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Sanira Mediratta

20 Apr 2017,Thursday

Delhi once had a system of trams

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/revival-of-trams-in-delhi-s-chandni-chowk-gets-a-new-push/story-jR8MNPPuACDkJ403Tk1p2M.html

A trams transport system was introduced in Delhi in 1908. By 1921, Delhi reportedly had about 15 kilometres of tram track with 24 functioning trams. The system was however stopped due to congestion in the 1960s. The government in 2015 planned to reintroduce trams as public transport in Chandni Chowk area but abandoned the idea, citing high infrastructure cost.

Hopes for revival of trams in the Walled City has renewed with the high court-appointed nodal officer of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Project directing Shahjahanad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) to prepare a comparative study of plying of trams and electric-buses (e-buses).Earlier, the Delhi government had planned to reintroduce trams as public transport in Chandni Chowk area. However, the idea was dumped citing high infrastructure cost and the government had instead decided to ply e-buses. Read: Dilli-6 | When trams ruled Purani Dilli.CChowk_wrap {width:50%; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left; margin-right:8px}.CChowk_headline {font-size:150%; margin-bottom:5px}.CChowk_caption {width:auto; font-size:80%}.CChowk_line {width:auto; border-bottom:dotted 1px #000; margin-bottom:2px; margin-top:2px; clear:both}.CChowk_blackbar {width:auto; padding:5px; background-color:#000; color:#FFF; text-transform:uppercase}.CChowk_cleanbox {width:auto; padding:5px; background-color:#FFEAD5}.clrboth {clear:both; margin:2px}@media only screen and (max-width:360px) {.CChowk_wrap {width:auto; font-family:"Open Sans"; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999; float:left; margin-right:0px}}Restoring the Walled City iconTrams were first introduced in Delhi in 1908. But the service was stopped due to congestion in 1960sA tram runs in Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk. (HT File)July 2015 Delhi govt moots a proposal to restore trams in Chandni Chowk. DMRC asked to prepare a DPRAugust 2015 Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and the area MLA Alka Lamba visit the area to check the feasibilitySeptember 14, 2015 The plan was scrapped because of high infrastructure cost. The government decides to run e-busesJanuary 17, 2017 The HC-appointed nodal officer of Shahjahanabad redevelopment project directs Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation to prepare a comparative study of plying of trams and e-buses in the walled cityPROPOSAL BY DMRC4.3 km long track15 km/hour Speed limitRs 800 cr Estimated cost (excluding operation and maintenance)6 trams proposed from Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir to Fatehpuri Mosque300 persons: Tram capacityNo rickshaws and vehicles entry along the track?There is a need to evolve environment friendly transport system operating on electricity/battery. The options between battery-operated buses and the tram-like system as recommended by the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) will be discussed in the next meeting. The SRDC should prepare a comparative statement touching on the cost, capacity to handle traffic and bring it in the next meeting,? said the minutes of the meeting which held pursuant to the Delhi high court order.The directions came during the SRDC board meeting held last week. ?Both proposals are likely to be deliberated in the next meeting to be held in first week of February,? said a source. Union science and technology minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the money is not an issue and he will arrange funds from the Central government for the project. ?The tourism and culture ministry has its own funds which it gives for various projects to promote culture and tourism. I will request the minister in-charge to allocate funds for the tram project. I will not leave this project. I have been following this for long,? said Vardhan, who is also MP from the area.Read: After 50 years, trams likely to make a comeback in Chandni ChowkIn 2015, the DMRC was assigned the job to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for bringing back trams in Chandni Chowk and its vicinity. Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also visited the area to check the feasibility of the proposal. In its report, the DMRC had found the running of trams in streets of Chandni Chowk possible. It proposed 4.3 km of tramline in the area, including 1.6 km elevated track. ?Around Rs 60 lakh were spent on the study, however the proposal was scrapped in September 2015 citing high cost which was estimated at Rs 800 crore,? a senior Delhi government official. He said, the PWD minister suggested electric buses as an alternative, which was accepted by the board despite resistance by others. ?A few of members were of the opinion that to revive lost glory of old Delhi, trams should be restored. Finance department also opined before scrapping the idea of trams, a comparative study should be made. And, the decision to ply e-buses was taken. Nevertheless, no development has taken place in this regard,? he said.

Vani Vivek

05 Jan 2017,Thursday

Samsung unveils touchscreen convertible laptop at ?30,000

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/samsung-launches-touch-screen-convertible-chromebooks-at-ces-2017/1/850049.html

Samsung has announced two Chrome OS-based convertible laptops, Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro with a touchscreen display starting at $449 (?30,500). The laptops, which have a pressure sensitive 360-degree rotating screen, come with a stylus. The Chromebooks have 4 GB of RAM with 32 GB of storage and claim to have a battery life of up to 8 hours.

Samsung has announced two of its Chrome OS based laptops -- Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro at the Consumer Electronics Show that come with a touch screen display and support for Android apps. The price of the Plus version is $449 (approx Rs 30,500) and will hit the shelves in February, while the other in the second quarter of 2017.Also Read: Microsoft Surface Pro 5 2-in-1 may launch in Q1 2017 Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook pro are both convertible laptops, meaning you can flip the screen 360-degree and use it as a tablet. HP already has something similar with Chromebook 11 G5 and so does Acer with its R 11 2-in-1. But Samsung bundles a stylus with its Chromebooks, same as what you get with a Galaxy Note 5 (or you would have got with your Note 7) that allows you to write and draw using pre-loaded applications -- Google Keep and Samsung ArtCanvas. Samsung say the pen is newly developed and has a tip measuring 0.7mm for precise screen capturing.Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and Apple iPad pro are big screen tablets shipping with a stylus and Samsung's Chromebooks will offer a much cheaper alternative. Google added stylus support to Chrome OS in mid-2016 and uses software to predict where the user will position the pen next to improve its responsiveness.  Both the Chromebooks are fitted with mobile grade chipsets with 4GB RAM and 32GB e.MMC storage. The only difference is that the Pro version uses Intel Core M3 processor, while the other has an ARM-based Hexa-core CPU with 2xA72 cores and 4xA53 cores. The latter may have better performance and graphics (and hence a higher price) but both drive the same 2400 x 1600 display, resolution a notch above 1080p.

Aarushi Maheshwari

17 Jan 2017,Tuesday

India ranks 78th on global passport-strength list: Survey

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/german-passport-worlds-strongest-india-ranks-78th/1/859295.html

The Indian passport has ranked 78th in a list of the world's strongest passports, as it offers visa-free or visa on arrival facilities to 46 countries, according to financial advisory firm Arton Capital. Afghanistan's passport has been rated the weakest, with a rank of 95, while Pakistan's passport has been placed second lowest, occupying the 94th position.

Indian passport has been ranked a lowly 78 in a global ranking of the world's most powerful passports which was topped by Germany. Germany stands at the top with a visa-free score of 157 while Singapore overtakes South Korea and becomes the highest ranked Asian passport with a visa-free score of 156. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Chhavi Tyagi

04 Apr 2017,Tuesday

Speak the truth, fulfil your poll promises: Tejaswi to Modi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-navami-narendra-modi-tejashwi-yadav-bihar/1/920190.html

Wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Ramnavami, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav tweeted, "Respected PM, at least on the auspicious occasion of Ramnavami today, please speak the truth." He further asked Modi to tell the people as to when he will start implementation of his poll promise of providing jobs to two crore youths every year.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav today launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to speak the truth on the occasion of Ram Navami. Reminding PM Modi of his election promise that he made during 2014 Lok Sabha elections campaigning, Tejaswi asked when will he start implementing his ambitious plans."Respected PM, at least on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami today, please speak the truth on when implementation will start on your poll promise of providing jobs to 2 crore youths every year?" Tejaswi asked.Tejashwi's remark came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet greeting people on Ram Navami. "On the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, I greet the people of the country," the prime minister had tweeted. ?????? ??????, ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? 2????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? https://t.co/hP6aiYeZadThis is not the first time that Tejaswi has directed his jibe at PM Modi. In fact last month, when Bihar celebrated its foundation day on March 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had greeted the people of the state. However, Lalu Prasad's minister son had criticised the PM describing PM tweet as "hollow greeting".Tejaswi, then had slammed PM Modi maintaining that Bihar which gave BJP 31 MPs in Lok Sabha polls in 2014, the long pending demand of the state of being granted a special status is still not been met despite the Modi government completing three years in power. ALSO READ: 

Saloni Tandon

26 Dec 2016,Monday

Will ask PM Modi to give us jobs: WC-winning jr hockey team

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/junior-hockey-world-india-narendra-modi-jobs-next-week/1/842300.html

Members of India's junior hockey team, who won the World Cup last week, have said they will request PM Narendra Modi to grant them jobs at a meeting next week. "We need some security...if we pick up an injury, who will take care of us? We are jobless," said Gurjant Singh, who scored in the final against Belgium.

When the just-crowned Hockey Junior World Cup champions meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next Wednesday, on the top of their agenda will be seeking jobs which they feel their state government and their clubs have failed to provide.Gurjant Singh, who scored in the final against Belgium which India won 2-1 to clinch the trophy after 15 years, said: "We need security. The Punjab government (his state government) should provide us with jobs. When we meet the Prime Minister on December 28 we will be taking up the issue with him."Gurjant, who is playing for ONGC in the ongoing 121st All India Beighton Cup is one of the five players the PSU has in their ranks from the World Cup winning team. (Seniors can learn from our junior world champions, says India hockey coach Roelant Oltmans)"We have got Rs 25 lakh each from the Punjab government which is great. But we need security which a job can provide. We have just won the World Cup and our aim is to win a medal in the 2018 senior World Cup," Simranjeet Singh, another scorer in the final, said.Gurjant added: "We need some security as if we pick up an injury here today (in the Beighton Cup) who will take care of us? We are jobless." (India hammer Belgium 2-1 to clinch second Junior Hockey World Cup title)Retorting to the players' plea, ONGC coach Sandeep Sangwan said, "We are looking into it (trying to get job for players). At ONGC, we have certain policies and at the moment we have three vacancies. We are thinking of giving them jobs."On the historic World Cup win, Vikramjeet Singh, another member of the team, said beating Australia in the semi-finals was the toughest."We had the belief in us that we can reach the final. The semi-final against Australia was our toughest test."India edged past powerhouse Australia 4-2 via penalty shoot-out to enter the final. (India outclass Spain to enter semi-finals of Junior Hockey World Cup)"Life has changed after winning the World Cup. When I scored the first goal it was like the roof came down in Lucknow," Gurjant said.

Mansha Mahajan

14 Mar 2017,Tuesday

Want fresh look into $1.18 bn Tata-DoCoMo settlement: RBI

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/want-fresh-look-into-tata-docomo-arbitral-award-rbi-tells-hc/1/903789.html

The RBI has told the Delhi High Court it wants to take a fresh look into the $1.18 billion arbitral award granted to NTT DoCoMo for Tata Sons' alleged breach of agreement. The court, however, didn't agree with RBI, saying there was no point in going over it again. It further said, "In every private award, RBI cannot step in."

New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI) The RBI today told the Delhi High Court that it wants to take a fresh look into the USD 1.17 billion arbitral award granted in favour of Japanese telecom major NTT Docomo for Tata Sons alleged breach of its agreement. Justice S Muralidhar, however, did not agree with the stand taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), saying "there is no point in going over it all over again". "RBI has already undertaken the exercise (of looking into the award) twice over. It might be better to tell the court, whether there is any statutory provision or regulation barring transfer of money overseas under the award," the judge said. The court also said that "in every private award, RBI cannot step in" and gave the bank time till tomorrow to show the rule, regulation or circular which comes in the way of implementation of the award. Senior advocate Soli Sorabjee, appearing for the RBI, told the court that the bank would not press its application to intervene in the matter if it can take a fresh look into the award granted in favour of Docomo. This contention was opposed by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Darius Khambata, appearing for Docomo and Tata Sons respectively. They said that on March 8, the court had asked RBI to make its stand clear by showing the rule, regulation or circular under which the banks permission is required before transfer of money overseas under the award. The lawyers for the two companies said that the RBI cannot keep it open ended by looking into afresh.

Dishant Sharma

29 Jan 2017,Sunday

Hope Federer can defy logic to lift Aus Open title: Ganguly

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sourav-ganguly-roger-federer-vs-rafael-nadal-australian-open-final/1/868790.html

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said he is supporting Swiss tennis star Roger Federer in the Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal and hopes the Swiss defies logic to win the title. At the age of 35, Federer is the oldest men's Grand Slam finalist since Ken Rosewall, who played in US Open final at the age of 39.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will take to the Rod Laver Arena to reprise one of the great sporting rivalries of the modern age on Sunday, a fitting climax to an Australian Open which has sent tennis back to the future.As Federer and Nadal will meet in a grand slam final for the first time in more than five years, tennis fans couldn't help but look ahead. (Nadal vs Federer: Dream final becomes reality in Australia)Ahead of the dream final at Melbourne Park on Sunday, former India captain and a self-confessed tennis fan, Sourav Ganguly, said he was backing the Swiss veteran against Nadal. (Serena Williams overcomes sister Venus to win record 23rd Grand Slam)"I am very happy to see Roger Federer in the finals again. I saw him at the Wimbledon final where Nadal just smashed him. You could see the difference in a not-so-young Federer and a terrific Nadal," Ganguly told India Today. "But this time Nadal is also making a comeback after injuries and layoffs and Federer has been in top-notch form in this competition. I don't know if Nadal is still a bit too quick for Federer but I am backing Federer because what he has achieved in tennis is unbelievable," he added. At 35, Federer is the oldest men's grand slam finalist since Ken Rosewall lost the US Open final in 1974 at the age of 39.(WATCH VIDEO HERE) Nadal might be five years younger but has been on tour since his late teens and the effort required for his attritional playing style puts tremendous strain on his body.The Spaniard has dominated Federer in their head-to-head match-ups - he has a 23-11 record overall and has won nine of their 11 matches in Grand Slams. Ganguly, however, remained confident about Federer's chances of lifting his fifth Australian Open title, while adding that age was just a number."Nadal is a lot younger, lot faster but let's see whether the old man can defy the logic, which I firmly believe that age is just a number, and win another Australian Open," he said.Meanwhile, another big match in the offing on "Super Sunday" is the second T20I between India and England at Nagpur where Virat Kohli and Co. will aim to avoid a series defeat after losing the first match at Kanpur. (2nd T20I: India eye improved performance to avoid series defeat against England)Facing the prospect of a series defeat at home for the first time in 15 months, Kohli will have a relook at his team combination in the do-or-die match.The last time that India lost a series was 2-3 against South Africa in October 2015. After receiving seven-wicket drubbing at Kanpur, the hosts' first aim will be to keep the series alive.Kohli, who is yet to lose a series at home as captain in all formats, will need to go back to the drawing board to figure out the right balance.However, Ganguly said Kohli was more likely to stick to the same playing XI tomorrow. (I did not open the batting to look special: Virat Kohli)

Vani Vivek

19 May 2017,Friday

WhatsApp launches feature to pin chats at the top on Android

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/whatsapp-brings-pinned-chats-to-android-heres-how-to-use-the-feature/1/957693.html

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has launched a feature to let Android users pin three chats at the top of their conversation list. The feature is intended to make it easier for users to access their preferred chats without having to scroll and look for them. Users can pin chats by long pressing on them and then tapping the pin icon.

WhatsApp is making it easier for people to keep their most important messages in sight. The instant messaging app on Thursday rolled out the Pinned Chats feature for Android allowing users to pin their three most  important message conversations on top of all the other chats. " With pinned chats, you never have to worry about scrolling through the long list of conversations to text your family members or your best friend. Users can now pin up to three of the most important group or individual chats to the top of their chat list for easy access -- simply tap and hold a chat, and then tap the pin icon at the top of your screen, " WhatsApp said in a press release.Also Read: WhatsApp Pin Chats feature to help you keep important chats in sightThe Pinned chats was previously available in beta phase and is now available as an update. Users can go to Google Play and simply update the app from there.  Once the user pins any three messages, these messages will come on top in spite of other messages pouring in.So how does this feature work? Learn here.1. Go to WhatsApp.2. Tap hold on the chat you want to pin.

Niharika Prabhakar

30 Jul 2017,Sunday

523 wetlands destroyed in Maharashtra in 5 years: Report

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/523-wetlands-were-destroyed-in-maharashtra-in-five-years-report/story-vXeozjltyhMeB4GGMALWTI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Between 2012 and 2017, 523 cases of wetland destruction were reported in Maharashtra, according to a report by Mumbai-based NGO Vanashakti. While ten major cases were reported from Mumbai Metropolitan Region, most cases were reported in other areas such as Thane and Dombivli. Bombay High Court had banned construction on wetlands after the NGO filed a PIL to protect them.

A court order protecting them and several reports pointing out their importance notwithstanding, wetlands across the state continue to be destroyed. Between 2012 and 2017 alone, 523 cases of wetland destruction were reported, a report compiled by the Mumbai-based NGO Vanashakti revealed at the National Mangrove Conference in Dona Paula, Goa, on Thursday. Ten major cases were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, but the most cases were reported in Thane, at Kalher, Kasheli and Dombivli among other areas. In Mumbai, the destruction is taking place right under our noses ? a 400-acre patch opposite Millat Nagar in Oshiwara-Lonkhandwala, a 15-acre patch at Shivaji Nagar, a 200 acre patch in Charkop and a 10-acre patch in Dahisar.Why does this matter to you? Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, and apart from being home to several species of plants and animals, they act as a carbon sink by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and cleaning the air you breathe.READ: Maharashtra government order to save wetlands: List those larger than 2.25ha by September?More than 500 wetland destruction cases were reported in five years. This couldn?t have been possible if not for active support from government machinery such as police and revenue department,? said Stalin D, director, NGO Vanashakti. ?The state mangrove cell, meanwhile, has managed to keep the wetlands under their control, relatively safe.?In 2014, the Bombay HC banned reclamation and construction on wetlands after Vanashakti filed a PIL to protect them. Stalin said even during the wetland grievance redressal committee meetings (formed by the state as per HC directions), corporations and revenue departments refused to restore degraded wetlands citing poor funds and lack of places to dump debris from wetlands. ?Despite several court orders, municipal corporations in Mumbai, Thane, Mira Bhayander and Vasai are ignorant about conserving wetlands,? Stalin said. According to the national wetland atlas developed by the Union environment ministry, Maharashtra (spread across 3.07 lakh sqkm) has a wetland cover of just 10,145 sqkm . The Vanashakti data comes a week after HT reported the state had directed every district to document wetlands larger than 2.25 hectares by September, to protect them. Before this directive, the state mapped 320 wetlands in forest areas across 25 districts . Beefing up security and tightening laws were the only ways to protect wetlands, experts said. ?Wetland destruction is a much larger violation than just destroying mangroves, which are a part of wetlands. The state needs to levy stricter fines and soon,? said Arvind Untawale, executive secretary of the Mangrove Society of India. ?The Vanashakti report is an eye-opener to the massive loss already incurred by the state.?Konkan commissioner Jagdish Patil told HT, ?We are drafting an action plan to protect these sites better. Once collectors submit their wetland lists, the panel will decide a strong action plan.?

Aarushi Maheshwari

07 Jun 2017,Wednesday

Goat chews up owner's ?66,000, he says 'it's like my child'

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/goat-chews-rs-66-000-kannauj-uttar-pradesh/1/972659.html

A goat in UP chewed up currency notes worth ?66,000 while his owner was bathing on Monday. Farmer Sarvesh Kumar Pal, who raised an alarm but managed to save only ?4,000, said people have suggested he sell the goat to a butcher. However, Pal and his wife said, "We can't be cruel to our pet. It's like our own child."

What do goats prefer to have when they are really hungry? Well, this one apparently likes its food in 'pink' rather than 'green'.A 'hungry' goat chewed Rs 66,000 that its owner had kept in the pocket of his trouser in Siluapur village in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. According to a Times of India report , farmer Sarvesh Kumar Patel had kept some Rs 66,000, all new pink Rs 2000 notes, in his trousers. The trouser was kept close to where one of his goats was tied. When Sarvesh returned after a few minutes, he saw his  goat munching something. To his shock it was his currency notes that the goat was chewing.  Sarvesh took evasive action to save his money that he had kept to buy bricks for his under-construction house. But he could only manage to retrieve two Rs 2000 notes. The rest were gone."I was taking a bath and the money was kept in the pocket of my trousers. Notorious for eating all kinds of paper products, the goat seized the chance to munch on its favourite food. What to do, my goat is like a child to me," The Times of India quoted Sarvesh, as saying. As the news spread, neighbours and people from nearby villages visited Sarvesh's house to meet the note-munching goat. The farmer said people gave him numerous solutions to recover the notes. Some even advised Sarvesh to sell it to a butcher. Some were of the view that the goat should be handed over to the police. Luckily, Sarvesh snubbed at all the suggestions and the goat continues to nibble at the master's house.ALSO READ:

Deepali Aggarwal

24 Jul 2017,Monday

Pak-origin London Bridge terrorist buried in secret: Report

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistani-origin-london-bridge-terrorist-buried-in-secret-report/story-msuslsd6II94PPiADXlTgP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Pakistani-origin terrorist behind the London Bridge terror attack, Khuram Butt, has reportedly been buried in secret without any rites or mourners after a number of UK cemeteries refused to accept the body. Butt masterminded the June attack in which he drove a van into pedestrians and stabbed people with a knife, killing eight and injuring 48 others.

The Pakistani-origin terrorist behind the London Bridge terror attack, Khuram Shazad Butt, has been buried in secret after a number of cemeteries in the UK refused to accept the body, a media report said on Sunday.A relative of the 27-year-old drove his body to a graveyard near the family home in East London recently where he was buried without any rites or mourners, the Sunday Mirror reported.?The family are distraught with what he did but he is still their son and brother. His mother is not in a good way health-wise after what has happened so it was decided she should not attend,? the newspaper quoted a source as saying.The family feared any ceremony could be too traumatic and draw negative attention.Butt?s friends and associates were not notified of the burial.Butt was the ringleader of the attack in London Bridge and nearby Borough Market last month.He and two others drove a van into pedestrians before stabbing and slashing revellers enjoying a night out.Seven victims died, dozens were hurt and Butt and the two other terrorists were shot dead.Butt became radicalised after watching hate preachers on YouTube before becoming linked to Al Muhajiroun, the banned extremist group whose leader, Anjem Choudary, is in jail and now moved to an isolation unit.

Ankur Vyas

23 Feb 2017,Thursday

Former BJP MLA Vijay Jolly booked on rape charges

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vijay-jolly-former-delhi-bjp-mla-rape-case-sexual-assault/1/889555.html

Former Delhi BJP MLA Vijay Jolly has been booked for rape after a woman alleged that he sexually assaulted her, police said on Thursday. The Delhi-based woman accused the former legislator of spiking her drink before sexually assaulting her in a Gurugram resort. Jolly had also filed a police complaint against the woman accusing her of blackmailing and extortion.

Former Delhi BJP MLA Vijay Jolly has been booked in a case of rape after a woman alleged that he drugged and assaulted her, police said today.The former Saket legislator was booked under sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc.) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code after the Delhi-based woman filed a complaint at a women's police station here on February 21.The woman has alleged in her complaint that Jolly spiked her drink before sexually assaulting her at Gurgaon's Aapno Ghar Resort on February 10.JOLLY'S ALLEGATIONS  Jolly, an MLA from 2003 to 2008, said he filed a police complaint against the woman, who he alleged was blackmailing and extorting him, on February 17.He told PTI that the allegations were fabricated, meant to defame him and tarnish his political image.Jolly said that the woman was a member of the BJP's women's wing and had met him alone at the resort on February 10. There she tried to extort a sum of Rs 5 lakh from him and thretated to file a rape case if he did not comply, he said.FIR LODGED AGAINST JOLLYAn FIR under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and other relevant sections had been lodged against the woman at Khidki Daula Police Station on the basis of Jolly's complaint, a senior police officer said.

Parmeet Kaur

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Delhi government stops funding of 28 DU colleges

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-govt-stops-funding-of-28-du-colleges-sisodia-says-can-t-allow-corruption/story-SugPlbFJrgrClCTzl08LzN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Delhi government on Monday decided to stop grants to 28 Delhi University colleges following the varsity's failure to form their governing bodies. "I cannot allow unchecked corruption and irregularities to be sustained on Delhi govt funds in the name of education,? Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tweeted. Twelve out of the 28 colleges are fully funded by the Delhi government.

