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Shubhodeep Datta

29 Dec 2016,Thursday

Ghaziabad temple starts accepting donations via Paytm

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/ghaziabad-temples-accept-donations-via-e-wallet/story-i02B9fnFgB7JKXPb1TYp5K.html

A temple located in Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR has started accepting donations through electronic wallet app Paytm due to the fall in donations owing to demonetisation. The donations have dropped "drastically" in December, with a week?s collection being restricted to not more than ?1,200 as against about ?3,000 earlier, the priest at the temple, located in the Indirapuram area, said.

Instead of fishing for cash in their pockets to donate at temples, devotees can use mobile phones to transfer donations to the e-wallets of the holy places. Not being able to collect enough donations due to the cash crisis, temples in Indirapuram have provided the option of e-wallets. The priest at Shri Hanuman Balaji Temple in Gyan Khand-4 in Indirapuram has put up information on the donation box of the temple asking devotees to pay through Paytm. According to the temple priest, the move was initiated because the amount of donations fell after demonetisation was announced on November 8.?When the note ban was announced many people donated old notes. In November, since many were donating Rs500 or Rs1,000 notes, we did not have to worry much as we would then deposit them with the bank. However, in December, the donations dropped drastically with a week?s collection being restricted to not more than Rs1,200 as compared to about Rs3,000 earlier,? said Arvind Pandey, temple priest at Balaji Temple. Pandey said the number of people holding community feasts has also reduced.?Money from community feasts (bhandara) used to be a major source of donations as one such feast would get us between Rs3,000 and Rs5,000. However, due to lack of cash, people have stopped holding it,? he said.

Tarun Khanna

16 Apr 2017,Sunday

Over 1 cr households in urban India without bathrooms: Govt

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/over-1-cr-households-in-urban-india-without-bathrooms-hupa/1/930191.html

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has revealed that over one crore households in urban India don't have bathrooms. "Nearly 1 crore or about 13% of the total households in urban areas don't have latrine facility ? neither access to public latrine nor do they have toilets within their premises," said the Ministry.

Ministry New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) Over 1 crore households in urban areas of the country dont have bathrooms, according to data provided by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA). Under the Centres flagship programme Swachch Bharat Mission, the government aims to make India open-defecation free (ODF) by 2019. So far, 31.14 lakh individual toilets have been constructed under the programme, while 1.15 lakh community and public toilets have been constructed with the assistance of the government. The total number of households in urban areas is about 7.8 crore. "Nearly 1 crore or about 13 per cent of the total households in urban areas do not have latrine facility -- neither access to public latrine nor do they have toilets within their premises," according to the data provided by the HUPA ministry in Parliament recently.

Shubhodeep Datta

15 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Bill tabled in Lok Sabha to cap lavish spending on weddings

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/no-more-extravagant-wedding-bill-in-ls-seeks-cap-on-guests/1/883509.html

A bill has been tabled in the Lok Sabha which caps the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in weddings. In the proposed law, if a family spends above ?5 lakh, it has to contribute 10% of the amount on marriages of girls from poor families. The bill was tabled by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan.

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) A Bill in the Lok Sabha seeks to put a limit on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in weddings to check "show of wealth" and wants those spending above Rs 5 lakh to contribute towards marriages of poor girls. If a family spends above Rs 5 lakh on a wedding, it has to contribute 10 per cent of the amount on marriages of girls from poor families, according to the Bill introduced by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of MP Pappu Yadav. The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016, may be taken up as a private members Bill in the upcoming Lok Sabha session. The purpose of this Bill is to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and to enforce simpler solemnisation, Ranjeet told PTI. "Great importance should be assigned to the solemnisation of marriage between two individuals. But unfortunately, these days a tendency of celebrating marriages with pomp and show and spending lavishly growing in the country. "These days, marriages are more about showing off your wealth and as a result, poor families are under tremendous social pressure to spend more. This is needed to be checked as it is not good for society at large," she said.

Krishna Veera Vanamali

09 Jul 2017,Sunday

Panel seeks details on Air India disinvestment decision

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/par-panel-seeks-details-on-air-india-disinvestment-decision/1/995197.html

A parliamentary panel has reportedly sought explanation on the reasons behind Air India's disinvestment decision from the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Aviation Secretary has been asked to appear before the panel on July 12. Reports said the issue was raised by Congress member and former Minister of State for Civil Aviation KC Venugopal.

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) A Parliamentary panel is understood to have sought details from the government on the Air India disinvestment decision. Sources said the governments decision to divest stake in Air India was discussed today at the meeting of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. After the discussion, it was decided to seek an explanation on the reasons behind the disinvestment decision from the civil aviation ministry. The aviation secretary is believed to have been asked to appear before the panel on July 12, sources said. On June 28, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its in-principle approval for the disinvestment of Air India, which has been in the red for long.

Sonu Kumari

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Drip irrigation mandatory for sugarcane crop in Maharashtra

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/drip-irrigation-must-for-water-guzzling-sugarcane-in-maharashtra/story-U5IdK30KtPBvzhQ8uFglCM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said that it will make drip irrigation mandatory for sugarcane cultivation after 2019. For this purpose, the state will also provide a loan at an interest rate of 2% to the farmers. Drip irrigation is not only expected to raise the sugarcane production but also help in conserving water.

In a bid to tackle the ongoing agrarian discontent, the state cabinet took major decisions on Tuesday, including giving its nod to proposals minimising the cost of production, raising productivity and ensuring fair procurement prices for agriculture produce. The cabinet cleared a decision to make drip irrigation mandatory for the water-guzzling sugarcane crop after 2019 and promote group farming by offering a subsidy to participating farmers. Maharashtra is the largest sugar producing state in the country, with farmers relying on this cash crop to bring in assured dividends. Drip irrigation is expected to increase production of sugarcane even as it conserves water. The state government has chalked a scheme with the investment of Rs200 crore to promote group farming. The government will extend the subsidy of Rs1 crore each to the farmer producer company formed under Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, by at least 20 farmers with the cluster of a minimum land of 100 acres. The government has kept the target of funding about 200 such companies. The state cabinet in its decision taken on Tuesday also decided to promote animal husbandry, fisheries and sericulture to make the group farming viable. The state government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs45 crore for immediate release of the funds for the companies.?By encouraging the group farming we are aiming to maximise the use of mechanisation by providing them ample funding for modern machinery and equipment. This will help them maximise productivity and reduce the cost of production. Once productivity is increased, the farmers can get a higher rate for their produce. We will also help the companies set up food processing units, enable them to export the products and set up mechanism for effective marketing,? said agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar.The decision was taken in the backdrop of the decline in the land holding per household to 1.44 hectares in 2010-11 from 4.28 hectares in 1970-71. The state government has announced it will make it compulsory to shift the sugarcane on drip irrigation after 2019 by launching an interest subvention scheme. The government aims to bring 3.05 lakh hectare sugarcane crop under drip irrigation in next two years in addition to the current cover of 2.25 lakh hectares. Maharashtra farmers grow sugarcane crop on 9.42 lakh hectares across the state. The government will assist the conversion with the loan of Rs 85,400 a hectare at the interest of 2% to be borne by the farmers. The remaining part of the interest rate (7.25%) will be borne by state government (4%) and sugar factories (1.25%) for the loan with the tenure of 5 years. The total estimated loan to be disbursed in two years for the scheme is Rs 2,604 crore.The state government had made it compulsory in June 2015 for sugar factories in the catchment areas of eight dams (including Tembhu, Mujla, Bhima, Kanholi Nala) to switch to drip irrigation from flood irrigation till June 2019. Based on the success of the directives, the government has decided to make it mandatory for all the sugar factories to implement the drip irrigation for sugarcane crop after June 2019.?It will be the responsibility of the sugar factories to switch to the drip irrigation. The interest subvention scheme not only enable the farmers to swtich to drip will also help them in raising production per hectare,? Fundkar said.The minister said the new scheme will replace the existing subsidy scheme which cost government about Rs350 crore a year.

Deepali Aggarwal

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

JK Rowling apologises for tweets against Donald Trump

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rowling-apologises-for-false-accusation-of-trump/1/1015979.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has apologised for a series of tweets in which she falsely accused US President Donald Trump of refusing to shake the hand of a child in a wheelchair during an event last week. Rowling was slammed for not removing the tweets from her social media account after her comments were proved to be incorrect.

London, Aug 1 (PTI) Renowned Harry Potter author J K Rowling has apologised for wrongly accusing US President Donald Trump of refusing to shake the hand of a 3-year-old disabled child during an event. The 52-year-old British novelist, best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, said yesterday that she deleted her July 28 tweets after she was informed that they were "not a full or accurate representation" of what had happened at last Mondays health care event at the White House. Rowling came under fire for a series of now-deleted tweets in which she slammed Trump for seeming to ignore Montgomery Weers outstretched hand. "How stunning, and how horrible, that Trump cannot bring himself to shake the hand of a small boy who only wanted to touch the president," the author had said. But Marjorie Kelly Weer, mother of Montgomery, said Rowlings interpretation of the clip was wrong. "Re: my tweets about the small boy in a wheelchair whose proffered hand the president appeared to ignore in press footage. Multiple sources have informed me that that was not a full or accurate representation of their interaction," Rowling tweeted. "I very clearly projected my own sensitivities around the issue of disabled people being overlooked or ignored onto the images I saw and if that caused any distress to that boy or his family, I apologise unreservedly," she wrote. Trump is said to have shaken the boys hand as the president entered the room, the BBC reported. "If someone can please get a message to JK Rowling: Trump didnt snub my son & Monty wasnt even trying to shake his hand," Kelly wrote on Facebook.

Rini Sinha

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

Don't mind getting married even when I'm 40 or 50: Shamita

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/shamita-shetty-on-not-being-married-people-don-t-respect-their-partners-anymore/story-Vs5Zfkp6NmfR0zH3iIx7xL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Shamita Shetty has said that she doesn't mind getting married even at the age of 40 or 50. "I'm not going to sit and stress over it or plan things out," added the 38-year-old actress. "I don?t believe in falling in love today, getting married and if it doesn't work, you go your own way," Shamita further said.nn

Actor Shamita Shetty is 38 and clearly is in no rush to get married. Even when her sister, actor Shilpa Shetty, 42, is already a mother to a five-year-old son, Shamita says that she is taking it easy waiting for the ?right man? to come in her life.Ask her if she ever gets pressured by her mother, Shamita says, ?I won?t call it pressure. Every parent wants to see their child settle down. And initially, after I lost my dad, mom would be worried and all the focus comes on the other child, naturally. But I don?t really stress about it that much.?What does Shilpa have to say about this? Shamita quips, ?She is not concerned anymore now. She?s kind of understood that I need to find my own way, so she doesn?t pester me. [Also] When these things have to happen, they just happen. My doors are very much open, but honestly, I haven?t found anyone that I can spend the rest of my life with.? Family brunch time ???? #familyiseverthing #love #happiness #familytime #brunching ?? A post shared by Shamita Shetty (@shamitashetty_official) on Jul 23, 2017 at 3:08am PDT Shamita asserts that she has stayed single for so long because she isn?t really happy with the kind of things she sees around in society today. ?It?s scary what you see out there. People are in marriages and still doing their own things on the side. They don?t respect their partners enough and don?t hold onto relationships the way it was in the past,? she says.I don?t believe in falling in love today, getting married and if it doesn?t work, you go your own way. It?s not about that for me.The actor adds that marriage is sacred for her. ?I don?t believe in falling in love today, getting married and if it doesn?t work, you go your own way. It?s not about that for me. I want a companion whom I am going to be happy with. And I don?t mind if the person comes in my life at a later stage, even when I am 40 or 50. I?m not going to sit and stress over it or plan things out,? says Shamita adding that she won?t prefer an actor as her life partner.So who?s the ideal guy for Shamita that she would want to spend her life with? ?He has to be someone who can make me laugh and has a drive and passion for whatever he does in his life. I can?t handle dishonesty; I like integrity in people and for me, that?s very important in a man,? says Shamita, adding that anyone who matches these criteria, she would want to know him better.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Chhavi Tyagi

07 Jul 2017,Friday

BJP leader posts image from film to show WB Hindus' plight

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjp-haryana-vijeta-malik-manoj-tiwari-bhojpuri-film/1/996428.html

Amid communal violence in West Bengal, Haryana BJP leader Vijeta Malik shared an image from a Bhojpuri film to condemn the plight of Hindus in the state. The image was reportedly from a film starring BJP leader Manoj Tiwari and showed a woman being disrobed in public. In the post, Malik slammed the state government over the ill-treatment of Hindus.

Even as West Bengal continues to simmer in the riots in the aftermath of an objectionable Facebook post that went viral, a Haryana state executive of BJP is under fire for sharing a post condemning the fate of Hindus in Mamata Banerjee's state. What makes this Facebook post by BJP's Haryana leader Vijeta Malik incredulous is that she blatantly used an image from a Bhojpuri film starring its much revered leader Manoj Tiwari. Mallik while condemning the treatment meted to Hindus in the state, shared a picture of woman getting disrobed in public. The picture is a scene from one of Manoj Tiwari's popular Bhopuri films 'Aurat khilona nahi'. The post that went viral on Twitter soon triggered a barrage of scathing criticism from twitterati. Comments ranged from calling the post outright distasteful to demanding the arrest of Malik for inciting violence.In her Facebook post, Malik said that the state of Hindus in West Bengal was unfortunate and she asked that why were they being constantly targeted. The post in Hindi says that Hindus are being maligned in public. In the Facebook post, Malik asked why there was no 'award vapsi' and why the state government was apathetic to the humiliation faced by Hindus. She accused the Mamata-led government of being a mute spectator when Hindus are being subjected to ill-treatment.

Tarun Khanna

04 Jan 2017,Wednesday

Would withdraw as CM face if Cong, SP form alliance: Dikshit

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sheila-dikshit-up-elections-congress-samajwadi-party-cm/1/849241.html

Congress' CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh, Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said she is ready to withdraw as the party's CM face if her party enters into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Stating that she is in favour of the alliance, she added, "I am hopeful that Samajwadi Party and like-minded parties will help to form a secular exercise".

Congress' chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, Sheila Dikshit, today said that she is in favour of an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party.Her statement came on a day when the Election Commission announced the poll dates for the Assembly election in the state. Dikshit, who was chief minister of Delhi for three successive terms, said, "I am hopeful that Samajwadi Party and like-minded parties will help to form a secular exercise".Going a step further, the Congress' face in Uttar Pradesh said, "I am ready to withdraw as the chief minister candidate if there is an alliance with the Samajwadi Party".Earlier, sources close to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had said that his camp was in talks with Congress leaders over a possible alliance in the run up to the Assembly elections.On previous occasions, the Congress maintained that it was open to an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav.ALSO READ: Akhilesh Yadav camp in touch with Congress for pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh  ALL EYES ON SAMAJWADI PARI-WARThe Congress has been keenly watching every little development within the warring Samajwadi Party. On Tuesday, talks between Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh remained inconclusive.Akhilesh camp has demanded Shivpal Yadav be sacked from state party chief's post and "outsider" Amar Singh be expelled from the party.ALSO READ: Akhilesh declared SP chief at party meet, Amar expelledEarlier, at a national convention, Akhilesh Yadav was anointed as Samajwadi Party president. The convention relegated Mulayam to the position of "margdarshak".Party patriarch Mulayam Singh called the convention "unconstitutional". Later, both sides reached Delhi to meet the Election Commission and stake claim to the party's election symbol--cycle.   ALSO READ: SP-lit can be averted if Mulayam agrees to Akhilesh's demands ALSO READ: Mulayam vs Akhilesh: Samajwadi Party chief visits Election Commission office to claim cycle symbol WATCH THE VIDEO

Chhavi Tyagi

05 Jun 2017,Monday

Union Minister climbs tree to make a phone call in Rajasthan

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arjun-ram-meghwal-climbs-tree-rajasthan-bikaner-dholiya-village/1/970900.html

Union Minister Arjun Meghwal was seen climbing a tree with the help of a ladder in a village in Rajasthan's Bikaner on Sunday to make a call for a clearer mobile phone signal. As per reports, the 62-year-old later directed setting up mobile towers in the area within three months at a cost of ?13 lakh.

In what could be a first, MoS for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday instructed authorities to help villagers in his constituency - Rajasthan's Bikaner - after climbing a tree.A bad cellphone signal forced the MP to take desperate measures, and a special ladder was ordered to help him. Meghwal's visit came after residents of Bikaner's Dholiya village complained that the local hospital wasn't staffed with nurses. That was the issue Meghwal intended to resolve with his phone call.It wasn't exactly a novel sight for the villagers - they said it was normal for people to climb trees in search of an improved signal.

Vani Vivek

31 Mar 2017,Friday

Apple opens accelerator in Bengaluru for app developers

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/apple-opens-new-app-accelerator-in-bengaluru-for-indian-developers/1/917237.html

Technology major Apple on Friday opened its new App Accelerator in Bengaluru to support Indian iOS developers. As part of the program, Apple experts will provide briefings and one-on-one app reviews for developers every week. This comes after Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said Apple will be ready to start assembling iPhones in Bengaluru in under a month.

After Apple decided to make iPhones in India, the company now announces the opening of its new App Accelerator in the IT capital of the country - Bengaluru. The App Accelerator is initiated with the aim towards delivering specialised support to the Indian developers, including tools and best practices to hone their skills. Here's how the newly set-up Apple App Accelerator will function. Every week, the Apple experts will provide briefings and one-on-one app reviews for the Indian developers. Not only that, Apple experts at the App Accelerator will also deliver the first-of-its-kind facility to the Indian developers and provide them with further support and guidance. This will be done with the help of Swift, Apple's powerful and intuitive programming language created to build apps for iOS, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. With Swift, the Indian developers will be able to write safer and much more reliable codes, in turn, save a lot of time and create richer app experiences as well.Also Read: Dear Apple and Google, please copy this feature from Galaxy S8The App Accelerator set up in Bengaluru is now open to iOS developers in India through a sign-up process on the App Accelerator Bengaluru website (https://developer.apple.com/accelerator/). You can straight away sign up here. "In just the first few weeks, we've already seen some incredible developers here at the App Accelerator Bengaluru, including Practo and Reliance Games, create innovative apps that can meet the needs of customers in India and around the world," says Philip Schiller, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

Abhishek Bansal

03 Feb 2017,Friday

Dhoni recalls childhood days during visit to Sehwag's school

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ms-dhoni-virender-sehwag-childhood/1/874181.html

Former India skipper MS Dhoni on Friday visited the Sehwag International School in Haryana. Stating that his time at school was the best period of his life, Dhoni advised the students to make the best of their school days. "It was a place where I started playing cricket and I was very sincere about my studies," added Dhoni.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's most successful captain, shared his memories as a schoolboy with a few hundred children at the Sehwag International School on Friday.Dhoni stepped down as India's limited-overs captain in January and rewound the clock to play a couple of stunning innings against England in the limited-overs leg. In Cuttack, Dhoni slammed 134, his first hundred since 2013 before scoring his maiden T20I fifty in Bangalore. (Also read: A decade after T20I debut, MS Dhoni slams maiden fifty)Dhoni, who continues to remain a crowd favourite, more than a decade after his debut, visited good friend and former teammate's Virender Sehwag's International School to speak about his own experiences at school."School is one place where you can study and enjoy sports. Teachers are also considerate. My time at school was the best period of my life. There wasn't much pressure in life. (Also read: Virat Kohli should send MS Dhoni higher up the order in Bangalore: Sourav Ganguly to India Today)"I understand there is a pressure in the modern academic structure. People are more career-oriented. But you can have a lot of fun at school," Dhoni said.The 35-year-old wicketkeeper batsman said his school would always hold a special place in his heart. "It was a place where I started playing cricket and I was very sincere about my studies. School is one place where you make friends."

Parmeet Kaur

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Delhi engineer on power theft raid dies after mob chases him

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bses-engineer-dies-after-being-chased-by-mob-during-anti-power/1/1004429.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

An engineer working for an electricity distribution company died in Delhi's Jaffarpur Kalan on Monday, after his car hit a tree while he was allegedly being chased by a mob during an anti-power theft raid. The company said its teams were chased by bike-borne goons and added that they had received a tip about large-scale power theft in the area.

A BSES engineer died and four persons were injured today as their car rammed a tree while allegedly being chased by a mob during an anti-power theft drive in south west Delhi's Jaffarpur Kalan area, a BSES spokesperson said. The police, however, refuted the claim and said the engineer died in a suspected case of rash driving. According to the BSES spokesperson, three discom teams raided Jhul Jhuli village in Jaffarpur Kalan this afternoon following a tip-off about large-scale power theft in the area. The teams, accompanied by Delhi Police, came under attack and had to retreat, he said. "The teams were chased by bike-borne goons. In the ensuing melee, one of the cars rammed a tree. Assistant engineer Abhimanyu Singh (32) was grievously injured. He later died," he said. A senior police officer said the BSES teams were provided adequate police force for the raid which went "successfully". "Twenty six police personnel were accompanying the BSES teams. The anti power theft drive was successful. "One of the cars met with an accident. No one was being chased as per initial reports," said the officer. A case has been registered in the matter, he said, adding the four injured BSES team members have been admitted to a hospital. In June this year, a Delhi Police sub-inspector and three BSES employees were injured in stone-pelting by locals during an anti-power theft drive in outer Delhi's Ranhola area. ISOLATED INCIDENTS "These are not isolated incidents. Efforts of discom teams to check irregularities are often thwarted by law- defying people who function like organised gangs. Power theft has taken shape of an organised crime and active police support is needed to curb this menace," said the BSES spokesperson. Despite intensive efforts to reduce power theft, Jaffarpur continues to incur 60 per cent losses, he said. In the last five years, around 14,000 cases of power theft, having a connected load of around 33,000 KW, have been unearthed in the area, the spokesman added. Also Read:

Mansha Mahajan

30 Mar 2017,Thursday

Auto industry stuck with vehicles of ?20,000 cr post SC ban

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/auto-firms-scramble-to-liquidate-stocks-of-bs-111-vehicles/1/915841.html

Following Supreme Court's ban on vehicles with BS-III emission norms, auto firms are stuck with a stock of over 8 lakh such vehicles valued at up to ?20,000 crore. Around 6.7 lakh two-wheelers, 97,000 commercial vehicles, and 40,000 three wheelers have been affected by the ban. Notably, the SC asserted the health of millions was more important than commercial interests.

Sonu Kumari

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Vehicles consume 1.5 times more fuel on crowded roads: Study

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/people-pay-more-for-extra-fuel-consumption-while-driving-on-delhi-s-roads/story-68rK37RfWJHX30UpFBFqWM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

An ongoing study has found that vehicles traveling on "average", crowded roads consumed nearly one-and-a-half times more fuel per kilometre compared to ?good?, fuel-efficient roads in Delhi and its suburbs. The motorists hence end up spending more, said a member associated with the study. The cumulative wastage of fuel would allegedly be an extra burden on India?s oil imports bill.

If you drive a car in Delhi and its suburbs then bad and crowded roads are burning a big hole in your pocket.An ongoing study on how much fuel is wasted because of potholed roads and bad traffic has found that vehicles travelling on ?average?, crowded roads consumed nearly one-and-a-half time more fuel per kilometre compared to ?good?, fuel-efficient roads. The figure is expected to rise to three times during the next phase of the study to be conducted on inferior road stretches.The study, commissioned in May, released its preliminary findings last week involving a Sports Utility Vehicle with a mileage of 10 -12 km/litre. Subsequent tests will be conducted with small cars and loaded and empty trucks. The findings use a three-tier grading system to assess road conditions. Traffic congestion is also a parameter.The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) conducted the study. It was found that an SUV consumed about 40.25 millilitres of fuel per kilometre when it travelled on the Noida Expressway, considered a good, fuel-efficient road. The same vehicle consumed about 95.5 millilitres of fuel for every kilometre when travelling from Noida Expressway to Kalindi Kunj and onto Jasola.The consumption was even higher at 137.2 millilitres per km when the vehicle travelled from Botanical Garden to Kailash Hospital in Noida. ?The initial findings of the study conducted on two road stretches in Delhi have revealed that Delhiites could be consuming at least two-to-three times more fuel because of bad quality roads and traffic conditions,? said Ravindra Kumar, principal scientist of CRRI?s transport and planning division.?The result is they end up paying more.?A preliminary estimate puts the wastage across India at Rs 960 crore a day. Although the extra expense incurred by an individual driver might not ring alarm bells, the cumulative wastage would be an added burden on India?s oil imports bill.The initial study was carried out on more than 600 km of the best roads in Delhi and its suburbs such as the Yamuna Expressway, Delhi Gurgaon Expressway and NH24 to collect the baseline data ? the best fuel-efficient roads. ?Now we are driving the same vehicles on various roads of Delhi to find out how much extra fuel they consume,? Kumar said. ?Some of the roads that we have selected are Peeragarhi to Najafgarh, Kalindi Kunj to Jaitpur Extension and Mayur Vihar Ext to Trilok Puri among others.?

Shubhodeep Datta

14 Dec 2016,Wednesday

Selfie helps in busting gang of women pickpockets in Delhi

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/nri-s-metro-selfie-helps-cisf-bust-gang-of-woman-pickpockets-valuables-seized/story-rxJe684ktYAkciyk57Z3UL.html

A US-based NRI woman's selfie has helped the CISF recover her stolen gold jewellery worth ?22 lakh and bust a gang of women pickpockets from a metro station in Delhi. The CISF said the case was cracked with the help of a selfie the woman had clicked while travelling in the metro. The selfie had an accused in it.

It was a casual on-metro selfie that a US-based NRI woman had clicked which helped the CISF recover her stolen gold jewellery worth Rs 22 lakh and bust a gang of women pickpockets from a Metro station in the Capital.The CISF on Tuesday said they nabbed six alleged women pickpockets at a station in Delhi who used to operate in crowded areas and target the metro travellers.Nilam Kumari, the California-based NRI software engineer, had on December 9 filed a complaint that her jewellery bag was stolen near Central Secretariat station when she was travelling with her husband, CISF officials said.?The couple had valued the stolen jewellery at Rs 22 lakh in their FIR,? they said.The CISF said they cracked the case with the help of a ?selfie? Nilam had clicked on-metro and submitted it to the police. The ?selfie? had one of the accused pickpocket woman in the background.They said the identified the woman in the background and apprehended her, who gave information about the other five during interrogation.The CISF then began monitoring the movement of the woman and nabbed them today from Chawri Bazar Metro station. They were questioned extensively during which they spilled the beans. On of the six woman, identified as Kamla, act as their leader, they said.The accused woman also surrendered the items they had stolen, which included the bag containing jewellery belonging to Nilam.The CISF has handed over the accused women to the police for further interrogation as there was a possibility that they could be involved in other such cases.

Rini Sinha

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

My GoT character Jon Snow bit of a psychopath: Kit Harington

http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/happiness-is-a-very-strange-term-to-associate-with-jon-snow-he-is-bit-of-a-psychopath-kit-harington/story-0zQvvtuNUmEyP4SpKtLPvN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Speaking about his character Jon Snow in the HBO television series Game of Thrones, actor Kit Harington said, "He's a bit of a psychopath, weirdly. He looks for violence." He added, "I think happiness is a very strange term to associate with Jon. He has a very odd sense of what 'happy' is."

