on her childhood under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Jolie co-wrote and directed the film, which she talked about in a recent Vanity Fair profile.The article described a scene in which casting directors in their attempt to find a child actor to play the lead role presented money to impoverished children only to take it away from them as an acting exercise.Jolie and producer Rithy Panh issued joint statements Sunday responding to the outrage and refuting claims that the production was exploitative through a representative from Netflix, which is producing and distributing the film.?I am upset that a pretend exercise in an improvisation, from an actual scene in the film, has been written about as if it was a real scenario. The suggestion that real money was taken from a child during an audition is false and upsetting,? Jolie said. ?I would be outraged myself if this had happened.?Jolie said parents, guardians and doctors were on set daily to care for the children and ?make sure that no one was in any way hurt by participating in the recreation of such a painful part of their country?s history.?Panh, who himself is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge, added that casting ?was done in the most sensitive way possible?.He described a process that was informed both by families? preferences and NGO (non-governmental organization) guidelines in which the children understood that they would be acting out a scene.The Vanity Fair article described a scene in which casting directors in their attempt to find a child actor to play the lead role presented money to impoverished children only to take it away from them as an acting exercise.
(AFP)
?The children were not tricked or entrapped, as some have suggested,? Panh said. ?They understood very well that this was acting, and make believe.?The Vanity Fair article went into more detail about the production than the one paragraph that circulated on Twitter, which sparked the initial outrage.A representative from Vanity Fair issued a statement Sunday saying that author Evgenia Peretz ?clearly describes what happened during the casting process as a ?game?? and ?that the filmmakers went to extraordinary lengths to be sensitive in addressing the psychological stresses on the cast and crew that were inevitable in making a movie about the genocide carried out in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge.?Jolie?s film will debut on Netflix sometime after showing at the Toronto International Film Festival this September.Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Shubhodeep Datta | 20 May 2017,Saturday | Kerala CM praises girl who chopped off her rapist's penis | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-cm-pinarayi-vijayan-praises-girl-cuts-off-rapist-penis/1/958619.html | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has praised the 22-year-old girl who chopped off her serial rapist's penis in Thiruvananthapuram. "It was a courageous step, no doubt about it," Vijayan said. The 22-year-old girl has told the police that her rapist, a sanyasi, was a frequent visitor at her home and had been repeatedly raping her for the past seven years. | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has praised the 22-year-old girl who chopped off her serial rapist's penis in Thiruvananthapuram."It was a courageous step, no doubt about it," an ANI report quoted said Vijayan.It was a courageous step, no doubt about it:Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on girl who chopped off genitals of inmate from Panmana Ashram pic.twitter.com/67xqy3PDNBThe 22-year-old girl told the police that the sanyasi, an inmate from Panmana Ashram, had been repeatedly raping her for the past seven years. "My father is paralyzed and bedridden. My mother invited Swami for conducting pooja and offering prayers three years ago. He is a frequent visitor to our home," she said."Seven years ago, he started raping me. I was scared to resist him. When he tried to rape me on Friday night, I chopped off his sexual organ," the survivor told the police.Since the girl was still a minor seven years back, when she claims the sexual assault started, the police registered a criminal case against the sanyasi under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO).The girl's family, upon finding their sanyasi in a bloodied state, rushed him to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, where he was declared to be in a "critical condition".Police told India Today that they have not registered a case against the girl as she acted in self defense. |
Prashanti Moktan | 13 Apr 2017,Thursday | Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan denied release in Pak | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/begum-jaan-banned-pakistan-vidya-balan-naam-shabana-dangal/1/928063.html | 'Begum Jaan', starring Vidya Balan, will not be allowed to release in Pakistan over the country's policy of not permitting the import of films which deal with the issue of partition. The film's producer Mukesh Bhatt said he requested the censor board of Pakistan to at least view the film and take a decision but has not heard from them. | Vidya Balan starrer Begum Jaan, written and directed by National award-winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji, has been banned in Pakistan. Produced by Mahesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films, the movie is a story of survival set against the backdrop of the India-Pak partition and its impact on a brothel. Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, Mahesh Bhatt explained that Pakistan does not screen films which revolve around the partition era. "I was told by my distributor that Pakistan has a policy does not permit the import of films which deal with the issue of partition. On learning this I requested the key officer of the censor board of Pakistan to at least view the film and then take a decision. I was assured that they would look into the matter. Sadly, I have not heard from them after that," he said.Bhatt also added, "Later my distributor informed me that his office has been intimated that Begum Jaan should not be imported by him into Pakistan."Co-starring Naseeruddin Shah, Chunky Pandey, Ila Arun, Gauahar Khan in key roles, Begum Jaan, the Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Bengali film Rajkahini (2015) is all set to hit theatres on April 14. Interestingly this news comes just days after Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal did not hit theatres across the border. The Pakistan censor board reportedly asked the film's makers for two cuts, the scene where the Indian national anthem was played and portions showing the Indian national flag. Producer Aamir Khan refused to abide by the two cuts and chose not to release the film in the neighboring country.More recently, Tapsee Pannu's Naam Shabana didn't see the light of day in Pakistan, due to 'terrorism-related scenes,' and Jolly LLB 2 too irked the Pakistan authorities since it had discussions around the Kashmir issue. Films including Neerja, Tere Bin Laden amoung others too haven't been released, since they reportedly shows Pakistan in poor light. |
Dishant Sharma | 26 Feb 2017,Sunday | Confident that the Indian team will fight back: Sachin | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sachin-tendulkar-virat-kohli-india-vs-australia/1/891656.html | Following India's 333-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the first Test, former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar said he is confident that the Indian team will fight back. "There are good and tough moments. But it is all about how you stand back on your feet again and start competing," Sachin said at a marathon event. | After India slumped to a humiliating 333-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the opening Test in Pune, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has shown faith on Virat Kohli and the team, saying that the series is still wide open and that the home side will surely bounce back in the next match to be held in Bengaluru from March 4. (Surprised with the way Australia won: Clarke to India Today)Chasing a mammoth target of 441 runs to win, India suffered a second batting collapse in two days and were bowled out for 107 runs in the second innings just on Day 3 of the first Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium. (India suffer first three-day Test defeat since 2008)Speaking on the sidelines of IDBI Federal New Delhi Marathon at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the master blaster said that losing is a part and parcel of the game before adding that he is sure that Virat Kohli's men would come up with a much better performance in the upcoming matches. (India will now be scared of preparing turning pitches: Ganguly)Knowing the spirit of our team,I know they'll fight back;There're good&tough moments,it's all about hw you stand back on your feet-Tendulkar pic.twitter.com/MoDVJ1mr5X"Yes, it was a tough game for us. And it is a part and parcel of the game. That doesn't mean that the series is close. Series is still wide open. Knowing the spirit of the Indian team, I know that they will fight back hard and the Australian team also knows about it. Because when we played in Australia we beat them, we knew that they will come back really hard. That is what makes sport interesting. This is what sportsmen play for," Tendulkar said. (Kohli's captaincy will be tested now: Clarke to India Today)"There are good and tough moments. But it is all about how you stand back on your feet again and start competing and I have no doubt that the Indian team is going to come back and compete hard," he added. (We were not good enough in any of the three days: Kohli)The loss ended India's winning streak of 19 matches on the trot and also the 17-match home-winning streak. This was also Kohli's first defeat as captain in Test cricket at home.India last tasted a home defeat in Tests in 2012 against England. |