The Delhi government has stopped grants to 28 Delhi University colleges funded by it on account of the university not forming governing bodies for the last 10 months.Twelve out of the 28 colleges are fully funded by the government and 16 are partially funded. The government had asked Delhi University to form governing bodies before making any appointments.The university is currently in the process of hiring permanent faculty.?I can not allow unchecked corruption and irregularities to be sustained on Delhi govt funds in the name of Education. The sequence of events from Sept 2016 seems to indicate a deliberate and malafied attempt to delay formation of gov bodies by DU,? deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said in a series of tweets on Monday.Hv ordered Fin Dept to stop funding for Delhi gov funded 28 DU colleges, as DU not willing to form governing bodies for last 10 months.? Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) July 31, 2017Colleges dependent entirely on funding from the government will find it hard to function after being cut off.?Everything from payment of salaries to teaching and non-teaching staff to payment of electricity bill is done through Delhi government?s funds. If we don?t get the funds the college will have to stop,? said SK Garg, principal Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, which is fully funded by the government.The sequence of events from Sept 2016 seems to indicate a deliberate and malafied attempt to delay formation of gov bodies by DU pic.twitter.com/xoYgcPip40? Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) July 31, 2017However, DU officials said there won?t be any immediate impact on any of these colleges.?We receive funds of about Rs24-25 crores in four instalments ? July, November, January, and March. We have already received the first instalment, so there won?t be any immediate impact and the matter will hopefully be resolved in a few weeks,? Garg said.Dean of Colleges Devesh K Sinha said they have written a letter to the government on Monday assuring them that the governing bodies will be formed within a week or two.?The executive council had raised certain objections to the nominations. We are supposed to have a variety of experts in the body but the government, for instance, had recommended five educationists to one college. However, we are in the process and soon the bodies will be formed,? Sinha said.He said that the government?s main concern is that the governing bodies should be formed before the appointments. ?Anyway the appointments are not happening before September so there is time,? he said.Twelve DU colleges are fully funded by the Delhi government, including Shaheed Raj Guru College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Maharaja Agarsen College, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.Sixteen DU colleges are partially funded by the Delhi government, including Gargi College, Kamla Nehru College, Shivaji College and Delhi College of Arts & Commerce.In June, the government had asked colleges to not go ahead with faculty appointments till college governing bodies are formed and had also threatened to withhold funds to college in case of non-compliance.The government has asked the University to ?duly constitute? the governing bodies, which will include five members nominated by the government, before making any appointments.DU colleges have been advertising vacant faculty positions following a High Court order.

Vani Vivek

09 Jun 2017,Friday

Robot gets 'below average' score in China's college exam

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ai-robot-gets-below-average-scores-in-university-entrance-exam/1/973921.html

An artificial intelligence robot called 'AI-MATHS' took a college entrance exam in China this week and scored a 'below average' grade despite finishing faster than humans. The robot scored 105 points out of 150 in 22 minutes without internet, while humans take two hours to complete it. Beijing students who took the maths exam last year scored 109 on average.

Beijing, Jun 8 (PTI) An artificial intelligence robot that took a college entrance exam in China has managed to scrape a below average grade, although it finished the test much faster than humans. The robot, AI-MATHS, completed two versions of the exams math test. It finished the test in 22 minutes, scoring 105 points out of 150 points, without Internet support. It scored 100 points on another version of the test. "It would take two hours for a human to finish the test. I hope next year the machine can improve its performance on logical reasoning and computer algorithms and score over 130," said Lin Hui, CEO of Chengdu Zhunxingyunxue Technology, the company which developed the robot. In February, the robot scored 93 on one math test, slightly higher than the passing grade of 90. Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology plans to build AI robots by 2020 that would be smart enough to gain admission to leading universities through the entrance exam, the state- run news agency Xinhua reported.

Tanya Dhingra

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Luck stronger factor than talent to be an actor, says Shakti

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/shakti-kapoor-it-takes-both-luck-and-talent-to-make-a-mark-in-bollywood/story-y8V1HMXfe0NCApC9h6oyOM.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Veteran actor Shakti Kapoor has said luck is a stronger factor than talent to become an actor. Talking about his days at Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Shakti said only he and Naseeruddin Shah could make it in films. Shakti added he thought that out of eleven boys at FTII with him, ten were better than him.

Veteran actor Shakti Kapoor believes that any actor?s success recipe is divided into talent and good luck and it is never only one ingredient that can propel a person?s career forward. ?I feel talent does count, but for someone to observe your talent, you have to do one film and that?s where luck comes in. I come from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) Pune, and we were 11 boys and 10 girls, and I thought that out those 11 boys, 10 were better than me. The luck factor is so strong that out of those guys, only me and Naseeruddin (Shah) could make it in cinema,? says Kapoor, who has been part of huge hits such as Jaani Dushman (1979), Qurbani (1980), Naseeb (1981), and Rocky (1981).Giving the example of his son Siddhanth Kapoor, who will soon make his Bollywood debut, and daughter Shraddha Kapoor, who is already 12 films old, the veteran actor says, ?My son has studied filmmaking, and assisted (director) Priyadarshan in films and my daughter has done nothing. She was studying in Boston (US). Then she had come back to Mumbai for holidays and she ended up doing movies. The luck factor is so strong for you to become an actor, and then comes the talent.?Talking about how the approach in the film industry has changed over the years, Shakti Kapoor says that things are highly professional now compared to the earlier times. ?They now have auditions for everything. Professionalism has increased, but the luck factor is still there,? he says.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Rini Kapoor

15 Jan 2017,Sunday

Over 1,600 killed due to extreme weather patterns in 2016

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/over-1600-killed-due-to-extreme-weather-patterns-in-2016/1/857777.html

More than 1,600 people died due to extreme weather conditions across the country in 2016, according to India Meteorological Department. Severe heat waves accounted for the highest number of deaths (over 700), followed by flooding and thunderstorm (475). Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra topped the state list of casualties, recording a total of 552 deaths.

Pragya Swastik

08 Dec 2016,Thursday

Enforcement Directorate checks records of 50 bank branches

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-ed-checks-records-of-over-50-bank-branches/1/829620.html

In an effort to unearth money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday checked records of over 50 bank branches, with a special eye on Jan Dhan, student, and dormant accounts. The ED said the action was taken in wake of allegations that certain bank officials are involved in the conversion of black money into white in lieu of commission.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate today today launched an operation to inquire about deposits at over 50 bank branches, with a special eye on Jan Dhan, student and dormant accounts, across the country to detect money laundering and hawala instances through these channels. Multiple teams of the ED, accompanied by auditors from the Department of Financial Services in the Finance Ministry, swooped early morning at these branches of at least 10 banks, both in the private and public sector, to "unearth huge deviation in the pattern of deposits after November 8." "The action has been taken in wake of allegations to the effect that certain bank officials are involved in conversion of black money into white in lieu of their commission for facilitating the same," the agency said in a statement. The agency said it is keeping a watch on those accounts in which huge amount of money has been deposited post demonetisation. ED said its sleuths are "also checking those accounts that have shown suspicious transactions after demonetisation. The teams inquired the accounts where sudden spike in deposits and thereafter corresponding transfers have taken place. "Special accounts like Jan Dhan, student accounts and dormant accounts would also be the focus area of investigations." The agency conducted the operations at branches located in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and others based on records of transaction of these branches where the maximum amount of old notes have been deposited or huge cash has been deposited in bank accounts in one go or in a staggered fashion giving rise to suspicion of suspect deposits. "Examination of cash book and ledger of banks on random basis were done to see which denomination notes and how much came out when business of the day started, notes deposited and received till the end of the day were analysed and verified. "Special attention was paid to third party deposits with or without authority letters including scrutiny of shell companies," it said at the end of operations late evening. The statement added that the inquiries were made to determine transactions "in light of RBI Notification of November 8, 2016 which required every bank to submit details of exchange of currency in Annexure-6 on a daily basis."

Aarushi Maheshwari

31 Dec 2016,Saturday

Bars plan to telecast Modi's speech on New Year's eve

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-modis-speech-new-years-eve-demonetisation-nightclubs-modis-address-on-december-31/1/845759.html

Several nightclubs and bars in Delhi are planning to organise a special screening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on New Year's eve. Bar managers have said that customers are enquiring about the arrangements for Modi's speech before booking tables. Meanwhile, a senior police officer said that police personnel will be deployed at bars telecasting his speech.

Music, merrymaking and Modi - city nightclubs and pubs are gearing up for an unusual New Year's Eve programme. Bars and restaurants plan to organise a special screening of the Prime Minister's address to the nation at 7.30 pm on Saturday that coincides with the expiry of the 50-day period of post-demonetisation pain he had asked people to endure "for the sake of the country". "We would love to show the live coverage of Modi's speech at this point of time when people were standing in queues for the past two months, said Siddharth Kumar, culture manager at Social-Cafe and Bar. "Our customers would be keen to listen to the speech. Accordingly, we will plan something." In a similar televised address on November 8, the PM had announced a surprise ban on 500 and 1,000-rupee notes in a bid to eliminate corruption and unaccounted cash. The deadline for depositing old notes in bank accounts ends on December 30. PARTY AND MODI'S SPEECH TELECASTBar managers say many customers are booking tables after asking about the arrangements for Modi's speech. "Apart from getting updates from YouTube, Twitter and news portals, people would be more comfortable watching the announcement on the screens. So we would keep the option of screening it. And on the customers demand we will telecast Modi's speech," said Kamaljeet Kaur, manager of The Vault Cafe in Connaught Place. Also read: PM Modi's New Year eve address to nation likely at 7.30 pm. What next on demonetisation?

Chhavi Tyagi

04 Feb 2017,Saturday

UP must get rid of SCAM - SP, Cong, Akhilesh & Mayawati: PM

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uttar-pradesh-assembly-election-2017-live-pm-narendra-modi-meerut-rally/1/874663.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Uttar Pradesh must get rid of SCAM - Samajwadi Party, Congress, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mayawati - in the Assembly elections. "UP made me PM, now I've to repay the debt...Even if I try and help UP from Delhi, if the state government has no intention, the money will go somewhere else," he added.

While Punjab and Goa vote to elect a new Assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, which is scheduled  to vote in seven phases starting February 11.Assembly Elections 2017: Full CoveragePrime Minister Modi will be addressing one more rally in Aligarh on Sunday (February 5) as part of his campaign plan before the February 11 polling in the first phase. The seven-phase polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8. The results will come out on March 11.HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES: 40 saal tak faujiyon ki aakhnon mein dhool jhonki gayi. Desh ke liye jaan ki baazi lagane walon ke liye OROP humne laagu kiya: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/FrCvkZG10bUP sarkaar har cheez vote bank ke tarazu se tolti rahi hai: PM Narendra Modi in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/VE2FjerX3OPrime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/JXJKwkYolyBJP MP Hema Malini speaking at an election rally in Mathura #UPpollspic.twitter.com/zh4F766yHfWatch the video here

Saloni Tandon

28 Jan 2017,Saturday

Usain Bolt returns his 2008 Olympic relay gold medal

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/usain-bolt-4x100m-relay-gold-2008-beijing-olympics/1/868400.html

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt returned his 4x100m 2008 Olympic gold on Friday, after the International Olympic Committee disqualified the team following Nesta Carter's positive dope test. Bolt said he still has "accomplished a lot" and it "does not change what he has done" throughout his career. Bolt added he might financially assist Carter's appeal against the verdict if need be.

Jamaican Usain Bolt says it is rough losing one of his nine Olympic gold medals after relay team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics."It's rough that I have to give back one of my medals and I already gave it back because it was of course required by the IOC", Bolt told Reuters on Friday in his first comments since the International Olympic Committee ruling."I'm not happy about it but it's just one of those things that happen in life."I can't allow that to deter me from my focus this season, so I am focused but I am not pleased."Carter was found in re-tests of his sample to have taken the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, the IOC said on Wednesday, meaning the entire Jamaican relay team had to return their gold medals.The loss of the 4x100 metres medal leaves Bolt with eight Olympic golds, and he does not think the ruling tarnishes his glittering career record.And he still might have one last chance to reclaim his medal, with an appeal by Carter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the works, according to Jamaica Olympic Association president Mike Fennell.Bolt was non-committal about whether he would financially contribute to Carter's appeal."That's up to my management, there are a lot of variables so we will discuss that and see where we go from there," he said.Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all time, having won an unprecedented treble of consecutive Olympic golds in the 100m and 200m in 2008, 2012 and 2016.He also was part of the winning Jamaican 4x100 relay team in 2012 and 2016.Bolt is credited with being a key factor in maintaining a global interest in athletics at a time when the sport has been ravaged by doping violations.

Sumedha Sehra

19 Jun 2017,Monday

CBI team visits Delhi Health Min's home over corruption case

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/satyendra-jain-cbi-aap-arvind-kejriwal/1/982026.html

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's home today, to carry out an inquiry in the money laundering case against him. The team reportedly sought clarifications from his wife in the case. Jain is alleged to have been involved in laundering around ?4.63 crore in 2015-16 and ?11.78 crore in 2010-12.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team visited Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain's house today in connection with probe related to a money laundering case.According to reports, the CBI team sought clarifications from Satyendra Jain's wife regarding allegations of money laundering against the minister.The CBI reached there as per time given by Satyendra Jain's wife for certain clarifications in ongoing investigation in money laundering case. PE is already registered against Jain. Time and place of clarification was given my Mrs Jain. There is no raid, no searches," the central agency said in a statement. The CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry against Satyendra Jain in April to inquire into allegations of money laundering against him.'VENDETTA POLITICS' The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Modi government of 'vendetta politics'."Central govt (sic) of BJP is misusing CBI for its vendetta politics. After Dy CM Manish Sisodia, BJP's CBI raids on Minister," the party said in a tweet.AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj further lashed out at the agency. "Today CBI team reached Satyender Jain's home. CBI's allegations have named two people Sanjay and Suresh, who have been working for Satyender Jain since 2010, they facilitate hawala transactions for Jain," Bhardwaj said. "We have asked them to present the two, but they haven't done it so far. BJP's agency CBI said they're the ones who initiated hawala and named a landline number that doesn't exist since 2014," he added. Calling the CBI's claims "imaginary", Bhardwaj added, "BJP (is) benefiting from this. They're trying to derail (the) Delhi government..." THE ALLEGATION It is alleged that Jain was involved in money laundering to the tune of Rs 4.63 crore while being a public servant during 2015-16 through Prayas Info Solutions private limited, Akinchand developers private limited and Managalyatan projects private limited.The allegations against Jain also include purported money laundering to the tune of Rs 11.78 crore during 2010-12 through these companies and Indometal Impex pvt limited.The matter was referred to the CBI by Income Tax Department against the new Benami Transactions Prohibitions Act ALSO READ:Shunglu panel report slams Arvind Kejriwal's AAP government for nepotism. An India Today exclusive

Aarushi Maheshwari

31 Jan 2017,Tuesday

Indian arrested for bomb threat in US; Swaraj seeks report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vadodara-businessman-arrested-after-bomb-threat-at-grand-forks-airport-sushma-swaraj-seeks-report/1/870479.html

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought a report from the Indian Embassy after a 53-year-old Indian was arrested at a US airport for allegedly making a bomb threat. The airport was evacuated and operations resumed after no bomb was found. Swaraj intervened after his wife contacted her on Twitter, claiming that he was falsely implicated.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought a report from the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. This in connection with a 53-year-old Indian paraman Radhakishan, taken into custody by Grand Forks police on Saturday. Swaraj on Monday replied to Radhakishan's family's tweets saying that she has asked for a report from Indian Ambassador to the United States, Navtej Sarna.WHAT HAPPENEDAs per police Radhakishan was to board a flight from Grand Forks to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, when a bomb threat was reported at 5.14 am local time. The airport was immediately evacuated. According to local media reports, a traveler had informed a ticket agent of a bomb in Radhakishan's bag, and subsequently the Indian man from Vadodara was arrested.No bombs or threatening device were however recovered, and normal operations resumed at the airport. Police have not provided details as to what might have been the motive behind the bomb scare. FAMILY RESORTS TO SOCIAL MEDIARadhakishan' wife in a series of tweets to Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  has defended her husband saying he deals with energy conservation and is being falsely implicated.

Parmeet Kaur

15 Jul 2017,Saturday

Accused gets 2 year jail term in 2008 BMW hit and run case

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/2008-bmw-hit-and-run-case-utsav-bhasin-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison/story-wfRCb8wNgzkURZui7TuTYN.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced 30-year-old Utsav Bhasin to two?years in prison in the 2008 BMW hit-and-run case, in which one person was killed and another suffered a leg injury. The court also directed him to pay a compensation of ?10 lakh to the family of the deceased and ?2 lakh for the injured victim.

A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced 30-year-old Utsav Bhasin, to two?years in prison for the 2008 BMW hit-and-run case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. The victim, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence. Mrigank Shrivastava, who was at the court proceedings said, ?I am very unhappy. Initially, the harsher charges dropped and now two years for killing a person and destroying my life. I have spent around Rs 17 lakh in treatment and I have got just Rs 2 lakh as compensation.? Shrivastav had suffered a leg injury in the accident while his friend Anuj Chauhan had died. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar passed the order around 4.50pm in a packed courtroom. Utsav Bhasin, son of a Haryana-based businessman, was held guilty of rash driving, voluntarily causing hurt on provocation and causing death by negligence. The court had passed the verdict in May this year. Bhasin was, however, acquitted of charges of culpable homicide, in which the maximum punishment is up to 10 years.Read: Five other infamous luxury car mishaps on Delhi roadsOn September 11, 2008, Bhasin, who was driving his BMW car, hit two men ? Anuj Chauhan and Mrigank Shrivastava ? near Moolchand flyover in south Delhi. The two men, who were on a motorcycle, were returning home after watching the movie Rock On. Chauhan died two days after the accident and Shrivastava suffered leg injuries. At that time, Bhasin was 21 years old and was doing BBA at IILM?in Lodhi Colony. He was, later, arrested from the Interstate Bus Terminus at?Kashmere Gate while attempting to flee to Chandigarh. He was later released on bail after giving two sureties of Rs 20,000 each. Chauhan?s brother Kahitij Chauhan said that the family will go to High Court and questioned why harsher charges were dropped it should be reinstated demand harsher charges to beIn May, the court had convicted Bhasin under Sections 304A (causing death by rash and negligent act), 279 (driving rashly which could endanger human life) and 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).He was acquitted of charges under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) citing lack of evidence to prosecute him on harsher terms.The court observed that the witnesses did not support the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.Anuj Chauhan, who suffered injuries on cervical spine and later died, was working as a freelance journalist and pursuing a course in graphic designing and animation at a private institution in south Delhi.

Anmol Sharma

13 Jan 2017,Friday

I have conquered England in three months: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/zlatan-ibrahimovic-manchester-united-conquered-england-liverpool/1/855772.html

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed he had only one individual target after joining Manchester United and it was to conquer English football which he did in just three months. When asked if he was chasing Chelsea's Diego Costa to become PL's top scorer, he replied, "No, I'm not chasing anybody. I'm chasing...the Premier League. That is my aim."

When Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced that he is not staying in Paris if the Eiffel Tower was not replaced by his statue, he was touted to take a backseat in his career for the first time. After four successful seasons, scoring 122 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, the Swede at the age of 35 was expected to move to Major League Soccer (MLS). However, Jose Mourinho was named Manchester United manager in the summer and he turned to the mercurial Swede to bring back the glory days at the Theatre of Dreams. Zlatan being Zlatan, accepted the challenge and at the twilight of his career set towards the hardest and perhaps the only challenge that was left in his football career - play in England. (Also read: Evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic likens himself to fine red wine)Ibrahimovic hit the ground running straightaway responding to Eric Cantona's 'King' comments by saying that he does not want to be the 'King of Manchester' but the 'God'.After 33 games for the English team, the boy from Malmo has scored 18 goals and provided four assists to stamp his authority in Manchester. (Also read: Jose Mourinho hails Zlatan Ibrahimovic the 'superman' after Manchester United win)The self-proclaimed 'legend' of Paris, Ibrahimovic, is United's top scorer this season and is only one behind Chelsea's Diego Costa in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, who leads the charts with 14 goals. But, Ibra kept his ego aside and insisted that he is not thinking about toppling Costa as he is pursuing team glory. "No, I'm not chasing anybody," he said, when asked by ManUtd.com about overtaking Costa. "I'm chasing the head trophy - the Premier League. That is my aim. The individual things come as part of the main objective because that is like a bonus for every individual player," he added.

Arshiya Chopra

03 Aug 2017,Thursday

'Virgin' now corrected to 'Unmarried' in IGIMS' form

http://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/bihar-igims-form-loses-virginity-after-row-opts-for-unmarried-instead/story-8XmHIg39otGBoZAYEBQxMK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna on Thursday made corrections in its Marital Declaration Form by changing 'Virgin' option to 'Unmarried'. Earlier, Bihar Health Minister defined virgin as being an unmarried woman and did not consider the term objectionable. The institute, however, faced strong backlash for asking new recruits to declare their virginity in the form.

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna amended its marital declaration form on Thursday, replacing the word ?virgin? with ?unmarried? after controversy.Until now, new recruits to the super-specialty medical institute in the state capital were required to declare if they were bachelors, widowers or virgins.IGIMS medical superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said institute director Dr NR Biswas held a meeting on Thursday morning before directing that the word ?virgin? on the marital declaration form be immediately replaced with ?unmarried?. Dr Biswas had just returned after a four-day leave of absence.Earlier, Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey had ended up redefining the very meaning of virginity in his attempts to justify the awkward phrasing of the question in the form. Following a public furore over the document on Wednesday, the minister told news channels that there was nothing wrong with using the word ?virgin? because it simply meant ?kanya? or ?kunwari? ? which means an unmarried girl.Pandey had joined the cabinet just three days ago.Sources said the chief minister?s office had also taken cognizance of the issue, and asked for a copy of the form. It had even asked why the question was introduced in the first place.In its response, the management of the autonomous super-specialty health facility had clarified on Wednesday that it was in adherence to the central civil services rules followed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.The previous version of the marital declaration form, which purportedly asked new recruits if they were virgins. (HT Photo) The marital declaration form had been in existence since the inception of the institute in 1983. Some officials blamed the faux pas on poor translation on the part of individuals who drafted the document.?The word ?virgin? mentioned on the form had nothing to do with the virginity of any employee. It only sought to know the employees? marital status, so their dues could be settled on the basis of their declaration in the event of death while in service,? said Dr Mandal.

Chhavi Tyagi

17 Jul 2017,Monday

DIG Roopa who exposed VIP treatment to Sasikala transferred

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sasikala-prison-bribery-row-dig-roopa-transferred-to-traffic-police/story-mIMMV0Y1Tybt1o9FFkCGxI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons D Roopa, who had said that AIADMK leader VK Sasikala paid a bribe of ?2 crore to get special treatment in jail, has been transferred to the Bengaluru Traffic Police. The Karnataka government has also transferred Director General of Prisons HN Satyanarayana Rao, a senior prison official accused of accepting the bribe.

The Karnataka government transferred on Monday deputy inspector general of prisons Roopa D Moudgil, who had recently alleged that AIADMK leader VK Sasikala received preferential treatment in Bengaluru Central Prison by paying a bribe. Moudgil was transferred to the position of inspector general of police and commissioner for traffic and road safety, Bengaluru. In her controversial report, Moudgil had said she heard allegations that a bribe of Rs 2 crore had been paid by Sasikala to senior prison officials, including director central of prisons HN Satyanarayana Rao, for getting privileged treatment, which, among other things, including a private kitchen. Rao, too, has been transferred, but without charge, as he is set to retire at the end of the month. NS Megharikh was posted as the additional director general of prisons. He was ADGP, anti-corruption bureau, earlier.Krishna Kumar, the superintendent of Bengaluru central prison, has also been transferred?These are administrative issues,? chief minister Siddaramaiah said. The government said the transfers were ordered to ensure a fair probe. Siddaramaiah had announced on Friday that the investigation into the allegations will be headed by retired IAS officer Vinay Kumar. The preliminary report is to be submitted in a week. In a statement, the government clarified on Monday that the transfers were ordered to ?maintain the sanctity of the inquiry process and safeguard it from further interference?.The state also criticised both Moudgil and Rao for speaking to the media. ?Despite the inquiry being in process, the [DIG] and her senior [DGP] went to the media to discuss the case,? the government said.?The interaction of both police officers with the media during the course of inquiry was unwarranted, and amounted to a serious violation of the All India Services Conduct Rules,? the government said.Meanwhile, opposition parties opposed the move. Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy said he feared the probe will not be effective. ? By transferring the person who revealed the controversy, the government is sending out a message that they will sideline it,? Kumaraswamy claimed. Suresh Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party called for a judicial inquiry. ?Considering the nature of the allegations, a judicial probe headed by a retired judge of the high court is needed,? the BJP leader said.

