summary
stringlengths 30
79
| text
stringlengths 245
450
|
|---|---|
2,104 Surat residents sweep together to set world record | As many as 2,104 residents of Surat got together in the Udhana area of the city on Wednesday and swept the ground for one minute, setting the Guinness World Record for 'Most people sweeping the floor (single venue)'. People across all age groups participated in the event, which overtook the previous record of 1,000 people set in Mexico in 2015. |
Trump says Obama wiretapping claims based on media reports | US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the claim that his predecessor Barack Obama had wiretapped him before his election victory were based on media reports and is confident that the claim will be vindicated. Two congressional committees have agreed to look into the claim, which Trump made without providing any evidence and which Obama has denied. |
Vietnam govt asks firms to stop Facebook, Youtube ads | Vietnam on Thursday called on all companies doing business in the country to stop advertising on YouTube and other social media over anti-government content. There are around 8,000 anti-government videos on YouTube, and Google has blocked only 42, Information and Communication Ministry officials said. Companies including Ford and Yamaha Motor committed to obeying the call to suspend advertising. |
Indian-American sworn-in as top US healthcare agency head | US President Donald Trump's pick Seema Verma was sworn-in as the administrator of the government's Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services by placing her hand on the Hindu holy book Bhagwad Gita. The Indian-American, who was confirmed by the Senate in a 55-43 vote on Monday, has helped redesign Medicaid programs in several US states. |
Two clerics from Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah go missing in Pak | Two Indian clerics, including the head priest of New Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah, have gone missing in Pakistan. Identified as Asif Nizami and Nazim Nizami, the duo had gone to Pakistan to meet their relatives on March 8. They were last seen together at Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore and have been missing since Wednesday evening. |
Israel imposes 'apartheid regime' on Palestinians: UNâ | Israel has established an "apartheid regime" of racial discrimination on the Palestinian people, a United Nations agency has said in a report published on Wednesday. This is the first time that a UN body has made the charge concluding that Israel is a racist state, UN Under-Secretary-General Rima Khalaf said. The US, an ally of Israel, has condemned the report. |
Sari with hood, gloves showcased at Amazon Fashion Week | Models walked in saris reinterpreted by sixty fashion designers at the Amazon Fashion Week show 'Sari 24/7', where a sari with a hood and gloves was among the unique creations. Curated by Vogue, the show had Dhruv Kapoor showcasing a sari-skirt with a corset and Manish Arora presenting a colourful sari with floral motifs while 'Huemn' presented a quilted sari. |
8-yr-old kickboxing gold medalist slams J&K govt in video | Eight-year-old Kashmiri kickboxer Tajamul Islam, who won gold at the U-8 World Kickboxing Championship in November last year, has posted a video slamming the J&K government over lack of facilities. In the video, Tajamul alleges that no equipment was provided to her academy, which remains closed during the monsoon. She also requested the government for an indoor stadium. |
New documentary on late actor Heath Ledger to air in May | 'I Am: Heath Ledger', a new television documentary on the life of late Hollywood actor Heath Ledger, known for playing 'Joker' in 'The Dark Knight', will air in May. The documentary will reportedly have Ledger's 'inner circle' talking about him. Ledger was found dead on January 22, 2008 at the age of 28, from an accidental overdose of prescription medication. |
Diego Maradona attempts 'Hand of God' in charity match | Argentine football legend Diego Maradona attempted to recreate his 'Hand of God' goal, that knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup, in a charity match in South Korea. The five-a-side match's referee gave Maradona a yellow card for handling the ball. Later, the 56-year-old had scored off a rebound after failing to convert a penalty during the match. |
Video shows woman emerging from a mudslide in Peru | A video footage shows a woman battling to survive a mudslide which ripped through a valley in the district of Punta Hermosa, Peru. She is seen grabbing onto pieces of wood and tree branches. The country has been hit by heavy rains since the beginning of the year causing flooding and landslides that forced hundreds from their homes. |
Ethiopia garbage landslide death toll rises to 115 | The death toll from the landslide that occurred at a garbage landfill site in Ethiopia last Saturday has reached 115, according to reports. Emergency workers are still searching through the garbage as several others remain missing after the landslide. The landfill site had been home to hundreds of people who scavenged there for a living. |