Actor Kit Harington has said his Game of Thrones character Jon Snow is somewhat like a psychopath in a strange manner.Kit Harington poses at a premiere for season 7 of the television series Game of Thrones. (REUTERS) The 30-year-old actor recalled talking to his director Miguel Sapochnik that the Lord Commander of the Night?s Watch secretly thrives when he is on a war front, according to The Hollywood Reporter. ?I actually think secretly deep down, he?s a bit of a psychopath, weirdly. He looks for violence. In a strange way, and I said this to (Sapochnik) during ?Battle of the Bastards,? I think that in a weird way this could be Jon?s natural home, on this battlefield, where he comes to life. For all of his good, he?s a violent man,? says Harington.The actor adds Jon?s character does not have much to do with happiness.?I think happiness is a very strange term to associate with Jon. He has a very odd sense of what ?happy? is. It might not be everybody else?s ?happy.? I don?t know what happiness is for Jon,? he says. Follow @htshowbiz for more

Chhavi Tyagi

28 Jun 2017,Wednesday

GST implementation is an epic blunder like note ban: Mamata

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gst-parliament-midnight-session-mamata-banerjee-tmc/1/989211.html

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the central government's GST implementation is an epic blunder like demonetisation. "Our repeated suggestions to take some more time to properly implement GST have fallen on deaf ears," Mamata said. "Only 60 hours are left before this ill-planned launch and no one knows for sure what's happening," she added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that her party will boycott the special midnight session of Parliament on June 30 to launch the landmark Goods and Services Tax or GST in the country.Expressing her concerns about the GST implementation, Mamata said the Centre was unnecessarily hurrying to launch the key tax reform. Terming it an 'epic blunder' like demonetisation, the Trinamool Congress chief said that the decision could be 'disastrous'."Our repeated suggestions to take some more time to properly implement GST have fallen in deaf ears. The entire business community, especially the small and medium ones, are scared and confused. Only 60 hours are left before this ill planned launch and no one knows for sure what's happening," Mamata wrote in a Facebook post.ECONOMY NOT READY FOR GSTAlleging that the economy was not yet ready to face the GST test from the July 1, Mamata said, "Small business entities are not yet ready with the basic requirements like invoice, accounting system, IT system, etc. Another piece of evidence of unpreparedness comes from the fact that the 'Return Form' had to be simplified for the first 6 months as all systems are not in place."West Bengal is one of the few Opposition ruled states which is yet to ratify the GST Bill in the Assembly. Mamata said though her party was not against the tax reform but was worried about its implementation. "We have been for GST from the beginning but are very worried now with the way the Central Government is going ahead with the implementation.There are almost 20 different taxes in the present tax regime and we felt that one single tax and integration of all markets across the country will provide big relief to all," she wrote.'BJP'S SOMERSAULT ON GST'Slamming the BJP for its double speak on the issue, Mamata said, "The current ruling party at the Centre had initially strongly opposed GST for over 7 years and suddenly did a somersault on coming to office as a champion of GST."According to the Bengal CM, at least six more months were required  to notify all rules and procedures and give enough time to the stakeholders, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises to successfully implement the GST.Targeting the Centre for any an impending chaos in the economy, Mamata said states were being pressurized to make interim arrangements for GST roll-out. "It is shocking that the e-Waybill System is not yet designed and States are being asked to run their own systems as a stopgap arrangement," Banerjee wrote.As a mark of protest against the Centre's move, the West Bengal CM announced that the Trinamool Congress will boycott the midnight programme at the Parliament House to launch GST.ALSO READ:Foreign media on GST: Ready or not, Indian businesses brace for biggest-ever tax reformGST: 100 FAQs received by Modi regime on Twitter

Aarushi Maheshwari

05 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Man googles how to kill self, jumps off Mumbai Sea Link

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mumbai-man-jumps-off-bandra-worli-sea-link-suicide-heartbroken/1/993876.html

A 24-year-old businessman allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai at 3 AM on Sunday. A police officer said Pawanjeet Singh Kohli had been depressed since he heard the news of his former girlfriend's engagement and had googled the fastest way to kill himself. However, police officers have filed an accidental death report.

All seemed well for Pawanjeet Singh Kohli. His friends thought of him as a happy person, was rich and was gifted a new Audi for his birthday. But all was not well. The 24-year-old was secretly looking ways to kill himself. His family and friends were shocked to know that he had jumped off the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.Pawanjeet was heartbroken after he got the news of his former girlfriend's engagement. On July 2, he left his phone and car behind and told his family he would get back home soon.Also read: A lot like Romeo: 11-year-old kills self after girlfriend fakes suicide"So far, investigations have revealed that he had been in a relationship with a girl who recently got engaged, which may have been the reason he decided to take the extreme step," said a police officer as reported by Mid day.The police found through his cell phone records that Pawanjeet had searched online for the fastest way to commit suicide.Also read: Depression and taking one's own life: Suicide attempt is a cry for help, says senior psychiatristNeither his family nor his friends were aware that he was battling depression. A friend who met Pawanjeet two days before his death said that he was very cheerful.

Sumedha Sehra

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Delhi hotel worker threatens to blow up Red Fort, arrested

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-terror-threat-red-fort-man-arrested-paharganj-hotel/1/1003273.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Delhi Police has arrested a man working as a front-office manager in a Paharganj hotel for allegedly threatening to blow up the Red Fort. The hotel worker, Mehroop, allegedly made the threat while on a call with a man residing in Rohini. The man later dialled 100 and informed the police of the conversation between the two.

A man who allegedly threatened to blow up Red Fort was arrested by the police today.The man has been identified as Mehroop and worked as a front-office manager at a hotel in Delhi's Paharganj area.Officials of Delhi Police's Special Cell and other investigating agencies are questioning him. During a telephone conversation with a resident of Delhi's Rohini area, the accused allegedly threatened to blow up Red Fort.Following the alleged threat, the Rohini resident dialled 100 and informed the police about the conversation. As of now, the accused is being questioned by the local police as well as officials of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Special Cell at the Paharganj police station. (Further details awaited)ALSO READ:

Daisy Mowke

11 Jan 2017,Wednesday

SRK, Salman to appear together in a film after 10 years

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khan-salmna-khan-reunion-kabir-khan-tubelight-cameo/1/854696.html

Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will be seen together in a film after a gap of almost 10 years. Shah Rukh will be playing a cameo role in Salman's upcoming film 'Tubelight', as confirmed by Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahta. The two actors were last seen together in a song from 'Om Shanti Om', which released in 2007.

Bollywood fans have all the reasons to rejoice as they will get to see Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan share screen space after a gap of 10 years. While these two Khans have shared the stage for award functions and reality shows, fans were waiting with bated breath to see them together on 70mm. And filmmaker Kabir Khan has finally done the unthinkable- bringing SRK and Salman together for a film.ALSO READ: Salman Khan's Tubelight releases in Eid 2017, but that's not all he has in store ALSO READ: Is Salman Khan insisting that Kabir Khan re-shoot the Tubelight climax? Shah Rukh will be seen in a cameo in Salman-starrer Tubelight. While Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor has shot for most part of the film, SRK has been brought on board only recently. Trade Analyst Komal Nahata took to Twitter to announce the news.Confirmed news,guys. Absolutely great news. ShahRukhKhan wil play an important cameo in.... hold your breath... Salman Khan's Tubelight!!!!

Daisy Mowke

24 Feb 2017,Friday

New poster of 'Baahubali 2' featuring Prabhas released

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/baahubali-2-new-poster-ss-rajamouli-prabhas-rana/1/890485.html

A new poster of the upcoming epic historical fiction film 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' featuring actor Prabhas has been released. The film is the continuation of 'Baahubali: The Beginning'. The poster shows Prabhas standing on top of an elephant. He will reprise the titular character of 'Baahubali'. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film is scheduled to release on April 28.

Be it the visuals or its core, SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Conclusion is one of the most awaited releases of this year.  With just 65 days to go for the grand release of Baahubali 2, SS Rajamouli has unleashed a fierce Prabhas on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri in a new poster of the film.  Saahore Baahubali..... Happy Maha Shivaratri. #Baahubali2#WKKBpic.twitter.com/fjiizlrDNBBaahubali: The Conclusion is currently in its post-production stage and the team is rigorously wrapping up the VFX portions of the film. In November last year, SS Rajamouli released the first look poster of Baahubali 2, which has already piqued the curiosity of fans. The grapevine also suggests that the makers are planning to unveil the theatrical trailer of the film in February this year. However, we are waiting for an official confirmation regarding the same.Baahubali: The Beginning, which hit the screens in 2015, was highly successful and grossed Rs 600 crore worldwide.Speaking at the India Today Conclave South 2017, SS Rajamouli revealed that Baahubali 2 would be bigger and better than Baahubali.The film, starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj, is slated to release on April 28.

Anmol Sharma

26 Mar 2017,Sunday

Ajinkya Rahane scratchy, down on confidence: Sourav Ganguly

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ajinkya-rahane-sourav-ganguly-dharamsala-test/1/913372.html

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said that stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane's confidence has gone down and it was evident from his batting. Rahane has scored 160 runs with an average of 26.66 in the ongoing India-Australia series so far. "It's not the Rahane we have seen...he is just a bit out of the place at the moment," Ganguly added.

Ajinkya Rahane has been one of India's most dependable batsmen in recent times, especially in overseas conditions where others have failed to deliver. (SCORECARD)Rahane is a proven performer abroad where he has scored 1588 runs in 21 matches at an average of 51.22, including five hundreds and eight fifties. Ajinkya Rahane scratchy, down on confidence: Sourav Ganguly to India TodayHowever, his performance at home has not been up to the mark when compared to his away numbers. In 16 matches, Rahane has scored 954 runs at an average of 38.15, including three hundreds and as many fifties. (Dharamsala Test, Day 2: Key highlights)One had expected that Rahane would improve his stats at home in the marathon season which will end after the ongoing fourth Test against Australia in Dharamsala. Rahane started India's home season of 13 Tests with a bang against New Zealand where he scored 347 runs in three matches, including a century and a fifty. (India vs Australia, 4th Test, Day 2: As it happened)However, he failed to sustain the momentum in the following series against England where he managed only 63 runs in the first three Tests before being ruled out of the last two matches with a finger injury.He returned to the team in the one-off Test against Bangladesh and scored 82 in the first innings and 28 in the second as India thrashed their neighbours comprehensively. (Nathan Lyon hurts India after Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara fifties)But against Australia, Rahane has again been found struggling to make runs. He has so far managed to score just 160 runs with an average of 26.66, including a half-century.In the series-deciding fourth Test against the Aussies, Rahane was handed the additional responsibility of captaining the side after Virat Kohli was ruled out following a shoulder injury. (Cheteshwar Pujara breaks Gautam Gambhir's eight-year-old record)Chasing Australia's first innings total of 300 runs, India were at 157/2 on Day 2, and with the dependable Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane looking set in the middle. India appeared to have the upper hand before Nathan Lyon (4/67) intervened after tea.In the first over of the final session, Lyon sent back Pujara for 57 and went on to dismiss Karun Nair, Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin to deflate the hosts. (STATS: Ravindra Jadeja 10th Indian to achieve all-round double of 1000 runs, 100 wickets in Tests)Rahane found himself in the line of fire and the otherwise dependable batsman made things difficult for himself by trying to pull and hook his way out of trouble. He was dismissed for 46. Reflecting on Rahane's inconsistent form, former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday told India Today that the Mumbaikar has been scratchy and down on confidence. (Lokesh Rahul seeks second innings redemption in Dharamsala)"Ajinkya Rahane is scratchy. It is not the Rahane we have seen over a long period of time. Think about the Rahane at Lord's (2013) where it was seaming, decking, bouncing and he just batted as if it was a different track. "Imagine his hundreds in Australia. He is just a bit out of the place at the moment, maybe mentally... the confidence has gone down a bit because he hasn't had a good series against England," Ganguly told India Today. (Gallery)

Abhishek Bansal

30 May 2017,Tuesday

We are made for each other: PM Modi on India-Germany ties

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-narendra-modi-germany-india-meeting-angela-merkel/1/966547.html

During the joint statement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Germany and India are made for each other. Modi praised Merkel's "strong leadership" and said an EU-focused vision is what the world needs. Modi, who is in Germany as part of his four-nation tour, signed eight agreements with Germany.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while giving the joint statement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin said, "Germany and India are made for each other."  After holding talks on wide-ranging issues like trade, skill development, cyber security and terrorism, PM Modi also called for "outcome-oriented" momentum in Indo-German ties and a "quantum jump" in economic relations of both nations. PM Modi after holding talks with Merkel added, "The pace of development of our relations is fast, direction is positive and destination clear. Germany will always find India as a powerful, prepared and capable partner." JOINT DECLARATION SIGNED The two sides also signed a joint declaration of intent on cyber politics, development initiatives, sustainable urban development, continued development of cluster managers and skill development, cooperation in the field of digitalisation, cooperation in the field of railway security, promoting vocational training and continued cooperation on an Indo-German centre for sustainability.Modi, who along with Merkel held the fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) to set a roadmap for the bilateral strategic ties, said they conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations. "We are looking at outcome oriented momentum in India-Germany ties and a quantum jump specially in economic ties. We had wide ranging discussions today. India-Germany partnership will help our nations and also help the world," he said.INDIA A RELIABLE PARTNER On her part, Merkel said India has proved to be a reliable partner and the two sides have been able to deepen cooperation.Talking about the threat of terrorism, Modi said humanitarian forces must unite to combat the menace.Earlier, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome with military honours at the Chancellery, the office of the German Chancellor, where he was greeted by Merkel and senior German officials. Modi received a guard of honour and was welcomed as the the music choir of the German Army played the Indian National Anthem.  Also read: 'Good interaction', says PM Modi after meeting Angela Merkel, asks Europe to take lead in fight against terror

Ankush Verma

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Colombia's cocaine production reaches record high

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/colombia-cocaine-united-nations-figures?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Colombia is producing more cocaine than ever before, according to new figures revealed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The country produced an estimated 866 tonnes of cocaine in 2016 as compared to 649 tonnes in 2015. Coca crops, the raw material used for cocaine, covered 146,000 hectares in 2016, up 52% from 96,000 in 2015.

Colombia has spent years trying to shake off its reputation as the cocaine capital of the world, but the country is producing more of the drug than ever before, according to new figures from the United Nations.An estimated 866 tonnes of cocaine were produced at clandestine labs across the country in 2016, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In 2015, the estimate was 649.In terms of the area planted with coca, the raw material used for cocaine, Colombia is back at the same levels as in 2001, when a huge US-backed anti-narcotics effort known as Plan Colombia was just getting under way. Coca crops covered 146,000 hectares in 2016, up 52% from 96,000 in 2015. Higher yields from mature plants mean more cocaine can be produced per hectare planted.The results of the study ?show a complex panorama?, said Bo Mathiasen, the UNODC?s representative in Colombia.José Ángel Mendoza, the head of Colombia?s counter-narcotics police, said Colombia faced ?a difficult historical moment?, but stressed that the figures reflected the state of the country on 31 December 2016.Since then, the government has put in place an ambitious plan to eradicate 100,000 hectares of coca by the year?s end. Half of that amount is to be forcibly eradicated, and the other half removed through crop substitution agreements with coca farmers.The substitution program is part of a peace deal with Farc rebels, who renounced drug trafficking as part of their demobilization deal. During much of the group?s 53 years as an armed insurgency, it financed its fight through the drug trade.Former combatants have committed to work with the government to convince farmers to replace coca crops with another way to make a living.?The history of drug crops is divided in two: before and after the beginning of the post-conflict period,? said Enrique Gil Botero, the justice minister.Already 40% of the goal of forced eradication has been met, and 86,000 families ? who account for as much as 76,000 hectares of coca ? have signed on to crop substitution programs in exchange for subsidies of about $11,000 per farmer over the course of two years, according to the government.?Having the Farc on the side of substitution and not on the other side makes a difference,? said Rodrigo Pardo, who heads the government agency in charge of implementing the peace agreement.But the deal on crop substitution with the Farc, announced before the final peace deal was finalized last year, also provided a perverse incentive for farmers to grow coca, knowing they would later be awarded subsidies. Cocaine production began increasing in 2013, rising steadily every year since. In 2014 the Colombian government ended aerial fumigations in over health concerns.A significant rise in the number of hectares planted with coca, the raw material used in cocaine, had already been reported by the White House, which uses its own measurements. While calculating 180,000 hectares of coca, the US figured the country produced about 700 tonnes of the drug in 2016.

Niharika Prabhakar

20 Jul 2017,Thursday

Flyers can claim refund of excess levy at Delhi airport

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/flyers-can-now-claim-refund-of-excess-levy-at-delhi-airport/story-QHLnwa3gPMpE5pCYIs9cON.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Passengers flying to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport can claim a refund of excess airport charges paid as part of their airfare for travel after July 7, according to reports. This comes after a recent tariff order slashing User Development Fee (UDF) for domestic passengers to ?10 from ?275-550, and to ?45 for international passengers from ?635-1,270.

Passengers flying to and from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here after July 7 can claim a refund of excess airport charges paid as part of their airfare, according to aviation regulator DGCA.This follows a recent tariff order slashing User Development Fee (UDF) for domestic passengers flying out of Delhi airport to Rs10 from Rs275-550.The levy was reduced to Rs45 from Rs635-1,270 for international travellers flying out of IGI.Both domestic and international passengers landing in Delhi will not have to pay the UDF anymore.Domestic passengers travelling after July 7 can claim a refund within 45 days, while international travellers have 60 days, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation?s notification dated July 18.After the deadline, the unclaimed amount will be remitted by the airlines to the airport operator.However, passengers who have booked their tickets on or before July 7 but are yet to commence their travel are not required to file for refund as airlines have been instructed to initiate the refund process on their own.The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority had ordered a steep cut in airport levy in December 2015 but its implementation was pending because the Delhi airport operator approached the Delhi High Court against the slashing of charges, after which the court ordered a stay.Air India challenged this in the Supreme Court which vacated the stay order, offering relief for passengers.

Tanya Dhingra

21 Jul 2017,Friday

Tiger Shroff, Nawazuddin's 'Munna Michael' hits the theatres

http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/munna-michael-movie-review-mj-doesn-t-deserve-tiger-shroff-s-average-tribute/story-15mfxbiRBEFiyraXuDr67K.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Tiger Shroff and Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer 'Munna Michael', which released on Friday, is "a film where everybody would look disinterested and jump on a chance to break into a song," wrote HT. NDTV called it "a mixed-genre monstrosity that never hits any kind of rhythm," while Koimoi wrote, "The script...lacks purpose". It was rated 1/5 (HT) and 1.5/5 (NDTV, Koimoi).

Munna MichaelCast: Tiger Shroff, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Nidhhi AgerwalDirector: Sabbir KhanRating: 1/5{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Review","author": {"@type":"Person","name":"Rohit Vats","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rohit-vats"},"datePublished":"2017-07-21","description":"MJ should live forever, but this isn?t the right tribute to the moonwalking King Of Pop. Here?s movie review.","inLanguage":"en","itemReviewed": {"@type":"Movie","name":"Munna Michael","image":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_960x540/HT/p2/2017/07/21/Pictures/_8947c9ea-6dec-11e7-90b5-ba41537c464e.JPG","sameAs":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6117702/","datePublished":"2017-07-21","director": {"@type":"Person","name":"Sabbir Khan"},"actor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Tiger Shroff","sameAs": ""},{"@type": "Person","name": "Nawazuddin Siddiqui","sameAs": ""}]},"publisher": {"@type":"Organization","name":"Hindustan Times","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/"},"reviewRating": {"@type":"Rating","worstRating":0.0,"bestRating":5,"ratingValue":"1"}}Remember Lena hai, lena hai? A hit song of the 90s from a film titled Bomb Blast. That was the last time we saw Ronit Roy dancing. Here?s the video to remind you of how it looked.He shakes a leg again in Munna Michael after almost three decades, and that makes for a promising opening. His character believes Michael (Jackson, of course) lives forever, but getting thrown out of his dancing troupe, wavers his faith in dancing as a profession. So, he takes to drinking. This is what disillusioned artists do in Bollywood. But that?s not all. He then finds an orphan in a dustbin and brings him home. Because this is also what Bollywood does.Watch: Our Facebook Live discussion on Munna Michael and Lipstick Under My BurkhaLike typical Bollywood kids, this one too grows up to become Munna (Tiger Shroff), a super dancer, in one song. His antics and need for money takes him to Delhi where he begins teaching dance steps to Mahinder Fauji (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a land shark and a closet dancer. Their fine-tuned bromance goes for a toss the moment Dolly (Nidhhi Agerwal) enters the frame. Oh, we never saw that coming!Just joking.Now, it?s finally a film where everybody would look disinterested and jump at a chance to break into a song. Why? Because this is what Bollywood does.Some assistant must have reminded Sabbir Khan that it is 2017 and the film is looking like the glossier version of the ?80s movies. So, he brings in the idea of dance face-off and a reality show. How would you fit in Tiger Shroff otherwise? How innovative!Taking a cue from MJ?s signature moonwalking to picking a dialogue from Wong Kar-wai?s Chunking Express, Sabbir Khan keeps trying to infuse Munna with traits that can strike a balance between Delhi and Mumbai. It?s simple math. Base the film in two biggest territories because that is what Bollywood does. He isn?t done yet, but Tiger Shroff can?t bear the pressure anymore, so Sabbir Khan shifts his focus to Nawazuddin, one of the finest of our times, and makes him do one of the most bizarre roles of his lifetime.Hamming his way to Hotel Bluestar, a property he owns in Delhi, Siddiqui probably knows how it is going to look in the end. Still he tries to not seem completely clueless. His efforts go in vein though. It?s sad to see him sleepwalking in Munna Michael after a top-class performance in Mom.Khan?s vision of making Nawazudin Siddiqui acrobats doesn?t help either. You can easily figure out the body doubles. Even if you don?t, background dancers make sure you do. Their close ups are so over the top that you would wander whether they all decided together to look in a certain way?Talking of close ups, the award for most exciting close up goes to Farah Khan who judges a reality show in Munna Michael. Her enthusiasm knows no boundary and every time Tiger Shroff does a summersault, you wait for Farah?s ?oh my god? reaction.All this is happening because Dolly wants to make her father proud by becoming an accomplished dancer. By the way, we never meet her father. She announces her arrival with these lines:Hil jaande sab mere naal, jab main shake karaanFrom UK to Nainital, sab shake karaan.It may sound like a conspiracy theory, but her striking similarity with Kriti Sanon might have prompted Sabbir Khan to cast her. Sanon was the heroine of Khan?s earlier film Heropanti.Her debut isn?t impressive, but you can?t signal her out. Everyone, with special mention of Pankaj Tripathi, is equally out of touch in Munna Michael.MJ should live forever, MJ will live forever, but this isn?t the right tribute to the moonwalking King Of Pop. This forgettable 138-minute film can be better described as this one-liner somebody whispered in the dark right before the end credits: Ye sab alag hi zone me hain (They?re in a different zone).Interact with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha

Prashanti Moktan

10 Mar 2017,Friday

Women should take coaching classes on giving pleasure: Rakhi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rakhi-sawant-ram-gopal-varma-sunny-leone-tweet-womens-day/1/901131.html

Actress Rakhi Sawant has said that women should take coaching classes on how to give pleasure. "Whatever Ram Gopal Varma said is right. I am with him, where he has praised Sunny Leone," said Rakhi. Earlier on Women's Day, RGV had tweeted, "I wish all the women in the world give men as much happiness as Sunny Leone gives."

Ram Gopal Varma might have apologised for his sexist tweet on Sunny Leone this Women's Day, but the filmmaker has found a supporter in Rakhi Sawant. When many celebrated the women in their lives, this Women's Day, RGV said that every woman should know how to keep men happy just like Sunny Leone.   And this very tweet invited the wrath of many. But Rakhi says that she completely supports RGV and says that "every woman should learn to give pleasure."Talking to media, Rakhi said, "Whatever Ram Gopal Varma said is right. I am with him, where he has praised Sunny Leone. I would also like to say that every woman, as said by Ram Gopal Varma, should learn to give pleasure.""Women should let go their responsibilities of kitchen and should take coaching classes on how to give pleasure," she added. This has come a day after RGV apologised for his distasteful tweet. The filmmaker issued an apology saying that he didn't mean to be insensitive but also categorically mentioned that he was not apologetic to those who were "attacking" him. Rakhi also added that RGV shouldn't have apologised for his tweets, "Whatever he has said is true and I support him. A man lives with his wife for so many years, the wife serves him throughout her life and the moment a young, hot girl enters the man's life, he forgets his wife."ALSO READ: Ram Gopal Varma wishes all women to make men happy like Sunny Leone does

Radhika Chugh

13 Jul 2017,Thursday

UP civic body website hacked, post demands freedom for J&K

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmiri-hacks-municipal-committee-s-website-in-up-demands-freedom/story-SO0kxFujJB5ONVnRReylzH.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Uttar Pradesh's Municipal Committee of Rampur website was reportedly hacked on Wednesday by a person claiming to be a 'Kashmiri' and displayed messages demanding freedom for Kashmir. ?I am a kashmiri, its my crime. i am a Muslim. kill me and call it COLLATERAL DAMAGE. imprison me and call it SECURITY MEASURES," a message posted by the hacker read.

The website of the municipal committee in Uttar Pradesh?s Rampur district was hacked by a person, who called himself a ?Kashmiri? and posted messages demanding ?freedom? on it on Wednesday, an official said on Thursday.The message started with ?Hacked by NABEEL? that flashed in place of the usual homepage of the Rampur municipal committee.?A single BEE is ignored but when millions come together the bravest RUN IN FEAR. The one thing the government fear is the day we stand together,? it said.The alleged hacker wrote ?GO INDIA GO BACK WE WANT FREEDOM,? below it and followed it an extended note regarding Kashmiris and Muslims. The message ended with, ?i am a Kashmiri, it is my crime? But I am proud committing the crime.?The hacking was first noticed by municipal officials while uploading new tenders.?The message was being flashed each time we visited the website and unlike floating advertisements, it was blocking the entire homepage,? said Ashwini Tripathi, an IT specialist who handles the website.According to Tripathi, the website was developed two years ago by a Noida-based company which was informed about the messages. ?The experts from the company cleared it hours after we informed them about it,? said Tripathi adding, ?No harm was done to the website or any other data attached to it by the hack.??The website lacked security features and was easily hacked into. But the hacker apparently was only an amateur and was able to alter only the homepage,? said Faizan Alam, principal programmer of the company.?We have cleared the glitch and advised the municipal committee to buy additional security features for the website,? he added. The officials of the municipal committee decided not to register a police complaint regarding the matter.Police officials said they were not aware of the hacking. ?An investigation will be ordered regarding the matter once a formal police complaint is filed by the municipal committee,? they said.

Daisy Mowke

14 Dec 2016,Wednesday

Akshay Kumar's bodyguard dies in train accident

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akshay-kumar-bodyguard-manoj-sharma-toilet-ek-prem-katha/1/834198.html

Manoj Sharma, who was part of actor Akshay Kumar's security team, passed away after getting run over by a train at Mathura junction. He had reportedly tried to get down on the platform from a moving train. His body has been handed over to his family. He was travelling in Karnataka Express from Agra Cantonment station.

Sad news for Akshay Kumar and Akshay Kumar fans.A man who was tasked with providing security cover to Akshay Kumar got into a freak accident when he was run over by a train. ALSO READ | Akshay to star with Sonam and Big B in Cheeni Kum director R Balki's filmALSO READ | Akshay provides Rs 9 lakh to martyred jawan's familyOPINION | From Khiladi to 2.0, how Akshay revamped his careerReportedly, the man, Manoj Sharma - a resident of Agra, attempted to get down on platform no. 2 of Mathura junction from a moving train when the incident happened. He was travelling in Karnataka Express from Agra Cantonment station.Speaking to Times of India, station officer of GRP Mathura Junction Mr Mukesh Kumar said, "At around 8pm, when Karnataka Express was passing by platform number two, Manoj attempted to alight from train which was still moving. He lost his balance and came under its wheels and died on the spot."

Sonu Kumari

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

Mumbai man held for stealing 200 trophies from sports shop

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/28-year-old-man-held-for-stealing-trophies-from-south-mumbai-shop/story-GlY0nJZoq377dlwfZAahXP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Mumbai Police on Monday arrested a 28-year-old drug-addict for stealing 200 trophies from a sports shop in Kalbadevi. The accused said he sneaked into the shop to steal money but stole trophies instead "as there wasn't any money", according to police officials. He was arrested the day after the robbery before he could sell the trophies, police added.

Azad Maidan police have arrested a 28-year-old drug-addict for stealing trophies from a sports shop in Kalbadevi, Mumbai.The police have identified the accused as Sandeep Apte, who is a resident of Kalbadevi.The police said that the accused had sneaked into the shop through the window, and fled with 200 trophies.An officer from Azad Maidan police station said, ?The incident took place around 8.30pm, when the accused broke the window of the shop and went inside. The accused then collected all the trophies in one sack and fled with it.?The complainant learnt about the incident after he got a call from a local informing him about the incident. A case was registered with the Azad Maidan police station.?CCTV cameras were attached inside the shop, so we checked the footage and identified the accused. Later, while patrolling near Azad Maidan, we saw Apte at around 1.30am on the same night, and got him to the police station on the basis of suspicion,? said an officer.Initially, the police had detained Apte on the basis of suspicion, as he looked identical to the person seen on the CCTV footage, and following his confession, the accused was arrested.?The accused claimed that he had went inside the shop to steal some money but as there wasn?t any money, he stole the trophies. Apte was planning to sell the trophies the next day, but he was arrested earlier and all the 200 trophies were recovered,? said an officer.The accused has been booked under sections 454 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc) of the Indian Penal Code. While he was produced in Esplanade court and has been remanded to judicial custody.