Vaibhav Gupta

01 Feb 2017,Wednesday

26/11 mastermind Saeed placed on Pak's Exit Control List

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jud-chief-hafiz-saeed-placed-on-paks-exit-control-list/1/872460.html

Pakistan on Wednesday placed 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on its Exit Control List, two days after he and his four aides were put under house arrest. Saeed and 38 other individuals, who are linked to JuD or Lashkar-e-Taiba, have been placed on the list, which prohibits them from leaving Pakistan.

Pakistan has placed Jamaat-ud- Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed's name on the Exit Control List on Wednesday, two days after the Mumbai attack mastermind and his four aides were put under house arrest.The Interior Ministry has forwarded a letter to all provincial governments and the Federal Investigation Agency, which included names of 38 individuals placed on the list, preventing them from leaving the country. All of them were said to be linked with JuD or Lashkar-e-Taiba.The ministry had "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and have listed these organisations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)."Also read | Hafiz Saeed under house arrest, India welcomes move, protests expected in Pakistan: Top 10 facts "Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organisations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended)," read a notification issued by the ministry."As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," it added.Saeed has been placed under a 90-day house arrest. There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations.

Rini Sinha

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Disney announces cast of its Aladdin live-action remake

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/disney-aladdin-princess-jasmine-mena-massoud-naomi-scott/1/1003201.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Disney has announced the cast of its upcoming live-action remake of the 1992 film 'Aladdin'. While actor Mena Massoud will be seen playing the lead role of Aladdin, actress Naomi Scott has been finalised to play Princess Jasmine, Aladdin's love interest. Meanwhile, actor Will Smith will be seen portraying Genie in the film.

Disney has finally found its Aladdin and Jasmine in newcomer Mena Massoud and Power Rangers star Naomi Scott to ride the magic-carpet. Walt Disney Pictures President Sean Bailey revealed on Saturday that Mena Massoud will star as the scrappy Aladdin, and Scott will play Jasmine in the live-action adaptation of the 1992 animated film.It was in that moment, as he looked into her eyes, that he saw a soul so beautfully captivating that he could not but help remember the vastness of the galaxies above. The stars that shined as bright as her two illuminating eyes. Find your inspiration. Use it to drive your passion. Go out and get it. #passion #drive #focus #poetryA post shared by Mena Massoud (@menamassey) on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:20pm PSTWill Smith has already been cast as the Genie.The cast was confirmed after hunting for leads for months. The whole world poured in suggestions for the roles with names like Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed.The film will be directed by Guy Ritchie.(With inputs from Associated Press)

Daisy Mowke

10 Jan 2017,Tuesday

12 new coastal spots identified in Maharashtra

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/coastal-tourism-sindhudurg-malvan-maharashtra-united-nations-lifetr/1/852895.html

The state of Maharashtra now has 12 new coastal tourist locations, identified through a project funded by the United Nations and the Centre. These new tourist sites have been identified along the 121-kilometre coast of Sindhudurg. These new sites will offer various sea water activities like scuba diving and snorkelling to tourists.

If tourism in Maharashtra has been progressive, this new development will mark another milestone in boosting the industry. The state now has 12 new coastal tourist locations, identified through a project funded by United Nations and the Centre.These new tourists sites have been identified along the 121 km coast of Sindhudurg, as part of the efforts to reduce excessive tourist traffic in the region. So far, majority of the tourist activities were concentrated in the Malvan area of the district which in turn were impacting marine life adversely. The new locations,within 10 kms from the coast, were scouted with fundings from United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and an interim report submitted to the state on October 30, 2016. Also Read: Emerald Blue and You: A tour around the paradise that Andaman is

Krishna Veera Vanamali

23 Jul 2017,Sunday

26 CAs under scrutiny for alleged links with shell companies

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/26-chartered-accountants-under-lens-amid-shell-cos-crackdown/1/1008809.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Around 26 Chartered Accountants have come under the Institute of Chartered Accountants' scanner over alleged links with shell companies. The reference came from Serious Fraud Investigation Office and details about the CAs are being collected. Notably, ICAI can initiate disciplinary proceedings against members including suspension and cancelling of their registration.

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) At least 26 chartered accountants have come under the scanner of the ICAI for allegedly helping shell companies, a senior official said. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the regulator for accountancy professionals and can initiate disciplinary action against erring members. "The role of (around) 26 chartered accountants with respect to their alleged links with shell companies are being looked into by the institute," ICAI President Nilesh Shivji Vikamsey told PTI. As the government continues its clamp down on shell companies in efforts to deal with the black money menace, many entities have come under the lens of various agencies, including the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Vikamsey said reference about the 26 chartered accountants came from the SFIO and details about them are being collected. The ICAI can initiate stringent disciplinary proceedings against members violating norms. The measures can include suspension and even cancelling their registrations. Shell companies are dubious entities that are generally used for laundering illegal funds. However, the term shell company is not defined under the companies law. At ICAIs foundation day function on July 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought to send out a strong message against chartered accountants trying to help entities in black money dealings. Till July 12, the corporate affairs ministry has deregistered more than 1.62 lakh companies that have not been carrying out business activities for long.

Ankush Verma

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

White House confirms Trump, Putin had undisclosed meeting

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/18/trump-and-putin-undisclosed-second-meeting-white-house-confirms?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning+briefing&utm_term=235553&subid=21525752&CMP=ema-2793&utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a previously undisclosed second meeting during the G20 Summit in Germany, the White House has confirmed. This came after Iran Bremmer, President of the international consulting firm Eurasia Group, publicly spoke about the second meeting. Notably, Trump, Putin's official meet at the summit lasted for over 2 hours.

Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin held a second, previously undisclosed meeting during the G20 summit in Germany, the White House confirmed on Tuesday.There was much media scrutiny of the leaders? formal bilateral talks on 7 July in which, the US president later said, Putin denied allegations that he led efforts to interfere in last year?s US election.Later that evening, Trump and Putin met again informally, a White House official acknowledged on Tuesday ? but only after it was publicly revealed by Ian Bremmer, the president of the international consulting firm Eurasia Group.Bremmer said there was a dinner that evening for the G20 heads of state and their spouses, though not all of them attended. ?There were a lot of empty seats,? he continued. ?Donald Trump got up from the table and sat down with Putin for about an hour. It was very animated and very friendly. Putin?s translator was translating. I found out about it because people were startled.?There was no one else within earshot, Bremmer added, and it is not known what the men discussed. Trump was not joined in the conversation by his own translator, which is thought to be a breach of national security protocol. The White House later said that the translator who accompanied Trump spoke Japanese, not Russian, and that was why Trump and Putin spoke through the Russian translator.Bremmer added: ?It?s very clear that Trump?s best single relationship in the G20 is with Putin. US allies were surprised, flummoxed, disheartened. You?ve got Trump in the room with all these allies and who?s the one he spends time with??Such was the level of concern that someone decided to bring it to Bremmer?s attention. He said he had expected the White House to go public. ?I sat on this for days hoping they would talk about it. I knew last week. It didn?t happen. I?m an analyst; I?m not in the business of breaking news,? he said.There is no official government record of the meeting and it was not previously disclosed by the White House, which is facing investigations into the Trump campaign?s Russia ties by the special counsel Robert Mueller and two congressional committees.?During the course of the dinner, all the leaders circulated throughout the room and spoke with one another freely,? a senior administration official said in a statement Tuesday night, adding: ?There was no ?second meeting? between President Trump and President Putin, just a brief conversation at the end of a dinner. The insinuation that the White House has tried to ?hide? a second meeting is false, malicious and absurd. It is not merely perfectly normal, it is part of a president?s duties, to interact with world leaders.?Also on Tuesday night, the president tweeted to say the news coverage of the ?secret dinner with Putin is ?sick??, insisting twice that the press was aware of the dinner. While it is true that the dinner was well known and covered by the news media, the press at large did not know about the private conversation between Putin and Trump. Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is "sick." All G 20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!The Fake News is becoming more and more dishonest! Even a dinner arranged for top 20 leaders in Germany is made to look sinister!Trump?s presidency has been overshadowed by allegations that his election campaign colluded with Russia. Last week it emerged that his son, Donald Trump Jr, held a meeting with a Russian lawyer and Russian American political operative with a view to receiving allegedly incriminating information about Hillary Clinton from the Russian government. Trump Jr claims it led nowhere and denies wrongdoing.Trump has consistently and mysteriously refused to criticise the Russian leader. Bremmer said: ?I?ve never in my life seen a relationship between two major countries where the interests are so misaligned while the leaders are so buddy-buddy. It doesn?t add up.?Trump has been inconsistent on his China policy, he?s been inconsistent on his Nato policy. On any foreign policy issue he?s been on both sides. Except Russia. It doesn?t make sense. The fact he was willing to do this in front of global leaders shows he just doesn?t care how America is perceived.?The first meeting was scheduled to last 30 minutes but went on for more than two hours. During a flight on Air Force One last week, the US president said he raised the issue of election meddling twice and Putin denied it. ?I said, look, we can?t ? we can?t have ? now, he said ?absolutely not? twice. What do you do? End up in a fistfight with somebody, OK??

Sonu Kumari

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

Delhi's domesticated elephants may be shifted to a sanctuary

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-s-all-domestic-elephants-may-be-shifted-to-a-sanctuary/story-RVNvcqC6mDEgYXprIoVAyL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A forest department report submitted to the High Court suggested that all the seven domesticated elephants of Delhi be shifted to a sanctuary outside the city. It observed that not only were the elephants kept in poor conditions, but it was also risky to house them in crowded localities. Most of the elephants don't have proper ownership certificates, report said.

Delhi could soon lose all its seven elephants with the state forest department planning to shift them to a sanctuary outside the national capital. ?It would be wiser to shift them to safer confines with relatively larger natural environs away from human habitation,? said a report prepared by the forest department. The report has been submitted to the high court earlier this month.The city has seven domesticated elephants owned by four people. While six are kept at Sangam Vihar in Wazirabad, one is kept at a JJ cluster in Laxmi Nagar.The owners of the elephants have requested the forest officials not to separate them from the elephants as the animals would die without them. They have instead requested the forest department to give them a plot of land where they can move with the animals. ?We have asked the owners to respond within four weeks. If they don?t respond, we would shift the elephants to some area outside Delhi,? said AK Shukla, chief wildlife warden of Delhi In 2016, a committee comprising wildlife officials had recommended that all the elephants should be confiscated as their health was poor and the animals were kept in bad conditions. The owners, however, moved court challenging the committee?s report. In May 2017, a separate committee was formed on the orders of the court which inspected the elephants again. The report was submitted earlier this month. The five-member committee comprised officials of the forest department, the central zoo authority and the vet of the National Zoological Park in New Delhi. The committee, after inspecting the animals, found that not only the elephants were kept in poor conditions but it was also risky to keep the elephants in crowded localities. A number of cases have been earlier reported where domesticated elephants have gone on a rampage killing people. ?Housing elephants inside a crowded and congested colony is a high-risk affair. The risk was compounded as there were neither any secondary barriers to restrain the elephants in case they broke the chain with which they are tied, nor there were any tranquilising guns or medicines to restrict them,? the report said. The committee found that most of the animals were suffering from poor health which suggests that they were not properly fed and don?t undertake exercises such as long walks. They have cracked nails which suggest they have very poor foot care. ?Sometimes they are made to walk through a maze of traffic dust and exhaust fumes which they may find terrifying? the report states. The committee has also raised questions about their ownerships. The report states that most of the elephants have no proper ownership certificates. ?The elephants are like our family members. We would die without them. We have proper license to keep them. It is only because of some animal right activists and influential NGOs that we are being made victims. We will again approach the court if necessary,? said Yusuf Ali, whose family owns three elephants.

Gaurav Shroff

14 Jul 2017,Friday

New device allows creating music with thoughts

http://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/this-is-the-future-scientists-have-developed-a-hands-free-musical-instrument/story-68P3wJodewrY8ydBj0XbkL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

US-based researchers have developed a hands-free musical instrument that allows people to create music with their thoughts. The team developed the over 50-year-old technology of 'encephalophone', an instrument that collects specific brain signals through a cap and converts them into musical notes. Researchers hope this new instrument will empower and rehabilitate patients with motor disabilities.

A newly-developed hands-free musical instrument that now allows people to make music with their minds is bringing a new meaning to ?straight off the dome.? Researchers hope that this new instrument will help empower and rehabilitate patients with motor disabilities such as those from stroke, spinal cord injury or amputation.?The Encephalophone is a musical instrument that you control with your thoughts,? explained first author Thomas Deuel from the University of Washington. ?I am a musician and neurologist, and I?ve seen many patients with motor impairment, who can no longer play an instrument or sing,? said Deuel. ?I thought it would be great to use a brain-computer instrument to enable patients to play music again without requiring movement.?Deuel originally developed the Encephalophone (patent pending) in his own independent laboratory, in collaboration with Felix Darvas, a physicist at the University of Washington. The Encephalophone can be controlled via two independent types of brain signals: either those associated with the visual cortex (ie closing one?s eyes), or those associated with thinking about movementThe Encephalophone is based on brain-computer interfaces using an old method, called electroencephalography, which measures electrical signals in the brain. Scientists first began converting these signals into sounds in the 1930s and, later, into music in the 1960s. But these methods were still difficult to control and were not easily accessible to non-specialist users.Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.

Ayushi Ahluwalia

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Child delivered at ?1 clinic at Mumbai railway station

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/child-delivered-at-1-clinic-at-mumbai-s-ghatkopar-railway-station/story-MXG2JU8X5wL43XaT9NzDiO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The doctors from ?1 clinic at Ghatkopar railway station in Mumbai helped a woman deliver her child on Tuesday. The woman was travelling to Dadar when she went into labour and the clinic doctors rushed to her help immediately. These clinics were started on May 20 across 14 Mumbai railway stations, and have treated more than 12,000 patients so far.

Doctors of the Re1 clinic helped a woman from Titwala deliver a child at Ghatkopar railway station on Tuesday. The woman was travelling from Titwala to Dadar in a local train when she went into labour.The successful delivery was carried out by the Re1 clinic team ? Dr Rahul Ghule and Dr Sarita.The girl weighs 2.5kg. The mother was later shifted to Rajawadi hospital for further treatment.Read more: This doctor?s clinic at a Mumbai railway station charges Re1 as fee, treats hundreds in 48 hoursThese clinics are functional at Dadar, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mankhurd and Wadala stations on the Central Railway?s suburban line. They started on May 20 and have treated 12,555 patients so far. ?Every day we deal with eight to 10 emergencies , which need investigations such as MRIs and X-Rays. Around 50 to 60 patients undergo treatment and blood tests for general diagnosis,? Dr Ghule said.Accident victims at railway stations prefer these clinics to the medical attendants of Emergency 108 Ambulances at stations.Read more: ?1 clinics at 5 Mumbai metro stations from August 15

Dishant Sharma

01 May 2017,Monday

USA cricket governing body faces expulsion from ICC

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/united-states-international-cricket-council-david-richardson/1/942851.html

The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) is facing expulsion from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's global governing body revealed on Monday. ICC had suspended the board in 2015 as it claimed that the body did not have unity and did not hold the widespread authority over the country's cricket activities.

The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) faces expulsion from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June, the sport's global governing body said on Monday.USACA was suspended in 2015 with several reinstatement conditions after the ICC found that the organisation did not have widespread authority over the country's cricket activities and lacked unity.The ICC said USACA had failed to work successfully with a group set up to help them rectify the position and had breached several other reinstatement conditions.

Saloni Tandon

28 Apr 2017,Friday

ICC willing to increase India's revenue share to ?2,500 cr

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shashank-manohar-icc-bcci-cricket-champions-trophy/1/939846.html

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar has said the board is willing to increase BCCI's revenue share in the 2015-2023 cycle to $390 million (?2,500 crore). This comes after all ICC members except India voted for a new revenue model, which cuts India's share to $260 million (?1,668 crore). BCCI has already rejected an offer of an additional $100 million from Manohar.

The International Cricket Council's USD 390 million offer to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still stands, ICC chairman Shashank Manohar has told India Today. Manohar said ICC recognises India's contribution but insisted that distribution has to be based on equity and good governance."ICC is still agreeable to increase BCCI's share to USD 390 million of the total net revenue of USD 1800 million. It is 21.5 percent of the net revenue," Manohar told India Today.WATCH VIDEO HERE"England which gets the second largest share is 7.5 percent. India will get Rs 1500 crores more than England. We recognise India's contribution but distribution has to be based on equity and good governance. ICC is aware and conscious of how much money is required to run the game."Manohar said no revenue model which said India were to get USD 570 million was ever discussed. He termed this hypothetical talk."To say India was to get USD 570 million is not true. Such a model was never ever implemented. It was supposed to be implemented from 2016 but many boards had objections and a working group was constituted. "It is all hypothetical talk which has no basis in fact," Manohar said. BCCI representatives had tried to play the Champions Trophy card at the ICC meeting. India badly rebuffed. Members told India, if you use a gun, we will use other firearms. According to the earlier cycle, every board got 62 million.

Rini Sinha

24 Dec 2016,Saturday

Aamir Khan's 'Dangal' leaked online

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dangal-full-movie-leaked-facebook-piracy-watch-online/1/842137.html

Aamir Khan's film 'Dangal' was leaked online within a day of its theatrical release on Friday. It was reportedly available for download as well as for watching online on some websites which were eventually blocked. On Facebook, a user claiming to be a Dubai resident leaked the film, which received almost 45,000 shares before getting deleted due to copyright issues.

One of the most anticipated films of this year, Aamir Khan's Dangal, has become a victim of piracy. The full movie had been leaked on Facebook by a user who goes by the name of Hashmi Ah.MOVIE REVIEW: Dangal ALSO READ: Aamir Khan's Dangal is not a typical formulaic film, but has enough masala to please allALSO READ: Dangal is a better film than Sultan, says Salman KhanThe user, whose profile claims that he is a resident of Dubai, even changed his cover photo to one announcing the link to the Facebook video of the full movie that was uploaded by him. The video has now been deleted due to copyright issues, but when last seen, had over 8,33,000 views.

Abhishek Bansal

12 Apr 2017,Wednesday

Government denies any plan to build wall between India, Pak

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/no-wall-will-be-built-between-india-pakistan-says-mha/1/926985.html

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has informed the Parliament that there is no proposal with the Central government to build a wall along Pakistan border. In another statement, the Union Home Ministry said that approximately 250 km of India-Pakistan border has not been fenced primarily due to riverines, ditches and marshy terrain, and pending land acquisition.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told Parliament that there was no proposal with the Central government to build a wall along Pakistan border. This was stated by Minister of State (MoS) for Home Kiren Rijiju in a response to an unstarred question by Rajya Sabha MP Harivansh.Internationally, "the wall" is a term often used by United States President Donald Trump while referring to the physical barrier his government aims to build along the border with Mexico. According to reports, after Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Israel, the MHA was planning to build a "strong wall" along the India-Pakistan border to check terrorist infiltration. It was learnt that the Ministry of Home Affairs was keen to build a wall similar to the Israeli West Bank wall with Palestine. However, the Home Ministry informed the upper house that the Narendra Modi government is not considering any such proposal. HI-TECH PLANS TO BOOST SECURITY The government instead has adopted a multi-pronged approach for enhancing security arrangement at the India-Pakistan border. This includes deployment of Border Security Force (BSF), construction of border fence and border roads, installation of floodlights and construction of border outposts (BOPs), introduction of hi-tech surveillance equipment and providing weapons and specialised vehicles to security forces.In another statement, MHA informed Parliament that approximately 250 km of India-Pakistan border has not been covered under fencing primarily due to riverines, ditches and marshy terrain, and in some cases due to pending land acquisition.The MHA said India has sanctioned a pilot project for deployment of technological solutions and force multipliers, physical patrolling, laying of concertina wires, laser infra-red system, among several other measures along the border. ALSO READ:Border with Bangladesh, Pakistan will be sealed, says Rajnath Singh

Shubhodeep Datta

23 Dec 2016,Friday

Guest teachers broke my heart: Sisodia on their protest

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/guest-teachers-broke-my-heart-sisodia/story-4zVm6t7sfAMHtbVRmGcPmJ.html

Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has said that guest teachers working in the Delhi government-run schools "broke his heart" after they walked out of an event held for them and protested against the AAP government. The teachers were from VHP, Bajrang Dal, and Congress, Sisodia alleged. The teachers had protested saying there were no new announcements made at the event.

A day after guest teachers working in Delhi government-run schools walked out of an event held for them, deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia said the teachers ?broke his heart?.The teachers walked out of the event and blocked traffic on the ring road to protest against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.?I did not sleep the whole night after what the guest teachers did yesterday. They broke my heart,? he said at school function in Vishwas Nagar.Sisodia alleged that the protests were motivated and alleged that 10-15 people provoked many guest teachers. ?You were provoked by a group of 10-15 teachers. I know these teachers, they are from VHP, Bajrang Dal and Congress. Guest teachers raised slogans against us, that is ok but you blocked the road,? he said.Read: Thank you session for guest teachers in Delhi turn into protest rallySisodia said the Delhi government has been working to improve situation of guest teachers. ?Earlier guest teachers used to be replaced every year in March but we kept their jobs safe but still the teachers created a ruckus. We doubled your salary. But you are blocking road. Who are you doing this against,? he said.During Wednesday?s event, Kejriwal said guest teacher?s salaries have been hiked and their leaves been approved by the Delhi government but the file was pending with the LG.The teachers had protested after the event saying that there was nothing new in the announcements made by the CM and that they were being used as fodder in the fight between the LG and the Delhi government.?I have photos and videos of people who started the ruckus. Action will certainly be taken against them. The others should also think about what will happen to them,? said Sisodia.

Akshita Jain

03 Jan 2017,Tuesday

SC to hear PIL against journalists in favour of chopper deal

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/supreme-court-to-hear-pil-against-journalists-for-writing-in-favour-of-agustawestland-deal/1/848321.html

The SC on Tuesday reportedly agreed to hear a plea seeking SIT probe against journalists, who had written in favour of the AgustaWestland deal. The apex court has also sought a response from Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate on the plea filed by journalist Hari Jaisingh, alleging that journalists were paid ?50 crore for favouring the deal.

After politicians and bureaucrats, even journalists have come under the scanner of the Supreme Court in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland deal. On Tuesday, the apex court agreed to hear a plea seeking an SIT probe against some journalists for allegedly writing in favour of the deal.The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a PIL alleging that journalists were paid Rs 50 crore for writing in favour of the AgustaWestland deal.Former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi and two others were arrested by the CBI on December 9 for alleged corruption in the VVIP chopper deal case.Tyagi was the first chief of any wing of the armed forces to be arrested in India. Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and a Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan were allegedly involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from the Britain-based AgustaWestland.However, Tyagi, who retired in 2007, was granted bail on December 26 by Delhi's Patiala House court.

Mansha Mahajan

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

GST has not impacted consumer spending, says HUL CEO

http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/gst-has-not-impacted-consumer-spending-says-hindustan-unilever/story-nnSPyAsObDZ8UWBrX2uL9L.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever has said GST hasn't impacted consumer off-take and expects price cuts undertaken by it to drive sales. "With us taking the lead in reducing the consumer price, it should give a fillip to consumer demand," CEO Sanjiv Mehta said. HUL had reduced prices of some products, extending tax benefits it got under GST to consumers.