Marks & Spencer launches cafes for talk over mental health | Marks & Spencer is launching cafes designed to provide a space for people to share stories about their mental health, as an initiative to soothe stressed shoppers. The retailer is partnering with comedian Ruby Wax to launch the 'Frazzled Cafe' project in UK. It said the sessions weren't "therapy" but aimed to provide a space "where people can talk openly". |
Acting is not a job, it is second-nature to me: Alia Bhatt | Actress Alia Bhatt has said that acting is not a job, but second-nature to her. Further, talking about working in films of different genres like 'Udta Punjab' and 'Kapoor & Sons', she said, "I find beauty in both the worlds." Alia further said that she performs from instinct, responding to what comes from within. |
Russia denies role in hacking of 50 crore Yahoo accounts | Russia on Thursday denied the involvement of its officials in the hacking of 50 crore Yahoo accounts in 2014. This comes after the US officially charged two Russian Federal Security Service officers and two criminal hackers for the breach. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that the authorities found out about the charges from the media instead of official channels. |
What is the law on drunk driving in India? | Factly has released a video titled "Understanding Traffic Rules - Laws on Drunk Driving" which explains that a drunk driver can get up to 6 months in jail or/and â¹2,000 fine in India. The video further explains that the permissible limit of blood alcohol is 0.03%, that is, 30 mg alcohol per 100 ml of blood (1 pint of beer). |
Photographer injured by SRK's car at Alia's birthday party | A press photographer got injured when actor Shah Rukh Khan's car ran over his foot while entering Alia Bhatt's birthday party. The photographer was among the paparazzi who got close to the car. As per an eyewitness, SRK gave his car and immediately asked his bodyguards to take the injured photographer to the hospital while also bearing all medical expenses. |
Don't make 'Half Car', tweets user on Chetan Bhagat's plan | Reacting to author Chetan Bhagat's announcement of setting up an electric car project, a user tweeted, "Just don't make Half Car". Another user tweeted, "Don't do that. You know you can't make a movie out of it". A user also tweeted, "Trying to be Elon Musk?" Another tweet read, "Hope your Twitter account has not been tampered!!" |
Why are crushed stones placed along railway tracks? | The crushed stones placed along the railway tracks, which are called ballast, serve the purpose of holding the wooden rail ties in place, which further help to keep the tracks stable. The rough stones also help to ensure that the wooden ties don't slide over each other and that the weight of the train is well balanced. |
FIR against TVF CEO Arunabh Kumar in sexual harassment row | Advocate Rizwan Siddiqui has filed a third-party FIR against The Viral Fever's (TVF) Founder and CEO Arunabh Kumar on charges of sexual harassment. "The police were showing their helplessness by saying that they could not act since the women alleging harassment have not filed an FIR," said Siddiqui. This comes after more than five women alleged sexual harassment by Kumar. |
Women need 50 yrs to equal number of men in parliaments: UN | Women will take 50 years to equal the number of men in legislatures across 193 UN nations, a report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women has revealed. Percentage of women in parliaments was 23.3% in 2016, up from 22.6% in 2015. India ranked 148 in women parliamentarians, with 11.8% representation in Lok Sabha and 11% in the Rajya Sabha. |
Some private member bills introduced in current LS session | Several private member bills were introduced in the current Lok Sabha session, including Anti-Discrimination and Equality Bill by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Population Control Bill by BJP MP Prahlad Patel. While Tharoor's bill seeks to provide protection against all forms of social discrimination, Patel's seeks to limit the number of children a family can have. |
EVMs not tamperable, integrity of poll process preserved: EC | Releasing a statement over the allegations of EVM tampering in the recent Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India said, "EVMs are not tamperable and integrity of electoral process is preserved." Further, the EC stated that EVMs have been used in over 100 elections since 2000 and gave a list of such allegations raised before various High Courts. |
Parrikar credits Rahul Gandhi for BJP's victory in elections | Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has mockingly credited Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for BJP's victory in the assembly elections. "I wish he leads the party for long, we want to achieve the majority in the forthcoming elections too," he said. Parrikar also taunted Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, saying he had come to Goa for luxury and not to work. |
Karisma's ex-husband Sunjay to marry Priya Sachdev: Reports | As per reports, actress Karisma Kapoor's ex-husband Sunjay Kapur will marry his rumoured girlfriend Priya Sachdev in April. The two have been rumoured to be dating since 2013. Their wedding will reportedly happen in New York and will be attended by close friends and family. Notably, Priya was previously married to hotelier Vikram Chatwal and divorced him in 2011. |