Radhika Chugh | 19 Jul 2017,Wednesday | Surat textile traders call off protest against GST | http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/surat-textile-traders-call-off-strike-against-gst/story-IrzELoCwYvF526Uu94Na0O.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Textile traders in Surat on Tuesday called off their two-week-long strike against the imposition of 5% tax on textiles under the GST regime. This comes after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured them that the GST Council will discuss this next month. The traders had shut their shops, resorted to stone-pelting and carried out a silent march against the tax. | The traders in Surat have called off their two-week-long strike against the imposition of 5% GST on textiles following the Centre?s assurance to look into their demand for its rollback.Thousands of textile merchants in Surat had shut their shops since the last two weeks to protest the new tax structure.The announcement to withdraw the protest was made on by the traders who met finance minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi on July 17.?During the meeting, Jaitley assured us that the issue of the Goods and Services Tax on cloth will be taken up in the next GST Council meeting to be held on August 5. Thus, we have decided to call off the strike till that date,? said Manoj Agrawal, a textile trader.?If no favourable decision comes in that GST Council meeting, we will think of going on strike again to raise our demand for abolishing the five per cent GST,? he said.Surat has one of the biggest textile markets in the country.On July 3, thousands of protesting traders had gathered near the Ring Road in Surat, where the main market is situated, demanding scrapping of GST on textiles.Police then wielded batons to disperse the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone-pelting, an official earlier said.On July 8, the textile traders organised a silent march here to protest against five per cent GST imposed on the sector. |
Sonu Kumari | 17 Jul 2017,Monday | Man jailed for 10yrs for sexually assaulting a 14-yr-old boy | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/man-sent-to-jail-for-10-years-for-sexually-abusing-14-year-old-boy/story-W427WjUGmLJ39gsZgADJHJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A Delhi court sentenced a man to ten years in jail for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old mentally weak boy in 2014. The boy had disclosed that the accused had sexually abused him several times a week. The court held that though the boy was mentally weak at the time of crime, his statement could be taken as trustworthy. | A Delhi court has sentenced a man to 10 years in jail for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old mentally weak boy in east Delhi in 2014.The boy?s father had lodged a complaint with the police in May 13, 2014. A day earlier, the boy had disclosed that the accused, Dinesh, who ran a barber shop, had committed ?galat kaam? (wrong act) with him during several occasions for one week and had threatened him not to disclose it to anyone. An FIR was registered at Krishna Nagar police station and Dinesh was arrested. The court noted that the mental condition of the child victim was weak at the time of the crime. When his statement was recorded, the boy was answering the questions very slowly. He was even not able to tell the exact time in the watch. The boy?s father told the court that his 14-year-old son had the mentality ability of a class 2 student though he was studying in class 5 at the time of the incident. The school authorities also deposed that the boy was a slow learner and cannot cope up with normal school syllabus as he had an intelligence quotient below average. The court noted that the boy preferred to tell about the act and conduct of the accused first to a doctor near his house instead of his family members. ?This behaviour points out that he was not fully capable to think and to take a wise decision about what is wrong or what is right for him and to whom he should rely upon and keep faith. This also clearly leads to the conclusion that victim was somehow a mentally weak child at the commission of the offence,? the court said in its judgment.Dinesh had pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had been falsely implicated in the case. Dinesh said the boy had gone to his shop twice for a hair cut but did not pay money and urinated there. So he had told the boy that he would beat him up if he came again. The boy in his cross examination in the court admitted that he used to throw articles such as combs and scissors on Dinesh whenever he visited his shop. But the court held that this act of the boy did not mean Dinesh could commit a serious and heinous offence by taking advantage of his mentally weak situation. The court said the boy was telling the truth and his statement could be relied upon being trustworthy. It held Dinesh guilty under section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. It also directed the Delhi Legal Service Authority (East) to pay a compensation of R 50,000 to the boy for the mental torture. |
Saloni Tandon | 28 Dec 2016,Wednesday | Sports Min Goel not interested in sports: Abhay Chautala | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/suresh-kalmadi-abhay-chautala-ioa-vijay-goel/1/844297.html | Abhay Singh Chautala, former president of the Indian Olympic Association, who was recently appointed a life president of IOA, has said Sports Minister Vijay Goel is "not interested in sports". "Goel should work for improving sports infrastructure in the country rather than levelling baseless allegations," said Chautala. Goel had expressed shock at the appointment of corruption-accused Chautala. | Abhay Chautala, who is an accused in a disproportionate assets case, has been made life president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and in a brazen show of self praise, the scam tainted son of former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala has justified the move.Suresh Kalmadi, who is an accused in the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, has also been made life president by the IOA. He has also served nine-month jail term. Hitting out at Sports Minister Vijay Goel for expressing shock over his appointment, Chautala, who served as the president of the IOA from 2012 to 2014, said it was because of his policies that India won medals at various international events. HERE'S WHAT CHAUTALA SAID: CHAUTALA'S APPOINTMENT SHOCKING: GOELSports Minister Vijay Goel while expressing shock over Chautala's plum posting said the ministry has sought details from the association and will take necessary steps."We are shocked at the resolution passed by IOA to make Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala life presidents. This is totally unacceptable to us as both of them are facing serious corruption and criminal charges," Goel said. "We have sought a report from the IOA and action will be taken once we get that report," he added.There was a move to oust current IOA president N. Ramachandran a little while back before Chautala had to put his foot down and ensured Ramachandran continues to remain at the helm.As life presidents, Kalmadi and Chautala will not have the voting rights but the top IOA functionaries saw this as an opportunity to reward the two bigwigs who still are capable to pulling the strings in the body. |
Chhavi Tyagi | 12 Jun 2017,Monday | Gujarat BJP ministers spark row for meeting 100 exorcists | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gujarat-education-minister-at-felicitation-of-exorcists/1/976481.html | Gujarat BJP ministers, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Atmaram Parmar, have sparked a controversy after they were seen attending an event meant to felicitate exorcists, where they were also seen shaking hands with nearly 100 exorcists. Later, one of the ministers also defended the act by terming it as a gathering of "worshippers of the divine" and not of believers of superstition. | Two Gujarat ministers courted controversy this weekend after they were spotted at an event meant to felicitate exorcists in Botad district's Gadhada village. According to a report by Tv9 Gujarati, Education and Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Atmaram Parmar were sitting on the dais of the event that also saw two exorcists beat themselves with metal chains to Gujarati music.The ministers triggered controversy after a video clip of them at the event went viral. Chudasama, however, defended his presence, saying it was just a gathering of 'worshippers of the divine'. According to news agency PTI, the event was organised by a local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party and also saw participation from the area's MLA. PTI also reported that the the two ministers were seen shaking hands with around 100 exorcists who were present at the felicitation ceremony. Jayant Pandya, a prominent rationalist and the chief of the NGO Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, sharply criticised the two ministers, calling their presence at the event shameful. Speaking to Tv9 Gujarati, Padnya said his organisation condemns the episode and added that this was the first time he saw high-ranking government functionaries attending such an event.'(My NGO) has decided to write to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and urge him to ensure that cabinet ministers do not attend such events and promote (superstitious) practices,' Pandya told the Gujarati TV channel. Unfazed by the criticism, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama defended his and his colleague's presence at the exorcists' event. PTI quoted Chudasama as saying, "I attended the programme because it was a gathering of worshippers of divine power, not those who spread superstition." |