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) today said the new tax regime of goods and services tax (GST) has not impacted the consumer offtake and expects the price cuts undertaken by it to drive sales.?I don?t think GST has impacted the consumer offtake. In fact, with us taking the lead in reducing the consumer price, it should give a fillip to consumer demand and consequently to the volume,? HUL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Sanjiv Mehta said here. The company had reduced the prices of some of its detergents and soaps, extending the tax benefits it got under the GST regime to consumers.Mehta said most of the trade channels are returning to normalcy, barring a few wholesale traders in the central part of the country.?There are some channels like modern trade which have gone back to their normal rhythm, canteen store department, which had stopped buying a few weeks before the transition, they have started buying and they are slowly getting into the rhythm. There are sections of general trade in some parts of the country, which are limping back to normalcy,? he said.The company?s topline and volume growth were impacted by 200 basis points with the canteen store department not buying from it.?I think the most affected still remains the wholesale in the territory of central India like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, those are the cases where the traders are still sitting on the fence, waiting to understand what they need to do and how they need to react to the new era of GST,? he said.?I would believe that sooner or later, the trade channel should start unclogging and there would be some element of channel reset but the large number of wholesalers who are engaged in trade, would have to find ways and means of engaging with the trade, accepting GST is a reality and they will have to live with that,? he added.

Deepali Aggarwal

20 Jun 2017,Tuesday

No difference in good and bad terrorists: India to BRICS

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-vk-singh-brics-summit-terrorism/1/982228.html

At the first summit of BRICS Foreign Ministers in China, India said that there is no difference between 'good' and 'bad' terrorists and all of them should be treated as criminals threatening global peace. Urging the nations to combat terrorism, India further asked them to back its efforts for the adoption of a comprehensive convention on terrorism at the UN.

Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd)VK Singh today delivered a strong message on combatting terrorism at the first summit of BRICS foreign ministers in Beijing, urging countries "to not differentiate" between "good and bad terrorists".India hopes the bloc of emerging countries will take a strong and unified stand on terrorism. Gen Singh's message in Beijing took on added salience, considering that the Chinese government has been a prominent obstacle in other fora, such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to India's attempts to sanction terrorists based in Pakistan.While not mentioning Pakistan, Gen Singh, who was attending the meet as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was unable to travel for health reasons, struck an optimistic note in a press conference following his summit with the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa. He said "all BRICS countries agreed that terrorism is the common enemy of humankind and are fully concerned about the threat of terrorism in its various forms and manifestations"."On behalf of India, I pointed out that terrorism remains one of the most potent global menaces. We did bring out that it threatens global peace and terrorists cannot be differentiated by calling them good or bad," he said."They are terrorists and they are criminals and we need to have a concerted action both in the region and internationally to curb their activities," he said."We have a consensus among the BRICS countries that all (forms of) terrorism must be condemned and various measures must be taken to cooperate so that terrorism does not spread and harm any one of our countries", he added.Gen Singh also called for "expediting the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations which has been pending for some time" and said that India "has the support of all the BRICS countries" on this issue.'CHINA ALSO A VICTIM OF TERROR'Yet how much India's push will find support in China remains unclear. Next month, the UNSC will revisit an application to sanction Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar that Beijing, at Pakistan's behest, placed a "technical hold" on.China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday defended China's stance on terror when asked about differences with India, saying that "China opposes terror in all forms"."China is also (a) victim of terror and China is taking part in global initiatives against terror," he said. "With colleagues today including Indian colleagues China shares the same position."Gen Singh noted that BRICS launched a joint working group on counter-terrorism which held a meeting last month. He also said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will likely travel to Beijing next month for a BRICS NSAs meet that will also discuss terror and security cooperation."The BRICS agenda has witnessed steady expansion," Gen Singh said. "The joint working group on counter terror concluded its meeting in May. Our NSAs are scheduled to meet next month. In their meeting last year, they reached significant understanding to enhance BRICS cooperation in security and counter-terrorism"."India attaches utmost importance to engagement with BRICS countries," he added. "The Prime Minister has repeatedly underscored the role of BRICS in the international arena and stressed the importance of fostering intra-BRICS cooperation". INDIA WANTS BRICS GROUP TO PUT OUT STRONG STATEMENT ON TERRORIndia will want the BRICS grouping to put out a strong statement on terrorism as it holds a summit in Xiamen, southern China, in September which PM Narendra Modi will attend.On Sunday, both countries looked to bring recently strained relations back on track as Gen Singh held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He said "India looks forward to strengthening and deepening its strategic partnership and mutual dialogue with China."Wang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency that "China and India are both major countries with great influence, and that they should boost cooperation in the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and all other multilateral frameworks to make contribution to peace and stability in the region and the world at large."This is the first major visit from India after Delhi became the only major country to boycott President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road summit on May 14.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had been scheduled to attend Monday's first ever standalone BRICS foreign ministers' meeting. Previous interactions among the foreign ministers of the grouping had only been held on the sidelines of other summit - but as Gen Singh told Wang, "She wanted to come but then health and other restrictions on her did not permit her. But she was looking forward to meeting you."The ministers on Monday called on Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi's government is going all out to ensure the BRICS summit in September, which Xi will host in Xiamen in Fujian province where he was earlier a provincial leader, will be seen as a success, with the Communist Party of China also hosting a key once-in-five-year leadership congress, likely to be held in Beijing the following month. ALSO READ | VK Singh in Beijing: India, China look to bring ties back on track

Tarun Khanna

17 Feb 2017,Friday

Modi, Akhilesh failed to stop riots in their states: Owaisi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-akhilesh-two-sides-of-same-coin-owaisi/1/884159.html

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi said both UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and former Gujarat CM Narendra Modi failed to stop riots in their states. "Riots happened in Muzaffarnagar but the CM failed to provide justice to victims. How does it make him any different from Modi?" he asked. "Akhilesh is grabbing Muslim votes by scaring them with BJP's name," he added.

Kanpur, Feb 16 (PTI) AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Akhilesh Yadav as two sides of the same coin, saying both "failed" to stop riots in their states as chief ministers. Owaisi, whose party is contesting only from Arya Nagar Assembly seat in the district, also accused SP and BSP of trying to fool Muslim voters. "Riots happened in Muzaffarnagar but the chief minister failed to stop riots or provide justice to victims. How does it make him any different from Modi? Riots took place in Gujarat when Modi was the chief minister. He too failed to stop the riots or give justice to Muslims," he said. "Akhilesh is willing to grab Muslim votes by scaring them with the name of BJP. Muslims should make the AIMIM candidates win," he said while addressing a public meeting in Colonelganj area here last night. Owaisi said he wanted to come to Kanpur earlier but was allegedly stopped by the administration as one of the ADMs said in his report that the visit will affect peace in the city. "I would advise Akhilesh to induct that ADM into his party because he is loyal to him. Akhilesh could not be even loyal to his father so now officers like these would be of benefit to him," he said. He said that he has held about a dozen public meetings in UP but his remarks never disturbed law and order anywhere. "Actually the Samajwadi Party is afraid of me because they are fetching votes from Muslims by fear, but I will tell the truth to Muslims that they are being fooled by SP and BSP," he added. Hitting out at Akhilesh, Owaisi said the SP government in Uttar Pradesh promised to build schools and homes for Muslims but failed to fulfil them.

Krishna Veera Vanamali

31 Jul 2017,Monday

Highest pub in the UK goes on sale for ?7.6 crore

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jul/30/snowed-in-50-times-highest-pub-in-uk-goes-up-for-sale?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A 17th-century pub, holding the record for being the highest in the UK, is going on sale for £900,000 (nearly ?7.6 crore). It stands 1,732 feet above sea level and was named the highest in the UK by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1976. The landlady said the new owner will need to have stamina, eccentricity, and love.

A pub which holds the record for being the highest in the UK is going on for sale for £900,000.The 17th-century Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales stands 1,732 ft (528m) above sea level. It was named the highest in the Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1976, beating the Cat and Fiddle Inn in the Peak District with an elevation of 1,690 feet (515m).The listed building, which boasts panoramic views of the surrounding area, is regularly cut off by heavy snowfall and current landlady Louise Peace said she had been snowed in about 50 times, for between three and 11 days, since she bought it with her husband in 2005.A ?solitary inn? was noted to stand on the same spot on the Pennine Way in a 1586 guide book and the location near the village of Keld in Swaledale is popular with walkers hoping to see glimpses of the Northern Lights.Peace said the new owner of the pub would need to have stamina, eccentricity and love. ?It needs a nice family network, it?s a fantastic place, it needs a family that can pass it on to the next generation,? she told local media. ?It warms your cockles, it?s an amazing place.?It?s like having a child. You love it and nurture it, then it?s time for them to move on and you wish them all the best. You can?t not love Tan Hill. You can?t not miss it, you really can?t. It?s in your blood. But I still have to say ?cheerio? and let someone else take it on to the next level.?Peace, who is giving up the business to go and join her husband Mike at their retirement home in Somerset, said she had already had inquiries from potential buyers.In 2009, people celebrating New Year?s Eve at the Tan Hill Inn were stranded there for three days following a heavy snowfall. In November last year, the band Scouting For Girls were cut off along with around 200 others after playing a Children in Need gig at the pub. Guests were forced to squeeze into the inn?s 30 rooms, with many sleeping on sofas and floors.

Rini Kapoor

07 Jan 2017,Saturday

Diesel cars 10 times more toxic than trucks and buses: Study

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/06/diesel-cars-are-10-times-more-toxic-than-trucks-and-buses-data-shows?CMP=twt_gu

According to a recent European study, diesel cars are 10 times more toxic than diesel trucks and buses due to stricter European Union testing standards applied to larger vehicles. Nitrogen oxide emissions per kilometre for diesel cars were found to be double that of heavy-duty vehicles. Diesel cars emit about six times more toxic gases than allowed, the study claimed.

Modern diesel cars produce 10 times more toxic air pollution than heavy trucks and buses, new European data has revealed.The stark difference in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) is due to the much stricter testing applied to large vehicles in the EU, according to the researchers behind a new report. They say the same strict measures must be applied to cars.NOx pollution is responsible for tens of thousands of early deaths across Europe, with the UK suffering a particularly high toll. Much of the pollution is produced by diesel cars, which on the road emit about six times more than allowed in the official lab-based tests. Following the Volkswagen ?dieselgate? scandal, the car tests are due to be toughened, but campaigners say the reforms do not go far enough.The new report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a research group that played a key role in exposing Volkswagen?s cheating, compared the emissions from trucks and buses in realistic driving conditions with those of cars.It found that heavy-duty vehicles tested in Germany and Finland emitted about 210mg NOx per kilometre driven, less than half the 500mg/km pumped out by modern diesel cars that meet the highest ?Euro 6? standard. However, the buses and trucks have larger engines and burn more diesel per kilometre, meaning that cars produce 10 times more NOx per litre of fuel.The ICCT analysis showed that manufacturers were able to ensure that heavy duty vehicles kept below pollution limits when on the road, but that emissions from cars soar once in the real world.Official EU tests for cars are currently limited to laboratory measurements of prototype vehicles. ?In contrast, for measurement of NOx emissions from trucks and buses, mobile testing devices became mandatory in 2013. As a consequence, randomly selected vehicles can be tested under real-world driving conditions,? said Peter Mock, managing director of ICCT in Europe.Changes to the car testing regime in the EU are due to start in September, with mobile devices, called portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS), attached to vehicles as they drive on real roads. But Mock warned: ?Manufacturers will still be allowed to carefully select special prototype cars for emissions testing. Instead, it would be much better to measure the emissions of ordinary mass-production vehicles, obtained from customers who have had been driving them in an ordinary way.? Such a system is used in the US where the dieselgate scandal first emerged. It will also be put forward for discussion by the European commission on 17 January in Brussels, but the ICCT said it faces resistance from some vehicle manufacturers and EU member states.In December, the European commission started legal action against the UK and six other EU states for failing to act against car emissions cheating in the wake of the dieselgate scandal. But later the same month, a draft European parliament inquiry found the European commission itself guilty of maladministration for failing to act quickly enough on evidence that defeat devices were being used to game emissions tests.Evidence that some diesel cars emitted up to four times more NOx pollution than a bus was revealed in 2015. Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP and a lead negotiator on the EU?s air quality law, said ?It is disgraceful that car manufacturers have failed to reduce deadly emissions when the technology to do so is affordable and readily available. The dramatic reduction in NOx emissions from heavier vehicles is a result of far stricter EU tests, in place since 2011, that reflect real-world driving conditions. If buses and trucks can comply with these limits, there?s no reason cars can?t as well.?? The headline on this article was amended on 19 January 2017 to more precisely reflect the details of the article.

Chhavi Tyagi

01 Jun 2017,Thursday

Indian Army kills 5 Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory firing

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-jawans-killed-india-retaliatory-firing-poonch-loc/1/968267.html

The Indian Army on Thursday said its troops killed five Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory firing along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. This comes after an Indian civilian was reportedly killed and a BSF soldier was injured in ceasefire violations earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner alleging that India killed Pakistani civilians.

India today responded to Pakistan's provocation in Poonch and Nowshera sectors in Jammu and Kashmir by killing at least five Pakistan jawans and injuring six others in Bimber and Battal sectors. Sources in the Army told India Today that the firing was done in retaliation to Pakistan's constant violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control. INDIA'S DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER SUMMONED  Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh in Islamabad following Army's killing. Pakistan alleges that at least one civilian was killed and four others were injured in the Indian firing in Battal sector this morning. Senior Pakistan official Dr Mohammad Faisal, who is a Director General (SA & SAARC), said, "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws."PAKISTAN'S PROVOCATION Earlier in the day, Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 0720 hours along the LoC in Naushera sector of Rajouri district and from 0740 hours in Krishna Ghati sector. Commenting on the ceasefire violation, Defence Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said, "The Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing and shelling on our positions on the LoC in Rajouri district's Naushera sector and Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch. They are using small arms, automatics and mortars." INCREASING TENSION BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN Tension between the two neighbouring countries has increased along the LoC since the last month.On May 1, Pakistan Army had carried out unprovoked firing, killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies along the Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir.This was followed by a major counter-terrorism operation by Indian troopers who conducted punitive strikes and destroyed many Pakistani posts which were aiding cross-border militant incursion.The Army had killed four terrorists in Naugam on May 20-21 while in Naushera sector Indian soldiers destroyed Pakistan army posts which were supporting infiltration on May 9. Also read: How Pakistan is desperately trying to push new batch of terrorists across the LoC

Saloni Tandon

05 Jun 2017,Monday

2 men 'marry' to protest reopening of liquor shops in TN

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tamil-nadu-villagers-marry-two-men-protest-tasmac/1/971168.html

Two men staged a mock wedding in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, to protest the reopening of state-owned liquor shops in the state. People had earlier forced closure of liquor outlets, citing the ill-effects of alcohol. The shops reopened recently, with protestors staging the mock wedding saying, "If you are an alcoholic, we will not let our women marry you."

Protesters in Tamil Nadu are finding innovative ways to register their opposition. First, the farmers of Tamil Nadu staged more than a month-long protest in New Delhi adopting new and peculiar ways grab attention, now the anti-liquor agitation is grabbing eye-balls.Protesters in Tamil Nadu's Thirunelveli organised a 'wedding' of two men in order to vent their outrage against TASMAC liquor shops.The agitators solemnised 'wedding' of two men as husband and wife while demonstrating about the ill effects of alcohol.  WHAT IS THE ISSUE? TASMAC or the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation is a state-owned company, which has a monopoly over wholesale and retail vending of alcoholic beverages in Tamil Nadu. After the Supreme Court order to shut down all the liquor shops near highways, public protests intensified in Tamil Nadu demanding that the booze outlets be closed down. The administration was forced to order closure of several liquor shops under surge in public protests. Many of the closed liquor shops reopened last month. As soon as the shops reopened protests erupted again.The residents of Paavurchathiram, near Thirunelveli previously have protested in different ways to remove TASMAC shops located near them. However, since May 1, they made a temporary shelter near the liquor shop, cooked and stayed there leading a campaign highlighting the ill effects of liquor.HOW IT HAPPENED IN THIRUNELVELIProtest at Thirunelveli was like any other protest till the agitators built a stage and started to decorate it for a wedding ceremony. soon the word spread in nearby areas.Crowd started gathering at the site of protest. Finally two men were brought on to the stage and a mock wedding ceremony was held to much amusement of the gathered crowd. Also Read:Mob vandalises TASMAC liquor shop after it opened in a residential area

Tarun Khanna

08 Jan 2017,Sunday

Imam of Kolkata mosque issues fatwa against PM Narendra Modi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/imam-issues-fatwa-against-pm-bjp-demands-his-arrest/1/852016.html

Syed Mohammad Nurur Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Masjid on Saturday issued a fatwa against PM Narendra Modi, accusing him of "bluffing" the people through demonetisation. "Everyday people are harassed due to demonetisation?nobody wants him to continue as PM," he said. He had earlier called Modi "communal" and CM Mamata Banerjee a figure of "communal harmony".

Kolkata/New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The Imam of a Kolkata mosque today issued a fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "bluffing" the people through demonetisation, evoking a sharp reaction from BJP which demanded his arrest. Syed Mohammad Nurur Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Kolkatas Tipu Sultan Masjid, said, "Everyday people are harassed and facing problem due to demonetisation." "Modi is bluffing the society and the innocent people of the country through demonetisation and nobody wants him to continue as the Prime Minister," he said during a joint conference by the All India Majlis-e-Sura and All India Minority Forum here. Slamming the fatwa, BJP National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh, who is in-charge of partys West Bengal affairs, said in Delhi, "We demand that Mamata Banerjee immediately order his arrest. The fatwa against our Prime Minister is highly condemnable. TMC MP Idris Ali was sitting next to him when he issued the fatwa." Warning of protets if the state government did not take any action against the imam, Singh said, "This is not an issue between BJP and TMC. This is an insult of the Prime Minister by a religious leader considered close to the Chief Minister."

Prashanti Moktan

16 Jan 2017,Monday

Gender neutral model to walk at Lakmé Fashion Week

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lakme-fashion-week-gender-neutral-model-petr-nitka-indian-runway-lifest/1/853196.html

Petr Nitka, a model from the Czech Republic, will become the first gender neutral model to walk at India's Lakmé Fashion Week in its upcoming Summer/Resort 2017 edition. Petr has walked for both menswear and womenswear. "With every season, Lakmé Fashion Week is breaking beauty boundaries and showcasing diversity," said Purnima Lamba, Head of Innovation at Lakmé.

Breaking fashion stereotypes and debunking myths about the 'perfect' body have always been unique to the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW). To trace a trajectory, LFW Winter witnessed the first-ever plus size show last year. It also chose transgender model Anjali Lama as the winner in the recently held auditions to walk the season. This time, it is taking a leap further to give new meaning to the very idea of inclusivity. The Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017 edition will now welcome gender neutral model Petr Nitka to its runway for the very first time.Born in Czech Republic, Petr Nitka is a well-known gender-neutral model who has conquered fashion runways across international waters. Nitka has walked for the South African Fashion Week and has worked with various renowned fashion designers and fashion photographers. He walks for menswear and womenswear equally as he believes that fashion is always different and unique. Also Read: 'Made in Assam' was an all-out success at Lakme Fashion Week 2016 

Sanira Mediratta

24 Apr 2017,Monday

Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone to be part of DU syllabus

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/chetan-bhagat-s-five-point-someone-in-delhi-university-english-literature-syllabus/story-JVRGnIQX5C7oGkaLnfysIN.html

Chetan Bhagat's novel 'Five Point Someone' has been included in the new syllabus for the academic session starting July in Delhi University. The 'Popular Fiction' paper will be offered to second-year undergraduate students as an elective. JK Rowling's 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' and Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women' will also be included in the syllabus.

New Delhi: Delhi University students will now study Chetan Bhagat?s novel Five Point Someone as part of the English literature syllabus from the academic session that starts in July.Bhagat?s book will be taught along with fiction novels by American novelist and poet Louisa M Alcott, English crime novelist Agatha Christie and British novelist JK Rowling.Five Point Someone is part of the Popular Fiction paper in the General Elective, which is offered to second-year undergraduate students pursuing honours and programme courses under the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS).Other popular fictions that will be taught under this paper are Alcott?s Little Women, Christie?s Murder on the Orient Express and Rowling?s Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.Bhagat, who had posted about the inclusion of his book on Twitter, has already gotten into an argument about whether or not his book is ?good literature?.Two years ago, DU introduced CBCS, which allows students to study elective subjects from any stream other than the subject they are doing Honors in.So, this paper will be available to students from any stream who want to take up an elective subject from the English department. English teachers said even though the paper will be taught by the English department, it won?t be offered to those studying BA (honours) English.CBCS core committee of English department recommended the novel as part of the general elective offered by the department.A copy of the modified syllabus has been sent to all colleges by the English department. HT has a copy of the modified syllabus.Teachers have been asked to send their feedback by May 1.The recommendations will now be placed at the Academic Council and Executive Council for approval before being implemented in the new session.Teachers at DU gave mixed reaction over the development. While some raised objection with the way the syllabus has been modified, others said it makes sense to include novels which students might have read.?There is some sense to add these novels as students might have read them already and have seen movie adaptations. It gives an opportunity to do an informed critique of the text,? said Sanam Khanna, who teaches English at DU.Sachin N, who teaches English at Dyal Singh College, said, ?The way these modifications have been done has limited or no participation from teachers. There is no framework on how we are supposed to teach the popular fiction paper. The core committee has no statutory recognition. We used to have general body meeting of teachers before suggesting changes but that doesn?t happen anymore.?Another teacher said on condition of anonymity, ?There are other popular fictions available, why Bhagat? We have to see it in the context of his political leanings and stand on various issues.?

Sanira Mediratta

02 May 2017,Tuesday

Selena attends Met Gala with rumoured boyfriend The Weeknd

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gomez-weeknd-share-kiss-during-red-carpet-debut-at-met-gala/1/943361.html

Singer Selena Gomez attended the Met Gala 2017 red carpet with rumoured boyfriend The Weeknd on Monday. Selena wore an embroidered gown with sequin embellishment by Coach, while The Weeknd wore a black tuxedo. The couple has been rumoured to be dating since they were first spotted together in Los Angeles in January.

Los Angeles, May 2 (PTI) Actress-singer Selena Gomez and The Weeknd seemed inseparable as they made a red carpet debut as a couple at the 2017 Met Gala.

Saloni Tandon

13 Jun 2017,Tuesday

Complaint against Diljit Dosanjh for glorifying dog fights

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/diljit-dosanjh-kamal-grewal-in-doghouse/1/977326.html

Animal welfare activists have complained against Punjabi singers Diljit Dosanjh and Kamal Grewal for allegedly glorifying dog fights. Diljit's song "Jatt Fire Karda" includes a line "Rakhe fight nu vi Pitbull chaar ni" (Have kept four pitbulls for fighting). A complaint has been filed with the Animal Welfare Board of India, who have written to the Punjab Police.

Popular Punjabi singers Diljit Dosanjh and Kamal Grewal may find themselves in trouble for 'glorifying dog fights' in their latest album videos and songs.Animal rights activists have set up a page on Facebook called 'Exposing Animal Fights in India', whereby they have uploaded more than 100 secretly-captured videos of the 'canine blood sport.'This sport is hugely popular in parts of Punjab and Haryana such as Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Hisar, Fatehabad, Gurgaon and held clandestinely in several farmhouses in Delhi. Breeds such as pittbulls, bull dogs, Indian mastiffs and other pedigree dogs are especially bred and trained to be ferocious to the point of being lethal and kill other dogs in wrestling-kind of rings.Alongside, the dog lovers have also uploaded a song each of Diljit Dosanjh called 'Pitbull' and Kamal Grewal's 'Sarkari Ban' where both seem to be promoting the illegal activity.While Dosanjh, who is himself seen handling pitbulls in the video, says, "Rakhe fight nu vi Pitbull chaar ni" (Have kept four pitbulls for fighting), Grewal in his song called 'Sarkari Ban' says, "Petbull'an da chalaya yaaran ne hai daur ni" (Friends have begun the trend of pitbull fighting)." He is also seen making two unruly dogs fight with mouth guards on.Grewal also seems to praise sports like bull racing and pigeon fights (kabutarbaazi), which also comes under the Gambling Act other than Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act and IPC Section 429 for killing and maiming animals.COMPLAINTS FILEDAbhinav Srihan of NGO Fauna Police says, "We strongly condemn this. It is wrong to project dog fights as something macho, valiant or courageous. Punjab has historically been known for healthy human sports like kushti and kabaddi. The Sikh Regiment in Indian Army has won maximum awards for their true heroism, and our Gurus have also taught compassion for all.""It is sad that things have come to a point where we make dogs fight and set this as an example for the youth," he added.Few dog lovers have already forwarded complaints to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) regarding singers Dosanjh, Grewal and some more small-time singers also. The complainants say that some singers are not just promoting animal cruelty, but drugs consumption and use of illegal firearms through their explicit videos, as well.The AWBI has taken cognizance of these complaints and written letters to Punjab Police for action. Strangely, singer Kamal Grewal responded to one of these FB posts saying, "How can a song, which is itself named 'Sarkari Ban' be banned by the authorities." Diljit Dosanjh, on the other hand, did not respond to the criticism on FB despite being tagged.Earlier, Union minister for women and child welfare Maneka Gandhi had said that she was aware of this cruel sport. "Dogs are starved for days. Their tails and ears are cut off. They are made violent for such fights, and when one dog loses, it is shot dead by the owner. It is a very sad state of affairs," she had told the media.