Where did the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' slogan come from? | The slogan 'Keep Calm and Carry On' was coined in 1939 by the British government as part of a series of three posters issued in the event of World War II (1939-1945). The design was, however, never officially issued. After about 60 years, a bookseller in the United Kingdom came across a copy hidden amongst books bought at an auction. |
World Bank praises Aadhaar, calls it most sophisticated | World Bank's Chief Economist Paul Romer has praised India's biometric identifier programme Aadhaar, stating, "The system in India is the most sophisticated that Iâve seen." "Itâs the basis for all kinds of connections that involve things like financial transactions," he said. "It could be good for the world if this became widely adopted," Romer added. |
Trump blasts Snoop Dogg over clown shooting video | After rapper Snoop Dogg made a music video featuring US President Donald Trump's mock assassination, Trump condemned the rapper by tweeting, "Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!" In the video, Snoop shoots a clown resembling Trump with a toy gun. |
Early ATM was deemed a failure as hookers, gamblers used it | The Bankograph, an early form of the ATM, is believed to have been deemed a failure as only prostitutes and gamblers used it. Luther Simjian, who invented the machine, stated that it was only used by people who didn't want to deal with tellers face to face. The device served as an automated way to deposit cash and cheques. |
Aaj Steve Smith ne bohot kuch Saha hain, tweets user | Reacting to Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha's attempt to catch the ball that had stuck between Steve Smith's legs, a user tweeted, "Aaj Steve Smith ne bohot kuch Saha hain." Other users reacted with tweets like, "Find someone who cuddles you the way Saha cuddles Smith" and "Wriddhiman Saha could have at least asked Steve Smith out on a date first." |
Alia Bhatt gifts herself new kitten, names him Edward Bhatt | Alia Bhatt has shared a picture of herself with Edward Bhatt, her new kitten which she gifted herself on the occasion of her 24th birthday. Alia's sister Shaheen also shared a picture of the cat with the caption, "This is Edward Bhatt, first of his name, ruler of all (except for the ones Sheba rules) the Bhatt kingdoms." |
App to search for strangers by photo revealed to be a hoax | Facezam, an app that would let users upload photos of strangers and search for their Facebook profiles, has been revealed to be a hoax by a marketing agency called Zacozo. The developers of the app admitted to the hoax after Facebook reached out to them to ensure Facezam wasn't using its user data illegally. |
Turkey deports 40 Dutch cows amid diplomatic row | Turkey's Association of Red Meat Producers has sent back 40 Dutch cows to the Netherlands saying that it no longer wants them due to the ongoing diplomatic spat between the two nations. The spat started after the Netherlands blocked Turkish ministers from holding rallies in Netherlands supporting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's plans to make changes to the Turkish constitution. |
Queen Elizabeth II gives royal assent to Brexit bill | British monarch Queen Elizabeth II has granted royal assent to the Article 50 bill by signing it into law. This gives PM Theresa May the legal power to choose when to start formal Brexit negotiations with the European Union. May is now free to trigger the exit clause but is not expected to do so until March end. |
Reliance Communications gets SEBI nod for merger with Aircel | Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Communications has obtained approval from markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to spin-off and merge its wireless division with Aircel and Dishnet Wireless. The proposed merger, which is expected to create Indiaâs third-largest telecom operator by users, has also received nod from the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. |
Letter explodes at IMF Paris office, 1 injured | At least one person was injured on Thursday after a letter exploded when it was opened at the International Monetary Fund office in Paris, according to reports. Police are now on the scene and an investigation is underway at the offices of the IMF and World Bank. The structure of the IMF building has not been damaged, reports added. |
World champion cyclist dodges dog-walker in time-trial race | World champion cyclist Peter Sagan avoided crashing into a dog-walker during his time-trial race at the Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy. The 27-year-old cyclist had to stray onto the pavement as a woman was walking across a designated crossing point with her dog. Sagan has won the sprinters' category five straight times at the Tour de France. |
Three injured in shooting at French school | At least three people have been injured in a shooting at Alexis de Tocqueville school in France's southern town of Grasse, according to reports. A gunman in possession of several weapons reportedly opened fire at the headmaster. Police have arrested the shooter, a 17-year-old who is a student at the school, and are hunting for a suspected accomplice, reports added. |
