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Tarun Khanna

16 Dec 2016,Friday

India?s engagement with Dalai Lama will hit ties: China

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-slams-india-president-pranab-mukherjee-meet-dalai-lama/1/836036.html

Reacting to the meeting between President Pranab Mukherjee and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama last week, China has said that it is "strongly opposed" to such engagement which would have a "negative impact" on Indo-Sino relations. "We urge the Indian side to see through the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai Lama clique," the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated.

China has strongly hit out at India after President Pranab Mukherjee hosted the Dalai Lama and other Nobel laureates at Rashtrapati Bhavan last week.The Foreign Ministry said Beijing was "strongly opposed" to the meet which would have a "negative impact" on relations.Indian Prime Ministers or Presidents rarely meet with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.The Narendra Modi government has taken a different approach to the Tibetan  issue, analysts say, showing less caution for China's sensitivities by approving visits by prominent Tibetan leaders to Arunachal Pradesh. The Karmapa visited the state on November 30, while the Dalai Lama is likely to in March.ALSO READ |  China tells India to 'not complicate' border issue after Karmapa visit'CHINA IS STRONGLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE VISIT AND FIRMLY OPPOSE IT'Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Friday: "Recently in disregard of Chia's solemn representation and and strong opposition, the Indian side insisted on arranging for the 14th Dalai Lama's visit to the Indian Presidential palace, participation in the event with the Indian President and meeting with President Mukherjee.""The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to that. The Dalai Lama is in political exile and has long been engaged anti-China separatist activities with the attempt of separating Tibet away from China under the cloak of religion. The Chinese side firmly opposes any form of contact between officials of the other countries with him."

Niharika Prabhakar

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Cyber criminals with access to 16,000 bank accounts arrested

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cyber-crime-bengaluru-internet-scam-bank-scam-fraud-bank-transactions/1/1010952.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Four men were arrested by Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police for allegedly running an online scam where they lured bank customers to invest and withdrew their money using their account details. Police reportedly seized 460 SIM cards along with laptops which had information on 16,000 bank accounts. The criminals reportedly stole small amounts of money to avoid suspicion.

The Cyber Crime Police in the city have unearthed a huge internet scam. They have arrested four engineering college dropouts for their involvement in the scam called 'Bottom fishing'.The cyber criminals have cheated several people not just in the state but across the nation as well. But the victims avoided approaching the police since the amount they lost was pretty low.The police have identified the victims as Kapil Dev Suman, his brother Sushil Kumar Suman, Sooraj Kumar and Biplav Kumar. They are all natives of Bokaro steel City. As of today, the police have recovered 460 SIM cards, 15 mobiles, laptops, hard disks, data cards and forged and original identity proof documents.The accused further more had a database consisting of details and credentials of more than 16,000 bank accounts. One of the accused also had some 600 domain names of various websites in his name. Some of the websites identified were www.munafaperday.com<http://www.munafaperday.com>, munafadaily.com<http://munafadaily.com>, paymaza.com<http://paymaza.com>, future trade.biz<http://trade.biz> and mudratrade.com<http://mudratrade.com>.On one such website, the accused had advertised that expensive goods will be available at cheap rates. Gullible customers would fall for these websites and enter their banking credentials which were later captured by the accused. This information was then used by the accused to transfer money from the victim's account to theirs.Police got to know about the scam when an individual Suresh Sakri, a local resident filed a complaint stating that two transactions of RS. 5,000 and Rs. 2,000 were illegally debited from his account. During investigations, the police found that the money was transferred to an SBI bank account at JP Nagar. This account was activated without following the standard KYC procedures.The said bank account was held in the name of Ajay Singh. When Kapil Dev Suman went to withdraw money, he was questioned. Verification revealed that the photograph on the account opening form of Ajay Singh was actually that of Kapil. Further investigations by the police led to the identification of over 28 bank accounts, one laptop, two mobile phones and four forged PAN cards.The police formed three teams to conduct the investigations. The probe team was headed by DySP MD Sharath, and the team included Krishnoji Rao, Shafiullah, Vinod Kumar and Muniratnam.ALSO READ:Oppn slams Maha govt for not providing cyber crime convictionCyber criminals go digital, lay bitcoin trap for investors

Chhavi Tyagi

15 Apr 2017,Saturday

Sale of whiteners, thinners to minors banned in Delhi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/drug-abuse-ncr-nail-polish-removers-thinners-whiteners-ban/1/929691.html

Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday ordered the Delhi government to issue a notification to ban the sale of whiteners, thinners and vulcanised solutions to children below the age of 18 years to check drug abuse. The board further asked the government to assign one de-addiction centre per district, observing that the existing centres in the national capital region are overcrowded.

Taking cognisance of the increasing menace of drug and substance abuse among children in the NCR region, the Juvenile Justice Board has banned the sale of correction fluids/ whiteners, thinners/diluters and vulcanised solutions/sulochans to children below the age of 18 years unless the child is accompanied by parents/guardian, or has a letter from the school authorities signifying their assent to purchase of the same.The government of Delhi has been asked to issue a notification to this effect. The board was hearing the case of a child who has been a victim of substance abuse and has been consuming thinners and whiteners. The order also cited the 2010 notification of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in which the government had asked to regulate the sale of thinners and whiteners to ensure that they are not used for substance abuse.Expressing it's anguish over the increasing cases of substance abuse, the Board said, " We cannot be a mere witness to this systematic ruination of an entire generation that is gradually succumbing to the grip of drugs."The Juvenile Justice Board has further asked the Directorate of Health in Delhi to work out a plan to open more de-addiction centres as there is a severe crunch at this moment.According to a report by Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT as of September 2016, around 19,320 to 27,090 street children were afflicted by this malaise. Eleven percent of the affected, use inhalants such as whiteners and thinners.The Board has further asked the government to boost the number of rehabilitation centres as currently there are only two rehab centers in Delhi with a capacity of 50 each. These centres are housing far more children than their permitted capacity.

Ayushi Ahluwalia

12 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Delhi to launch mobile app to locate MCD toilets

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/soon-an-app-to-locate-900-mcd-toilets-in-delhi-file-a-complaint-if-it-is-not-clean/story-UPWdatofgAgmbxzS0kxueI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Delhi civic agencies are planning to launch a mobile app within the next two months to help locate all the 1800 public toilets run by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), reports said. The app will allow users to give feedback on the condition of the toilets and will have a rating scale of Happy, Not Happy and Satisfied.

Are you upset with the cleanliness of public toilets in Delhi? Do you want to complain but are clueless whom to approach? Within two months, Delhi?s three civic agencies will launch a mobile app, which will help users give a feedback about the toilet?s condition. MCD officials said once they receive a feedback, teams will be sent to check the public utilities and they would inform private concessionaires managing the toilet. The app will also help find location of all MCD toilets across the city. Users will be able to give feedback if these are not clean or lack basic amenities such as water taps. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation provided location of 900 public utilities; North Delhi Municipal Corporation 350 and EDMC 550. According to the results of the Swachh Survekshan survey 2017, North MCD, SDMC and EDMC ranked 279, 202 and 196 respectively in a survey held across 434 Indian cities on waste management, sanitation conditions and overall cleanliness. ?Our three agencies are currently busy with the geo-tagging of all public toilets in their jurisdiction. The process included identifying the latitude and longitude location of each toilet and marking them on google map as well so that the people can easily locate them. We are assuming the work to be completed in couple of days,? said an official from IT department, South Delhi Municipal Corporation.An official said the app will have a rating scale of Happy, Not Happy and Satisfied. ?The app users can also identify missing amenities such as no water supply, poor maintenance or repair work,? an official said. Devender Kumar, director, department of environment management services said, ?If it is dirty, we will arrange for its cleaning within hours. But, if it needs repair work, it will be done in a week?s time,? he said.A study by NGO Action Aid in December 2016 found that out of 229 toilets surveyed, only 149 had facilities for women. According to the report, out of 229 toilets 70 per cent were not clean, 65 per cent had no flush facility, 50 per cent had no water supply, 70 per cent had no signages and almost 70 per cent were not disabled friendly.

Trivedi Bhutnath

28 Jan 2017,Saturday

J&K police clear 4 km of snow to rescue pregnant woman

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kashmir-pregnant-women-stranded-in-heavy-snowfall-rescued/1/868124.html

The Jammu and Kashmir police cleared snow on about 4 kilometres of road from Pahalgam to Aru in Anantnag district, to rescue a pregnant woman stranded in her house due to heavy snowfall. A police spokesman on Friday said that they crossed 8 kilometres by foot to shift the pregnant woman to a hospital.

Srinagar, Jan 27 (PTI) Two pregnant women, holed up in their houses due to heavy snowfall, were shifted by police to hospital in Anantnag district, while eight residential houses and three school buildings were damaged in different parts of Kashmir valley, police said today. Dilshada was stranded in her snowbound Aaroo village in the periphery of Pahalgam hill resort, 100 kms from here, in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. After getting information, a police team acted swiftly and cleared snow on about four kilometres of road from Pahalgam to Aaroo and crossed eight kilometres by foot to lend a helping hand to the family to shift the pregnant woman to hospital, a police spokesman said. Another pregnant woman Masooda Jan, a resident of Panzgam village of Kokernag, in Anantnag district got stranded on road while on way to hospital and was subsequently rescued by police and evacuated to hospital, the spokesman said. He said four residential houses were damaged due to heavy snowfall at village Watto in Kulgam district while a government middle school was damaged at Hakradan village of the south Kashmir district.

Deepali Aggarwal

10 May 2017,Wednesday

Indonesians protest after Christian Guv jailed for blasphemy

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/10/jakarta-protests-christian-governor-ahok-guilty-blasphemy?CMP=twt_gu

As many as 1,000 supporters of Indonesian capital Jakarta's Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnam sang patriotic songs outside the capital's City Hall on Wednesday to protest against his imprisonment for blasphemy. Others registered their opposition to the verdict and sentencing by tweeting under the hashtag #RIPHukumIndonesia, which means "rest in peace Indonesian law".

The jailing of Jakarta?s Christian governor on blasphemy charges has sparked outrage from his supporters in Indonesia, rights organisations and the EU.On Tuesday, a court in the capital of the world?s largest Muslim-majority country found Basuki Tjahaja Purnama ? better known by his nickname Ahok ? guilty of blasphemy, sentencing him to two years in prison.?The EU has consistently stated that laws that criminalise blasphemy when applied in a discriminatory manner can have a serious inhibiting effect on freedom of expression and on freedom of religion or belief,? the EU delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam said in a statement posted on its website. The Jakarta-based rights group the Setara Institute described the verdict as a ?trial by mob?, while the British ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik, who is Muslim, tweeted a message of support.I know Ahok. Admire his wk for Jkt. Believe he isn't antiMuslim. Praying for BuVero&kids. Leaders must step up to protect tolerance&harmony. https://t.co/JcxsteEfB4At City Hall on Wednesday morning, an estimated 1,000 people wearing red and white, Indonesia?s national colours, gathered for a spontaneous choir performance in support of Ahok. Conducted by the musician Addie MS, the crowd sang the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, and Pancasila Garuda, a song about Indonesia?s founding principles of unity and diversity.When words fail, music speaks #paduansuarabalaikota #ahok #saveahok #peace #nkrihargamati #garudapancasila pic.twitter.com/CdY64EGiDNOthers registered their opposition to the verdict and sentencing by tweeting under the hashtag #RIPHukumIndonesia, which means ?rest in peace Indonesian law?.The Ahok case has been watched closely as a marker of the commitment to religious tolerance and pluralism in Indonesia, where religious hardliners have been playing an increasingly prominent role in politics.In an unusual move, the panel of five judges on Tuesday dismissed the prosecutor?s recommendations to drop the initial blasphemy charges due to insufficient evidence. Prosecutors had recommended the governor instead face a sentence of two years? probation, and one year in jail if he reoffended. But the judges ? citing among others the ?expert? opinion of an Islamic vigilante group leader ? said they found the minority governor convincingly guilty of blasphemy, incarcerating him for two years. Ahok for months faced the wrath of hardline Islamists after he cited a Qur?anic verse on the campaign trail last September. The verse, he said, had been manipulated by some religious leaders to justify the claim the Muslims should not vote for non-Muslim leaders.Uproar over an edited version of the speech that went viral spilled into a series of angry mass rallies spearheaded by Islamists since late last year, and has catalysed the deepening of religious and ethnic divides in the capital.Some observers argue that religious hardliners may have swayed the Indonesian judiciary.International human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said the verdict would tarnish Indonesia?s reputation for religious tolerance and pluralism, and urged the country to repeal its ?unjust? blasphemy law. Ahok has indicated he will appeal against the ruling.

Shubhodeep Datta

17 Dec 2016,Saturday

I-T dept seizes ?1.4 crore cash in Delhi's Karol Bagh area

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/i-t-dept-seizes-rs-1-4-cr-in-cash-including-new-notes-in-delhi/story-ne4Lj6JlXxxTnTFjjsQ9DN.html

The Income Tax department on?Friday seized ?1.4 crore in cash, including ?8 lakh in new ?2,000 banknotes, from the premises of a civil contractor in the Delhi's Karol Bagh area. The department also conducted a survey operation at the Krishna Nagar branch of Axis bank in Delhi in connection with a probe, reports said.

The Income Tax department on?Friday seized Rs 1.4 crore cash, including Rs 8 lakh in new currency, in searches on the premises of a civil contractor here as part of its anti-black money drive post demonetisation.Officials said the seizure was made from a civil sub contractor identified as P L Soni, from a location in the Karol Bagh area.They said the department conducted the searches based on a tip-off of alleged illegal cash being hoarded at this location.?The seizure of new currency was made in the denomination of Rs 2,000 notes. The old notes that were seized include the demonetised currencies of Rs 1000/500 and also the legal tender of Rs 100,? they said.The department also conducted a survey operation at the Krishna Nagar branch of Axis bank here in connection with a probe, they said.

Deepali Aggarwal

05 Jul 2017,Wednesday

No compromise possible: China on border standoff with India

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pti-special-china-says-doklam-situation-grave-rules-out/1/994140.html

Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Tuesday said that India-China military standoff in the Sikkim section is "grave". There is "no scope for a compromise" in the region, Zhaohui asserted. He added that withdrawal of Indian troops from the area is a "pre-condition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India" to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

compromise By Priyanka Tikoo New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) China today ruled out a compromise in the military standoff with India in the Sikkim section, and put the onus on New Delhi to resolve the "grave" situation. In unusually blunt remarks, Chinas Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said "the ball is in Indias court" and it was for the Indian government to decide what options could be on the table to resolve the standoff. Asked about remarks by official Chinese media and think- tanks that the conflict can lead to a "war" if not handled properly, the ambassador said in an interview to PTI: "There has been talk about this option, that option. It is up to your government policy (whether to exercise military option)." The Chinese government is very clear that it wants peaceful resolution at current state of the situation for which withdrawal of Indian troops from the area is a "pre- condition", he asserted. "The first priority is that the Indian troops unconditionally pull back to the Indian side of the boundary. That is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India," he said. China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan trijunction for past 19 days after a Chinese armys construction party came to build a road. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the area. Bhutan, however, has no diplomatic ties with China and it is supported militarily and diplomatically by India. "The situation is grave and made me deeply worried. It is the first time that Indian troops have crossed the mutually recognised boundary and trespassed into Chinas territory, triggering a close range face off between Chinese and Indian border troops. Now 19 days have passed, but the situation still has not eased," Luo said. He also asserted that India has no right to interfere with the China-Bhutan boundary talks, nor is it entitled to make territorial claims on behalf of Bhutan. On the standoff, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India was "deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India".

Prashanti Moktan

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

DDLJ show at Maratha Mandir cancelled for 1st time in 22 yrs

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/ddlj-matinee-show-cancelled-at-mumbai-s-maratha-mandir-for-the-first-time-in-22-years-here-s-why/story-aOerdDZAhQ1i5hfsHy25bI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge's matinee show at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir was cancelled for the first time in 22 years as the cinema hall held the screening of Shraddha Kapoor's film Haseena Parkar's trailer. This also marked the first time that the iconic theatre held a film's trailer screening. The makers chose the venue as Parkar lived close to Maratha Mandir.

Mumbai?s iconic Maratha Mandir ? which has been running the movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) for the past two decades ? had another first, but not the kind that would make Shah Rukh Khan fans happy. For the first time in 22 years, the film?s matinee show was cancelled for the trailer screening of Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Haseena Parkar on Tuesday. The film is a biopic on gangster Dawood Ibrahim?s sister, who is also known as ?Queen of Mumbai?.Manoj Desai, executive director of Maratha Mandir Cinema, said the makers of the film thought of launching the trailer there as Parkar lived in Dongri, which is very close to Maratha Mandir. Actors Siddhant Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and Ankur Bhatia with director Apoorva Lakhia (second from left) launch the trailer of film Haseena Parkar at Maratha Mandir on Tuesday. (PTI) Desai, however, insists no injustice has been done to DDLJ. ?The film-makers approached me with the idea and said they would pay equivalent to a houseful show. I ran the idea past Yash Raj Films (producers of DDLJ), who agreed and that is how this was planned.? The tickets for the matinee show cost between Rs15-20 and the theatre is mostly full, especially on weekends.A board outside the theatre on Monday informed DDLJ fans that the show had been cancelled. This was also the first time Maratha Mandir, inaugurated in late 1950s, was the venue for a movie trailer launch. READ?MORESee an aging Shraddha Kapoor in new Haseena: The Queen of Mumbai imagesShraddha Kapoor meets Dawood?s family on sets of Haseena biopic

Saloni Tandon

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Cricketers question ?25 lakh award for select women players

http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-officials-fume-as-more-women-cricketers-seek-payments/story-Qpoz99YcHTUezIOJFAwN5J.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Former women cricketers have reportedly written to BCCI, questioning the Committee of Administrators' decision of awarding select ex-players a one-time payment of ?25 lakh. The board has claimed that a few former players have also demanded the amount, but the BCCI is not able to verify their credentials. Three players were awarded ?25 lakh, while three were given ?15 lakh.

The Committee of Administrators? decision to make one-time payments to a few former women cricketers has left the Indian cricket board (BCCI) in a bind as it is now being approached by more players seeking similar benefits.BCCI sources say they have received five-six applications where some women cricketers have questioned the basis for awarding cheques to only a few, claiming they too deserve money.A top board official from South Zone told HT: ?The CoA?s decision to give those one-time cheques has left us in a quandary. There are five-six players already who want similar cheques. The problem is authenticating each and every application that is coming our way. Records of some of the players are not even available and cross-checking for authenticity is very difficult.?READ | Anurag Thakur won?t shy away from ?accepting BCCI?responsibility?In addition to the one-time cheques, handed over at the IPL opening ceremony in April, the Supreme Court-appointed CoA had also pushed for a monthly pension of Rs 15000 for former women cricketers who have played between one and four Tests.Although there were reports that BCCI had approved that in a June meeting, sources say the issue is still in limbo as it is yet to be approved by the treasurer. Those who have played 10 or more Tests are expected to get Rs 22,500 per month.The official said the decision on pension is likely to make matters worse.The board officials are peeved because all these ex-cricketers played under the aegis of Women?s Cricket Association of India, which ran the game until BCCI took over. The BCCI officials says they don?t even have the records of the applicants to authenticate their claims.Row over paymentsThe CoA, which has former India women?s team skipper, Diana Edulji, as a member, had asked BCCI to give one-time payments to six women players. Deepa Kulkarni, Sangita Dabir and Arundhati Ghosh got Rs 25 lakh each while Behroze Edulji, who is Diana?s sister, Sunita Singh and Vrinda Bhagat were given Rs 15 lakh each.These amounts were approved after much drama as it was considered a policy decision that could only be taken by the BCCI general body and not CoA. However, the BCCI eventually relented.READ |?Accolades pour in for India for entering ICC?Women?s World?Cup semis?The same thing is happening with the pension also as it is a policy decision and needs to be taken at general body level,? the official said.Sunita Singh had played two Tests and 18 ODIs while Vrinda Bhagat played two Tests and 11 ODIs. Behroze had played just one Test.?The feeling in the Board circles is that the CoA didn?t take into account the gravity of the issue.?

Ankush Verma

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau meets baby Justin Trudeau

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/16/justin-trudeau-meets-baby-justin-trudeau?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday came face to face with his namesake as he met the baby of Syrian refugees who was named in his honour. The two-month-old Justin Trudeau Adam Bilan was seen sleeping as the Prime Minister held him. The boy's parents named him as a gesture of thanks to the country that offered them refuge.

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, came face to face with his namesake as he met the baby of Syrian refugees who was named in his honour.The meeting took place at the Calgary Stampede on Saturday, where two-month-old Justin Trudeau Adam Bilan slept happily as the prime minister briefly held him.The boy?s parents, Muhammad and Afraa Bilan, named him as a gesture of thanks to the country that offered them sanctuary.The family came to Canada from Damascus in February last year, after escaping the Syria?s war. Their son was born several months after their arrival in Alberta.In December 2015 Trudeau greeted 163 Syrian refugees in Toronto, as the country prepared for thousands more arrivals. Since then 40,081 refugees have settled in the country.This has not come without its challenges, and the families who have been resettled have talked about the difficulties of finding work and learning English or French. Settlement agencies launched workshops to help refugees cope with the anxiety and some criticised the federal government for not doing enough for refugees.Speaking last year, John McCallum, Canada?s minister for immigration, refugees and citizenship, said the government had increased funding for language training to address shortages across the country. He said that while Canada?s ambitious project to settle tens of thousands of refugees was not perfect, it had gone extremely well. ?And what makes me proud is not just that we got the job done, which we did ? but there is still more to do ? but really that if you compare Canada with other countries around the globe which are tending to close their doors to refugees, Canadians responded so overwhelmingly positively to the refugees.?

Shubhodeep Datta

11 Mar 2017,Saturday

AAP fails to win a single seat in Goa Assembly

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/goa-election-result-assembly-poll-2017-vidhan-sabha-constituencies/1/901958.html

The Aam Aadmi Party failed to win a single seat in the recently concluded Goa Assembly elections. The AAP's vote share in its electoral debut in Goa was the fifth-highest at 6.3%. A fractured mandate was delivered for the 40-member Goa Assembly, with Congress emerging as the largest party with 17 seats, closely followed by BJP with 13 seats.

Goa Assembly Election results 2017 LIVE BLOG: Will debutante Aam Aadmi Party fail to make an impact?Goa Assembly election results will be declared today. Goa went to polls on February 4 for its 40 Assembly seats. Goa Assembly election was held in one phase. Goa Assembly election saw a triangular fight among the ruling BJP, the Congress and debutante Aam Aadmi Party.

Rini Kapoor

14 Dec 2016,Wednesday

2 Mumbai kids die after soldier's wife runs car over them

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mumbai-driving-soldier-wife-car-rams-cycle-kids-die/1/833110.html

Two children were killed in Mumbai after the wife of an army soldier ran her car over them while learning to drive from her husband, reports said. The victims, aged seven and twelve, were riding bicycles when they came in front of the car. Reportedly, the woman panicked and pressed the accelerator instead of applying the brakes.

In a shocking incident at the military station in south Mumbai, wife of a Lance Naik killed two small children after running a car over them. The Lance Naik was teaching his wife to drive inside the military station, restricted area of south Mumbai where two brothers, aged seven and 12, were riding cycles.The woman, instead of applying brakes, applied accelerator and ran over the two boys killing them on the spot. The woman, identified as Sangita Rai, 34, is a housewife and her 36-year0old husband Santosh Kumar is a Lance Naik in the Army.Both the husband and the wife were arrested by the Cuff Parade police and further investigations are on.The two children, identified as Akshansa Dhyani, 12 and Abhay, 7 are both real brothers. Their father Ravi Prasad too is an armyman and currently is posted in the Assam area. The incident took place on Sunday in the Navy Nagar area of south Mumbai. ALSO READ | Man livestreams 183kph drive on Facebook, ends up..HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENEDSantosh was teaching his wife Sangita how to drive a car. Sangita does not have a driving license or a learner's license. The Santro car with which the accident took place is registered in Delhi. While the couple was practising driving, the two brothers were riding cycles. As the boys were riding in front of the car, the accused Lance Naik Santosh asked his wife Sangita to apply brakes, but instead, she applied the accelerator. In the horrific incident, the first child came down under the car and died insteadly. Sangita panicked and could not apply the brakes even then. Instead, she applied more accelerator. The second child got stuck on the bonnet of the car and was dragged long away. With the boy on the car's bonnet, the car rammed into a tree, killing him instantly. Both the brothers died on the spot.

Parmeet Kaur

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Rural areas in Gurugram to get 24x7 power supply from Aug 15

http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/urban-gurgaon-gets-uninterrupted-power-24-7-supply-plan-is-for-rural-areas-discom-chief/story-2Cp62Id3U80I8mzn4qu5RL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Haryana's power distribution companies have announced that they are working towards providing 24x7 power supply to rural areas in Gurugram from August 15. The urban areas in Gurugram are already getting uninterrupted power supply, they added. Earlier, the Haryana government had said it aims to make Gurugram and Ambala districts power-cut free from August 15.

The state government?s promise that Gurgaon will be free of power cuts and get 24x7 electricity supply from August 15 got a new twist on Sunday. Shatrujeet Kapoor, chairman-cum-managing director of Haryana?s two power distribution companies, said that Gurgaon?s urban areas are already getting 24x7 power supply and now the government aims to improve electricity supply in villages.Kapoor, who heads Uttar and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (UHBVN-DHBVN), met panchayat representatives and discom officials at Farrukhnagar on Sunday to review the plan to provide uninterrupted power supply in?Gurgaon.?There are outages and technical faults in Gurgaon causing power cuts, but those area separate issues and have to be handled at the local level. The government had already announced that Gurgaon (urban areas)?will get uninterrupted power supply,? Kapoor said.?Our aim is to provide 24-hour electricity to rural areas of the district. The DHBVN has chalked out a plan for uninterrupted electricity to villages from August 15,? he added.Responding to Kapoor?s claims of urban Gurgaon getting uninterrupted power supply, Animesh Saxena, president of Udyog Vihar Industry Association, said, ?This is not true at all. We are dependent on generators for power back up as an average of four to five-hour power cuts continue to take place. If it happens due to a local fault, it is their (the discom?s)?responsibility to improve distribution.?Industry owners in the city have been grappling with long power cuts for the past four months.?If the infrastructure is pathetic, who is responsible for that? Who will rectify the error and improve electricity supply? Kapoor cannot get away by saying it has been announced that Gurgaon is getting uninterrupted power supply. The fact of the matter is that industries are facing an average of four-hour power cuts daily. So the government?s claim of uninterrupted supply is an eyewash,? said Ashok Kohli, president, Chamber of Industries, Udyog Vihar.The government aims to make Gurgaon and Ambala districts power-cut free from August 15. According to Kapoor, the government has prepared a blueprint under which rural feeders of these two districts will be strengthened and power infrastructure improved as per requirement. He said a Bijli Sudhar Samiti would be formed in every village of Gurgaon and Ambala to help make the plan a success. He added that faulty electricity lines will be replaced and new transformers installed in the district for which a Rs45-crore fund has been approved.The CMD said that the power utilities have distributed around 1.25 crore LED bulbs in the last one year to save around 200 mega watt (MW) power daily. He added that if power theft is curbed, electricity rates can come down.Rao Narbir Singh, minister for public works (buildings and roads), too visited several villages in his Badshahpur assembly constituency on Friday and announced the state?s plan to provide 24x7 electricity supply in Gurgaon.