Tanya Dhingra

25 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Kajal Aggarwal's manager arrested in Tollywood drug case

http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/tollywood-drug-case-kajal-aggarwal-s-manager-arrested-charmee-moves-hc/story-HyW5Bn2jZ23FioQK2xADwJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actress Kajal Aggarwal's manager Ronnie was arrested on Monday in connection with the drug racket case allegedly involving Tollywood actors and filmmakers. The Special Investigating Team (SIT) raided the manager's residence and found him in possession of marijuana. A SIT source said, "We strongly suspect his role in drug peddling in Tollywood and have arrested him after monitoring his activities."

Popular actor Kajal Aggarwal?s manager, Puttkar Ronson Joseph, was arrested on Monday by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for alleged possession of drugs.Joseph, also known as Johnny Joseph or Rony, has been Kajal?s manager since her entry into films.Director of Enforcement of Prohibition and Excise department Akun Sabharwal said SIT raided Joseph?s house in Manikonda and found ganja in his possession. ?We are questioning him and further investigation in the case is going on,? Dr Sabharwal was quoted by Deccan Chronicle as saying.A source in SIT said statements given by other film personalities, who were questioned earlier, led to his arrest, the Deccan Chronicle report added.?We strongly suspect his role in drug peddling in Tollywood and have arrested him after monitoring his activities. We have strong evidence that he consumes drugs regularly. It will be proved after medical tests,? the SIT source said.In the past, Joseph has worked with other top league actors such as Lavanya Tripathi and Raashi Khanna as well.The Tollywood drug scandal gets bigger with every passing day. Over the past couple of days big names from the industry such as director Puri Jangannadh and actor Navdeep have been grilled by the SIT team.Meanwhile, actor Charmme Kaur who was also summoned by the SIT on Monday, has moved to Hyderabad high court and has sought directions that authorities should not forcibly collect her blood, hair and nail samples. She also sought direction for the SIT to abide by the Constitution of India and the Supreme Court guidelines by permitting presence of her lawyer and women officers at the time of examination, firstpost.com was quoted as saying.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Rini Sinha

09 May 2017,Tuesday

Private images of H'wood actress Sienna Miller leaked online

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sienna-miller-nude-topless-photo-leaked-icloud-hack/1/949207.html

Private pictures of Hollywood actress Sienna Miller have been leaked online by hackers. "Sienna will be devastated that these pictures said to be of her fooling around have been put online by some weirdo," said a source. Previously, private pictures of Emma Watson, Miley Cyrus, Amanda Seyfried, Demi Lovato, Katie Cassidy, Suki Waterhouse, among others have also been leaked online. nn

American Sniper actor Sienna Miller is the latest celebrity to fall victim to online hackers and have her nude photos circulated all over the internet. Apparently, the leaked photos are topless pictures of the 35-year-old actor wearing a mask over her face. According to a report in The Sun, the hackers may have targetted the actor and/or her friends' cloud storage accounts, social media sites or messaging services to get access to the photos.The report quoted a source as saying, "Sienna will be devastated that these pictures said to be of her fooling around have been put online by some weirdo."The actor herself has not commented on the leak.On the work front, Sienna is currently in Massachusetts shooting for her upcoming indie film with Christina Hendricks, The Burning Woman. The thriller revolves around a woman who, after the mysterious disappearance of her daughter, is left to raise her young grandson.

Gaurav Shroff

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Only 100 firms account for 71% of global emissions: Study

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change?CMP=twt_gu

Just 100 companies have been the source of 71% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions since 1988, according to a Carbon Majors report. The report further claims that half of the emissions were traced to 25 state-owned fossil fuel producers. If the current fossil fuel extraction trend continues, global average temperatures would rise by 4ºC by 2100, the report warns.

Just 100 companies have been the source of more than 70% of the world?s greenhouse gas emissions since 1988, according to a new report.The Carbon Majors Report (pdf) ?pinpoints how a relatively small set of fossil fuel producers may hold the key to systemic change on carbon emissions,? says Pedro Faria, technical director at environmental non-profit CDP, which published the report in collaboration with the Climate Accountability Institute. Traditionally, large scale greenhouse gas emissions data is collected at a national level but this report focuses on fossil fuel producers. Compiled from a database of publicly available emissions figures, it is intended as the first in a series of publications to highlight the role companies and their investors could play in tackling climate change. The report found that more than half of global industrial emissions since 1988 ? the year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established ? can be traced to just 25 corporate and state-owned entities. The scale of historical emissions associated with these fossil fuel producers is large enough to have contributed significantly to climate change, according to the report. ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Chevron are identified as among the highest emitting investor-owned companies since 1988. If fossil fuels continue to be extracted at the same rate over the next 28 years as they were between 1988 and 2017, says the report, global average temperatures would be on course to rise by 4C by the end of the century. This is likely to have catastrophic consequences including substantial species extinction and global food scarcity risks.While companies have a huge role to play in driving climate change, says Faria, the barrier is the ?absolute tension? between short-term profitability and the urgent need to reduce emissions.A Carbon Tracker study in 2015 found that fossil fuel companies risked wasting more than $2tn over the coming decade by pursuing coal, oil and gas projects that could be worthless in the face of international action on climate change and advances in renewables ? in turn posing substantial threats to investor returns.CDP says its aims with the carbon majors project are both to improve transparency among fossil fuel producers and to help investors understand the emissions associated with their fossil fuel holdings. A fifth of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions are backed by public investment, according to the report. ?That puts a significant responsibility on those investors to engage with carbon majors and urge them to disclose climate risk,? says Faria.Investors should move out of fossil fuels, says Michael Brune, executive director of US environmental organisation the Sierra Club. ?Not only is it morally risky, it?s economically risky. The world is moving away from fossil fuels towards clean energy and is doing so at an accelerated pace. Those left holding investments in fossil fuel companies will find their investments becoming more and more risky over time.?There is a ?growing wave of companies that are acting in the opposite manner to the companies in this report,? says Brune. Nearly 100 companies including Apple, Facebook, Google and Ikea have committed to 100% renewable power under the RE100 initiative. Volvo recently announced that all its cars would be electric or hybrid from 2019. And oil and gas companies are also embarking on green investments. Shell set up a renewables arm in 2015 with a $1.7bn investment attached and a spokesperson for Chevron says it?s ?committed to managing its [greenhouse gas] emissions? and is investing in two of the world?s largest carbon dioxide injection projects to capture and store carbon. A BP spokesperson says its ?determined to be part of the solution? for climate change and is ?investing in renewables and low-carbon innovation.? And ExxonMobil, which has faced heavy criticism for its environmental record, has been exploring carbon capture and storage.But for many the sums involved and pace of change are nowhere near enough. A research paper published last year by Paul Stevens, an academic at think tank Chatham House, said international oil companies were no longer fit for purpose and warned these multinationals that they faced a ?nasty, brutish and short? end within the next 10 years if they did not completely change their business models. Investors now have a choice, according to Charlie Kronick, senior programme advisor at Greenpeace UK. ?The future of the oil industry has already been written: the choice is will its decline be managed, returning capital to shareholders to be reinvested in the genuine industries of the future, or will they hold on, hoping not be the last one standing when the music stops??

Pragya Swastik

22 Mar 2017,Wednesday

Hudco gets Sebi approval to raise funds through IPO

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/hudco-gets-sebi-approval-to-float-ipo/1/909900.html

State-run housing finance company Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (Hudco) has received Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approval to raise funds through an IPO. IDBI Capital, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities, SBI Capital Markets and ICICI Securities will manage the company's public issue. Hudco's IPO is a part of the government's disinvestment plan.

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) State-run Hudco has received capital markets regulator Sebis approval to raise funds through an initial share sale as part of the governments disinvestment drive. Hudco had filed draft papers with the Securities and Exchange Boardof India (Sebi) in January and got the markets watchdogs "observation" on March 10, which is necessary for any company to launch public offer. The initial public offer will comprise sale of 200,190,000 equity shares --10 per cent stake -- by the central government through an offer for sale (OFS) route, as per the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP). A discount of up to 5 per cent on the issue price would be given to retail investors and Hudco employees. The paid up capital of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) is Rs 2,001.90 crore as on March, 2016. The government holds 100 per cent stake in the company.

Daisy Mowke

19 Mar 2017,Sunday

Five-legged lamb born in UK named after Tom Hanks character

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/five-legged-lamb-born-in-uk-named-after-tom-hanks-character/1/907154.html

A five-legged lamb which was born at a farm in the UK has been named 'Forrest' after Hollywood actor Tom Hanks' character from the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'. The lamb was named so in the hope that its extra limb gives it the same love of running as the film's character. "It's happy- drinking, running around," said the farm's owner.

London, Mar 18 (PTI) A five-legged lamb has been born at a farm in the UK and named after a Tom Hanks character. The Texel Mule cross was born on Thursday in Derbyshire and farm owner Mark Bayley said he was totally healthy. The Bayley family nicknamed the young male Forrest in the hope his extra limb gives him the same love of running as film character Forrest Gump. Bayley said although it was tempting to sell Forrest for meat, he would probably be kept as a family pet, the BBC reported. The extra limb, which sits just behind Forrests left front leg, is slightly shorter than the other four so is not interfering with his mobility at the farm in Ashbourne.

Pragya Swastik

17 Apr 2017,Monday

Ola, Uber drivers to go on strike in Delhi

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/ola-uber-protest-strike-back-on-tuesday-brace-for-higher-cab-fares-longer-wait/story-gUYGNT79cJKk3zyYLtfpZP.html

The drivers of cab aggregating startups Ola and Uber are scheduled to go on a one-day strike in Delhi on Tuesday. The kaali-peeli taxi operators have joined hands with rivals Ola and Uber for the strike. The drivers claim that nothing has changed since their February protest and they are barely earning enough to eat and pay their car EMIs.

Brace for higher cab fares and longer waits on Tuesday as drivers? of online cab aggregators Ola and Uber are going to start round two of their protest. Though a one-day strike, the protest could severely hit the private transport service sector in Delhi-NCR as this time even the rivals of Ola-Uber drivers, kaali-peeli taxi operators, have joined hands.While most taxi and autorickshaw drivers, of an estimated 1-5 lakh app-based taxis in Delhi-NCR, have decided not to take out their vehicles on April 18, they also plan to do a protest march to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal?s residence in Civil Lines from the Majnu Ka Tila Gurudwara. The drivers have renewed the stir as they feel their demands have fallen on deaf ears ? ?neither the companies nor the Delhi government has done anything,? they claim. In February, Delhi-NCR got its first taste of a strike by Ola-Uber drivers against the cab aggregator companies, which impacted lakhs of commuters for almost two weeks. Leading the fresh protest is the same drivers? union, Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD), which had organised the previous strike.?Nothing has changed since our February protest. Drivers continue to slog for 16-18 hours daily and still are barely earning enough to eat and pay the car EMIs. Fares of registered city taxis can only be fixed by the government, whereas, Ola-Uber still continue to levy their own rates,? said Kamaljeet Gill, president SDAD.Foes turn friendsTuesday?s strike has received support from at least a dozen transport unions active in the capital.Until now, drivers of kaali-peeli taxis, those with All India Taxi Permit (AITP) and auto-rickshaws had always protested against the Ola-Uber drivers for eating away into their earnings as the app-based cab service gained huge popularity.?Drivers of Ola-Uber are suffering because they are working like bonded labourers and are earning pittance. Like we have always been demanding, they also want meters installed in cabs and rates to be fixed by the government. Our issues have now become common and so we will fight together,? said Sanjay Samrat of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association. He added that the app-based cab companies are flouting not only laws but also directions issued by the Supreme Court. ?Cabs are illegally being run on shared basis. Ola and Uber are giving away cars with AIT permits to drivers on a small down payment of R 35,000. As per the law, vehicles with these permits cannot be run on point-to-point basis,? Samrat said.

Chhavi Tyagi

28 Jan 2017,Saturday

UP: BJP promises free education, fast-track courts for girls

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uttar-pradesh-assembly-election-bjp-manifesto-sops-amit-shah/1/868631.html

BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday released the party's manifesto for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections which promises free education for girls up to graduation and 100 fast-track courts for women. In the manifesto, the party also promised to uphold the rights of Muslim women and create a task force for women safety.

BJP president Amit Shah today released the party's manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. The nine-part 'sankalp patra' promises a range of sops, ranging from free WiFi in colleges to steps to improve law and order. Predicting that the BJP will form the government in Uttar Pradesh with a two-third majority, Shah targeted the Akhilesh Yadav government, saying the law and order situation in the state is the worst in the world. Shah went on to claim that the BJP-led government at the Centre has sent Rs 1 lakh crore more to UP every year than the UPA. "Where has the money gone?" the party head questioned. Shah also addressed the Ram Mandir issue, saying the party will make efforts to ensure that a temple is made at the contentious Ayodhya site while staying within the constitutional framework.  TOP PROMISES IN BJP'S UP MANIFESTO Also read: Akhilesh Yadav at SP manifesto release: Even opponents will vote for us if they ride on our expressway  Watch Video: BJP will put an end to napotism and caste politics: Amit Shah

Chhavi Tyagi

13 Dec 2016,Tuesday

People have become victims of a visionless policy: Mamata

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-visionless-mamata-banerjee/1/833392.html

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the Centre's demonetisation move saying that it is a 'visionless policy' and crores of people have become victims of it. "Demonetisation is a major setback for commoners and a maximum setback for workers," Banerjee added. Banerjee has been leading protests against the move and has been slamming the implementation of the policy.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday termed demonetisation a "setback" for commoners and workers, saying the "visionless policy" has claimed crores of "victims"."Demonetisation is a major setback for commoners and a maximum setback for workers... Crores of people have become victims of a visionless policy. It's a major catastrophe," Banerjee wrote on her Facebook page.Mamata took to social media to express her "deep sorrow" over the common man's ordeal and claimed that the Narendra Modi led central government's demonetization decision had "drastically affected about 5 Crore workers in the country". "According to reports, around 1.25 Crore workers in the country in unorganized sector, e-commerce, leather, jute, textiles, glass, beedi, gems and jewellery sectors and daily wage earners under government schemes like MNREGA have either lost jobs or have been seriously affected due to cash crunch," she added on Facebook.

Radhika Chugh

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

Mumbai University directs colleges to speed up evaluation

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/get-more-teachers-to-speed-up-paper-assessment-mumbai-university-tells-colleges/story-8RtX485IWN2zi2TjSqATBP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Mumbai University has asked its colleges to speed up the assessment process by assigning evaluators in proportion to their students. Reportedly, only 28% teachers are evaluating the answer scripts and only 6.5 lakh out of 18 lakh answer sheets have been assessed so far. The on-screen assessment system adopted by the university this year was blamed for the delay.

With just 30% degree-college teachers reporting for paper assessment, the University of Mumbai (MU) will issue notices to teachers who are yet to start assessment .An official, who is involved in MU?s assessment exercise, said the notice will inform the teachers the consequences of skipping assessment work. The university has prepared a list of more than 1,000 teachers from its affiliated colleges who will receive such notices, said the official.The Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016 makes it mandatory for every teacher of the university, its affiliated, conducted colleges, community colleges and recognised institutions to assist the varsity in conducting examination and evaluation. ?If any teacher ... fails to comply with the order of the university ... the employee shall be liable for disciplinary action,? reads the act. So far, only 3,500 of the 11,500 evaluators have started assessment work even as the varsity races against the time to assess the answer sheets and declare the results. However, according to the official, many of the evaluators were enrolled with the varsity?s examination department recently and are yet to finish the formalities. The notices will only be served to those teachers who have done assessment work before.?The notice will serve as a warning to the teachers who are skipping assessment duties. While the university is not considering any action against errant teachers, it cannot be ruled out,? said the official.The university?s decision to adopt an on-screen assessment system has caused a huge delay in declaring results this year. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who also serves as chancellor of public universities in the state, has asked MU to declare results by July 30. Read: Delayed Mumbai University results to cost pharmacy aspirants a yearAccording to a source, so far, around 6.5 lakh out of 18 lakh answer sheets have been assessed, with around 55,000 papers evaluated on Tuesday.The university has also issued a circular to all the affiliated colleges, seeking details of their faculty. ?The colleges are required to fill a proforma to indicate how many teachers they have and how many of them are assessing papers,? said Anil Patil, director, academic planning, MU.?The assessment work is mandatory for the teachers who have been appointed on permanent basis. However, those appointed on a contract basis also need to get involved. The colleges must at least take the responsibility of evaluating the equivalent of their own students? papers,? said the official.While the university wants to get the teachers involved in assessment work, many of the teachers, especially those appointed on contract basis, are yet to receive their assignments from the university. ?If a teacher doesn?t know which centralised assessment process (CAP) centre they have been allotted, how can they start the work? We have sent the list of all our teachers to the university. We hope that they will be assigned some work soon,? said Dinesh Panjwani, principal, National College, Bandra.Read: Mumbai university assessment picks up pace, results of some courses could be announced in 15 days

Prashanti Moktan

05 Jun 2017,Monday

Kannada actress Avantika accuses producer of harassment

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/avantika-shetty-accuses-producer-suresh-of-harassment/1/970961.html

Kannada actress Avantika Shetty has accused producer K Suresh of harassing her and objectifying her during the shoot of the film Raju Kannada Medium. Avantika wrote that she noticed that it wasn't her performance the producer was bothered about. She has approached a Karnataka court for a settlement and has also registered a formal complaint with the Karnataka Film Chamber.

Avantika Shetty, who was roped in to play the female lead in the upcoming film Raju Kannada Medium, has accused producer K Suresh of 'objectifying' her.  Taking to Twitter, Avantika wrote, "The problem started from the very first day of the schedule of the film when I sensed that it wasn't my performance the producer and the director really bothered about." Elaborating further, Avantika said that she was denied remuneration for the film. I hope no other girl has to go through this.............. pic.twitter.com/JX4roj1WcN"I had almost completed the film and a very small portion which was to be shot in Bangkok was left. The next thing I know, I was unceremoniously asked to leave back to Mumbai citing my average performance in the film as the reason, which surprisingly came up after I asked them about a bounced cheque, (sic)" she wrote.The actor, who is best known for her role in Rangitaranga, has now approached the Karnataka court for a settlement. While Avantika has registered a formal complaint with the Karnataka Film Chamber, vice-president Umesh Banakar has denied the news. Speaking about the issue, Umesh was quoted by Times Of India as saying, "We will examine the agreement signed between him and Avantika, and hear his side of the story. If he has any grievance to be addressed, we may have to call Avantika too. In any case, I hope the issue will be settled amicably."According to Rockline Venkatesh, secretary of the Kannada Film Artistes Association, Avantika Shetty is not a member of the chamber.

Prashanti Moktan

21 Jul 2017,Friday

Christopher Nolan's directorial 'Dunkirk' hits the theatres

http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/dunkirk-movie-review-christopher-nolan-s-epic-is-one-of-the-best-war-films-ever-made-5-stars/story-03YttGrOPdOdkP7s0YGuWP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Director Christopher Nolan's film Dunkirk which released on Friday, "is one of the greatest war movies ever made," wrote Hindustan Times. The Guardian wrote, "It's a visceral piece of film-making," while Times of India called it "the first real contender for Best Picture" at Oscars. The film has been rated 5/5 (Hindustan Times, The Guardian) and 4.5/5 (Times Of India).

DunkirkDirector - Christopher NolanCast - Tom Hardy, Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth BranaghRating - 5/5The moments spent in anticipation immediately before a new Christopher Nolan movie are often just as nerve-wracking as those spent watching the film.{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Review","author": {"@type":"Person","name":"Rohan Naahar","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rohan-naahar"},"datePublished":"2017-07-20","description":"Dunkirk movie review: Christopher Nolan?s war movie is an unrelenting, unstoppable force of nature, an existential masterpiece powered by a terrific Hans Zimmer score. Rating: 5 stars.","inLanguage":"en","itemReviewed": {"@type":"Movie","name":"Dunkirk","image":"http://i.imgur.com/reuvLlp.jpg","sameAs":"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/","datePublished":"2017-07-20","director": {"@type":"Person","name":"Christopher Nolan"},"actor": [{"@type": "Person","name": "Tom Hardy","sameAs": ""},{"@type": "Person","name": "Harry Styles","sameAs": ""}]},"publisher": {"@type":"Organization","name":"Hindustan Times","sameAs":"http://www.hindustantimes.com/"},"reviewRating": {"@type":"Rating","worstRating":0.0,"bestRating":5,"ratingValue":"5"}}An irresistible energy buzzes through your body as you collapse into your grimy seat ? a hypnotic mix of nervousness, fear, paranoia, and careful optimism.This is a pilgrimage, after all. To some, Nolan is a god, and his temple?s walls, dark and foreboding, seem to push in as the lights go down. Your senses, usually dulled by a mundane existence, are heightened. You?ve never experienced anything like it.The crowd?s hushed tones hit you in waves, and even the most distant whisper is deafening ? but it reassures as much as it startles. There are others like you. And like you, they?ve waited years for this moment. You are not alone. And the electricity you?ve created ? together ? in the cavernous place of worship, could power a small town.I have experienced this sensation on four occasions, before four Christopher Nolan films, and each of those experiences were, and remain to this day, some of the most special I?ve had inside a movie theatre.And yesterday, it happened again.Dunkirk, a film about men, created by men, is a force of nature ? an elemental beast of a movie about finding the meaning of life surrounded by the meaninglessness of war. It is an existential masterpiece set across three parallel plots destined to collide, which in turn are set on three planes of existence ? earth, air, and water. To us, these elements symbolise life, but in Dunkirk, they might as well be harbingers of death, having suspended our characters in their purgatory as they await judgment.On the land, in the seaside French town of Dunkirk, 400,000 soldiers have been pushed by ?the enemy? ? curiously, not once are the Nazis mentioned ? towards the sea. They wait, bombarded from behind, and up above, for deliverance. Before them lies a seemingly endless expanse of blue ? and home, England, is practically within sight, across the choppy waters of the Channel. They go from boat to boat ? some even conning their way onto the rickety barges ? desperate to get off the cursed beach, as torpedoes attack them from below, and missiles rain like hellfire from the sky.They?re in need of a miracle.But help is on its way. Tom Hardy protects them from above, acting, like he did in The Dark Knight Rises, through a mask, and only with his eyes. And his eyes are all he needs to convey the (sometimes scarily suicidal) determination to save his countrymen, as he picks off one Luftwaffe fighter after another ? even as his wingmen perish, and his fuel gauge begs him to stop.Below him, on the water, a civilian Mark Rylance has commandeered a boat, one of the many deployed by the Navy in an effort to aid the evacuation process. With his teenage son, and his son?s eager friend in tow ? but without a firm plan ? he sails into war.And with the precision of a watchmaker ? time is an oft-repeated motif in the film ? Nolan, a master working at the peak of his powers, puts the pieces of this jigsaw together with some of his most effortless editing since Inception. And like Inception, as layer after layer of Dunkirk?s nesting doll structure is uncovered, and when the three stories finally converge after almost two hours of merciless tension, the emotional release is pure ecstasy.Often, in order to build this tension, the experimental work of genius that it is, Dunkirk spends long stretches in silence. DP Hoyte van Hoytema?s IMAX camera, taking a break from soaring across the skies, wrestling for space among thousands of men, and gazing placidly at the sheer beauty of it all, brings the actors? faces inches from its own. And these fine performers ? mostly young stars (Harry Styles included) ? convey wordlessly the torment raging in their characters? minds.But because of these periods of silence, and because of Nolan?s refusal to rely on words (or, for that matter, a traditional structure) to tell his story, Hans Zimmer?s terrific score becomes crucial, and slowly, emerges as a character in its own right. Like the film, it is unrelentingly intense, stretched to breaking point as it conjures tension seemingly from nothing.And such is Nolan?s power at commanding the attention of his audience, that you find yourself overlooking basic flaws. There isn?t a single character in this film that is properly fleshed out, and it fails miserably at the Bechdel Test. But never have these glaring missteps mattered less.Do you remember what Bruce Wayne said at the end of The Dark Knight Rises? Moments before flying into certain death, he looked at Commissioner Gordon, and growled, ?A hero can be anyone.?And this is the sentiment that Nolan has carried into Dunkirk. These characters aren?t meant to have elaborate backstories or complicated motivations. They?re meant to represent an ideal. They?re meant to embody our bravery and our empathy and our kindness.A hero can be anyone, from a middle-aged sailor who just wants to teach his son to do the right thing, to a decorated commander who refuses to leave until every last man who serves under him ? or even if he doesn?t ? has been saved.Dunkirk is one of the greatest war movies ever made ? it?s certainly the tightest, most unwaveringly propulsive film of Christopher Nolan?s career. But it?s also as meditative as The Thin Red Line, as brutal as Saving Private Ryan, and sometimes, even as surreal as Apocalypse Now.It deserves to be seen big and loud.Watch the Dunkirk trailer hereFollow @htshowbiz for moreThe author tweets @RohanNaahar

Prashanti Moktan

26 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Sunny's past has no bearing on how she'll be as mother: Ram

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sunny-leone-s-past-has-no-bearing-on-how-she-will-be-as-a-mother-ram-kapoor/story-5fULlPJXW9GNd9uwwcfgmL.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Actor Ram Kapoor has said that the career choices Sunny Leone has made in her life have no bearing on the kind of parent she will be. Sunny and her husband Daniel Weber recently adopted a baby girl named Nisha. Ram added, "Whatever her past is, she has done that in a country where it's allowed and legal."