Slow-motion video shows train hurling snow at commuters | A slow-motion video shows a train arriving into Rhinecliff Station, New York hurling snow into the air and onto a platform occupied by commuters. Some commuters were reportedly knocked to the ground by the wave of snow. A railroad expert said the train was going at the appropriate speed to clear the snow off the track. |
Emma Watson wears Belle-inspired yellow gown to event | Actress Emma Watson wore a yellow gown inspired by the ball gown worn by Disney character Belle to an event in New York. The gown, which was designed by fashion house Christian Dior, has been made of sustainable eco-age fabric. Emma will be seen portraying 'Belle' in the upcoming film 'Beauty and the Beast'. |
Tamannaah Bhatia features on March cover of 'Femina' | Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has featured on the cover of the March issue of 'Femina' magazine. She can be seen wearing a high neck top with cage details on the neckline. She wore her hair in soft waves and completed her look with eyeshadow, a contoured face and nude lips. The cover story on her is titled 'That Glow!: Tamannaah Bhatia'. |
Celebrities narrate 17-yr-old Syrian war victim's story | Celebrities including Nicole Scherzinger, Carey Mulligan and Jude Law have featured in a new video in which they can be seen narrating the story of 17-year-old Syrian war victim Fatima. The video details her experience of fleeing Syria and leaving behind her siblings to escape to Jordan. "It's time to say enough is enough," the celebrities repeat in the video. |
Why did India not lose review despite Maxwell being not out? | India did not lose a review despite Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell's leg-before DRS appeal being unsuccessful during the Ranchi Test on Thursday. Bowler Ishant Sharma had overstepped with the on-field umpire not giving the no-ball, and also turning down a subsequent LBW appeal. India sought a review with the third umpire calling the delivery illegal and saving the review. |
Delhi Uber driver almost hits a car as girl refuses to talk | A Delhi girl in a Facebook post claimed an Uber driver almost hit another car after she refused to talk to him and answer personal questions. "Once I got down, he followed me with the car for 2-3 minutes and drove away," the girl said. She even received a call from another Uber driver impersonating an Uber professional. |
Banks accepted over â¹1 lakh crore without PAN details | After demonetisation, banks received â¹1.13 lakh crore in "high-value deposits" from customers without providing Permanent Account Numbers (PAN), indicating possible collusion of officials to hide suspicious cash, according to Hindustan Times. About half of these transactions were in six states, like Gujarat and Rajasthan. PAN details, mandatory for deposits above â¹50,000, help detect tax evasion. |
Man takes 9 hours to read Amazon Kindle terms and conditions | Australian consumer advocacy group Choice has released videos that show a hired actor spending 8 hours and 59 minutes to read the complete terms and conditions of Amazon Kindle. The e-reader's terms and conditions are 73,198 words long. The group has encouraged viewers to sign a petition demanding that such contract agreements should be easier for consumers to read. |
Chetan Bhagat announces an electric car project | Author Chetan Bhagat on Wednesday announced on Twitter that he will be setting up an electric car project. "Turning gears. Moving from writing to setting up an electric car project. Always a mechanical engineer #TimeToGetSmarter," he tweeted. Bhagat added that he is not going to stop writing. "I'm not at liberty to reveal further. Stay tuned," he said. |
Argan oil comes from poop of tree-climbing goats in Morocco | Argan oil, which is believed to be one of the most expensive oils in the world, is extracted from the poop of tree-climbing goats in Morocco. The goats climb the Argania trees when the fruits are ripe and feed on them. When the goats excrete the fruit, the seed is still intact, and is used to produce the oil. |
Billionaire Anil Agarwal to invest â¹16,000 crore in UK firm | Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal on Wednesday said he would buy a stake of up to $2.46 billion (nearly â¹16,000 crore) in UK-based mining firm Anglo American. Agarwal, who has majority control of Hindustan Zinc through Vedanta, will make the investment through his family trust. The full stake would equate to about 13% of Angloâs stock, making Agarwal its second-largest shareholder. |
Union Cabinet approves National Health Policy | The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the National Health Policy 2017 aimed at providing affordable healthcare to all. The draft policy aims to raise public healthcare expenditure to 2.5% of GDP from the current 1% and to ensure availability of 2 hospital beds per 1,000 population. It also proposes free drugs, free diagnostics, and free emergency services. |
Siri glitch sends users searching for prostitute to game bar | A glitch in Apple's voice assistant Siri wrongly sent Canadian iPhone users who asked "Where do I find prostitutes?" to a gaming bar in Toronto. The glitch was discovered when several users called the bar's owner in the night asking for prostitutes. The owner, who earlier thought the calls were a prank, has now reported the glitch to Apple. |