Sumedha Sehra

12 Jun 2017,Monday

Women beat up molesters with slippers in Gurugram

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/women-staff-of-pub-beat-up-harassers-at-gurgaon-mall/1/976473.html

A group of women working at a pub in Gurugram beat up around a dozen men making obscene gestures at them outside a mall at night. The men approached two of the women, and tried to pull one of them towards the car they came in. They fled after the women took off their slippers and beat them up.

Not unfamiliar with late-hour spectacles, Gurgaon's Mall Mile, a one-km stretch dotted with shopping malls and night clubs, was witness to yet another eventful night on Saturday - albeit with a twist. A group of women pub workers, fed up with obscene gestures and physical assault by a few men, took out their slippers to teach their tormentors a lesson.The brawl was captured by several onlookers on their mobile phones and these clips are now in circulation on social media. The half-hour high drama makes a mockery of Gurugram Police's claims of night patrol at the stretch, which has been in news for open sex trade and crimes against women.MISSING POLICE PRESENCE"There was hardly any police presence on MG Road when this incident happened. Onlookers were busy shooting the fight on their cameras," BN Lal, an eye-witness and a resident of the area, told Mail Today. "While sex deals taking place on the (MG) road are an open secret, police patrolling is seen only after a major crime is highlighted in the media. A few weeks later, it is business as usual," Lal added. Several eyewitnesses said the "ugly episode" took place around 1 AM when a group of four to five women, apparently working with the various pubs in the vicinity, were waiting outside Sahara Mall for transport. "Some drunk men repeatedly made obscene gestures to the women and one of them approached them. This was followed by heated arguments and commotion, which made the men leave the spot," said one of the eyewitnesses, requesting anonymity."However, these men, about a dozen in count, returned five-ten minutes later and again approached one of the younger women in the group," said the eyewitness. "They must have been emboldened by the absence of any police patrol vehicle in the area."Lal said a fresh round of arguments began after which one of the men tried to pull one of the women to where his vehicle was parked. The scuffle sparked anxiety among other women who rushed to help their colleague.SLIPPERS FLY"One of them took out his slipper and waved at the assailant. In a flash, all the women took off their footwear and began beating up the harasser. His friends came to help him but they also received the same treatment," Lal said. "As a crowd gathered, the men ran away in their vehicles."There are seven night clubs in Sahara Mall and each has the capacity of hosting about 100 guests. Local residents complain that at 1 AM, when these pubs down shutters, MG road gets crowded with groups of drunk men who are a nuisance. "The situation is worst on weekends," said a resident.A security guard at the mall, who refused to be named, said when the patrons come out of these night clubs, they try to strike deals with women, some of whom are regular employees and others who facilitate entry to stag pub-goers. "Such brawls usually occur when either a deal goes wrong or regular women employees are inappropriately approached. The Saturday incident seems to be the latter case," said the guard. "When Gurgaon Police are around, there is little nuisance but when the patrol party is absent, such arguments are common. Only this time, the molesters were at the receiving end," the guard added.There are 15 night clubs in various malls on the stretch. Residents said they have approached the district administration but it has failed to come with an effective strategy to deal with the weekly ruckus. "Pub owners must be held accountable for such incidents. They must ensure that female guests or staff leave their premises safely," said a local resident.City police tried to wash their hands of the matter by saying that such incidents were more of a social problem then a crime. Manish Sehgal, ACP (crime) of Gurugram Police said, "We have deployed policemen and women in civil uniform to identify miscreants. There are regular drives to nab troublemakers."Sehgal said the police are yet to receive any complaint in the case and will take appropriate action if they are approached by the victims.

Vani Vivek

23 Jun 2017,Friday

Phone screen coating to let people read in bright light made

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/new-smartphone-coating-allows-you-to-read-in-bright-sunlight/1/985588.html

Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed an anti-glare film that could allow people to read from their smartphones and tablets even in bright sunlight. The coating is inspired by the nanostructures that cover moth eyes and prevent light from reflecting off them. The flexible, self-cleaning coating increases readability by up to 10 times in different lighting conditions.

Washington, Jun 23 (PTI) Inspired by the nanostructures found on moth eyes, scientists have developed a new anti- reflection film that could allow people to read from their smartphones and tablets even in bright sunlight. The film exhibits a surface reflection of just 0.23 per cent, much lower than the iPhones surface reflection of 4.4 per cent, for example. Reflection is the major reason it is difficult to read a phone screen in bright sunlight, as the strong light reflecting off the screens surface washes out the display. "Using our flexible anti-reflection film on smartphones and tablets will make the screen bright and sharp, even when viewed outside," said Shin-Tson Wu from the University of Central Florida in the US. "In addition to exhibiting low reflection, our nature- inspired film is also scratch resistant and self-cleaning, which would protect touch screens from dust and fingerprints," said Wu, who led the study published in the journal Optica. The new film contains tiny uniform dimples, each about 100 nanometres in diameter (about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair). The coating can also be used with flexible display applications such as phones with screens that fold like a book, which are expected to hit the market as soon as next year. Many of todays smartphones use a sensor to detect bright ambient light and then boost the screens brightness level enough to overcome the strong surface reflection. Although this type of adaptive brightness control can help improve readability, it also drains battery power. Other methods for solving the sunlight visibility problem have proved difficult to implement. Looking for a simpler approach to improve screen readability outside, the researchers turned to nature. The eyes of moths are covered with a pattern of antireflective nanostructures that allow moths to see in the dark and prevent eye reflections that might be seen by predators. The researchers developed a fabrication technique that uses self-assembled nanospheres to form a precise template that can be used to create the moth-eye-like structure on a coating.

Abhishek Bansal

01 May 2017,Monday

Indians can come to Turkey for honeymoon: Erdogan

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/erdogan-makes-a-pitch-for-india-turkey-fta/1/942694.html

Promoting tourism during his ongoing India visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said, "[W]e would like to host more Indian tourists in Turkey... you can come to Turkey for honeymoon." Erdogan, who was addressing the India-Turkey Business Summit in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, also stressed on further developing collaboration between Turkish Airlines and Air India.

Vaibhav Gupta

15 Dec 2016,Thursday

Gujarat Cabinet bans hookah bars across the state

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/guj-cabinet-clears-ordinance-banning-hookah-bars-in-state/1/835480.html

The Gujarat Cabinet on Thursday cleared an ordinance which seeks to impose a total ban on hookah bars across the state, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said. Once the law comes into effect, those found violating it could face prison up to 3 years and a fine up to ?50,000, Gujarat MoS for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said.

Ahmedabad, Dec 15 (PTI) The Gujarat Cabinet today cleared an Ordinance, which seeks to impose a total ban on hookah bars across the state. "The Gujarat cabinet today approved an ordinance to effect necessary amendments in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003," Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja said in Gandhinagar. Once it comes into effect, those found operating such hookah joints in violation of the law, would face stringent action, including imprisonment up to three years, he said. "To save our youths from this deadly addiction, our government has decided to shut all the hookah bars. Running a hookah bar will be considered as a cognisable offence which would attract a fine of Rs 20,000 to 50,000 and imprisonment from one year to three years," said Jadeja.

Dishant Sharma

30 Apr 2017,Sunday

Bayern Munich win record fifth straight Bundesliga title

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bayern-munich-record-fifth-straight-bundesliga-title/1/941817.html

Bayern Munich secured a record-extending fifth consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after defeating VfL Wolfsburg 6-0 to register an unassailable 10-point lead at the top of the table with three matches remaining. This was Bayern's 27th German league title with their manager Carlo Ancelotti now being the first manager to win titles in four of 'the big five' leagues.

Bayern Munich secured a record-extending fifth consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after beating VfL Wolfsburg 6-0 to open up an unassailable 10-point lead with three matches remaining.The Bavarians, who have now won 27 German championships, are on 73 points with RB Leipzig in second place on 63 after they were held to a goalless draw by Ingolstadt earlier in the day.CONGRATULATIONS @FCBayernEN!!! #Bundesliga champions for the 26th time and for a record fifth season running! ð???ð???ð???ð???ð???ð???ð??? #WOBFCB 0-6 pic.twitter.com/GVC6RiGRlwBundesliga leading scorer Robert Lewandowski netted twice to take his league goal tally to 28 and David Alaba, Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben and Joshua Kimmich were also on target as Bayern rode roughshod over the hosts.The Bavarians had promised to bounce back following their mid-week German Cup semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund and last week's Champions League exit to Real Madrid.

Tarun Khanna

05 Apr 2017,Wednesday

Delhi Cong working like business house: Sandeep Dikshit

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mcd-election-ajay-maken-sandeep-dikshit-congress/1/919540.html

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has alleged that Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken is running party's city unit as a "business house". "The high command should take note of this fact and also that one person is taking all the decisions," he said. "Though Maken is indulging in condemnable acts, Congress leaders shouldn't quit the party," he added.n

Twenty days before the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, a serious infighting is brewing in Congress. Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit has launched a frontal attack on colleagues Ajay Maken and PC Chacko accusing them of running the Delhi unit of the party like a "business house".Talking to India Today on phone, Sandeep Dikshit alleged that Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken was indulging in cheap acts. "What is happening is Delhi is unfortunate," he said.Dikshit's offensive comes hours after former Delhi MLA Amrish Gautam quit Congress and joined the BJP while former Congress minister AK Walia threatened to quit over ticket distribution for the civic polls.Dikshit said those quitting Congress at this juncture would lose his sympathy. "Even though Maken is indulging in condemnable acts, I appeal to all Congressmen not to quit the party otherwise they will lose my sympathy," he said.Dikshit alleged that the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee was functioning like a business house and its in charge PC Chacko had become a party to it.He said, "Delhi Congress has also taken the same route as Uttarakhand. The high command should take note of this fact and also that one person is taking all the decisions," he said.He seconded party leader Arvinder Singh Lovely's charge that Maken does not take the calls of not just the party workers but also of the leaders.Meanwhile, Maken has defended the ticket distribution for the MCD elections. He tweeted for the first time after senior leaders hurled allegations against him over ticket distribution. He tweeted, "Congress tickets to the youth, Arjuna Awardee, national sportsperson and MBBS rank holdersâ?¦ 215 fresh faces after recording choice of 39,098 workers."

Tarun Khanna

31 Mar 2017,Friday

Out of shape personnel will miss out on promotion: Army

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/army-obesity-promotion/1/917039.html

In order to check obesity in the force, the Indian Army has warned that out of shape personnel would miss out on promotion, foreign postings and career enhancement courses. As per the new policy, the senior officers have been granted powers to carry out random checks and medically downgrade such people after a thorough check up.

With a number of officers and men looking out of shape in their uniforms and failing in physical tests, the Indian Army has waged a war against obesity in the force warning that such personnel would miss out on promotion, foreign postings and career enhancement courses in the force.As per the new policy issued by Army last week on reducing obesity in the force, there would no place to hide for obese officers and men as senior officers have been granted powers to carry out random checks during their visits and medically downgrade such people after a thorough check up.

Chhavi Tyagi

31 Jan 2017,Tuesday

Budget on Feb 1 beginning of a new tradition: PM Modi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/union-budget-2017-narendra-modi-parliament/1/870624.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the advancement of Budget presentation to February 1 and the Rail Budget being incorporated into it is the beginning of a new tradition. "Everyone would remember that earlier budget used to take place at 5 pm. This practice was changed during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time," Modi added.

Ahead of Parliament's Budget session that began today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the advancement of Budget presentation to February 1 is the beginning of a new tradition."Today, a new tradition will begin. First, the budget is being advanced by nearly a month. And second, Rail Budget is being incorporated into this. There will be discussion on this also and the benefits that it will have in the coming times," he said."Everyone would remember that earlier budget used to take place at 5 pm. This practice was changed during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time," Modi said.Modi hoped the current session will be "fruitful" and all political parties will work together for people's benefit."We had discussions with every political party individually and collectively. There should be productive and detailed discussion of the budget during the session," Modi said while addressing the media here.Also read: Budget Session 2017 LIVE: Demonetisation a bold decision in interest of poor, says President Mukherjee"I urge all parties to help in smooth functioning of the session. I hope for fruitful discussions. We aim at positive and meaningful debates for public interest. I am hopeful all political parties will work together to move forward," he said.

Parmeet Kaur

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Delhi University's first ECA quota merit list out

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/first-eca-quota-merit-list-out-at-delhi-university/story-gLJ3Nr4YS5galHVqZjPP6O.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Colleges affiliated to the University of Delhi on Friday released their first list for admissions under the Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) quota. Colleges reserve upto 5% seats for students who show excellence in activities like dance, music and theatre among others. Approximately 1,100 students made it to the merit list this year for 12 ECA categories recognised by the University.nn

The second day of admissions under the fourth cutoff list at Delhi University colleges also saw the colleges releasing their admission lists for seats under the Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) quota.Colleges of Delhi University, which have reserved supernumerary seats for the ECA quota, released their first ECA admission list on Friday. Students who have made it to the list can confirm their admission on Saturday and Monday.DU has around 56,000 seats in its 60-odd colleges with approximately 50,000 seats for merit-based courses. Admissions to almost 42,000 of these seats were approved by the end of Friday. Saturday is the last day of admissions under the fourth cutoff list at DU.In addition to this, DU colleges reserve up to 5% supernumerary seats for students who have shown great prowess in extra curricular activities like dance, music, theatre, debate and any of the 12 ECA categories recognised by the university. After two rounds of trials, approximately 1,100 students had made it to the merit list this year for the 12 categories.At least 120 students have made it to the Indian Classical Dance merit list, while a 110 students have made it to the English Debate list. However, making it to the merit list does not guarantee admission, according to Shalini, the head of ECA admissions at DU.About 865 students had gotten a seat under the ECA quota last year, and this year, the number is expected to go upto 900, according to DU sources.Students who had made it to the ECA merit lists had to approach the colleges of their choice ? given that they reserve seats for the particular ECA category ? and get themselves registered for admission after getting their documents verified.The colleges then prepared an admission list, based on their requirements, which was released on Friday. Students can access the lists of the individual colleges on the respective institution?s website.Many popular courses are available under the ECA quota at top colleges. Kamla Nehru College has released a list of 23 students, Ramjas College has 21 students in their first list, Miranda House has released a list of 20 students, Lady Shri Ram College has released a list of 19 students, and Daulat Ram College has released a list of 18 students. Colleges where admissions have been closed for most courses have also released the admissions list. At Gargi College, 39 students have made it to the first admissions list.Students who may not have made it to the ECA admissions list in the first round, have another four more rounds to go.?All seats will not necessarily be filled by the end of the first cycle, as the same student may have made it to the list of multiple colleges, but would seek admission only at one. So a second cycle of admission will start on July 18, which will follow a similar schedule. There will be five such admission cycles, and students will need to re-register under each cycle, if they wish to be considered for admission under that session,? Shalini said.Admissions under the ECA category is expected to go on until August 10.BOX:Schedule of ECA Admissions:July 8: release of ECA merit listFirst cycle of admissions:July 11-13: Registration and verification of documents at individual colleges under first cycle of admissionsJuly 14: Colleges will issue a notification with the names of those eligible for admissionJuly 15 and 17: Students will need to complete their admission procedure at concerned colleges, if selectedSecond cycle of admissions:July 18-20: Registration and verification of documents at individual colleges under second cycle of admissionsJuly 21: Colleges will issue a notification with the names of those eligible for admissionJuly 22 and 24: Students will need to complete their admission procedure at concerned colleges, if selectedThird cycle of admissions:July 25-26: Registration and verification of documents at individual colleges under third cycle of admissionsJuly 27: Colleges will issue a notification with the names of those eligible for admissionJuly 28-29: Students will need to complete their admission procedure at concerned colleges, if selectedFourth cycle of admissions:July 31 and August 1: Registration and verification of documents at individual colleges under fourth cycle of admissionsAugust 2: Colleges will issue a notification with the names of those eligible for admissionAugust 3-4: Students will need to complete their admission procedure at concerned colleges, if selectedFifth cycle of admissions:August 5 and 7: Registration and verification of documents at individual colleges under fourth cycle of admissionsAugust 8: Colleges will issue a notification with the names of those eligible for admissionAugust 9-10: Students will need to complete their admission procedure at concerned colleges, if selected

Vani Vivek

15 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Uber taxi set on fire amidst ongoing cab drivers' strike

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/ola-uber-strike-taxi-set-on-fire-by-protesting-drivers-delhi-ncr-commuter-woes-continue/story-y6FNFUXkIfyZ2NGdwNXvoN.html

An Uber taxi was set on fire by protesters on Tuesday in Ghaziabad amidst the ongoing strike by drivers of app-based cab aggregators in Delhi NCR demanding better pay. The protesters allegedly hurled stones at the car to stop it and poured some inflammable substance before setting it afire. Earlier, Delhi High Court restrained drivers' unions from blocking the cabs.

The strike by drivers of app-based cab aggregators turned violent late on Tuesday night as some unidentified protesters set a cab afire near Green Valley in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. The cab driver, Rahul Kumar, said that he operated for Uber and has lodged a police complaint. Kumar, who is from Vijay Nagar, said that the protesters allegedly stopped the cab returning from Vaishali and poured some inflammable substance before setting it afire. ?There were nearly 15-20 protesting drivers who were hovering around on bikes. They hurled stones and I had to stop before they poured inflammable substance and set my car afire. They took away one mobile while two mobile got burnt inside the car. I have been driving for Uber for past 3-4 months,? Rahul said. Uber cab driver's car set afire by protesting cab drivers in #Indirapuram #Ghaziabad, Police lodges FIR @htTweets @htnoidagzb pic.twitter.com/AfvzauBX6z? Peeyush Khandelwal (@journopk) February 15, 2017The strike by Ola and Uber drivers, meanwhile, worsened on Wednesday morning, as agitating drivers turned violent. Office-goers had to once again resort to alternative ways to reach their workplace while the autos reportedly refused to go by the meter. Instances of drivers, who returned to work, being assaulted and their cars getting vandalised were reported from across the Capital, though no police complaint was made.After a meeting with representatives of Rajdhani Tourist Driver Union and managements of Ola and Uber, the government said, ?It was firmly conveyed to the companies to look into the problems faced by drivers? Majority of the drivers are not in favour of any strike but some external anti-social elements are illegally preventing the app-based drivers from plying their vehicles?.Transport minister Satyendra Jain also directed his department to inform Delhi Police about locations where groups leading the protest are attacking drivers and ensure criminal complaints are lodged.Travel woesOn Wednesday morning, very few cabs were available to commuters. The waiting time for each being more than 15 minutes and high surge rates being applied.Commuters said that the auto drivers also took advantage of the situation and charged enormous amounts for rides. ?To get to CGO complex from my house in CR park, I had to pay the auto Rs 300 as I had no other option. Instead of cooperating, the auto drivers are having a gala time. People will have to pay when they have no option,? Nikhil Singh, a commuter, said.?One auto driver also told me that it is payback time as these cab aggregators had taken away their business from them. He said that all their customers had shifted to Ola and Uber and they had incurred losses. So, now they have a chance to recover the loss. Amidst all this, it is the commuters who suffer. How do we get to work? These cabs made commuting so convenient that we have now grown used to them and depend on them,? Shelly Malhotra, another commuter said. Strike turns violent Meanwhile, Rahul Kumar, whose cab was burnt on Tuesday night said that he tried to plead with the protesters that its was his brother?s car. ?My car got stolen last year and I had roped in my brother?s car. They did not heed to my request and set the car afire by pouring kerosene,? Kumar said. The police said that they are trying to trace the culprits involved in the incident. ?We have registered an FIR against the culprits who set the cab afire. Investigation is on and police deployed to check activities of protesters,? said Anil Kumar Yadav, circle officer (Indirapuram).Rahul had dropped a passenger at Vaishali Sector-5 and was returning home when his car was stopped by several bike borne men near Green Valley Road in Indirapuram. ?We got a call from the control room about the incident. By the time we reached the spot, the cab was already in flames. The driver had de-boarded and did not sustain any injuries. He told us that the car was set afire by protesters,? said Ajay Sharma, fire safety officer, Vaishali.During past several days, there have been small protests by the agitated cab drivers near Vaishali, Kaushambi Metro stations in Ghaziabad and also close to Delhi-border areas. Two days back, they also stopped the operating cabs and broke windscreens, punctured car tyres near Vaishali metro station. Tuesday, more than a dozen drivers also staged a sit in outside Vaishali metro station and fled the spot after police was informed.Around 1.5 lakh such cabs ply in Delhi-NCR on a daily basis. The strike situation could have been worse but, the kaali-peeli taxi and a section of auto-rickshaw unions pulled out of the strike on Sunday after a meeting with transport minister Satyendra Jain.On Tuesday, the Delhi government also convened a meeting between representatives of Rajdhani Tourist Driver Union and managements of Ola and Uber. The meeting, however, did not include anybody from the union.

Akshita Jain

08 Mar 2017,Wednesday

Female foeticide can't be allowed to take place: PM Modi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-narendra-modi-female-foeticide-women-sarpanchs-modi-in-gandhinagar-clean-india-movement/1/899611.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that female foeticide cannot be allowed to take place and villages with women sarpanchs can help in ending this menace. He further said that women have broken so many myths and have shown how a positive change has begun in rural India. Modi was honouring sarpanchs who have contributed towards Clean India movement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that female foeticide can't be allowed to take place and villages with women sarpanchs can play key role in showing the way in ending the menace.  He was in Gandhinagar honouring sarpanchs who have contributed immensely towards clean India movement.  "Female foeticide can't be allowed to take place. Villages with women sarpanchs can play key role and show the way in ending female foeticide," PM Modi said.He further added that women have broken so many myths and they have shown how a positive change has begun in rural India.Talking about cleanliness, he also said, "We will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He always said India lives in the villages. Gandhiji also said cleanliness is more important than political freedom. You can imagine the commitment he had towards cleanliness."Also read:At PM Narendra Modi's Women's Day event in Gujarat, a woman dragged out of venue

Chhavi Tyagi

28 Jun 2017,Wednesday

J'khand man's house set on fire after dead cow found outside

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jharkhand-mob-beat-up-man-giridih-dead-cow/1/989028.html

A Muslim man was beaten up and his house was set on fire by a mob after a headless carcass of a cow was found near his home in Jharkhand's Giridih district on Tuesday. The police reportedly reached the spot and rescued the man and his family. The victim was admitted to a hospital and is stated to be stable.

A 200-strong mob beat up a Muslim man and set his house on fire after a dead cow was found outside his home in Jharkhand's Giridih district on Tuesday. Usman Ansari was attacked after some villagers found the dead cow outside his house in Beria Hatiatand village in Deori area of Giridih district. According to reports, the police arrived at the spot and rescued Ansari and his family as the violent mob tried to torch his house. Ansari was taken to a local hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. The police said it had to open fire to disperse the crowd, which resorted to stone pelting. "Our men and officials braved the crowd and immediately rescued Ansari and his family members. When the police tried to take him to hospital, there was resistance from the crowd. There was heavy stone-pelting. We had to open fire in the air," said Jharkhand police spokesperson and ADG (Operations) R K Mullik.About 50 policemen were also injured in the stone pelting, Mullik added. One person was injured in the police firing.A heavy police deployment has been made in the village after the incident to prevent the situation from worsening further. No arrest has been made so far.The incident in Giridih, some 200 km from Jharkhand capital Ranchi, comes just days after a 16-year-old teen was beaten to death inside a local train in Ballabgarh, Haryana, by a mob which accused him of carrying beef. Junaid Khan was beaten up in front of his brothers while he was returning home from Delhi after Eid shopping.  ALSO READ:Rajasthan: Muslim man killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar, attack caught on camMake cow national animal, give life imprisonment for slaughter: Rajasthan High Court tells Centre

Ankur Vyas

18 Apr 2017,Tuesday

39 Sikh politicians given religious punishment by Akal Takht

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akal-takht-declares-tankhaiya-sikh-members-of-sad-cong-aap/1/931413.html

Akal Takht (Sikh religious authority) on Monday awarded religious punishment to 39 Sikh politicians from the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party for seeking votes from Dera Sacha Sauda during the recent Assembly polls. The leaders violated the 2007 directive of the Takht, excommunicating the Dera head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, for impersonating Guru Gobind Singh.

Amritsar, Apr 17 (PTI) The Akal Takht today announced tankha (religious punishment) on as many as 39 politicians, including those from SAD, Congress and AAP, for visiting Dera Sacha Sauda prior to Punjab Assembly polls ignoring its call for boycott of the sect. Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh issued an edict to 39 representatives of various political parties holding them tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) asking them to perform sewa (service) in the Sikh shrines. On April 4, The top temporal seat of Sikhs had asked the representatives of political parties to appear before it with regard to their visit to Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa prior to the assembly election in Punjab to seek votes. All Sikh activists were asked to submit their clarification about the motive behind their visit to Dera Sacha Sauda sect inspite of the facts Akal Takht had announced boycott of Sect. Singh said during the election campaign the members of political outfits had gone to the headquarter of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh headed sect "to seek support and blessings" which was "against the Sikh ethics and customs". He said the head of the sect was held guilty by Akal Takht for various blasphemous acts which had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community by and large across the globe. Members (particularly Sikhs) of various political parties including Congress, SAD and AAP who were asked to appear before the Akal Takht, since being a Sikh no one could visit sect headquarter especially when the community was asked by it to boycott the tainted sect, Singh said. Members of SAD who were awarded tankha from Akal Takht included Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Sikander Singh Maluka, Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Parkash Singh Bhatti, Kawaljit Singh Roji Barkandi, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Nishan Singh Budlada, Mantar Singh Brar, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Gobind Singh Longowal, Surinderpal Singh, Guljar Singh, Hardip Singh, Darsh Singh Kot Fatha and Jagdip Singh Nakoi. From Congress Amrinder Singh Raja, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Randip Singh Nabha, Darshan Singh Brar, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Sadu Singh Dharmsot, Karan Kaur Brar, Kushbaj Singh Jatana, Rajinder Singh Samana and Daman Kaur Bajwa, while AAPs Narinder Singh was also among those punished.