Prashanti Moktan | 25 May 2017,Thursday | Soha shows baby bump in pic with husband Kunal Kemmu | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pregnant-soha-ali-khan-kunal-kemmu-london-vacation-baby-bump-photo/1/961591.html | Actor Kunal Kemmu has shared a picture of his wife actress Soha Ali Khan, in which her baby bump can be seen. The couple is currently on a vacation in London. Earlier, Kunal while announcing Soha's pregnancy said, "Soha and I are very happy to announce a joint production coming later this year - our first child!" | Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu are expecting their first child, and the couple is currently on a vacation in London. Before the arrival of the baby, the two are busy spending some quality time together. Kunal took to Instagram to share a few pictures from their London sojourn. And one of the photos shows Soha flaunting her baby bump as she takes a break from hopping around the city.A post shared by Kunal Kemmu (@khemster2) on May 23, 2017 at 12:16am PDT Soha shared another picture of chilling around in the city with her family.Krazzzzy Four #famjam#londondiariespic.twitter.com/oGi730PvZX It was only last month that rumours of Soha's pregnancy started doing the rounds. And soon enough, Kunal confirmed that the couple is excited to have their first child. Kunal told Pinkvilla, "Yes it's true. Soha and I are very happy to announce a joint production coming later this year - our first child! We feel blessed and thank you all for your good wishes." On the work front, Soha was last seen in the film 31st October with Vir Das. Reports were doing the rounds that she will be seen with her husband Kunal in the Go Goa Gone sequel.ALSO READ: Soha Ali Khan-Kunal Kemmu make first public appearance together after pregnancy news |
Tarun Khanna | 07 Jan 2017,Saturday | DCW issues notice to Delhi Police over CCTV installations | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dcw-delhi-police-cctv-camera-supreme-court/1/851747.html | The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking an explanation for not installing CCTVs in all the police stations. The DCW has sought a list of police stations with and without CCTVs along with the number of cameras, location and working status of each. No CCTV has been installed by police, a report has stated. | The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and Delhi Police are once again on a collision course. The DCW has sent a notice to the Delhi Police seeking answers about non-installation of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all the police stations. |
Prashanti Moktan | 30 Jan 2017,Monday | Would give Deepika a big kiss if I was Ranveer: Tiger Shroff | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/koffee-with-karan-5-tiger-shroff-dating-disha-patani-crush-jackie-kjo/1/869660.html | Actor Tiger Shroff has said that if he woke up as Ranveer Singh, he would give Deepika Padukone a big kiss. "I'd... tell her that no matter how many kisses I have done in Befikre, the most special is with you," said Tiger. He was responding to host Karan Johar's question on the talk show 'Koffee With Karan'. | From friends to couples to co-actors, many Bollywood stars have graced the couch at Koffee With Karan. But for the first time on KWK, a father-son duo was seated on the same couch and it was no-holds-barred conversation. From crushes to sex to box office failures, Tiger spilled the beans as his dad Jackie listened on. Here's what the star kid had to say: ALSO READ: Lovebirds Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani spotted on a not-so-secret night out ALSO READ: My mother has met Disha Patani a couple of times, says Tiger Shroff On dating Disha PataniI have very few friends. I am not very social. In the industry, I have 2-3 friends and Disha is one of them. She lives close by and we have a common friend circle, so we meet every now and then for coffee. I am not dating anyone now. She is very pretty. She makes me look better. For a relationship, you need to take out time. And right now, I am very giving to my work since this craft requires a lot of your time. On waking up as Ranveer SinghI'd give Deepika a big kiss and tell her that no matter how many kisses I have done in Befikre, the most special is with you. On being Jackie Shroff's sonI am grateful to be his son. But at the same time, the expectation and pressure is double. I don't want to be known only as Jackie Shroff's son. I want my own identity. On his first box office failure |
Prashanti Moktan | 21 Jul 2017,Friday | Never approached Sabbir to direct, write 'Dabangg 3': Arbaaz | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dabangg-3-arbaaz-khan-sabbir-khan/1/1007458.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Actor-filmmaker Arbaaz Khan has tweeted that Sabbir Khan, who directed the Tiger Shroff starrer 'Munna Michael', was never approached to direct or write 'Dabangg 3'. Arbaaz further wrote that Sabbir's statement to an English daily was "untrue and rubbish". Sabbir had earlier said that he was happy to be one of directors selected to work on Dabangg 3's final script. | The makers of Dabangg 3 have been looking for a director for a long time. There were reports that Prabhudheva has been approached for the film, and in fact, he has agreed to take the cop caper forward. But things took a different turn when Sabbir Khan of Baaghi fame revealed that he will direct the third instalment of the popular franchise. In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, the filmmaker claimed that he has already started working on the script. He told the daily, "Yes, I've started working on a plan for Dabangg 3 but I can't say anything until the paperwork is finalised. I am in talks and am really happy that I was one of directors selected to work on the final script." A few hours after the news went viral, producer Arbaaz Khan took to Twitter to rubbish the report. He wrote, "Sabir khan was never approached to direct or write Dabangg 3. His statement in Mumbai Mirror is untrue and rubbish. Extremely disappointing (sic)".Sabir khan was never approached to direct or write Dabangg 3. His statement in Mumbai Mirror is untrue and rubbish. Extremely disappointing According to Arbaaz, Sabbir was never approached for Dabangg 3. The Baaghi director then took a U-turn and clarified the "rumours" and confirmed that he was never approached for the film.Contrary to rumours I haven't been approached for Dabbang 3 as far as I know @PDdancing is directing and my best to @arbaazSkhan |
Shubhodeep Datta | 18 Dec 2016,Sunday | Murder accused arrested after 12 years in hiding | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-murder-accused-arrested-after-12-years-in-hiding/story-TarDjOhiGDYY6EWIwhvO6K.html | The Delhi Police arrested a man, who has been on the run for 12 years after allegedly murdering a 65-year-old woman, from Dwarka Sector 16A in the city on Saturday. The man was hired by the elderly to paint her flat. On learning that she stayed alone, he along with his associates murdered her, and fled with cash and jewellery. | A man who was on the run for 12 years after murdering a 65-year-old woman in Delhi was arrested from Dwarka sector 16-A on Saturday.The accused, Raju alias Painter (33), and his three associates - Dharmender, Arun Kumar and Vikas Yadav - had murdered Indira Devi (65) at her Vikaspuri flat late on January 25 night in 2004. Raju was a small-time civil contractor and was hired by Devi to paint her flat. He deputed Dharmender, Arun and Vikas for this work. On realising that Devi was living alone in the flat -- her only daughter was settled abroad -- the men robbed and murdered her. They fled with cash and jewellery. Dharmender and Arun were arrested with a jeweller, Vijay, who had purchased the booty. Raju and Vikas were absconding and were declared proclaimed offenders by a city court. Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police (crime branch), said Raju lived in Darwasa (Nepal), Punjab and Bihar for more than 12 years.Two months ago, he came to Delhi and started living with his family in Sector-16-A, Dwarka area and changed his name to Pramod.?On December 12, we received information that Raju was residing somewhere in Sector-16-A, Dwarka with the Pramod Pandit and that would come near Metro Bridge, Sector-16-A, Dwarka. A trap was laid and Raju was apprehended,? said Yadav. During interrogation, Raju confessed to his crime. Raju told police that in 2003, he had painted Devi?s flat and she hired him again a year later. He said he and his associates tied Devi?s hands and legs and strangulated her. Vikas Yadav is still on the run. |
Parmeet Kaur | 24 Jul 2017,Monday | Maharashtra, Rajasthan record highest child marriage cases | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/child-marriahge-maharashtra-rajasthan/1/1008677.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Maharashtra and Rajasthan recorded the highest number of cases of child marriage, according to a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' report. Of the 70 districts identified with high incidents of child marriage, 17 are in Maharashtra, followed by 13 in Rajasthan. Notably, 326 child marriages were reported in 2016, up from the 293 cases in 2015. | Latest government data show that Maharashtra tops the list in child marriage, followed by Rajasthan. Some 17 districts of Maharashtra, including Latur, Mumbai and Pune have reported high instances of child marriage. In Rajasthan, 13 districts, including Jaipur, Ajmer and Bhilwara, have reported increasing incidents of child marriage.The figures, highlighting the prevalence of child marriage, were stated by MoS, women and child development, Krishna Raj in answer to questions posed in Lok Sabha. The data was collected by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights for analysing the situation of child marriages in India based on Census 2011. Some 70 districts out of 640 were identified with high instances of child marriage by the Commission.As compared to 280 in 2014 and 293 in 2015, incidents of child marriage have shot up to 326 in the last year. The situation remains grim in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which also witnessed a spike in child marriage in the last three years. |