Akshita Jain

23 Jan 2017,Monday

Gold, tobacco worth over ?42 lakh seized at Mumbai Airport

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gold-tobacco-products-seized-at-airport/1/864082.html

Authorities have intercepted two cases of illegal smuggling at the Mumbai Airport, according to reports. In one of the cases, a passenger was found trying to remove gold pieces, worth over ?37 lakh, from a mixer upon his arrival. In another case, the accused were planning to export tobacco products and mobile phones, worth over ?5 lakh, out of India.

Based on profiling and intelligence, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers intercepted two cases of illegal smuggling of gold and tobacco products valued at around Rs 42.5 lakh at Mumbai Airport.Tobacco caseTwo passengers Vijay Kumar Natvarlal Rupapara and Manish Kumar Mansukhlal Khambani holding Indian passports on their departure to Lubumbashi via Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Air flight no. ET 641 were intercepted.The said passengers were attempting to export 5869 pouches and 900 tins of tobacco products, 185.5 kgs of cut betelnuts, 11 pieces of mobile phones and 2 pieces of tablets totally valued at Rs 5,12,812 out of India by concealing the same in their 17 checked-in-baggage and 4 hand baggage (weighing 597 kgs).The passengers in their statements recorded under Sec 108 of the Customs Act, 1962 has admitted knowledge, possession, carriage, concealment and recovery of said goods which were being attempted to smuggle out of India.Also read | Smugglers use India to ferry iPhones to Nepal and BangladeshA case has been booked and further investigation is underway.Gold seizureOne passenger Faisal Veerumbin Chalil holding Indian passport on his arrival from Abu Dhabi by flight no. EY 204.

Tarun Khanna

06 Mar 2017,Monday

Pak fears India may use flag at Attari for spying: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-tricolour-attari-wagah-tallest-flagpole-pakistan-spying/1/897492.html

The Pakistani Rangers had reportedly asked the Border Security Force (BSF) to install the 360-foot tall Indian flag away from the Attari border as they fear it could be used for spying purposes. Notably, India has hoisted the tallest tricolour in the country at the Attari border. Pakistan had earlier called it a violation of international treaties.

India on Sunday hoisted the tallest tricolour in the country at the Attari border. The 360-foot tall flag is high enough to be spotted from Lahore in Pakistan. Hoisted on a 110-meter high mast, the flag is 120-foot long and 80-foot wide. The weight of the flag pole is 55 tonnes, and an estimated Rs 3.50 crore rupees have been spent on this project by the Punjab government.Before this, the title of the tallest national flag in India belonged to a 293-foot-high tricolour that was hoisted in Jharkhand's Ranchi. PAKISTAN OBJECTSInterestingly, Pakistan is not happy with India's decision to hoist the tricolour at the international border. Sources said the Pakistan Rangers had also conveyed their resentment to the Border Security Force (BSF) and had asked them to install the flag away from the border.Pakistan on Thursday had again raised an objection to the flag being flown at the IB, calling the act a violation of international treaties. Pakistan authorities apparently fear that India could use the mast to spy in Pakistani land by installing cameras on the flag pole.INDIA: NOT VIOLATING ANY TREATYHowever, Indian authorities had made it clear that the flat was being installed 200 metres before the zero line and was not a violation in any manner."Not to my knowledge. It is our national flag and nobody can stop us from hoisting it on our soil," said Anil Joshi, a minister in the Punjab government, who hoisted the flag on Sunday.

Aarushi Maheshwari

03 Jul 2017,Monday

Newborn declared dead by hospital found alive before burial

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/telangana-hospital-baby-declared-dead-found-alive-delhi-safdarjung/1/992937.html

A newborn was declared dead by doctors in a hospital in Telangana but was found alive before being buried on Sunday. The parents noticed some movement after the hospital had declared the infant dead and immediately visited the hospital for treatment. However, the baby was declared dead after a few hours of treatment.

In a shocking case of medical negligence, a newborn who was declared dead by doctors in a hospital in Telangana, was found alive before it was to be buried. The incident took place at MGM Hospital in Warangal district on Sunday. As the parents were preparing for the baby's funeral, they observed some movement in the baby's body. They immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. After a few hours of treatment, the baby was declared dead.Responding to the incident, the doctors said ECG machines were not working in the morning.Last month, a similar case of negligence took place at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital, when the maternity ward attendants at the hospital told 27-year-old Rohit Tandon that his wife Shanti had given birth to a stillborn baby.The doctor and the nursing staff sealed the body in a packet, labelled it and gave it to the father. It was at home when Rohit unfolded the sheet to take a last look at his 'lost' son, he felt signs of life in the frail body.However, the case took a tragic turn as the newborn died after struggling to survive for 30 hours. The institute said that the medical procedure was actually an "abortion" and not a "delivery", as the mother was 20 weeks pregnant and the foetus weighed 460 grams. (With inputs from ANI)Also Read:'My heart skipped a beat' Hours before last rites, father looks at stillborn son only to find him breathing

Abhishek Bansal

28 Mar 2017,Tuesday

IOC to supply 10L tonnes of fuel to Nepal for next 5 years

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-oil-corporation-euro-iv-grade-fuel-nepal-lpg-supply/1/914432.html

State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Monday signed an agreement to supply over 10 lakh tonnes of petroleum products annually to Nepal for the next five years, Chairman B Ashok said. "The supply agreement... will meet the full requirements, demand and quantities of all the major oil products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel and LPG," he added.

State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) on Monday signed an agreement to supply over 1 million tonnes (MT) of petroleum products annually to Nepal for the next five years, Chairman B. Ashok said.All About The Agreement "The supply agreement signed today is for the period April 2017 to March 2022 and will meet the full requirements, demand and quantities of all the major oil products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel and LPG," Ashok told reporters here.IOC will supply Euro-IV grade petrol and diesel to Nepal from next month."Every 5 years, we renew fuel supply agreement with Nepal. Today (Monday), IOC and Nepal Oil Corporation signed agreement for supplying fuels for the next 5 years," Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at the MoU signing event.The new MoU, he said, is "much better" than the previous ones as "it keeps the interests of both the nations".He however did not elaborate.Pipeline For Fuel Transportation"We feel it is the responsibility of India to help Nepal meet its energy requirements, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal in 2014 where in his address to Nepal parliament took responsibility of the Raxaul-Amlekhganj petroleum product pipeline," he said.While presently the fuel is sent by trucks, a pipeline will be laid from Patna-Motihari-Amlekganj for supply of fuel in future. According to IOC officials, the pipeline will get fuel from IOC's Barauni refinery in Bihar as well as Haldia refinery in West Bengal. Pradhan said work on the pipeline should begin in 2017-18."Nepal wants to take that pipeline little forward to near Kathmandu which is about 70 kms more and has sought technical help from IOC, though the expenses will be incurred by Nepal," he said.Pradhan said a high level official committee has been formed to look into preparing feasibility of the pipeline as well as another LPG pipeline from Motihari to Nepal's Amlekhganj.

Parmeet Kaur

21 Jul 2017,Friday

Two men die after falling from moving trains in Mumbai

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/two-die-after-falling-off-moving-trains-in-mumbai/story-094Dl3lw39sKfWklz1WBNK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Two men died on Wednesday after falling off moving trains in two separate incidents in Mumbai's Vashi. In the first incident, a 19-year-old man fell off while travelling in a train near the Mankhurd station. In the second instance, a 40-year-old succumbed to injuries after he fell down while trying to board a crowded train at the Kopar Khairane station.

Two persons died after falling off moving trains in two separate incidents in Vashi on Wednesday.In the first accident, 19-year-old Yuvraj Rathod, a resident of Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar in Mankhurd fell off while travelling in a train near the Mankhurd station. He suffered severe injuries on different parts of his body and was rushed to Rajabari Hospital in Mumbai. However, he succumbed to his injuries after a few hours. His father, Neelkanth Rathod, later indentified his body.  In the second accident, a 40-year-old man from Shramik Nagar in Kopar Khairane suffered severe injuries while trying to board a crowded train at the Kopar Khairane station.?Balaji Rudrar was trying to board a train on platform number 1 around 3pm. He somehow lost his control and fell down on the platform. Initially he was rushed to a nearby hospital by some fellow commuters. However, his condition deteriorated and he was later shifted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai. He died there in the evening,? said a GRP official.The police handed over the bodies of the deceased to their respective families after postmortems were conducted in the hospitals. Meanwhile, they have registered two accidental death cases.The city of Navi Mumbai saw an alarming number of 131 train deaths in the first half of this year. According to  railway sources, Vashi witnessed 95 deaths between January and June.As far as the area of Panvel is concerned, 36 people died in train accident in the first six months. This apart, around 150 people suffered injuries while travelling in local trains during this period.The railway officials said that over 75% of the accidents in Navi Mumbai took place this year while crossing the tracks.

Dishant Sharma

15 Apr 2017,Saturday

West Indies all-rounder Russell planning to enter Bollywood

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/andre-russell-bollywood-west-indies-cricketer/1/929594.html

Kolkata Knight Riders' West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell is planning to enter Bollywood as a singer and actor. "I will be launching my first international music video with main focus in India this year and then maybe explore acting in Bollywood films", said Russell. Russell's teammate Dwayne Bravo had come out with songs like "Champion" and "Jaegerbomb".

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, who is ready to make a foray into the world of entertainment with an international music video, may also explore a career in Bollywood. (Russell banned for violating doping code)"Yes it is true that I'm exploring a career in the performing arts. I will be launching my first international music video with main focus in India this year and then maybe explore acting in Bollywood films," the cricketer said in a statement on Saturday.Produced by Gemini Musiq based in Los Angeles, the production house behind Grammy winning singer Justin Bieber's recent album "Sorry", Russell will be launching his music this year.This comes after West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo came out with numbers like "Champion", "Jaegerbomb" and "Trip abhi baki hai".The cricketer was given tips and notes on how to go about his passion by Indian actress Mallika Sherawat in San Antonio, Texas. One of the projects might even see the two collaborating.Venus Entertainment Group will be taking care of Russell's branding and management globally.

Nandini Sinha

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

UK, Netherlands biggest channels for tax avoidance: Study

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/25/netherlands-and-uk-are-biggest-channels-for-corporate-tax-avoidance?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A study has revealed that the UK and Netherlands act as channels of corporate offshore investments from tax havens, with both countries accounting for almost 40% of such investments. Out of the 24 offshore financial centres identified, 18 had links to the UK. Every year multinationals in the EU avoid paying £38-158 billion in taxes using tax havens.

Almost 40% of corporate investments channelled away from authorities and into tax havens travel through the UK or the Netherlands, according to a study of the ownership structures of 98m firms.The two EU states are way ahead of the rest of the world in terms of being a preferred option for corporations who want to exploit tax havens to protect their investments.The Netherlands was a conduit for 23% of corporate investments that ended in a tax haven, a team of researchers at the University of Amsterdam concluded. The UK accounted for 14%, ahead of Switzerland (6%), Singapore (2%) and Ireland (1%).Every year multinationals avoid paying £38bn-£158bn in taxes in the EU using tax havens. In the US, tax evasion by multinational corporations via offshore jurisdictions is estimated to be at least $130bn (£99bn) a year. The researchers reported that there were 24 so-called ?sink? offshore financial centres where foreign capital was ultimately stored, safe from the tax authorities.Of those, 18 are said to have a current or past dependence to the UK, such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Jersey.The tax havens used correlated heavily to which conduit country was chosen by the multinational?s accountants.The UK is a major conduit for investments going to European countries and former members of the British Empire, such as Hong Kong, Jersey, Guernsey or Bermuda, reflecting the historical links and tax treaties enjoyed by firms setting up in Britain. The Netherlands is a principal conduit for investment ending in Cyprus and Bermuda, among others. Switzerland is used as a conduit to Jersey. Ireland is the route for Japanese and American companies to Luxembourg.In terms of the purpose, on paper, of the corporate structures, the Netherlands specialises in providing holding companies. The UK provides head offices and fund management and Ireland offers financial leasing and the provision of head offices.?Our results show that offshore finance is not the exclusive business of exotic small islands far away,? the researchers write in an article for theacademic journal Scientific Reports. ?Countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom play a crucial yet previously hidden role as conduits of offshore finance on its way to tax havens.?Dr Eelke Heemskerk, who led the research, said that the work showed the importance of developed countries cleaning up their financial sectors.He said: ?In the context of Brexit, where you have the UK threatening, unless they get a deal, to change their model to be attractive to companies who want to protect themselves from taxes, well, they are already doing it.?The Netherlands says they won?t let the UK be an offshore tax haven. That?s because they don?t want them taking their business.?

Tanya Dhingra

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Stallone denies rumour of starring in Tiger's Rambo remake

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/involvement-with-tiger-shroff-s-rambo-is-not-happening-under-any-circumstances-stallone/story-5VnBhPxM5KNkwGnJj3BtxO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Sylvester Stallone's spokesperson has denied rumours of the the 71-year-old Hollywood actor's appearance in the Indian remake of Rambo starring Tiger Shroff. The spokesperson said, "Any involvement in Tiger Shroff's Rambo is not happening, under any circumstances". Notably, Stallone is known for playing the lead character John Rambo in the film series.

After wishing Tiger Shroff well for his planned remake of 1982?s Rambo, Sylvester Stallone has made it clear that he would not, ?under any circumstances?, be involved with the project. ?Grew up on this character, humbled and blessed to step into his shoes years later. #RamboRemake #greatestactionheroofalltime #legend #irreplacable? #rambo A post shared by Tiger Shroff (@tigerjackieshroff) on May 19, 2017 at 7:45pm PDT Addressing internet rumours about his appearance in the Hindi remake, to be directed by Bang Bang?s Siddharth Anand, Stallone?s representatives told Deadline that ?any involvement in Tiger Shroff?s Rambo is not happening, under any circumstances?. Stallone has nothing against the project -- he publicly wished the team well on Instagram when it was announced -- but he wants them to do it ?on their own?. I actually get excited in my heart whenever young artists get an rare opportunity to reach for the stars! Eye of the Tiger! I am sure you will put all of your heart and soul into it?Never give up young man ! A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on May 20, 2017 at 11:34pm PDT Stallone is currently focusing on the sequel to his 2015 film Creed, in which he reprised his iconic role as boxer Rocky Balboa, and went on to score an Oscar nomination.Speaking to Deadline at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Tiger said that they?ve ?made that character unique and so when (he will) portray Rambo (he doesn?t) want to take anything away from that. But at the same time, (they) want to give (their) own take. (They) don?t want to mimic it.?The film is expected to release in 2018.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Daisy Mowke

12 Jan 2017,Thursday

11-yr-old girl battling kidney disease becomes cop for a day

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/11-yr-old-girl-battling-kidney-disease-becomes-cop-for-a-day/1/855360.html

The Raipur police fulfilled the birthday wish of an eleven-year-old visually impaired girl, suffering from a life-threatening kidney disease, by making her a police inspector for a day. Dressed in a police inspector's uniform, she celebrated her birthday in the office of the Inspector General of Police. She also received gifts from the police officials.

Raipur, Jan 11 (PTI) In a noble gesture, city police today fulfilled the birthday wish of an eleven-year-old visually impaired girl, suffering from a life-threatening kidney disease, by making her a police inspector for a day. Clad in a complete uniform of a police inspector, the girl, Sania Sahu, entered the premises of office of Inspector General of Police (Raipur Range) here in a police vehicle from her house in Mathpurena area in the capital. Subsequently, her birthday was celebrated at the office, where Raipur Range IG Pradeep Gupta, Raipur Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla and many other police officials were present. The girl was accompanied by her father, Bheemlal Sahu and mother Dimple. "Sania, who is visually-impaired ever since her birth, is battling a life-threatening kidney disease and undergoing dialysis every day for at least six hours. She wanted to wear a police uniform on her birthday, which is on January 14," Raipur SP Sanjeev Shukla told PTI.

Dishant Sharma

22 Jul 2017,Saturday

Shuttlers Kashyap, Prannoy enter US Open semifinals

http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/parupalli-kashyap-hs-prannoy-enter-us-open-semi-finals/story-ryt7HkhIk1rpeSVMKl5EfI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Indian shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and HS Prannoy earned victories on Friday to enter the men's singles semi-finals at the $120,000 US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton in Anaheim. Prannoy will face Vietnamese veteran and 15th seed Tien Minh Nguyen, while Kashyap will play against South Korea's Kwang Hee Heo.

Parupalli Kashyap and HS Prannoy earned contrasting victories on Friday to enter the men?s singles semi-finals at the $120,000 US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton in Anaheim on Friday.Second seed Prannoy took exactly an hour to move past Japanese eighth seed Kanta Tuneyama 10-21, 21-15, 21-18 in the first meeting between the two.READ?|?US Open Badminton: Parupalli Kashyap, HS Prannoy enter quartersThe World No.23 will next take on Vietnamese veteran and 15th seed Tien Minh Nguyen, who has a 1-0 record against the Indian.When you defeat the #CanadaGP champion and advance into the semifinals of #USAGPG. Kudos, Prannoy! ? pic.twitter.com/1Ogx6WfGeA? PBL India (@PBLIndiaLive) July 22, 2017Kashyap, on the other hand, had a relatively easier win over compatriot and fifth seed Sameer Verma with the reigning Commonwealth Games champion coming out with a 21-13, 21-16 victory in 40 minutes.A former World No.6 and making his comeback to the circuit after a spare of injuries, Kashyap registered his second win over Verma in as many meetings.Update: Parupalli Kashyap defeats Sameer Verma 21-13, 21-16 to enter semifinals of #USAGPG.? BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 22, 2017READ?|?Parupalli Kashyap stuns top seed Lee Hyun Il in US Open badmintonSome time later, third seeds Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy beat Japanese seventh seeds Hiroki Okamura and Masayuki Onondera 21-18, 22-20 in 43 minutes to enter the men?s doubles semi-finals.However, Attri and Reddy face a tough test next when they take on top seeds Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han of Chinese Taipei.

Prashanti Moktan

26 Jan 2017,Thursday

Scarlett Johansson, Romain end marriage of 2 years: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/scarlett-johansson-romain-dauriac-split-divorce-ryan-reynolds/1/867209.html

As per reports, actress Scarlett Johansson and her husband French journalist Romain Dauriac have ended their marriage of two years. They have a two-year-old daughter Rose Dorothy Dauriac. Following their engagement in 2014, Johansson had said, "I love his brain more than anything and he does all the sweet gestures for me. He's a gentleman."

International diva and Avengers star Scarlett Johansson and her husband Romain Dauriac have reportedly put an end to their relationship.ALSO READ: George and Amal Clooney expecting twins. No divorce?According a report in PEOPLE.com, Scarlett and Dauriac have been "separated since the summer." Scarlett Johansson was previously married to Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2010."I've been expecting this for some time. Romain and Scarlett has never made sense to me. They aren't equals. There's always been something wrong with this picture," a source close to the ex-couple was quoted as saying.Johansson and French journalist Dauriac got married secretly in 2014 and soon, welcomed their daughter Rose Dorothy.

Saloni Tandon

20 Jul 2017,Thursday

Shastris and Kumbles will come and go: Ravi Shastri

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ravi-shastri-anil-kumble-team-india-virat-kohli-bcci-cricket/1/1005744.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

After replacing Anil Kumble as the Indian cricket team's head coach, Ravi Shastri said "Shastris and Kumbles will come and go", but fabric of the team remains. "I've matured a lot in the last two weeks...I don't come with any baggage. The team has done exceedingly well in the last three years, they're the people who deserve credit," said Shastri.

Newly-appointed India head coach Ravi Shastri feels he has "matured immensely" in the last two weeks, a period that saw dramaticdevelopments leading upto his appointment to the high-profile job.CLICK TO WATCH FULL INTERVIEWAddressing his first press conference since getting the position, the former Team Director spoke about the challenges ahead, the first of which is a tour of Sri Lanka comprising three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 starting July 26.Shastri, reflected on India's last tour of Sri Lanka, where the team bounced back to win the Test series 2-1."I have matured since we last went to Sri Lanka. I feel have matured a lot in the last two weeks," said Shastri at the pre-departure press conference for the series.Shastri was chosen for the high-profile position ahead of big names like Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody. He returns to the role a year after losing out to Anil Kumble, who quit citing "untenable" differences with captain Virat Kohli.The former India all-rounder insisted that he has moved on from the past."I don't come with any baggage. The team has done exceedingly well in the last three years, they are the people who deserve credit. The Ravi Shastris and Anil Kumbles will come and go. If India are the number one Test team today, it is because of the effort of the players."People will come and go. The fabric of Indian cricket will remain."Shastri had his way when Bharat Arun was re-appointed the bowling coach yesterday.Asked about Arun's contribution during his previous stint with the team, Shastri strongly defended his colleague's return."There is track record there. Fifteen years of his life has been coaching. He has been with A teams, u-19 teams, junior World Cup teams. He knows the boys better than I do."In the 2015 World Cup, our bowlers took 77 out of 80 wickets. If he was a big name, you would have put him on the top of the tree. I don't need to elaborate too much on what he is good at. It is there for everyone to see."

Arshiya Chopra

18 Jun 2017,Sunday

Lizards' genitals sold to enhance sex, racket busted in MP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sex-life-boost-monitor-lizard-genitals-lucky-charm-fertility-men-madhya-pradesh/1/981361.html

Enforcement agencies recently discovered that genitals of big monitor lizards were being smuggled and sold as "lucky charm" for better sex life and fertility in men. Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force busted the racket in Indore and Khargone arresting three traders and a priest. They seized 68 pieces of the body part, some of which were smeared with vermillion.

There is a new entry in the bizarre world of illegal wildlife trade in India. Enforcement agencies have discovered that now the big monitor lizard (genus Varanus) - found across deserts, forests and coastlines of the country - is being poached for its hemipenis (sexual organ), which is sold as a lucky charm for virility and fertility in men. Because of its forked appearance, it is called "hatha jodi". This is often used to confuse customers with the popular Ayurvedic plant "hath jod", which serves to mend bone fractures. The Madhya Pradesh special task Force (MPSTF) seized 68 pieces of the tiny reptile body part from four poachers in raids in Indore and Khargone from June 16-17. One of those arrested was a priest of the famous Navagraha temple of Khargone, who was found in possession of 13 hatha jodi. "This also points towards the artificially created religious beliefs around hatha jodi," said RP Singh, additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) of MP. Many pieces have been found smeared with vermillion around temples in the past few days. Three traders - Sumit Sharma, Sachin Sharma and Feroze Ali - were nabbed from Indore with 10 pieces of the contraband. Lokesh Jagirdar, the Navagraha temple priest, was also arrested on June 16. On Saturday, following clues given by them, their supplier, Rajesh Porwal, was taken into custody from Indore. Officers said the items were most probably procured from western MP or the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, where the stony and desert topography harbours large populations of the lizard. Each piece was being sold for anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 15,000 depending on how naive or desperate the buyer is. "So many false pretexts are given, ranging from boosted sex life to success in lucky draws and gambling and prosperity in business. Unfortunately, with increasing prosperity in towns like Ujjain, Indore and Ratlam, people are willing to shell out the money as well," Singh said.SEX SELLS AND SO DO GENITALSDr Sumit Dookia, herpetologist and professor at Delhi's Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, said, "India has four varieties of these reptiles - Bengal, Yellow, Desert and Water Monitor Lizard. Their habitat is distributed across the middle Himalayas to Western Ghats. They are expert terrestrial animals as well as great swimmers." "Notably, they serve an important role in the ecosystem as scavengers, eating up the flesh of dead animals alongside eggs, insects, small birds and animals. Any downfall in their numbers is unhealthy for the ecosystem," he added. They are a Schedule 1 species as per India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) prohibits trade in the Bengal Monitor Lizard. Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Tilottama Verma, informed, "Previously, we had found 210 hatha jodis in Brahmeswarpatna area of Odisha on May 30. And 22 such pieces were confiscated in Hyderabad in March, taking the confirmed number of big lizards killed for their genitals to 300 at least. Some such items were seized in Chennai too." "We have long known monitor lizards to be killed sporadically for their meat, fat and oil, consumed in mostly some tribal areas. But hatha jodis certainly came as a surprise to us. We sent them to various scientific labs to ascertain their true origin," he added. The items are also being sold online, even on big global e-tail firms. "We had launched Operation Wildnet to get hold of such unscrupulous elements a few months back, which has so far been successful. This racket is a cause of worry for us," Verma said.Also read: Sexual desire stimulant herb racket busted in Mumbai, 33,000 kg of grass seized

Rini Kapoor

30 Dec 2016,Friday

Karnataka principal arrested for molesting 7 girl students

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-school-principal-molests-students-arrested/1/845501.html

A school principal has been arrested for allegedly molesting seven girl students in Karnataka's Thanisandra village, according to reports. Identified as Hussain, the accused molested the girls when they came to his house for tuitions. The principal was arrested on the complaint filed by a victim and has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody.

A school principal was arrested for allegedly molesting seven girl students. He was produced before a court which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody.Here are the details:

Saloni Tandon

25 Jun 2017,Sunday

Adityanath government has become an inquiry committee: SP

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/adityanath-govt-has-become-an-inquiry-committee-sp/1/986882.html

The Samajwadi Party has called UP CM Yogi Adityanath's government an "inquiry committee" after the CBI started investigating nearly half a dozen projects launched by former CM Akhilesh Yadav. "It's engaging in politics of vendetta, and more so to smokescreen its failures in delivering on the pre-poll promises," chief SP spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury said.

By Abhinav Pandey Lucknow, Jun 25 (PTI) With nearly half a dozen projects launched by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav under the CBI scanner, the SP has attacked the Adityanath government saying it has reduced itself into an "inquiry committee". As the states BJP government completes 100 days in the office in the next few days, a Samajwadi Party spokesperson said it was resorting to such tactics to "smokescreen its failures". "It smacks of politics of vendetta," partys chief spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI here. It reflects that the state government relies more on central investigating agencies, like the CBI, than on its own machinery for carrying out any probe, he alleged. Since taking office on March 19, the Adityanath government has recommended CBI probes into several projects of the previous Samajwadi Party regime led by Akhilesh Yadav. These include alleged irregularities in the functioning of Shia and Sunni waqf boards, Akhileshs dream project of Gomti riverfront development, mobile creche scheme, and also into the death of Karnataka-based IAS officer Anurag Tiwari in Lucknow last month. Besides, acting on an Allahabad High Court directive, the state government has recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the construction of Delhi-Saharanpur Yamunotri highway. "It seems the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has become an inquiry committee. Its engaging in politics of vendetta, and more so to smokescreen its failures in delivering on the pre-poll promises," Chowdhury said. In its probe into alleged irregularities in the Yamunotri highway construction, the UP Police found out that Rs 455 crore were siphoned off by a Hyderabad-based firm, which undertook the project, in connivance with staff of 14 banks and some chartered accountants (CAs). It told the government that since offices of the financial institutions, the CAs and the construction firms were located in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and other parts of the country, it would be better to get it probed by some central agency. After an internal probe, a CBI inquiry was recommended last month, Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said. The CBI has also registered an FIR to probe alleged irregularities of funds into the Rs 1,100-crore Sachal Palnagriha Yojana (mobile creche). The scheme was launched by the Akhilesh government to provide creche facilities to children, aged six and below, of women labourers engaged in the construction sector. The scheme, supposed to involve NGOs, aimed at providing nutritious food, entertainment and educational facilities to children. It is alleged that officials of the states Social Welfare, Building and Constructions Department connived with NGOs to divert funds. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had handed over the case to the CBI, saying there was a need to probe the alleged misappropriation and defalcation of public money during the implementation of the scheme. The court had observed the state government departments were "shifting blame" onto each other. The CBI has booked unidentified officials of the UP State Social Welfare Board, the UP Building and Construction Workers? Welfare Board and several NGOs in this case. "The CM does not trust his own police when it comes to probe. The Adityanath government seems to rely more on CBI than on Uttar Pradesh police," the SP spokesperson said. The state government also recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the working of the Shia and Sunni waqf boards. UP MoS for Waqf Mohsin Raza said the alleged scam came to the fore in a probe by the Waqf Council of India (WCI). The role of Shia Waqf Boards chairman Wasim Rizvi and that of the Minister for Waqf in the SP government Azam Khan have also come under the scanner after the WCI inquiry. Khan has, however, maintained he is "absolutely clean" and the allegations against him were baseless. The UP government is also contemplating to recommend a CBI probe into various anomalies in the Gomti Riverfront Development Project- a dream project of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. "Just a couple of days back, a (Gomti Riverfront) probe report was submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. All necessary steps will be taken and appropriate action initiated for a CBI probe," MoS, Urban Development, Girish Kumar Yadav told PTI. On April 1, the chief minister had ordered an inquiry by a retired high court judge in the project. The decision came after urban development officials told the CM that of the total allocation of Rs 1,513 crore, 95 per cent (around Rs 1,435 crore) had already been spent but less than 60 per cent of the work has been completed. Some other SP government projects under the scanner are land acquisition for Agra-Lucknow expressway, the Yash Bharti awards Samajwadi pension scheme, ration cards distribution, claiming "fake" fix deposits to get PWD contracts in Etah.