Arshiya Chopra

28 Jul 2017,Friday

13-yr-old boy raped in Mumbai dies of multiple organ failure

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-boy-raped-dies-after-consuming-poison-father-records-dying-declaration/story-7LJSP3uXfMcmXVNDKNeX8L.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A 13-year-old boy from Mumbai, who was allegedly gangraped earlier this month, died of multiple organ failure on Tuesday after consuming rat poison on July 12. The boy was assaulted along with his 10-year-old friend, who also consumed poison with him but died earlier. Currently, the police have questioned all his friends and are trying to identify the accused.

The father of a 13-year-old boy, who consumed rat poison on July 13 owing to repeated sexual assaults, has recorded the child?s description of the accused in a one-minute video. While the video is unclear and does not give many details, the police said the boy told them the name of the accused starts with a ?Z?.According to the police, the 13-year-old and his 10-year-old best friend and neighbour were raped repeatedly in Filterpada in Powai on July 6. Feeling humiliated, the kids drank rat poison. While the 10-year-old died on July 13, the 13-year-old died on Tuesday morning.?My son told me the accused took them to separate rooms in Filterpada. For days after the incident, he looked scared. On July 12, he told me they had consumed rat poison near a temple. I rushed him to a hospital. His friend died early next day,? the father told HT.The distraught man asked his son about the culprits and recorded it. The video which shows the boy struggling to give clear answers to his father?s queries has been handed over to the police. Read: Unsafe Mumbai: After sexual abuse, children fear trauma of facing police, family, societyThe video, the police said, shows the boy saying he was trying to run away, but someone is chasing him. He says the accused?s eyes were scary, said police. A Powai police official told HT they couldn?t record the boy?s statement due to his deteriorating condition. The police have questioned all his friends and are trying to identify the accused. They are also questioning several people from Filterpada. The father said the 13-year-old stopped going to tuition classes since July 6. He claimed the tuition class homework done on the last day may have been done by someone else as the handwriting is different. The police are checking whose handwriting it is, as the person might have some information about the incident.The body of the 10-year-old, who was buried thinking he died of dehydration, has been exhumed. ND Reddy, zonal DCP, told HT: ?We are trying to find the accused.? The local crime branch unit is running a parallel probe. Read: Child sexual abuse: Parents, stop saying ?don?t tell anyone?, ?you provoked it?, go to police in time

Tarun Khanna

15 May 2017,Monday

Southwest monsoon hits Andaman ahead of schedule

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/southwest-monsoon-south-andaman-sea-nicobar-islands/1/954070.html

The southwest monsoon on Sunday arrived in Andaman and Nicobar islands ahead of its schedule. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places over the region between May 14 and 16. Though the IMD hasn't predicted about the southwest monsoon over Kerala, forecaster Skymet said it?s likely to hit Kerala on June 1.

In a huge respite from the blistering heat, the southwest monsoon has arrived six days in advance in the Andaman sea and Nicobar islands. Usually, the southwest monsoon arrives in Andaman and Nicobar Islands by May 20 and in Kerala by June 1, after which it covers the entire country.An India Meteorological Department (IMD) release said, "In view of the strengthening and deepening of south-westerly winds, persistent cloudiness and rainfall, southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, entire south Andaman Sea and parts of north Andaman Sea on May 14 2017. Conditions are favorable for further advancement of southwest monsoon into some parts of southwest Bay of Bengal, some more parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Andaman Sea, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and some parts of east central Bay of Bengal during the next 72 hours."The weather department has also issued a warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 14 and May 16."Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is very likely to prevail over Nicobar Islands and adjoining Sea areas during May 14 and May 16 and over Andaman Islands and adjoining sea areas during May 15 to May 17," said the release.SEA CONDITIONSea condition will be moderate to rough over south Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from May 14 and May 15 and over north Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast and east-central Bay of Bengal from May 15 to 17.Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along and off Nicobar Islands from May 14 to May 15 and along and off Andaman Islands from May 15 to May 17.WEATHER WARNING FOR NEXT 4 DAYSMAY 15 (Day 1):Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and interior Tamil Nadu.Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, interior Karnataka, Goa and Kerala.Heat wave conditions likely to prevail at isolated places over north Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Odisha.Heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and interior Tamil Nadu.MAY 16 (Day 2):Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail very likely at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely over isolated places in Gangetic West Bengal.Heat wave conditions very likely at isolated places in Chhattisgarh.Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Andaman-Nicobar, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and TripuraMay 17 (Day 3):Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail very likely at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal.Heavy rains at isolated places over Andaman-Nicobar, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.May 18 (Day 4):Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal.Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Andaman-Nicobar, Assam and Meghalaya.

Pragya Swastik

12 Apr 2017,Wednesday

ScoopWhoop's ex-employee alleges molestation by Co-founder

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sexual-harassment-scoopwhoop-former-employee-cofounder-accussed/1/926867.html

A former senior executive at online media startup ScoopWhoop has filed FIR against Co-founder Suparn Pandey accusing him of sexual harassment and assault. The complainant accused Pandey of making inappropriate remarks, sending her a lewd video, being uncomfortably close and publicly commenting on her sexuality. She also accused other Co-founders of abetting harassment and trying to conceal it.

After a series of allegations on social media from several women complaining of sexual harassment, Mumbai Police registered an FIR against CEO and founder of The Viral Fever, Arunabh Kumar. He came out and addressed the accusations made against him and said "I am a heterosexual, single man and when I find a woman sexy, I tell her she's sexy. I compliment women. Is that wrong?". The comment obviously did not help his case and he faced massive backlash for the same. After the incident, there were various debates and discussions on work place ethics and sexual harassment. Almost 15 days later, another similar incident has come to light. An FIR has been filed against ScoopWhoop co-founder Suparn Pandey accusing him of sexual harassment and sexual assault, as reported by Catch News. Along with Suparn Pandey, other co-founders have also been named though for abetting harassment and trying to conceal it.A former senior executive of ScoopWhoop Media Pvt. Ltd filed the FIR at the Vasant Kunj (South) police Station, Delhi. The accused has been charged with section 354 A (sexual harassment), section 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and section 506 (criminal intimidation), reported Catch News.  The complainant has claimed that during her tenure at ScoopWhoop, which lasted two years, she faced 'inappropriate comments and lewd remarks' the entire time. Pandey even went on to comment on her sexuality. "Mr. Suparn Pandey in public commented on my sexuality and this comment included calling me a names (sic.) which reflected on my sexual orientation and my sexual preferences (sic.) as well as characterised me in a certain way", states the FIR according to a Catch News report . Her ordeal was not limited to verbal harassment, the complainant has claimed that Pandey repeatedly got 'uncomfortably close', 'often trying to play with her hair' . He unabashedly even sent her a lewd video on the company's official Gmail chat, the FIR alleges. 'Mr. Pandey got so bold as to send me a lewd video over the official Gmail chat, in which the words were "aapnu jeans dheeli karo"', reads the FIR. ScoopWhoop's inactionWhen the complainant, took up the matter with ScoopWhoop co-founder Sriparna Tikekar, she assured her that such behaviour would not be repeated. However, apparently she did not take any action against Pandey. The former senior executive did not stop raising the issue with the company's founders even after realising that it had no repercussions for Pandey. She was instead publicly humilated and was allegedly forced to work in close quarters with Pandey. If she was refused, she was "reprimanded and humiliated".Suparn Pandey used to show up to work drunk and would try to touch the complainant. She decided to quit after Pandey crossed all limits. 'Mr. Pandey approached me after the meeting, between 8-9:30PM, when I was alone at my work desk and asked me to be less "aggressive" in my dealings with other people and learn to "pour some sugar on it." That after that, he then got up, kissed my forehead and walked away,' the complainant recounts in the FIR .  She was allegedly dissuaded from lodging a formal complaint and the co-founders threatened to hurt her career and defame her publicly. Following a series of complaints and threats, she resigned from ScoopWhoop.

Dishant Sharma

12 Jul 2017,Wednesday

World number 1 Andy Murray knocked out of Wimbledon

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jul/12/andy-murray-v-sam-querrey-wimbledon-2017-quarter-final-live-roger-federer-novak-djokovic?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

World number one and defending champion Andy Murray was knocked out of Wimbledon after USA's Sam Querrey defeated him in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Querrey, who registered a 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 win, reached a Grand Slam semi-final after a record 42nd attempt. Notably, Querrey has defeated a world number one at Wimbledon second year in a row.

6.42pm BST 18:42 6.37pm BST 18:37 What a strange day. Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have both hobbled out of the tournament and it?s the first time since 2005 that only one member of the Big Four has made it to the Wimbledon semis. That man?s Roger Federer. He?s through to play Tomas Berdych on Friday. The other semi will be contested by Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey. It?s Federer?s to lose, but it?s time to expect the unexpected. That?s all from me today. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye.Novak Djokovic, in Serbian: "maybe i will miss half a year playing." Sounds like won't make US Open.Updated at 6.47pm BST 6.32pm BST 18:32 Djokovic is the 10th player to retire. ?We?ve had a very long, very tough year with a lot of matches. Bodies have taken a lot physically. As an athlete, one way or another you are going to experience this kind of thing. Injuries are part of sport.? 6.31pm BST 18:31 Djokovic continues. ?The intensity and level of pain was increasing as the days went by. I was feeling it since the beginning of the tournament. I kept doing everything with my physiotherapist. It was only getting worse. Today was the worst day. Probably the fact I played yesterday, days adding up, it wasn?t helping. I?m not a specialist but I?m going to speak with some and understand what needs to be done. I haven?t considered not starting. I always like to give it a shot and step on the court. That?s all I could do.? 6.29pm BST 18:29 Djokovic says he will talk with specialists to see how he can solve the problem. He says he needs to rest. 6.28pm BST 18:28 Was it challenging to play back-to-back days? ?Those kind of circumstances don?t really help. At the end of the day it?s the kind of situation you have to accept. I spent two hours on the table. It wasn?t to be. For an athlete there is no way out if you don?t feel fit.? 6.27pm BST 18:27 Novak Djokovic speaks. ?It?s not the shoulder, it?s the elbow that keeps bothering me. For over a year and a half actually. It?s unfortunate I have to finish Wimbledon in this way. I was able for 30 minutes to play with some pain that was bearable. All the treatments and medication couldn?t help. The serves and forehands were where I could feel it the most and after that there was really no point.? 6.26pm BST 18:26 Well, who?d have thought that only one member of the Big Four would still be standing at the end of play on the second Wednesday? That decision to skip the French Open by Federer doesn?t look too bad now. 6.24pm BST 18:24 Third set tie-break: Federer* 7-4 Raonic (*denotes server): After a short rally, Raonic screws a backhand wide. What a tie-break from Federer, who leaps with joy after sealing his place in another Wimbledon semi-final. He has revenge for last year and his sights on an eighth title here!Updated at 6.29pm BST 6.23pm BST 18:23 Third set tie-break: Federer* 6-4 Raonic (*denotes server): Federer earns two match points with an ace. 6.22pm BST 18:22 Third set tie-break: Federer 5-4 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic serves big to restore some hope. 6.22pm BST 18:22 Third set tie-break: Federer 4-3 Raonic* (*denotes server): Oh. Oh. Oh! Oh, I say! Raonic chips and charges. Federer runs on the ball out on the right and bends a stunner of a forehand past the Canadian, down the line and on to the line! 6.21pm BST 18:21 Third set tie-break: Federer* 4-3 Raonic (*denotes server): Federer uses a body serve and gobbles up a backhand volley to claim his fourth straight point. 6.20pm BST 18:20 Third set tie-break: Federer* 3-3 Raonic (*denotes server): Raonic tries a forehand pass from right to left, but Federer?s too smart with a volley. 6.19pm BST 18:19 Third set tie-break: Federer 2-3 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic serves wide. Federer pings a spectacular forehand pass down the line. 6.19pm BST 18:19 Third set tie-break: Federer 1-3 Raonic* (*denotes server): Federer gets back one mini-break with a fine forehand down the line that Raonic can?t handle at the net. 6.18pm BST 18:18 Third set tie-break: Federer* 0-3 Raonic (*denotes server): Raonic crashes a forehand down the line to take a very firm grip on proceedings!Updated at 6.26pm BST 6.17pm BST 18:17 Third set tie-break: Federer* 0-2 Raonic (*denotes server): Federer puts a seemingly simple forehand wide. 6.16pm BST 18:16 Third set tie-break: Federer 0-1 Raonic* (*denotes server): Federer flicks a backhand into the net. 6.15pm BST 18:15 Federer holds with one of those backhand flays. Tie-break. 6.13pm BST 18:13 The Djokovic result has flashed up on the Centre Court scoreboard. There are gasps. Roger Federer remains poker-faced. 6.12pm BST 18:12 Back on Centre Court, Milos Raonic holds easily for 6-5. He?s got a tie-break at least. 6.11pm BST 18:11 Novak Djokovic?s early retirement means Andy Murray can?t be caught at the top of the rankings. Yet. 6.10pm BST 18:10 Tomas Berdych looks rather sheepish after, er, claiming his, er, third ever win over Novak Djokovic. The world No4 decided that the pain in his elbow was too much and he?s out of the tournament. What a gimme for Berdych. He?s through to the semis. This is turning into a rather drab affair on the men?s side, isn?t it?Updated at 6.18pm BST 6.08pm BST 18:08 Novak Djokovic has retired! 6.07pm BST 18:07 Tomas Berdych has broken in the second game of the second set to lead 7-6, 2-0! Deep, penetrative hitting draws the error from Djokovic. Back on Centre Court, Raonic comes through deuce to hold for 5-4 in the third. Can he force a fourth set? 6.02pm BST 18:02 After a medical timeout, Novak Djokovic is ready for the second set on Court 1. He?d won 14 sets in a row against Tomas Berdych. Not a 15th, though. I wonder if he?ll suffer the kind of collapse we saw against Dominic Thiem in Paris? 6.00pm BST 18:00 Back on Centre Court, Milos Raonic has held and lost three break points in the eighth game of the third set. Federer saved them all and he ends up holding for 4-4 with a dreamy touch at the net. 5.59pm BST 17:59 First-set tie-break: Berdych* 7-2 Djokovic (*denotes server): Djokovic approaches the net, but Berdych does enough with a backhand down the line to force the Serbian to net a volley! The trainer?s on for Djokovic. He?s having treatment on his elbow and he looks grim.Updated at 6.16pm BST 5.57pm BST 17:57 First-set tie-break: Berdych 6-2 Djokovic* (*denotes server): Djokovic pounces on a short return to save the first set point with a backhand. 5.56pm BST 17:56 First-set tie-break: Berdych* 6-1 Djokovic (*denotes server): Djokovic nets a poor slice. 5.55pm BST 17:55 First-set tie-break: Berdych* 5-1 Djokovic (*denotes server): Djokovic nudges a backhand wide off a second serve. 5.55pm BST 17:55 First-set tie-break: Berdych 4-1 Djokovic* (*denotes server): Djokovic nets at the end of an attritional rally. 5.54pm BST 17:54 First-set tie-break: Berdych 3-1 Djokovic* (*denotes server): Berdych nets a forehand. 5.53pm BST 17:53 First-set tie-break: Berdych* 3-0 Djokovic (*denotes server): Djokovic sends a forehand wide. 5.53pm BST 17:53 First-set tie-break: Berdych* 2-0 Djokovic (*denotes server): Berdych is animated when a point has to be replayed after a good serve?s called out. He?s happier when Djokovic deflects a return wide. 5.51pm BST 17:51 First-set tie-break: Berdych 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes server): Berdych makes a fine start with a surprise drop shot after a fantastic return. 5.50pm BST 17:50 Looking to force a first-set tie-break, Tomas Berdych, races into a 40-0 lead. You feel he?s playing at his maximum, whereas Novak Djokovic can still go up a level or two. So it proves when Djokovic charges to deuce. Eventually Berdych holds. 5.37pm BST 17:37 After taking a rather lengthy toilet break after the second set, Milos Raonic is feeling more peppy and he earns his first break point in the second game of the third set. The unflappable Federer saves it with accurate serving and holds with an ace. 5.30pm BST 17:30 There?s no sign of a break on Court 1. It?s still on serve after seven games and Djokovic leads 4-3. 5.27pm BST 17:27 ?Any ideas on what?s happened to Milos? forehand?? says Michael Devine. ?It?s a completely different stroke in this match?high, looping topspins that sit up invitingly and land short, as opposed to his usual flat stroke. If this is Mark Knowles? work, I?d say his tenure is going to be short.?Raonic has had a few injury problems this year, so perhaps he?s not at full pelt. Still, he?s dropping his forehands very short today and that?s asking for it against Federer, who?s giving it the treatment. 5.25pm BST 17:25 Federer earns three set points with an ace. This is preposterous. He pings a forehand into the left corner and Raonic nets a backhand. The Canadian?s surely not winning this one. 5.18pm BST 17:18 Here?s a report on Marin Cilic?s win by Simon Cambers. 5.15pm BST 17:15 Milos Raonic coolly saves two break points, but there?s no denying Roger Federer on the third. Another singing crosscourt backhand does the job as Raonic stretches and plants a volley wide for Federer to break again and lead 6-4, 4-1. I wonder if he?s after a spot of revenge after last year.Updated at 6.11pm BST 5.13pm BST 17:13 This is a masterclass from Roger Federer. They?re underway on Court 1, meanwhile. Can Berdych stun Djokovic? 5.02pm BST 17:02 Roger Federer earns a break point with a glorious backhand pass. Milos Raonic, desperate not to go for the Federer forehand, runs around a backhand and plonks a forehand a few yards wide to drop his serve in the opening game of set two. This doesn?t look it?s going to be an epic. 4.56pm BST 16:56 The sun breaks out from behind the clouds as Federer moves into a 30-0 lead, Raonic unable to do anything with a couple of returns. He swings a serve down the T to earn two set points. An ace down the middle, his fifth of the set, does the trick.Superb from Federer, who takes the first set 6-4. The Swiss has hit 14 winners and just two unforced errors so farUpdated at 4.59pm BST 4.54pm BST 16:54 Milos Raonic volleys stoutly to hold after being taken to deuce, but Federer?s about to serve for the first set at 5-4. On Court 1, meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych are being wheeled out. Djokovic has a fairly healthy lead in their head-to-head: 25-2. Ouch. 4.49pm BST 16:49 Roger Federer holds breezily to lead 5-3. Raonic has won three points on the Federer serve.Updated at 4.54pm BST

Nandini Sinha

20 Jul 2017,Thursday

US to suspend covert CIA program in Syria: Reports

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/19/donald-trump-drops-syria-programme-in-bid-to-improve-russia-ties?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

US President Donald Trump has reportedly decided to stop the CIA's covert program in Syria to train rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The program that began in 2013 produced little success and is "a signal to Putin that the (Trump) administration wants to improve ties to Russia?, officials said. Russia has supported Assad's government against fighting Islamist extremists.

Donald Trump has decided to halt the CIA?s covert programme to equip and train moderate rebels fighting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, in a move likely to be welcomed by Russia?s Vladimir Putin.The CIA programme began in 2013 as part of Barack Obama?s support for the overthrow of Assad but met with little success, two officials told Reuters. Some armed and trained rebels defected to Islamic State and other radical groups.One of the officials was quoted as saying the US is not making a major concession, given Assad?s continued grip on power, but ?it?s a signal to Putin that the administration wants to improve ties to Russia?.Along with Iran, Moscow has played a critical part in shoring up Assad during the the six-year civil war.The decision was made with national security adviser HR McMaster and CIA director Mike Pompeo after they consulted with lower ranking officials, and before Trump?s 7 July meeting with Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Germany, Reuters reported. It was not part of US-Russian negotiations on a limited ceasefire in south-west Syria the two leaders agreed to at the summit, the officials said.Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, said: ?It?s a victory for Assad, Iran and Putin, all of which carried the day. But it?s also a victory for America: in this case I do believe Trump is pursuing the correct policy.?Trying to destroy Russia in Syria is a fool?s errand because Russia is helping to pursue al-Qaida and Isis there. Since when is destroying extremism a bad thing? Just because Russia is for it doesn?t automatically make it bad.?Landis said that it had become clear that the rebels will not win, the US has no leverage over Assad ? and a large percentage of the arms are falling into the hands of extremists.?Obama was on his way to making the same decision,? he said. ?Many people would now be genuinely happy if Assad could conquer the rest of Isis territory. In a sense this is the raggedy end of a rationale for regime change. America has learned from many nasty experiences that violent regime change in the Middle East does not produce democracy and human rights.?The Washington Post was first to report the programme?s suspension on Wednesday. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, deputy press secretary at the White House, declined to comment on the topic. The CIA also declined to comment. But Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told the Washington Post: ?We are falling into a Russian trap. We are making the moderate resistance more and more vulnerable ... We are really cutting them off at the neck.?A separate effort by the US military effort to train, arm and support other Syrian rebel groups with air strikes and other actions will continue.Trump, who in April launched a cruise missile attack on Syria in response to Assad?s use of chemical weapons, is under scrutiny by Congress and a special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether his associates colluded.On Wednesday Sanders played down the controversy over a second, undisclosed meeting that Trump held with Putin at a dinner during the G20 summit.?I think that once again, the Russia fever has caught up with the media and everybody ran out and tried to create a story that simply didn?t exist,? she told reporters. ?To try to create that there was some kind of private conversation in a room with 40-plus people seems a little bit ridiculous.?According to witnesses, Trump rose from his seat and took a place next to Putin, then conversed for an hour with only a Russian interpreter present. The absence of an American official has been widely criticised as a breach of protocol.Sanders added: ?They had a brief conversation and I?m not going to get into the specifics of the conversation but again, this was a social dinner where the president spoke with many world leaders as is the purpose. I think it would be incredibly awkward for them to all be at a dinner and not speak with each other.?Asked if the decision to end the CIA programme came up during the dinner conversation, the deputy press secretary replied: ?Not that I?m aware of.?

Mansha Mahajan

24 Feb 2017,Friday

Note ban sucked in cash like a vacuum cleaner: IMF official

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-sucked-in-cash-like-vacuum-cleanerimf-official/1/890643.html

According to IMF's Asia and Pacific Department's Assistant Director Paul Cashin, one way to characterise India's demonetisation is as a "vacuum cleaner". "It's sucking in cash, withdrawing it from the economy, and then the vacuum cleaner is going in reverse, slowly replacing cash," he stated. It has led to a lot of cash shortages that adversely affected consumption, he added.

From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 24 (PTI) Indias demonetisation led to huge cash shortages that have "adversely affected" consumption and like a "vacuum cleaner" it sucked in cash and then was slowly replacing the currency, a senior IMF official has said. "Youve heard about so-called helicopter drops of money with unconventional monetary policies, so one way to characterise this demonetisation initiative is as a vacuum cleaner," Paul A Cashin, Assistant Director in the IMFs Asia and Pacific Department, and mission chief of India, told PTI. "Its sucking in cash, withdrawing it from the economy, and then the vacuum cleaner is going in reverse, slowly replacing cash but as I said, at a fairly modest pace. Thats led to a lot of cash shortages that have adversely affected consumption," Cashin said in response to a question as the IMF released its annual country-report on India. Given the shortage of cash in the market, IMF in its report urged the Indian Government to continue to enhance the supply of new banknotes, and if needed consider extending or expanding targeted temporary exemptions, including on use of old banknotes, particularly for rural and remote areas. "While the financial system is expected to weather the currency exchange-induced temporary growth slowdown, the authorities should remain vigilant given the potential further build-up of NPAs and elevated corporate sector vulnerabilities, and ensure prudent support to the economic sectors affected by the currency exchange initiative," the IMF said. IMF said the repercussions from Indias currency exchange initiative will likely persist through the first quarter of 2017. Real GDP growth is projected to slow to 6.6 per cent in FY2016/17 and then rebound to 7.2 per cent in FY2017/18, due to temporary disruptions (primarily to private consumption) caused by cash shortages accompanying the currency exchange initiative.

Ankur Vyas

08 May 2017,Monday

Naxalism has killed 12,000 people in 20 yrs: Rajnath Singh

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rajnath-singh-left-wing-extremism-review-meeting-samadhan/1/948290.html

Asserting that Naxalite violence has killed nearly 12,000 people in the past 20 years, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday launched a new strategy to counter Naxalism. Choking the financial funding of the Naxalites forms the foundation of the new 'SAMADHAN' doctrine. The strategy also involves the use of advanced technology like drones and smart guns with biometrics-activated triggers.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today chaired a Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation review meeting where he unveiled a new strategy to counter Naxalim in the country. The meeting came a fortnight after the Sukma attack, the deadliest Naxal strike on the CRPF in years, in which 25 jawans lost their lives. Noting that Maoist violence has killed nearly 12,000 people have been killed in the last two decades, Rajnath said that choking the financial funding of Naxalites forms the foundation of the new strategy. (Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while announcing the demonetisation decision, had said that the note ban exercise would, among others, strike at Naxal funding.) The new strategy also focuses on using advanced technology including drones and smart guns that feature triggers that get activated by bio-metrics. At today's meeting, Singh launched a new security operations doctrine called 'SAMADHAN' - Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and Training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based key performance indicators and key result areas, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each threat, No access to funding. Rajnath also invoked the 9/11 attack in the United States, saying America took the incident as a challenge to ensure that no such incident happens in the future. The 9/11 commission had said it was not just an intelligence failure but imagination failure too, Rajnath said.The LWE review meeting was attended by several chief ministers including Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Naveen Patnaik (Odisha), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and Raghubar Das (Jharkhand). Notably, Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana) were absent.ALSO READ | Why Naxals succeed attack after attack in Chhattisgarh

Tarun Khanna

01 Feb 2017,Wednesday

BJP to retain Goa by winning 22-25 seats: Poll

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/assembly-elections-2017-up-election-2017-india-today-survey-up-uttarakhand-punjab-manipur-goa/1/871300.html

The ruling BJP would form its government in Goa once again by winning 22-25 seats in the 40-member Assembly, the India Today-Axis survey has claimed. As per the survey, Congress would come second by winning 12-14 seats. AAP, which is contesting the Assembly election in Goa for the first time, would open its account by winning a couple of seats.