Saloni Tandon | 18 Mar 2017,Saturday | Punish those who corrupt players, says fixing-accused Butt | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-butt-corrupt-cricketers-spot-fixing-pakistan/1/905948.html | Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt, who has served jail time and a five-year ban for spot-fixing, says the ICC should consider punishing those who "corrupt the minds of cricketers". "I have paid heavily for it...It is human nature...to fall into the trap of greed. Steps are also required to punish individuals who trap players," said Butt. | Pakistan's disgraced former Test captain Salman Butt, who has served a five-year ban for spot-fixing, has urged cricket authorities to target those who try to corrupt players at any level of the game."The players are seen as the main culprits whenever some corruption comes out. But I think the International Cricket Council and its member boards also need to think about how to also punish those people who try to lure players into fixing," Butt said on Geo Super channel.Butt, who was the mastermind of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan's tour of England, said that until people, who try to corrupt cricketers are also punished, it would be difficult to eradicate the menace."We have seen players who get caught in this fixing racket get punished. I have been through it and have paid heavily for it. I have learnt my lesson. But what about those who induce us into such practice," he said. |
Aarushi Maheshwari | 10 Feb 2017,Friday | Air hostess reveals she rescued human trafficking victim | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/flight-attendant-sheila-frederick-teenage-girl-human-trafficking-alaska-airlines-lifest/1/876744.html | An Alaska Airlines flight attendant has revealed that she once rescued a teenage girl who was a victim of human trafficking. Shelia Fedrick said she became concerned when she saw a dishevelled girl travelling beside an older, well-dressed man. The man was arrested after Fedrick left a note for the teenager in the bathroom, who replied saying she needed help. | Though many might dismiss the role of a flight attendant or an air hostess, this story will throw much-needed light on some of the heavy responsibilities these women carry on their shoulders every day.A flight attendant named Sheila Frederick rescued a victim of human trafficking recently. Yes, human trafficking. An attendant for Alaska Airlines, which was running from Seattle to San Francisco on the day, Sheila noticed a 14 or 15-year-old girl looking "dishevelled" sitting next to a fairly well-dressed man, according to 10 News."Something in the back of my mind said something was not right. He was well-dressed. That's what got me because I thought why is he well-dressed and she is looking all dishevelled and out of sorts?" Sheila told the news channel.When Sheila tried to talk to them, the man reportedly became defensive and the girl refrained from saying even a word. In a hushed tone then, Sheila told the little girl to go to the toilet, where Sheila had left a note for the teenager, which she later responded to with the message, "I need help".The flight attendant informed the pilots, who were then able to communicate the message to the police in San Francisco, and the man was arrested as soon as the flight landed. |
Parmeet Kaur | 17 Jul 2017,Monday | Maha govt worker suspended over lewd photo on WhatsApp group | http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/maharashtra-engineer-sends-obscene-photo-to-whatsapp-group-firm-suspends-him/story-asNB9eMkWsKxCASyh7ZrBK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited indefinitely suspended a senior engineer for allegedly posting an obscene picture on an office WhatsApp group. Reportedly, Maharashtra Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was also a member of the group titled 'Energy minister live'. "We were under pressure to act after the incident went viral on social media," officials said. | The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MSPGCL) suspended a senior engineer for allegedly posting an obscene picture on a WhatsApp group, of which energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is a member.The firm?s managing director, Bipin Shrimali, suspended the chief engineer of the Koyna hydroelectric power generation project?s Pophali unit for allegedly sending the photograph to the group ?Energy minister live? between 12 am and 1 pm on July 14. He was suspended indefinitely on July 15, said MSPGCL officials.?We will conduct an internal inquiry into the incident. The engineer claims that his phone was not in his possession when the message was sent. We will take a final decision after the inquiry has been completed,? said an MSPGCL spokesperson.He said this was the first time such an incident had occurred in the firm?s history and as such, there was a need to set a precedent. ?We were under pressure to act after the incident went viral on social media. The inquiry will determine if the engineer is innocent or guilty,? he said.The employee will be paid 50% of his salary and a dearness allowance for the duration of his suspension. |
Arshiya Chopra | 26 Jul 2017,Wednesday | Hindi signboards to be removed from Bengaluru metro stations | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kannada-hindi-boards-bengaluru-namma-metro-karnataka-rakshana-vedike/1/1011073.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Kannada Development Authority has directed the Bengaluru metro officials to remove all Hindi signs without waiting for the state government's instructions. The authority also said that even the announcements can't be made in Hindi. This follows protests from pro-Kannada activists against the Centre's tri-language policy, calling it as forceful imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. | Namma Metro officials have finally relented, and said that Hindi signboards will be removed from all stations. The move comes after the Kannada Development Authority mandated the immediate removal.The KDA took it one step forward and said that even announcements cannot be made in Hindi.The managing director of Bangalore Metropolitan Rail Corporation (BMRCL) said that he would abide by the directions of the KDA.The KDA had also urged the state government to move a privilege motion against BMRCL. Non compliance of it would amount to beach of privilege.There have been massive protests across the state saying that Hindi was just an official language of communication and not our national language. Campaigns such as #nammametrohindibeda has been made into a massive online and offline campaign.In order to bring to focus that the central government was unnecessarily imposing Hindi on none Hindi speaking states, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike had also called for a meeting of political parties including the DMK, MNS and TDP, who felt that there was a reason to oppose the imposition of Hindi and that they would make it a national campaign.Also Read: |
Tanya Dhingra | 13 Jul 2017,Thursday | Bollywood was never my dream: Pakistani actress Sajal Ali | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/mom-bollywood-was-never-my-dream-says-sajal-aly/story-q8FyDgxadMsLi0ytrvf13L.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Pakistani actress Sajal Ali, who played Sridevi's daughter in Mom, has said working in Bollywood was never her dream. She said that she was happy working in Pakistan but the story of Mom moved her. Talking about her role in the film, Sajal added, "It was definitely a challenging role... I think the most challenging part was performing with Sridevi." | Pakistani actor Sajal Aly, who played a rape survivor in her Bollywood debut Mom, says she had never dreamed of acting in the Indian film industry. Speaking about her role as Arya in the Sridevi-starrer, Sajal said, ?It was definitely a challenging role... I mean any character you play, you have to really commit to it and kind of naturally become like that, at least that?s how I function. I think the most challenging part was performing with Sridevi ma?am. Like my very first scene in the movie is me sitting at a dining table across from her and misbehaving with her -- it was terrifying,? Dawn quoted her as saying on Wednesday.?We had to shoot in Georgia and it was freezing cold... So yeah, that was pretty tough too,? Sajal said.Sajal said, ?Bollywood was never my dream, in all honesty. I was happy working here and that was not something I was working towards but this story moved me. I always knew that if I worked in Bollywood, I have certain limitations and boundaries that I would not want to cross and this movie was about a sensitive topic, everything was handled so tastefully.?The actor is all praise for her co-star Sridevi, who plays her mother in the movie. ?She?s just the sweetest person. Even now, she keeps calling me and reminding me that I?m in her thoughts.?Sajal said she had three film contracts with Boney Kapoor, Sridevi?s husband and a producer in Bollywood. ?But now I don?t know what?s in the near future. They handed me the complete package on a silver platter: a meaty character, an excellent cast, the best of the best and for that, I?m forever grateful... Everyone?s sending me messages telling me they?re proud of me, it?s just the best feeling, knowing everyone appreciates your work, including critics from across the border.? |