Nike slammed by Chinese TV show for false shoe advertising | Sportswear brand Nike has been targeted by China's annual consumer rights day TV show for falsely advertising its shoes. The programme, a âname-and-shameâ show that aims to uncover abuses by companies, said Nike claimed its basketball sneakers had high-tech air cushions inside when they did not. Nike admitted it sold 300 pairs of the shoes in China with "inaccurate description". |
Lipstick Under My Burkha opening film at NY Indian film fest | 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' will be the opening film at the 17th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival, the oldest Indian film festival in the US. The Konkona Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak Shah-starrer film explores the sexual encounters of four women. Notably, India's Censor Board has refused to certify the film, claiming the story was too "lady-oriented".nn |
Saha tries to grab ball stuck in Smith's pad, falls over him | Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha tripped over Australian captain Steve Smith trying to grab the ball, stuck in the latter's pad, during the Ranchi Test on Thursday. A Ravindra Jadeja delivery got lodged in Smith's pads, which Saha attempted to grab. He took out the ball and appealed for a catch, but the ball was declared dead. |
Indonesian army destroys tiger statue that inspired memes | The Indonesian army has destroyed a tiger statue at the West Java base after it inspired many memes and was mocked online. Although the statue was erected years ago, its picture recently emerged online. Major General Herindra said, "Every unit has their own decision on how the statue was made, but sometimes the artist was not that good." |
McDonald's employee jumps through window to save woman | McDonald's employee Pedro Viloria jumped through the restaurant's drive-through window to save an off-duty female police officer who had lost consciousness behind the wheel of her vehicle with her children in the backseat. "I thought, 'If those kids lose their mother today, that's going to be tragic,'" he explained. McDonald's released a statement praising Pedro for his action.nn |
Microsoft ending support for decade-old Windows Vista | Microsoft has announced that it's ending support for Windows Vista operating system which was released in 2006. From next month, Windows Vista users will not receive security updates, assisted support options, or online technical content updates. Almost 8% of desktop market share is still estimated to be using Vista's predecessor Windows XP, despite Microsoft ending support for it in 2014. |
The word 'shampoo' comes from Hindi word 'champo' | The origin of the word 'shampoo', meaning a liquid preparation for washing hair, can be traced to the Hindi word 'champo', which means 'to press, knead the muscles'. The term shampoo is believed to have been first used in the mid-eighteenth century. It was later used in the context of 'washing the hair' in the 1860s. |
Vandalism on Padmavati sets is unacceptable: Anushka Sharma | Actress Anushka Sharma has said that the vandalism which happened on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Padmavati' in Kolhapur is unacceptable. She added, "No sensible person, not just from the film industry but outside as well will accept this." The film's sets were set on fire by 40-50 unidentified men on Tuesday night. |
Why do some animals change colour? | Animals including chameleons and cuttlefish change their colours to protect themselves from predators or to communicate with potential mates. Chameleons are known to change the colour of their skin according to their mood, and not to camouflage with the surroundings. The animals often manipulate and produce different chemicals to change their pigment. |
Billionaire Turakhia to invest $25mn in work messenger Flock | Billionaire Founder and CEO of Flock instant messaging app for work and businesses, Bhavin Turakhia is investing $25 million in the app. With the latest funds, Flock will have a total investment of $45 million from Turakhia. In September 2016, Turakhia announced that he would invest $110 million in all his ventures.nn |
10 yrs since Gibbs hit int'l cricket's 1st six 6s in an over | On March 16, 2007, South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs became the first man in the history of international cricket to hit six 6s in an over. Gibbs smashed Netherlands' Daan van Bunge for six 6s in their first round match at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. Helped by Gibbs' innings, the Proteas amassed 353/3 in their 40 overs. |
Girl posts makeup tutorial done on roof of moving vehicle | Anne Custodio from the Philippines posts videos of her applying makeup while riding on top of a motorcycle sidecar. She can be seen applying primer, concealer and blush, while also managing to curl her hair. She had previously posted a makeup tutorial video which she did while riding in a jeepney or a local mini-bus. |