Daisy Mowke

30 Dec 2016,Friday

Pilot of Jet Airways flight that skid off runway pens letter

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jet-airways-flight-9w-2374-skids-off-runway-pilot-open-letter-mishap-public/1/845188.html

The pilot of the Jet Airways Goa-Mumbai flight that skid off the runway has written an open letter responding to criticism. "I love [my profession] to death, but...if I meet my end in my line of work, it's most likely that I'll be blamed," he wrote. He also requested media and public not to judge pilots for one mishap.

After the daunting incident of a Jet Airways flight -- 9W 2374 -- veering off the runaway on Tuesday, social media users and media houses were quick to criticise the pilot for creating unsafe situations for the passengers. A few passengers got minor injuries in the incident that happened around 5 AM at the Dabolim Airport in Goa. What really happened inside the cockpit? Only the pilot could have told.And he did. In a powerful open letter, published exclusively on DailyO, the pilot of the Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 opened up.

Saloni Tandon

26 Apr 2017,Wednesday

BCCI loses both revenue and governance votes at ICC meet

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bcci-icc-meet-revenue-governance-vote-cricket/1/939052.html

Eight member nations voted against BCCI's proposal of retaining ICC's old revenue model at the Board meeting in Dubai on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan board was the only member which supported BCCI's stance on governance, while it joined others in opposing BCCI's proposal to retain the revenue structure. BCCI will lose ?1,000 crore if the new revenue model is implemented.

In a massive blow to its influence in the International Cricket Council, the BCCI was on Wednesday decimated at the global body's Board Meeting where the majority voted for a change in governance and revenue structures.On the first day of the ICC Board Meeting in Dubai, both the change in governance structure as well as the revamped revenue model were put to a floor test. (BCCI isolated at International Cricket Council: Sources to India Today)BCCI lost the vote on 'governance and constitutional changes' by a 1-9 margin while the revenue model, which was the bigger bone of contention, saw India getting walloped by a 2-8 margin. The only country that voted alongside BCCI was Sri Lanka.

Radhika Chugh

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Nitish Kumar to consider BJP's support in forming Bihar govt

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bihar-political-crisis-live-updates-cm-nitish-kumar-meets-governor-keshari-nath-tripathi-amid-row-over-graft-charges-against-tejashwi-yadav/story-TWzgT6JfRqu1MJ7GF6MyiN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar did not rule out taking BJP's support for forming a new government in Bihar following his resignation as the Chief Minister on Wednesday. Claiming that it had become difficult to run the ruling Congress-JD(U)-RJD alliance in the prevailing circumstances, Kumar added that he was not blaming anyone for his resignation.

In dramatic developments in Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday resigned as chief minister, dumping the RJD and Congress to stitch a new alliance with BJP, which quickly announced support to a new government under him. Kumar, whose resignation was immediately accepted by governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, will take oath at the chief minister at 5pm on Thursday.?In the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the grand alliance government,? Kumar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after submitting his resignation to governor Keshri Nath Tripathi.Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Kumar?s resignation, saying in doing so he has joined the fight against corruption. Immediately after Kumar announced his resignation, Modi tweeted: ?Congratulations! Mr Nitish Kumar for joining the fight against corruption.?Here are Wednesday?s highlights on the political crisis in Bihar:12.30am: Lalu Prasad says: ?Nitish Kumar has underlined that he is an opportunist. Having done what he has, he cannot stake claim without a challenge. The Congress, CPI-ML and independents will back our claims to form the next government... Struggle is my life. I have to be in Ranchi for the next three days. However, Tejashwi has been asked to present the claim to the governor in the forenoon tomorrow.?12.28am: Tejashwi Yadav along with RJD delegation will meet Bihar governor KN Tripathi at 11 am on Thursday; to stake claim for forming government.12.07am: Taking a letter of support to governor to stake claim for forming government: Prem Kumar, BJP, on Sushil Modi and Nitish Kumar?s meet with governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.12.04am: Have asked Governor for time to meet, being the largest party we will stake claim to from government, tweets Tejashwi Yadav. We will also get support from JDU MLAs, he says.11.56pm: Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi and BJP, JDU leaders leave for Raj Bhavan to meet governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.11.11pm: Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi reaches Raj Bhavan after being discharged from hospital.10.36pm: Nitish Kumar to take oath as CM of Bihar at 5pm tomorrow.10.31pm: Bihar governor KN Tripathi admitted to Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna due to an ENT problem.10.20pm: Nitish may take oath on Thursday. A meeting of JD(U) and BJP MLAs is underway.10.07pm: When Nitish Kumar broke alliance with BJP in 2013 he choreographed and followed the same script to secure himself. He surrenders as per needs: Lalu Prasad?s tweet9.55pm: Sushil Modi says BJP has handed over a letter of support to the governor, and will be part of the new government. All NDA members are heading to 1, Aney Marg to elect Nitish Kumar as the leader, Modi adds.9.49pm: Sushil Modi, Nityanand Rai and other BJP MLAs reach Nitish Kumar?s residence in Patna for a meeting of JDU-BJP MLAs, reports ANI.9.30pm: Sushil Kumar Modi says BJP will be part of the government under Nitish Kumar. BJP and JD(U) leaders are headed to the Raj Bhawan to meet governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.9.02pm: ?There are charges against both Nitish and Tejashwi. The MLAs of the Grand Alliance parties should sit down and pick a new leader. Bihar?s poor, deprived and reservation-backed sections gave the Grand Alliance historic majority against the BJP. This is foeticide of the Grand Alliance? There were corruption allegations against us before. Did Nitish Kumar not know while making an alliance and forming a government?? -- Lalu Prasad?s tweets9.01pm: Nityanand Rai and I called Nitish Ji. The BJP decides to support him; we will support the government formed under him. We will inform the governor also: ANI?quotes Sushil Modi as saying9pm: Thank PM Modi for his tweet on my decision, tweets Nitish Kumar after resigning as Bihar CM8.55pm: There?s involvement of Narendra Modi. Nitish Kumar slapped people of Bihar. People like Sushil Modi are eager to form a government in Bihar: Lalu Prasad8.40pm: Meeting underway at Lalu Prasad?s residence in Patna. Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and senior RJD leaders present.8.23pm: CP Joshi was informed at the governor?s house; he asked Kumar to wait. Joshi said he will get back after a word with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi: ANI quotes sources8.21pm: Nitish Kumar did not inform Rahul Gandhi about his intention to resign in their meeting: ANI?quotes sources.8.02pm: I appeal to Nitish Kumar... All RJD, JD(U) and Congress MLAs should sit down and pick new leader and make a government... His unwillingness to do so will prove he has already struck a deal with the BJP: Lalu Prasad7.59pm: The BJP welcomes the battle against corruption in Bihar; not in favour of midterm elections... A three-member panel from Bihar will report to central leadership for final call: JP Nadda after the BJP?s parliamentary board meeting.7.58pm: We are deeply disappointed by the news of Nitish Kumar?s resignation. The Congress respects Nitish Kumar as a leader: Randeep Surjewala, Congress7.57pm: Nitish Kumar knew that he is accused of section 302; one of India?s CM is main accused in murder and arms case : Lalu Prasad7.51pm: Nitish Kumar had said that he will never join hands with BJP: Lalu Prasad7.50pm: RJD chief Lalu Prasad says did not speak to the press over corruption allegations against Tejashwi following lawyers? advice. 7.49pm: Nitish Kumar did not ask for resignation: RJD chief Lalu Prasad at a press conference after Nitish Kumar quits as Bihar CM.7.45pm: RJD chief Lalu Prasad to address a press conference shortly.7.42pm: We are happy that Bihar CM didn?t compromise on issue of corruption and did not kneel down before RJD: BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi7.36pm: We don?t want midterm elections in Bihar. The MLAs should complete their term. A three-member committee will talk to MLAs and apprise the Centre of the situation in the state: BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi7.26pm: Source say BJP legislature party to finalise support without preconditions at its meeting late evening today.7.25pm: Nitish-Lalu alliance was a mismatch. This had to happen: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Nitish Kumar?s resignation7.24pm: PM Narendra Modi arrives for BJP parliamentary meeting in Delhi.7.09pm: The country and time require that for the bright future of India, and especially Bihar, people need to rise above political disputes and fight against corruption together: Prime Minister Narendra Modi7.09pm: I congratulate Nitish Kumar for joining the fight against corruption. The 1.25 billion people of the country are welcoming and supporting his honesty: Prime Minister Narendra Modi7.08pm: Before resigning, I had informed Laluji and Congress Bihar in-charge CP Joshi: Nitish Kumar.7.05pm: Gandhiji always said needs can be met on the Earth, but greed can never be fulfilled: Nitish Kumar7.04pm: I am not blaming anyone, those who want to blame me are free to do so: Nitish Kumar7.02pm: I felt that for a person like me it was not possible to run this government. I don?t want to create a dispute... When I saw there was no other way... I broke myself away (from the alliance with the RJD). The governor has accepted my resignation, and asked me to continue working till the next development.6.58pm: We worked in the alliance till the point we could: Nitish Kumar6.57pm: If there are charges then they must have replied to it. We felt they were not in a position to speak: Nitish Kumar6.56pm: It?s not possible to work in this environment; I tried. Tried to find out a solution: Nitish Kumar6.52pm: The situation is such that it?s not possible to work. Whatever we do, the discussion is only about one thing: Nitish Kumar6.50pm: Not possible to work in the grand alliance. We made all attempts. We never asked for anyone?s resignation: Nitish Kumar6.34pm: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi amid speculation that he may resign.6.33pm: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on his way to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

Rini Sinha

06 Jun 2017,Tuesday

Kapil replies to fan's query on Sunil returning to the show

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/fan-asks-kapil-sharma-to-work-with-sunil-grover-again-here-is-kapil-s-response-lifetv/1/971768.html

Comedian Kapil Sharma, while responding to a fan's query about Sunil Grover returning to his show, tweeted, "Jab b unka dil kare...I told him many times." Sunil hasn't shot for the show after he and Kapil were involved in a brawl on a flight in March. Kapil reportedly physically assaulted Sunil and threw a shoe at him.

It's been more than two months since Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover's infamous spat.  On one hand, where everyone has given up on Sunil's return on The Kapil Sharma Show, their fans are still trying their best to coax them to bury the hatchet and work together again. Recently a fan requested Kapil Sharma on Twitter to bring Sunil Grover back on the show. He tweeted, "Kapil paaji @WhoSunilGrover Sunil paaji ko wapis kab la rhe ho? Please @KapilSharmaK9 sir."  Jab b unka dil kare.. I told him many times ..Kapil politely replied to him saying, "Jab b unka dil kare. I told him many times." Also read: Sunil Grover has this to say about The Kapil Sharma Show's falling TRPs

Parichit Mainra

07 Jan 2017,Saturday

Kashmir integral part of Pakistan: PM Nawaz Sharif

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kashmir-integral-part-of-pakistan-says-sharif/1/850098.html

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday claimed that Kashmir was an "integral part" of Pakistan and praised the deceased Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani calling him a "vibrant and charismatic leader". The remarks were made during Sharif's speech at the International Parliamentary Seminar on Kashmir held in Islamabad to discuss the situation in "India-held" Kashmir.

From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Jan 5 (PTI) Claiming that Kashmir was an "integral part" of Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today needled India yet again by praising slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a "vibrant and charismatic leader". Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day international parliamentary seminar on Kashmir here, Sharif also praised the spirit and determination of the Kashmiri people for their struggle for the right to self-determination. "Our hearts beat and sink with our Kashmiri brethren," Radio Pakistan quoted Sharif as saying. The world needs to tell India that "enough is enough" with regard to its policy towards Kashmir, he said, while asserting that Kashmir is an "integral part" of Pakistan. He claimed the "martyrdom of vibrant and charismatic Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani has given a new turn to the Kashmiri movement". He regretted the "Indian aggression" against Kashmiri people in the wake of protests triggered by the killing of Wani by security forces on July 8. Sharif said supporting the Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination is faith of every Pakistani. He said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their indigenous struggle and continue to shake the conscience of the international community for their rights. Sharif said Pakistan had sent special envoys to important countries to sensitise them about the situation in Kashmir. He said that he personally raised the dispute in his address to the UN General Assembly session. Referring to the four points he presented before the UN, Sharif once again urged the world community to make all out efforts for the realisation of the promise it made to the Kashmiri people seventy years ago. He said the UNSC resolutions should be implemented and the continued sufferings of Kashmiri people must come to an end now. Sharif while addressing a joint session of Parliament in October last year had praised Wani, drawing a strong reaction from India which said this shows Pakistans attachment to terrorism. He had also praised the militant during his address to the UN General Assembly on September 21, describing him as a "young leader". India had strongly criticised Sharifs speech at the UN, describing it as an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan.

Prashanti Moktan

08 Mar 2017,Wednesday

Wish women give men as much happiness as Sunny gives: RGV

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-gopal-varma-sunny-leone-happy-womens-day-sarkar-3/1/899375.html

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on the occasion of International Women's Day tweeted, "I wish all the women in the world give men as much happiness as Sunny Leone gives." After users slammed RGV over the tweet, he further wrote, "The negative noise towards my tweet on @SunnyLeone arises from ultimate hypocrisy. She has more honesty...more self respect than any woman."

Ram Gopal Varma, filmmaker and enfant terrible on Twitter, once again did what he does best.The Sarkar 3 director took to Twitter to make a series of tweets regarding Women's Day which happens to be today, March 8.And so it began...Is there no #MensDay because all days in the year belong to only men and the women were given just only one day?Women's day should be called #MensDay because men celebrate women much more than women celebrate womenWomen on atleast #MensDay should not nag or scream and atleast give some freedom to menOn behalf of all men I hereby wish all the women a Very Happy #MensDayI don't know what men should be doing to women that day but I wish one day in year is celebrated as #MensWomensDayHowever, what obviously takes the crown for being the most Ramu-esque tweet possible is the one he wrote about Sunny Leone.I wish all the women in the world give men as much happiness as Sunny Leone gives"I wish all the women in the world give men as much happiness as Sunny Leone gives," RGV tweeted.What's amazing and really sporting of Sunny Leone is that she did not take offence to Ramu's tweet and replied, well, positively:Soon enough, Twitterati began attacking Ram Gopal Varma for being sexist, misogynist and so on. However, RGV was quick to respond saying that such attacks are only hypocritical.The negative noise towards my tweet on @SunnyLeone arises from ultimate hypocrisy.She has more honesty and more self respect than any womanI appreciate ur honesty in accepting @SunnyLeone gets more attention than all the other women combined ð??? https://t.co/RTUxux1RbmAfter this, RGV spoke about making a short film that would expose the "sanctimoniousness of extremely antithetical multifarious perspectives on the phenomenon of Sunny Leone."Soon making short film on exposing sanctimoniousness of extremely antithetical multifarious perspectives on the phenomenon of @SunnyLeoneMy short film on her phenomenon will bare the veiled centrally decomposed cogitations in all the mentally corroded naysayers of @SunnyLeoneAll u illiterates who dint understand my earlier 2 tweets on @SunnyLeone atleast go through dictionary unless u are uneducated for that tooAway from the hungama on Twitter, Ram Gopal Varma will soon have to flex his directorial muscles on the big screen with Sarkar 3. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, Jackie Shroff, Amit Sadh and Yami Gautam, Sarkar 3 releases in theatres on April 7.Sunny Leone meanwhile will be seen making special appearences in Noor and Baadshaho, both slated to release this year.

Ankur Vyas

01 May 2017,Monday

8-10 people attacked my house on Sunday: Manoj Tiwari

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/bjp-delhi-chief-manoj-tiwari-s-house-ransacked-4-arrested/story-wg6Qu3pdPeyS1FKNKmAMeP.html

Police have arrested four people after Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari claimed that his Central Delhi residence had been attacked by 8-10 people on Sunday night. The leader, however, was not present at his home when the attack took place. "This was a life-threatening attack, two of my men have been injured," Manoj Tiwari was quoted as saying.

A group of men allegedly broke into the house of Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and assaulted his staff shortly after midnight on Sunday in retaliation to a road rage dispute in central Delhi. The Delhi Police have not ruled the possibility of a ?deeper conspiracy?, though their initial probe indicated that the attack was a fallout of the road rage. Even Tiwari did not deny the possibility of a ?political conspiracy? against him following the Delhi municipal elections result that went in their party?s favour. According to Braja Kishore Singh, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), Tiwari?s driver, while driving a Scorpio, allegedly hit the WagonR car while taking a turn towards the service lane some 10 metres before the MP?s residence. Ye jaanleva humla hai, mere do log injured hai: Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari after his house in Delhi ransacked late last night pic.twitter.com/T2vu3zqZlP? ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2017The WagonR, being driven by Jai Kumar, brother of a cook at the President?s house, overturned and the driver was injured. Tiwari was not inside the car at the time. An argument broke out between the occupants of the two cars. Tiwari?s men reportedly left the scene and went inside the house. ?Jai Kumar called his family members and associates. Together, they entered the house premises. The group assaulted Tiwari?s personal assistant and a cook,? said Singh, adding that a police team reached after Tiwari?s staff called the police control room. The attackers allegedly barged into Tiwari?s house and ransacked his office and bedroom. Surprisingly, the alleged attackers were accompanied by a Delhi Police officer. The entire assault and ransacking that lasted for over 10 minutes was captured in the CCTV cameras installed in Tiwari?s residence. ???? 159 North Avenue ???? ?? 8-10 ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ... @ANI_news @PTI_News @apnnewsindia? Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) April 30, 2017Tiwari, a parliamentarian from north-east Delhi, was not at his North Avenue home at the time of the attack. He first informed the district DCP Braja Kishore Singh and then tweeted about the incident at around 2 am, claiming it was meant to be an attack on his life. Later in the day, the Delhi BJP president held a press conference and claimed that it was an attempt to kill him, as the alleged intruders were looking for him after they made a forced entry into his house. ?The men who attacked my cook Ashok Pathak and staff Abhinav actually wanted to harm me. They were armed with iron rods and swords and had arrived in a tempo, cars and motorcycles. The attackers were hurling abuses when they entered my house. They were shouting ?Manoj Tiwari ko Bahar Nikalo (Take Manoj Tiwari out)?. My staff members were so terrified that they had to hide in my bedroom and other parts of the house,? said Tiwari. The parliamentarian alleged that a policeman in uniform was accompanying the intruders and helped them ransack his house. He denied having any knowledge about the road rage . ?We have given the video footage to the police. I have full faith in Delhi Police. They will investigate and unravel the conspiracy,? Tiwari added. Jai Kumar, 38, and his brother Jaswant, 33, were arrested after being identified by the MP?s employees. They made a counter-complaint of being assaulted as well, but the police did not file an FIR. The arrested men?s brother Jagdish Kumar is a cook in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Police said they all live in government quarters in Rashtrapati Bhawan, close to Tiwari?s bungalow. A close aide of Tiwari said that they had written to the previous Delhi Police commissioner for better security. ?After our request during ticket distribution for the municipal elections, an additional gunner was provided for three to four days. We have been asking for adequate security arrangements for him as currently, he has no security guard at home. He deserves a Y-grade security at least,? he said.Police security at Tiwari?s house was increased after the incident. Senior police officers said that Tiwari?s personal security will be reviewed and increased if needed.

Tarun Khanna

15 Jan 2017,Sunday

India's surgical strike was a responsible move: US

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nisha-biswal-india-surgical-strike-us-assistant-secretary-of-state-china-jem/1/857292.html

Supporting India?s right to defend itself, the US has called the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army in PoK a calibrated and responsible move. The outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State, Nisha Biswal, has stressed that action needs to be taken against terrorist Hafiz Saeed, adding the incoming Donald Trump administration will take up the matter with Pakistan.

Just when India's new Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that India will be ready to carry out more surgical strikes if needed against terror launchpads in PoK, the United States (US) has supported India's right to defend itself.For the first time since the surgical strikes were carried out by India following the Uri terror attacks, US has spoken out calling India's response a calibrated and responsible one.A key member of Barack Obama's diplomatic team, Nisha Biswal said that India should act when it is needed to defend its people but also prevent escalation. The US Assistant Secretary of State spoke exclusively to India Today.US DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST HAFIZ SAEED United States has demanded action against Hafiz Saeed and the terror groups in Pakistan. The outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State clarified that the US justice department placing a bounty for evidence against Hafiz Saeed followed a clear understanding of his role in the Mumbai attack.Also read:  US diplomat Nisha Desai Biswal to visit India for talks"US DISAPPOINTED WITH BEIJING'S MOVE"United States has also spoken out on China blocking India's move to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. In an exclusive conversation before she leaves office, Nisha Biswal, Obama's top  appointee in the State Department said US is very disappointed with Beijing's move.China had initially put India's resolution at the Security Council's 1267 committee on technical hold. And later despite support of other co-sponsors like US,UK to the resolution, China used its veto to block the move on December 30 last year.  

Chhavi Tyagi

17 Mar 2017,Friday

Shamshaan won over Kabristan in UP: Owaisi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-conclave-2017-asaduddin-owaisi-sajjad-lone/1/906358.html

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "In the battle of Kabristan and Shamshaan in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Shamshaan won over Kabristan." His statement was in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark made during poll campaign that if the Samajwadi Party gives money to construct graveyards (Kabristan) they should also do so for cremation grounds (Shamshaan).

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has termed the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results as "an exclusive verdict" saying that "in the battle of Kabristan and Shamshaan, Shamshaan won over Kabristan."Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017 in Mumbai, Owaisi today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to polarise the election by referring to graveyard and cremation ground."The Uttar Pradesh Assembly election was an exclusive verdict. It was the verdict for development of some and not for inclusive development. In the battle of Kabristan and Shamshaan in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Shamshaan won over Kabristan," Owaisi said.Responding to Owaisi's charge, Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Minister Sajjad Lone said, "You can't question winning in a democracy. I don't agree that it was an exclusive election verdict in Uttar Pradesh."If you accept democracy, you accept winning in election, you can't question that, Sajjad Lone said.BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe countered Owaisi by claiming that large number of Muslims voted for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.We have had spiritual democracy. Imposing one ideology or thought is not possible in India. India is a vibrant democracy. Nobody can destroy that, Sahasrabudde said.COUNTER-NARRATIVE TO CHECK BJPDuring the India Today Conclave session on 'The Great Debate: A Million Mutinies, What makes an Indian?', some of the panelists underscored the need for the Opposition to have a counter-narrative to check the BJP.Noted sociologist Dipankar Gupta said, "The Opposition needs to have an alternative discourse not an anti-BJP narrative to check the rise of the BJP. An alternative point of view is needed to counter the BJP," adding, "It could be Congress or without Congress."'RAHUL NO COMPETITION TO MODI'Gupta further said that as the principal Opposition party the Congress needs to reinvent itself.Responding to a query about Rahul Gandhi, Gupta said, "Congress identified in Punjab with Amarinder Singh and it won the election. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress identified with Gandhi and it lost. In Gandhi background the Congress was soundly defeated while in Punjab they won. Rahul (Gandhi) is no competition to (Narendra) Modi in providing leadership."Agreeing with Gupta, Owaisi said, "Days of dynastic politics are over. You will have to prove yourself that you work for people."On the question of having an alternative narrative, Owaisi said, "If you want to defeat Modi, don't become junior Modi. Create an alternative viewpoint."Among the participants in the debate was noted musician TM Krishna, who had questioned Finance Minister Arun Jaitley when he criticised some protesters at JNU and Delhi by calling their agitation as 'alliance of subversion'. ICSSR chairman Sukhadeo Thorat, who is former UGC chairman and professor emeritus JNU, said, "The idea of India is defined by constitution. It says that India is secular and socialist."The governments supported by majority population or religious community are cause for worry in India, Thorat said. 

Sumedha Sehra

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

Sushil Kumar Modi appointed as Bihar's Deputy CM

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bihar-political-crisis-live-nitish-kumar-to-take-oath-as-cm-today-sushil-kumar-modi-likely-to-be-deputy-cm/story-RhXfJXja7Bmu82ltsX5xSO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Thursday took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, in a ceremony at Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar was sworn-in as the state's Chief Minister for the sixth time, after he claimed majority with the BJP as an ally. Nitish Kumar had broken the Congress-RJD-JD(U) alliance and resigned from the CM post yesterday.