Prashanti Moktan | 12 Jul 2017,Wednesday | Telugu actress denies rumours of her attempting suicide | http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/telugu-actor-vithika-falls-prey-to-suicide-hoax-rubbishes-rumours/story-Iv5Jwx7kppvUxPptoGjNqI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Telugu actress Vithika Sheru, wife of actor Varun Sandesh, has denied rumours of her being critical in the hospital after attempting suicide. "Everything is just a rumour. We are doing great," tweeted Vithika. Earlier, a picture reportedly showing her lying on a hospital bed was being circulated but she has confirmed that it was fake. | Actor Vithika Sheru got married to co-star Varun Sandesh in 2016 and they have been living happily. Both of them had worked together in a couple of Telugu films and were known to be best friends as well.On Tuesday, reports surfaced online that Vithika had attempted suicide and was in a critical stage. Without even verifying, several TV channels flashed the news, much to the surprise of Vithika and Varun. In a matter of hours, almost every popular portal had carried the news and it worried Vithika?s family.Reacting to the news, Vithika quickly took to Twitter and cleared the air. ?Whatever news that?s spreading around about us. Everything is just a rumour. We are doing great,? she tweeted, putting to rest rumours that nearly shocked everyone. Whatever the news is spreading around about us @iamvarunsandesh Everything is a just a rumor. We are doing great.? Vithika Sheru (@IamVithikaSheru) July 11, 2017She even said she will live on a television channel on Wednesday to talk more about the news that?s been circulated. Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Deepali Aggarwal | 27 Jul 2017,Thursday | Stop using remixed song: Despacito singers to Venezuela Prez | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/25/not-so-fast-despacito-singers-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-stop-using-song?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Singers of the hit song Despacito have slammed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after his government used a remixed version of the song to encourage Venezuelans to vote for setting up a body to rewrite the Constitution. The singers said they were neither asked nor did they authorise the use or the change in lyrics of the song for political ambitions. | Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro?s attempt to use Latin hit Despacito - which means ?slowly? ? to inject some cool into his controversial new congress has backfired quickly. Maduro?s unpopular leftist government on Sunday promoted a remixed version of Despacito to encourage Venezuelans to vote for the Constituent Assembly, which will have powers to rewrite the national charter and supersede other institutions. ?Our call to the Constituent Assembly only seeks to unite the country ... Despacito!? goes the Socialist Party-sanctioned remix of the catchy dance song, which was played during Maduro?s weekly televised show. ?What do you think, eh? Is this video approved?? a grinning and clapping Maduro called out to the crowd, which roared back in approval. But Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee on Monday said they do not approve at all.?At no point was I asked, nor did I authorize, the use or the change in lyrics of Despacito for political ambitions, and much less in the middle of a deplorable situation that Venezuela, a country I love so much, is living,? Fonsi said in a message posted on Twitter. Daddy Yankee, meanwhile, posted a picture of Maduro with a big red cross over it on Instagram. ?That you illegally appropriate a song (Despacito) does not compare with the crimes you commit and have committed in Venezuela. Your dictatorial regime is a joke, not only for my Venezuelan brothers, but for the entire world,? he said. ?With this nefarious marketing plan, you only highlight your fascist ideal.? Millions of Venezuelans have been staging months of protests against Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader narrowly elected to replace the late Hugo Chavez in 2013. Some 100 people have died in the unrest, which has further hammered an imploding economy that is running short of food and medicine. Critics say Maduro is trying to cement a dictatorship by pushing forward with the Constituent Assembly this Sunday. He says it is the only way to bring peace back to the convulsed nation. |
Daisy Mowke | 14 Dec 2016,Wednesday | I was in no-strings-attached relationships: Ranveer | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ranveer-singh-befikre-relationships-deepika-padukone-tinder-padmavati/1/834040.html | Actor Ranveer Singh has admitted that there was a phase when he was only in no-strings-attached relationships. "I'd cut off any string that I'd see. But yeah, you change and evolve as a person. You crave something more substantial. Now I can't even think of such relationships," he added. Ranveer further said that he wants to become a family man. | Ranveer Singh's Befikre is busy minting money at the box office. The film which is about carefree love and no-strings-attached relationships speaks a lot about modern-day romance. But Ranveer, who says that he is traditional when it comes to matters of the heart, admits that once upon a time he was a carefree lover and did enter into many no-strings-attached relationships. ALSO READ: I had my first crush in Class 1, says Ranveer Singh ALSO READ: Ranveer Singh calls Deepika Padukone marriage material. Here's what Deepika's dad has to say When asked about his frivolous relationships, Ranveer in a interview to Filmfare said, "There was a phase in my life where I was only in no-strings-attached relationships. I'd cut off any string that I'd see. But yeah, you change and evolve as a person. You crave something more substantial. Now I can't even think of such relationships. My biological clock is ticking. I want to become a family man. I love kids." |
Anmol Sharma | 17 Jul 2017,Monday | Cricketer Joginder Sharma's father stabbed, robbed in Rohtak | http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/former-indian-cricketer-joginder-sharma-s-father-stabbed-robbed-in-rohtak/story-d3jnl0LS9stio0fp7DDKBM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Om Prakash, the father of former cricketer Joginder Sharma who bowled the 2007 World T20-winning over against Pakistan, was robbed by two unknown miscreants at his shop in Rohtak on Saturday. The miscreants attacked Om with a knife, locked him inside and took all the cash from his shop. The police is searching the CCTV footage to trace the culprits. | Former Indian cricketer Joginder Sharma?s father, Om Prakash Sharma, was attacked by two miscreants, who stabbed him with a knife and robbed him near his shop.On Saturday night, when 68-year-old Om Prakash was closing his confectionary shop near Kathmandi in Rohtak, two youths in early their 20s came to purchase cold drinks and cigarettes. After leaving, they returned few minutes later and attacked Sharma.In his complaint, Sharma said, ?They first tried to take cash from my pockets. But when I tried to stop them, one of the boys took out a knife and tried to stab me in my stomach. I stopped him by holding the knife in my hands. They then entered my shop and took all the cash from the drawer. They took nearly Rs 7,000.?While leaving, the miscreants locked the door from the outside leaving injured Sharma inside the shop.He called his other son, Deepak, who broke the lock and shifted Om Prakash to a hospital. ?He suffered knife injuries in his hands when he tried to stopped them from stabbing him in the stomach. He has been discharged now,? said Deepak .Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against unknown miscreants under sections 342 and 379 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A police officer said they were searching for CCTV footage to find the accused.Joginder Sharma, who bowled the match winning over for India in 2007 T-20 World Cup finals again Pakistan, is presently posted as deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Hisar. |
Mishika Bangia | 24 Jul 2017,Monday | UP launches free power connection schemes for BPL families | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/up-govt-launches-free-power-connection-scheme-for-bpl-families/1/1009025.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Sunday launched free power connection schemes for BPL families at 624 places across the state. Sharma said that the scheme would also benefit those without BPL cards at present by charging ?80-?120 from them to provide the power connection. The scheme would provide relief to middle-class families with instalment payment facility, he added. | Mathura, Jul 23 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Srikant Sharma today launched free power connection scheme for the BPL card holders in the state. "The scheme of providing free power connection to the BPL card holders has been launched at 624 places across the state," he said. Sharma said the scheme would also benefit the poor people who do not have BPL cards at present. "Such people would have to pay between Rs 80 to Rs 120 for getting the power connection," he said. "The scheme would also provide relief to the middle class people as the instalment payment facility would be admissible for them," the minister said. Sharma said while the Centre had launched the free gas connection scheme for the poor, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is giving free power connection to the same class of people. "The Yogi government is working for the common man and the poor," he claimed. |
Dishant Sharma | 12 Jun 2017,Monday | Virat gives me freedom to express myself: Bumrah | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/virat-gives-me-freedom-to-express-myself-burmrah/1/976683.html | Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has said that Indian captain Virat Kohli gives him freedom to express himself on the field. "You bowl according to situations, whether at the death or at the beginning. The aim is to stick to a plan and execute it," Bumrah added. Notably, Bumrah's tournament economy rate at the ICC Champions Trophy is 4.47. | null |