Ever since actor Sunny Leone and husband, businessman Daniel Weber, adopted a baby girl, Nisha Kaur Weber, people from the film fraternity have been congratulating the couple. However, nasty tongues have been at work too. Not sparing a good deed, trolls are pointing fingers at Sunny?s past and saying that having an adult film star for a mother will affect the child?s future. Reacting to these shameless trolls, actor Ram Kapoor, who has worked with Sunny in the film Kuch Kuch Locha Hai (2015), says it?s completely wrong for people to say things against her based on her past career choices.?I find this absolutely ridiculous. People need to realise that she has not broken any laws. Whatever her past is and whatever her choices have been, she has done that in a country where it?s allowed and legal, and not in this country where it?s illegal. She has made her choice as an adult and she lives by them. She is not one of those women who regrets any of her decisions or past. She is very level-headed,? says Ram. Sunny Leone and her husband Daniel Weber adopted a little angel & named her Nisha Kaur Weber. ? My heart is so happy for this cute family! Ugh, huge respect for these two amazing souls. ?? A post shared by hindi cinema (@bollywoodbaarish) on Jul 22, 2017 at 10:07am PDT While some trolls said that Indian authorities should not have allowed Sunny to adopt a girl, others are worried what the child will go through when she?ll Google her parents once she grows up. Stating that Sunny and Daniel are sensible people, Ram adds, ?I?ve spent a lot of time with them and they obviously would have thought about this for a long time before they decided to go ahead with adoption. [Also] On how she will raise her child or what will the child go through when she finds out about her parents? past, is something that is private to them and their family.? Another shot of #nishaweber #nishakaurweber #sunnyleone #danielweber #bollyholics__ A post shared by BOLLYHOLICS (@bollyholics__) on Jul 23, 2017 at 4:04am PDT Ram lashes out at those who say that Sunny won?t be a good mother. ? The [career] choices you have made in life have no bearing on what kind of a parent you are going to be. What if you were some banker or were an employee in an office, but you were a shitty parent??Ram feels that it is high time people stop trolling celebrities on their personal life and should respect their choices. ?You can discuss, talk about their work, fashion sense and whatever they do in their professional life. India needs to grow up. When the person has not broken any law and hasn?t upset any system in any way, and has technically made all her choices by herself and with her own mind, and not under pressure or stress from someone else, then what business does anyone else have to judge him or her?? asks the actor.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Shubhodeep Datta

21 Feb 2017,Tuesday

Delhi govt raises acid attack victims' compensation to ?7L

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/compensation-for-acid-attack-survivors-raised-to-7l-aap-to-hc/story-eurzRvvaYzdbRhlwbwYwTL.html

The AAP government has informed the Delhi High Court that it has raised the compensation for acid attack victims from ?3 lakh to ?7 lakh. Further, the Delhi government said it has directed all Delhi hospitals to provide free treatment to such victims. The submission was made while hearing the plea filed by several victims against the compensation cap.

The AAP government on Monday told the Delhi High Court that it has raised from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh the compensation for acid attack victims.The submission was made before Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, who was hearing the plea of several women who are victims of acid attack against the cap on compensation to be awarded in such cases.Delhi government?s counsel Arun Panwar further informed the court that they have even directed all the hospitals in the capital, including hospitals under central government to provide free treatment to such victims.Panwar assisted by advocate Ayushi Gupta also submitted that if the hospitals do not provide free treatment to acid attack victims, contempt action will be taken against them.The women, who were rendered visually impaired besides other wounds as a result of the attack, have sought enhancement of the Rs 3 lakh compensation awarded to them by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in 2016.They have also sought removal of the cap on compensation awarded under the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme.In addition to the enhanced compensation, they have sought directions to the Delhi government to reimburse the transportation cost incurred by them during their treatment.To which, the court has asked the authorities concerned to file a status report by March 20 indicating the policy with regard to reimbursement of money spent in transportation by the victims.Their plea also claims that while world over there are strict laws against use of acid and such attacks, in India the law is lacking in many respects as it does not address the issues of speedy investigation, expedited trials for survivors and inadequate compensation as most surgeries cost Rs three lac per procedure and victims sometimes need to undergo several operations.

Radhika Chugh

27 Jul 2017,Thursday

Court convicts school authorities for traumatising 7 yr old

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/principal-director-of-delhi-school-jailed-for-two-months-for-not-allowing-child-in-classroom/story-pppD80MUn4p4lXvlzmR6qK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A Delhi court on Wednesday awarded a school principal and its director a 2-month jail sentence for causing mental trauma to a 7-year-old girl by not allowing her to attend classes. The teachers were allegedly instructed to not let the girl enter the classroom owing to a tiff between her parents and the school management over increased school fees.

In an unprecedented verdict, a Delhi court on Wednesday awarded a two-month jail term to a school principal and its director for causing mental trauma to a 7-year-old girl by not allowing her to enter the classroom. Kavita Chandra was the then director and Romi Chawla was the then principal of Dwarka-based OPG World School, where the incident took place on April 24, 2012. Both have been directed to pay a compensation of R 2.5 lakh each to the girl. ?For five long years, my daughter was traumatised and wondered what her fault was. The incident happened when she was in class 3 and admissions were closed in other schools. It took us over two months to find another school, and my child remained at home all this while for no fault of hers,? the girl?s father told Hindustan Times. Stating that the act of not allowing the child to sit in the classroom amounts to wilful neglect, the court had in June this year convicted Chandra and Chawla under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The girl?s father had complained that his daughter was ill treated and confined by the school management throughout the school hours on April 24, 2012, in order to pressurise him to withdraw her from school. He said that instead of keeping her in the class with her classmates, she was wrongly confined to various other places in the school where neither children were present nor any activity was going on. He claimed that she was not even sent to dining hall to have a breakfast and lunch with her classmates. During her cross examination in the court, the girl had said that she was told by her class teacher that the director and principal had given instructions to not allow her to sit in the classroom. During the course of investigation, the director and the principal had said that a transfer certificate was issued on April 23, 2012 on the request of the girl?s parents. However, instead of collecting the transfer certificate, the child was sent to the school. They said that since the girl was not feeling comfortable on arrival at the school and knowing her past history of asthma, she was sent to infirmary for rest. The school had requested the parents to pick her up and collect the transfer certificate.However, the girl?s father said that he had raised questions against the arbitrary increase in school fees and accessory charges, after which the school management sought to evict his daughter with a transfer certificate. ?I had already paid the school fees in advance and so I refused to accept the transfer certificate. I told them that I will transfer her only after finding another school. But still the management prevented my daughter from attending her classes,? said the girl?s father. In its judgment, the court said that whatever may be the differences with the parents, the school authorities could not have allowed the child to be neglected. It further said that the child cannot be thrown out at the whim and fancies of the school authorities.The girl?s father said that he ran from pillar to post to get justice for her daughter, who is now 12-years-old. She is one of the top performers in her new school. ENDS

Yash Kumar

08 Dec 2016,Thursday

TIME magazine list is a joke: Donald Trump had said in 2013

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/donald-trump-time-magazine-person-of-the-year-us-president-nbc-today-show/1/829316.html

US President-elect Donald Trump, who won TIME Person of the Year, had slammed the magazine in 2013 saying, "The Time Magazine list of the 100 Most Influential People is a joke and stunt of a magazine that will...soon be dead." After winning the award this year, Trump, however, said it is a "great honour" which means a "lot to him".

US President-elect Donald Trump is an elated soul as success and fame is coming rapidly his way. After winning the US presidency last month in a stunning upheaval, he has now been elected as the 2016 TIME Person of the Year (POY), a recognition that is considered a global benchmark.Trump expressed his happiness calling his POY title a 'great honour' which means a 'lot to him'. According to NBC New York, Trump said, "It's a great honour, it means a lot. Especially me growing up, reading TIME magazine, it's a very important magazine. I've been lucky enough to be on the cover many times this year and last year."When the TIME 2016 POY shortlist was announced on NBC's Today show, Donald Trump was among the 11 candidates including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi who won the TIME Person of the Year Popular Vote second year in a row.But when we look at Donald Trump's vitriolic views on the TIME magazine in past, this sudden change of heart looks as shocking as his victory in the presidential polls. If we see those comments, Trump's reaction today sounds like a plain lie.

Daisy Mowke

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Cheesemaker offers ?42,000 reward to recover stolen cheese

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/18/no-whey-cheesemaker-offers-500-reward-after-theft-of-prizewinning-cheddars?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A cheesemaker from England is offering nearly ?42,000 reward for the recovery of two blocks of prize-winning cheddar cheese stolen from an agricultural show. The two blocks were stolen along with the certificates that prove their prize-winning quality which could raise their value. "It's a bit like having a valuable painting stolen," said cheesemaker Rich Clothier.

A Somerset cheesemaker has offered a £500 reward after two of its finest vintage cheddars were stolen during a prestigious show. The judges at the Yeovil show had crowned the two hefty blocks of cheese champion and reserve champion and the specimens were being left in a marquee overnight so that they could be admired by members of the public next day. Thieves took the blocks, weighing 20kg each and with a retail value of around £800, and the winners? certificates from the tent during overnight on Saturday. The cheesemakers at Wyke Farms in Bruton, Somerset, were devastated that two of the best blocks they had ever produced have vanished. Rich Clothier, a third generation cheesemaker and the managing director of Wyke Farms, said he believed the thieves had targeted the prize-winning cheddars and may have been stealing to order. He said it was possible the cheeses were already abroad. ?They left all the other cheeses and just took ours,? he said. ?It?s disappointing. To win the champion and reserve was really nice for us. It took around a year-and-a-half to make those cheeses. They are among the best we have ever produced.? Clothier said that while the retail value was put at £800 it is possible that they could be worth much more if the right wealthy cheese-loving customers were found. Wyke Farms sells to 160 countries with the US and France big fans. He said: ?These cheeses could be considered masterpieces; it?s a bit like having a valuable painting stolen. Clothier said he was proud of the cheeses? ?rounded flavour? with tones of ?dairy, sweet and nuttiness?. ?They were complex, like a fine bottle of wine.? Clothier said it was possible the theft had been carefully planned. ?You can?t just put one of those in a bag. It?s like carrying a bag of sand away.? The cheesemaker is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to the recovery of the cheese or the arrest of the thief or thieves. Cheese thefts are not unknown to the family, however. In 1789 one of Clothier?s ancestors had a wheel of cheese stolen from his cart in Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet. This cheese, then worth seven shillings, was found in the possession of a woman who claimed it ?fell off the back of the cart?.

Mansha Mahajan

11 Apr 2017,Tuesday

Those expressing concerns on GST are tax evaders: Adi Godrej

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/those-expressing-concerns-over-gst-are-tax-evaders-adi-godrej/1/925937.html

Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej has said that people expressing concerns over GST and calling for postponement of its implementation are mainly tax evaders. He further termed suggestions about GST roll out being pushed to October as "ridiculous". "Everybody has plenty of time to prepare...I saw the statement by P Chidambaram...But I think it will be ridiculous," Godrej stated.

Chhavi Tyagi

10 Jan 2017,Tuesday

?3-4 L cr of evaded income deposited in banks after note ban

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-tax-evasion-government-income-tax-department-ed/1/853750.html

The government has found that an estimated ?3-4 lakh crore of tax-evaded income have been deposited during the 50-day window provided till December 30 to get rid of scrapped ?500 and ?1,000 notes. Reportedly, the Income Tax Department has been asked to scrutinise details and send notices to depositors of the money on which tax could have been evaded.

As it analyses bank deposits post demonetisation, the government has found that an estimated Rs 3-4 lakh crore of tax-evaded income could have been deposited during the 50-day window provided to get rid of junked Rs 500, 1000 notes.A senior official said the income tax department had been asked to scrutinise details and send notices to depositors of Rs 3-4 lakh crore on which tax could have been evaded."We now have truckloads of data, analysis of which shows that more than Rs 2 lakh was deposited in over 60 lakh bank accounts post demonetisation. The total amount deposited in these accounts is more than Rs 7.34 lakh crore," he said.More than Rs 10,700 crore cash was deposited in different accounts in the northeastern states since November 9, he said adding that the income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate were looking into over Rs 16,000 crore deposited in different accounts of cooperative banks.25,000 CRORE CASH DEPOSITED IN DORMANT BANK ACCOUNTS   Also, it has come to light that Rs 25,000 crore cash was deposited in dormant bank accounts while nearly Rs 80,000 crore of repayment of loans was done in cash since November 8, 2016 when the government demonetised old 500 and 1000 rupee notes.Holders of the old currency were given the option to exchange or deposit demonetised notes in bank accounts until December 30.Also read | Demonetisation: Manufacturing industry lost 30 per cent jobs and 55 per cent revenue, says AIMO  "Starting from November 8, 2016, various reports were called for from banks based on different threshold of cash deposits made by different categories of people. The reports were collated and analysed based on intelligence, which has been available in the government database," the official said.After an in-depth analysis, these reports have been disseminated to the income tax department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other law enforcement agencies.Of the 60 lakh bank accounts that saw cash deposits worth more than Rs 2 lakh, over 6.80 lakh accounts have found matches in the existing database of various reports available with the government.I-T DEPT BRIEFED ON CASH DEPOSIT DETAILS"These have been flagged while disseminating to I-T department," he said adding the details of cash deposits totalling to more than Rs 10,700 crore in different accounts in the northeastern states had also been disseminated.Also, the income tax department and the ED have been provided with details of cash deposits of more than Rs 16,000 crore in different accounts of various kinds of Cooperative banks.Also read | Demonetisation: Parliament panel may summon PM Modi if RBI's reply not satisfactoryThe deposits of more than Rs 13,000 crore in Regional Rural Banks have also been disseminated.

Arshiya Chopra

31 Jul 2017,Monday

Raj Babbar injured in police action in UP: Congress

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/raj-babbar-injured-in-police-action-in-up-congress-tells-rajya-sabha/story-mpCOltfSNRqYF5ykj1gxSK.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Congress on Monday informed Rajya Sabha that Raj Babbar has been injured in police action against villagers protesting demolition of their houses in Uttar Pradesh. They added that due to the injuries, he was unable to attend the Parliament proceedings. The house's Deputy Chairman dismissed the issue of Babbar's safety and security saying the state government should deal with this.

Opposition Congress said in Rajya Sabha on Monday that its MP Raj Babbar was allegedly injured in police action against villagers protesting demolition of their houses in the Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.Raising the issue through a notice under rule 267 that seeks setting aside of the business to take up discussion on the issue, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) said force was used against the villagers protesting against demolition.Raj Babbar, he said, was injured and is unable to attend the proceedings in Parliament.Deputy chairman PJ Kurien said if the member has a complaint, he can raise it and give a privilege notice.Tiwari was joined by other Congress members in raising the issue of the safety and security of Babbar, who is sitting on dharna at the protest site.Kurien asked them if the lawmaker was being prevented from attending Parliament. When they replied in negative, he said the notice is not admitted.Finance minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said Babbar cannot be present at both the places - the dharna site and Parliament at the same time and he has to decide where he wants to be.Kurien said if Babbar is sitting on a dharna, it is for the state government to deal with it.Sharad Yadav (JD-U) raised the issue of employees of Jabalpur ordnance factory being on protest against the closure of certain units there.He said there were 41 ordnance factories in the country, manufacturing some 600 items for defence.The government should take note of the protests against the closure of the vehicle manufacturing factory, he said.Kurien however disallowed the notice.

Chhavi Tyagi

11 Jan 2017,Wednesday

PM Narendra Modi cannot do Yoga: Rahul Gandhi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-modi-yoga-rahul-gandhi-padmasan-yoga-day-congress-demonetisation/1/854695.html

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot do Yoga, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said, "I notice things. The PM has done a lot of Yoga but he hasn't done Padmasan." "My Yoga guru had said that a person who does Yoga can do Padmasan. But a person who does not do Yoga, cannot do Padmasan," he added.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's professed love for yoga and raised doubts over the latter's ability to do the ancient form of exercise.Delivering the inaugural speech at Congress' Jan Vedna Sammelan here, Rahul said Modi does not do "padmasan", a form of yoga.He said, "Mai baatein notice karta hoon. Bahut yoga kia (PM ney) lekin padmasan nahi kia (I notice things. The PM has done a lot of yoga but he hasn't done padmasan)."Rahul went on to raise a question mark over PM Modi's ability to do yoga.He said, "Mere yoga guru ne kaha tha jo yoga karta hai woh padmasan kar sakta hai aur jo yoga nahi karta woh padmasan nahi kar sakta (My yoga guru had said that a person who does yoga can do padmasan. But a person who does not do yoga cannot do padmasan)."Also read: Rahul Gandhi missing in action ahead of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab elections. Does he not care? Also read: Rahul had 5 questions for PM on demonetisation, BJP replies with their own 5 PM Modi holds Yoga event every year on June 21, a day which has also been declared as International Yoga Day by the United Nations. Former Union minister Sachin Pilot too took a dig at PM Modi's yoga by relating it to the Centre's demonetisation drive.Also read: Rahul Gandhi eyes 2019, says achche din that Modi promised will come once Congress voted to power  Pilot said, "Pradhanmantri ko padmasan karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Unhoney purey Hindustan ka shirshasan kara rakha hai (The PM does not need to do padmasan. He has made the whole of country to do shirshasan)."The other senior Congress leaders in the meet too criticised PM Modi's demonetisation initiative without mentioning yoga though.

Tarun Khanna

22 Mar 2017,Wednesday

RSS slams TMC-led WB govt over decline in Hindu population

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rss-concerned-at-decline-of-hindu-population-in-west-bengal/1/909380.html

The RSS on Tuesday criticised the TMC government over a decline in Hindu population in West Bengal and further accused it of encouraging anti-national elements due to its Muslim vote bank politics. "The Hindu population in the state, which constituted 78.45% in 1951 had declined to 70.54% as per the 2011 census," it stated.

Coimbatore, Mar 21 (PTI) The RSS today expressed concern over the growing Jehadi activities and the declining Hindu population in West Bengal and and urged the people to create awareness against the state governments communal politics. It also accused the Mamata Banerjee government of giving encouragement to the anti-national elements due to its Muslim vote bank politics. A resolution adopted at the three-day meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the RSS top policy making body, also condemned the extremist violence. "This (decline in Hindu population in West Bengal) is a matter of serious concern to the unity and integrity of the country," RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told reporters briefing about the deliberations at the meeting. The resolution said the ABPS strongly "condemns the violence by extremists and the Muslim appeasement policy of the state government and calls upon the countrymen to create awareness against the Jehadi violence and the communal politics of the state government." Hosabale said after partition, the Hindus from East Pakistan were forced to seek refuge in West Bengal. It was not surprising that due to such large influx, the Hindu population in the state, which constituted 78.45 per cent in 1951 had declined to 70.54 per cent as per the 2011 census, he said. The meeting also calls upon the state government to rise above "petty vote-bank politics" and discharge its constitutional obligations, he said. Hosable urged the Centre to ensure firm action against the anti-national jehadi elements within the state in the interest of national security.

Rini Sinha

19 Jun 2017,Monday

SRK to have cameo in Ranbir, Katrina's Jagga Jasoos: Report

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khan-cameo-ranbir-kapoor-katrina-kaif-jagga-jasoos/1/982027.html

According to reports, actor Shah Rukh Khan will have a cameo role in the Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif starrer upcoming film 'Jagga Jasoos'. According to a source, "SRK loved the idea of this particular cameo as it had some sense of quirk to it." Directed by Anurag Basu, the film is scheduled to release on July 14.

There's some good news for fans who have been eagerly waiting for Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's much-delayed film Jagga Jasoos to release. Apparently, Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in for a cameo in Anurag Basu's film.According to Bollywood Hungama, SRK was approached by the director earlier this year, and the actor came on board as he loved the character. Reportedly, he shot for his portions a few weeks ago in a Mumbai studio along with Ranbir, Katrina and other important characters. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Jagga Jasoos makers.Incidentally, it was Ranbir who came up with the title of Shah Rukh's next opposite Anushka Sharma - Jab Harry Met Sejal. Recently, SRK and Ranbir came together for Imtiaz Ali's birthday bash where the Raees actor gave him the promised cash reward of Rs 5000 for coming up with the film's title.Jagga Jasoos we r quits now!!! Hisaab barabar. Give @karanjohar his share for the â??Jabâ?? part in JHMS please.A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Jun 17, 2017 at 2:40am PDT

Chhavi Tyagi

10 Apr 2017,Monday

TN farmers protest naked near PMO seeking drought relief

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tamil-nadu-farmers-naked-pmo/1/925027.html

Tamil Nadu farmers on Monday ran naked near PM Narendra Modi's office, demanding ?39,000 crore drought relief fund from the Centre. Reportedly, this comes after they were promised an appointment with Modi but were not allowed to meet him later. These farmers have been sitting on protest since almost a month, holding skulls in hands and live mice in mouths.

Farmers from Tamil Nadu ran naked near the Prime Minister's office today, to protest against lack of government assistance in their fight for a drought relief package for a state.The farmers, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for 28 days, wanted to drop off their memorandum at the Prime Minister's Office.According to an Indian Express report, a delegation of seven farmers were taken to the PMO and were told that they would meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.When they reached there, they found PM Modi was unavailable. So they had to hand over their memorandum to a PMO official instead.Delhi: Tamil Nadu farmers stage nude protest outside North Block, demand drought relief fund#ITVideohttps://t.co/NounxnP7mgpic.twitter.com/vC7SpvwlO1Two other protestors joined him and started running naked in South Block. At one point, the farmers even started rolling on the street naked.The farmer who led the naked protest was eventually arrested. Here's why these farmers are protesting:1. Last year, Tamil Nadu recorded the worst spell of northeast monsoon in 140 years, leading to most farmers losing their winter crop. Most of these farmers had lost their summer crop too, due to Tamil Nadu's tussle with Kanataka over sharing water from the Cauvery river.The timing of government's demonetisation move didn't help either, as the prevailing cash crunch prevented farmers from tackling their farming expenses. Most of them couldn't even prepare for the next sowing season.2. The shock over crop loss and lack of revenue led to some farmers getting heart attacks, while many others committed suicide. At one point, an estimated 106 farmer deaths were reported within a month in Tamil Nadu. Some reports also say 144 farmers committed suicide between October to December in 2016.For the remaining farmers, loan installments and dues to moneylenders have now become the greatest problem. Most farmers haven't earned anything to come through on these payments. Farmers who tried selling their land, couldn't even find buyers because it was that dry.3. With no option left, a contingent of these farmers from Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli came to Delhi and have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since March 14.These farmers seek a drought relief fund of Rs 40,000 crore, better support for their produce and a loan waiver for peasants in Tamil Nadu. One Tamil Nadu local told Firstpost that the farmers asked for a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre, but they were only paid Rs 5,465 per acre.4. Despite the attention their protests have received, the farmers still await a meeting with the government's top officials. To garner attention, these farmers have resorted to all kinds of methods like cutting themselves and holding dead rats and snakes in their mouth.Late in March some farmers even wore skulls of dead Tamil Nadu farmers, symbolising the fate that awaits them if the centre does not help.Two farmers even attempted suicide at Jantar Mantar.