The India Today-Axis survey ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in five states predicts a hung Assembly in Uttar Pradesh and a major boost to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab.While the Congress is likely to snatch Punjab from the Akali-Dal-BJP combine, the BJP is likely to trump the Congress to power in Uttarakhand and retain Goa.

Pragya Swastik

25 Dec 2016,Sunday

Delhi RTOs to go cashless from January 2017

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rtos-set-to-go-cashless-from-january-2017/1/842486.html

Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Delhi are set to go cashless from January 2017 and fees for all services including driving licence, auto permit and fitness certificate can be paid electronically. The Transport Department has started installing PoS machines at its zonal offices and the trial run of the cashless transaction system is being carried out at some places.

New Delhi, Dec 25 (PTI) Regional Transport Offices in the national capital are set to go cashless from January when fees for all services including driving licence, auto permit and fitness certificate can be paid electronically. The Transport Department has started installing Point of Sale (PoS) machines at its zonal offices and the trial run of the cashless transaction system is being carried out at some places. "From January, people coming to RTO offices can pay fee of various services -- permits, driving licence, fitness certificates - using their debit, credit cards. Applicants wont be required to make payments in cash," a senior government official said. There are 14 zonal offices of the Transport Department in the city. The official said that the move would ensure hassle-free services for the people of Delhi.

Chhavi Tyagi

16 Dec 2016,Friday

Clashes in Bihar over temple demolition for road widening

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bihar-police-locals-protest-road-widening-patna-temple-demolish/1/836119.html

Clashes took place between police and locals in Patna, Bihar, over the demolition of a temple by the administration for road widening. The mob set on fire police vehicle and pelted stones on the authorities for attempting to demolish the temple. After dispersing the crowd by firing in the air, the police demolished the temple and the situation remains tensed.

Violent clashes took place between police and locals in Patna City area after the district administration demolished a temple for widening of road. The Bihar government is at the moment working on a war footing for constructing new roads and widening of old road ahead of the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh to be celebrated in the first week of January next year.People from the Sikh community from across the world are expected to be thronging to Patna City for the mega event.The Patna administration, which had been trying to demolish the temple for a long time, had served several notices to the temple authorities but to no avail. Left with no choice, the administration, fully backed by police personnel today reached the spot where the temple was located and an attempt to demolish the temple was made that faced stiff resistance from the locals.

Aarushi Maheshwari

10 Jun 2017,Saturday

NIA to revoke Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Indian passport

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nia-dr-zakir-naik-irf-islamic-research-foundation-criminal-case-indian-passport-malaysian-citizenship/1/974881.html

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to revoke the Indian passport of Islamic Research Foundation President Dr Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, who is wanted in a criminal case under money laundering laws. The NIA, which claimed Naik has invested ?104 crore in 10 companies and 19 properties, has initiated proceedings for a Red Corner Notice against the Islamic preacher.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to revoke the Indian passport issued to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) president Dr Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, who is wanted in a criminal case registered against him last year.After interrogating Naik's sister and aide Gazdar, the NIA said that it was also tracking his web of financial transactions that include at least 10 companies and 19 properties in Mumbai and Pune, in which Naik had invested an estimated Rs 104 crore.Naik is, most probably, in Malaysia and seeking Malaysian citizenship. The NIA has also initiated proceedings to get a Red Corner Notice against him and sent the requisite documents to the concerned nodal agency.Also read | Block Zakir Naik, IRF Facebook pages, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti says in police complaint

Nandini Sinha

25 Jul 2017,Tuesday

UK to scrap homeopathy treatments to stop 'misuse of funds'

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jul/21/a-misuse-of-scarce-funds-nhs-to-end-prescription-of-homeopathic-remedies?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

UK's National Health Service (NHS) has announced plans to stop doctors from prescribing homeopathic remedies. Aiming to save around £200 million a year, the NHS chief described homeopathy as ?at best a placebo and a misuse of funds?. The plans also list 17 other items that will no longer be prescribed for reasons ranging from low clinical to low cost-effectiveness.

Homeopathic remedies will no longer be available on prescription on the NHS according to newly-announced plans.The move comes as part of the NHS England?s drive to save more than £190m a year through a new set of national guidelines, which are now open for public consultation. According to the draft consultation, prescriptions for homeopathic treatments cost NHS England £92,412 in 2016, and at least £578,000 over the past five years.Announcing the plans, Simon Stevens, NHS England?s chief executive, said homeopathy is ?at best a placebo and a misuse of scarce NHS funds?.Besides homeopathy, the plans highlight 17 other items that will no longer be available on prescription for reasons ranging from low clinical effectiveness to low cost-effectiveness. These include herbal medicines, Omega-3 fatty acid compounds, rubs and ointments used to relieve muscle pain known as rubefacients, and travel vaccines including hepatitis B, yellow fever and rabies that are not available on the NHS for travel, but are sometimes erroneously given.The public funding of homeopathic remedies has long been controversial, with both the British Medical Association and the House of Commons? science and technology committee having called for an end to their prescription on NHS, pointing out that such remedies are merely placebos. The new guidelines were welcomed by experts.?Homeopathy is based on implausible assumptions and the most reliable evidence fails to show that it works beyond a placebo effect. It can cause severe harm when used as an alternative to effective treatments,? said Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter. ?Therefore, it is high time that the NHS stops funding it and instead employs our scarce resources on treatments that are backed by sound science.?The view was echoed by Michael Marshall, project director of the Good Thinking Society, an organisation that previously threatened the Department of Health with a judicial review if it failed to put complementary and alternative therapies on the blacklist for prescriptions.?This is very welcome news,? said Marshall. ?Every credible medical body certainly knows that homeopathic remedies are just not effective for any conditions at all and it is great to see this strong statement from NHS England officially acknowledging the fact.? Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, said that an honest conversation about public funding of drugs was needed. ?We need to end unnecessary expense to give us a bigger therapeutic bang for the NHS buck, so we cut the fat and build the therapeutic muscle,? he said.A spokeswoman for the BMA said the organisation ?believes there should be no further NHS funding for homeopathy? adding that ?limited and scarce NHS resources should only be used to support medicines and treatment that have been shown to be effective.?But Cristal Sumner, chief executive of the British Homeopathic Association said the NHS plans were ?bad for its already overstretched budget and for patients? and criticised the report used to draw up the new guidelines.?This recommendation is not cost effective as patients will be prescribed more expensive conventional drugs in place of homeopathy, which defeats the object of the exercise,? she said.Meanwhile, NHS England has been accused of introducing ?ability to pay? through the back door by forcing patients to pay for other products it claims are ?ineffective, over-priced and low value?, instead of giving prescriptions for them. Health charities claim the NHS is abandoning the historic principle that people who need care should not have to pay. The charge has been made today by National Voices, an umbrella group that represents 140 health and care charities including the British Heart Foundation, Parkinson?s UK and Arthritis Care. It was responding to NHS England?s announcement that it wants to cut its drugs bill by several hundred million pounds by no longer issuing prescriptions for cough mixture, cold treatments, eye drops, laxatives and sun cream ? products that are available over the counter. NHS bosses want those in need to pay for such medications themselves. ?There are many patients who would be unable to afford the remedies over the counter ? for example people who are exempt from prescription charges such as the under-16s, people living with cancer, pregnant women and those on low incomes?, said Don Redding, National Voices? director of policy. ?Stopping such prescriptions would be tantamount to introducing ?ability to pay? as a barrier to accessing the treatments people need. This breaks with the principle of ?free at the point of use? guaranteed by the NHS constitution.? The NHS constitution states that: ?Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual?s ability to pay; NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned by parliament.?

Sumedha Sehra

21 May 2017,Sunday

Indian national arrested in Pakistan

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-national-arrested-pakistan-travel-documents/1/959290.html

An Indian national was arrested in the F-8 area of Islamabad in Pakistan on Friday, allegedly for not having the required travel documents. The Pakistan government has registered a case under Article 14 of the Foreign Act. The person arrested has been sent to 14-day judicial remand for pre-trial detention.

An Indian national has been arrested in Islamabad on Sunday allegedly over incomplete travel documents. According to Pakistan local media, a case has also been filed under Article 14 of the Foreign Act. According to police, the man identified as Sheikh Nabi, a resident of Mumbai, was detained during routine patrol in F-8 area of the capital on May 19 after he failed to produce any travel or visa documents. According to police, Nabi was walking along Nazimuddin Road in Sector F-8 when he was stopped at a check post. Police demanded to check his visa documents after he told them that he was an Indian. However, he could not produce any documents and was taken into police custody. An official of the Indian High Commission, however, said that the mission does not have any information about the arrest so far.The arrest came days after the International Court of Justice stayed the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against the country.The "suspicious person" has been booked under the Foreigners Act, 1946. Police have also obtained 14 days judicial remand through a magistrate.Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that it is ascertaining facts regarding the arrest of the Indian held in Islamabad, allegedly for incomplete travel documents.(With inputs from PTI) Also read: Madhya Pradesh: Two naxal funding operatives arrested in Balaghat

Ayushi Ahluwalia

01 Jul 2017,Saturday

Union Minister accuses Indian team of 'fixing' CT 2017 final

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/athawale-says-indo-pak-ct-final-appears-fixed-seeks-probe/1/991959.html

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that the Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan appeared to be "fixed" and demanded an inquiry into the matter. "How could [Indian] cricketers, who played so well in the entire tournament, did not perform in the final ?" he added. Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the final on June 18.

Nagpur, Jul 1 (PTI) Union minister Ramdas Athawale today said the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan appeared "fixed" and demanded a probe into the matter. The Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment also batted for 25 per cent reservation for Dalits and tribals in cricket and other games, saying these sections have never got due recognition in sports. "How could the cricketers, who played so well in the entire tournament, did not perform in the final match (in London on June 18)?" the RPI(A) leader asked. Pakistan hammered India by 180 runs in the final to lift their maiden Champions Trophy title. "Those who did not perform should be rested and eligible cricketers from the Dalit community should be given a chance in the team," he said, adding the RPI(A) demands 25 per cent reservation in cricket and other sports for Dalits and tribals. "It appears that the match was fixed and we demand an inquiry into it," he told reporters at Ravi Bhavan here. On the recent attacks by cow vigilantes, Athawale said lynching people in the name of rau raksha (cow protection) was wrong. "They are not gau rakshak, but manav bhakshak. These people should not take law into their own hands. If they come to know about cow slaughter and have any doubts about it, they should first find out if the cow was already dead," he said. He said the police should take action against those who lynch people in the name of cow protection. On the GST roll out, Athawale said the new tax regime was a revolutionary step taken by the NDA government. "The Congress and all the political parties supported the passage of the GST Bill. But the Congress should have attended the GST launch programme held in Parliament," he said. "The GST will boost development and progress in the country," he said.

Prashanti Moktan

05 Jul 2017,Wednesday

I'm so scared, nervous: Alia on playing a Kashmiri in Raazi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/alia-bhatt-kashmiri-spy-raazi-meghna-gulzar/1/993746.html

Actress Alia Bhatt, while talking about playing a Kashmiri character in the upcoming film Raazi, said, "I am so scared and nervous to go on this journey, because of the kind of intensity of this character." Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film has been set during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

Alia Bhatt is all geared up to get back in the groove with Meghna Gulzar's Raazi. In the espionage thriller set during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, Alia is to play a Kashmiri girl married to a Pakistani army officer, who provides valuable information to the Indian forces. The team of Raazi will begin shooting the film this month in a start-to-finish schedule in Punjab and Kashmir, with some portions to be filmed in Mumbai.Alia Bhatt, who plays a Kashmiri spy in the film based on Harinder Sikka's novel Calling Sehmat, has been going through intense preparations for her role. "I'm going through one of the most extensive preparations for this film. The last time I did something like this, was for Udta Punjab. But that also was only with the dialect. Raazi is about dialect, body language and things like driving a big heavy jeep... Shifting those gears is a different ball game for me altogether. I am learning Urdu so it's also going to help me in the longer run. I'm playing with the language for over a month now and every day, I am sitting with it for hours. I know most of my dialogues by heart right now because I have been reading them over and over again. I am having a lot of fun with it," the Highway actor told DNA.Alia Bhatt, who is about to start shooting Raazi shortly, got interested in the film because of the journey of the character and that she could relate to it. On being asked if she has read the book that the film is based on, Calling Sehmat, Alia said, "I had not read the book when Meghna came to me about a year-and-a-half ago. There was just a basic one-line story idea. I told her that this is something that I would love to do. ... I read the first 20 pages of the story and I knew that if I want to do that one film a year that challenges me, this is that film."She added, "I am so scared and nervous to go on this journey, because of the kind of intensity of this character."Raazi, also starring Vicky Kaushal, does not have an official release date yet.

Pragya Swastik

26 Apr 2017,Wednesday

I-T Dept issues ?24,646 cr notice to Sahara's Aamby Valley

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/i-t-dept-issues-rs-24646-cr-notice-to-saharas-aamby-valley/1/938085.html

The Income Tax Department has issued a ?24,646 crore tax demand notice to Sahara Group's Aamby Valley Limited. The department's audit found that an income of over ?48,000 crore for the assessment year 2012-13 was not reflected in the record books of the firm. A week ago, the SC ordered Bombay HC to auction Sahara's Aamby Valley worth ?34,000 crore.

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) The Income Tax department has issued a Rs 24,646 crore tax demand notice to Sahara Groups Aamby Valley Limited (AVL) after conducting a special audit of the company. The department, as part of a special investigation and audit into the account books of AVL, found that an income of over Rs 48,000 crore for a particular assessment year was allegedly not reflected in the record books of the firm and hence it raised a fresh tax demand and penalty amount on it. A Sahara Group spokesperson confirmed the development to PTI. "Yes, the Income Tax Department has raised Rs 48,085.79 crores to the income of the Aamby Valley Limited with a total demand of income tax of Rs 24,646.96 crores on the Aamby Valley Limited," the spokesperson said in a brief statement. Officials said the notice was issued by the taxman in January this year after the special audit of AVLs income for the Assessment Year 2012-13 found that the parent firm had allegedly floated a clutch of Special Purpose Vehicles whose incomes were later accounted on the account of AVL as they were merged with the former in due course of time. The AVL, in its income return filed for AY 2012-13, had reflected a loss of few crores but the special I-T audit brought up the added income, a senior official said. The Supreme Court, last week, had asked the Bombay High Courts official liquidator to sell the Rs 34,000 crore worth of properties of Aamby Valley owned by the Sahara Group and directed its chief Subrata Roy to personally appear before it on April 28.

Chhavi Tyagi

04 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Video shows BJP leader kissing woman in moving bus

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maharashtra-bjp-leader-rape-moving-bus-viral-video/1/993752.html

A video of Maharashtra BJP leader Ravindra Bawanthade kissing a woman in a moving bus has surfaced, following which the woman has filed a rape case against the man. The woman told the police that Bawanthade had promised that he will marry her and also get her a job. Ever since the video went viral, the politician has been absconding.

A video of a man kissing a woman in a moving bus has gone viral in Maharashtra. The woman has now filed a rape case against the man who is a BJP leader. BJP leader Ravindra Bawanthade is absconding after a woman filed a rape case against him. WHAT'S THE CASEALSO READ:Gurgaon kidnapping: Viral CCTV footage saves girl

Vaibhav Gupta

18 Jan 2017,Wednesday

Kejriwal repeats 'take bribe' appeal despite EC notice

http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/unfazed-by-ec-notice-kejriwal-says-he-s-not-promoting-but-stopping-bribery/story-PIStcY5cjUFc46KlQOv3mO.html?home-top

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday told voters in Punjab they should accept bribes offered by other political parties but cast their vote only for AAP. This comes a day after Election Commission issued a notice to Kejriwal for similar remarks in Goa alleging that it promoted bribery. If they are offering ?5,000, ask for ?10,000, Kejriwal said to voters.

A day after the Election Commission issued him a notice for allegedly promoting bribery, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday reiterated his appeal to voters to accept bribes offered by political parties but cast their ballot for his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).?If they are being offered Rs 5,000, I would tell them to ask for Rs 10,000 from Akali Dal, BJP and Congress but vote for AAP,? the party?s national convenor said in Chandigarh.Addressing the media, Kejriwal claimed that this matter has been already settled in court.?Someone had filed a case when I said the same thing before the Delhi elections but the court ruled that I?m not promoting bribery but stopping it,? he said.But the poll panel on Monday issued a notice to Kejriwal over the violation of the model code of conduct for his reported remarks in poll-bound Goa. The EC pointed out that Kejriwal said at a rally that Congress and BJP will come to distribute money. Kejriwal reportedly added people should accept it in new currency and ask for Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 5,000, keeping in mind the inflation, but that their votes should go to AAP.The commission said the AAP leader?s statement amounts to ?abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery?. ?If they are being offered Rs 5,000, I would tell them to ask for Rs 10,000 from Akali Dal, BJP and Congress but vote for AAP.?Attack on BadalsOn Tuesday, Kejriwal said once the AAP comes to power in Punjab, it would set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the corruption allegations against the Badals and recover the amount ?with interest and penalty?.He said Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who has been ?named by international drug dealers? for his involvement in spreading drugs in the state, would be arrested by April 15.?Kewal nasha nahi, logon ko inke dar se bhi mukti milegi (Not only drugs, people would be freed from his fear too),? he said.On Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh?s decision to contest against chief minister Parkash Singh Badal from Lambi constituency, Kejriwal said Amarinder was trying to help Badal so that AAP candidate Jarnail Singh doesn?t win from there.?Badal had approached Amarinder for help, and he would withdraw cases against him in return,? he said. ?He?s not contesting to defeat Badal but to help him win from there.?Asked to comment on Navjot Singh Sidhu?s joining the Congress, the AAP leader said the cricketer-turned politician was ?over? and it doesn?t matter now.

Deepali Aggarwal

07 Jun 2017,Wednesday

Pakistan not an ally, but a threat: US think tank

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-us-sanctions-taliban-haqqani-network-russia/1/971781.html

Accusing Pakistan of providing a breeding ground to banned terror groups Taliban and Haqqani network, US think tank CSIS said that "Pakistan is more of a threat than an ally". US should make it clear to Pakistan that it faces a total end to aid, and the imposition of sanctions, if it continues to support terrorism, the think tank added.

Pakistan continues to provide breeding ground to banned terror groups such as the  Taliban and Haqqani network despite, a top US think tank has said, adding that Islamabad must be told that it faces the risk of sanctions if it fails to take decisive action against terror operators. "Afghanistan is currently doing badly both in the fighting and in its civilian politics, governance, and poverty. Pakistan is still a sanctuary for the Taliban and Haqqani network and more of a threat than an ally," the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report.The report by Anthony H Cordesman, CSIS's Arleigh A Burke, Chair in Strategy, said there has to be a better strategy and a better approach to both the military and civil dimensions of the war to provide a reason to stay."No commitment should be open ended. The Afghans have to do far more, and do it far better, to justify each future year of US commitment," it said."The United States should make it clear to Pakistan that it faces a total end to aid, and the imposition of sanctions, if it continues to support the Taliban and tolerate the Haqqani network," the report added.'RUSSIA SHOULD STOP SUPPORTING TALIBAN'Russia should be told that any end to US sanctions will depend on it not supporting the Taliban, and the Unites States should reach out to China to make it clear that Chinese cooperation in dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan can serve both Chinese and American interests, the report said.CSIS said the US should make it totally clear that it will conduct a public annual review of its commitments to Afghanistan and the Afghan performance."It should make it clear that it can and will leave in the face of Afghan failure. If necessary, the United States should make good on such a threat," it said."It should send a clear message to all 'partner states' that they must meet reasonable standards of performance. The United States should never bully its allies, but it also should not be bullied -- or let nations slip into the kind of overdependence that ultimately undermines rather than aids them," the CSIS said. (With inputs from PTI) ALSO READ:One of London attackers was a known radical Islamist: Reports

Rini Sinha

25 Dec 2016,Sunday

Shah Rukh Khan to be conferred honorary doctorate

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khan-honorary-doctorate-pranab-mukherjee/1/842571.html

Actor Shah Rukh Khan will be conferred an honorary doctorate by Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Monday. "Actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist" Shah Rukh will be awarded the doctorate for his "outstanding services in the field of arts and culture". Notably, the actor also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 2015.

Fans lovingly call him the Baadshah of Bollywood, King Khan and many other names but now Shah Rukh Khan will be called Dr Shah Rukh Khan. The prestigious Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad will confer a honorary doctorate to the actor on Monday.ALSO READ: Will Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan's cold war intensify with Netflix?ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan and Sunny Leone's Twitter conversation is oh-so-sweetIndustrialist Sanjiv Saraf who is known for conducting the Jashn-e-Rekhta festival that celebrates Urdu poetry will also get a doctorate from the university.President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest of the function where both the prominent personalities will get the doctorate.

Ankur Vyas

08 Apr 2017,Saturday

After Air India, private carriers lift ban on Shiv Sena MP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/air-india-private-carriers-ban-ravindra-gaikwad-shiv-sena/1/923777.html

A day after Air India lifted the ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, the Federation of Indian Airlines also revoked its ban on the legislator. Reinstating his flying privileges, the FIA, however, said its colleagues must be treated with the respect that they deserve. Notably, the ban was imposed after Gaikwad repeatedly thrashed an Air India staffer.

A day after Air India lifted the ban on Ravindra Gaikwad, the Federation of Indian Airlines, a group of major private carriers, also revoked its ban on the Shiv Sena Member of Parliament. Gaikwad had been barred from flying by Air India and the FIA after he repeatedly hit an Air India staffer during an argument on March 23. On Friday, the Osmanabad MP wrote to the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju expressing 'regret' for the incident, which grabbed national headlines.Following his Parliament statement, the Minsitry of Civil Aviation ordered the national carrier to lift its fly ban on Gaikwad.   In a statement, Ujjawal Dey, the associate director of the FIA, said, "Consequent to Air India restoring flying privileges to Mr. Gaikwad after being satisfied with the statement given by the Member of Parliament, the FIA member airlines are also restoring the flying privileges to Mr. Gaikwad under the assurance that our assets and colleagues shall be accorded the respect that they deserve for the hard work that they put in every day." The FIA counts Jet Airways, Go Air, IndiGo, JetLite and SpiceJet among its members. With this, Gaikwad, who travelled to Mumbai today morning in the Rajdhani Express, is free to fly any route, any airline. Vistara remains the only private airline that hasn't yet clarified whether they will fly the controversial MP or not.THE INCIDENTOn March 23, Gaikwad reached Delhi in an Air India flight and got into an argument with airline employees while his plane was still on the tarmac. The MP was angry over not being allocated a business class seat despite having a ticket for the same. Gaikwad claimed Air India did not inform at the time of booking that his flight would not have business class seating. Minutes into the argument, Gaikwad started slapping a 60-year-old Air India staffer with his slippers. The airline registered a case with the Delhi Police and proceeded to impose a fly ban on him the next day. The following two weeks saw much controversy with private airliners joining Air India's stand even as the brazen MP refused to apologise. His party, Shiv Sena, too backed him, calling the decision of the airlines to bar him from flying unfair.

Ayushi Ahluwalia

23 Jul 2017,Sunday

I am a creation of this Parliament: Prez Pranab Mukherjee

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/president-pranab-mukherjee-hails-democracy-parliament-in-his-farewell-speech/story-8TYPtKytLvys3F0lgyUm2J.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

During his farewell speech on Sunday, outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee said that he was a creation of the Parliament. "The Parliament gave a direction to my political vision as I got to learn a lot from the serious discussions held in both Houses of the Parliament," he added. Notably, the first parliamentary session he attended was on July 22, 1969.

President Pranab Mukherjee hailed on Sunday India?s democracy and Parliament in particular, delivering an emotional farewell speech at the Central Hall where he urged lawmakers to ?debate, discuss and dissent? but not disrupt. (President?s speech: Full text)Mukherjee, the 13th President of India, will leave the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday when his successor Ram Nath Kovind is sworn in.?I strived to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not just in word but also in spirit,? Mukherjee said, reflecting upon his time as India?s titular head of state that began in 2012.The President has raised eyebrows last year when he ordered the dismissal of the Uttarakhand government.Mukherjee spent 37 years as a Congress member in Parliament, where, he said on Sunday, ?realised how disruption hurts the opposition more than the government as it denies them the opportunity to raise the concerns of the people,? the President said.The monsoon session of Parliament currently underway has seen repeated adjournments, costing of time and money for the House. Both Houses of Parliament have often been marred by protests that have delayed the rollout of key legislation.?When Parliament fails to discharge its lawmaking role or enacts laws without discussion, I feel it breaches the trust reposed in it by the people of this great country,? he said.In addition to disruptions, the President spoke out about Ordinances in particular, calling it a tool that ?should be used only in compelling circumstances?.Mukherjee shared a story about his mentor, late PM Indira Gandhi, on the importance of ?self-correction?. After the Congress?s poll defeat following the Emergency, Gandhi and Mukherjee were in London in 1978 and faced journalists, he said. ?The first question that was flung at her was, ?What have been your gains from the Emergency?? Looking at the journalist squarely in the eye, Indira Gandhi replied, ?In those 21 months, we comprehensively managed to alienate all sections of Indian people.? I learnt an early lesson of acknowledging my mistakes and rectifying them. Self-correction in such situations is always a better option than self-justification,? Mukherjee said.Earlier, vice president Hamid Ansari recalled how Mukherjee spoke about nurturing pluralism and diversity. He quoted Mukherjee to add that there is room for Argumentative Indian but not intolerant Indian. Ansari said ?these messages are important in our troubled times?. The President too, spoke about the diversity of the country of 130 crore people who, he said, belonged to three major ethnic groups, practicing seven major religions and speaking 122 languages in daily lives.?Not a single part of this vast territory of 3.3 million square kilometers of landmass and islands is unrepresented in the Parliament. Each of the 788 voices of MPs is important,? said Mukherjee. His comment assumes significance in the wake of the rise of smaller parties in Parliament.Mukherjee spoke about his association with PV Narsimha Rao, remember former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his oration, Manmohan Singh for his ?calming presence?, and recalled how LK Advani gave him mature advice and Sonia Gandhi was a passionate supporter of social legislations.In the closing parts of his speech, he praised Prime Minister Modi and said: ?I?ll carry with me fond memories of association with PM Narendra Modi and remember his warm behaviour towards me?. He praised the PM for advice and co-operation ?at every step? and added that the BJP leader is working ?with passion and energy, he is driving transformational changes.??It will be with a tinge of sadness and a rainbow of memories that I will be leaving this building today... I leave with a sense of fulfilment and happiness of having served the country,? he said, before finishing his speech with ?Jai Hind?.Mukherjee will address the nation tomorrow before he demits office.