Prashanti Moktan | 18 Jul 2017,Tuesday | Priyanka marks her 35th birthday on vacation with her family | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/priyanka-chopra-rings-in-35th-birthday-with-family-vacation-see-pics/story-9HJGDumRhN6IjRRUgn5GFM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Actress Priyanka Chopra, who turned 35 today, has shared pictures celebrating the occasion on her ongoing vacation with her family. Most of her pictures show the actress with her mother Madhu Chopra and brother Siddharth. In one of the pictures she shared with a shark and stingray, Priyanka wrote, "When a shark, stingray and a birthday girl make friends." | Priyanka Chopra turns 35 on Tuesday - and she?s having the best time of her career.The actor, who debuted in 2003, has flown to great heights, from being the ?desi girl? in Dostana to villainous diva in Baywatch.She is the boss lady who knows where she stands and how she stands, who has countered all trolls about her personal life with verve and gusto.The two-time People?s Choice award and Padma Shri winner doesn?t stop to surprise us with her new achievements.Every time we think that?s it, she comes back with another bang, often louder than the last. Mermaid under the stars... #birthdayfeels??? #thechopravacation A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 16, 2017 at 10:07am PDT On work front, the Quantico star has signed two more Hollywood films, A Kid Like Jake and Isn?t It Romantic?. When a shark, stingray and a birthday girl make friends.. #foodlovers #thechopravacation ??????? @tam2cul Pic courtesy @siddharthchopra89 A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 17, 2017 at 10:11am PDT She has also started her own production house called Purple Pebbles, that aims to promote young talent and produce low budget movies. Happy times.. #birthdayfeels??? #familyfirst #thechopravacation @madhuchopra @siddharthchopra89 @tam2cul A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 17, 2017 at 2:48am PDT She has also won three National Awards for the first film that she produced in Marathi, titled Ventilator. Posers... #thechopravacation #familyfirst #birthdayfeels??? @siddharthchopra89 @madhuchopra A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 17, 2017 at 7:27am PDT Priyanka Chopra, who skipped the 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards this year, is celebrating her 35th birthday with her mother Madhu Chopra and brother Siddharth. That is 3 people's passports!! A well travelled family I must say.. whaaaaaaa? @siddharthchopra89 @madhuchopra ???????? A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 15, 2017 at 8:43pm PDT She is also the brand ambassador for Assam Tourism, has been keeping her fans and followers updated by posting pictures from her vacation on social media. Happy family vacaaaaayyyyy.. #Chopra'sOut ????????? @siddharthchopra89 @madhuchopra A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jul 15, 2017 at 2:38pm PDT In one of the latest pictures, the actor took to her Instagram account, and posted picture with her family captioning, ?Happy family vacaaaaayyyyy.. #Chopra?sOut @siddharthchopra89 @madhuchopra.?Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Arshiya Chopra | 29 Jul 2017,Saturday | No proposal to scrap buddy system in Army: Government | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/no-proposal-to-scrap-sahayak-system-govt/1/1013510.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Centre informed the Lok Sabha there is no proposal in consideration to scrap Sahayak or buddy system in the Army. This comes after several jawans voiced their outrage against the system saying they are treated like servants by senior officers. Notably, under Sahayak system, a jawan is attached to officers and their duties include protecting and helping the officers. | New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) No proposal is under consideration to scrap the Sahayak system in the Army, the government today said, notwithstanding rising cases of jawans coming out openly against the colonial-era provision. The clarification by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre came in the Lok Sabha in response to a question. "No proposal for scrapping the Sahayak system, presently in place in the Army, is under consideration in the Ministry at present," he said, in a brief written reply. Under the Sahayak or buddy system, a solider is attached to officers and their duties include protecting the officers, maintaining their weapons and equipment and helping them in carrying out their responsibilities. Last month, a senior Army official had said that the force is actively considering recruiting civilian staff in peace stations to do away with the Sakayak system. Earlier this year, a number of videos had surfaced where some army jawans were seen voicing their anger over the Sahayak system with some even alleging that they are treated as servants by the officers whom they are attached to. To a separate question, Bhamre said complaints by serving soldiers are dealt with by authorities concerned according to existing rules and policies. He said a study conducted by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research concluded that the major causes of suicides in the Army are domestic problems, marital discord, stress and financial problems. |
Sonu Kumari | 24 Jul 2017,Monday | 16-yr-old rape victim gives birth to baby in Delhi school | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-schoolgirl-delivers-baby-girl-in-school-was-raped-by-neighbour-for-eight-months/story-O4knIwLCdaKOBz2ltvVkpM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | A 16-year-old Class 10 student on Thursday gave birth to a premature baby girl in her school's washroom in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar. Neither the girl's parents nor her teachers and classmates were aware of her 26-week pregnancy, reports said. Police said the girl was impregnated by her 51-year-old neighbour, who raped her eight times in as many months. | A 16-year-old Class 10 student allegedly raped by an auto driver for eight months gave birth to a premature girl at her school?s washroom in northwest Delhi?s Mukherjee Nagar on Thursday. Police said the girl was impregnated by the 51-year-old neighbour, who raped her eight times in as many months. The auto driver was arrested on Friday after a case under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against him at the Mukherjee Nagar police station. The man, identified as Abdul Gaffar, allegedly admitted to his crime. He claimed said he would pay her Rs 500 to Rs 800 every time he raped her. The girl?s parents or her teachers and classmates were unaware of her 26-week pregnancy. She had been suffering from stomach pain for the past few days.Gaffar had given her abortion pills after he learnt she was pregnant, police said. A police officer said the girl was writing an exam in the school when she developed labour pain. When she complained of stomach pain, the teacher asked her to go to the washroom. Minutes later, the girl delivered a baby girl in the washroom. The school administration informed the girl?s parents, who had no clue how she became pregnant. The authorities rushed the girl and her premature baby to a nearby hospital for medical attention.Milind Dumbre, deputy commissioner of police (northwest), said the condition of the girl and her daughter was out of danger and stable. After the girl gained consciousness, she narrated her ordeal to the police. She said she was being raped by her neighbour for the past eight months. ?Even though her belly had protruded, the family did not suspect anything,? said the officer.The man said after she complained of stomach ache, he gave her abortion pills, which could have created complications, the police said. |
Daisy Mowke | 27 Jul 2017,Thursday | I love making love not seeing it, jokes Shah Rukh Khan | http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/shah-rukh-khan-at-jab-harry-met-sejal-event-i-love-making-love-not-seeing-it/story-djZPcbSzgTyFpOCNy2QlyM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Actor Shah Rukh Khan, while speaking about working in films with love stories, jokingly said that he loves making love and not seeing it. He added that he prefers watching comedy films. The actor further said that he watches romantic films only because of his daughter Suhana, as she loves romantic movies. | Shah Rukh Khan is not called the ?King of Romance? for nothing. The Jab Harry Met Sejal actor, who just has to give that melting look to make women go weak-kneed, is witty as hell too. At the launch of film?s new song Hawayein, SRK?asked the permission of media before he shared a controversial thought. Then he said it anyway, ?Ek controversial baat bolun, I love making love and not seeing it.?The 51-year-old actor also shared that he loves to watch romantic movie just because of his daughter, Suhana. SRK has also spoken about Suhana and how she loves watching romantic films.The actor, who is playing the role of a tourist guide named Harry in ?Jab Harry met Sejal?, also believes that there is ?Harry? in everyone one of us.?There is lot of ?us? in different ways in Harry. There were many moments, when we used to talk and think that similar things have happened with us at different stages of our lives. Obviously when you play a character, the space is different, setting is different maybe you have been not there, but feelings are familiar,? noted Khan.Watch: Jab Harry Met Sejal?s song Hawayein starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka SharmaSejal, tere hi liye saari wafayein... #Hawayein #JHMSAug4 @AnushkaSharma @RedChilliesEnt @sonymusicindia https://t.co/uMUT8E6hLu? Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) July 26, 2017The movie revolves around Harry, a tourist guide who is perhaps unaware of what he is seeking and Sejal played by Anushka Sharma, a Gujarati girl who refuses to budge till she finds her lost ring. With this as the premise, the movie traces their journey across the world. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, this is SRK?s first collaboration with the director. Anushka and Shah Rukh have appeared together in a number of films including her debut, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.Helmed by Imtiaz Ali, the movie is all set to release on August 4. Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Aarushi Maheshwari | 28 Mar 2017,Tuesday | Lorde impersonator fools New Zealand partygoers | https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/28/no-lights-no-lorde-impersonator-dupes-auckland-partygoers?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning+briefing&utm_term=219247&subid=21525752&CMP=ema-2793 | A university student fooled partygoers in Auckland, New Zealand into believing she was singer Lorde during her performance at a public library for an April Fool's Day prank. The 'No Lights No Lycra' party, which featured "total darkness," had promised a "super ultra special guest." After attendees tweeted about the "surprise" performance, it was revealed that Lorde was in London. | New Zealand has been sent in a tailspin after a surprise performance by Lorde at an Auckland public library was found to have been by a convincing impersonator.The pop star was widely reported by attendees of the weekly No Lights No Lycra dance party to have made a guest appearance to perform her new single, Green Light, on Monday night.A ?super ultra special guest? had been teased in the lead-up to the event, billed as a ?weekly hour of dance freedom in total darkness? at the Grey Lynn library for a door charge of NZ$7.?Total darkness? apparently worked in the impersonator?s favour, with many of those in attendance excitedly posting on social media about Lorde?s surprise appearance.?You know you are in Auckland City when Lorde casually rocks out as the surprise guest at your local No Lights No Lycra hosted at the community library,? posted one attendee on Facebook. ?Those are some pretty stoked faces right there!?Another thanked Ella Yelich O?Connor, ?a.k.a. #Lorde you secret ninja you, surprising us like that and your voice was amazing live in the little hall in the dark!?When you go to No Lights No Lycra and the last track is Lorde performing Green Light LIVE ?????But she wasn?t there,? as the New Zealand Herald reported on Tuesday.?In fact, she?s currently thousands of kilometres away eating Creme Eggs with her mum in London.?The pop star?s mother, Sonia Yelich-O?Connor, had responded to an excited report on Twitter, calling it ?weird?: ?We are in London [right now] ? me n @lorde?, adding the Union Jack emoji.@theprij weird - we are in London rn - me n @lorde ???We in London,? confirmed Lorde on Instagram, with a photo of herself eating a Creme Egg.She later tweeted of the furore that it was ?deeply fake news but quite cute?.@chelseajade @crobker this is deeply fake news but quite cute lolThe No Lights No Lycra crowd had been primed to expect a ?super ultra special guest? by organiser Craig Neilson.He posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning that the cat was ?out of the bag?, naming the Lorde impersonator as Hannah Horsfield, a music student at Auckland University.He told the Guardian that, of the crowd of approximately 100 people, ?nearly everyone went away convinced that it was the real deal?.?I really expected that people would be leaving the hall a bit uncertain, but I guess I really shouldn?t have underestimated Hannah.?Neilson had told New Zealand?s Newshub that the prank was an ?early celebration? of April Fools Day, to which Newshub drily added: ?The April Fools prank was played ... almost a week before April 1.?Asked by the Guardian whether Monday 27 March was not a bit premature, he said: ?We celebrate Christmas from the start of October, so ... ?New Zealanders responded to the prank with bemusement on social media.Name a more iconic Auckland hoax than @lorde performing (not performing) at No Lights No LycraMore like No Lights No Lorde lolololIncredible! @lorde was the surprise adjudicator at my junior certificate debate last night!The Guardian, and Lorde, and Lorde?s mum, and everyone who follows either of them on Twitter can confirm that Lorde is still in London.Her second album, Melodrama, is due to be released on 16 June. |
Daisy Mowke | 22 Jul 2017,Saturday | Coroner confirms Linkin Park singer Chester died by hanging | http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/chester-bennington-died-by-hanging-himself-coroner-confirms/story-uylVWZPATUlUp1DljuZarN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | The Los Angeles County coroner confirmed on Friday that 41-year-old Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington died by hanging. The coroner said a half-empty bottle of alcohol was found in the room, but no drugs were evident. Bennington reportedly struggled with drug and alcohol addictions at various times during his life. No suicide note was found at the site. | The Los Angeles County coroner confirmed on Friday that Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington died by hanging.Coroner?s office spokesperson Ed Winter says the 41-year-old rocker hanged himself from a bedroom door in his home near Los Angeles. Bennington was found dead Thursday. Winter says a half-empty bottle of alcohol was found in the room, but no drugs were evident. Bennington struggled with drug and alcohol addictions at various times during his life. A suicide note was not found.An autopsy has not yet been scheduled. Bennington was one of two lead vocalists for Linkin Park, who became one of the most commercially successful acts of the 2000s. They won countless awards, including Grammys, and their hits include ?In the End,? ??What I?ve Done? and ?Numb.?Follow @htshowbiz for more |
Chhavi Tyagi | 10 Jul 2017,Monday | Cong takes U-turn on Rahul Gandhi's meet with Chinese envoy | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rahul-gandhi-chinese-envoy-congress-fake-news/1/998538.html | The Congress on Monday took a U-turn on party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's meeting with the Chinese ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, on July 8 in Delhi amid the ongoing China-India border standoff. While the Congress had earlier termed the reports of Gandhi meeting Zhaohui as "fake news", the political party later acknowledged that the "courtesy meeting" did take place. | Hours after denying that its vice-president Rahul Gandhi met a Chinese envoy in New Delhi, the Congress today acknowledged that the "courtesy" meeting indeed took place amid tension between India and China over the Doklam standoff."Various ambassadors and envoys keep meeting Congress president and vice-president time to time on courtesy basis. The envoys met Rahul Gandhiji... not only Chinese envoy, but also the Bhutanese envoy and the ex-National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon," Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala said, adding that one should not "sensationalise" the meeting."The Prime Minister specially met the Chinese premier in Hamburg, despite China clearly saying it is not interested in a dialogue. Yet, PM attended the BRICS meeting," he further said.CONGRESS FLIP-FLOPEarlier today, the Congreess denied media reports as "fake news" that Rahul Gandhi met a Chinese envoy amid the China-India border standoff at Doklam in Sikkim.Surjewala himself, in a series of tweets, had said some news channels were running "fake news" on Gandhi's alleged meeting with Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui.The channels "will not question three Union Ministers visiting China or PM's (Narendra Modi) bonhomie and praise at G20. Yet run fake news", Surjewala said.He had also alleged that the report was planted by External Affairs Ministry and Intelligence Bureau sources. "They should reverify that we still have diplomatic relations with all our neighbours," Surjewala said.Congress social media head Ramya said the issue was not if Gandhi met the Chinese envoy or now and questioned why the Prime Minister did not flag the border issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two leaders met last week at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany."While Chinese incursions were happening, this meeting took place and the Weak PM didn't deem it necessary to speak about the issue," she wrote on Twitter and posted a picture of Modi with Xi Jinping at the summit."Even if Congress Vice President had met the Chinese Ambassador, I don't see it as an issue, but the PM not flagging it in private or public is an issue," Ramya added.ALSO READChina warns India of serious consequences if it doesn't withdraw troops from Doklam areaDoklam faceoff: Why China wants to grab Bhutan's land and blame IndiaDoklam standoff: Chinese media gets Pakistan and Kashmir into narrative |