The soul is missing in songs these days: Lata Mangeshkar | Singer Lata Mangeshkar has said that she finds the soul missing in songs these days. The 87-year-old singer added, "Perhaps that is why people still love to listen to retro songs, and new songs are going out of listeners' memories faster." Lata further suggested that young singers should understand the character, situation and story before recording songs. |
Virat Kohli walks off the field with an injured shoulder | India captain Virat Kohli had to leave the field in the middle of the afternoon session after suffering an injury on his right shoulder. The Indian skipper landed heavily on his shoulder while chasing a ball which raced through mid-on in the 40th over. Kohli was seen using an ice pack on the injured shoulder while in the dressing room. |
Smith's 19th Test ton helps Australia end Day 1 at 299/4 | Australian captain Steve Smith's 19th Test ton helped Australia end the third Test's Day 1 at 299/4 on Thursday. Umesh Yadav picked two wickets, before Smith and Glenn Maxwell put up unbeaten 159 for the 5th wicket, the series' best partnership so far. Notably, Smith became the third captain to score two or more centuries in a series in India. |
67-year-old woman climbs tree to protect it from being cut | Sixty-seven-year-old Jeri Huber from the US climbed a tree to protect it from being cut. She climbed down from the tree after being told that crews would return with a restraining order. In 2010, Huber climbed a tree with a pellet gun to prevent crews from cutting it, forcing them to get a restraining order against her at that time.n |
BFI may debar boxers participating in non-sanctioned events | The Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the governing body for the sport in the country, is considering debarring boxers from representing the country if they are found to have competed in non-sanctioned tournaments. Recently, the national boxing body had also announced that it would organise a franchise-based boxing league at the end of the year. |
Steve Smith visits cricket factory in Jalandhar, buys bats | Australian captain Steve Smith visited a sports equipment-manufacturing factory in Jalandhar recently and took bats and cricketing gear for the remainder of the team's India tour. Smith reportedly spent six hours at the factory seeing the manufacturing process, before taking three bats, gloves and leg guards. The factory has reportedly been making Smith's bats for the past three years. |
Quota candidate cannot claim place in general merit list: HC | The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday ruled that reserved category candidates availing age relaxation cannot claim a place in the general category merit list for government jobs. The Gujarat Public Service Commission had challenged the single-judge bench's verdict in the HC, favouring two quota candidates who were not considered in the general category despite scoring higher than the cut-off. |
Who has voiced the Delhi Metro announcements? | The English announcements in the Delhi Metro have been recorded in the voice of Rini Simon Khanna, from Kerala. She has worked with Doordarshan and All India Radio, as a news anchor and voiceover artist. The Hindi announcements in the Delhi Metro have been recorded in the voice of Delhi-based Shammi Narang, who was a news anchor at Doordarshan. |
IISc, IIT-B among THE's top 50 Asian universities list | The Times Higher Education's Asia University Rankings 2017 released on Wednesday listed Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science at 27, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay at 42, and Chennai's Veltech University at 43. With 33 universities in top-300 (up from 16 last year), India more than doubled its representation, becoming the third most-represented nation on the chart for the first time. |
Digvijaya came to Goa for luxury, not work: Parrikar | After the Goa Assembly floor test, CM Manohar Parrikar said that Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh had come to the state for luxury and not to work. "Congress coming down for floor test was possibly all a hype because it was being demanded that Digvijaya should be kept down as the general secretary. He had to do something," Parrikar added. |
NASA team proposes using Sun as cosmic magnifying glass | Some NASA astronomers have proposed using the Sun as a cosmic magnifying glass. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, light from a distant star is bent around another star, magnifying its image like a telescope lens, before it reaches Earth. This phenomenon called 'gravitational lensing' is used to find exoplanets millions of light-years away using stars outside our solar system. |
Baba Ramdev seeking unit to take Patanjali products to China | Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved is seeking to set up a production unit in Sahibganj, Jharkhand that the government plans to turn into a multi-modal hub. Patanjali is reportedly in talks with the Centre and Jharkhand government to use the Sahibganj multi-modal terminal to export to countries like China. Patanjali has already been exporting to the UK, US, Canada, and Mauritius. |
BJP used money to form govt in Goa, Manipur: Rahul Gandhi | Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has said, "We won the assembly polls in Manipur, Goa, and Punjab. BJP used money for forming governments in Goa and Manipur. They have stolen the government." While addressing the media after Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's oath-taking ceremony, Gandhi added, "I thank people of Punjab for showing faith in us. We'll work for the state tirelessly." |
TRAI asked to re-examine approval of Jio's free offers | Telecom tribunal TDSAT has allowed Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio to continue with its free promotional offer, but asked regulator TRAI to "re-examine" issues relating to its approval granted for the same. TDSAT asked TRAI to inform it about the "findings of the examination" within two weeks. Earlier, incumbent operators criticised TRAI for being a "mute spectator" to Jio's alleged violations. |
Me being an actor didn't affect Mira when we 1st met: Shahid | Actor Shahid Kapoor has revealed that his wife Mira Rajput wasn't affected by the fact that he was an actor when they first met. He added, "I found her to be self-assured...we could speak very easily...and were able to connect as people." Shahid and Mira got married in a low-key gurudwara wedding in 2015 and have a daughter together. |
INS Viraat likely to become underwater destination | Indian Navy's decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat may become an underwater tourist attraction off the Konkan coast if Maharashtra government's plans go through. "There was a similar proposal to turn the INS Vikrant into a museum, but it just lingered on and didn't work out, so we want to cautiously take a call on this one," said a government official. |
Hungry baby gets milk after tweet to Konkan Railways | A hungry five-month-old baby on the Tirunelveli-Hapa Express was provided milk when a passenger tweeted to Konkan Railways for help. The milk the baby's parents were carrying had become curdled and the next stop was hours away. The Konkan Railways' twitter handle responded swiftly, gathering the relevant details and delivering the milk at an intervening station. |
PickMyLaundry acquires OneClickWash in all-cash deal | Delhi NCR-based laundry service company PickMyLaundry on Thursday announced that it has acquired subscription-based dry clean startup OneClickWash in an all-cash deal. PickMyLaundry will gain access to OneClickWash's laundry processing unit which can process 1,000 kg of clothes per day. The combined entity will run in a hybrid model and both brands will also continue to run as separate entities.n |
Voice From The Stone trailer starring GoT actress Emilia out | The trailer of the Emilia Clarke starrer supernatural psychological thriller film 'Voice From The Stone' has been released. Emilia will be seen playing the role of a nurse who helps a troubled boy deal with the trauma of his mother's sudden death. Directed by Eric D Howell, the film is scheduled to release on April 28. |
Global warming can shrink mammals, claims study | A US-based study has claimed that mammal body size could shrink due to prolonged hotter climates. Analysis of fossil teeth showed that horses, cows, got smaller at least twice in Earth's history due to natural global warming by high carbon dioxide levels. Scientists believe a similar event could happen due to man-caused climate change, triggering lower productivity in the animals. |
MIT scientists identify a black hole 'choking' on stardust | Researchers at MIT and NASA have discovered a supermassive black hole that is "choking" on a sudden influx of stellar debris. Scientists studying the UV and X-ray emissions found bursts of electromagnetic activity in fixed intervals, suggesting huge amounts of stardust were interacting with itself to create "tidal disruption flares" before encircling into the black hole and thus choking it. |
People think of feminism as a negative word: Kalki Koechlin | Actress Kalki Koechlin has said that most people think of feminism as a negative word. According to her, this is because they understand feminism to be either male bashing, or that women are better than men, or a cause which talks only about women's rights. She added, "People shy away from using the word because they don't know its meaning." |
Explosives sent to German Finance Minister from Greece | A parcel containing explosives found at the office of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier on Wednesday was sent from Greece and had a Greek stamp, Greek police have said. Notably, Schaeuble became unpopular in Greece during the country's debt crisis as he was seen as imposing austerity on Greece in exchange for financial aid. |
Chinese Premier warns Trump against trade war | China does not want a trade war with the United States but if there would be a trade war in future then American companies based in China would be the first to suffer, China's Premier Li Keqiang has warned. Keqiang further said that the country's leadership hopes the US-China relationship continues to move forward in a positive direction. |
Amazon Fashion Week begins with show on handloom fabrics | The autumn/winter 2017 session of Amazon India Fashion Week began with a show on handloom fabrics, which presented the works of 13 designers. The models did not wear one entire look by a designer, but a combination of different pieces styled together to create a new look. The runway was decorated with flowers and models were seen walking barefoot. |