Less than a day after resigning as Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar took oath on Thursday as the head of the government for the sixth time with Sushil Kumar Modi sworn in as deputy chief minister.Kumar met governor Keshari Nath Tripathi late on Wednesday with NDA leaders and staked claim to form a new government with support of 132 MLAs. He has been asked by the governor to prove his majority in the Assembly within two days of taking oath.Here are the updates:9:39pm: RJD?s Bhai Virender says the party will demand for secret ballot in the assembly. ?Then, we?ll know who won and who lost,? ANI?reported him saying after RJD MLAs meet in Patna8:52 pm: RJD supporters threw stones on the Saran district magistrate and superintendent of police Aunsuiya Ransingh Sahu during protests against Nitish Kumar. The protestors were shouting slogans in favour of RJD on Jay Prakash Narayan overbridge in the district, PTI reported.An FIR has been registered in this connection.Reports of road blockade and protest march by RJD supporters also poured in from Hajipur and Begusarai among others during the day.8:35 pm: Meanwhile, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Panchayati Raj Minister Pradip Maharathy said the party will not return to the NDA fold, IANS reported.Talk of a possible BJP-BJD alliance gained ground in the wake of BJD president Naveen Patnaik?s recent stand backing the NDA government?s demonetisation move, GST and the latest presidential choice.?Nitish Kumar may have believed in ?Jod-tod Ki Sarkar?, we are not going to have any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). We are strong enough in Odisha and can counter any party in the ensuing elections,? said Maharathy.8:30 pm: Two petitions have been filed in the Patna High Court, challenging the formation of the new government, IANS reports. One petition was filed by Jitender Kumar and the second by RJD legislator Saroj Yadav and Chandan Kumar Verma, contended that the mandate in 2015 Bihar assembly polls was given to Grand Alliance of JD-U, RJD and Congress led by Nitish Kumar against the BJP and it was to rule for five years.8:17 pm: Bihar Assembly to meet at 11 am on Friday for the trust vote by Nitish Kumar, PTI reports.8:15 pm:Patna: Lalu Prasad Yadav with family members at his residence. Party MLAs also present pic.twitter.com/ItmPnGgJHd? ANI (@ANI_news) July 27, 20177:45pm: Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, says he spoke to Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi and congratulated them.Petroleum Ministry is fully committed to complete projects worth Rs. 21,476 Crores, covered under 'Bihar Package' announced by Hon'ble PM.? Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 27, 20177:30 pm: JD(U) Maharashtra unit head Kapil Patil has criticised Nitish?s decision to go with the BJP. He says the party will decide future course of action in a meet soon.6:55 pm: The official Rashtriya Janata Dal Twitter account claims Nitish Kumar was threatened by Tejashwi?s popularity.He is new youth icon of Indian politics and flag bearer of social justice politics. #BiharWithTejashwi pic.twitter.com/5hGCpL4fQ1? Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) July 27, 2017?Tejashwi proved himself on all fronts and that?s what perturbed Nitish and BJP. Tejashwi Yadav?s performance forced BJP and Nitish to come together so they can collectively fight against him. Nitish was envy of his Deputy as Tejashwi was drawing more crowds and acceptance than Nitish,? the party tweeted.6:50 pm: Sitaram Yechury tells ANI, ?Every few years Nitish Kumar takes oath as CM from different alliances. Quite a record. Straightforward political opportunism.?6:25 pm: Samajwadi Party?s Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan reacted to the developments in Bihar.Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav struck a musical note, quoting 1965 Bollywood film Jab Jab Phool Khile, to mock Nitish for allying with BJP.?? ?? ????, ????? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ????Bihar Today? Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 27, 2017Azam Khan said the Bihar CM?s name should be ?Nitish Tyagi?. ?First, he made sacrifice and came in power. This time also, he sacrificed and again came in power. He is a kind of man who sacrifices a lot. He should be named Nitish Tyagi,? Khan told ANI.6:22pm: After meeting with Sharad Yadav, JD(U)?s Ali Anwar says, ?We, including Sharad ji, had no idea that such a big development would happen overnight. We are surprised.?6: 12 pm: Arun Kumar of JD(U) says, ?Sharad (Yadav) ji is concerned over Nitish Kumar?s decision.In 1-2 days Sharad ji will talk to senior leaders of all national parties.?5:40 pm: JD(U) MPs Veerendra Kumar and Ali Anwar reach Sharad Yadav?s residence in Delhi, ANI reports.5:20 pm: Sushil Kumar Modi tweets, ?With the swearing-in of NDA-2 government in Bihar, the state has also been rid of 20 months of a bad phase. We will not step back from prosecuting criminals and the mafia. We will have inclusive growth with the help of collective effort.?He adds, ?After 37 years, with the same alliance in power both in the state and at the Centre, this is a historic moment for Bihar. With mutual cooperation we will give development new life in every sector. This is the beginning of ?acche din? for 11 crore people.?????? ??? NDA-2 ????? ?? ???-????? ?? ??? ????? 20 ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????????-?????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??????.? Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 27, 20172/1..???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????????? ?? ??? ???????????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 27, 2017????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ??, ?? 37 ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ????? 2/n? Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 27, 20172/2..?? ?? ?????? ?????? 11 ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 27, 20175:10 pm: Meanwhile in Kerala, as the state JD(U) unit voiced disapproval of Nitish Kumar?s move, the CPI-M made another bid to woo the party. State Communist Party of India-Marxist Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said his party welcomed the ?right reaction? of Rajya Sabha member and Kerala JD(U) chief Veerendra Kumar, who had frowned upon the Bihar developments. ?Now, what the state JD(U) should do is to quit the Congress-led United Democratic Front (in Kerala). Once it is done, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will discuss taking back JD(U) into its fold,? Balakrishnan told reporters in the Kerala capital.It is the second time within weeks that Balakrishnan has extended an open invite to the state JD(U) to return to the LDF fold.5:00 pm: Senior RJD leader Jagdanand Singh says: RJD is the largest party in the state Assembly. We have majority but were not invited by the Governor to form government. The RJD will not allow the Assembly to function.? 4:50 pm: Lalu Prasad tweets:????? ?????, ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????-???? ???? ??? ???? ????? Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) July 27, 20174:45 pm: RJD MLA Maheshwar Yadav tells ANI that most party MLAs wanted Tejashwi Yadav to resign so that the alliance and the govt could be saved. ?Nitish ji ki aadat hai ki wo apne gathbandhan mein daagi vyakti ko nahi rakhte hain, isiliye gathbandhan toot gaya ( It is Nitish ji?s habit to remove tainted people from the alliance. This is why the mahagathbandhan broke),? he says.?Affection of children and family makes person weak in politics. Nitish Kumar walks alone and with honesty. That is why he is successful,? Yadav adds.4:14 pm: The developments in Bihar found mention in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, IANS reported.As the House met and took up Question Hour, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav of RJD raised the issue of the JD(U)leaving the ?Grand Alliance? and forming a new government with the BJP.Yadav was seen shouting from his seat, calling it a ?murder of democracy?.4:12 pm: The JD(U) unit in Kerala opposed Nitish Kumar for tying up with the BJP and announced it was severing ties with him, IANS reported. The chief of the party?s Kerala unit, MP Veerendra Kumar, a Rajya Sabha member, told reporters in Delhi that he was even ready to quit the Upper House to pursue his fight against ?fascist forces?. ?Whatever the price, we?re ready to pay,? he said. ?We are not accepting the JD(U) joining the NDA and our relations with Nitish Kumar have ended. It?s shocking that Nitish Kumar has joined the NDA. We all thought that he will fight the fascist tendencies but he has now become a part of it.?Veerendra Kumar said he expected JD(U) senior leader Sharad Yadav and its MLAs in Bihar not to accept Nitish Kumar?s decision. ?I call upon Sharad Yadav and JD(U) MLAs to say that we won?t accept it.?3: 30 pm: ED registers money laundering case against Lalu Prasad and his family members in a railway hotel allotment corruption case: Official2:38 pm: JD(U) hits back at Lalu Yadav?s accusation against Nitish Kumar in a murder case.2:36 pm: Lalu Prasad has a habit of twisting facts: JD(U) leader at press conference.2:33 pm: Lalu Yadav tweets picture of Nitish Kumar?s affidavit filed with his nomination papers. ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? affidavite ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ????? pic.twitter.com/MUmOkKgV3q? Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) July 27, 20172: 30 pm: Sharad Yadav, former JD (U) president, calls a meeting of disgruntled party legislators in Patna in the afternoon. Around half of the 71 JD(U) legislators are Muslims and Yadavs.2:20 pm: This, indeed, is a black day for democracy: Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Nitish Kumar switching sides.?PM questioned political DNA of Nitish Kumar. it has been proved that DNAs of JDU & BJP are identical, its opportunism,? says Surjewala.2:12 pm: Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad says, ?I think it has become Nitish ji?s habit to change parties and stand every few years.?2:05 pm: JDU member Ajay Alok questions Congress claims that his party betrayed them.?Congress says we betrayed them, also says this was going on since 3-4 months. How can it be betrayal if they already knew?? he asks.2:02 pm: Deputy CM Sushil Modi says good days for Bihar will usher in the future, holds Congress and RJD responsible for collapse of grand alliance.1:45 pm: RJD workers protest against Nitish Kumar in Patna.1:44 pm: Nitish Kumar thanks PM Modi for his wishes over Twitter.?There will be no compromise on corruption. I?m confident that with the cooperation of the centre, developement in the state will get a boost,? tweets Nitish.1:39 pm: RJD MLA Jagadanand Singh says CM & deputy CM must resign, until they don?t, we will not let the Vidhan Sabha to function.1: 10 pm:Reaction of opposition party membersMayawati says whatever is happening doesn?t bode well for democracy. People of the country have to come forward to protect this institution from weakening. Shashi Tharoor tweets, ?If after campaigning against BJP you want to join BJP, spirit of democracy requires you2resign&seek a fresh mandate. This is amoral politics.??This is now the 3rd time that BJP has formed a state government after losing an election. Goa, Manipur&Bihar show our democracy in poor light?1:08 pm: We didn?t push them, they went there on their own: Lalu Yadav?This is all fake news from Delhi ,? says Lalu Yadav when asked if he was approached to break unity in lieu of some incentive.1:04 pm: So what if Nitish has gone to the BJP, we will get Mayawati, Akhilesh, Mamata together: Lalu Yadav on Opposition unity.12: 59 pm: Nitish Kumar government to seek trust vote tomorrow: says Brajesh Mehrotra, principal secretary, Cabinet Coordination Department of Bihar govt.12:50 pm: Nitish Kumar, the CM of Bihar, my younger brother is accused of murder under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 307: Lalu Yadav12: 49 pm: Lalu Yadav says considering to appeal in Supreme Court against governor?s decision.UP Assembly passes resolution congratulating Nitish Kumar on becoming Bihar CM again.12:44 pm: Nitish Kumar to prove his majority in a special session of the Bihar Assembly on July 28.12: 35 pm: Some media who we had thought were good, they took supari. See how the US media is fighting Trump, here media fights opposition. Amit Shah is the super editor, he decides how news should be & he tells owners of media, who tells editors, not reporters fault: alleges Lalu Yadav12: 29 pm: This match was fixed. I have not caused any inconvenience for Nitish. On many occasions, Nitish met PM Modi, had lunch. The timing of whatever happened was already fixed: Lalu Yadav12:27 pm: I charge Nitish Kumar that he collided with BJP to conduct the raids by CBI, ED on RJD leaders and to malign them: Lalu Yadav.12:23 pm: If I was greedy I would not have made Nitish Kumar the chief minister. He used to say that I?ll perish but never tie up with BJP: Lalu Yadav.Narendra Modi put up a charade of achhe din and of giving jobs. The BJP is fooling India: Lalu Prasad Yadav12:21 pm: Nitish Kumar is huge opportunist. The mandate was against BJP, to throw out Modi-Shah out of Bihar: Lalu Yadav12: 17 pm: PM Modi attacks below the belt, had said that there was fault in Nitish Kumar?s DNA. BJP and Nitish Kumar had a divorce. Past 15-20 year, I have been fighting cases in courts. I was sentenced in a hurry. There was a conspiracy between Nitish Kumar and BJP: Lalu Yadav12:15 pm: Will support Modi government in both houses of Parliament: JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi.12:11 pm: The state of Bihar is a very aware; today everyone in very angry :Lalu Prasad Yadav to reports.He says it is regrettable there is no Gandhiji among us to unite this country. Amit Shah & Modi?s khandan of Godse - RSS killed him.11: 51 am: A person can do anything for his greed- there is no limit, no credibility. They do anything for power: Rahul Gandhi on Twitter.11:50 am: ?He (Nitish) had joined hands with us in the anti- communal fight, but Nitish Kumar, for his personal politics, joined hands with those against whom he had fought,? Gandhi says in a seething tweet.11: 45 am: Dalits,OBCs & EBCs intact & consolidated in Bihar tht?s y RSS & BJP hell bent to reimpose past caste based order in society wth help of JDU: tweets Tejashwi.11: 41 am: BJP president Amit Shah congratulates Nitish Kumar and Dy chief minister Sushil Modi for ?unitedly standing against corruption?.11:40 am: Frequent change of stand by Nitish Kumar doesn?t show him in good light: tweets Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh.11:23 am: Digvijaya Singh says if JD(U) had problems with Tejashwi, they could have suspended him, called a RJD-JDU-Cong meeting, there was no need to cheat the grand alliance.11:11 am:?In a series of strongly-worded tweets, Tejashwi Yadav lashes out at Nitish Kumar. ?Vicious greed for power of opportunism will spell it?s own doom. People are not fools that they digest their penchant for wicked power grab, tweets Tejashwi11: 05 am: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleges that BJP tried all tactics to destabilize states where Opposition had government.11: 03 am: Development will be a priority, will take Bihar to greater heights: Sushil Modi after being sworn in as Bihar deputy CM.11: 00 am: After taking oath, Nitish Kumar says his decision is in Bihar?s interest and for its development.11:00 am: Tejashwi tweets saying ally and BJP resorted to ?low level vindictive & opportunistic politics?Vendetta against me exposes their viciousness: Tejashwi.10:55 am:?Scandal- tainted RJD?leader Tejashwi Yadav joins the fray in tweeting, says: ?Entered in govt with clean slate,keen desire of writing a positive story for Bihar ppl, only to find opportunist rival.?Allegations against Tejashwi and Lalu triggered the crisis in Bihar, with CM Nitish Kumar claiming he couldn?t stay in the Grand Alliance because his ?conscience??didn?t allow it. 10:50 am:?Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar and Dy CM Sushil Modi. ?Looking forward to working together for Bihar?s progress & prosperity,? tweets PM Modi.10:40am:?Nitish Kumar does not care about Indians or the people of Bihar. He only cares about his seat:?ANI?quotes RJD MLA Bhai Birendra10:30am:?We knew about Nitish Kumar planning to join NDA for the past three to four months. This is the problem with Indian politics, people can do anything for their selfishness... Nitish Kumar has cheated us: TV quotes Rahul Gandhi as saying on Nitish Kumar switching sides. ?Mandate was given to Nitish ji for the anti-communal fight but now he has joined hands with them (BJP)?for his personal politics.?10:07 am: Sushil Kumar Modi takes oath as deputy chief minister for the third time.10:03 am: Nitish Kumar takes oath as chief minister of Bihar.10:02 am: RJD protest march cancelled after section 144 imposed around Raj Bhawan in Patna10:00 am: Governor arrives at Raj Bhawan, ceremony begins.9:51 am: Nitish Kumar reaches Raj Bhawan in Patna.9:49 am: Sushil Modi reaches Raj Bhawan in Patna, set to be sworn in as Bihar deputy chief minister.9:45 am: Will raise the issue in Parliament strongly, will also speak to other parties and protest in front of Gandhi statue: RJD MP JP Yadav.9: 45 am: JDU MP Sharad Yadav refuses to comment on Bihar political tussle, NDA-JDU tie up.9:37 am: Nitish ji?s step against corruption is a courageous one. BJP wants development and wants to help bring stability in Bihar: JP Nadda in Patna9:33 am: BJP?MLA Nitin Navin says Lalu is anxious, there is going to be revolt within the RJD.9:27 am: Bihar governor invites Nitish Kumar to form government. 9:09 am: Preparations underway at Raj Bhavan for oath-taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar.7:50 am: JD(U) MP Ali Anwar says his conscience doesn?t allow him to support the decision of Nitish Kumar. He says will voice his opinion in the party if given an opportunity.7: 15 am: RJD supporters block Mahatma Gandhi Setu, connecting north Bihar with Patna, over Nitish Kumar?s resignation and forming government.4:00 am: ?RJD being the single largest party should have been invited to form the government. We are taking legal advice and will move court against the governor?s decision,? Tejashwi tells reporters after the meeting.This whole drama was planned and Tejashwi was just an excuse for him (Kumar) to go with BJP: Tejashwi Yadav2:40 am: Tejashwi Yadav meets Bihar governor Keshri Nath Tripathi in Patna to register protest over Nitish Kumar being invited to form his government ahead of RJD. ?Governor gave us time of 11 a.m. and now suddenly has asked NDA for oath ceremony at 10 a.m. Why so much hurry & rush Mr. Honest & Moral?? Tejashwi Yadav had tweeted.2:37 am: #FLASH Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi invites Tejashwi Yadav & 5 RJD MLAs for discussion. pic.twitter.com/sicW9oRVqn? ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 20172:30 am: RJD leaders attempt to storm the Raj Bhawan with Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap and ten other former ministers in the Nitish cabinet. The strong security force deployed in the area wall them back.12.30am: Lalu Prasad says: ?Nitish Kumar has underlined that he is an opportunist. Having done what he has, he cannot stake claim without a challenge. The Congress, CPI-ML and independents will back our claims to form the next government... Struggle is my life. I have to be in Ranchi for the next three days. However, Tejashwi has been asked to present the claim to the governor in the forenoon tomorrow.?12.07am: Taking a letter of support to governor to stake claim for forming government: Prem Kumar, BJP, on Sushil Modi and Nitish Kumar?s meet with governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.(With inputs from agencies)

Dishant Sharma

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Afghanistan to replace Aus A in tri-series featuring India A

http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/afghanistan-to-replace-australia-in-south-africa-tri-series-featuring-india/story-CeuFKmA5R5FXocOsotJZLN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Afghanistan's A team is set to replace the Australia A side in a tri-series in South Africa, which shall also feature India's A team. The replacement has come after the Australian team pulled out due to the ongoing pay dispute between the players and Cricket Australia. Notably, the Afghanistan team was granted Test status last month.

Afghanistan have replaced Australia in a development tour of South Africa after the latter pulled out due to a pay dispute between its players and board.With talks between the union and governing body Cricket Australia deadlocked, the players decided they would boycott the triangular series between the ?A? sides.Australia?s ?A? team, captained by test batsman Usman Khawaja, were scheduled to play two four-day matches and a 50-over tri-series against India and South Africa on the tour.Afghanistan will now join South Africa and India for the series starting later this month.?We are delighted that Afghanistan have accepted our invitation and look forward to welcoming them to our country for the very first time,? Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.?They are a passionate cricket nation and I expect the Afghanistan A team to compete strongly against our A team and India A in the upcoming tri-series.?The International Cricket Council (ICC) voted in London last month to make Afghanistan, along with Ireland, full members of the organisation, allowing those countries to become part of the elite 12 nations who play test matches.?We are very pleased to accept Cricket South Africa?s invitation to participate in the upcoming triangular series,? Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai said. ?This will be our first-ever visit to South Africa and I am certain that this will give Afghanistan ?A? team very good exposure to competitive cricket.?

Ayushi Ahluwalia

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Shiv Sena leader arrested over Mumbai building collapse

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-building-collapse-death-toll-rises-to-12-shiv-sena-leader-booked/story-2L99IrPruSebtbScnvDdfN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap was booked for culpable homicide over the collapse of a four-storey building in which 12 people were killed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Tuesday. Shitap, who owned the building's ground floor, reportedly carried out illegal renovations that weakened the building. Interestingly, the building wasn't on the Mumbai civic body's list of 791 unsafe buildings this year.

A dozen people, including two infants, were killed when a 35-year-old four-storey building collapsed on Tuesday in the Ghatkopar suburb of Mumbai, a tragedy that repeats almost every monsoon in India?s space-starved financial capital.The Siddhi Sai building at Damodar Park near Shreyas cinema in western Ghatkopar came apart and trapped more than 20 people around 10.45am. Many of them are still under the rubble.Among the dead were four old people, three-month-old Renuka Thak and Krishu Dongre, who was one-and-a-half years old.The ground floor housed a nursing home, which was vacant, while the rest of the building was occupied by three or four families on each floor. Lalit Thak, who lost daughter Renuka, had shifted to the building from nearby slums three months ago.Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap, who owns the ground floor and allegedly made structural changes that weakened the building, was charged with culpable homicide and detained by police.Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar denied Shitap was from his party and said: ?Appropriate action must be taken against the culprit, whoever he is.?Residents said pillars and beams were damaged when the ground floor was renovated and that caused the building to collapse. Civic officials, however, refused to assign a reason and said the cause will be known after investigation.Binita Ramchandani, a resident whose mother was injured, blamed the Shiv Sena leader for the tragedy.?Despite residents objecting his altering the building?s pillars, he went ahead because of his political clout. He was trying to convert it into a guesthouse,? she alleged.Pravin Chheda, a Congress leader, said Shitap must compensate the people.Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta ordered a probe while police are investigating if negligence is involved in the disaster.According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, there were 15 flats, three each on every floor, of which nine were vacant.The fire brigade pressed 90 personnel, 14 engines, two rescue vans and nine ambulances in its rescue efforts. About 300 rescuers, including National Disaster Response Force members, were working late into the night, looking for signs of life and bodies trapped in the rubble.Sanjay Pawar, from the nearby slums, said he dashed for the site after hearing a crashing sound that he initially thought came from a falling tree. Samriddhi Mayekar, another slum-dweller who worked at the building, saw the structure shake vigorously before it came crashing down.Building collapses are common in Mumbai, especially during the monsoon that runs from late June to September.The civic authorities conduct pre-rain checks and declare buildings unsafe when they find one. The Ghatkopar apartment did not feature among the dangerous buildings on the BMC?s list of 791 structures identified unsafe this year.But Mumbai is susceptible with millions forced to live in cramped, ramshackle properties because of rising real estate prices and a lack of housing for the poor.The city has been hit by several deadly building collapses in recent years, often caused by shoddy construction, poor quality materials or ageing buildings.In 2013, 145 people were killed in three separate building collapses around Mumbai, the highest in recent years.A dilapidated building left 12 people dead when it collapsed near the city in August 2015. Nine people died the same month when another old three-storey building collapsed in monsoon rain in the Mumbai suburb of Thakurli.In a separate incident on Tuesday, a building partially collapsed in Kolkata after days of rain. Several people were trapped in the rubble, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.With agency inputs

Chhavi Tyagi

14 Apr 2017,Friday

Govt asks restaurants to stop imposing service charge

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-vilas-paswan-restaurants-no-service-charge/1/929020.html

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Centre has issued an advisory to restaurants asking them to stop imposing service charge as it is not a tax, only a tip. The government had earlier asked all hotels and restaurants to display notices that 'service charges are voluntary', allowing consumers dissatisfied with services to choose not to pay for it.

Restaurants can't ask their customers to pay service charges anymore, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.The Narendra Modi government's move comes months after it said in January that customers could choose not to pay service charges.The Department of Consumer Affairs had then asked state governments to advise hotels or restaurants to display information on their premises that 'service charges' are discretionary (voluntary), and that a consumer dissatisfied with their service could have them waived off.Later in the month, Ram Vilas Paswan called the levy of these charges an "unfair practice," and said the money should be given to "poor waiters."ALSO READ | Don't like paying service charge in restaurants? You have an option not to pay nowALSO READ | Service charge paid by consumers should be given to poor waiters: Ram Vilas Paswan

Daisy Mowke

01 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Bombay High Court to appoint committee to review Jolly LLB 2

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akshay-kumar-jolly-llb-2-bombay-high-court-amicus-curiae/1/871218.html

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court ordered a three-member committee to review the Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Jolly LLB 2' on Wednesday. The court also asked the committee to find out whether the allegations levelled by petitioner Ajaykumar Waghmare are true. Waghmare had stated that the film is an attempt to malign the reputation of the legal profession.

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered a three-member committee to review the Akshay Kumar-starrer Jolly LLB 2 on Wednesday. The court also asked the committee to find out whether the allegations levelled by petitioner Ajaykumar Waghmare are true.Waghmare is a practising lawyer from Nanded, who had said that the film is "nothing but an attempt to portray the Indian Legal Profession and Judicial System as a laughing stock to the society at large." ALSO READ: Katrina Kaif seems to have fractured her hand, but...ALSO READ: 5 best moments from Shah Rukh Khan's hilarious podcast with AIBWaghmare said that the characters in Jolly LLB 2 are playing cards and dancing in the premises of the Court of Law which clearly shows disrespect towards judicial discipline, proceedings and ethics. The characters jumping on the judge's dais and fighting in court shows mockery of the court.Waghmare had formed his opinion after watching the trailers. He also attached a copy of the trailer in his petition as well. However, senior lawyer P M Shah appearing for the filmmaker has quashed the baseless allegations and said that the complete picture of the film cannot be formed on the basis of trailers. The bench, consisting of justices VM Kanade and Sangitrao Patil said, "We have seen  the photographs; one of which shows a lawyer jumping on the dais and arguing with the judge. The second photograph shows the judge hiding  below the dais and passing some orders by banging the gavel on the table." With this, the court felt that "prima facie, though the above referred photographs do indicate total disrespect or disregard to the high office of this court, we cannot jump to that conclusion unless the contexts in which these scenes are shown, are examined in their proper perspective".Thus, the court felt that it is necessary to appoint a committee as amicus curiae to watch the film and submit a report.

Sumedha Sehra

29 May 2017,Monday

Kerala Youth Congress workers suspended for killing cow

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-cow-slaughter-rahul-gandhi-congress-bjp-beef-ban/1/965333.html

Kerala Youth Congress suspended the party's workers who organised a protest wherein they slaughtered a cow in public in Kannur on Sunday. The workers also distributed the cooked meat to people. "What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Hours after party vice-president Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned party's youth unit workers slaughtering a cow in Kannur, Kerala, the Congress today suspended workers who organised the protest event. "Such elements have no place in Congress. Youth Congress workers have been suspended," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said. Rahul Gandhi had strongly condemned his party workers slaughtering a cow in public to protest against Centre's ban on purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter. The meat was then distributed to onlookers."What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.Kerala Police had booked some Youth Congress activists after the incident drew flak from various quarters. KERALA GOVT LIKELY TO BRING LAW TO TACKLE BANThe Kerala government had suggested it could bring in a law to counter the central ban on sale of cattle for slaughter, as the political slugfest over the issue intensified fuelled by a row over a Youth Congress activist butchering a cow in full public view.Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had yesterday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the Centre's decision, hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre and the RSS, saying there was no need for the people of the state to draw lessons from New Delhi or Nagpur on their food habits.BEEF PARTY AT IIT-MADRASAround 50 students of IIT-Madras organised a beef party inside the campus on Sunday night in protest against Modi government's cattle slaughter ban.The incident comes after a 'Beef fest' was organised across  Kerala by the Congress and the Left on Sunday to protest the Centre's ban. ALSO READ:Kerala: Case against Youth Congress workers for slaughtering calf, Rahul Gandhi calls it barbaric

Aarushi Maheshwari

21 Jul 2017,Friday

Saudi Prince arrested after videos show him assaulting men

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/20/saudi-prince-arrested-after-video-claimed-to-show-him-abusing-man?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Wednesday ordered the arrest of junior Prince Saud bin Musa'id after videos purportedly showing him assaulting two men and pointing a rifle at another emerged online. King Salman also urged citizens to monitor the abuse of power. Notably, one of the videos shows 18 bottles of whisky even though Saudi Arabia forbids alcohol consumption.

A Saudi prince has been arrested after a video emerged online purporting to show him abusing someone and pointing a rifle at another.King Salman ordered the arrest and interrogation of the prince on Wednesday, a day after short clips were published on YouTube and shared on Twitter showing what appears to be a rifle pointed towards a man bleeding from the head and pleading.One video, viewed more than 760,000 times, shows 18 bottles of Johnnie Walker Red Label whisky on a table and a wad of cash. The sale and consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia is forbidden.Another shows a man sitting in a car, bleeding and being cursed at for parking in front of a house, while a further clip shows what appears to be the prince punching and slapping a man sitting on a chair.The clips went viral in Saudi Arabia under an Arabic Twitter hashtag that said ?prince transgresses on citizens?.???? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ???????.????? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? .#????_?????_???_??????? pic.twitter.com/ImCsxwOtJeSaudi Arabia?s state TV reported on Wednesday that the king ordered a full investigation into the incidents and the arrest of Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, as well as any associates who appeared in the clips. He ordered that no individual involved in the case be released until a court had issued a ruling in line with the country?s sharia laws.In the order, King Salman urged people to remain vigilant in monitoring any exploitation of status or abuse of power.After he issued the order, a video seen nearly 250,000 times showed the young, low-level prince, dressed in a black T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms, handcuffed and with his feet chained, being escorted into a building by security officers.While many Saudis wrote in support of the king?s decision on Twitter, the outspoken rights activist Moudi Aljohani said the order pointed to how lax the authorities were when it came to royals.The arrest comes a day after state media reported that a woman filmed walking around a historic Saudi fort in a miniskirt and crop top sparked outrage among conservatives for defying the kingdom?s dress code for women, which requires females in public to cover themselves in long, loose robes. The outcry prompted police to detain and question her for several hours before she was released without charge.While Saudi royals are given privileged status in the kingdom, in addition to undisclosed monthly allowances from the state, they are not immune to prosecution. In an extremely rare event, the kingdom executed a prince last October who had fatally shot another man. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of executions in the world.Since ascending to the throne in 2015, King Salman has branded himself a ?decisive? leader. He has fired ministers caught on video being rude or insulting citizens. He also fired a senior royal court official who was filmed slapping a photographer.Before becoming king, Salman served as the governor of the capital, Riyadh, and as defence minister. A leaked 2007 US embassy memo said he ?is often the referee in family disputes?. He also reportedly oversaw a prison for wayward royals in Riyadh.

Saloni Tandon

12 Jan 2017,Thursday

Special section on Kohli opened at cricket museum in Pune

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/section-dedicated-to-kohli-inaugurated-at-cricket-museum/1/855344.html

A special section on Indian captain Virat Kohli has been opened at Blades of Glory, a cricket museum in Pune. The section on Kohli displays a collection of his cricketing items, including the jersey and bat used during his double century against New Zealand in October. The section also has a scoreboard detailing his performance in international cricket.

Pune, Jan 11 (PTI) A special section dedicated to India skipper Virat Kohli was inaugurated today here at Blades of Glory, a museum of cricket memorabilia. Rohan Pate, founder of the museum was present on the occasion along with Kohli. The section dedicated to the right-handed batsman has his used ODI T Shirt, test shirt, pads, gloves, bat and helmet. It also has a special photo gallery showing Kohlis glimpse on the field.

Sumedha Sehra

21 Jul 2017,Friday

Ahmedabad to celebrate 'Heritage City' status for 15 days

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-to-celebrate-ahmedabad-s-world-heritage-city-tag-on-grand-scale-ahead-of-polls/story-EZUZY81ETw2xYLaPaefstN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Gujarat government has decided to celebrate the 'World Heritage City' status granted to Ahmedabad by UNESCO for a fortnight. The programme, starting on August 1, will include heritage walks, cultural events, lectures and seminars about the 600-year-old city. Further, all flights to Gujarat will serve Gujarati cuisine to passengers during the 2-week-long celebration.