Deepali Aggarwal

22 Jul 2017,Saturday

I may not leave Russian presidency: Vladimir Putin

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/21/vladimir-putin-i-may-not-leave-russian-presidency?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

On being asked during a question-and-answer session at a school what he plans to do after the presidency, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "I haven't decided yet if I'll leave the presidency." Putin served as President for two 4-year terms, from 2000 to 2008, and then began a 6-year term in 2012. Notably, Russia bans three consecutive presidential terms.

Asked what he plans to do when he leaves the presidency, Vladimir Putin paused and smiled. ?But I haven?t decided yet if I will leave the presidency,? the Russian leader replied, to laughter and applause from an audience made up almost entirely of Russians who were born after he first became president in 2000.A month after thousands of young Russians took to the streets to protest against corruption among the Kremlin elite, Putin held a set-piece discussion event on Friday with hundreds of children, in an apparent attempt to portray himself as a youth-friendly president. Presidential elections will take place next March and Putin is widely expected to stand and win another six-year term. An opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, who organised the recent round of protests, has said he would like to stand but his name is unlikely to be allowed on the ballot paper.Putin spent three hours speaking with the assembled children, in a session broadcast live on Russian television. Those present appeared to have been screened to ensure there would be no hostile questions. The discussion took place at Sirius, a school in Sochi for gifted children, which Putin opened several years ago. The tone of the discussion was set by the first question, when Putin was thanked for backing the school and for giving opportunities to so many children. ?I can also tell you that I even thought up the name: Sirius,? said Putin, to prolonged applause.Sitting in an open-necked white shirt, with hundreds of schoolchildren arranged in circles around him, Putin took questions from those present and at times picked out cards with pre-written questions on them in a game-show-style format.Unlike Putin?s press conferences and phone-ins with the nation, which usually vary across a range of topics from foreign policy to the minutiae of regional problems, his discussion with the children was divided between talk about their own achievements in sport, music and science, and questions about Putin?s personal life and preferences.?I like chatting with my friends, reading historical books, listening to music and doing sport,? said Putin when asked what he does in his spare time. At times, Putin was in philosophical mood, answering questions about the three values that are most important to him in life (?love, freedom and life itself?) and when asked what his childhood dream was, he declined to say but dispensed some life advice: ?You know, dreams are things that change over time. You should instead be happy that you have a dream and you should make strides towards it.?Asked whether he used the internet, Putin said almost never but said the way people use nicknames and fake identities online was quite similar to how he had adopted false identities during his work for the KGB.There was very little discussion of politics and no mention of Navalny?s investigations into corruption among Putin?s inner circle, which were the motivation for the recent protests. The one nod to the recent events was a softball question asking what Putin thought of opposition politicians. The president, who has never uttered Navalny?s name in public, said merely that in Ukraine people had used anti-corruption slogans to get into power and now the country was even more corrupt. The discussion quickly moved on, with a synchronised skating team telling Putin it was their dream to have a photograph with him on ice: Putin said he would be happy to oblige.Major foreign policy questions were also absent from the discussion and there was no talk of the alleged Russian interference in the US elections or Putin?s recent meeting with Donald Trump at the G20 summit. Indeed, the only American mentioned during the long discussion was Oliver Stone, the film director who made a four-hour documentary about the Russian president, which was criticised in some quarters for being too soft on the president. Putin said he really liked the ?extraordinary? Stone, though admitted he had fallen asleep while trying to watch the film.

Daisy Mowke

20 Jan 2017,Friday

I started taking bribes when I was two-yrs-old: Rishi Kapoor

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/did-shree-420-role-only-after-a-chocolate-bribe-rishi/1/862297.html

Actor Rishi Kapoor revealed that he was two-years-old when he first started taking 'bribes'. He explained that he was not ready to do a scene in his father Raj Kapoor's film 'Shree 420' and it was a chocolate bribe by Nargis Dutt that convinced him to do it. He said this during a session at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.

Jaipur, Jan 20 (PTI) Actor Rishi Kapoor has revealed he was not ready to do a scene in his father Raj Kapoors "Shree 420" and it was a chocolate bribe by Nargis Dutt that convinced him to do it. During a session at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the 64-year-old actor, who has recently released his autobiography "Khullam Khula", said he was two when he accepted his first bribe. "I had to give a shot and it was raining that day. It was difficult for crew to make me prepare for the shot. I had just to walk without any expression. It was Nargis who came up with the idea to offer me chocolate to get the shot done. In that sense, I started taking bribes when I was two-year-old," Rishi said. However, the actor dodged the question on buying an award for his hit "Bobby", something which he has mentioned in his book. "It is better you read my autobiography." Rishi candidly talked about his ups and downs in his 44-year-old career in the film industry. "After the success of Bobby, expectation rose and it became difficult for me to compete with contemporary actors," he said. "It seems that it is easy for star sons to become a hit hero but after your first film you have to cross the journey alone. I had to struggle in different ways." He left the audience in splits by revealing that he filled several pages with autographs when he heard his parents talking about his launch in films. When asked about which of his acting roles he likes the most, he said that it is now that he has started getting acting roles. "In the last 25 years, I fooled people by doing romantic roles. Yash ji never tried me in other characters. Now, I am offered good roles and I am enjoying this second phase more." Talking about his family including his wife Neetu and son Ranbir, he said that he is in Jaipur ahead of 37th marriage anniversary which falls on January 22.

Tarun Khanna

13 Dec 2016,Tuesday

Those disrupting Parliament should be suspended: Tharoor

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tharoor-takes-exception-to-parliament-disruption-%C2%A0/1/832906.html

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday said those disrupting the Parliament should be suspended automatically from the House. "I don?t think people have sent me to disrupt the House. However, the culture of Indian politics since independence has sadly taken this shape," he added. He further clarified he hasn?t changed his views on this and his party knows this.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12 (PTI) Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor today took exception to continued disruption of Parliament and said those disrupting the House should be suspended automatically. "I do not think people have sent me to disrupt the House. However, the culture of Indian politics since independence, has sadly taken this shape," he told a meet the press programme here. "I have not changed my views on this and my party also know this. Debate and discussion should be held in Parliament and not disruption," the former UN diplomat said. He was reacting on stalling of the House by Opposition over the demonetisation issue. Tharoor said an all-party consensus should be arrived at to see that any member who disrupted the House got automatic suspension. "This can be done only when all political parties agree to it," he said. The Congress leader also hit out at BJP and said the party had disrupted the House, when it was in opposition and had now become "high advocates of Parliament proceedings." "Disruption of Parliament has become a vicious circle", he said. To a question on the Manmohan Singh-led UPA governments alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland scam, Tharoor said nobody would believe that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would commit a mistake. "Manmohan Singh is a man with strict financial integrity. I do not think that he will do any financial mistake," he said.

Tarun Khanna

14 Feb 2017,Tuesday

Will marry off those caught on V-Day, warns Bajrang Dal

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/odisha-bajrang-dal-valentines-day-warning/1/882171.html

Bajrang Dal in West Bengal and Odisha has warned youth to not celebrate Valentine's Day, stating they would marry off couples who are found venturing into parks, malls or public places. "The boys and girls indulging in indiscriminate obscene acts in the name of celebration is a social crime and is against our Indian culture," a Bajrang Dal activist stated.

The Valentine's Day which is better known as the day of international love, attracts a lot of hate organisations who find different ways and means to harass the young couples celebrating their love on different locations. On the eve of Valentine's day Bajrang Dal has warned the youth to stay away from celebrating Valentine's Day in any form. Just like every year, this year also moral policing will take place on 14th of Feb, where youth will be facing harassments on celebrating the occasion. Bajrang Dal activists do not believe in celebrating Valentine's Day, rather according to them it is against the Indian culture.This is not the first time that such warnings have been given to the youngsters, even last year the activists of this organisation assaulted and misbehaved with the youth on celebrating valentine's day.The activists believe that this is not Indian culture rather it is foreign culture that has been adapted by Indians which need to be stopped. They also believe that this occasion is destroying the young minds.In the past, the Bajrang Dal activists caught many couples from public places on the V-day and attacked them. Many shops were vandalised who were selling Valentine's Day merchandise.Bhupesh Kumar Nayak, the coordinator of the Bajrang Dal in Bhubaneswar directly warned the couples, as they would perform marriage of young lovers whoever found venturing into parks, malls or other public places.

Gaurav Shroff

20 Apr 2017,Thursday

India changes its four-decade-old definition of blindness

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-definition-of-blindness-blind-who-criteria/1/932943.html

According to the new definition of blindness adopted by India, a person unable to count fingers from three metres would be considered 'blind' as against the earlier stipulation of six metres, used since 1976. The step, in line with WHO blindness criteria, is expected to decrease the number of people considered 'blind' from 1.20 crore (2007 survey) to 80 lakh.

India has changed its over four-decade-old definition of blindness, bringing it in line with the WHO criteria, a step that would drastically bring down the number of people considered "blind" in the country.According to the new definition, a person who is unable to count fingers from a distance of three metres would be considered "blind" as against the earlier stipulation of six metres, which was adopted in 1976.The aim of revising the definition is also to be able to generate data which can be compared with global estimates and achieve the WHO goal of reducing the blindness prevalence of India to 0.3 per cent of the total population by 2020. The notification in this regard has been issued by the Union Health Ministry.Going by the new definition, the population of blind people in India will reduce from 1.20 crore (as per National Blindness survey 2007 data) to 80 lakh."Because of the earlier definition, we were projecting a higher figure of blind people from India at any international forum, presenting ourselves in poor light."Also, the data that we generated under the programme could not be compared with the global estimates as other countries were following the WHO definition," said Dr Promila Gupta, Deputy Director General of National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB).Further, India has to achieve the goal set by the WHO which recommends reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.3 per cent by 2020 to achieve the elimination of avoidable blindness."It would have been extremely difficult to achieve the WHO goal using the earlier NPCB definition since we had been addressing an extra 4 million (40 lakh) individuals blind due to refractive errors. Whereas, by adopting the blindness criteria of WHO, India now can achieve the goal," said Professor Praveen Vashist, in-charge Community Ophthalmology at Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.Also, the name of the scheme, 'National Programme for Control of Blindness' has been changed to 'The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment'."The programme, henceforth, will not only focus on the blind persons but also those with some kind of visual impairment. With the change in nomenclature, the number of beneficiaries will now increase to 40 million," Dr Vashist added.The previous definition of blindness was adopted at the time of the inception of the NPCB in 1976."The probable reason for keeping 6 metres as the cut off distance for defining blindness in India was to include economic blindness cases which referred to a level of blindness which prevents an individual to earn his or her wages."In contrast, the WHO definition adopts a criteria for blindness that is which hampers the routine social interaction of a person (social blindness)," Gupta said.

Sonu Kumari

01 Aug 2017,Tuesday

Ticketless passenger stabs ticket examiner on train in Delhi

http://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/ghaziabad-ticker-examiner-stabbed-by-passengers-travelling-without-tickets/story-2Isz5VpJ68VvtNLVIR28dP.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A ticket examiner was allegedly stabbed on Sunday by one of the three passengers when he asked them to deboard a train for traveling without tickets in Delhi. The victim said that the accused had boarded a reserved coach and stabbed his arm with a sharp-edged weapon when he tried to be stern in asking them to deboard.

A train ticket examiner (TTE) was allegedly stabbed by three unidentified men who were asked to deboard the train as they were travelling without tickets in the reserved compartment. The incident took place on a train that was moving from the New Delhi railway station late Sunday night.The injured TTE was rushed to a private hospital in Ghaziabad after the government railway police (GRP) stopped the train at Ghaziabad junction.Diwakar Boro, the TTE who is based in Guwahati, was examining tickets onboard the Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express, which had left the New Delhi railway station around 11.45pm for Guwahati on Sunday. The victim was allegedly stabbed by one of the three young men, who then jumped out of the moving train.?I asked the three men to deboard the train as they did not have tickets. They had boarded a reserved coach of the train. Instead, they asked me not to bother and also hurled abuses when I tried to be stern in asking them to deboard. They looked like locals and were aged 18-22 years. However, one of them hit me with a sharp-edged weapon,? Boro said.?Initially, I did not realise that I was injured. But when I saw blood, I realised that it was a deep cut on my arm. Other passengers later pulled the chain and informed a guard. The guard alerted the authorities and the train was stopped at Ghaziabad. The GRP officials and doctors were ready with an ambulance and I was rushed to the hospital,? he said.The GRP officials at Ghaziabad said that the victim suffered injuries on his arms.?We asked him to lodge a complaint but he said that as the incident took place in New Delhi, he will lodge a complaint there. We are taking proper care and have also informed our Delhi counterparts,? said Randhir Singh, circle officer (GRP), Ghaziabad.The victim said that officers from GRP and the railway protection force of New Delhi came to Ghaziabad and registered his complaint.This is the second case of violence in moving train in the recent past. In a previous incident, on the night of July 26, 13 passengers of Farakka Express were allegedly robbed by five armed robbers when the train had stopped for a brief period near Seelampur in Delhi. The train was also stopped at Ghaziabad and the GRP registered the initial complaint from the passengers.

Sonu Kumari

18 Jul 2017,Tuesday

?100 cr released for bridge twice the height of Qutub Minar

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-government-gives-rs100-crore-for-signature-bridge-project/story-KCaeBuefyLk3UuQnGvMC5H.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Delhi government has released ?100 crore for the completion of the Signature Bridge, which is twice the height of the Qutub Minar. The bridge was supposed to be ready by 2010 Commonwealth Games, but its construction was slowed down due to insufficient funds. Delhi Tourism Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said that nearly 92% of the project has been completed.

The Delhi government has released Rs100 crore for the Signature Bridge project, which was hit by a fund crunch slowing down its last phase of construction.Delhi tourism minister Rajendra Gautam said, on Monday, that the finance department has sanctioned the amount after examining the contractor?s demand for an additional Rs250 crore. For the construction of the bridge, which was supposed to be ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a budget of Rs1,131 crore was sanctioned but till now Rs1,575 crore have been spent. This bridge was conceptualised by the Sheila Dikshit government in 2004. Gautam, who had inspected the bridge earlier, had written to the chief secretary, saying that the work should not go on beyond December 31, this year, under any circumstances.?This fresh infusion of funds will ensure that work, which had considerably slowed down, resumes. Around 92% of the project is completed. We might release more depending on the justification of the demand,? he said.Located over the Yamuna in Wazirabad, this bridge with a bow-shaped steel pylon of the bridge will be twice as high as the Qutub Minar. Being built on the lines of the London Bridge, it was meant to be showcased during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In January, lieutenant governor Anil Baijal had directed the authorities concerned to send to him a monthly progress report of the project.

Sumedha Sehra

16 May 2017,Tuesday

I-T raids 22 places in ?1,000 cr benami scam involving Lalu

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lalu-yadav-income-tax-raid-benami-land-deal-tejashwi-tej-pratap-yadav/1/954855.html

The Income Tax Department conducted raids at 22 locations in Delhi and Gurugram on Tuesday in connection with benami land deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family. "There are allegations of benami deals worth about ?1,000 crore and subsequent tax evasion," an official said. The raids were conducted on people and businessmen connected to the deal.

The Income Tax department is conducting raids at 22 locations in Delhi and Gurgaon in connection with benami land deals linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.Officials said the department began raiding the premises of some prominent businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and few others since early morning.The searches are also being conducted at the premises of the son of RJD MP P C Gupta and few other businessmen.While raids are being conducted at a dozen locations, ten other official premises are being surveyed by the department department, they said.RS 1000 CRORE BENAMI LAND DEAL "People and businessmen connected to the land deal involving Lalu Prasad and his family are being searched. There are allegations of benami deals worth about Rs 1,000 crore and subsequent tax evasion," a senior official said.The department searches come just days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had accused Lalu,his MP-daughter Misa Bharti and his two sons, both Bihar government ministers, of being involved in corrupt land deals worth over Rs 1,000 crore.Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had alleged that these transactions were a case of "quid pro quo" as they date back to the period when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister, and dared Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take action against himLalu's RJD is a constituent of Bihar's ruling coalition led by Kumar. His sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav are ministers in the government.Lalu's official residence was the address of the owners of the firms allegedly floated by his family members, he saidPrasad had also urged the Election Commission to act against Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti, saying she did not disclose the details of these assets in her Rajya Sabha election affidavit."The politics of Lalu Prasad has become politics of loot land worth crores of rupees was grabbed for a pittance," he said.'VADRA MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT'This was "Vadra model of development", Ravi Shankar said, referring to dubious land deals allegedly involving Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert VadraOne such land deal involving Lalu Prasad and his family members is in Bijwasan in Delhi, he said. "We expect the central government to take appropriate action," he added.All the companies owned by Lalu Prasad's family members for the purpose of these land transactions had no employees, no business activities and no turnover, Prasad claimed.Bihar's biggest shopping mall spread over 7.5 lakh square feet is coming up in Patna as part of such dubious transactions, the minister said. (With inputs from PTI) WATCH: Massive setback for Lalu Prasad as Supreme Court orders separate trials in fodder scamALSO READ:

Radhika Chugh

23 Jul 2017,Sunday

HC asks Maha govt to frame policy for safer adventure sports

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/frame-policy-for-safer-adventure-sports-bombay-hc-to-maharashtra-govt/story-2o8dmYYsUrhAm4kH6kxmvJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to frame a comprehensive policy to regulate adventure sports in the state within three months. This came after petitioners claimed that the existing government resolution regulating adventure sports across Maharashtra was not being implemented effectively and that several provisions of the resolution were 'impractical'.

While the safety of citizens is ?of paramount consideration?, the state must also promote and ?not discourage adventure sports?, the Bombay high court said. The HC has now asked the Maharashtra government to come up with a fresh, comprehensive policy to regulate adventure sports in the state.A bench of justice Naresh Patil and justice Bharati Dangre asked the government to come up with such a policy in the three months.The bench was hearing a public interest litigation highlighting inadequacies in a government resolution (GR), notified by the state in 2014, to regulate adventure sports across Maharashtra. The GR was issued in compliance with a previous HC order that had asked the state to evolve rules and guidelines to regulate adventure sports. This HC order came after a plea by the parents of a young trekker who died of a respiratory disorder during a Himalayan expedition .Earlier this month, however, a bunch of adventure sports enthusiasts and organisers brought to the court?s notice through their PIL that the GR ? meant to lay down guidelines and instructions for registration of organisations, agents and people who undertake adventure sports activities such as trekking, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, handgliding and paragliding ? was not being implemented effectively.The petitioners said several provisions of the GR, especially those pertaining to registration, were ?impractical?. The PIL said the government was yet to constitute the mandatory supervisory committees at the divisional and district levels across the state, as it had failed to identify a ?sufficient number of experts who could supervise the implementation of the GR?.The state government told the court it was aware of the inadequacies in the GR and had decided to revise it. But this revision has been pending since April 2015 owing to a ?difference of opinion between the state tourism department and the sports department?, it said. The HC has now asked the principal secretaries of the departments concerned to sort out these differences and come up with a revised policy. The HC is likely to hear the matter again in eight weeks.

Sumedha Sehra

22 Jun 2017,Thursday

23 world records set at Yoga Day event in Gujarat

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/over-54000-turn-up-at-yoga-day-in-ahmedabad-set-new-record/1/984190.html

A total of 23 Guinness World Records were set at an International Yoga Day event in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Wednesday. More than 54,000 people participated in the event, beating the earlier record of most people doing yoga by a margin of over 18,000. Further, individual records like most number of Surya Namaskars by one person were set.

Ahmedabad, June 21 (PTI) The International Yoga Day event held at Ahmedabads GMDC ground today entered the Guinness World Records Book with over 54,000 persons, led by Yoga guru Ramdev, participating in it to perform various asanas. The number, however, is drastically lower than Ramdevs earlier claim of three lakh participants in the event. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani received certificate of the record from the Guinness Book officials at Gandhinagar in the afternoon. The previous record was set in Delhi on June 21, 2015, when 35,985 people performed yoga at Rajpath with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per the government release here, 54,522 people took part in the Yoga Day event at GMDC ground today, beating the earlier record by a margin of over 18,000. Besides, 22 other records, such as the maximum number of Surya Namaskars by one person, were also set during todays event and certified by the Guinness Book officials. Ramdev had claimed earlier in the morning that around three lakh people did yoga with him. "Today is the most important day for me, as more than three lakh people performed yoga at one place to set a new world record. We have broken the previous world record, which was set in the presence of our PM, by a huge margin," Ramdev had told reporters after the event. BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Minister Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel, former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, several political leaders besides IAS, IPS officers and the high court judges took part in the event. Amid early morning drizzle, Ramdev made the participants stretch their limbs to perform various yogic postures. Leaders of various faiths were specially invited to the event, organised jointly by the BJP government in the state and Ramdevs Patanjali Yogpeeth. While giving instructions to participants during the event, Ramdev invited Shah and Rupani to join him on the dais and follow him in striking yogic postures.