Force India F1 cars to have pink colour scheme in new season | Vijay Mallya-owned Formula One team Force India will feature pink-coloured cars for the 2017 Formula One season. The move comes after the team signed a sponsorship deal with Austrian water technology company BWT. Force India's Mexican driver Sergio Perez and French team mate Esteban Ocon will also sport pink colour on their helmets. |
Aussie media an extension of team support staff: Gavaskar | Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said not much attention needs to be paid to Australian media, since they are an "extension of the team's support staff". Gavaskar added the focus now needed to shift to cricket from off-the-field issues surrounding Australia's tour of India. Indian captain Virat Kohli has been mocked by Australian publications, besides digs at Indian pitches. |
China's Baidu fires executive over ethics violation | Chinese internet major Baidu has fired the head of its loss-making Nuomi group-buying division Zeng Liang, citing violations of the company's ethics. According to the company, Zeng admitted profiting from under-the-table transactions with representatives that deal with major clients and compensated the company for any losses as a result. Baidu's Nuomi sells discounted products and services. |
Impeachment papers filed against Philippine Prez Duterte | An opposition lawmaker on Thursday filed an impeachment complaint in the Philippine Congress against President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing him of high crimes, betrayal of public trust and abuses of power. Duterte administration dismissed the claims as part of a political plot. Notably, Duterte's war on drugs has killed over 8,000 people since its launch last year. |
Scientists harness solar power to make hydrogen from biomass | Scientists at the University of Cambridge harnessed solar power to produce clean hydrogen fuel from biomass. The team dipped various unprocessed biomass like pieces of wood, paper and leaves in alkali solution in test tubes and exposed them to sunlight to obtain hydrogen gas. The method is both sustainable and cheap to produce energy from bio-waste, scientists said. |
Russia deploys forces near Libyan border: Report | Russia has deployed special forces to an airbase in Egypt near the border with Libya to further boost its involvement in war-torn Libya, according to reports. The US believes it could be a Russian attempt to support Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar against Benghazi Defence Brigades who had captured two of Libya's largest oil export terminals from the army's control. |
Kyrgios beats world no. 2 Djokovic for 2nd time in two weeks | World number 16 Australia's Nick Kyrgios registered his second victory in as many weeks over world number two Serbia's Novak Djokovic, knocking the Serbian out from Indian Wells Masters in straight sets on Thursday. Kyrgios, who defeated Djokovic in the Mexican Open 13 days ago, holds a 2-0 unbeaten record against the former world number one. |
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar proves majority in floor test | Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar proved his majority in the Goa Assembly on Thursday with a floor test where 22 MLAs supported him. He was supported by 13 BJP MLAs, three independent MLAs and three each from the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party. Notably, Congress emerged as the single-largest party in Goa with 17 seats. |
Tata Motors to host Indiaâs only truck racing event on March 19 | Indiaâs only truck racing championship, Tata Motorsâ T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship will return for its fourth season on Sunday, March 19. The event will host celebrities like actor Akshay Kumar and singers Garima Yajnik, KK and Siddharth Mahadevan. The race, which has been themed âJunoon-e-Truckingâ, will be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. |
Startup cancels woman's job interview for asking about wage | US-based food delivery service SkipTheDishes cancelled a woman's job interview for enquiring about the wage and benefits that the position would offer. The woman tweeted screenshots of the startup's reply which read, âYour questions reveal that your priorities are not in sync with those of SkipTheDishes.â However, the startup later apologised to the woman and offered to reschedule the interview.n |
Not many women get to intimidate The Rock in films: Priyanka | Actress Priyanka Chopra, speaking about her Hollywood debut film 'Baywatch', said that not many women get a chance to intimidate Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) in films. She added, "I play the villain...that was the funnest thing to do...I'm so mean to Zac Efron and Johnson." Priyanka said this on her recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'. |
Modi responds to man's 'PM works for me' tweet | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted, "Absolutely. Happy to be the Pradhan Sevak for each and every Indian," after a Twitter user said Modi worked for him. Modi was responding to Ajeet Singh, who had tweeted, "One of my follower casually asked me: Do you work for @narendramodi? I smiled and said: No dear, he works for me.. #IAmNewIndia". |