The BJP-led Gujarat government is going all out to celebrate the world heritage city status accorded to Ahmedabad by UNESCO earlier this month with an eye on assembly elections later this year. The fortnight-long celebrations will start from August 1, aiming to give a boost to the city?s image through people?s participation. As part of the gala event, the state government in association with central ministries has chalked out elaborate programmes for a two-week-long festival, which includes heritage walk, cultural events, lectures and seminars to showcase the over 600-year-old city founded by emperor Ahmed Shah. During the fortnight, all flights bound for the state will serve a variety of Gujarati cuisines to passengers. ?The idea is to involve people from all walks of life in the celebrations that will be organised across the city. It is a big boost for the city to be given the world heritage status,? said a state government official. The elaborate programmes also aimed at highlighting the heritage-tag for the Ahmedabad as a major success story of the BJP government in the state. The celebrations will coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s visit to his home state on August 12 to inaugurate the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada. Chief ministers of 12 states ruled by BJP and its allies are expected to attend the event.Ahmedabad is the first Indian city to get the coveted heritage status. Earlier Delhi and Mumbai had also tried to get the tag but failed to make the cut. Gujarat had sent its proposal to UNESCO way back in 2010 when Modi was the CM of the state.A detailed presentation on how the city plans to celebrate the ?world heritage city? status was made by Ahmedabad municipal commissioner at then housing and urban affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu?s residence on Monday. This was the last assignment of Naidu before he demitted office after being named the NDA?s vice president candidate.Also present in the meeting were Union textiles minister Smriti Irani and civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju. Secretaries of six central ministries, including culture, housing and urban affairs, civil aviation were also in attendance.Besides thematic cultural programmes at historical monuments such as the Bhadra fort, a festival of Gujarati classical films, heritage sadhbhavna yatra, cultural programme at the river front, laser and fire cracker show have also been lined up. The fortnight-long event will also see the launch of a hop-on-hop-off heritage bus tour and special merchandize and souvenirs, depicting various facets of the heritage city.

Daisy Mowke

27 Feb 2017,Monday

Baahubali 2 war scene to be father of action scenes: Makers

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/baahubali-2-ss-rajamouli-prabhas-rana-trailer/1/891785.html

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has revealed that the war scene between 'Baahubali' and 'Bhallala Deva' will be the highlight of the film 'Baahubali: The Conclusion'. "The confrontation war between Baahubali and Bhallaladeva will be the father of all action episodes," he added. The film starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj is scheduled to release on April 28.

Be it the visual experience or the characters, SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning caught the attention of international audience for all the right reasons.After teasing the audience with Baahubali 2 posters, the team is wrapping up the VFX portions for the film, which is slated to release on April 28.With just 63 days left for the grand release, SS Rajamouli has made an interesting revelation. On the eve of Maha Shivaratri, Rajamouli, in an interview to Indiaglitz, revealed that the war scene between Baahubali and Bhallala Deva is the highlight of the film.He said, "The confrontation war between Baahubali and Bhallaladeva will be the father of all action episodes." On the contrary to earlier reports, Rajamouli confirmed that Baahubali 3 is not on the cards. The Eega director also assured that the theatrical trailer of the film will be out by mid-March. Baahubali: The Beginning, which hit the screens in 2015, was highly successful and grossed Rs 600 crore worldwide.Speaking at India Today Conclave South 2017, SS Rajamouli revealed that Baahubali 2 would be bigger and better than Baahubali.The film starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj is slated to release on April 28, 2017.ALSO READ: Rajinikanth, wife Latha celebrate 36th wedding anniversary

Dishant Sharma

03 May 2017,Wednesday

Player who reported racial abuse banned by Italian Serie A

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sulley-muntari-inter-milan-lazio-serie-a/1/944194.html

Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari has been banned for one game after he walked off the pitch at Cagliari on Sunday, having been booked for complaining to the referee about racial abuse by the crowd. Serie A's disciplinary committee also said that no action would be taken against Cagliari because only around 10 supporters were involved in abusing Muntari.

Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari has been banned for one game after he walked off the pitch at Cagliari on Sunday, having been booked for complaining to the referee about racist abuse in the crowd.Serie A's disciplinary committee also said that no action would be taken against Cagliari because only around 10 supporters were involved in abusing Muntari.Meanwhile, Lazio and Inter Milan were found guilty of racist behaviour by their fans during other games and warned they would face partial stadium closures if there was a repeat.The committee said that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was the target of racist chanting by Inter fans while Lazio supporters targeted AS Roma defender Antonio Ruediger.Ghanaian midfielder Muntari said he suffered abuse throughout his side's 1-0 defeat at Cagliari but was booked for dissent when he asked the match official to stop the game.The 32-year-old walked off the pitch in protest shortly afterwards and was then given a second yellow card and sent off.The committee confirmed an automatic one-match ban, saying Muntari's second yellow was for "abandoning the pitch without the referee's permission".The committee described the chanting as deplorable but said it came from a part of the stadium occupied by 2,000 fans and that only around 10 were involved, not enough to warrant a punishment against the club under Serie A rules.It said that around 80 percent of the 7,000 Inter fans in one of the upper tier sections of the San Siro aimed insults at Senegal defender Koulibaly and a similar number of fans in one section of Lazio's Curva Nord aimed insults at Germany's Ruediger.In both cases, the tribunal ordered the sectors to be closed for one game if there was a repeat incident within the next year.Earlier, the world players' union FIFPro had called on Serie A to rescind Muntari's first yellow card.

Aarushi Maheshwari

31 Jul 2017,Monday

Women claim their braids being chopped off by unknown people

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/after-haryana-mysterious-chopping-of-hair-in-outer-delhi-villagers-keep-watch/story-qIRMvkaeGXRIt5lHy7g0cK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

After reports of approximately a dozen such cases in Haryana, two women in Delhi have complained about their braids being chopped off by unknown persons. Both the cases, wherein women did not see who chopped off their braids, occurred in Kanganheri village. Following this, villagers decided to inform the police and take turns to keep round-the-clock guard.

The braids of three women in an outer Delhi village were chopped mysteriously by unknown persons on Sunday, leaving villagers scared and seeking superstitious remedies.The three incidents, which occurred over a period of about 12 hours on Sunday, took place in the houses where the women lived. Each of the women said the chopping of their braids happened soon after they experienced sudden unbearable headaches and fell unconscious. The braids were left behind at the spot.Though the police could neither comment confidently on the motive behind the mischief, nor trace the people behind it, they claimed that CCTV cameras had captured three men suspiciously roaming around in the village.Speaking to the media, Surender Kumar, DCP (south-west), vehemently opposed villagers? suspicion that these activities had supernatural connections. ?Witchcraft is totally ruled out. We are probing this in a scientific manner,? he said adding that theft could also be a possible motive. Villagers, however, denied any thefts in the area.According to media reports, around a dozen similar activities were reported in places such as Gurgaon, Palwal and Mewat in Haryana. However, Sunday was the first time this was reported in Delhi.The first victim was a 55-year-old woman living in Kanganheri village in outer Delhi?s Chhawla. A woman with red hair, she was returning home from her farm around 10.30 am on Sunday when she suddenly experienced a severe headache.The moment she entered her home, she locked the outermost six-feet high iron gate and jumped into a bed in the drawing room, leaving the drawing room door ajar. Her sleeping position was such that her face and gaze were away from the door.?Suddenly, I felt extreme pain in my head. I held my head and screamed for my grandchildren. But my screams were drowned in the sound of the cooler,? she told HT.When her granddaughter visited the drawing room a few minutes later, she found the woman unconscious on the floor. ?Her chopped braid was lying on the ground. We immediately informed the villagers and the police,? her son told HT. He had run out of the house to see if there was anyone, but he could not find any stranger.?No one approached me on my way back home from the farm. No one followed me into my house and no one touched me when I lay on the bed. I don?t remember anyone chopping off my hair either,? she said. Unaware of similar happenings in Haryana, the local police initially suspected the role of one of her relatives. But even as the villagers were discussing this unusual activity, a similar case happened in another house in the village with a population of over 5,000.This time it was a 45-year-old woman who had been dropped off at her home by her son around 8 pm. She had just got off the bike when she reported headache. Her son took her to bed and left. Within minutes, she experienced a similar pain and fell unconscious. When she woke up, she found her reddish braid chopped off. She too had not seen the culprit. By 11.30 pm, a 50-year-old woman living at the other end of the village lost her whitish braid. She had to be taken to a hospital before she regained consciousness. The same pattern in all three cases has prompted police to suspect that the culprits intoxicated the women.?There were also thefts at one or two of these women?s homes,? the DCP said. The villagers, however, rejected the police?s claims of intoxication or thefts. A case of poisoning, outraging the modesty of a woman, theft and under arms act has been registered at Chhawla police station.

Dishant Sharma

19 Jun 2017,Monday

Indian fans break TVs, burn posters after CT 2017 final loss

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/champions-trophy-india-defeat-pakistan-angry-fans-kashmir-happy/1/981929.html

The Indian cricket team fans took to the streets in various parts of the country to express disappointment over India's 180-run loss to Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy final in London on Sunday. Some fans broke television sets and burned players' posters, many others shouted angry slogans and chants against the Indian team.

Soon after Pakistan lifted the Champions Trophy on Sunday defeating India with an emphatic margin, displeased Indian fans took to streets to express their disdain.Unable to chase a mammoth total of 339, India were bowled out for just 158 in the 31st over of the second innings. While some broke television sets and burned posters of Indian players, many got down on the roads to chant angry slogans against the team. Infuriated Kanpur fans burned posters of Virat Kohli, Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh among other players, while people in Ahemdabad broke their TVs on roads. Holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand too saw residents uneasy and breaking their TVs amidst angry chants against Indian cricketers.Meanwhile, security was beefed up at MS Dhoni's Ranchi residence to quell any attempts of stone-pelting or untoward violence. On the other hand, youths in Kashmir burst into rapture at Pakistan's victory in the one-sided cricket final of the ICC Champions Trophy.At most places the celebrating youths kept bursting firecrackers and dancing on the streets in Farah Kadal and Sekidafar areas of old city in Srinagar. Some exuberant youths threw firecrackers inside a CRPF camp and the local police station.Even women took to streets at many places in the Valley singing to express joy at Pakistan's victory against the defending champions.In villages where the youths could not lay their hands on firecrackers, they beat drums to express their joy.    With inputs from IANS Also read: Champions Trophy Final: Pakistan were more intense and passionate than India, says Kohli Also read: Price of Kohli's rift with Kumble: Heavy defeat vs Pakistan in Champions Trophy final

Dishant Sharma

24 May 2017,Wednesday

Virat Kohli is the best dancer in Indian team: Ashwin

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ravichandran-ashwin-virat-kohli-team-india-cricket/1/961835.html

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed that skipper Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina are the best singers and dancers in the Indian cricket team. Ashwin made the statement along the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating International Awards 2017 while talking about liveliness in the dressing room. Kohli was last seen dancing at Yuvraj Singh's wedding along with girlfriend Anushka Sharma.

Ravichandran Ashwin, on the sidelines of winning the International Cricketer of the Year award at the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) International awards 2017, revealed that Virat Kohli is the best dancer in the Indian team."Virat and Suresh are the best dancers and singers," Ashwin spoke about the liveliness in the dressing room.Kohli was last seen dancing and enjoying himself at Yuvraj Singh's wedding along with girlfriend Anushka Sharma. Kohli has never been shy of dancing and is always seen displaying his moves in various parties of the Royal Challengers Bangalore.Ashwin is a part of the 15-man squad that is set to defend their ICC Champions Trophy title in England from June 4.On being asked about the kind of wickets he is expecting and the team's mindset regarding the competition, Ashwin said, "Limited overs format is generally not for bowlers. I expect placid wickets. I believe the way to handle pressure is to take one game at a time and we're not thinking about being defending champions."Ashwin also spoke about the changes in ODI rules and how he plans to work around them."There have been a lot of changes to the ODI rules. There is no point of going with same skills. I have been applying my mind to it all and hopefully I will be able to give something new," Ashwin said.

Pragya Swastik

29 Jan 2017,Sunday

Iran to block US visitors after Trump's immigration ban

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/iran-bars-entry-to-us-citizens-donald-trump-immigration-order/1/868969.html

After US President Donald Trump barred its citizens from entering the US, Iran on Sunday said it would block entry for American citizens to the country until the US government withdraws its decision. Calling Trump's decision "an open affront against the Iranian nation and Muslim world", Iran said it will be recorded in history as "a great gift to extremists".

Iran indicated it could bar entry to US citizens in response to a move by US President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order temporarily barring most arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries. Iran said Trump's wide-ranging order, which was signed on Friday, among other things, prevents most travelers from Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Yemen from entering the US, was insulting and that it would respond in kind while the restrictions are in place.Calling Trump's decision "an open affront against the Iranian nation and the Muslim world", the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the measure would backfire and promote more violence and extremism. Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, tweeted, "While respecting Americans & differentiating between them &hostile U.S. policies, Iran will take reciprocal measures to protect citizens." 'GIFT FOR EXTREMISTS' "Despite its false claims of combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of the American people, (the executive order) will go down in history as a big gift to extremists and their supporters," it said.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier had indirectly criticised another Trump executive order that assigns federal funds for the construction of a wall on the border separating the US and Mexico.The current era is one of "reconciliation and coexistence and not of putting up walls between countries," he said.A further deterioration in Iranian-US relations was expected with the coming to power of Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the nuclear deal signed in July 2015 between Iran and six major world powers.

Parmeet Kaur

17 Jul 2017,Monday

Main accused in Junaid's lynching sent to judicial custody

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/junaid-case-court-sends-main-accused-to-judicial-custody/story-eEmQr9jg7Z30D1y9EjS3fK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Naresh Kumar, the main accused in the Junaid lynching case, was sent to judicial custody by a court. This comes after Kumar was in police custody for five days during which police tried to recover key evidence in the case. All six accused in the lynching are already in jail and will be produced before the court on July 25.

The Government Railway Police (GRP)?on Sunday produced Naresh Kumar, the main accused in Junaid stabbing case, in a court which sent him to judicial custody.GRP was granted five-day police custody of Naresh last Tuesday to recover the T-shirt he was wearing at the time of the incident. GRP superintendent of police (SP) Kamaldeep Goyal, however, said he was not taken to Maharashtra?s Dhule again as he had burnt the T-shirt.Six accused are already in jail in this case. All of them will be produced in the court on July 25. ?Initially, 14-day judicial custody is sought, but in this case as already five other accused are facing trial all the six accused will be produced in the court on July 25,? Nibrash Ahmed, lawyer for the victim?s family said. The judicial custody of the five accused was extended till July 25 during the last hearing. ?It will now be one case so the court decided to keep a single date for producing them all, including the main accused, before it,? Ahmed said.Four of the accused were arrested from Khambi village near Hassanpur in Palwal district, one was arrested in Jodhpur village in the district, whereas Naresh of Bhamrola village was arrested from Dhule district in Maharashtra last Saturday.Junaid died after a scuffle in a moving train over a seat on June 22.

Anmol Sharma

16 Apr 2017,Sunday

Chapecoense win first title since Colombia air crash

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/chapecoense-brazil-joinville-plane-tragedy-win-title/1/930465.html

Brazilian football club Chapecoense won their first title since their squad was involved in a tragic plane crash in November 2016 that killed 71 people. Chapecoense defeated Joinville 2-0 to clinch the Sandro Pallaoro Cup. As many as 19 Chapecoense players and most of the club's staff had died when their chartered plane crashed into a hillside in Colombia.

Brazil's Chapecoense defeated Joinville 2-0 in the final of the Sandro Pallaoro Cup to clinch their first title since a devastating plane crash almost wiped out the club team.Left-back Reinaldo opened the scoring on Saturday before second-half substitute Tulio de Melo doubled the hosts' lead seven minutes from time, reports Xinhua news agency.Seventy-one people died, including 19 Chapecoense players and most of the club's staff, when the chartered plane in which they were traveling slammed into a hillside in Colombia last November.

Shubhodeep Datta

12 Apr 2017,Wednesday

50,000 villages in India do not have mobile network

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/50000-villages-dont-have-mobile-network-govt-tells-ls/1/926978.html

Mobile network has not yet reached as many as 50,000 villages across the country, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Minister further added that he has written to all states to inform his ministry as to how many of the villages in their state still do not have a mobile network.

Chhavi Tyagi

01 Jul 2017,Saturday

Who is KK Venugopal, the new Attorney General of India?

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kk-venugopal-mukul-rohatgi-attorney-general-harish-salve-ranjit-kumar/1/991051.html

KK Venugopal, India's new Attorney General, is a senior Supreme Court advocate who hails from Kerala. The 86-year-old started his legal career in Mysore in 1954, before practising at the Madras High Court under his father. He grew up in Mangalore and studied law at Raja Lakhamgouda Law College, Karnataka. He was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

After Mukul Rohatgi wrote to the government earlier this month expressing his disinterest in continuing as the Attorney General, senior lawyer KK Venugopal's name is likely to be announced by the Centre soon. The announcement could be made on the weekend as the Supreme Court opens on Monday.Rohatgi had fiercely defended the government at critical legal battles at the Supreme Court and is known for his aggressive and combative style. Venugopal is a veteran lawyer who is known for his calm style and detail. He is regarded an authority on constitutional law.Sources in the Law Ministry say that Venugopal's name is likely to be announced once the Prime Minister returns to the country.

Dishant Sharma

03 Aug 2017,Thursday

Human embryos edited to stop deadly disease for the 1st time

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/aug/02/deadly-gene-mutations-removed-from-human-embryos-in-landmark-study?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Scientists, for the first time, successfully freed embryos of a piece of faulty DNA that causes a fatal heart disease to run in families. The disease, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, causes the heart to stop suddenly and is the result of an error in a single gene. The breakthrough could lead to preventing 10,000 disorders that are passed down the generations.

Scientists have modified human embryos to remove genetic mutations that cause heart failure in otherwise healthy young people in a landmark demonstration of the controversial procedure.It is the first time that human embryos have had their genomes edited outside China, where researchers have performed a handful of small studies to see whether the approach could prevent inherited diseases from being passed on from one generation to the next.While none of the research so far has created babies from modified embryos, a move that would be illegal in many countries, the work represents a milestone in scientists? efforts to master the technique and brings the prospect of human clinical trials one step closer.The work focused on an inherited form of heart disease, but scientists believe the same approach could work for other conditions caused by single gene mutations, such as cystic fibrosis and certain kinds of breast cancer.?This embryo gene correction method, if proven safe, can potentially be used to prevent transmission of genetic disease to future generations,? said Paula Amato, a fertility specialist involved in the US-Korean study at Oregon Health and Science University.The scientists used a powerful gene editing tool called Crispr-Cas9 to fix mutations in embryos made with the sperm of a man who inherited a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM. The disease, which leads to a thickening of the heart?s muscular wall, affects one in 500 people and is a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young people.Crispr, or to give it its full name, Crispr-Cas9, allows scientists to precisely target and edit pieces of the genome. Crispr is a guide molecule made of RNA, that allows a specific site of interest on the DNA double helix to be targeted. The RNA molecule is attached to Cas9, a bacterial enzyme that works as a pair of "molecular scissors" to cut the DNA at the exact point required. This allows scientists to cut, paste and delete single letters of genetic code. Humans have two copies of every gene, but some diseases are caused by a mutation in only one of the copies. For the study, the scientists recruited a man who carried a single mutant copy of a gene called MYBPC3 which causes HCM.When the scientists made embryos with the man?s sperm and healthy eggs from donors, they found that, as expected, about half of the embryos carried the mutant gene. If the affected embryos were implanted into women and carried to term, the resulting children would inherit the heart condition.Writing in the journal Nature, the researchers describe how gene editing dramatically reduced the number of embryos that carried the dangerous mutation. When performed early enough, at the same time as fertilisation, 42 out of 58 embryos, or 72%, were found to be free of the disease-causing mutation.The work has impressed other scientists in the field because in previous experiments, gene editing has worked only partially, mending harmful mutations in some cells, but not others. Another problem happens when the wrong genes are modified by mistake, but in the latest work the scientists found no evidence of these so-called ?off target effects??They?ve got remarkably good results, it?s a big advance.? said Richard Hynes, a geneticist at MIT who this year co-chaired a major report on human genome editing for the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS). ?This brings it closer to clinic, but there?s still a lot of work to do.?Today, people who carry certain genetic diseases can opt for IVF and have their embryos screened for harmful mutations. The procedure can only help if there is a chance that some embryos will be healthy. According to Shoukhrat Mitalipov, who led the latest research, gene editing could bolster the number of healthy embryos available for doctors to implant.More work is needed to prove that gene editing would be safe to do in people, but even if it seems safe, scientists face major regulatory hurdles before clinical trials could start. In the US, Congress has barred the Food and Drug Administration from even considering human trials with edited embryos, while in the UK it is illegal to implant genetically modified embryos in women. The procedure is controversial because genetic modifications made to an embryo affect not only the child it becomes but future generations too. ?It?s still a long road ahead,? said Mitalipov. ?It?s unclear when we?d be allowed to move on.?In the latest study, the mutation was corrected by a route that scientists have not seen before, with the cell copying healthy DNA from the mother?s egg instead of the template. One question scientists need to explore now is whether mutations carried by eggs can be corrected as easily as those carried by sperm.?If all of this holds up for different genes and is also true when the mutation is inherited from the mother, it will be a major step forward,? said Janet Rossant, senior scientist and chief of research emeritus at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.Asked about the potential for gene editing to produce designer babies, Rossant, a co-author of the NAS report on gene editing, said it was a distant prospect. ?We are still a long way from serious consideration of using gene editing to enhance traits in babies,? she said. ?We don?t understand the genetic basis of many of the human traits that might be targets for enhancement. Even if we did, a genetic alteration that enhanced one trait could have unexpected negative consequences on other traits, and this would be an inherited feature for the next generation.??The NAS report came out strongly against any form of gene editing designed to simply enhance human potential,? she added.

Rini Sinha

25 Dec 2016,Sunday

Being objectified is part of my job: Priyanka Chopra

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/being-objectified-is-part-of-my-job-priyanka-chopra/1/842492.html

Actress Priyanka Chopra, in a recent interview, said that being objectified is a part of her profession. She further added, "I don't get offended by being called a sex symbol, because I'm an actress and it is the nature of what I do." Priyanka also said that being a sex symbol is not the only thing one should aim for.nn

Los Angeles, Dec 25 (PTI) Actress Priyanka Chopra says she has no issues about being considered a sex symbol as she considers it as part of her profession. The 34-year-old actress however said that being hot has never been her aim, reported Entertainment Weekly.

Sonu Kumari

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Mumbai's Juhu beach to be redeveloped

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-s-juhu-beach-to-get-a-swanky-makeover/story-mdHdpVTB5w98pN4s5VSGUM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to redevelop eight entry points of Mumbai's Juhu beach in the second phase by August-end, authorities said. As per the plan, each entry point will have five metre high walls, and steps with railings among others. While residents welcomed the move, an activist said that any beautification shouldn't affect "the natural feel of the beach".n

The eight entry points of the city?s most popular beach are all set to get a facelift. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) earlier redid a 5-km stretch of the Juhu beach. While the first phase of the project faced opposition from some citizens and activists, Juhu residents said they welcome the beautification work. According to a plan proposed by BJP legislator Ameet Satam, each of the eight access points to the beach will have 5m high walls, bollards to restrict vehicles, ramps and steps with railings, welcome signs and a few lights. ?We will use paver blocks and gabion steps. Steps and railings will make the beach accessible for senior citizens,? said an official. While activists were unhappy with the plan to set up multi-coloured lights on the beach, they appreciated the BMC's effort to make the beach more accessible. ?Natural spaces should not be tampered with. Redeveloping the entrances is a good move but any beautification should not take away the natural feel of the beach,? said Ashoke Pandit, convener, NGO Save Open Spaces. Zahida Banatwala of the Juhu Citizens' Welfare Group (JCWG) said, ?Every monsoon, the access points get damaged. So, this is a good move, but the BMC is still doing a shoddy job of cleaning the beach.? Smita Chakravarty of the NGO, Juhu-Soul of the City, told HT, ?Apart from the redevelopment, we also need a play area for children on the beach.? Satam estimated the redevelopment of the access points to cost Rs80 lakh, under a Rs12-crore Juhu beach tourism plan. Of the eight points, Birla Lane, Military road, Granth lane and Silver beach lane have already been redeveloped. ?The first phase of the project included themed-lighting and redevelopment of the central Chowpatty. This is a one of its kind lighting and won?t hamper the natural feel of the beach,? said Satam. Officials said the second phase will be completed by the end of August and the themed-lighting will be inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Rini Sinha

24 Mar 2017,Friday

Anushka Sharma's 'Phillauri' hits the theatres

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/phillauri-movie-review-anushka-sharma-diljit-dosanjh-suraj-sharma/1/911788.html

Anushka Sharma's Phillauri "hovers...from one useless scene to another which are neither funny nor interesting," wrote India Today. "Phillauri is an unconventional Bollywood entertainer...watchable all the way," said NDTV. Hindustan Times wrote, "Despite a fresh idea, it is a loosely-written film that fails to engross the audience." It was rated 3/5 (NDTV), 2.5/5 (HT) 1.5/5 (India Today).n

Phillauri is a supernatural comedy where a man gets stuck with a friendly spirit after he is made to marry a tree. Here is our Phillauri movie review.Phillauri Cast: Anushka Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh, Suraj Sharma, Mehreen PirzadaPhillauri Direction: Anshai LalPhillauri Rating: (1.5/5) When the friendly spirit Shashi is asked why she is stuck with the soon-to-be-married Kanan, she says, "Pata nahi, main to yahi atki hui hoon." Anshai Lal's 138-minute long Phillauri could speak for itself here.Once the one-line idea of guy-getting-married-to-spirit has been established, the film hovers around, like Shashi, from one useless scene to another which are neither funny nor interesting nor of any service to whatever goodness the film has.So, Kaneda-return Punjabi boy Kanan, 26, returns to India to get married. Cue: Boisterous Punjabi family scenes during wedding season. Kanan is played superbly by Life Of Pi actor Suraj Sharma. Kanan beat-boxes when he is asked to sing by his family. Later, he escapes them and goes to the roof to roll a J. When his fiance Anu (a decent Mehreen Pirzada) asks if he is ready for the marriage, he goes "Yo, chill." Phillauri is pretty entertaining and appears promising in these initial scenes till the point Kanan is married to a tree because of being a manglik and Shashi, the spirit enters his life.Now once this set up has been established, you need solid plot developments to fill the rest of the ninety minutes. This, Phillauri lacks. A premise like this has the potential to deliver a good supernatural comedy a la Beetlejuice or Casper. As such, the usual direction a story like this can take is one where the human(s) and the ghost(s) slowly resolve their innermost crises by being in constant proximity to each other and this is achieved by a series of good, well-written scenes.Now, Kanan's crisis is that 1. he is unsure of getting married and 2. there is a ghost living with him. Shashi's crisis is that she is stuck with Kanan; her story arc is resolved in the most predictable way at the end and it is strange that this was not made the film's focus from the very beginning. As long as Kanan and Shashi are together on screen, for the most part, Phillauri is interesting. In friendly-ghost films like these, it is the way the human and the ghost play off each other and the weird situations they create is what makes these films worth watching.But Kanan-Shashi's parts are punctuated by an elaborate backstory that is just dull and Diljit Dosanjh is a decent performer, sure, but he is not a big enough Khan to make mediocre writing worthwhile. The period-backstory involving Shashi and her lover, played by Diljit, seriously drags the film. Sometimes, the cloying sentimentality of these portions is nauseating and these scenes jut out like a sore thumb in the middle of the fun Kanan-Shashi moments.Phillauri's concept is good and novel. But the delivery is what North Indians call KLPD. The climactic payoff at the end comes way too easily. It's just lazy writing after a point. If only Shashi emerged in the writer's room before filming began and smacked some imagination into Anvita Dutt's head.(The writer tweets as @devarsighosh.)

Saloni Tandon

20 Jun 2017,Tuesday

Security increased at Dhoni's house after loss vs Pakistan

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ms-dhoni-india-pakistan-champions-trophy-match-security-outside-dhoni-house/1/981925.html

Security was increased at former captain MS Dhoni's house in Ranchi following India's loss against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy on Sunday. Fans indulged in sloganeering, burning effigies and smashing TV sets after India's loss, following which the measure was taken. Dhoni earlier had 'Z' category security, which was downgraded to 'Y' by the Jharkhand government in 2014.