Parmeet Kaur | 24 Jul 2017,Monday | Delhi is preferred destination for drug smugglers: Officials | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/drug-delhi-narcotics-indira-gandhi-international-airport/1/1009191.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle | Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has become a transit point for drug trade with over 19 arrests at the airport so far this year, officials said. This was reportedly double the corresponding number last year. Narcotics Control Bureau's records show that 15 people were arrested for smuggling drugs this year in July, as compared to only two in July 2016. | Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport - the busiest in the country - is not only the top choice for travellers but also for drug smugglers. According to officials, Delhi airport has become the transit point of drug trade as more than 19 people have been arrested from here till date, which is almost double from last year's corresponding period.Officials claim it is an indicator that the drug market is flourishing in the city and that there are good incentives given by the drug mafia which pulls so many into this risky business.Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) records show that 15 people were arrested in eight cases for smuggling 18.05kg of cocaine till July this year while in 2016, only two cases were registered and 215 grams of the drug was seized. Similarly, NCB officials seized 14.44kg of methaqualone and arrested three people till July while in previous year, a total of 17 kg of narcotic substance was recovered and three were arrested.Despite constant vigil and action against drug traffickers by multiple agencies such as Customs, NCD, DRI, Immigration, CISF and the Delhi Police, the number of seizures in the city have only grown. In most of these cases, foreign nationals were involved but a recent case has left security agencies puzzled as Customs officials seized nearly 2kg of a morphine mixture from a food trolley while it was being wheeled out of an Air India flight. Officials suspect an inside job behind it but the incident exposed deeprooted nexus of drug smugglers with airport staff and officials. No arrest has been made yet. However, investigators are trying to find how the drug reached inside the plane despite having several security checks.DELHI IS THE BIGGEST CONSUMER OF DRUGS"Delhi itself is one of the biggest consumers of drugs. Its proximity with NCR towns such as Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, where rave parties are common, also attract drug peddlers," said a senior security official at IGI on the condition of anonymity. He added the inflow of the drug is huge because there is a big market in the city that targets youth and students. Security agencies claim that smugglers are using innovative modus operandi and new travel routes to smuggle drugs inside the country."Heroin is mainly smuggled into India from Pakistan. Once it reaches Delhi, it is supplied to local dealers who channel it to rave parties and individuals. Besides, the popular party drug is also shipped to European and American countries concealed in small parcels via air," a senior NCB official said."Drug couriers are largely intercepted and detected at international airports. Delhi is the most connected airport from foreign countries and as it is connected with several bordering states, it further makes it easy for local peddlers to transport drugs in other parts of the country," a senior narcotics official said.Drugs are mainly concealed in false cavities of books, paintings, machinery parts and toys, among others. There are also professional 'swallowers' or mules who are hired and paid handsomely for cocaine trafficking by swallowing small capsules or packets of drugs or hiding them inside their private parts, the officer said. As the criminals are getting smarter, agencies are adopting various steps, including strict surveillance, enforcement at export or import points of the airport and training of drug law enforcement agencies to keep a check on new modus operandi. |
Vaibhav Gupta | 20 Dec 2016,Tuesday | NGT orders ?10,000 fine for throwing waste at public places | http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/ngt-orders-rs-10-000-fine-for-throwing-garbage-at-public-places/story-NVGXcRtSKIAlq6vGnbIudN.html | The National Green Tribunal on Monday announced that throwing garbage at public places will attract a fine of ?10,000. The tribunal said that authorities are under "statutory" obligation to ensure that waste is "collected, transported and disposed" off so that it does not cause public health hazards. The NGT's order came while hearing a plea on waste management in Delhi. | Throwing garbage in the open will attract a fine R10,000, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) announced on Monday. The tribunal said municipal solid waste is one of the most serious pollutants in the country, especially in Delhi.According to the NGT, all authorities are under ?statutory? obligation to ensure that waste is ?collected, transported and disposed? of in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 so that it does not cause public health hazards.?All major sources of municipal solid waste generation - hotels, restaurants, slaughter houses, vegetable markets etc, should be directed to provide segregated waste and handover the same to the corporation in accordance with rules.Read More:East Delhi civic body proposes charge for clearing garbage?Any such body, person, hotels, residents, slaughter houses, vegetable markets which does not comply with the directions or throw their waste in any drain or at any public place shall be liable to pay environmental compensation at the rate of R10,000 per default,? a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.The archaic and futile anti-littering law of 2009 had a provision of fine of R50 to R500. In June, the state government asked the municipal corporations to change the bylaws, so that they are in accordance with the Union government?s Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The fresh provisions recommended fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 for throwing garbage and littering in public space.The tribunal noted that the national capital generates 9,600 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste per day and there is no ?clear map? ready with the municipal bodies to deal with this huge quantity of waste.It also directed commissioners of the three civic bodies to submit a scheme within a month before the tribunal for providing incentive to the people who give segregated waste at source, ?by way of rebate in property tax and on other hand to impose penalties on residents, societies, RWAs who do not provide segregated waste?.?It should be kept in mind that as per polluter pays principle, each person would be liable to pay for causing pollution, if the waste is generated. It is the duty of a citizen to ensure that said waste is handled properly and not to cause any pollution or cause inconvenience to other persons. The entire burden cannot be shifted on the state and authorities,? the bench said.Read More:Delhi?s second waste to energy plant to start at Ghazipur this monthThe directions came during a hearing on a petition relating to mismanagement of municipal solid waste in Delhi and the terrible conditions that are prevailing near landfill sites.The corporations, on their part, are getting ready to implement the order. A senior official from South Corporation said, ?The court?s direction came on December 2 and we are preparing an ?action plan? for implementing the decision intensively. It includes full-functioning of three solid waste management sites in Okhla, Ghazipur and Najafgarh. If they don?t fulfil their duties, then the concessionaires would be penalised R5 lakh each, according to the court?s direction.? |
Tarun Khanna | 24 Jan 2017,Tuesday | National Anthem ?Jana Gana Mana? was adopted on this day | http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/9-interesting-facts-about-our-national-anthem/1/450023.html | Written and composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, 'Jana Gana Mana' was officially declared as India?s National Anthem on January 24, 1950. It was first sung on December 27, 1911, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) during a convention of the Indian National Congress. A formal rendition of 'Jana Gana Mana', which is written in Bengali Sanskrit, takes 52 seconds. | All of us have sung the national anthem and since school, stood up every time we heard it . But do we know enough about our anthem other than that it was written and composed by Nobel laureate and mystic poet Ravindranath Tagore? Here are some interesting facts about our anthem which you probably were not aware of:1. The false myth that Jana Gana Mana was written and composed by Tagore to praise George the Fourth, who visited India in 1911.2. A hoax message spread like wild fire across e-mail, Whatsapp and social media, that UNESCO announced our anthem as the 'Best National Anthem' in the world. UNESCO intervened and denied any such declaration from their end. 3. The first rendition of the song was during a convention of the Indian National Congress on December 16th, 1911. 'Jana Gana Mana' was performed for the first time in Hamburg on 11th September, 1942. It was only on 24th January 1950 that this song was officially declared as India's national anthem.4. The musical notations for the English translation of our national anthem were set by Margaret, wife of poet James H. Cousins, who was the principal of Besant Theosophical College. 5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose commissioned a free translation of the national anthem from Sanskritized Bengali to Urdu-Hindi. The translation was written by Captain Abid Ali, composed by Captain Ram Singh Thakur and was called Subah Sukh Chain.6. There is no provision of law which compels anyone to sing the national anthem. It is not considered disrespectful to the nation or to the anthem if a person chooses only to stand up in respectful silence. 7. Formal rendition of the anthem should take 52 seconds by law, and not 54 seconds. |
Anmol Sharma | 26 Dec 2016,Monday | 30,000 Leicester fans to wear Vardy masks to protest his ban | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/26/leicester-city-jamie-vardy-masks-protest-ban?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter | Premier League Champions Leicester City have distributed over 30,000 Jamie Vardy masks to their fans, in a protest against the forward's three-match suspension. The fans will be seen wearing the masks in Leicester's Boxing Day match against Everton at King Power Stadium. The Football Association (FA) had rejected Leicester's appeal against the ban which club's chairman deemed "unfair". | Leicester City?s owners have given out around 30,000 Jamie Vardy masks to supporters before their home game against Everton on Monday in protest against the striker?s three-game suspension.Vardy was banned by the Football Association after being sent off for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf during Leicester?s recent 2-2 draw at Stoke City.The Premier League champions had an appeal against the punishment rejected, which the Thai chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, described as ?unfair?.Leicester go into the game at the King Power Stadium 15th in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone. |