Ankur Vyas

09 Feb 2017,Thursday

Uphaar tragedy: SC gives 1 yr sentence to Gopal Ansal

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/uphaar-fire-tragedy-sc-jails-gopal-ansal-for-a-year-fines-him-rs-30-crore/story-6OW849lkZyRkHyTbgUciiJ.html

Almost 20 years after the Uphaar theatre fire, the Supreme Court on Thursday partially reviewed its previous judgement and awarded a one-year jail term to the theatre owner Gopal Ansal. He has been given four week's time to surrender. Considering the age, his elder brother Sushil Ansal's (75) sentence was reduced to 5 months, which he has already served.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered one year in jail for city-based builder Gopal Ansal who with his elder brother, Sushil, owned a south Delhi cinema hall where a fire killed 59 people 20 years ago.Reviewing its 2015 judgment that saw the brothers, who owned Uphaar Cinema, being let off with a fine of Rs 30 crore each, the court said the jail term would act as a deterrent and serve larger public interest. He has four weeks to surrender.The court, however, allowed Sushil,76, to stay out of jail because of his age. He has already served a reduced sentence of five months.?Gravity of the offence and the illegal gains made by them (Ansals) is such that no fine would be excessive for the irreparable loss caused,? the bench said, upholding the Rs 60 crore fine.The money had already been paid and is lying with the court?s registry.The three-judge bench of justice Ranjan Gogoi, justice Kurien Joseph and Justice AK Goel was hearing a petition filed by the CBI and the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy against its August 19, 2015 order.The Ansals were found guilty of negligence but were not jailed, with the court treating the time spent by them behind bars as sentence served.While Sushil spent five months in jail. Gopal, 68, was behind bars for four months immediately after the June 13, 1997 tragedy.The owners, an investigation had found, added extra seats that blocked one of the exits, preventing the victims ?- 23 of them minors -- from escaping the burning hall after a fire broke out in the transformer room. Most of the victims were asphyxiated..UPAHAAR1_boxwrap {width:auto; height:400px; border:1px dashed #333; overflow:scroll; font-family: "Open Sans"; padding:10px; background-color:#eee7ce; float:left}.UPAHAAR1_box1 ul {width:93%; line-height:22px; text-decoration:none; list-style:url(http://www.hindustantimes.com/static/ht2016/10/bulletbrown1.png); margin:10px; padding-left:11px; font-size:100%; border-left:1px dashed #993333; float:left}.UPAHAAR1_h1 {font-size:110%; font-weight:normal; padding-left:5px; margin-bottom:10px}.UPAHAAR1_tophead {width:100%; font-size:140%; color:black; line-height:26px; font-weight:normal; margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:5px; padding-left:5px; margin-top:10px; float:left}.UPAHAAR1_text1 {width:98%; font-size:110%; color:#F00; font-weight:bold; margin-top:5px; padding-left:5px; float:left}.UPAHAAR1_img {width:auto; float:left}.cricketmargin {width:100%; height:10px; border-bottom:1px dotted #000; float:left}.clrboth {clear:both}Uphaar cinema fire case Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT) vs Ansal Theatre and ClubotelsJune 13, 1997: 59 people die of asphyxia as a fire breaks out in south Delhi?s Uphaar cinema during the screening of the Hindi movie "Border". Over 100 were injured in the subsequent stampede.July 22, 1997: Theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav arrested in Mumbai by the crime branch of Delhi police.Nov 15, 1997: CBI files chargesheet against 16 accused, including Uphaar owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.Feb 27, 2001: Court frames charges against the accused under various sections, including sections 304 (culpable homicide), 304A (causing death by negligent act) and 337 (hurt) of the IPC.Jan 27, 2003: Ansals file a plea, seeking repossession of the theatre rejected on the ground that place of incident is to be preserved to appreciate evidence.April 24, 2003: Delhi high court awards Rs 180 million compensation to be paid to the relatives of victims.Nov 20, 2007: Court convicts all 12 accused, including Sushil and Gopal Ansal, in the case and sentences them to two years imprisonment.Jan 4, 2008: Delhi High Court grants bail to Ansal brothers and two other accused.Sep 11, 2008: Ansals sent to Tihar Jail after Supreme Court cancels their bail.Dec 19, 2008: Delhi high court upholds trial court order, convicting Ansal brothers but reduces their sentence from two years to one year.Jan 30, 2009: Supreme court grants bail to Ansal brothers.Oct 13, 2011: SC delivers Verdict on compensation case, criminal case against 6 accused -- including Ansal brothers -- is still on at the apex courtOct 9, 2012: Victims of the Uphaar tragedy refuse to accept Ansals? offer to pay for more damages in lieu of ending the 15-year-old criminal case against the Ansal brothers.March 5, 2014: SC holds Sushil and Gopal Ansal guilty of criminal negligence in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire, but leaves it to another bench to decide their punishment. Aug 10, 2015: Former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu constitutes a three-judge special bench to decide on the quantum of punishment that should be given to the Ansal brothers.Feb 9, 2017: SC orders one year in jail for Gopal Ansal and gives him four weeks to surrender. Sushil Ansal to stay out of jail because of his age. Both brothers still have to pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each.In its review plea, AVUT said the apex court judgment ?bestows an unwarranted leniency on convicts whose conviction in the most heinous of offences has been upheld by all courts, including this court and sentences imposed on them have been substituted with fine without assigning any reason?.AVUT?s Neelam Krishnamurthy, who has emerged as the face of the families? long fight for justice, was unhappy with Thursday?s verdict. Even after 20 years, justice continued to elude them, she said. Her 17-year daughter and 13-year-old son were killed in the fire.

Rini Kapoor

16 Dec 2016,Friday

Nude Ayyappa devotees stopped from worshipping in K'taka

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nude-ayyappa-devotees-worshipping-karnataka/1/835704.html

Four naked Ayyappa devotees were stopped from worshipping the deity in Karnataka's Kalghatgi by the villagers, reports said. The devotees were reportedly worshipping Lord Ayyappa being nude for the past 15 days and were planning to remain nude for 41 days. Their group leader Ramesh Guruswamy said by worshipping without considering cold and heat, wishes are fulfilled at the earliest.

4 Ayyappa devotees took their vow a bit too seriously and had been worshipping being nude in Kalghatgi village in Dharwad.This form of worship was criticised by the villagers, who sought this practice to be stopped immediately. Anil Patil, Prakash, Ganga Ram and Manjunath have been performing these rituals being nude, for the last 15 days. Their group leader, Ramesh Guruswamy said that this was their way of worshipping Lord Ayyappa. They thought by this unique way they would be able to please the deity.According to the tradition, Sabarimala devotees follow a 41-day austerity period where they maintain vegetarian diet, observe celibacy and stay away from liquor and other temptations.

Radhika Chugh

24 Jul 2017,Monday

Heavy rainfall fills Barvi dam up to 99% of its capacity

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/heavy-showers-fill-barvi-dam-to-99-water-cuts-unlikely-in-mumbai-suburbs-next-summer/story-uAdcLIMOUanF1Tux32ERYO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Maharashtra's Barvi dam, which provides water to most cities in Thane district, has been filled up to 99% of its total capacity due to heavy rainfall. Officials said that water stock from the dam will ensure that only nominal water cuts happen next year. Notably, the height of the dam was increased in 2016 to accommodate more water stock.

With the suburbs receiving sufficient rainfall over the past few days, the residents? water worries are likely to be taken care of.Thane residents will be saved from intense water cuts next summer, as  Barvi dam that provides water to most cities in the district has now filled up to 99% of its total capacity ? 230.32 million cubic meters . The height of the dam was increased by the irrigation department last year, owing to which the water stock is much more now.Last week, the dams providing water to Mumbai had overflown but the ones in Thane district were yet to reach their capacity. The Barvi and Andra dams are the two major sources of water supply in Thane district. Andra filled upto 63.64%. The irrigation department said that the water level at Barvi was the highest till the month of July in the past five years.An officer said, ?The Barvi dam usually fills by the end of October, however, last year it filled by the end of August. This year, the dam is almost full in July and we still have over 45 days of monsoon left. Water is now flowing from the spillway. The water stock will ensure that only nominal water cuts of 5 to 10% will be imposed in the summer, which will not hurt residents.?The water stock in Barvi dam was only 115.04 mcm. The average water stock in Barvi for the last five years is 85.19 mcm, which is much lower than the stock this year. The catchment area has received 1,638mm rainfall. Water from Barvi dam flows in the Ulhas River, from where it is supplied to Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Mira Bhayander, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai.

Tarun Khanna

16 Apr 2017,Sunday

T'gana clears bill to increase reservation for Muslims, STs

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/telangana/1/930148.html

The Telangana Cabinet on Saturday cleared Telangana State Reservation Bill 2017 that provides 12% reservation to Muslims and 10% reservation to Scheduled Tribes, depending on their population in the state. The existing reservation for Muslims is 4% and for Scheduled Tribes is 6%. The matter requires approval from the Centre, said CM K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Ahead of a crucial Assembly session, the Telangana cabinet on Saturday cleared the Telangana State Reservation Bill 2017.The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday afternoon, cleared 12% reservation for Muslims and 10% for Scheduled Tribes, based on their population in state, sources confirmed.In today's special assembly session, the Bill will be introduced in both the Houses of the Legislature.During the 2014 Assembly election, the ruling Telangana Rastr Samiti promised it would provide 12% reservation to the state's Muslims.Ahead of today's Assembly session - and at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliated wings have announced a protest against the TRS government - security has been increased across Hyderabad, Telangana's capital.Hyderabad Police took several individuals into preventive custody, after the state's DGP held a security  review meeting with ADG (L&O), Hyderabad's Commissioner of Police, IG (Intelligence) and other senior  police officers.ALSO READ | Telangana: Ahead of special Assembly session, Cabinet meeting today

Shubhodeep Datta

21 Dec 2016,Wednesday

5-yr-old raped in South East Delhi

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-minor-girl-raped-by-55-year-old-in-taimoor-nagar/story-Ts4dvGcRRYM8NPDZ0Mnb7J.html

A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 55-year-old man in South-East Delhi's Taimoor Nagar area on Monday, reports said. The police said the accused has been identified as Mukhtar Sheikh, who was working as a security guard in the city's New Friends Colony area. Sheikh had reportedly lured the girl on the pretext of giving a chocolate.

A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 55-year-old man in southeast Delhi?s Taimoor Nagar area on Monday afternoon. Police said the accused has been identified as Mukhtar Sheikh, a resident of West Bengal. He was working as a security guard in New Friends Colony. The incident took place around 2 pm in the slum locality when Sheikh took the girl to her home on the pretext of chocolate. Police said the accused and girl?s parents live nearby. Victim?s mother was busy with domestic chores, while the girl was playing outside. Shiekh quitely took the girl to him house as his family members were not there. He later let her off and on reaching home the victim was not able to speak to her parents. Police said her parents noticed change in her behaviour. She was frightened and narrated her ordeal to his parents. Neighbourers also came to know about the incident and Sheikh was beaten up by them. However, police team also reached the spot when a call was made to them. The accused was arrested from the spot and case of rape was registered against him. Police recorded the statement and girl was sent for medical examination. Police said a case of rape was registered at New Friends Colony police station. During questioning he confessed to the crime after which they produced him the court where he was granted judicial custody. Sheikh has a family having two children aged 18 and 21. He has been living near to the girl?s family for the last three years, police said.

Parmeet Kaur

31 Jul 2017,Monday

Fire breaks out in Delhi's Shastri Bhawan office complex

http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/minor-fire-at-delhi-s-shastri-bhawan-five-fire-tenders-rushed-to-spot/story-CuWI3aagRbA2giP4d4INXJ.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

A fire broke out on the seventh floor of Delhi's Shastri Bhawan on Monday due to a short circuit in air conditioner. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished within a few minutes after five fire tenders reached the spot. Notably, Shastri Bhawan accommodates ministries of Law, Information and Broadcasting, Human Resources Development, Corporate Affairs, Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

A fire broke out on Monday at Shastri Bhawan in central Delhi after a short circuit in an air conditioner, police said.The fire, which broke out on the seventh floor, was doused within a few minutes and five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. This is however not the first time that fires have broken out in the Shastri Bhavan. In 2014, a fire broke out on the same floor. Earlier in March this year a minor fire broke out in the building?s third floor which houses coal and fertilizer ministries.Shastri Bhawan accommodates ministries of law, information and broadcasting, human resources development, corporate affairs, chemicals and petrochemicals.

Saloni Tandon

29 Jul 2017,Saturday

People count my failures, I don't, says Virat Kohli

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/people-count-my-failures-i-dont-kohli/1/1014171.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

India captain Virat Kohli has said he is not affected by people's opinions on his lack of form. "I think people start counting the number of innings when a batsman doesn't score well...I wasn't looking at how many innings I haven't scored...when you are playing all formats you are not thinking which format you have not scored runs," said Kohli.

Rini Sinha

09 Apr 2017,Sunday

RIP rumours, tweets Farhan while sharing pic with Aditya

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/farhan-akhtar-aditya-roy-kapur-fight-shraddha-kapoor/1/924372.html

Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar on Twitter shared a picture with actor Aditya Roy Kapur which was captioned, "And that, as they say, is that..RIP rumours. #lastnight #chilltimes." This comes after it was recently reported that the two got into a verbal spat as Farhan got upset over Aditya bonding with Shraddha Kapoor. Shraddha and Farhan are rumoured to be dating.

Gossipmongers had a field day last week when reports of Farhan Akhtar and Aditya Roy Kapoor having a nasty spat over the latter's closeness with Shraddha Kapoor started doing the rounds. Now, Farhan posted a photo with Aditya on Twitter, quashing all reports of a fight. "And that, as they say, is that.. RIP rumours. #lastnight #chilltimes," he captioned the picture.And that, as they say, is that.. RIP rumours. #lastnight#chilltimespic.twitter.com/TlTGYtWYwYRumour has it that while shooting for Aashiqui 2, love blossomed between Shraddha and Aditya offscreen too. Both went blue in the face denying that they were ever in a relationship, but to no avail. Later, as stories of their break-up emerged, Shraddha was linked to her Rock On 2 co-star Farhan. Even though Shraddha has maintained that there is nothing brewing between her and Farhan, the rumours of her alleged affair have refused to die down.When she was clicked outside Farhan's house on Tuesday evening, it was being speculated that she went to diffuse the situation and put an end to Farhan's fight with Aditya.

Shubhodeep Datta

08 Feb 2017,Wednesday

Online petition against Sasikala as CM gets 1.7L signatures

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sasikala-natarajan-tamil-nadu-cm-online-petition-1-5-lakh-supporters/1/876621.html

An online petition against Sasikala Natarajan's appointment as the next Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has garnered over 1.7 lakh signatures. The petition was titled 'Dissolve Tamil Nadu government and stop Sasikala from becoming Tamil Nadu CM'. Earlier, AIADMK announced Sasikala will take over as the state's CM. Notably, CM O Panneerselvam had claimed that he was forced to resign.

The resentment against AIADMK Geneal Secretary Sasikala Natarajan is gathering steam every minute. Sasikala, who was elected the legislative party leader on Sunday, is facing opposition from several quarters on taking over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.While her swearing-in ceremony is caught in controversy, an online petition against Sasikala as Tamil Nadu chief minister on Change.org has garnered more than 1.5 lakh signatures.ALSO READ: Jayalalithaa was pushed, death unnatural, probe Sasikala: Former AIADMK leader's explosive charge ALSO READ:Sasikala's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu CM mired in uncertainty, DMK leader Stalin seeks PM's intervention

Chhavi Tyagi

20 Jun 2017,Tuesday

K'taka Min caught on camera ordering cop to book RSS leader

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-forest-minister-ramanath-rai-sp-rss-leader-viral-video/1/982848.html

Karnataka Forest Minister Ramanath Rai has been caught on camera ordering the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase to arrest RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat over alleged murder of a Panchayat Vice President. While the opposition demanded his resignation for interfering in political investigation, Rai denied having issued specific instructions on Bhat's arrest.

The Karnataka Assembly came under fire over a video in which the state's Forest Minister Ramanath Rai is seen ordering the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhushan Gulabrao Borase to arrest Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat of the RSS. Raising the issue in the Assembly, Former chief minister of Karnataka Jagdish Shettar alleged 'Rai has interfered in political investigation and has no moral rift to continue as a minister. He should be asked to resign.'In his defence, Rai denied having issued specific instructions on Bhat's arrest. Rai claimed that members of the sangh parivar were allegedly involved in the murder of a gram panchayat member and his move was to ask the police to arrest the man in question."There has always been a pattern whenever communal violence has broken out in Dakshina Kannada especially in Kalladka. The pattern is such that the conspirators and the men who defend the accused are the same. There is evidence that sangh parivar members were involved in the murder of a panchayat vice-president. Provocative speeches made by Bhat often lead to communal violence in the region. I only asked the SP to book cases against the instigators," added Rai. The opposition in Karnataka alleged that Ramanath Rai instigated the police officer. The BJP leaders alleged the same adding that Rai's aim was to target Hindi organisations in the coastal region. Referring to the communal violence in Kalladka, the opposition feared that such allegations could further fuel the situation.As the issue rocked the Assembly, the speaker intervened and assured that the state home minister will take stock of the situation.However, the Vishwa Hindi Parishad and the Bajrang Dal took out protests demanding the resignation of Rai. Nearly 18 Hindu organisations were seen participating in the protest which took place in Mangaluru. The protesters were arrested but later released.

Anmol Sharma

16 Jul 2017,Sunday

Considered applying for India coach: Ex-Aus pacer Gillespie

http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/jason-gillespie-considered-applying-for-indian-cricket-team-s-coaching-job/story-8HwVEXNGgKuQl99NF2R2xO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has said that he "seriously considered" applying for the Indian cricket team's coaching job, which was eventually given to Ravi Shastri. "I talked a lot about that with my family... In the end, I just felt I wasn't quite ready for that opportunity," added the 42-year-old, who is now Papua New Guinea's interim coach.

Jason Gillespie, former Australian cricketer, has revealed he thought long and hard about applying for Indian cricket team?s coaching job, which was eventually assigned to Ravi Shastri.While Shastri remained favourite right from the moment he applied for the position after Anil Kumble?s unceremonious exit. The former all-rounder was eventually named the head coach for a period of two years running till the end of the ICC World Cup 2019.(Read | Jason Gillespie appointed interim coach of Papua New Guinea) Gillespie, who in past has won the County Championship twice in succession with Yorkshire in England as well as the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia with Adelaide Strikers, has had an impressive run as a coach.Jason Gillespie, who has now taken up an interim coaching role with Papua New Guinea (PNG), was set to coach Australia A on their tour of South Africa. The tour, however, got cancelled as the Australian cricketers refused to travel in wake of Cricket Australia (CA) and Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) failing to arrive at a solution regarding the payment dispute.(Read | West Indies recall Kemar Roach for England tour, Darren Bravo left out) Gillespie was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au, ?I talked a lot about that with my family. I to?ed and fro?ed. I had days where I thought, ?right, I?m definitely applying for it, I?m going to have a crack and see how far I get?.? ?Other days where I wasn?t so sure. In the end I just felt I wasn?t quite ready for that opportunity. I think it would have been a wonderful job and I congratulate Ravi Shastri on getting that job. Maybe one day in a couple of years that?d be something I?d seriously consider,? he added.(Read | Ravichandran Ashwin is a smart cricketer, says Muttiah Muralitharan) The 42-year-old also gave a miss to the opportunity that is available with Sri Lanka, after the governing body in the island nation sacked Graham Ford despite having a successful record with the national side as well as a strong bonding with the players.?It?d be a wonderful job (coaching Sri Lanka),? Gillespie said. ?Sri Lanka was one of my favourite places to tour as a player, I loved playing cricket there, I love the country, it?d be a fantastic job,? he added.(Read | BCCI inks five-year deal with IMG for Indian Premier League) ?But, and this is with all due respect, they haven?t had a history of sticking with their coaches for too long so that would definitely be in the back of all coaches? minds. The recent history over last five or so years, there?s been a high turnover of coaches so that certainly would be in the back of coaches? minds ? it?d be in the back of my mind,? he added.The former Australian cricketer in a way backed BCCI?s call to make Shastri the head coach of the national team.?You?ve always just got to have an approach to just select the best guy. If it?s a local guy, it?s a local guy. If it?s an international, then so be it. You certainly don?t want to get up in the politics of all that. All you can do as a coach is present your case on how you think you can make a difference and help the team perform better,? he said.?If you?re the best man for the job, then you should get offered that opportunity. Speaking as a coach, you only want to be judged on whether you think you can make a difference and help the side, and that?s how it should be. We?ll have to wait and see on what jobs come up in the future,? Gillespie concluded.

Rini Sinha

14 Jul 2017,Friday

B'wood actor Siddharth to play Aladdin in remake: Report

http://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/aladdin-found-guy-ritchie-s-search-ends-at-bollywood-s-siddharth-gupta/story-UJpmKGmnsNlEyr0c059FPI.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

According to reports, Bollywood actor Siddharth Gupta has been signed to play the lead role in Disney's upcoming live-action Aladdin remake. Siddharth made his Bollywood debut with 2014 film 'Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi'. Meanwhile, singer Salma Agha's daughter Sasha Agha and Tara Sutaria have reportedly been shortlisted for the role of Aladdin's love interest Jasmine.

The search for Aladdin that was on since June 2017 has finally come to an end. Disney studios had been struggling to find any actor of Indian descent for their live motion film, Aladdin. And now, HT has learnt that Hollywood director Guy Ritchie has finalised Siddharth Gupta for the pivotal role. Hollywood actor Will Smith is already on board to play the role of genie in the film.Siddharth had made his debut in Bollywood with Ekta Kapoor?s film, Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, in 2014.?The makers were desperate to find an Indian actor who was not only a fresh face but also fits the role of an adventurous boy. Siddharth is perfect for it, and has already signed the Non Disclosure agreement with the Film?s makers,? reveals a source close to the production unit.As for Aladdin?s love interest Jasmine, Sasha Agha and Tara Sutaria have been shortlisted for the role of the Disney princess. ?Both the actresses gave the audition, and have been shortlisted from hundreds of candidates,? adds the source. Either of the actors, Tara Sutaria (L) or Sasha Agha, will play Jasmine in the film.Sasha, who is the daughter of singer Salma Agha, has earlier been part of Bollywood films such as Aurangzeb and Desi Kattey.Disney neither confirmed nor denied signing Siddharth.Follow @htshowbiz for more

Saloni Tandon

11 Jul 2017,Tuesday

India's Asian Athletics champs receive ?10 lakh cash reward

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/odisha-gives-cash-reward-for-medal-winners-in-the-22nd-aac/1/998651.html

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik felicitated all Indian athletes who won medals at the recently concluded Asian Athletics Championships in the state. The CM awarded ?10 lakh each to gold medalists, ?7.5 lakh each to silver medalists and ?5 lakh each to bronze winners. India finished with 29 medals at the event, including 12 gold, five silver and 12 bronze.

Chhavi Tyagi

02 Aug 2017,Wednesday

Are you a virgin? Bihar medical institute asks its employees

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indira-gandhi-institute-of-medical-sciences-patna-bihar-marital-status/1/1016847.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Bihar's Patna has asked its employees to declare their virginity and number of wives/husbands in a marital declaration form. Further, the form spelt bachelor as 'bechelor'. "This is not a new form and has been in practice since 1984 when IGIMS was established," Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said.

In a ridiculous step, the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna has asked its employees to declare whether they are virgin. The marriage declaration form which has come to light is applicable for hospital employees and freshly recruited doctors and nursing staffs. The form also asks male employees to provide details if they have more than one wife.Women employees apart from declaring status regarding their virginity have also been asked to provide details on whether she is married to a person who has no other wife living or another wife living. Speaking to India Today, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, Dr Manish Mandal said that the marriage declaration form with the contentious questions have been in practice ever since the institute was established in 1984."Everyone has to fill this form which is part of Central Services Rules and this form is similar to what AIIMS in Delhi uses. If the Centre or AIIMS changes the format of the form in the future, we will also change it. This is not a new form and has been in practice since 1984 when IGIMS was established", said Mandal.  Elaborating on the need to extract personal details like one's virginity, Dr Mandal said that the questions have been asked in order to avert any kind of wrong doing. "In the Central Services Rules there is a provision that when a person joins the service and later on if she dies because of any eventuality, there may be a claimant or boy friend who may come to seek job in place of the victim", said Dr Mandal . However, Dr Mandal admitted that the use of word virginity was incorrect."Essentially what is being asked in the form is whether a person is married or unmarried?  Personally I feel the word used should have been unmarried instead of virgin. That would have been sober but what is there in the rules have to be followed," said Dr Mandal.

Sonu Kumari

19 Jul 2017,Wednesday

Rains, not BMC responsible for waterlogging in Mumbai: Sena

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/uddhav-thackeray-defends-mumbai-civic-body-blames-rain-for-waterlogging/story-eKRsU59FrwvkujP4BTQkMO.html?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fullarticle

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday defended the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation over waterlogging problems in Mumbai. Speaking at the inauguration of an arts theatre, Thackeray said, "What would the BMC do if it rains heavily?" Notably, heavy rainfall since Monday has caused slow traffic and waterlogged roads, leading to commuter woes across the city.

Even as the downpour in the city continued on Tuesday leading to commuter woes, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday defended the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and blamed the rain instead. Thackeray was speaking at the inauguration of the newly refurbished Mahakavi Kalidas Natyamandir arts theatre at Mulund. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, however, gave the function a miss, highlighting the strained relations between the allies. Speaking at the function, Uddhav Thackeray said what could the BMC do if it rained heavily.He said that the city didn?t witness much water logging this year so far and expressed confidence that Mumbai would not get submerged. ?But then what would the BMC do if it rains heavily?? he said. Meanwhile, the BJP leaders who boycotted the event said that they had written to mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar to invite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the event, which the corporation failed to. Corporators also said that the municipal commissioner had initiated an inquiry into the functioning of the theatre. The Priyadarshini sports complex, where the theatre stands, was handed over to the trust Brihanmumbai Krida and Lalitkala Pratisthan (BKLP) on a 30-year lease in 1990. BKLP is headed by Shiv Sena leader Aadesh Bandekar. Local BJP corporator Prakash Gangadhare has accused the trust of financial irregularities and illegal activities. Gangadhare said, ?The municipal commissioner has already ordered an inquiry into the irregularities. We opposed it because the mayor failed to invite the chief minister for the inauguration.?Ironically, T ward of Mulund is represented only by BJP leaders at the corporation, the state legislature and even the Parliament. Kalidas was refurbished at a cost of Rs27crore by the civic body. Mahadeshwar said, ?I don?t know anything about BJP?s boycott. Anybody can boycott an event in a democracy.Our motive was to re-open the art theatre as soon as possible for citizen?s benefit.?