Security personnel were deployed today outside former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's house in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, after India were outclassed by a resurgent Pakistan in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy.Chasing a mammoth total of 339, India were bowled out for just 158 in the 31st over of the second innings. Dhoni scored four runs before he was dismissed by Hasan Ali.While Virat Kohli said he was proud of the way his team had played in the tournament, the news agency ANI reported a protest in Kanpur, and said TV sets were broken there, as well as in Uttarakhand's Haridwar.India had already beaten Pakistan once in the tournament. But on the day that really mattered, Fakhar Zaman's maiden ODI hundred and Mohammed Amir's stellar bowling performance made sure the Men in Blue couldn't retain the Champions Trophy.(Inputs from agencies) Also read: Champions Trophy Final: Pakistan were more intense and passionate than India, says Kohli Also read: Price of Kohli's rift with Kumble: Heavy defeat vs Pakistan in Champions Trophy final

Anmol Sharma

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Irfan Pathan slammed for posting 'un-Islamic' pic with wife

http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/irfan-pathan-trolled-for-posting-un-islamic-photograph-with-wife/story-2a5vyKcvVN016giEubcmDL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan was slammed on social media after he posted a picture of himself with his wife Safa Baig, which was termed "un-Islamic" by many. Users commented that Safa's arms and face should have been covered with a veil. Earlier, pacer Mohammed Shami was subjected to similar treatment after he posted his wife's picture in a sleeveless dress.

Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, on Tuesday, was criticised by many on Instagram as well as on his Facebook page, after he posted a photograph with his wife who can be seen wearing nail polish. Even though Irfan?s wife Safa Baig ? to whom he got married to in February 2016 ? can be seen wearing a burqa in the photograph, her exposed hands and nail polish has enraged many fans who have posted ridiculous comments.(Read | Nasser Hussain slams ?abysmal? England selection post Trent Bridge loss vs SA) ?WTF. Tell her cover her arms. Being a muslim and being a Pathan its your duty to do so,? (sic) wrote a person by the name ?Jagga Jasos?.?Hiding face is not Farz?But hiding arms is farz Irfan bhai... She?is hiding her face its good, may Allah bless her? But tell her to hide her arms too...? wrote a certain Kaashif Raza Khan. A person named Abdullah Qureshy wrote, ?Mashaa allah, esi baat nahi h ki islaam aap par laagu hota h, but aapaki chhavi ek sachche musalman ki h so pleaase bhabhi ko parde me rakho.? (Your image is that of a true Muslim, so please keep your wife in veil). Kuch to log kahenge logo ka kaam hai kehna but always #love #travel pic.twitter.com/aERzXr0g2j? Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 17, 2017(Read | One ball, three injuries: Bizarre cricketing incident in local match in Australia) Another person named MD Mojibur Rahman Majid wrote, ?Bhai nice picture. But please don?t update Wife or any of our Muslim girls pictures . I really highly respect your family coz you got so nice family, your family example for others, I got one humble request to you please don?t update muslimas pictures, our girls are very special . They simply not come out, I love you bhai.? (sic)(Read | Joe Root stunned by Michael Vaughan?s ?fail to respect Test? comment after loss) Not long ago, India pacer Mohammed Shami was subjected to similar treatment by cricket fans on social media, after a few fanatics attacked him on the internet platforms where he had posted a photo with his wife. (Read | Mohammed Shami faces fire over wife?s dress in couple?s photo) Shami, who was nursing a knee injury in between the India-England Test series late last year, had posted a photograph with his wife. Shami too was attacked by fanatics on social media platforms, and he also received support from several cricketers such as Mohammad Kaif. The comments are really really Shameful.Support Mohammed Shami fully.There are much bigger issues in this country. Hope sense prevails. pic.twitter.com/dRJO5WfOgU? Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 25, 2016While many criticised Irfan and his wife ? a Jeddah-born model who was working in Dubai before their marriage ? there were several who came out in support of the couple who looked adorable in the photograph.?I think it?s none of your damn business what they do, what they wear and how they act. Keep your religion mindset somewhere else. Be it he?s Muslim or not, it?s between him and his god, there?s no you in between them, I?m sure you all know that. ?I suggest you become a great Muslim?? What makes you think you?re a great Muslim? Because you mind someone else business? are your own teachings enough to judge other? Don?t think so. I don?t think you have the right to tell him what to tell his wife. His wife looks awesome and they look awesome together, they look like they were going somewhere nice together. Be happy, live happily. Maybe you guys can learn a thing or two if you stop looking at your wife as if she?s a thing you order around,? wrote Leizs Hol.?Does the women hav any rights what she has to do???islam k thekedar aagaye ...people r no one to advise what she or irfan does with ther life,? (sic) wrote Tushar Narkhede.

Aarushi Maheshwari

18 Jan 2017,Wednesday

Obamas to board Air Force One for final time for vacation

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/obama-family-to-vacation-in-palm-springs-after-inauguration/1/859978.html

Outgoing United States President Barack Obama and his family will board Air Force One for the last time to fly to Palm Springs, California for a vacation after Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday. Notably, it is a tradition for the outgoing president to take one last flight on the presidential plane before handing it over to the new president.

Following tradition, outgoing US President Barack Obama and his family will board the Air Force One for the final time as they fly to Palm Springs in California for a vacation after US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. "The first family is looking forward to flying to Palm Springs, California on Friday. The President vowed to take his family to a destination that is warmer than Washington DC on Friday and Palm Springs fits the bill," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday. "This is a community that the president has visited on a number of occasions as President of the United States. He and his family have enjoyed the time they've spent there in the past," he said. The Obamas are looking forward to traveling there on Friday and will return to Washington DC after concluding their vacation, Earnest said, adding he did not have details about the how long the vacation will be. "I did not say how long they're gonna stay. They will arrive on Friday afternoon in Palm Springs, but I don't anticipate having any updates on their travel schedule beyond that," he said. Also read: The Obamas' final goodbye bash has the most happening guest listAlso read: Happy birthday, Michelle Obama: 6 iconic looks of the First Lady we just cannot seem to get overThe President and his family have rented a eight-bed room house in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Kalorama here. The family would live there for at least next two years. Its a tradition for the outgoing president to fly out of Washington DC for the final time after being succeeded by a new president. Before he boards the Air Force One, Obama would give final remarks to the press at the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base.

Mansha Mahajan

30 May 2017,Tuesday

IT staff taken care of, no need for union: Ex-Infosys CFO

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/techies-well-taken-care-of-no-need-for-union-balakrishnan/1/966286.html

Amid reports of mass layoffs, former Infosys CFO V Balakrishnan has said, "IT industry is not bad, IT industry people are well taken care of, well-paid, and they find opportunities." "So, I don't find a need for union in this industry," he stated. He further noted, "Even if there's a union, I don't think it will impact the industry much."

Hyderabad, May 30 (PTI) Employees unions are not needed in information technology industry where work ethic is good and the staff are well-paid with techies even finding opportunities outside the company they work for, says a senior industry figure. Whenever there is a downturn, there is always noise about unions coming into play in the IT industry but it never sustained, ex-Chief Financial Officer of Infosys Ltd, V Balakrishnan told PTI. "Work ethic is very good and salaries are high. Even today the attrition rate in the IT industry is double digit. It (talk of employees unions) always fizzles out after some point of time. It never sustained," he told PTI. "But I think even if there is a union, I dont think it will impact the industry much because IT industry is one of the best paymasters in the country and second, the people find opportunities outside", he said. The employees unions work in industries where work ethic is bad and where employees are treated shabbily. Following reports of layoffs and fears about further retrenchment in the slow-down hit IT industry, there had been some talk in recent times about forming a union. "IT industry is not bad, IT industry people are well taken care of, well-paid, and they find opportunities. Even one of the bad years, this year, where growth rate has come down, the attrition is still double digit. "So, I dont find a need for union in this industry. Even if there is a union, I dont think it will impact the industry much because people are well taken care of in this industry," said the former Board member of Infosys. Balakrishnan said the reports about widespread job losses in IT industry are exaggerated. "If you look at all the leading companies, none of them are talking about huge job losses; they are all talking about the regular performance-based attrition, that is normal in the industry. So, to some extent the scare of job losses is exaggerated," he said. He said IT is not a traditional industry. "Its a global industry where you get global opportunities to work. This industry is different, its not like traditional industry. I dont know whether formal union kind of structure will succeed." On if boom times are over for the Indian IT industry, Balakrishnan said: "Thats what we had been told when 2000 dotcom happened...Y2K came up...2008 financial crisis. Same concerns were expressed then."

Mansha Mahajan

23 Jul 2017,Sunday

Indian CEOs earn up to 1,200 times the average staff

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-inc-pay-gap-ceos-earn-up-to-1200-times-of-avg-staff/1/1008875.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

India's biggest listed blue-chip firms are paying their top executives salaries of up to 1,200 times the median employee remunerations, disclosures by top listed firms revealed. The pay packages of senior-most personnel rose at most private firms during 2016-17. Among the major Sensex firms, Lupin saw the ratio between the Chairman remuneration and the median employee remuneration at 1,263 times.

A huge pay gap between CEOs and other employees at Indian companies has come to the fore, with the biggest listed blue-chip firms doling out to their top executives salary packages of up to 1,200-times of their median employee remunerations. An analysis of remuneration disclosures made by top listed companies forming part of the blue-chip index Sensex -- under directions of the capital markets regulator Sebi -- shows that the pay packages of senior-most personnel such as CEOs and executive chairmen continue to remain high and rose further at most private sector firms during 2016-17. TOP EXECUTIVES' PAY REMAINS HIGH On the contrary, the median employee remuneration fell or remained almost same during the last fiscal, while the ratio of the top executives' pay to the median employee remuneration remained at astronomically high levels of hundreds-times in many cases. The public sector companies show a totally different picture with their chiefs getting salaries of just about 3-4 times of their median employee remunerations. SEBI REGULATIONS REQUIRE COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE REMUNERATIONS  While the rules do not put any restrictions on the companies regarding how much more they want to pay their top executives vis-a-vis an average employee, the Sebi regulations require most listed companies to annually disclose various remuneration ratios to help the investors know about salary practices at the firms in which they have invested. However, salaries of top executives, especially in case of those related to promoter groups, typically require the approval of the companies boards, various committees and shareholders. Besides, the companies with inadequate profits need the governments approval for any excessive salaries paid to their top executives. As per the rules, the remuneration payable to any one managing director or whole-time director or manager, cannot exceed 5 per cent of the net profit of the company. If there is more than one such director, the remuneration cannot exceed 10 per cent of the net profit to all such directors and managers taken together. INCREASE IN RATIO OF TOP EXECUTIVE PAY Among the 30 Sensex firms, at least 15 have already disclosed an increase in the ratio of top executive pay with that of the median employee remuneration for 2016-17. Nine of the Sensex firms are yet to disclose these numbers and therefore the tally may go up. Six Sensex companies have reported some decline in this ratio and these include Wipro (down from 260 times to 259 times), Infosys (283 times), Dr Reddys Lab (from 312 times to 233 times) and Hero MotoCorp (from 755 times to 731 times). The countrys most-valued firm Reliance Industries did not disclose this ratio in its latest annual report published on the website. While its chief Mukesh Ambani has capped his pay at Rs 15 crore for many years now, the ratio was high at 205 times in 2014-15. Among other major Sensex firms, TCS saw the ratio between top-paid executive pay and the median employee remuneration rise to 515 times (from 460 times in previous year), while the same for Lupin stood at 1,263-times (though down from 1,317 times) for Chairman. The ratio for the CEO at Lupin was much lower at 217-times. At Adani Ports, the ratio was down to 42 times in case of Gautam Adani (from 48 times), while the ratio was much higher at 169-times for another Whole Time Director. The same for Bajaj Auto was also high at 522 times. Among banks, the ratio was highest for HDFC Banks CEO Aditya Puri (whose pay package rose by 20 per cent to over Rs 10 crore) where it rose from 179 to 187 times. Kotak Mahindra Bank saw the ratio rise from 42 to 48, ICICI from 100 to 112- times and Axis Bank from 72-times to 78-times. At HDFC Ltd, the ratio for the CEO Keki Mistry rose from 88 times to 92 times, while the same for Chairman Deepak Parekh was much less at 17 times. Among the companies which are yet to report their latest numbers, Larsen and Toubro had disclosed a very high ratio of 1004-times for the fiscal 2005-16. At ITC, the ratio rose from 427 to 508 times in case of Y C Deveshwar, who has now given up his top executive role, but the ratio for the current executive chief was much lesser at 59 times. Deveshwars total package rose by 58 per cent to Rs 21.16 crore, including all the benefits. Other companies that saw an increase in the ratio included Bharti Airtel (to 366-times in 2016-17), Cipla (416 times), M&M (108 times), Tata Steel (94 times) and HUL (138 times). In terms of the median employee remuneration, a few companies such as Wipro and Cipla recorded a decline and there was only a marginal rise of less than 5 per cent for several others such as Bharti Airtel, M&M, Bajaj Auto, TCS and HUL. The companies with an increase of over 10 per cent for median employee remuneration were a few and included Kotak Mahindra Bank, Adani Ports, HDFC Bank, HDFC Ltd and Lupin. Dr Reddys Lab was among the very few to see a decline in the CEO pay, while it was unchanged for RIL and Adani Ports. The companies having seen a rise in the top executive pay included Wipro, TCS, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Auto, Tata Steel, M&M, Hero Motocorp, Lupin and Bharti Airtel. The overall key management pay rose significantly for Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, HDFC Ltd, TCS and Asian Paints.  ALSO READ:

Ayushi Ahluwalia

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Knew about Nitish's plan for past 3-4 months: Rahul Gandhi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nitish-kumar-rahul-gandhi-bjp-grand-alliance-bihar/1/1012196.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that he knew about Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's plans to leave the Congress-RJD-JD(U) alliance and form a new government with BJP for the past three or four months. Adding that people go to any extent for power, he said there was no rule or credibility in Indian politics.

Hitting out at Nitish Kumar for joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said that he knew that such a plan was in the making for the last three-four months."We knew that this (Nitish joining hands with BJP) was being planned for the last three-four months. A person can go to any limits for his own benefit," Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress leader said that Nitish Kumar was given the mandate for his fight against anti-communal forces but now he has joined hands with the same forces. The big question, however, is that if Rahul Gandhi knew that Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) was in talks with the BJP to look at the possibility of rebuilding the alliance, did he do anything to put a stop to such plans. RAHUL DID NOT ACT, SAYS NITISHAfter tendering his resignation as Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar said that in the current circumstances, where deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav was accused of corruption, he was finding it difficult to continue "to be in power".Nitish Kumar, in an attack on Rahul Gandhi, said that while the Congress vice-president tore the ordinance exempting politicians from facing corruption charges, he did not do anything to save the Grand Alliance. A few days ago, Nitish Kumar had met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi where the two reportedly talked about the corruption charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and his family members, including son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.At the meeting, Nitish Kumar was believed to have conveyed to Rahul Gandhi that under present circumstances Tejashwi Yadav could not continue in his Cabinet.Given Congress' long association with RJD, many would argue that the former could have convinced Lalu Prasad to ask his son to quit the Cabinet for the time-being. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED IN GOA TOOThis, however, is not the first time when Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership were found to be on the back foot despite having prior knowledge about the situation threatening to go out of their hands.In the recent Assembly election in Goa, the Congress had more seats than the BJP but lost the chance of forming the government due to alleged delay in decision-making by the leadership. As an active BJP reached out to everyone it could to get the numbers on its side, sources in the Congress said that the leadership, in particular Digvijaya Singh, was late in deciding on the leader of the legislature party. Disgruntled Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane put in his papers and joined the BJP, blaming the leadership for delay in decision-making.  "We waited from 11 am to 5 pm not knowing anything about what is happening but BJP swiftly acted," said Congress MLA Jennifer Monserrate.Rahul Gandhi, while crying foul over BJP forming the governments in Goa and Manipur where Congress had more seats, accused the BJP of stealing the mandate by using "financial power".ALSO READ:Why Nitish Kumar has almost killed Opposition chances to challenge Modi with a Grand Alliance in 2019

Rini Sinha

18 Jun 2017,Sunday

We haven't finalised the script of Manmohan biopic yet: Kher

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anupam-kher-the-accidental-prime-minister-manmohan-singh/1/981602.html

Actor Anupam Kher has said that the script of the upcoming biopic on former PM Manmohan Singh hasn't been finalised yet. Speaking about the film's poster, he said, "The makers wanted to announce the film, so we just worked on that. The shooting is in late December." Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film will be written by Hansal Mehta.

Anupam Kher's look as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for The Accidental Prime Minister may have grabbed attention and sparked discussions, but the veteran actor says it's too early for him to comment on the film as they are yet to even lock the script.An announcement that a film on Sanjaya Baru's controversial book, The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh, is under works, sparked a buzz about what to expect.Baru, who was media adviser to Manmohan Singh from May 2004 to August 2008, had in his 2014 book controversially depicted his former boss as not being in full control of his own cabinet, and being subservient to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.A first look into the project was a black and white poster showing the side profile of Anupam, dressed as Manmohan Singh -- complete with a white beard and turban -- and the focus was more on the silhouette of a woman -- presumably Congress President Sonia Gandhi -- standing in the corridor of Parliament House.Given that Anupam wears his political ideology on his sleeve, it would be interesting to see how he will portray Manmohan Singh in the film.Asked about it, the actor told IANS: "It's too early to talk about it. We have not even finalized the script. They (the makers) wanted to announce the film, so we just worked on that. The shooting is in late December.""The film is based on a book, but the screenplay by Hansal Mehta has to be given to me. My contract has it that I will finalise the screenplay...as in, I have to be happy, otherwise to talk about that film at this stage is too early. It's like any other film, and that's it," he added.The project is to be directed by debutant Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and produced by Sanjay Bohra.Meanwhile, Anupam is looking forward to the release of The Big Sick, his 500th film. The American film has been set for release in India on June 30.

Chhavi Tyagi

21 Mar 2017,Tuesday

Khalistan Commando Force member wanted in 75 cases arrested

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-police-arrest-khalistani-terror-group-member-wanted-in-75-cases/story-BSDfCBIhuK7BYXja4EG6fP.html

A 51-year-old alleged member of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Gursewak Singh Babla, was arrested with a country-made pistol by Delhi Police on Tuesday. Senior crime branch officials said that the alleged militant was involved in over 75 cases that include terror activities, murder, robbery, and loot. A majority of the cases were registered in Punjab and Delhi, the officials added.

A 51-year-old alleged member of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) was arrested on Monday from south Delhi?s Mahipalpur. A country-made pistol and four cartridges were allegedly found on him.Police said the arrested man, Gursewak Singh aka Babla, was reportedly in the process of establishing KCF?s base in Delhi with the help of some gangs of autolifters and robbers. By committing bank and ATM robberies in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana with the Delhi?s criminals, Babla was reportedly planning to raise funds to carry out terror activities in Delhi and Punjab, police said.?Babla was under pressure from his handler, KCF chief Paramjeet Singh Panjwar, to strike against India and revive their outfit?s presence in Delhi and Punjab. Panjwar is presently based in Pakistan and running anti-India activities allegedly with Pakistan?s intelligence agency ISI?s help,? said a crime branch officer. Praveer Ranjan, joint commissioner of police (crime branch), said Babla was a close aide of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed 1984 by the Army in Operation Blue Star. Babla has spent more than 26 years, half of his life, in various jails in different cases, said the joint CP.Police claimed he was previously involved in over 50 cases of terrorist activities, murder of police officials and police informers, and dacoities and robberies in police stations, banks, shops in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh during the Punjab insurgency in the 1980s. Ranjan said that Babla was wanted by the special cell, Delhi Police?s anti-terror squad, in a case when he had escaped from the custody of the Punjab police while being produced at the Tis Hazari Court in Delhi in 2004. ?A case was registered at the Subzi Mandi police station and the probe was handed over to the special cell. Babla was wanted by us (Delhi Police) in that case and the court had declared him a proclaimed offender,? said Ranjan, adding he had escaped again from Punjab police custody at Bhilwara railway station in Rajasthan in 1986.According to the joint CP, Babla?s arrest came following information that he would come to Mahipalpur area to meet some criminals with whom he was planning to commit bank and ATM robberies in the city. ?Our team laid a trap and caught Babla from near Shiv Murti on NH-8 with a pistol and four rounds,? Ranjan said adding Babla was also in touch with Jagtar Singh Hawara and other top leaders of Sikh militant groups who are lodged in different jails.A native of Ludhiana in Punjab, DCP Bhisham Singh said, Babla joined Bhindranwale-led militant group in 1982, almost two years after his elder brother Swaran Singh became a militant.

Niharika Prabhakar

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

Congress claims its Gujarat MLA was abducted by police

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-adjourns-after-opposition-bjp-clash-on-abduction-of-cong-gujarat-mla/story-htDWo6lkEUDQ2K4vTXgFAK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned on Friday after Congress members reportedly created a disturbance to protest the alleged abduction of their MLA by police in Gujarat. They also accused BJP of 'stealing' MLAs to influence the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and forced repeated adjournments. Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanded Congress' apology to Gujarat for 'tarnishing its image'.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out on?Friday amid ruckus as Congress members indulged in vociferous sloganeering through the day to protest the alleged abduction of their MLA by policemen in Gujarat and their BJP MPs charging them with defaming the state.Read more | Congress in Gujarat loses another MLA, taking tally to 6, ahead of RS pollThe House witnessed repeated adjournments right from the word go, as noisy scenes over the issue disrupted the Question Hour, the Zero Hour and later the private members? and official legislative business.When the House met at 2.30 pm after four adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanded that the Opposition should tender an apology to Gujarat for tarnishing its image.The Congress MPs were alleging that the Gujarat policemen had abducted its MLA in the state with a view to influence the upcoming elections to the Upper House.?This morning during the Zero Hour and Question Hour, Leader of the Opposition (Ghulam Nabi Azad) and Anand Sharma had made objectionable statements to defame Gujarat. They said Gujarat which was earlier a safe haven for state encounters has witnessed kidnapping of an MLA for stealing of votes. The Leader of the Opposition, Chief Whip (in Gujarat) ... have deserted the (Congress) party, MLAs are quitting...,? Naqvi said asking the opposition to apologise to Gujarat.Asking the Congress members to indulge in ?self introspection?, he said despite getting (politically) battered, the party has not realised the gravity (Inka band- baaja baj chuka hai, aur uske baad bhi inko ehsaas nahin hai).As BJP members were on their feet and raised slogans like ?shame-shame? to taunt the Congress, Naqvi said the people of Gujarat have been ?deeply hurt by this conspiracy? and the Congress should apologise to them. He also claimed that the Gujarat elections will be held in a fair and free atmosphere.The Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans like ?stop murder of democracy?.In a bid to run the House, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked the Congress members whether they wanted to apologise for ?what you said in the morning?. However, he did not get any response from them.Kurien also asked the ruling party members to help in running the House.Irked at not getting any response from either side, Kurien repeatedly warned that he would be forced to adjourn the House. ?Both sides are not cooperating. Both sides are shouting. They are creating problems...I will have to adjourn the House. This is the time for Private Members? business and if the members do not cooperate, I will be forced to adjourn.??I am helpless,? the Deputy Chairman said before adjourning the House for the day.Congress members had earlier repeatedly trooped into the Well raising anti-government slogans and charging the BJP with ?stealing? MLAs to help its candidates win the Rajya Sabha polls, forcing brief adjournments one after the other.The House was adjourned twice during Zero Hour after it had assembled for the day and then twice again during the Question Hour till 2.30 PM.Soon after the House assembled, Kurien first adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes as Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress? deputy leader Anand Sharma, raised the issue and the party members stormed the Well raising slogans.Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met again, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till noon. A repeat of the protests saw Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House for 15 minutes after it reassembled.As there was no let-up in the opposition protests, the House was again adjourned till 1430 hours, with Chairman Ansari saying the deputy chairman has said that matters relating to elections are dealt by the concerned agencies.Raising the issue, Azad said three Congress MLAs who had resigned from the party and one of them was immediately named as the BJP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.He said Punabhai Gamit, MLA from reserved constituency of Vyara, after attending district Congress executive committee, had gone for a cup of tea to another MLA?s house when district superintendent of police ?abducted? him.Azad alleged that the police officer told the MLA that Congress has decided not to give him a ticket for the upcoming assembly polls. So he should leave the party and join the BJP and he would arrange his meeting with the BJP president and get him the ticket, he claimed.He said the police officer who had picked up the Congress MLA was the one who was arrested in a fake encounter case. The legislator managed to flee when he asked the police officer to allow him to get a changeover of clothes, he claimed.?You are stealing MLAs by using the police (to garner votes),? Azad said, adding ?You should be ashamed.?The charge was vehemently denied by Naqvi, saying ?this is wrong. The Election Commission is conducting free and fair elections.?Earlier, Sharma had raised the issue through a point of order saying the Constitution was being violated by the ruling BJP which was using the police to ?abduct? MLAs.?They are stealing MLAs,? he said, adding that it must be guaranteed that the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are free and fair and the ?abducted? MLAs released.Union Minister Parshottam Rupala also sought to counter the charge saying it was an internal matter of the Congress whose MLAs, including the leader of the party in the Gujarat assembly, were deserting it.?Why are you complaining here,? he said, adding ?You are not taking care of your own house and are accusing us. Your own people are leaving you?.Naqvi said it is the Election Commission?s responsibility to hold free and fair elections. ?If they have a complaint, they should go to Election Commission. Rajya Sabha is not the place to protest.??You have to protect the Constitution ... Voters are being kidnapped where do we go,? Azad said.Kurien said the Chair has nothing to do with elections. ?If what has been narrated has happened, solution lies elsewhere. You can approach police, you can approach election commission and seek remedy. I have no remedy for this.?He asked protesting members to return to their seats but his pleas went unheeded. ?What is the use of obstructing,? he asked before adjourning the proceedings for 10 minutes.When the House reassembled, Anand Sharma again raised the issue of abduction. To this, Kurein asked what could he do.Azad suggested that the Chair could give a direction to the Election Commission to ensure fair election. He said the officer involved in the incident should be removed.Kurien, however, said the Election Commission ?does not require a direction from the Chair? to conduct free and fair election, as it is bound to do so and ?they are doing it. ... If you have a complaint, approach Election Commission.?During the Question Hour, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said incidents like abduction of an MLA by a police officer was not acceptable and sought the Chair?s protection to save democracy.Naqvi also took pot-shots at the main opposition party, sarcastically saying they would now demand a direction to the Surpreme Court as several of their members were ?involved in corruption? cases.

Vani Vivek

09 Apr 2017,Sunday

Snapdeal Founders promise staff higher pay amid sale rumours

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/snapdeal-founders-promise-higher-wages-to-employees/1/924662.html

In an internal email, Snapdeal Founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal have promised higher salaries to employees than last year as the e-commerce startup heads towards a possible sell out. "We will do all that we can, and more, in working with our investors to ensure that there is no disruption in employment," the email reportedly said.

Ayushi Ahluwalia

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Hizbul chief claims they can target any part of India: Govt

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/salahuddin-claims-hizbul-mujahideen-can-target-anywhere-in-india-says-centre/story-U06TXxyfDkq5uwDiBEALEK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has claimed in media that his outfit can attack any part of India, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The militant group has been getting logistic support, including arms and ammunition, from Pakistan, the minister added.

Terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin is reported to have made claims that his outfit has the ability to hit targets anywhere in India at any time, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.?Syed Salahuddin, supreme commander of the terrorist group - Hizbul Mujahideen, is reported to have made such a claim in the media,? minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir said in a written reply.Ahir said the militant group has been getting logistic support, including arms and ammunition, from Pakistan.?As per available information, some of the weapons and other items recovered from the encounter sites have the markings of the foreign countries,? he said.Last month, Salahuddin was designated as a ?global terrorist? by the United States.Replying to another question, Ahir said in 2017 (up to July 16), 104 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of coordinated action between the security agencies.

Shubhodeep Datta

11 Mar 2017,Saturday

Early Trends: BJP leads in 281 of 399 counted seats in UP

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

The Bharatiya Janata Party was leading in 140 of the 201 counted seats in Uttar Pradesh, according to the early trends. The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance was a distant second with a lead in 32 seats, while the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party led in 21 seats. Notably, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll had predicted a clear majority for BJP.