Dishant Sharma

26 Feb 2017,Sunday

Saina Nehwal to represent Olympic Committee in BWF

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/saina-to-represent-olympic-committee-in-bwf/1/891674.html

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, who became a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission (IOC AC) last year, would be representing the panel in the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Currently, ranked world number 10 in BWF rankings, Saina is aiming to win the All England Championship next month.

Hyderabad, Feb 26 (PTI) Adding another feather in her cap, star shuttler Saina Nehwal, who was appointed a member of the International Olympic Committees Athletes Commission (AC) last year, would be representing the panel in the Badminton World Federation (BWF). She would join the BWF Athletes Commission as a representative of the IOC AC, IOC said in a communication to Nehwal. Nehwal has received an official communication in this regard. The Chair of BWF AC has informed others on the panel about Sainas joining the BWF AC as a representative of the IOC AC.

Sanira Mediratta

21 Mar 2017,Tuesday

Why do passports have four primary colours?

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/passport-colours-four-world-colours-travel-lifest/1/908300.html

Passport colours are derived from four primary colours- red, green, blue or black, according to Arton Group, which runs a passport database. Blue passports are believed to belong to 'new-world' nations including India and Australia. Red passports usually belong to nations with a communist history. Additionally, black passports, used by New Zealand among others, are known to be the rarest.

If you've never had the time to think as to why passports around the world come in the limited colours that they do, allow us to enlighten you today. Shades of red, green, blue and black are the four colours that dominate the universe of passports--and not without good reason. As per a report by Business Insider a certain Hrant Boghossian has some reasons to attribute to the choice of passport colours. The Vice President of Marketing at Arton Capital--a firm that headlines "interactive passport database, Passport Index," believes that while essentially the colours are limited, nations experiment with the hues of these four primary shades that can be attributed to "many possible scenarios."Here's a breakdown of things.Blue: Countries whose passports are blue in colour are believed to belong to the so-called 'new-world' league of nations. These nations include India, North America, South America, Australia among others. Red: Considered to be the colour of the communist movement worldwide, red generally belongs to countries that have had a communist history or are still under its influence. China, Serbia, Latvia among others are examples.

Sonu Kumari

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Delhi man strangles wife to death over suspected affair

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/suspecting-affair-man-strangles-wife-to-death-in-south-delhi/story-k1tXZnOTRhIqQVPzvVntNO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A 37-year-old man on Friday allegedly strangled his wife to death over suspicion of an extra-marital affair after the two had an argument in Delhi's Kotla Mubarakpur. The man believed his wife had an affair when he had gone to Saudi Arabia recently, police officials said. He also kept a watch on her and even checked her phone, they added.

Suspecting her of having an affair, a 37-year-old man allegedly strangled his wife to death after the two had an argument over the issue. The incident was reported from south east Delhi?s Kotla Mubarakpur area on Friday morning.Shabnam reportedly had a fight with her husband Taiyab a night before as well. The murder was discovered after their landlord Anil Kumar came to meet Taiyab and found the door ajar. When he went inside to check if Taiyab was around, he saw Shabnam lying dead on her bed. He then made a PCR call and informed the police.?We received a call from a neighbour who told us that a man had murdered his wife. The police team reached the spot and rushed her to the hospital where she was declared brought dead. The woman had strangulation marks on her neck and some bruises on the face that suggests that she was thrashed before she was killed. We have sent her body for a post-mortem examination,? a senior police officer said.The neighbours told the police that the couple often fought over the issue. While Taiyab suspected her of having an extra marital affair, Shabnam denied being involved in a relationship outside marriage. Shabnam had reportedly even confided in a neighbour about Taiyab thrashing her. ?Taiyab had gone to Saudi Arabia and returned a few months ago. He suspected that while he was out of India, his wife had an affair. He allegedly even checked her phone and always kept a watch on her which often led to arguments between the two,? a police officer said.On Friday morning the couple again had a fight after their kids went to school, following which Taiyab allegedly strangled his wife, left her body on the bed and fled the spot. He even picked up his children from their school and took them along, police said.?We have registered a case of murder in the matter and have sent out teams to arrest Taiyab. Teams have also been sent to his village in UP for raids,? a senior police officer said.

Daisy Mowke

09 Mar 2017,Thursday

Diljit's DU concert stopped midway due to cylinder leak

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/broken-barricades-and-uncontrollable-crowds-stop-diljit-dosanjh-s-concert-in-du/story-R2lPZDFmxjrQ7EEPZroduK.html

Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh's concert in Delhi University's Hansraj College was stopped midway after a leak occurred in a cylinder near the stage. Following this, the audience was asked to evacuate the area, which resulted in a stampede. The crowd had reportedly broken barricades and gathered around the stage. Some students also suffered injuries during the stampede.

Electric shocks, gas leaks and a horrific stampede?that?s what got served on the last day of Hansraj college?s annual cultural fest Confluence 2017. The fest?s finale was much-awaited, owing to the appearance of singer actor Diljit Dosanjh, but sadly, it did not end well for the crowd and Dosanjh.The singer who had to appear onstage at 5 in the evening had thousands of fans waiting for him at the college grounds since 2 in the afternoon. The singer-actor finally came onstage around 7pm. The excited crowd had already broken barricades, stormed the sides of the stage and had to be repeatedly told to maintain decorum by Diljit?s team and the college authorities.A view of the crowd that had come to see Diljit?s performance at the fest. (Manoj Verma/HT?Photo) By the time Diljit finally came on stage, the crowds had mostly gathered around the stage, breaching almost every level of security possible. The singer urged the crowd to maintain decorum and promised to give them a great performance if they supported him; only to stop mid song and ask a bunch of students near the stage to move back. ?Meri sab to sincere request hai, picche ho jaao. Dilli sayyano da sheher haiga, sayyano waali gal kariye aapa. Masi masi mauka milda show karan da tussi pls hon do properly (I request everyone to move away from the stage. Delhi is a city of wise people, please make a wise decision and step back. Not often do we get a chance to do such a big show, please let it happen properly),? said the singer.Singer Diljit Dosanjh repeatedly urged his fans to maintain decorum and let the concert happen properly.. (Manoj Verma/HT?Photo) However, in an effort to not disappoint the crowd, Dosanjh sang a few hit songs. It was when he was singing his hit Veer Vaar that a leak occurred in a cylinder near the stage and the audience was asked to evacuate the area, which resulted in a stampede. A nearby firework station fell, too, causing a few to suffer mild electric shocks. Dosanjh too had to be escorted to his vehicle, eventually having to leave the venue. Arjun Nath, a student at the venue badly bruised his leg; Risheeta Malik (name changed on request) was groped and pushed around by a group of guys and Karan Singh from IP university had to seek medical help as he fell and twisted his ankle. Shubam Rawat, another student from IP university and Karan?s friend said, ?It is unfortunate that this happened. Delhi doesn?t deserve to have such big artists perform for them. They are a bunch of rowdy hooligans.? Members of Pagg, a dance team which had come all the way from Amritsar were also disappointed and said, ?We love Diljit paaji and we are glad at least he is safe. But, show da ki faida jidech saadi jaan nikal jaaugi. Saa kad ta logaan ne.? SRK had come to the college before too, but the organisers listened to us and despite the huge crowd, everything went well. What happened here is a clear case of mismanagement and ignorance on the behalf of the organisersPolice officials claimed that they had warned event managers to not keep fireworks or cylinders around the stage, but despite warnings, they did not change the setup. ?SRK had come to the college before too, but the organisers listened to us and despite the huge crowd, everything went well. What happened here is a clear case of mismanagement and ignorance on the behalf of the organisers,? said an official at the venue.We reached out to a shocked and disappointed Dosanjh after the show who was quick to reply on finding out what had transpired. ?I am always excited and enthusiastic to perform in Delhi. I really love my fans and was really happy to see such massive turn out of the show. It?s quite unfortunate that this incident happened and situation became uncontrollable . I hope to see my Delhi fans soon,? he said.

Vaibhav Gupta

22 Dec 2016,Thursday

Reunification of the Left is a historic necessity: CPI

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/reunification-of-left-is-a-historic-necessity-cpi/1/840757.html

Senior Communist Party of India leader D Raja has said that the reunification of the communist movement in India is a "historic necessity" to take on the BJP. Adding that he hopes that Left parties now realise India's situation, Raja said, "Left should emerge as a strong credible force which can galvanise". It is the need of history, he added.

Chhavi Tyagi

09 Dec 2016,Friday

Sheena Bora murder accused demands laptop, dry fruit in jail

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sheena-bora-murder-case-peter-mukerjea-asks-for-laptop-dry-fruits-jail-experience/1/830996.html

Sheena Bora murder accused Peter Mukerjea has sought the court's permission to use a laptop without internet connection for four hours daily or an electronic typewriter to pen down his book. Mukerjea has also sought permission to eat dry fruits and other readymade food items for munching on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when he keeps fast.

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea wants to write his experience of his stay in jail and his version of Sheena Bora murder case.Peter Mukerjea aka Pratim Mukerjea has stated in a written application addressed to the special court in Mumbai that he was writing a book in long hand. Altogether Peter has written three applications to trial court seeking several relaxations while he is lodged in jail on the charges of conspiring murder of Sheena Bora, the daughter of his wife Indrani Mukerjea.  READ| Peter Mukerjea was misled by Indrani completely unbelievable, says Bombay High CourtPETER WANTS A LAPTOP Peter Mukherjea has sought the court's permission for a laptop as it was getting difficult for him to pen down the manuscript.In his application, Peter requested the court to allow him use "a laptop without internet connection for four hours daily, which the jail authorities can then keep in their safe custody for rest of the time."WATCH:READ| Tabu to play Indrani Mukerjea in film adaptation of Sheena Bora murder case?Peter said that he would not need the laptop for more than eight weeks, after which it would be handed over to his family.Peter pleaded that he was 61-year-old and suffered from occasional memory fatigue. A computer would be of great help, Peter said.Addressing the court he said, "Your honour my first choice is a laptop and if not then an electronic typewriter and if not then I will sit in office of jail officials and write it if the officials are ok with it." ALSO DEMANDS DRY FRUITSIn another application, Peter has asked for dry fruits and other readymade food items for munching on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when he keeps fast. Among his demands is included a shaving kit. WATCH: In yet another application, Peter Mukerjea wishes to travel to Bengaluru to perform 'kanyadaan' of his niece as his sister's husband is no more. He reasoned out that he was the eldest in the family and it was his social duty to perform these rituals. Meanwhile, CBI advocate Kavita Patil has objected to his demands terming them against jail manual. She is likely file a written reply in the court during the next hearing.

Parmeet Kaur

22 Jul 2017,Saturday

IIT-Delhi faces shortage of rooms for its female students

http://www.hindustantimes.com/education/iit-delhi-gets-more-girls-but-has-no-rooms-for-them/story-gHpNc8Op9K1QFonT7hfZDN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

IIT-Delhi saw a 30% increase in the number of female students for its undergraduate and masters courses, but there is severe shortage of rooms for them. As a temporary arrangement, several students have been accommodated in the building meant for associate professors. Reportedly, some students were asked to sleep on the mattress spread on floor due to unavailability of cots.n

More women gaining admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) was a welcome news. But the institute in Delhi has no room for them, literally. Due to space crunch, several students have been asked to stay in an adjacent building meant for associate professors. According to a senior IIT official, due to 30% increase in number of women students for undergraduate and masters courses, there is severe shortage of accommodation. As a temporary measure, many have been accommodated in facilities meant for associate professors. Sources said a few angry parents complained to HRD minister Prakash Javadekar claiming that students were asked to sleep on the mattress spread on the floor as cots were unavailable. IIT officials said they have placed order for cots and 30-40 of them will be made available from Saturday.?We have accommodated all undergraduate students in the hostel. Around 100 masters students have been allotted rooms in the adjacent building. It is a temporary arrangement,? said a senior IIT official. Officials said even in 2016, a few students were asked to stay in temporary accommodation but were soon allotted hostels. The number is significantly high this year. ?Most of them have been given mattresses till cots are made available,? the official said. The existing hostels for post-graduate students in IIT-Delhi, Kailash and Himadri, can accommodate 900 students and are fully occupied now.?We had not anticipated such an increase but we have provided cots and almirahs to some students. We will provide them soon to the students who got only mattresses as of now. They will dine with students in the dining area in the hostel,? said the official.The IITs have registered a better representation of women this year ? from 8% in 2016 to 9.3 % in 2017. Through JEE advanced, a total of 70 girl students were admitted in IIT-Delhi for undergraduate courses in 2016 and it rose to 94 this year. There has also been a corresponding increase in MTech, MSc and PhD courses. ?Construction of our new hostel will begin by December. It will be able to accommodate at least 350-400 students and is expected to be completed in 18 months,? added the official. ?A status report will be sought from other IITs too,? he said.

Rini Kapoor

20 Jan 2017,Friday

JNU to cut salary of teachers for taking part in strike

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/jnu-to-cut-teachers-salary-for-taking-part-in-strike/story-BLc4ap5yXaZ84hbbv1kbkI.html

Jawaharlal Nehru University's teachers who participated in a day-long strike will lose one day's salary, according to a notice by the university registrar. The strike was observed on Tuesday after several teachers received notices asking them to "follow the rules" and not address students at administration building. Reportedly, protesting within 20 metres of the administration building is banned.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers who participated in a day-long strike against the ?administrative threat to faculty members? will lose one day?s salary, according to a notice by the university registrar. The JNU teachers? association observed a one-day strike on Tuesday and struck work following a spate of notices to faculty members who addressed students at the administration building, referred to as ?Freedom Square?. The strike was also against the ?arbitrary? adoption of UGC gazette on admission policy. Read I JNU teachers hold send lecture series at Freedom?SquareThe notice sent on Thursday said that under the principal of ?No Work, No Pay? teachers won?t be paid salary and allowances of that day. ?Under the principal of ?No Work No Pay? such faculty members who had participated in the strike will not be given pay and allowances for the day of strike.?It is proposed to take action against faculty members who participated in the strike on 17.01.2017 under the provision of FR 17 (a) along with all its attendant consequences,? the notice said.Registrar Pramod Kumar told HT, ?We have informed teachers about the rules in such cases. We will hear them and then decide.?The university has asked teachers to inform them about their participation in the strike and said that faculty members will be given the opportunity to be heard before ?further course of action? is decided.?All faculty members who participated in the strike are requested to intimate in writing within 10 days about their participation. If no information is received from the faculty member in this regard, it will be presumed that he/she had not participated in the strike,? the registrar said.Read I Where is Najeeb Ahmed? Delhi Police offers Rs 10 lakh for informationTeachers termed the notice as yet another attempt by the administration to threaten them. At least five teachers have received notices asking them to ?follow the rules? and not address students at administration building.?First they sent notices to us over addressing students. Now they are threatening us with salary cut. Teachers don?t fall under the Central Civil Service (CCS) rule which administration is citing,? said JNUTA president Ajay Patnaik.The administration, however, says that Central government rules are applied in cases where the university does not have its own rules. While, another JNUTA member said the executive council has decided to form a committee to look into such issues, the registrar said, ?Till the committee gives its recommendations, teachers will continue to be governed by the rule.?Recently, the administration had put up a notice banning all protests within 20 metres of the building and asked students to take democratic protests beyond that area. The administration has also blocked parts of the ?Freedom Square? with grilles to keep protesters at bay.?Even in the past, teachers have made up for the loss of studies on account of strikes and agitations by taking extra classes. Most recent being the issue of both the winter and monsoon semesters last year,? said Vikas Bajpai, a faculty member at JNU.

Rini Sinha

01 May 2017,Monday

Was kicked out of films as others were recommended: Priyanka

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/priyanka-chopra-nepotism-baywatch-hollywood-debut/1/942749.html

Actress Priyanka Chopra revealed that she has been kicked out of films because someone else was recommended to the producer. Speaking on nepotism, Priyanka said that she has faced it a lot and added that outsiders in Bollywood don't have a foot-in-the-door access. She added, "Eventually, those who are meant to be success stories become that, despite all hindrances."

Ever since Kangana Ranaut's remark on Koffee With Karan sparked off a nationwide debate about nepotism, every B-Towner has something or the other to say about it. When Mid-Day asked Priyanka Chopra what she, as someone with no godfather in the industry, felt about nepotism, the actor revealed that she has personally experienced it.Priyanka said, "Every star has their individual journey. In mine, I have faced a lot. I have been kicked out of films because someone else was recommended to the producer. I cried and got over it." However, the Dostana actor does not have a bitter taste in her mouth from the experience. She added, "There is nothing wrong in being born into a family that has a legacy. Outsiders don't have a foot-in-the-door access. Star kids have insurmountable pressure of living up to the family name... Eventually, those who are meant to be success stories become that, despite all hindrances."On the work front, Priyanka is gearing up for her big Hollywood debut, Baywatch. She will be seen playing the antagonist, Victoria Leeds, in the film, that also stars Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

Abhishek Bansal

06 May 2017,Saturday

Ex-SC lawyer alleges mother harassed by Jet Airways staff

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jet-airways-advocate-harrasment-delhi/1/947208.html

Kawaljit Singh Bhatia, a former advocate at the Supreme Court, has alleged in a Facebook post that his mother was harassed by Jet Airways officials at the Delhi International Airport on May 3. Bhatia added that his mother had a blackout and suffered an injury in the process. The airline, however, has denied the allegations.

In a shocking case, a senior citizen's family has alleged that the woman was harrased by Jet Airways officials at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on May 3, causing her to have a blackout.A former advocate at the Supreme Court, Kawaljit Singh Bhatia, in a Facebook post the after he dropped his mother at the airport, he received a call saying that the officials didn't allow her to board as she was late. Here is what followed next:Jet Airways, however denied the charges and has now issued an official statement saying,"Jet Airways reaffirms its Guest First philosophy which is founded on principles of service excellence.The airline staff demonstrated the very same principles of concern while accepting the senior guest for boarding, despite the guest reporting late at the check-in counter.Subsequently, the guest proceeded for the boarding gate by herself, where she lost consciousness. She was then taken to the airport medical desk for first aid where investigations revealed her to be a diabetic with low haemoglobin.The above facts can be corroborated via CCTV footage available with the airport authorities, a copy of which has also been submitted to law enforcement authorities.Jet Airways strongly denies the allegations made in the social post which do not reflect the airline's service etiquette, standards and the exact nature of developments that transpired on the day."Also readThis airline is giving you 24 per cent off on flight bookings just for today

Prashanti Moktan

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

SC rejects plea against release of Bhandarkar's Indu Sarkar

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/supreme-court-rejects-petition-for-stay-on-madhur-bhandarkar-s-indu-sarkar/story-hmHrttpwjGyrK8BDWCthYN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition seeking a stay on the release of Madhur Bhandarkar's directorial 'Indu Sarkar'. The court noted that the film is an artistic expression within the parameters of law. The petition was filed by Priya Singh Paul, who claimed to be the daughter of Sanjay Gandhi and was alleging that the movie is derogatory.

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition seeking a stay on release of director Madhur Bhandarkar?s next, Indu Sarkar. Dismissing the petition, a bench of justices including, Dipak Misra, Amitav Roy and AM Khanwilkar, said the movie is an artistic expression within the parameters of law.The movie, which releases on Friday, deals with the controversial subject of Emergency imposed in 1975 by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The petition filed by Priya Singh Paul, who cliams to be the daughter of Sanjay Gandhi, alleges the movie is ?full of concocted facts and is totally derogatory?.On July 24, the Bombay High Court had dismissed the petition saying no ?known descendant? of Sanjay Gandhi has objected to the movie.The Court said that the petitioner had not made out any case for the court to interfere and stay the release of the movie after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted certificate to the film.Priya, in her petition, has claimed that Sanjay Gandhi was her biological father and the movie points fingers at him. Sanjay Gandhi?s widow, Maneka Gandhi, and their son, Varun, are BJP leaders and they have not commented on the issue. Follow @htshowbiz for more

Abhishek Bansal

03 May 2017,Wednesday

85-kg calf jumps off building, falls on man in Kolkata

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/calf-jumps-off-building-lands-on-man-kolkata-cow/1/944652.html

An 85-kg calf, which was reportedly being kept tied up on the terrace of a four-storey building, jumped from the roof and fell onto a 43-year-old man. The man suffered a fractured leg, several stitches, and a head trauma and was taken to a local hospital. The six-month-old calf, however, could not survive the fall.

There is a saying in Bengali which, roughly translated, means that someone who has had a wood apple fall on their head never goes to the orchards again. Going by that logic, this young man named Abdul Mannan will never again go near any cattle.On Sunday, 43-year-old Abdul Mannan was out and about in Kolkata's Tiljala area shopping for grocery. At one point, Mannan stooped over at a green grocer's stall to check out some cucumbers when calamity fell upon him.Only the calamity here was a calf. A living and breathing, 85-kg calf that fell out of the sky and on Mannan while he was shopping.Well, not 'out of the sky' per say. Reports have it that the calf was being kept tied up on the terrace of a four-storey building near the market were Mannan was shopping. Right at the moment when Mannan chose to stop under this building and shop, this six-month-old calf managed tear off the rope it was tied with and leap off the 70-foot high terrace.The next thing Mannan knew was that "something very heavy" had fallen on him. When he looked up, he found it was a cow lying on top of him. After that sight, the poor man fainted. Mannan later woke up in the Calcutta National Medical College with a fractured leg, several stitches and a head trauma. The calf, unfortunately, did not survive the crash-landing.Mannan, a peanut vendor and the sole breadwinner in his family, is still bedridden from the accident. The good news is that the owner of the calf is said to have paid for Mannan's medical expenses.Read more at FYI:

Vaibhav Gupta

23 Jan 2017,Monday

Union minister mixes up name of Kerala CM with TN CM

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-vilas-paswan-facepalm-moment-twitter-mixes-up-kerala-cm-with-tamil-nadu/1/864745.html

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday mixed up Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan with Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam and got trolled on Twitter. The Minister made the mistake while sharing pictures of his meeting with the Kerala CM and his team of officers at his residence in New Delhi.

Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs, tweeted about his meeting with Kerala CM Sh O Paneerselvam  Sh Pinarayi Vijayan.Yes, that's what happened. Paswan while tweeting mixed up Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan with Tamil Nadu CM O Paneerselvam and got trolled for the same. The Union Minister while sharing pictures of his meeting with Kerala CM and his team of officers at Paswan's residence in New Delhi ended up making this goof up.Yes Minister Paswan, that's definitely Mr Panneerselvam. pic.twitter.com/a10Z37T3RDTwitterati has come out with all the guns and is trolling the minister. Someone even asked what would he have discussed during the meeting if he does not know who he met. Are u @irvpaswan competing with @OfficeOfRG ?????? https://t.co/E25GFeDCHI@irvpaswan LOL what an uninformed ministers Mr.Modi has chosen for his cabinet. Paneerselvam is CM of Tamil Nadu.@VivekAchar@irvpaswan Mr. Paswan doesn't even know who he is meeting. So incompetent, he must resign ð???ð???@ShivAroor Out of curiosity, if paswan had no clue who he was talking to, what on earth did they talk about??

Vaibhav Gupta

22 Dec 2016,Thursday

ACB files chargesheet against DCW chief Maliwal

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/acb-files-chargesheet-against-dcw-chief-swati-maliwal-in-recruitment-scam/story-530RjPPDuVvTDsjuX0PsYJ.html

The Anti-Corruption Branch on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal in an alleged case of irregularities in recruitment for a women's right panel, officials said. "They have favoured Aam Aadmi Party workers,? the ACB said. This comes after Maliwal's predecessor Barkha Singh Shukla of the Congress party filed a complaint in this regard.

The anti-corruption branch on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal in an alleged case of irregularities in the appointments to the women?s right panel.?We have chargesheeted her because she has made illegal appointments,? ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena told reporters in Delhi. ?They have favoured Aam Aadmi Party workers,? he alleged.He also said that the DCW has violated several rules and Maliwal was charged with a major violation. ?Whoever has done wrong in it will also be booked, we have only chargesheeted Swati Maliwal for gross violation of rules,? the ACB chief said. Maliwal has been charged under Prevention of Corruption Act as well as necessary provisions of the Indian Penal Code.The ACB action came in the wake of the complaint filed by Maliwal?s predecessor Barkha Singh Shukla of the Congress.Shukla, in her complaint, alleged that AAP workers were appointed in the DCW to fetch them financial gains. Altogether 85 appointments are under investigation by the ACB.Acting on the complaint, the ACB registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

Deepali Aggarwal

17 Jul 2017,Monday

French Prez denounces country's role in Holocaust atrocity

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/17/france-macron-denounces-state-role-holocaust-atrocity-paris-1942?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Commemorating 75 years of a mass roundup of French Jews outside Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced his country's collaboration in the Holocaust atrocity. Adding that "not a single German" was directly involved in the roundup, Macron said, "it was indeed France that organised this". Notably, tens of thousands of Jews were killed in the atrocity.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has denounced France?s collaboration in the Holocaust, criticising those who negate or minimise the country?s role in sending tens of thousands of Jews to their deaths.After he and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, attended a Holocaust commemoration, Macron also appealed for renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Worried that Netanyahu is backing away from commitment to a two-state solution, Macron assailed Jewish settlement construction as a threat to international hopes for peace.Commemorating 75 years since a mass roundup of Jews during the darkest chapter of modern French history, Macron insisted ?it was indeed France that organised this?.?Not a single German? was directly involved, he said, but French police collaborating with the Nazis.Holocaust survivors recounted wrenching stories at the ceremony at the site of Vel d?Hiv stadium near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where police herded 13,000 people on 16-17 July 1942 before they were deported to camps. More than 4,000 were children. Fewer than 100 survived.They were among about 76,000 Jews deported from France to Nazi camps.It was a half century later when then-President Jacques Chirac became the first French leader to acknowledge the state?s role in the Holocaust?s horrors.Macron dismissed arguments by French far-right leaders and others that the collaborationist Vichy regime didn?t represent France.?It is convenient to see the Vichy regime as born of nothingness, returned to nothingness . Yes, it?s convenient, but it is false. We cannot build pride upon a lie,? he said.French Jewish leaders hailed Macron?s speech on Sunday ? even as critics railed at him online, where renewed antisemitism has flourished. Macron pledged to fight racism, and called for a thorough investigation into the recent killing of a Parisian woman believed to be linked to anti-Jewish sentiment.Netanyahu said that ?recently we have witnessed a rise of extremist forces that seek to destroy not only the Jews, but of course the Jewish state as well, but well beyond that ... The zealots of militant Islam, who seek to destroy you, seek to destroy us as well. We must stand against them together.?Pro-Palestinian and other activists protested against Netanyahu?s appearance in Paris, criticising Jewish settlement policy and the blockade of Gaza.Macron condemned an attack last week that killed two Israeli police officers at a Jerusalem shrine revered by Jews and Muslims, and said he was committed to Israel?s security ? but warned that continued Jewish settlement construction threatened peace efforts.?I call for a resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in the framework of the search for a solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, living in recognised, secure borders with Jerusalem as the capital,? Macron told reporters.At his side, Netanyahu said, ?We share the same desire for a peaceful Middle East,? but didn?t elaborate on eventual peace talks.While Macron has been flexing his diplomatic skills by reaching out to President Donald Trump and others, he did not indicate any eagerness for France to spearhead such negotiations, after a lacklustre French Middle East diplomatic effort under his predecessor early this year.Macron and Netanyahu also discussed fighting extremism in Syria and elsewhere, and improving economic cooperation. ? This article was amended on 17 July 2017 to insert the correct location of the site of the Vel d?Hiv stadium.

Sumedha Sehra

22 Apr 2017,Saturday

Stalin slams govt for imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speakers

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mk-stalin-bjp-govt-hindi-non-hindi-speaking-people-modi-govt/1/935757.html

DMK working president MK Stalin in a video on Saturday, slammed the central government for sidelining non-Hindi speaking people by imposing Hindi on all citizens. He attacked the parliamentary proposition to make Hindi compulsory for MPs and Central ministers who know the language. He also criticised the government for the proposal to make Hindi compulsory in CBSE schools.

DMK working president and treasurer, MK Stalin today slammed the central government for imposing Hindi on non-Hindi residents of the country. In a two-minute video, the leader asked the government to give up its efforts to sideline non-Hindi speaking people.Stalin said that right from the day of assuming power, the BJP-led central government has been making efforts to destroy and decimate the unity of the nation. He even slammed the recent parliamentary committee proposal to make it mandatory for MPS and Central ministers who know Hindi to use it as their official language, both in speeches and writings.Stalin also criticised the BJP government for obtaining permission from the President to use Hindi in airport announcements, press news and advertisements and also making it a compulsory subject in CBSE schools across the country.The DMK leader expressed his displeasure over central government schemes named only in Hindi or Sanskrit.He said that by enforcing Hindi on citizens from primary school students to Parliament, the BJP government is betraying all non-Hindi speaking people of the nation.  He also condemned the reforms by saying that they were against the spirit of the constitution of India that was framed under the leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar.Stalin further mentioned the schedule 8 of the Constitution of India according to which all languages including Tamil should be announced as official languages. He further said that despite the constitutional rights, the central government's actions are diametrically opposite to the people's sentiments."I urge PM Modi government to give up these efforts of sidelining non-Hindi speaking citizens," said Stalin.He added that Dravidian movement has a longstanding history of spearheading the anti-Hindi movement. Stalin ended the video by emphasising his request to government of not sowing seeds of a third generation anti-Hindi imposition protests through its brute force and other tactics.Also read:

Aarushi Maheshwari

23 Jun 2017,Friday

Russian sells photos on Delhi streets to travel across India

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kola-russian-traveller-delhi-connaught-place-selling-photos-lifetr/1/982146.html

A Russian national was selling his photographs in Delhi to earn money and continue travelling across India. Kola sat in Connaught Place next to a placard saying, "Hello. I'm from Russia. These photos are from my travel. Price up to you. Support my trip." Kola was staying in a hostel, and wished to visit Kashmir.

Instances like these reaffirm the belief that all you need for an adventurous expedition is a grand spirit.While you were worrying about meeting your travel expenses, this Russian traveller decided to earn money from the very inhabitants of the country he is currently visiting.If you walk past the Palika Bazaar-crossing in Connaught Place, New Delhi, you will find this Russian national sitting on a platform with a range of postcard-sized travel photographs. If that makes you wonder what all this is about, read the placard lying next to the neatly arranged pictures. And the message is quite clear:''Hello. I'm from Russia. These photos are from my travel. Price up to you. Support my trip.''Also Read: This couple is making lots and lots of money by just travelling and using social media This young traveller calls himself Kola and has been selling photos in Delhi to earn money to continue his trip in India. ''It's a long name, Nikola, and Indian name is Coca Cola, because people ask me what's my name and I say Kola, they say Coca Cola. I say yes," Kola was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Abhishek Bansal

13 Jun 2017,Tuesday

Cars may predict if driver is having a heart attack

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/soon-cars-may-predict-if-you-are-having-a-heart-attack/1/977490.html

US-based scientists are developing a new system that can predict if a car driver is about to have a heart attack. Researchers, in collaboration with Japanese automaker Toyota, are working on technology that can monitor and analyse the physiology of the driver. "The medical event interferes with the driver's ability to safely drive and operate the car," said a researcher.

Washington, Jun 13 (PTI) Scientists are developing a new system that can predict if a car driver is about to have a heart attack, a feature that would help avoid road accidents due to an unexpected cardiac event. When a person has a medical emergency behind the wheel, fellow passengers and motorists also face risk of death or serious injury. "A large number of traffic incidents are caused by medical conditions while driving, specifically cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infraction and myocardial ischemia," said Kayvan Najarian, from University of Michigan in the US. "The medical event interferes with the drivers ability to safely drive and operate the car, causing the accident," said Najarian. Researchers, in collaboration with Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota, wanted to move towards technology that can monitor and analyse the physiology of the person driving and predict if they are going to have adverse cardiac events. "We identified the challenges, potential solutions, hardware options and algorithmic approaches that could be potentially used," Najarian said. "We concluded that cardiac events were conditions that are more feasible to detect with technology in the vehicle," he added. Researchers are creating a system that could be placed in the vehicle to monitor and predict an adverse cardiac event. "We would like to test hardware we had previously identified, and improve and validate our algorithmic solutions to see what it will take to generate a system that could look at the physiology of a person, provided by high-density electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, as well as other medical measurements," Najarian said. Their goal is to come up with a system that would predict the occurrence of adverse cardiac events in real time. Researchers are using machine-learning models to analyse the data collected from in-hospital and in-vehicle subjects. The research team will then test the system on real-time prediction of cardiac events. "There are actually quite a few obstacles that were identified," Najarian said. "You cant have clinical-grade monitoring devices in the vehicle. You need to use a high-quality monitoring device in the vehicle that, despite all the in-vehicle noise, could reliably register the drivers ECG without being large and obtrusive," he added. The research team will begin gathering the physiological data from the driver using heart monitors approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Such monitors are patches placed on the drivers chest that analyse physiological data in real time.

Vaibhav Gupta

07 Jan 2017,Saturday

PM Modi calls for consensus on transparent political funding

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjp-national-executive-narendra-modi/1/851828.htmlhttp://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjp-national-executive-narendra-modi/1/851828.html

Addressing the BJP national executive meet, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed on the need for greater transparency in political funding and called for consensus among parties on the issue. Adding that the poor must not be treated as political bait for votes, PM Modi said that BJP's priority is to make the quality of life better for the poor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned his partymen against lobbying for their relatives to get tickets for the forthcoming elections in five states.

Vani Vivek

12 Feb 2017,Sunday

Monthly housing sales fell 40% on demonetisation: PropTiger

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/housing-sales-fell-40percent-in-nov-dec-on-demonetisation-proptiger/1/880836.html

Realty portal PropTiger has said that its monthly average housing sales fell 40% during November-December 2016 in top nine cities because of the government's demonetisation move. New home launches fell 49% in the period, the company added. News Corp-backed PropTiger, which recently merged with real estate search portal Housing, laid off 200 employees this week in a restructuring exercise.

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) The monthly average housing sales fell 40 per cent during November-December period in the top nine cities as customers deferred their decision to buy homes on expectation of fall in prices after the demonetisation move, according to realty portal PropTiger.com. The News Corp-backed portal, which recently merged Housing.com with itself, tracks primary residential markets of nine cities -- Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. "Before demonetisation, the monthly average residential sales and launches during July-October months were at around 19,000 units and 18,000 units, respectively, which were affected drastically on account of currency demonetisation. "The monthly average sales and launches were reduced drastically during November-December months by 40 per cent and 49 per cent respectively," PropTiger said in its latest report Realty Decoded Q3 FY17. The government had announced the demonetisation move on November 8, raising hopes of sharp fall in prices in property market, especially secondary or resale segment. Housing sales across these nine cities declined by 20 per cent to 43,512 units during October-December quarter of this fiscal from 54,721 units in the previous quarter. The pace of decline in overall sales activity over previous quarter is the highest in the past 12 quarters, it said. The third quarter started on a strong note with October showing a strong performance, but November and December were deeply impacted by the demonetisation drive. The October month contributed about 50 per cent of the sales in the quarter. Among cities, Gurgaon, Noida and Ahmedabad showed a 30 to 40 per cent decline in sales in the third quarter of 2016-17 over the previous quarter. Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai witnessed around 20 per cent fall in sales during the same period, while Kolkata and Pune recorded the lowest levels of fall at 8 and 12 per cent, respectively. On supply, the report said the launches of new homes fell in nine cities during October-December quarter due to decline in sales, stagnant prices, pressure on soaring unsold inventory and a liquidity crunch. Total launches in the third quarter of this fiscal fell by 8 per cent to 43,253 units compared with 47,032 units in the previous quarter, indicating the reduction in activity levels across the primary residential markets.

Chhavi Tyagi

23 Apr 2017,Sunday

Fault not with EVMs, but with Kejriwal: BJP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mcd-election-2017-live-voting-updates/1/935896.html

With Delhi witnessing polling for its civic body today, the BJP slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his rant on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) tampering, saying, "Fault is not in EVMs, but in Kejriwal's leadership." BJP leader Sambit Patra said, "Kejriwal's language shows that he is frustrated. He went to Goa and Punjab to become CM, now he is nowhere."

All eyes are on the national capital today as Delhi votes for its civic bodies in the MCD election 2017. The polls are being closely watched in national politics, with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party all in fray. There's a lot at stake for three main contenders. The BJP will look to continue its winning momentum, having resoundingly won Uttar Pradesh in the recent Assembly elections as well as a number of civic bodies in Maharashtra and Odisha. For Congress, the MCD election could be a chance to save face after embarrassing defeats across the country. The party's most recent failure was in the civic polls of Latur, the Maharashtra stronghold that was in the Grand Old Party's control ever since independence. Meanwhile, the AAP will be hoping for some redemption after bruising defeats in Punjab and Goa put brakes on Arvind Kejriwal-led party's dreams of going national. Swaraj India, the party led by Kejriwal's former Indian Against Corruption partner Yogendra Yadav, is also in the fray for Delhi's civic bodies. The counting of votes will take place on April 26. HERE ARE THE LATEST UPDATES: Union Minister Dr.Harshvardhan after casting his vote in a polling booth in Krishna Nagar's Ratan Devi School #MCDelections2017pic.twitter.com/KpMhseOkeVDelhi Lt.Governor Anil Baijal after casting his vote in a polling station in Greater Kailash-3 #MCDelections2017pic.twitter.com/9QyWVTmyHpVoting underway in Delhi's Pandav Nagar for #MCDelections2017pic.twitter.com/f0vL1A4bj6(With inputs from IANS)ALSO READ: Beyond MCD election 2017: How 5 municipal corporations manage Delhi, why everyone can't vote tomorrow

Tarun Khanna

12 Mar 2017,Sunday

Goa BJP MLAs pass resolution to make Parrikar CM

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/goa-election-result-cm-parrikar-mgp-gfp/1/902755.html

The Goa BJP MLAs, in the state's party legislature meeting on Sunday, passed a resolution to make Union Minister Manohar Parrikar as state Chief Minister. The MLAs have also written a letter to BJP President Amit Shah requesting him to send Parrikar back to Goa. BJP has reportedly claimed to have got support from Goa Forward Party and MGP.

Manohar Parrikar was today appointed the chief minister of Goa by the state's Governor, Mridula Sinha. Parrikar will step down from the post of Defence Minister. After garnering support from independent candidates and small parties, the BJP now claims the support of a total of 22 MLAs in Goa. Latest Developments:We met the Governor, expecting an invitation.Once we receive it,we will consult our colleagues and decide the date for swearing in: Parrikar pic.twitter.com/r3mpCAMLdpBJP HAS A PLAN?With some votes still to be counted, BJP president Amit Shah announced in New Delhi yesterday that the BJP was in a position to form government in Goa. This gave an idea that the BJP has a plan for Goa.READ| Goa Assembly Election 2017 Detailed ResultWhen the final tally was known, the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly. The ruling BJP secured 13 seats, eight less than the 2012 Goa Assembly election.Chief Minister Lakshmikant Parsekar lost to Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte, who visited party office as a 'giant killer'.But, the BJP still claimed that it was in a position to form government. How?Sources in the BJP and political observers, both, are of the view that the answer lies in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.WHY PARRIKAR AGAIN?In the 40-seat Goa Assembly, a party or coalition requires support of 21 MLAs to form government. Chief Minister Parsekar has lost the election. He was anyway considered a weak candidate than his predecessor Parrikar. The final tally has 10 seats under the belt of non-BJP, non-Congress parties. The Maharashtra Gomantak Party has been a former ally of the BJP and during Parrikar's regime the two parties worked in harmony.Speaking to India Today MGP leader Sudin Dhawalikar said, "We have passed a resolution to support the BJP only if Manohar Parrikar is made the Chief Minister."WATCH| Assembly election results 2017: How counting day unfolded in GoaDhawalikar also said, "We have written a letter to (BJP president) Amit Shah to consider our request."Quite interestingly Dhawalikar claimed that other non-Congress players are also ready to support the BJP with Parrikar as CM. "I have also spoken to Goa Forward party and they too will support if Parrikar is made the Chief Minister. The NCP too is willing to join us," Dhawalikar told India Today.IS PARRIKAR WILLING?Late last night after the results were announced, Parrikar said, "In the situation of a fractured mandate, everyone is in the run to form the government. We are also there. If the BJP acts like a core group and brings together smaller parties, we can still give a stable government."Parrikar said exactly on the same lines as the MGP leader would tell India Today some 12 hours later.Parrikar went on to add, "BJP is in the best position to form the government. I am confident of getting necessary support."   

Nandini Sinha

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

Canada PM Trudeau slammed over indigenous politician comment

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/justin-trudeau-rolling-stone-boxing-match-indigenous-people?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau was slammed after he explained why he had fought an indigenous politician in a boxing match in 2012. Trudeau recalled in an interview that he decided to fight politician Patrick Brazeau since it was "the right story to tell". "So 'privileged white guy beats up Indian' was the 'right kind of narrative?' Seriously?", a user tweeted.

In one corner stood Canada?s youngest senator, heavily tattooed and armed with a black belt in karate. In the other stood a lanky Justin Trudeau, the underdog whom bookies were giving 3-1 odds against.That 2012 boxing match marked a pivotal moment in Trudeau?s political career. But his account of the episode is now raising eyebrows, after he offered a glimpse into his decision to take on indigenous politician Patrick Brazeau.?It wasn?t random,? Trudeau told Rolling Stone magazine in an interview published this week. ?I wanted someone who would be a good foil, and we stumbled upon the scrappy tough-guy senator from an indigenous community. He fit the bill, and it was a very nice counterpoint. I saw it as the right kind of narrative, the right story to tell.?The comments ? part of a 6,800-word August cover story on the prime minister ? sparked immediate reaction. ?So ?privileged white guy beats up Indian? was the ?right kind of narrative?? Seriously?? wrote one person on Twitter, while another noted: ?White guy in power & entitlement looks 4 an #Indigenous human to beat up so he looks like a strong white dude. How precious & colonial supreme.?Others pointed to Trudeau?s much vaunted commitments to diversity and tackling the deep-rooted inequities facing many indigenous peoples in Canada. ?What is up @JustinTrudeau after all your talk of inclusion you brag about beating up a guy with the issues you swore to address,? tweeted one. Another said: ?Trudeau literally using indigenous people as political props.? The encounter came to a halt in the third round as Trudeau pummelled Brazeau in a corner, but it marked the beginning of Trudeau?s rise to Canada?s top office. Brazeau ? who told reporters after the match that it was his ego, not his reddened nose, that was most hurt ? would later be cast out of the Conservative caucus following a 2013 arrest for sexual assault and domestic abuse.As Trudeau?s description of planning the boxing match made the rounds online, some questioned how it squared with Trudeau?s promise to repair the country?s relationship with the more than 1.4 million indigenous peoples ? many of whom grapple with rates of poverty, incarceration and suicide that are much higher than non-indigenous Canadians.Many continue to reel from the effects of Canada?s church-run residential school system ? described by last year?s truth commission as a tool of cultural genocide ? while systemic inequalities have left some living in inadequate, overcrowded housing with undrinkable water.Algonquin artist Jay Odjick pointed to Trudeau?s comments as a possible explanation for the slow pace of reconciliation. ?Canada, your leader went to US media today saying that when he needed a villain to fit his narrative, an indigenous person was a good fit,? he wrote on Twitter. ?The sad fact is, WE are the only people he could get away with in terms of this. Think about perception if he had chosen another PoC person.? On Thursday, Trudeau?s office pointed to the launch of a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women as well as government promises for investment in education, infrastructure and healthcare to highlight the prime minister?s commitment to Indigenous issues. ?He has made it clear that there is no relationship more important to him ? and to our government ? than reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,? a spokesperson for Trudeau said in a statement to the Guardian. ?We are fully committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship and to reconciliation.?The Rolling Stone interview ? promoted on the magazine with the question ?Why can?t he be our president?? ? prompted intense debate in Canada. Many lauded the profile, which included phrases such as ?For Trudeau, listening is seducing? and sought to contrast Trudeau with Donald Trump. Polls suggest Trudeau?s approval rating among Canadians remains high, at around 53%, 20 months after his government took power. But others reacted with skepticism, pointing to Trudeau?s broken promises on electoral reform and deficit spending as well as his government?s sluggish response in addressing indigenous issues.?This yearning for an anti-Trump to call their own means the US media are glossing over or ignoring the troubling similarities between both leaders, not the least of which is an obsession with celebrity that is ultimately counterproductive to governance,? wrote Toronto Star columnist Vinay Menon. ?The attention might be nice. But a bit more neighbourly honesty would be even better.?

Sanira Mediratta

03 May 2017,Wednesday

Telugu TV actor Pradeep Kumar commits suicide

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/popular-telugu-tv-actor-pradeep-kumar-commits-suicide-lifetv/1/944469.html

Pradeep Kumar, who starred in Telugu show 'Saptha Matrika', allegedly committed suicide at his house in Hyderabad, police said on Wednesday. His wife and friend reportedly saw him hanging from a ceiling fan on Tuesday night. "Though the exact reasons behind Pradeep's extreme step are still not known, the couple had a minor quarrel last night," the inspector said.

Pradeep Kumar, who played the lead in popular Telugu serial Saptha Matrika, was found hanging at his Puppalaguda, Hyderabad residence on Wednesday at 4am.There was no suicide note found. While police is still investigating the possible cause of suicide, sources say financial issues could be the reason for the actor's extreme step.

Tarun Khanna

23 Jan 2017,Monday

Cops struggling to explain charges against AAP MLAs: Report

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/police-face-court-rap-over-arrests-of-aap-legislators/story-OcmPB5hzvHl3D4QRC6uixL.html

The court papers of the cases against the 13 AAP MLAs show the Delhi Police is struggling to explain the charges in most cases, a report has claimed. The police have arrested 13 AAP MLAs since 2014 on charges ranging from rape, extortion, cheating to rioting. Although for most of these offences bail isn?t granted, all the MLAs got bail.

The Delhi Policearrested 13 MLAsof the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the last two years on charges ranging from rape, extortion, cheating, forgery to rioting.For most of these offences bail is hard to come by, but all the 13 lawmakers are out on bail. In fact, two have been cleared of all charges.Barring Sandeep Kumar, who is accused of rape, and Jitender Tomar, who faces charges of forging his college and law degrees, all others got bail in their first or second court appearance. They got bail after spending a few weeks in jail.An HT investigation into the court papers of the cases against the 13 MLAs shows that the police are struggling to explain the charges in most cases, earning courts? ire for shoddy investigation.Take the case of Narela MLA Sharad Chauhan, accused of abetting suicide of a woman AAP volunteer. ?It is noteworthy that the name of applicant (Chauhan) is nowhere stated by the deceased in her last statement,? the court said, giving bail to Chauhan. It was also critical of police for misinterpreting the words ?AML? ? mentioned in one of the text messages sent by woman ? to mean the MLA.Police faced a tough time in the case of Matiala MLA Gulab Singh as well. He was arrested on October 16 on charges of extortion from Gujarat on a day he was to address a rally in the western state.He was immediately given bail. The court pulled up police for waiting to arrest him on the day he was to speak at a rally and for rushing to Gujarat for reasons ?best known to them?.Police were ?trying to spin beans beyond the basket?, the court said. AAP has often accused the Delhi Police, which reports to the union home ministry, of harassment and acting at the behest of the Modi government, a charge denied by the force.It described the arrests as ?political conspiracy? to destabilise the Kejriwal government.Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal repeated the accusations last week after the CBI opened a probe against deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and health minister Satyendar Jain?s daughter on corruption charges.Granting bail to Akhilesh Tripathi in a case if sexual harassment and molestation, the court said the complainant?s statement was self-contradictory and cross-examination had discredited her testimony.Senior AAP leader Dilip Pandey said instead of focusing on the law and order, the Delhi Police were busy targeting AAP MLAs.?The NDA government has not been able to accept the defeat in Delhi elections. Because of its ego and political frustration, it is not letting the Delhi government work,? Pandey said.Delhi Police officers were not willing to come on record. ?There should not be an iota of doubt against the police. The complainants in the case are not police. Whenever any cases comes to us, we examine it legally and process as per established procedure,? an officer said on condition of anonymity..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}AKHILESH TRIPATHI Model TownFIR No. 85/15: Feb 6, 2015, Adarsh Nagar police stationCharged with: Causing hurt, wrongful confinement, sexual harassment and molestation Arrested: Nov 26, 2015 Bail: Nov 27, 2015 Acquitted: March 3, 2016 by metropolitan magistrate Richa Manchanda Court observation: Testimonies of two public witnesses are contradictory. Complainant is self contradictory and cross examination discredited her testimony. Court noted that a man ? brother of the woman complainant, who was allegedly beaten by the MLA ? was an important witness but police failed to trace him. .AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}MANOJ KUMAR KondliFIR No. 1072/15: Aug 11, 2015, Ghazipur police stationCharged with: ExtortionArrested: November 21, 2015 Bail: December 3, 2015 Court observation: Prima facie, there is no direct involvement of the accused, and the allegations which have been leveled against him are only through the instrumentality of the co-accused through which the accused allegedly used to extort money..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}SHARAD CHAUHANNarelaFIR No. 535/16: July 20, 2016, Narela police stationCharged with: Abetment to suicide, kidnapping, circulating videos of a womanArrested: July 31, 2016 Bail: August 11, 2016Court observation: While the woman was breathing her last at LNJP hospital, in her audio and video statement she named three men but not Chauhan. "It is noteworthy that the name of the applicant (Chauhan) is nowhere stated by the deceased in her last statement. " The court observed that in the woman?s statement recorded under CrPC 164, which is admissible as evidence, ?the deceased (woman) did not name the applicant/accused (Chauhan) as the person responsible for her death?. Prosecution (police) is mainly relying upon the whatsapp message where the applicant (MLA) is referred as AML. However the statement of the deceased (woman) was recorded after this whatsapp message was sent and in that statement the deceased (woman) did not name the applicant..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}COMMANDO SURENDER SINGHDelhi CanttFIR No. 418/15: Aug 4, 2015, Delhi Cantt police stationCharged with: Kidnapping a public servant, obstructing public servant from doing his/her duty, voluntarily causing hurt to public servant, sections of the SC/SC ActArrested: August 21, 2015 Bail: August 22, 2015 Court observation: Even if all allegations levelled by prosecution (police) are accepted on their face value, even then ingredients of the offence under section 367 IPC i.e. kidnapping or abducting a person in order to subject a person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc., are not even remotely attracted..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}SOMNATH BHARTIMalviya NagarFIR No. 659/16: Sept 11, 2016, Hauz Khas police stationArrested: September 22, 2016 Bail: September 22, 2016 Charged with: Assaulting a public servant on duty, obstructing public servant from discharging his/her duty, rioting and prevention of damage to public property Act. Court observation: It noted that section 353 is not attracted at present, since the security guards who were allegedly assaulted do not fall within the ambit of public servant in the Indian penal Code.FIR No. 745/15: Sept 29, 2015, Dwarka North police stationArrested: Sept 29, 2015 Bail: October 7, 2015 Charged with: Dowry, domestic violence, attempt to murder, cheating, criminal intimidation Court observation: "I have gone through police file and find no medical evidence in support of the incident of alleged wrist slit of night intervening 27, 28 May 2015. There is only one MLC dated June 11, which only mentions about old cut marks but no external injury." Perusal of case diary ?dated September 30, 2015 shows that examination of dog (DON) by board of doctors of animal husbandry was conducted and applicant was directed to give commands to DON but it did not bark on his commands..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}AMANUTULLAH KHANOkhlaFIR No. 726/16: July 19, 2016, Jamia Nagar police stationCharged with: Attempt to culpable homicide, molestation, threatening and criminal intimidation, threatening complainant to withdraw the case. Arrested: July 24, 2016 Bail: July 29, 2016 Court observation: "There is no allegation in the FIR that it was the accused (Amanutullah Khan) who abused her or gave any threats to her. " "Complainant (woman) came to police station on July 26 and alleged she was being pressured to retract her earlier statement. She alleged she was getting calls from unknown numbers to withdraw the case or change her statement. The complainant has nowhere accused that it was the accused (Amanutullah Khan) who made calls to her?The accused was apprehended in the case on July 24.".AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}DINESH MOHANIYASangam ViharFIR No. 535/16: June 23, 2016, Neb Sarai police stationArrested: June 25, 2016 Bail: June 29, 2016 Charged with: Molestation, threatening a woman Court observation: Police had competed investigation and so it would allow mail to the MLA..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}JITENDER TOMARTrinagarFIR No. 695/15: July 21, 2015, Hauz Khas police stationArrested: June 09, 2015Bail: July 22, 2015Police allegations: Accused him of submitting forged LLB and B SC degreesCourt observation: "It appears the substantial investigation is complete as he is in custody since June 09, including 12 days police custody remand.".AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}GULAB SINGHMatialaFIR No. 589/16: Sept 13, 2016, Bindapur police stationArrested: October 16, 2016 (in Gujarat) Bail: Produced before court on October 18 and bail granted on October 19Court observation: "It is seen in case diary that non-bailable warrants were issued by the IO on October 13 for next date of hearing on October 28, 2016. It was well within the knowledge of the IO that accused Gulab Singh has been looking after the campaign work of Aam Aadmi Party in the coming elections in Gujarat and a rally was to be conveyed on October 16. But, the police for reasons best known to them, rushed to Gujarat by flight and arrested the accused from Gujarat.""In the present application, the police is trying to spin the beans beyond the basket as according to the investigating officer, some other complainants have also come up against the present accused?.However it is not permissible in law to join the subsequent complaints in the already registered FIR and the ongoing investigation.".AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}NARESH YADAVMehrauliFIR No. 108/16: June 25, 2016, City 1, Malerkotla 1 police stationArrested: July 24, 2016 Bail: July, 30, 2016 Charged with: Sections - 295 A, 153 A, 120 B, 109 IPCPublic prosecutor told court that main accused Vijay Kumar named MLA Yadav in his statement under 164 CrPC (before magistrate). The PP said MLA Yadav was in touch with co-accused Vijay Kumar from June 19, 2016 to June 24, 2016. Police accused Yadav of ordering Kumar to tear pages of Quran and said the evidence collected so far proved there was a conspiracy between the applicant and other accused. Court observation: "The allegations made against him are that there is a conspiracy between him and the other accused. Details of the calls and SMS have been collected by police during investigation but the nature of discussion made through call and messages is not in police file.".AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}SANDEEP KUMARSultanpur MajraFIR No. 506/16: Nov 7, 2016, Sultanpuri police stationArrested: September 3, 2016 Bail: November 7, 2016 Police allegations: Kumar, who was Delhi?s women and child development minister, was charged with raping a woman on the pretext of helping her get a ration card. The woman alleged he was blackmailing her after recording the act. Court observations: "I have seen it in my chamber (video tape) on the laptop brought by the investigating agency? Material collected by the investigating officer prima facie discloses allegations of sexual assault by the applicant/accused (Kumar) after having intoxicated the complainant. The question whether it was consensual act or it was a passive submission due to fear of blackmailing is also a matter of trial. Keeping in view that applicant/accused was available for interrogation?moreover as applicant/accused is a sitting member of Delhi legislative assembly there is no chance of his fleeing from justice.".AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}PRAKASH JARWALDeoliFIR No. 226/16: June 6, 2016, Greater Kailash police stationArrested: August 24, 2016 Bail: August 28, 2016Police allegations: A woman accused the Deoli MLA of molestation when she went to complain about water problems in her area. Court observation: Without going into merits of the case, it has come up that there is a delay of 34 days in the registration of the FIR. No action was taken by police on a previous complaint dated June 27 lodged by the complainant with the ACP Ambedkar Nagar, on the ground that the complainant also being a political personality..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}JAGDEEP SINGHHari NagarFIR No. N/A: May 23, 2016 , Hari Nagar police stationArrested: May 29Bail: Same day from police station. Non cognizable offence Case: FIR for causing hurt, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint of manager of a waste management company on May 21, 2016. Got bail from police station itself..AAP_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left}.AAP_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.AAP_img {width:150px; float:left; margin-right:2px; font-size:90%; color:#600}.clrboth {clear:both}MAHINDRA YADAVVikaspuriFIR No. N/A: Jan 28, 2016, Nihal Vihar police stationArrested: January 29, 2016Bail: January 30, 2016 Case: Rioting and assaulting a public servant at a protest in west Delhi?s Nihal Vihar on January 27, 2016. Court: Granted bail after furnishing bond of Rs 20,000

Daisy Mowke

20 Dec 2016,Tuesday

Amma supporters make idli weighing 68 kg in Chennai

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/amma-supporters-make-68-kg-idli-jayalalithaa-face-demise-aiadmk/1/838818.html

Supporters of late Tamil Nadu CM and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa made an idli weighing 68 kg, which is a close replica of her face, and showcased it at Marina Beach in Chennai. Jayalalithaa was 68-years-old when she passed away on December 5. AIADMK has claimed that 597 people died of grief and shock after her demise.

One of the most revered leaders, J Jayalalithaa even after her demise, continues to rule the hearts of her millions of supporters. Amma supporters, to display their love and to honour her, made a idli weighing 68 kg which is a close replica of her face and showcased it at Marina Beach.   Former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa was 68-year-old when she passed away on December 5 and her party AIADMK has claimed that since then, a total of 597 supporters have died after hearing the news of Amma's death.

Tarun Khanna

25 Feb 2017,Saturday

PM Modi indeed working like a donkey: Digvijaya Singh

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/digvijay-joins-slanging-match-over-donkey/1/890878.html

As UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and PM Narendra Modi traded barbs over 'Gujarat donkeys', Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday tweeted that the latter "indeed worked like a donkey". His tweet came after PM Modi said he takes inspiration from the "loyal" and "hard working" animal and was amused that Akhilesh Yadav was afraid of Gujarat's donkeys.

Joining in the slanging match over the "donkey" barb targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today said he "indeed worked like a donkey"."Modi ji, you very rightly said that you indeed work like a donkey," he tweeted.His dig at the Prime Minister came a day after Modi said he takes inspiration from the "loyal" and "hard working" animal and was amused that UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was "afraid" of Gujarat's donkeys.Modi said the criticism of donkeys by Akhilesh only reflected his "casteist mentality" and "the feeling of hatred does not suit him"."In elections, opponents criticise each other Akhileshji I can understand if you attack Modi and BJP but I am amused that you have attacked donkeys are you afraid of donkeys, that too these are thousands of kilometres away?" Modi had said, addressing an election rally in poll-bound UP.Modi had said,"The people of this country are my masters, I take inspiration from the donkey because I work for people day and night...donkeys are loyal to their master."Addressing a poll rally in Rae Bareli three days ago, Akhilesh Yadav had said, "There comes an advertisement on Television that features donkeys. I will ask the megastar of this century (Amitabh Bachchan) to stop campaigning for donkeys."His comments came on a tourism advertisement for Gujarat featuring Bachchan promoting the state's wild ass.ALSO READ: Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls: Voters disillusioned as 'gadha politics' take precedence over actual political debateALSO READ: Gujarat Tourism's 'gadha' ad: A mocking Akhilesh has a request for megastar Amitabh

Rini Sinha

17 Mar 2017,Friday

'Baahubali 2' trailer gets 5 crore views in 24 hours

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/baahubali-2-trailer-rajamouli-prabhas-rana-50-million/1/906088.html

The trailer of SS Rajamouli directorial 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion' received 5 crore views across languages Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam on Facebook and YouTube in 24 hours. According to the film's makers, it is the most viewed Indian movie trailer in 24 hours. A continuation of 'Baahubali: The Beginning', the film will star Prabhas and Anushka Shetty in lead roles.n

When Baahubali: The Beginning hit the screens in 2015, the film won international acclaim for all the right reasons, be it the scale or the visual experience. In fact, after the film became an out-and-out money spinner at the box office, fans have been relentlessly asking the obvious question: Why did Katappa kill Baahubali?On Thursday, the makers have finally unveiled the theatrical trailer of the most awaited Indian film of the year, Baahubali: The Conclusion. The 2 minutes and 20 seconds trailer has received overwhelming response from the audience, garnering more than 22 million views on YouTube. Rajamouli's film has officially surpassed the numbers of superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Raees, which clocked 20.8 million views in 24 hours. Cumulative views of Baahubali 2 trailer has crossed 50 million views to become the most watched Indian film of all time.An elated Karan Johar took to Twitter and shared the news.Truly the biggest trailer ever! 50 million views! #Baahubali2trailer#BB2Storm@ssrajamouli@Shobu_@DharmaMovies@RanaDaggubatipic.twitter.com/tEZn5qDG42Interestingly, Rajamouli presented Katappa's iconic sword that killed Baahubali to Karan Johar at the trailer launch of Baahubali: The Conclusion.Made on a budget of Rs 200 crore, reports suggested that Baahubali 2 has raked in Rs 500 crore globally through its satellite and distribution rights before the film's release.Speaking at the India Today Conclave South 2017, SS Rajamouli revealed that Baahubali 2 would be bigger and better than Baahubali.Also starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Nassar, Baahubali: The Conclusion will hit the screens on April 28.ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 trailer- Five answers SS Rajamouli's film gives us

Shubhodeep Datta

22 Jan 2017,Sunday

SP promises ghee for school kids, free phones in manifesto

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akhilesh-yadav-samajwadi-party-manifesto/1/863577.html

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday released the Samajwadi Party's election manifesto. The manifesto has promised to give one litre ghee to poor kids of primary schools and pressure cooker to women from economically weaker sections. Further, Akhilesh Yadav has also promised a 'Samajwadi Smartphone Scheme', wherein the government will distribute free smartphones.

Claiming that his government has done more than the Samajwadi Party had promised in its manifesto in 2012, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that he was confident that if his party workers went to the masses showcasing the achievements in the last five years, "people will vote us back".Speaking on the occasion of the release of Samajwadi Party's manifesto in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for only paying lip service to the people of the state and country.

Chhavi Tyagi

13 Jul 2017,Thursday

Nehru-Gandhi family responsible for problems in Kashmir: BJP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gandhi-family-responsible-for-problems-in-kashmir-bjp/1/1000676.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

BJP leaders Smriti Irani and Meenakshi Lekhi have blamed India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Gandhi family for the problems in Kashmir and added that "the country knows it". This comes after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies for creating space for terrorists in the Valley.

New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) The BJP today hit out at Rahul Gandhi for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and "not terrorism", after his return from "vacation", hours after the Congress vice president said Modis policies had created space for terrorists in Kashmir. Union minister Smriti Irani said the challenges around Kashmir were a legacy of the Nehru-Gandhi family and that "the country knows it". "After his return from vacation, Rahul attacks Modi, and not terrorists. I want to ask when Mani Shankar Aiyar (Congress leader) sought Pakistans help in removing Modi from power and bring in the Congress, was it Rahuls personal agenda or political agenda?" she asked. When the Army chief was called a "goonda", she said referring to remarks of Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, was it Rahuls personal agenda or political? BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi, at a press conference, asked the Congress vice president to read the history of his family, saying that they were responsible for problems in Kashmir. She also raked up the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to attack Gandhi over his accusation of "personal gain" at Modi, and said only those behind such riots would consider drawing "personal gain from the blood of innocents". Gandhis attack on Modi showed his "immature" mind, she said. If one person was responsible for what was happening in Kashmir, it was Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister, the Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi claimed. "He will do well to get a correct briefing from his advisers," she said.

Anmol Sharma

10 Mar 2017,Friday

BCCI withdraws complaint filed in ICC against Steve Smith

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/drs-row-bcci-cricket-australia-virat-kohli-steve-smith/1/901028.html

BCCI has agreed to withdraw its complaint filed with the ICC against Australian captain Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb over the DRS incident. The decision was taken following the meeting between BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland on Thursday. Both the boards agreed that it was necessary to bring the focus back to the game.

In a sensational development to the ongoing DRS row between India and Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Australia held a joint meeting on Thursday night to chalk out a solution and move ahead with the Border-Gavaskar series. (DRS Row: BCCI officially complains to ICC against Smith, Handscomb)CLICK TO WATCH FULL INTERVIEWThe BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland met at the Indian cricket board's headquarters in Mumbai and, in discussing the matters at length, agreed the importance of bringing back the focus to the game and the much anticipated next Test match in Ranchi. (Steve Smith escapes ICC sanction after DRS mess)As a result of this meet, the BCCI has agreed to withdraw its complaint filed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Australia captain Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb. Cricket Australia, who were also expected to appeal against India captain Virat Kohli and fast bowler Ishant Sharma, won't be taking any such steps in return. (BCCI throws its weight behind Virat Kohli as DRS row heats up)The two boards released a joint statement which read: " BCCI and CA have resolved to restore focus on the ongoing series amidst the increased attention towards issues which have emanated during the course of the 2nd Test match in Bangalore. (Take action against Steve Smith for infringing DRS rules: Sourav Ganguly to Aaj Tak)CEO of BCCI Mr Rahul Johri and CEO of Cricket Australia Mr James Sutherland met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai today and, in discussing the matters at length, agreed the importance of bringing back the focus to the game and the much anticipated next Test match in Ranchi. (Exclusive: Michael Clarke endorses Virat Kohli's stance on Steve Smith's DRS controversy)

Arshiya Chopra

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Barak bridge collapse cuts off Manipur from rest of India

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-cut-off-as-crucial-barak-bridge-collapses-200-trucks-left-stranded/story-CeIbuX5XGfOZC2CqU36MvI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Landlocked Manipur was cut off from the rest of India after Barak bridge, also known as the second lifeline of the border state, collapsed on Monday morning. A transport department official said that the bridge collapsed when a 10-wheeler goods-laden truck was passing through it. The collapse has left around 200 goods-laden trucks en route to Imphal stranded.

The crucial Barak bridge located along the national highway -102 collapsed Tuesday morning, cutting off land-locked Manipur from rest of the country, an official said.The bridge collapsed when a 10-wheeler goods-laden truck was passing through it, a transport department official said, adding that the structure was in a fragile condition since Monday night.This has left around 200 goods-laden trucks coming from Jiribam town to Imphal stranded. Repairing works are being carried out on war-footing, the official said.The Barak bridge is located along the Imphal-Jiribam highway and passes through the hill district of Tamenglong.The highway, considered as the second lifeline of the border state, assumed greater importance after a massive landslide at Viswema in neighbouring Nagaland cut off the major Imphal-Dimapur national highway.

Akshita Jain

08 Mar 2017,Wednesday

India offers to give up veto power temporarily at UNSC

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-brazil-germany-japan-veto-power-expanded-unsc-permanent-member-g4-united-nations/1/899648.html

India and other G4 nations have offered to forgo their veto power if granted permanent membership in a reformed Security Council. "The issue of veto is important, but we should not allow it to have a veto over the process of Council reform itself," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin.

India and other members of the G4 have offered to initially forgo veto powers as permanent members in a reformed Security Council as a bargaining chip to get the reform process moving.

Akshita Jain

09 Feb 2017,Thursday

CISF personnel at Delhi Airport to wear suits

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/dressed-for-action-cisf-personnel-guarding-delhi-airport-get-suits-ties/story-2csvqxM7ppDmABn2FUIN6N.html

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel staffed at Terminal 1 and 3 of Delhi Airport will now wear suits instead of standard force uniform, according to reports. They have been asked to wear blazers and trousers with a white shirt and tie. The dress code will be implemented at other airports too based on passenger response, said an official.

Next time you board a flight from Delhi?s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), be prepared to be greeted and frisked by personnel in suit and tie, quite like the US Secret Service agents.CISF, the force responsible for security of airports across the country, has given a makeover to its staff posted at the entry gate of Delhi airport. The CISF men from now on will wear suits and ties instead of the standard issue force uniform. According to officials, there was a general feeling that passengers were more comfortable dealing with well-dressed staff instead of uniformed personnel. .@CISFHQrs gets a makeover at @Delhi_Airport . To wear suits instead of uniform. @htdelhi @htTweets pic.twitter.com/N793nFLrE8? Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) February 9, 2017?The staff posted at the entry gate of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at Delhi airport have been asked to asked to wear blue blazers and trousers with a white shirt and tie. This will give a different look and force will appear more professional,? said a CISF official.Official said that the step is part of a trial run at Delhi airport and if passenger response was favourable, then the dress code would be implemented at other airports too.About 4,500 personnel of CISF are posted at Delhi airport of which at least 70 man the gates of the airport in three shifts. Security staff at the gate check the identity cards and ticket of passengers before letting them in.?They have also been trained in soft skills. But that doesn?t mean that they cannot prevent any terrorist attack. They have been given a weapon, which will not be visible to passengers. Apart from that, there will be armed personnel posted both outside and inside the terminal,? the official added. CISF DG OP Singh said that this was one of the many initiatives he had taken to improve the image of the force. ?We had conducted trial run of baggage tag removal and now we have changed the dress code of our personnel. All these things will help create positivity about the force. We will continue taking more such initiatives for the benefit of passengers and staff, without compromising the security,? Singh said.CISF is also taking feedback from the passengers on the new look and will decide by next month whether to implement the new dress code permanently or nnot.

Anmol Sharma

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

World no. 4 Djokovic to miss US Open, rest of 2017 season

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/26/novak-djokovic-miss-2017-season-injury?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has announced he will miss the remaining 2017 season, including the US Open, following an elbow injury. The world number four had retired from his Wimbledon quarter-final, admitting he had been feeling pain in his elbow for 18 months. His absence from the US Open ends a run of 51 consecutive appearances at Grand Slams.

Novak Djokovic will miss the rest of the tennis season with a persistent elbow injury and has announced that Andre Agassi has agreed to remain part of his team next year.After 12 months of upheaval on and off the court, speculation had mounted that Djokovic would take an extended break from tennis in order to recover from the right-elbow injury that forced him to retire during his Wimbledon quarter-final against Tomas Berdych. But while the 30-year-old?s decision to listen to medical advice means he will be absent from next month?s US Open, the world No4 vowed to return stronger than ever and expressed his happiness that Agassi will continue to coach him in 2018.?I will take this time to heal and do all the different suggested methods of rehabilitation and healing processes so I can get back on the court as soon as possible,? Djokovic said. ?It will take a couple of months at least without a racket and I hope after that I can start to train. I?m looking forward to building my body and my game and my team.?I?m happy to share that Andre Agassi is committed to stay with me next year. I want to thank Andre for being with me this year and sharing his experience and wisdom and I?m looking forward to getting back on the practice courts with him and having him in the box for any big tournaments.?Djokovic?s announcement came exactly a year after Roger Federer cut short his 2016 season with a knee injury. Written off at the time, Federer returned from six months out to win the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon earlier this month.Djokovic, who was speaking in Belgrade, hopes that a similar period of rest will allow him to rediscover his spark. The Serb has struggled ever since completing his career slam at last year?s French Open. He opted for the ?shock therapy? of ripping up his coaching team earlier this year before reaching out to Agassi, who joined him at Roland Garros on an exploratory basis, but Djokovic ran out of steam when the elbow problem that has troubled him for 18 months flared up against Berdych at Wimbledon.He has since sought advice from specialists, including the Serbian doctor Zdenko Milinkovic, who said Djokovic is suffering from a ?bruised bone due to excessive playing?.Djokovic has won 12 grand slams and has not missed one since making his debut at the 2005 Australian Open. He is set to slip to fifth in the rankings on Monday and could drop out of the top 10 by the end of the year. But Djokovic preferred to focus on the positives after his latest setback.?I?m very grateful, that?s the strongest emotion I?m feeling lately, even though as a professional it is not an easy decision to swallow,? he said.?I haven?t skipped any big tournament. I have played all the grand slams and probably 90% of the 1000 Masters series events. I was blessed to have a lot of success. I?m grateful for that. But I?m also very grateful that I kept my body very healthy throughout the years. I haven?t had too many injuries and especially no big injuries like this one that would keep me away from the tour for longer than a month.?It?s a new experience for me, new circumstances, but I?m trying to look at it from a brighter side. I have time where I can dedicate myself to healing and building up my body and strength and focusing on certain elements of my game that I never had time to work on. Now I have time to perfect it and build the foundations for the next five years or more. I really want to play professional tennis for years to come.?

Prashanti Moktan

09 Apr 2017,Sunday

Adele's album 21 sets record with 319 weeks on Billboard 200

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/adele-breaks-billboard-200-record-with-album-21/1/923750.html

British singer Adele's 2011 album '21' has broken the record, held by Carole King for 'Tapestry', to become the longest-charting album by a woman on Billboard 200, a music-record ranking in the US. Presently, the album is on its 319th week on the list, beating King's album by one week. The album was also ranked the top Billboard 200 album.

Los Angeles, Apr 8 (PTI) Singer Adele has broken a record as her record "21" has overtaken Carole Kings "Tapestry" by becoming the longest-charting album by a woman on the Billboard 200. The 28-year-old singer - who has four-year-old son Angelo with her husband Simon Konecki - topped the charts with the album in 2011, which has lead single "Someone Like You", and its currently on its 319th week on the list, beating the legendary American artists by one week.

Dishant Sharma

27 Apr 2017,Thursday

Player refuses to appear before PCB's anti-corruption panel

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/khalid-latif-in-trouble-for-not-appearing-before-pcb-tribunal/1/939563.html

Pakistan's suspended batsman Khalid Latif, who has been charged with spot-fixing, refused to appear before Pakistan Cricket Board's Anti-Corruption Unit in Lahore. Khalid had approached the Lahore High Court earlier to challenge PCB's authority of appointing an anti-corruption tribunal to hear the spot-fixing cases. Khalid was allegedly involved in the spot-fixing scandal in Pakistan Super League.

Sanira Mediratta

18 Dec 2016,Sunday

London's Big Ben to close for visitors for three years

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/londons-big-ben-to-fall-silent-for-three-years-repair-work/1/837355.html

London's Big Ben will close for visitors for nearly three years for renovations, involving repairs to the clock's hands, mechanism and pendulum. Under the project, which will reportedly cost over ?250 crore, a lift will also be installed and the safety standards will be upgraded. During the repairs, the 157-year-old tower will go silent for the first time since 2007.

Britain's most famous clock tower, Big Ben, will go silent for the first time since 2007 for a renovation project which will cost more than $40 million. The doors of the 157-year-old Elizabeth Tower will be closed for visitors for nearly three years, however no official date has been announced yet. The restoration work will begin next year and will involve repairing of the clock hands, its mechanism and pendulum. Also read: Big Ben Kolkata: The London clock tower replica is not a Durga Puja marqueeFrom the tower's fabric to the mechanism of the clock, British Parliament officials are concerned about the condition of the clock. Since more than 30 years the tower has not seen any conservation work. A lift will also be installed and make it easier for disabled people who are unable to climb the tower's 334 steps.

Parmeet Kaur

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Tallest Tricolour not hoisted at Indo-Pak border in 3 months

http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/three-months-on-india-s-tallest-tricolour-out-of-sight-on-border/story-N4o38v8JRoMiurkHqCumvM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

India's tallest Tricolour, which is 360-feet tall, has not been hoisted at the Indo-Pakistan border for the last three months.The flag, which is visible from Pakistan, was taken down in April by the Amritsar administration after it was repeatedly damaged by high-velocity winds. Every time the flag is brought down, it brings 'embarrassment' to all, officials maintaining the flag said.

Hoisted with much fanfare, India?s tallest Tricolour which was fluttering at a height of 360 ft near the India-Pakistan border at Attari has been out of sight for the past three months. The flag, which was repeatedly damaged due to high-velocity wind that flows at high altitude, was taken off by the Amritsar administration in April this year and has not been hoisted again ever since. Amritsar deputy commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha has even written to the state home department and the local bodies ministry, pointing out that every time the tallest Indian flag ? visible from the Pakistan side ? is torn and brought down, it brings ?embarrassment? to all.The Punjab home department is still struggling to find out a solution for the repeated damage to the flag due to wind. City flag also taken off Besides the Tricolour at the border, the administration has also taken off 170-feet high flag at Ranjit Avenue area in Amritsar, as it too got torn 13 times. The administration is now gearing up for celebrating the Independence Day. Though only 15 days are left, yet the solution to the flag problem has not been found. When contacted, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla told HT that he would instruct the administration to ensure that the flag should be hoisted on August 15. ?The flag would be hoisted, even if for a day. If there is any hitch, it can be pulled down again.? ?Will speak to Sidhu? MP Aujla said, ?I would speak to local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and I am sure we all will soon find a solution. I would be taking up the matter with the Centre too and suggest reducing the height of the flag.? He said that reducing height and finding an appropriate wind-resistant material for the flag will solve the problem.Cost of patriotism too high The Amritsar improvement trust, which is responsible for the upkeep of the two flags, has replaced both of them time and again, bearing huge expenses. The 360-ft flag at the border has torn off three times. The 170-ft flag at Ranjit Avenue has torn off 13 times. Trust officials said a total of around Rs 9 lakh have been spent on the flag at the Ranjit Avenue and another Rs 6 lakh on the Tricolour at the border.

Aditi Verma

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Man accused of laundering over $4 bn in Bitcoin arrested

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/27/russian-criminal-mastermind-4bn-bitcoin-laundering-scheme-arrested-mt-gox-exchange-alexander-vinnik?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A Russian man suspected of laundering at least $4 billion in digital currency Bitcoin has been arrested in Greece on Wednesday. The accused, Alexander Vinnik was described as the operator of BTC-e, an exchange used to trade Bitcoin since 2011, by US officials. Vinnik reportedly laundered the money for people involved in crimes like computer hacking and drug trafficking.

The Russian ?internationally sought ?mastermind? of a crime organisation? accused of laundering more than $4bn in bitcoin, including funds obtained from the hack of failed bitcoin exchange Mt Gox, has been arrested in Greece.A US jury indicted Alexander Vinnik on Wednesday after his arrest in a small beachside village in northern Greece on Tuesday, following an investigation led by the US justice department along with several other federal agencies and task forces.Vinnik was described by the justice department as the operator of BTC-e, an exchange used to trade the digital currency bitcoin since 2011, which was allegedly used to launder more than $4bn for people involved in crimes ranging from computer hacking to drug trafficking.US authorities also linked him to the failure of Mt Gox, the Japan-based bitcoin exchange that collapsed in 2014 after being hacked. Vinnik ?obtained? funds from the hack of Mt Gox and laundered them through BTC-e and Tradehill, another San Francisco-based exchange he owned, they said in the statement.?Just as new computer technologies continue to change the way we engage each other and experience the world, so too will criminals subvert these new technologies to serve their own nefarious purposes,? said Brian Stretch, US attorney for the Northern District of California.Vinnik?s arrest is the latest in a series of US operations against Russian cybercriminals in Europe, including the taking down of two of the biggest dark web marketplaces for drugs, guns and other illicit items, AlphaBay and Hansa, last week.The prosecutions also coincide with intensified scrutiny of Russian hackers after US intelligence officials determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election using cyber-warfare methods to help Donald Trump, something Moscow denies.During his time in the digital currency market, US authorities allege Vinnik facilitated crimes including hacking, fraud, identity theft, tax refund fraud, public corruption and drug trafficking. Greek police described Vinnik as a ?an internationally sought ?mastermind? of a crime organisation?. BTC-e, which has been out of service for more than a day, attributed this to ?unplanned maintenance?. In a tweet on Wednesday after the arrest of Vinnik, BTC-e said it would restore service in the next five to 10 days.The exchange is one of the oldest virtual currency platforms. It allows users to trade bitcoin pseudonymously against a variety of fiat and virtual currencies, and is known in cryptocurrency markets as having relaxed standards for checking users? identity, and for not collaborating with law enforcement.

Daisy Mowke

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Actress Saiyami Kher shares picture with Roger Federer

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/saiyami-kher-is-overjoyed-to-meet-roger-federer-at-wimbledon-see-pic/story-yKmXbncsbiBz6VQGxjCouN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Saiyami Kher took to Twitter to share a picture with tennis player Roger Federer. "Moral of the story. When you really want something, you get it! I met Federer and watched him win!!" she wrote in the photo's caption. Notably, Federer won his record 8th Wimbledon men's singles title on Sunday.

Actor Saiyami Kher is more than happy to meet Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, who won his record eighth men?s singles title at the Wimbledon tournament.Saiyami on Sunday night took to Twitter to share a photograph of herself with Federer. ?Moral of the story. When you really want something, you get it! I met Federer and watched him win!? she captioned the image. Moral of the story. When u REALLY want something, you get it! I MET FEDERER & watched him win!!#Wimbledon2017 #Federer #FedererVsCilic pic.twitter.com/ecXUUr15NA? Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) July 16, 2017The tennis star won the final in straight sets against Marin Cilic of Croatia in London on Sunday.Saiyami made her Bollywood debut with the 2016 released film Mirzya, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Produced by Cinestaan Film Company and Mehra under his ROM Pictures, it also featured veteran actor Anil Kapoor?s son Harshvardhan. The basic premise of the film is inspired by the Punjabi folklore of Mirza Sahiban.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Aarushi Maheshwari

22 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Plane escorted by jets was training flight for pilot: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jet-airways-plane-lost-contact-due-to-frequency-glitch/1/888357.html

The London-Mumbai Jet Airways flight that was escorted by German fighter jets after it lost contact over European airspace was a training flight for the pilot-in-command, according to reports. The flight lost contact with Air Traffic Control due to a "frequency goof-up" and its pilot missed contact attempts on emergency frequency "due to howling noise," the reports added.

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) The Jet Airways aircraft flying from London, which lost contact with the ATC over European airspace while on its way to Mumbai, was a training flight for the pilot-in-command at the time of the incident, sources said. The incident happened on February 16 when the Mumbai- London flight 9W-118, carrying 330 passengers and 15 crew members, lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) reportedly for almost 33 minutes. "It was a training flight for the pilot on the commanders seat when it lost contact with the ATC due to frequency goof- up. Though, the Czech aviation authorities tried contacting the pilot of the flight 9W-118 on emergency frequency, the pilot missed it due to howling noise," airline sources said. A response from Jet Airways on the issue was awaited. According to information, the flight remained out of touch of ATC for nearly 33 minutes when it was flying over Czech airspace. While flying from Bratislava to Prague, 9W-118 was on correct frequency (132.890MHz) as it transmitted and acknowledged the messages.

Daisy Mowke

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Can't believe a normal hug with Salman was trending: Sana

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-sana-khan-salman-khan-hug-she-is-furious-at-those-who-say-it-was-awkward/story-Oeb8B2PcdcR9QzwUYkZwiL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Sana Khan, while speaking about Salman Khan hugging her on the red carpet at an awards show, said she can't believe that a normal hug was trending. "People just blew it out of proportion because [Salman] had closed fists, and some dumb people even called it an awkward hug," she added while slamming those who trolled her.

Actor Sana Khan was up for a not-so-pleasant surprise on Tuesday, when a video of her hugging actor Salman Khan went viral for all the wrong reasons. Sana walked the red carpet at a recently held TV awards show in Mumbai, and when she spotted Salman, the two exchanged a hug. What made it news was Salman?s closed fists, and his shy smile. ?I still can?t believe that a normal hug was trending, trolling, and rolling,? says Sana. ?People just blew it out of proportion because [Salman] had a closed fist, and some dumb people even called it an awkward hug.? The actor adds that it?s only normal for people to wear backless clothes at a red carpet event. There is always a wild side to an innocent face ?? Look for Big zee entertainment awards ? Gown by @nikhitatandon Earring by @caratlane Ring by @dwarkadaschandumaljewellers Styled by @sayali_vidya A post shared by Sana Khaan (@sanakhaan21) on Jul 29, 2017 at 12:15pm PDT Did she feel that Salman was uncomfortable even for a moment? Sana replies, ?Who am I to make him feel uncomfortable? It?s stupid to put somebody down by saying such a nasty thing and showing me in a wrong light. It?s not [as if] I went to hug him and he didn?t recognise me.?But why that closed fist? ?Couldn?t it be somebody?s style? Maybe he hugs like that. I don?t know. I think the best person [whom] to ask this would be Salman. [Also] He has been in the [film] industry for over 25 years, so don?t think backless even matters to him? he has seen more than that (laughs). Let?s not talk like a five-year-old and make all this sound so big,? says Sana.I?m not a psychopath to hug somebody if the person doesn?t want to talk to me. I?m not someone who makes people stand and keep talking and falling on their lap.Sana has known Salman ever since she first appeared in 2012 on the reality show Bigg Boss (which was hosted by Salman) and later worked with the actor in the 2014 film Jai Ho. Lashing out at those who are calling it a forced hug, Sana retorts, ?I?m not a psychopath to hug somebody if the person doesn?t want to talk to me. I?m not someone who makes people stand and keep talking and falling on their lap. I am on good terms with Salman; we share a rapport, I talk to him on and off, we?ve met so many times, I?ve been to his house, and we have worked together on the sets also. So there?s nothing to feel awkward [about].?The actor shares that she had a brief two-minute chat with Salman, and that may have got everyone curious. ?For a moment, Salman didn?t recognise me ? he literally told me that. [Then] he complimented me that I look very nice. And I said, ?Yes, I?ve dropped 7kg?, and he is like, ?It?s showing,?? reveals Sana.Was it the backless outfit that made the hug look ?awkward?? Sana says, ?Well, could be. Maybe he didn?t want my back bronzer to fall on his clothes. He has worked with all sexy and good-looking actresses, who would use bronzer from head to toe, so he knows that. And it?s not that he wants to feel me up or I want to feel him up. I am sorry, we have all grown up from that zone. We need to respect each other?s space and gestures.?Follow @htshowbiz for more

Tanya Dhingra

20 Jul 2017,Thursday

Haryana govt gives ?5L to Jolly LLB 2 actor who has cancer

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/haryana-govt-gives-5-lakh-financial-help-to-ailing-actor-sitaram-panchal/story-r2LRF7a0bExS2sKkTOEmKO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Haryana government has given ?5 lakh to Jolly LLB 2 actor Sitaram Panchal who is suffering from cancer. Filmmaker Ashwini Chaudhary, who had approached Haryana government, thanked the authorities, while adding, "Other members of the industry are also coming forward to help." Also known for films like Paan Singh Tomar and Peepli (Live), Sitaram sought financial help on Facebook.

The Haryana government has promised financial help to ailing Bollywood actor Sitaram Panchal, who is suffering from lung and kidney cancer.Panchal originally belongs to Narwana town of Haryana?s Jind district and has acted in popular movies such as Jolly LLB 2, Slumdog Millionaire, Peepli Live and Pan Singh Tomar. Filmmaker Ashwini Chaudhary, was in touch with the state government and had approached other members of the fraternity to help Panchal.Sitaram Panchal was recently seen in Akshay Kumar?s Jolly LLB 2.?Just got a call from CMO Haryana. Thank you for offering financial assistance to Sitaram Panchal,? Chaudhary tweeted. Chaudhary told Hindustan Times that the government has transferred ? 5 lakh to the account of Panchal, and will offer more money through other schemes.?Other members of the industry are also coming forward to help Panchal?s family. From Haryana, actor Randeep Hooda called me and said he was going to help them,? said Chaudhary, who had directed Panchal in his award-winning Haryanvi movie Laado.Pictures of bedridden Panchal were widely shared on social media, along with his emotional message seeking help for the treatment. Panchal?s wife had confirmed that his health had worsened during the last 10 months and the family was struggling to make ends meet since he was the sole breadwinner. Follow @htshowbiz for more

Chhavi Tyagi

11 Apr 2017,Tuesday

India is the guru, Tibetans are disciples: Dalai Lama

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dalai-lama-says-india-is-guru-tibet-is-its-disciple/1/925904.html

The 14th Dalai Lama said that historically the Indians and Tibetans have had a long, enduring relationship as teachers (gurus) and disciples (chelas). "We are not only chelas but quite reliable chelas," he added. The Dalai Lama, who was on a nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, has traveled to the Indian state on six earlier occasions since 1983.

The 14th Dalai Lama calls India a 'guru' and Tibet a 'chela' (disciple) but then there are moments when a 'chela' cries on meeting his guru. This is what happened in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, when a disciple of Dalai Lama gave him a tearful welcome. The location was Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery in Dirang. Thupten Rinpoche was in tears as he read out the welcome speech for Dalai Lama. In a moment, his throat choked and he stopped reading, and started crying inconsolably. Within minutes, half of the gathering was in tears as they saw Dalai Lama in the prayer hall. TEACHINGS OF RAMA AND BUDDHA Thupten said, "Bodh Gaya teachings and message are being spread across the world by Dalai Lama. We are lucky to have you here. Thanks for coming.""We welcome you with a heavy yet happy heart. You are (our) guru... We are blessed to listen to you. The temple and the monastery have been built only because of your blessings," Thupten said, who is the in-charge of the monastery. At the monastery, teachings of Lord Rama and Buddha are taught as is the Gita. These teachings--monastery has teachers from South India too--are delivered thrice a week and anyone can attend the sessions.INDIA LOSING ITS SPIRITUALITYPhurpa Tsering, MLA Dirang and parliamentary secretary for health in Chief Minister Pema Khandu's cabinet, also gave an emotional welcome to Dalai Lama."We are blessed to learn words of wisdom from His Holiness. It was the sudden change of programme to travel by road instead of air that has given an opportunity to everyone to get your blessings," Phurpa Tsering said. Governor of Arunachal Pradesh P B Acharya harped on the need for spirituality and spiritual leaders."We are a secular country but we are losing our spirituality. Without spirituality, we will become demons. There are 500 universities which provide knowledge but don't produce human beings who can share," the Governor said. "You are an 82-year-old young man who travels extensively. Please give us your time; you are a living god and saint. India will lead with you," P B Acharya said. "Modi is a great man and India has the potential to become a world leader. We share borders with countries like China and Myanmar. We need you in the Northeast. We want peace and you can guide us," Acharya said.INDIA-TIBET RELATION IS SPECIALDalai Lama talked abut the guru-chela relationship between India and Tibet. "India is historically our guru and we Tibetans are the chela," he said. "India is the land of Buddha... India and Tibet relationship is very special," Dalai Lama said.ALSO READ:

Arshiya Chopra

28 Jun 2017,Wednesday

Man who cheated over 100 women on matrimonial sites arrested

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bengaluru-police-sadath-khan-preetham-kumar-bagalur-matrimonial-sites-cheating/1/988974.html

Bengaluru Police has arrested a conman accused of cheating over 100 women on matrimonial sites and duping them of money after promising to marry them. Police said the man introduced himself to 'lonely and divorced women' on matrimonial websites and gained their trust to borrow large sums of money before escaping. They added he kept changing names to cheat women.

Bengaluru Police have arrested a man accused of cheating over 100 women, of befriending them on matrimonial sites and then swindling money from them after promising marriage.The man - Sadath Khan alias Preetham Kumar - was nabbed on June 21, after a woman filed a complaint against him for cheating her.His modus operandi was simple and clever. Police said Sadath would introduce himself to lonely and divorced women on matrimonial websites. He would make them believe he was a government employee and that he wanted to marry them. After gaining their trust, he would borrow large sums of money and escape.When investigations began, Bagalur police were shocked to learn that several cases had already been registered against him in this regard in KR Puram, Jayanagar and Vidyaranyapum police stations.FIRED FOR MISBEHAVING WITH WOMENSadath, who's from Hassan, was thrown out of his home years ago. He came to Bengaluru in 2011 and began to work in a welding shop in Yeshwantpur. He then worked as a telecaller for various companies.He was dismissed from these companies for misbehaving with women, police told India Today.A case has now been registered against him in the Bagalur police station under IPC sections 341, 354, 392, 384, 420, and 506.ALSO READ | Bengaluru startup CEO enters restricted forest area, loses arm fighting a crocodile to save dogs

Rini Sinha

12 Jan 2017,Thursday

Chiranjeevi's 'Khaidi No 150' hits the theatres

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/khaidi-no-150-movie-review-chiranjeevi-kajal-aggarwal-kaththi/1/855436.html

'Khaidi No 150', which released on Wednesday, "is more about Chiranjeevi and his return than about the story or cinema," wrote The New Indian Express. "The story has it's heart in the right place," wrote Times of India while India Today wrote, "Films like Khaidi No 150... poke the audience's conscience." It was rated 2.5/5 (NIE), 3/5 (TOI, India Today). nnnnnnnn

Ever since its inception, Chiranjeevi troops have been waiting with bated breath to see the megastar making a comeback after a 10-year hiatus. Khaidi No 150 Cast: Chiranjeevi, Kajal Aggarwal, Tarun Arora and Brahmanandam Khaidi No 150 Director: VV VinayakKhaidi No 150 Rating: (3/5)Despite the blockbuster film that Kaththi was, Chiranjeevi has to be appreciated for choosing a remake as his comeback to films. Being at the helm of a remake is like attracting the last nail to one's own coffin as it invariably compels the audience to get into unnecessary comparisons. ALSO READ: Chiranjeevi on Khaidi No 150- I'm not nervous, but curiousALSO READ: Chiranjeevi on Naga Babu-RGV fight- I was hurt, but I didn't reactHowever, director VV Vinayak makes no mistake with Khaidi No 150. Barring a few scenes and songs, the film is a frame-by-frame rendition of the Tamil version.Much like its original, the film introduces Kaththi Seenu (Chiranjeevi), an inmate of a Kolkata prison, trying to escape from the cops. The director shows Seenu's prison number (150), pauses for a few seconds, and then reveals Megastar's face. This customary introduction scene sees a chest-thumping reception from the Telugu circuit; after all, they've been dying to see him for years.As for the plot, a petty thief Kaththi Seenu discovers his badly wounded doppelganger Shankar (also Chiranjeevi) and decides to disguise himself as the latter to escape from the Kolkata police.When the plot slowly unfolds, Seenu gets to know about Shankar, a hydrologist, who is fighting against a corporate tycoon Aggarwal (Tarun Arora). Aggarwal attempts to draw groundwater from the Neeruru village to further his business. He's also to be blamed for the many farmer suicides.After learning the actual reason behind farmer suicides, Seenu and Aggarwal face off in this commercial yet socially relevant entertainer.Apart from the mass moments in the film, what deserves a special mention is Murugadoss's writing. While rampant issues like farmer suicides barely make for front page news, films like Khaidi No 150 or Kaththi pokes the audience's conscience. Films in this genre cater to a larger sect if it manages to deliver entertainment with a veiled social angle in it. In that sense, Khaidi No 150 is a win-win, even if the film is only about half as riveting compared to Chiranjeevi's Rudraveena (1988). There's a superb portion where the director criticises the mainstream media for having failed to address issues like farmer suicide. Some of the scenes have been purposely written to target the masses.Be it dialogue delivery or dancing, Chiranjeevi gives a stellar performance in dual roles. What's amusing about the actor is that even at 61, his age is hardly visible on screen. His son and actor Ram Charan, who has also produced the film, has a guest appearance in the song Ammadu Let's Do Kummudu. It goes without saying that Chiranjeevi's forte is dance and he's flexible with moves even after all these years. Ace comedians Ali and Brahmanandam provide the comic relief in Khaidi No 150.Samantha played the female lead in the Tamil version, while Kajal Aggarwal plays the role in Telugu. Though it's almost necessary to have a heroine on board, we wonder why both the actors were cast in their respective projects.One of the highlights of both the films is the coin fight scene. But the only difference is that while Vijay beat 80 goons to a pulp in Kaththi, the number is multiplied by 10 in its Telugu version. Because, Chiranjeevi. Neil Nitin Mukesh gave a commendable performance as the antagonist in Kaththi. Unfortunately, Tarun Arora is too funny to be taken seriously here.Khaidi No 150 has music by rockstar Devi Sri Prasad. The makers have retained a lot from the Tamil version. Khaidi No 150 would have been far better had Anirudh Ravichander composed the score for the Telugu version as well. Inevitably, most of the background score brings back memories of Kaththi. Though most of the songs spoil the mood of the film, they are worth your time just because you get to watch Chiranjeevi dance.

Chhavi Tyagi

08 Jun 2017,Thursday

Not hurt by comparison with General Dyer: Army chief

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/not-hurt-by-comparison-with-general-dyer-says-army-chief/1/973713.html

Reacting to academician Partha Chatterjee comparing him with General Dyer, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that he is not hurt by the comparison. "See, I am an Army officer, just anything cannot affect me. You have to be prepared to face such... People can misinterpret (comments made by him)," Rawat said.

Army chief Bipin Rawat today looked unfazed by his comparison to General Dyer of the infamous Jallianwala Bagh incident. He said, "See, I am an Army officer, just anything cannot affect me. You have to be prepared to face such. People can misinterpret (comments made by him)."He was asked about academician Partha Chatterjee comparing him with General Dyer, who ordered firing at a crowd of protesters at Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar on April 13, 1919, in which 379 people were killed."There is no need to react. He (Chatterjee) was trying to draw a reaction from somewhere else. It should not bother me," the General said.Asked if he was not hurt by the comparison, he said: "Not at all".Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat said that the Indian army is well prepared to face external, as well as internal threats to the country. General Bipin Rawat said, "Indian Army is fully ready for a two and a half front war".'INDIA IS READY FOR A MULTI-FRONT WAR'The Army Chief added that even though India is ready for a multi front war there are effective mechanisms available to defuse an adverse situation. "Even the PM has stated that for the last forty years not even a single bullet has been fired on the Indo-China border," said General Rawat.General Rawat also informed that a new strike corps, 17 Strike Corps, is being raised specifically for mountain warfare. On asking about the delay in its raising Army Chief said a process as complex as this takes time. He said, "It is being raised from scratch. The recruitments are on. As it is, to prepare an army soldier it takes about three years from recruitment process to training and then orienting and finally their deployment."General Rawat went on to discuss modernisation plans of the army Army, saying that the Government is aware of our all needs and is supporting us in every manner. "Make in India is a good initiative, it will give results in two to three years," said General Rawat.

Tarun Khanna

03 Mar 2017,Friday

Cop mocked by Shobhaa De undergoes surgery in Mumbai

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mp-policeman-mocked-for-obesity-undergoes-surgery-in-mumbai/1/895436.html

Madhya Pradesh policeman Daulatram Jogawat, who weighed around 180 kg and was mocked by writer-columnist Shobhaa De on Twitter, on Thursday underwent a gastric bypass surgery in Mumbai. Gastric bypass surgery is aimed at reducing the volume of the stomach to curb the food intake. "A wrong tweet has changed my life," Jogawat said before his surgery.

The Madhya Pradesh policeman, whose weight problem became a subject of online discussion after he was "fat-shamed" by writer-columnist Shobhaa De on Twitter, today underwent a gastric bypass surgery here.

Vani Vivek

15 Apr 2017,Saturday

Mark Zuckerberg is why I?m walking, says Sheryl Sandberg

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/15/sheryl-sandberg-credits-mark-zuckerberg-with-saving-her-life?CMP=twt_gu

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has said that the social media platform's CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the reason she's still "walking" after the death of her husband in 2015. "When I felt so overwhelmed and so isolated and just needed to cry, I would grab him into his conference room and he would just sit there with me," she added.n

Sheryl Sandberg has credited Mark Zuckerberg with saving her life after the sudden death of her husband, saying the Facebook co-founder and his wife, Priscilla, were ?why I?m walking?.In an interview with the Guardian, Facebook?s chief operating officer spoke candidly about dealing with the loss of her husband, Dave Goldberg, who died of a heart attack in 2015 when they were in Mexico for the weekend.?Mark is why I?m walking,? she said. ?Most of what [he and Priscilla] did is not even in the book, because they did so much. When I felt so overwhelmed and so isolated and just needed to cry, I would grab him into his conference room and he would just sit there with me and be like, ?We?re going to get through this and we want to get through it with you?. He did it over and over.?Sandberg?s latest book, Option B, written with psychologist Adam Grant, explores her grief at the loss of Goldberg and acts as a manual for how to build resilience and achieve ?post-traumatic growth?. She wrote the book after posting a highly personal account of her first month as a widow on Facebook. The post attracted a huge outpouring of support and more than 74,000 comments to date. ?After that, I didn?t feel so alone,? she said.Sandberg described how her self-confidence had been shattered after the death of her husband, and that she had needed building up by colleagues including Zuckerberg. She described panicking to him about getting something wrong, and feeling better when he replied: ?Really? I thought you made a good point in that meeting and helped us make a better decision.? The executive, who started dating her old friend and tech billionaire Bobby Kotick 10 months after the death of her husband, also spoke about her anger towards people who judge widows who date again.One Facebook user called her a ?garbage whore?, while another said she was ?one classy lady? for ?already sharing fluids with a nice guy?. ?I?m hoping that this book helps people stop judging people who date [after the loss of a partner], particularly women, because women get judged more harshly,? she said. ?Men date sooner, men date more, and women get judged more. And, you know, obviously that?s super unfair.?She added: ?I think I?m helping people remember that dating, for those that want to do it, is part of moving forward, and it?s option B. If I could, I would only date Dave. I made that choice. I just had it taken away from me.?In the book ? for which she studied the research of behavioural scientists, neurologists and psychologists for tips on how to build resilience ? Sandberg offers practical methods for dealing with grief. These include writing down three joyful experiences and three things done well every day.The author of Lean-In admitted becoming more distanced from friends after the loss of her partner. Asked if she had been let down by loved ones, she replied: ?I don?t know anyone who?s been through this who hasn?t had friends who disappointed them. I think we all go through that.?But the process of dealing with the loss of her husband and best friend had given her life a deeper meaning, and more perspective on life?s difficulties, she said. ?I would definitely choose to be before, so I could get Dave back. I?d give up all the growth. But the deeper sense of meaning, gratitude, purpose ? those things are wonderful things.?Read the full interview and an exclusive extract from Option B in Weekend magazine

Rini Sinha

25 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Felt bad, I'm human after all: Aadar on nepotism remarks

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/i-want-my-work-to-speak-about-me-aadar-jain/1/1009578.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Speaking about nepotism remarks which followed the announcement of his launch by Yash Raj Films, actor Raj Kapoor's grandson Aadar Jain said that he felt bad and added, "I'm human after all." He added, "Yes, I feel bad when people says things without seeing my work." Aadar will be seen making his acting debut with YRF film 'Qaidi Band'.

By Juhi Chakraborty New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) Aadar Jains entry in Bollywood comes at a time when the nepotism debate has gained momentum but the newcomer says he would like people to not judge him before seeing his work. Aadar, the grandson of Raj Kapoor, will make his debut with "Qaidi Band" and his launch event was hosted by his cousin Ranbir Kapoor. In an interview with PTI, the actor says he is aware of the debate around nepotism and the negative comments his launch attracted. "As a newcomer, who has always dreamt of becoming an actor, it was a huge deal for me to be introduced like that. I read the comments after the launch about nepotism. "When you work so hard, give it all, an entire year of blood, sweat and hard work and then you read about these comments, you feel bad. I am human after all," Aadar says. But the 23-year-old actor does not want to get into the debate of whether he is talented or not. "I dont want to say anything. Yes, I feel bad when people says things without seeing my work. I want my work to speak for itself. Thats the only thing I am here for." However, Aadar does have an opinion about nepotism in the film industry. The youngster says someone belonging to a film family does get an easy opportunity to meet a director or a casting director but it does not guarantee a movie as an actor can only go forward on the basis of merit. "The industry believes in talent. It doesnt matter what background you are from, you might be an outsider or from a film family, what matters is your talent. I had to audition for the film. "I might come from a film family but that didnt guarantee me anything. At the end of the day I dont think a writer, director or producer will invest in a person who does not have the talent." On the contrary, Aadar feels actors, who hail from film families, have to deal with the burden of expectations. Yash Raj Films "Qaidi Band" has been directed by Habib Faisal and will also serve as the launchpad for another newcomer, Anya Singh. The film is about seven under-trials, who form a musical band in the prison. The movie is a far-cry from the usual glamorous debut which newcomers often opt for but Aadar says he didnt think of it like that when he signed the project. "I had not thought about it as an unconventional film and thats why I did it. This is a kind of film that I would like to watch. It is refreshing, new and a story not told before." On his role as a prison inmate, Aadar says he had no real understanding of how to go about the role as his only references have been movies and TV shows like "Shawshank Redemption" and "Prison Break". "I didnt know what actually happens inside a prison. That was very interesting for me especially the under-trial situation. That fascinated me. Those are the reasons why I wanted to do the film." "Qaidi Band" releases on August 25. Aadars elder brother, Armaan Jain, made his debut in 2014 with "Lekar Hum Deewana Dil", which was a box office dud. The actor says Armaan has not taken a beating and will soon announce his second Bollywood venture.