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

Chhavi Tyagi

13 May 2017,Saturday

AAP MLA detained for launching protest outside Mishra's home

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sanjeev-jha-kapil-mishra-hunger-strike-detained/1/952916.html

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sanjeev Jha was today detained by the police for trying to launch a hunger strike outside the house of sacked party leader Kapil Mishra against his allegations on the party. The police said that Jha was held for not having permission to hold the protest. Notably, Mishra is sitting on a hunger strike since May 10.

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sanjeev Jha, who was planning to go on a hunger strike against the allegations made by sacked party leader Kapil Mishra, was today detained by Delhi Police. According to the police, Jha did not have permission to hold the strike and was thus detained along with his supporters. Jha said that he would join Kapil Mishra, if the allegations made by him against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal are proven to be correct. Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra is on an indefinite hunger strike ever since he challenged Aam Aadmi Party leaders to declare the source of funding for their foreign trips.This is the fourth day that Mishra has been on hunger strike and he said he will continue it despite doctors saying that he needs to be hospitalised.Also Read

Arshiya Chopra

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Man falls into gorge, spends night clinging to tree branch

http://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/pune-man-falls-into-gorge-spends-night-hanging-on-tree-branch-before-being-rescued/story-45ztVpbtXkVBYdBdkEl64I.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A man from Pune fell into a 150-foot gorge in Madhe ghat, where he clung to a tree branch whole night before getting rescued the next day. Ramesh Mane was out on a trip with his friends, who while coming back realised Mane was missing. His friends said they were surprised on finding that Mane did not have major injuries.

A 40-year-old person from the city was rescued a day after he fell into a 150-feet gorge at Madhe ghat in Velha taluka. He was on a trip with his friends on Sunday.Ramesh Mane, an employee of Thermax India Ltd, had gone with his group of 8-10 friends to Madhe Ghat, famous for scenic waterfall, in Velha taluka. While coming back, his friends realised that Mane was not with them, prompting a search for him. The search operation however had to be stalled due to heavy rainfall and thick fog. After realising that Mane had gone missing, his friends informed others including Thermax workers union president who in turn asked his friend Sachin Gaikwad for help. According to his friends, Mane had to spend the entire night in the deep gorge while clinging on to a tree branch.  ?They were shocked, frightened and were totally clueless. I told them to contact Velha police station and register a complaint and meanwhile, I called my friend Sachin Gaikwad who is known for rescue missions. He immediately responded and reached Velha in the middle of the night,? said Dinesh Dakhave, Thermax workers union president. Gaikwad and his team reached Velha early Monday morning. ?We made two teams and started search operation in every direction of the plateau. As we climbed down the ghat, we spotted Mane in a deep gorge. He was clinging to a nearby branch and was moving abruptly. There was no way to find out whether he was dead or alive. We shouted and whistled to which he responded after several minutes,? said Gaikwad, who works for Dadoji Kondev Bouldering Gym in Kondhwa. The rescue team realised that they were short in man power, as Mane was stuck in an inaccessible spot and it was not easy to pull him out to safe area. So, Gaikwad walked back to the village and contacted Shivdurg Mitra Pratishan of Lonavala and asked for technical help. Meanwhile, one of the rescuers managed to reach Mane, so the team acted swiftly and rather than waiting for the technical team, they brought Mane out with help from local villagers. ?We were surprised when we found out Mane was not majorly injured. However, he wasn?t able to walk properly as he had fallen down almost 150-feet. So we carried him to the village where their team was ready with the vehicle. He was admitted to a local hospital in Velha. I fear he had some internal bleeding, but was alive, that?s the main thing,? added Gaikwad.

Rini Sinha

28 Jul 2017,Friday

Film on 1975 Emergency 'Indu Sarkar' hits the theatres

http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/indu-sarkar-movie-review-confused-between-criticising-the-sarkar-and-championing-it/story-M6REhm3oB9V4UGGYgcyD0H.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

'Indu Sarkar', which is based on 1975 Emergency, is "confused between criticising the sarkar and championing it", wrote Hindustan Times. NDTV said, "It's high on dramatic flourish, low on impact." Meanwhile, Times of India wrote, "Indu Sarkar is at its best when it focuses on its protagonist's emotional struggles...leaving politics behind." It was rated 3/5 (TOI), 2/5 (HT), 1.5/5 (NDTV).

Indu SarkarDirector: Madhur BhandarkarCast: Kriti Kulhari, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anupam Kher, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Sheeba Chaddha, Ankur Vikal and Zakir HussainRating: 2/5With the kind of publicity and controversies it attracted, almost everyone knows the basic premise of Madhur Bhandarkar?s film. Indu Sarkar, that hits theatres on Friday, is a political drama set against the backdrop of the Emergency.{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Review","author": {"@type":"Person","name":"Sweta Kaushal","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/sweta-kaushal"},"datePublished":"2017-07-28","description":"Indu Sarkar movie review: Madhur Bhandarkar?s latest film starring Kriti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh has a confused narrative and melodrama that dethrones the attempt to champion the cause of democracy.","inLanguage":"en","itemReviewed": {"@type":"Movie","name":"Indu Sarkar","image":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_960x540/HT/p2/2017/07/28/Pictures/_65bff6b4-7346-11e7-a83f-2f06dfe08b4c.JPG","sameAs":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6620324/","datePublished":"2017-07-28","director": {"@type":"Person","name":"Madhur Bhandarkar"},"actor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Neil Nitin Mukesh","sameAs": ""},{"@type": "Person","name": "Kriti Kulhari","sameAs": ""}]},"publisher": {"@type":"Organization","name":"Hindustan Times","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/"},"reviewRating": {"@type":"Rating","worstRating":0.0,"bestRating":5,"ratingValue":"2"}}Indu Sarkar opens with the announcement of the Emergency blaring from radio sets and glaring on front pages of newspapers. It then takes us to a fictitious village in Delhi-Haryana border area, Mubipura, where people are gearing up for a wedding. Suddenly, cops reach the place looking for men to be sterilized. When the men try to hide, the cops hunt them down and drag them even as a 70-year-old and a 13-year-old male ask policemen to consider the futility of including them in the government-ordered drive. Indu Sarkar soon moves to the central character, Indu (Kriti) - an orphan who wants to become a poet but is told she must only dream to become a good wife and make a family. Following the advice, she marries Navin Sarkar (Tota Roy Chowdhury) who dreams of money, power and fame, while Indu?s dream is only to be a good wife. For almost half of the fiIm, Indu Sarkar remains the story of a docile, humble and meek orphan who surrenders to every whims and fancies of her husband even as she fights her own stammering and a lack of confidence.How this rather ?homely? woman stumbles upon victims of a police raid in a slum, decides to fight for them and eventually becomes one of the most powerful voices of dissent during the Emergency, form the rest of the narrative.Neil Nitin Mukesh in a still from the film.While the film was publicised as a film ?on Emergency?, it actually oscillates between a political drama and a typical Bollywood film about a couple. Unfortunately, the transition between the two narratives is neither smooth nor convincing.One of the saddest moments in the movie comes when Indu, after she has left her husband?s house for the sake of a couple of lost orphan kids, decides to sign the divorce papers Navin sends. When asked why she agreed for the divorce, she says, ?Saath reh kar acchi biwi nahi ban payi, ho sakta hai alag ho kar sukh de paun. (I could not be a good wife, maybe I can give him some comfort by staying away).? As if, all the protest and fight for freedom from a dictatorial government was nothing but a tool to pacify the husband.The background score of Indu Sarkar is too loud and misplaced. At times when a rather emotional moment is approaching, what you hear is the loud melodramatic sound usually used in Bollywood suspense dramas. Anupam Kher in a in a still from the film.Despite having gathered a group of critically appreciated actors, Madhur Bhandarkar fails to make the best use of them. Neil Nitin Mukesh is one of the most wasted talents in the movie. He has given some of his best performances as a mean, high-on-power person but his act as ?chief? in Indu Sarkar appears too superficial. Anupam Kher and Kriti Kulhari take the lead in acting department and stay true to their characters for most of the part. The supporting casts including Sheeba Chaddha, Ankur Vikal and Zakir Hussain, among others appear genuine in their roles.Neil Nitin Mukesh in a still from the film.However, the over-dramatic tone of the film kills their performances and leaves us with dialogues like ?Ek goli ne mere jawan, 6 foot ke bete ko 6 inch ki tasveer bana diya.?Trying to find logic in Indu Sarkar often becomes a task. For example, why does Indu keep roaming around in a rickshaw/auto in the Turkman Gate area every time she needs to witness an eye-opener about the Emergency when she is otherwise driven around in her husband?s car? Or, for that matter, why do the protesters (led by Anupam Kher as ?Nanaji?) keep naming each other when they meet inside a cinema hall to avoid getting caught by the cops? Isn?t the entire purpose of disguise defeated if they use the real names? What is the reason, do you ask? Well, Bollywood is the only word that comes to our mind.Kriti Kulhari in a still from the film.For those interested in the politics of films, there are two ways to look at Madhur Bhandarkar?s Indu Sarkar.One is to look it as a propaganda film against the Congress party, aims at showcasing the atrocities inflicted upon various communities during the Emergency. There is a subtle, yet, extremely clear attempt to highlight Muslims forming a major portion of the victims. We have Neil Nitin Mukesh channelling Sanjay Gandhi as the prime minister?s son who is only referred to as the ?chief? while the PM is referred to as ?mummyji?. The unofficial ban on Kishore Kumar from radio and television after he refused to sing for Sanjay Gandhi also gets a mention in the film. On the other hand, you can see Indu Sarkar as a double-edged sword. While it depicts the Emergency and the Gandhi family as the perpetrators of cruelty and injustice inflicted upon the masses, the film actually shows the misuse of power. If Madhur Bhandarkar wanted to patronise the ruling party, the irony of his own film is lost on him. The irony of Indu Sarkar is that it is so indulgent in highlighting the importance of free speech and democracy that you could change a few names, few other situations and it could well have been a film about the crisis India is facing today: People with allegiances to the ruling party exploiting the masses and even politicians at their own will.So, in the sheer hope that Madhur actually aimed for the latter political purpose, two stars for Indu Sarkar.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Shubhodeep Datta

09 Apr 2017,Sunday

1k Aadhaar agencies blacklisted over malpractices since Dec

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uidai-cracks-down-on-1000-operators-in-3-mths-for-malpractices/1/924332.html

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has blacklisted or suspended around 1,000 operators while FIRs have been filed against 20 individuals in the last three months for malpractices such as overcharging for Aadhaar enrolment. A ?10,000 penalty has also been imposed on these erring operators. Earlier, UIDAI had blacklisted an agency for leaking Aadhaar details of cricketer MS Dhoni.

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The UIDAI has blacklisted or suspended around 1,000 operators while FIRs have been filed against 20 individuals in the last three months for malpractices such as charging for Aadhaar enrolment. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has also slapped a penalty of Rs 10,000 each on these erring operators besides removing them from its system. "We have received certain complaints...we have a zero tolerance policy on overcharging. We have identified about 1,000 such operators since December 2016...in the last three months, these operators have been removed from our system and we are also imposing a penalty of Rs 10,000 each on them," UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI. Removal of these operators from the system implies they would not be able to conduct enrolment for Aadhaar from anywhere in the country. UIDAI is the nodal body responsible for rolling out Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identification number that identifies residents based on biometrics. The authority swung into action after it received certain complaints about some of these operators charging money for enrolments -- a service that is free of charge. Some other instances relate to overcharging for updation of Aadhaar details, for which UIDAI has prescribed a rate of Rs 25, while some pertained to operators departing from the set procedures. "We got certain complaints where people were being inconvenienced and sometimes they were being asked for money...So we have appealed that they (operators) should stick to the prescribed rates," he said. In more severe cases, FIRs have been filed. "We have filed FIRs against 20 persons," Pandey said, hoping that the action by the UIDAI would be a deterrent for others trying to overcharge or not following proper processes.

Sumedha Sehra

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Kovind is the first Indian President from Uttar Pradesh

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-nath-kovind-president-of-india-many-firsts/1/1010311.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Newly-appointed President Ram Nath Kovind is the first from Uttar Pradesh to hold the country's highest post. Some of the previous Presidents with singular records are Dr Rajendra Prasad, who is the only President to be elected thrice. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy is the only President to be elected unopposed, while APJ Abdul Kalam was the only bachelor in all Presidents.

Former Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind took oath as the 14th President of India today at the historic Central Hall in Parliament.With this, Ram Nath Kovind, who was born in Paraukh village of Kanpur, is also the first Uttar Pradesh-born President of India. A two-time Rajya Sabha member, Ram Nath Kovind is also the second Dalit to become the President after K R Narayanan. A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SINGULAR RECORDS OF PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS OF INDIA:Dr Rajendra PrasadHe was the first President of an Independent India, and remains the only President to be elected thrice. He was elected unanimously as the President by the Constituent Assembly when India became a Republic in 1950. He served as President from January 26, 1950 to 14 May, 1962.Neelam Sanjiva ReddyThe seventh presidential election was held in 1977 and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was elected unopposed to the post, the only one to have achieved this feat till date. While 37 candidates had filed their nomination for the election, the returning officer found only Reddy's nomination valid. Reddy was 63 years old when he took over as the President, making him the youngest to hold the office till date. He is also the only president to have contested twice in the presidential election--losing the election to V V Giri in 1969 by a slim margin, and getting elected unopposed in 1977. R VenkataramanR Venkataraman was elected to the post of President in 1987 and became the first President to have a foreign-born spouse. Janaki Venkataraman was born in Pegu, Myanmar. Later, K R Narayanan became the second President to have a foreign-born spouse. Usha Narayanan was born in Myanmar. In 1950, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru granted special permission to Narayanan, an IFS officer, to marry a foreign national. K R Narayanan was also the first Dalit to become the country's President.  Dr APJ Abdul KalamAPJ Abdul Kalam, the pioneer of country's space and missile programme, was elected as President of India in 2002. He was the only bachelor to have held the country's highest office.Pratibha PatilIn 2007, Pratibha Patil became the first woman to occupy the post of President. Patil's husband Devisingh Shekhawat became the First Gentleman of India, a first in the history of Independent India.ALSO READ:Jai Shri Ram slogans raised in Parliament after Ram Nath Kovind's swearing in

Prashanti Moktan

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Netflix registers over 10 crore subscribers worldwide

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jul/18/netflix-tops-100m-subscribers-international-customers-sign-up?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

On-demand video streaming service Netflix has registered over 10 crore (100 million) subscribers worldwide with over 40 lakh subscriptions received outside the US in the past three months. "Our streaming membership grew more than expected, from 99 million to 104 million, due to our amazing content," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. Netflix is currently available in over 190 countries.

The remarkable change in the way the world watches TV has been underlined by new data from Netflix showing that more than 100 million people worldwide now subscribe to the streaming service.The company - which is now valued at $78bn (£60bn), making it worth almost nine times as much as the UK?s ITV and1.5 times bigger then Rupert Murdoch?s 21st Century Fox - added 5.2 milllion subscribers in the second quarter.It was a far bigger number than Wall Street had expected and this is traditionally Netflix?s slowest time of the year: over the past five years it has averaged growth of less than 2 million in the spring months.Most of the growth ? more than 4 million of the new users ? came from international subscribers lured by Netflix?s combination of new shows such as The Crown and Stranger Things, while stalwarts House of Cards and Orange is the New Black are continuing tofind new audiences.In the past two decades the company has transformed from a California-based mail order DVD outfit to a global digital giant that has transformed the way the public watch TV.The company?s share price climbed almost 10% to $180 a share in after-hours trading in New York on Monday, after the new subscriber numbers were revealed. By lunchtime on Wall Street on Tuesday they were up to $183.For founder Reed Hastings, the continued success of the business the soaring number of subscribers is continued proof that his vision of pick-and-mix TV on demand will replace traditional scheduled TV.?Creating a TV network is now as easy as creating an app, and investment is pouring into content production around the world,? he said in a letter to shareholders on Monday. ?We are all co-pioneers of internet TV and, together, we are replacing linear TV.?Netflix?s binge-watching model, which was at first seen as commercial suicide by most traditional broadcasters, is now aped by rivals. Such has been its cultural impact that it even spawned an expression to refer to relaxing and catching a show ? ?Netflix and chill? ? although it has since morphed into aeuphemism for sex.Growth is now being fuelled by growth outside its home market. The boom in international growth followed the expansion of the service into 130 countries last year. More than 52 million of its 104 million subscribers now come from outside the US and only a handful of countries ? including North Korea, China and Syria ? do not have the service.Netflix doesn?t provide detailed statistics by country, but Ampere Analysis reckons there are 6.4 million UKsubscribers compared with about 5 million for Amazon Prime Video.Hastings described the growth as a ?good quarter? and said it was the result of ?our amazing content?. The firms popularity has pushed it into an elite club of go-go internet stocks, which have been recording breakneck growth, known as the ?Fangs?.The ?big four? tech and media giants - Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google ? are valued on Wall Street at more than $1.5tn. Netflix has seen its share price rocket 64% over the past year ? it is worth almost four times as much as Sky ? but it still only ranks as the minnow of the group.Hastings said the company intends to invest even more in content, even though it is already pouring $6.6bn into making and acquiring TV shows and films this year. Currently nearly $16bn is due to be poured into production over the next five years.So far this huge investment has fuelled a Netflix hit machine. It has doubled its haul of Emmy nominations this year, securing 91 compared with 54 last year, for 27 titles including The Crown, Stranger Things and Master of None.Only HBO, on which Netflix has based its model, fared better, with 111 nominations. HBO spends about $2bn annually on content, and Amazon about $4.5bn, according to unofficial analyst estimates.Netflix famously refuses to reveal figures on how popular, or not, its shows are. Ampere Analysis has produced a report looking at the most cost-effective shows on Netflix by looking at programme budgets cross-referenced with popularity ratings on IMDB, to give a proxy for probable viewing.According to that data the most cost-effective shows for Netflix ? or the best value in terms of spend versus viewing ? were 1980s sci-fi drama Stranger Things, teen suicide drama 13 Reasons Why, Narcos, and Marvel series such as Jessica Jones, Daredevil and Luke Cage. House of Cards and Orange is the New Black also ranked highly.However, the hit machine also has misses. Recently, Netflix has culled a slew of underperforming shows to better balance viewer interest with climbing programme costs.Ampere says the least cost-effective shows are led by the $9m-per-episode Marco Polo, which was cancelled after two seasons and reportedly resulted in a $200m loss. Another was Baz Luhrmann?s The Get Down, which had a budget of up to $16m an episode, which was cancelled after one season. Other misses have included high-concept sci-fi series Sense8, Hemlock Grove and Girlboss.Hastings conceded there is furious competition between Netflix and other subscription on-demand TV services, from digital rivals such as Amazon and Hulu to traditional broadcasters such as Sky and the BBC. But he insisted his company was not killing their businesses.?It seems our growth just expands the market,? he said. ?The largely exclusive nature of each service?s content means that we are not direct substitutes for each other, but rather complements.?Market capitalisation of major media brandsApple $786bnAmazon $483bnDisney $163bnNetflix $78bn21st Century Fox $50.8bnSky $21bnSnap (Snapchat owner) $17.7bnTwitter $14.8bnITV $9bn

Prashanti Moktan

16 Jun 2017,Friday

Commander Mattoo's sacrifice won't go in vain: Lashkar chief

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-a-cancer-to-humanity-lashkar-e-taiba-says/1/980695.html

Mahmood Shah, the chief of terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in an official statement, said the "sacrifice" of LeT commander Junaid Mattoo and other militants, killed in an encounter with Indian armed forces, will not go in vain. Meanwhile, LeT spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Ghaznavi called India "a cancer to humanity", while adding, "We shall soon witness India burning to ashes."

In a venomous new statement, the Lashkar-e-Taiba has denigrated India, calling it a 'cancer' to humanity and a 'human-right violator'. The LeT statement, released by spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Ghaznavi, also pillories "Indian media", saying it is responsible for spreading 'baseless propaganda' and 'misguiding' the country.In the statement, the terror group seems to confirm the death of Lashkar commander Junai Mattoo, who was reported to have been killed in an encounter with security forces today. The statement says Mahmood Shah, the chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, paid respects to Mattoo, and other militants who were killed in gunfights with security forces. According to the statement, Shah said that their sacrifices will not be in vain and that the "pure and honorable blood of Martyrs shall prove to be the death for India".The statement goes on to claim that Indian forces are responsible for 'relentlessly' firing on innocents and says that is proof of India 'barbarism'.  The terror  group, which was today involved in ambushing and killing six policemen in Anantnag, then goes on to proclaim that India's end is near. "Beware that the fire started by themselves shall soon reach the bricks and stones of India. We shall soon witness India burning to ashes," the statement reads.Here is the full statement: "Mahmood Shah, Chief Lashkar-e-Taiba, has paid their tribute to Lashkar Commander, Junaid Mattoo, Azad Malick, Muhammad Ashraf, and Naseer Ahmed Sheikh, Ihsan dar in Kulgam's village Arwani and said that these sacrifices will not go in vain. The pure and honorable blood of Martyrs shall prove to be the death for India. Mahmood Shah appreciated the mothers, sisters, old and young who came up against Indian forces and in solidarity with their Mujahideen brothers. No power on earth can be proven as fatal to the Mujahideen, the support of our brothers and sisters and the divine help of Allah SWT is what keeps us standing firm in our ranks against a brutal enemy. The relentless firing of Indian forces on innocent is enough for the world to witness the barbarism of India. India is a cancer to the humanity, love, peace and harmony in the region. Imposing such inhumane acts on innocents is evident to the reality that India is a strict human-rights violator. Meanwhile, Indian Media continues its relentless baseless propaganda, misguiding its nation and depriving them of the rights to see through the reality of their ruthless army. Beware that the fire started by themselves shall soon reach the bricks and stones of India. We shall soon witness India burning to ashes.Ramadan, the month of blessings, has entered into its final stages, the last Ashra. I request everyone to avail from these days and do their best in their Ibadah, their prayers and their Duas to win the mercy from Allah SWT. Be cautious of the odd numbers of the nights, sit in Etikaf and seek Allah's forgiveness. Allah's beloved Angel, Jibreel, said a dua, in a Hadith, for the forgiveness of the one who avails from Ramadan while our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah SWT be upon him) said 'Amen' to his prayers. Love each other, set aside the differences whatsoever, help, take care of, and feed the families of Martyrs. Keep the youth in your prayers who left everything to join the ranks of Mujahideen to win our freedom. May Allah, The Savior, be with us!" - Dr. Abdullah Ghaznavi

Sonu Kumari

24 Jul 2017,Monday

Maharashtra lifts ban on paan masala

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/maharashtra-revokes-ban-on-pan-masala-until-panel-s-decision/story-EHMARkb4Ydu0fthtN7OnZP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Maharashtra government has lifted the ban on the sale of paan masala until a single-member committee decides on the matter. Public health experts urged the government to reconsider its decision adding that paan masala is harmful to health and permitting its sale was shocking. Notably, Maharashtra had banned paan masala in 2014.

The ban on sale of flavoured areca nut ? pan masala ? has been revoked by the state government from July 21, according to a circular by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dated July 17.The letter by the FDA states that a single-member committee will be formed to look into the ban on areca nut and till their decision is known, its sale will be permitted. Meanwhile, the ban on gutka, in force since 2013, will continue. The state?s move has angered public health experts fighting against the sale of products that have cancer causing agents. ?Areca nut is a known carcinogen. It is present in pan masala, the sale of which was banned, but now the government is reconsidering it, which is shocking,? said professor Pankaj Chaturvedi, Tata Memorial Hospital who treats head and neck cancers.?The World Health Organisation and several studies in India have proven beyond doubt that pan masala causes serious health hazards including mouth and throat cancer. All the research material has already been submitted to the FDA several times for the past 5 years. Our state is bound to become a laughing stock if the ban isn?t continued,? he added.Incidentally, Maharashtra was the first state to ban gutka in July 2013. A year later, a ban on pan masala was brought in force.Dr Pallavi Garade, food safety commissioner, FDA, could not be reached despite numerous attempts, however an FDA official who did not wish to be named told HT that the decision to reconsider the ban on the sale of scented areca nut was taken as there was growing pressure from lobbyists. ?There were several appeals made to the CM (chief minister), regarding the ban on areca nut,? he added. Dr Kailash Sharma, director (Academics) Tata Memorial Hospital said in a letter to the state, ?We sincerely urge you to continue the ban on flavoured chewing tobacco and flavoured supari (Pan Masal) permanently to save our future generations. Currently, the ban is applicable for only one year and it has to be renewed annually.

Akshita Jain

16 Dec 2016,Friday

Teachers in Maha district get ?900 salary amid cash crunch

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-maharashtra-sholapur-teachers-salary-rs-900/1/834202.html

The Solapur district cooperative bank told the Bombay HC on Wednesday that they were only able to give ?900 as salary to every teacher for the entire month because the RBI only gave them ?1 crore. The bank claimed that it needs about ?95 crore to pay the salaries of teachers whose accounts are with the bank.

The Sholapur district cooperative bank today told the Bombay High Court that it needs nearly Rs 95 crore to pay the salaries of teachers whose accounts are with the bank."We were given only Rs 1 crore (by the Reserve Bank of India). As a result, we are able to give Rs 900 to every teacher for the entire month. How can people subsist on Rs 900 for a month," asked advocate VM Thorat representing the Sholapur bank.Advocate Vyanktesh Dhond, representing the RBI, told the court that "mechanisms had been put in place" and all that the districts banks have to do is to approach the district coordinators of the State Bank of India.ALSO READ: In a big push for cash less India, Jaitley announces 11 new measures to romp up digital paymentMoney is going elsewhere: RBIThe division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Abuja Prabhudesai in the last hearing had asked the RBI to consider the issue of paying salaries to teachers. The RBI, in a circular issued on November 14, had barred district co-operative banks from handing out new notes post demonetisation. "Money is not given to the account-holders and instead goes elsewhere," advocate Dhond alleged.Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank had filed a petition challenging the circular issued by the RBI five. District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) from Sholapur, Pune, Nashik, Thane, Kolhapur, Sangli also joined the list of petitioners.ALSO READ: Demonetisation visionless, huge setback for workers: MamataWhy only teachers are getting salary? Justice Oka noted that when people could withdraw Rs 24,000 per week then there should be no reason why teachers could not withdraw their salaries. During the hearing, Advocate Shrinivas Patwardhan, representing the other district banks in Maharashtra, alleged the RBI had only released funds to the Sholapur bank while others in Thane and Nashik were left high and dry with no money to pay teachers' salaries.Dhond, however, countered the allegation and said, "Now nurses will say why only teachers are getting salaries. This can't go on". ALSO READ: Are banks failing the demonetisation drive?No cash in rural areasArguing for the Sholapur bank, advocate Thorat said, "Farmer deposits worth Rs 25000 crore are with our banks but they (farmers) cannot even touch it. There is no cash in rural areas".Justice Oka advised the district banks to approach the district co-ordinators of the SBI. The court said it was not able pass a judgment in the case as the Supreme Court has directed that all such cases filed before various courts be transferred to one court so that they can be heard in a go. The Centre had moved the Supreme Court on November 17, seeking a stay on the proceedings before the various high courts and other courts (except the top court) against the demonetisation issue, saying the move would otherwise create a lot of confusion.The district banks in Maharashtra, however, want the Bombay High Court to hear the case and announce a verdict. At this, Justice Oka asked the petitioners to get clarity on whether the court can hear the case. The high court will hear the case again on Monday.

Chhavi Tyagi

20 Dec 2016,Tuesday

There's enough cash to last beyond Dec 30: Arun Jaitley

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-rbi-arun-jaitley/1/838664.html

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the RBI has more than adequate cash to last not just till December 30 but even beyond it. "We were prepared. There has been no day when RBI did not dispense adequate cash to banks," Jaitley said. "Anyone who has old currency notes can only go and deposit them in banks," he added.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that no questions will be asked if any amount of old currency is deposited in one go, but repeated deposits may invite questions from concerned authorities. Talking to reporters in New Delhi , the Finance Minister also slammed the Opposition for accusing the Modi government of going ahead with the huge decision of taking out Rs 500, 1000 notes from circulation without any proper planning. "We were prepared. There has been no day when RBI did not dispense adequate cash to banks. Even today, RBI has more than adequate cash to last not just till December 30 but even beyond it," Jaitley told reporters. Jaitley said small traders and businesses will get a tax advantage of more than 30 per cent for digital transactions. 'DEPOSIT ALL MONEY IN ONE GO'(With inputs from IANS) Also read: