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7,615 Indians lodged in foreign jails: Govt
As many as 7,615 Indian nationals are lodged in foreign jails, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Out of these, 1,810 Indians are lodged in Saudi Arabian jails, and 1,214 are in UAE prisons, he added. There are an estimated 1.16 crore non-resident Indians settled globally, he further said.
₹2 lakh withdrawal limit won't apply to banks, post offices
Ban on cash transactions in excess of ₹2 lakh will not be applicable to withdrawals from banks and post office savings accounts, the Income Tax department has said. Through the Finance Act 2017, the government had banned cash transactions of over ₹2 lakh, adding that a penalty of an equal amount would be levied.
Being an actor or acting was never my dream: Parineeti
Parineeti Chopra has said that being an actor or acting was never her dream. However, she added, "But I knew I was living my dream when my first film released, and I saw thousands of people go out there, watch my films, love me and then mob me on the road." Parineeti made her debut in 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl'.
Chris Martin meets fan with cancer before his concert
Singer Chris Martin met Ken, a fan suffering from stage IV cancer before performing at a concert in Philippines. Ken could not attend the band's concert owing to his medical condition. The concert's organiser came to know about him after his brother wrote a post on Facebook, in which he said Ken had purchased a ticket for the concert.
Deepika Padukone shares childhood picture with her sister
Actress Deepika Padukone took to Instagram to share a childhood picture of herself with sister Anisha Padukone. In the picture, Deepika can be seen wearing a blue-and-white striped collared T-shirt with blue jeans, while her sister is dressed in a red top and white pants. Notably, Anisha, who is 26-years-old, is a professional golfer.
Messi dedicates goal in Sevilla match to cancer-struck kids
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi dedicated his goal against Sevilla in the La Liga on Wednesday to cancer-struck children through a new celebration. Messi pointed two fingers to his right cheek, referring to a two-fingered mark which represents a cancer movement in Spain called Para los valientes (For The Brave). Messi is helping raise funds for a cancer hospital in Barcelona.
Indian chess player suspended in Dubai for alleged cheating
Jeel Shah, a 21-year-old Indian chess player, was suspended from the Dubai Open Chess Tournament on Wednesday for alleged cheating. Jeel was playing another Indian in a match when he was taken aside for "suspicious behaviour" and frisked by the arbiter. A mobile phone was reportedly found with the player, which the organisers alleged he used to cheat.
Keeping bad for my back: AB de Villiers
South African cricketer AB de Villiers has said that he will not return to assume wicketkeeping duties for the teams he plays for as it will affect his health negatively. "I'll miss the next five years if I start keeping again. My back won't allow that," De Villiers said about the prospect of wicketkeeping again.
Apes can separate true and false beliefs in others: Study
A study reveals apes have understanding at par with human infants in distinguishing whether a person has an accurate belief about a situation or is mistaken. Experimenters locked certain objects in a box beside an empty box in front of apes. With a person trying to locate the objects, apes pointed the right box 76.5% of time, showing human-like understanding.
Designer slammed for 'fat shaming' Amy Schumer
Swimsuit designer Dana Duggan has been slammed for 'fat shaming' Amy Schumer over her InStyle magazine cover. "You're part of the problem," commented a user. Another comment read, "Swimwear is not just for women who are a size 2!". Duggan said she was simply exercising her right to freedom of speech and reportedly stated that Amy looked 'like a pig'.nnn
India jumps 31 places to attain best FIFA ranking in 20 yrs
The Indian football team jumped 31 places to reach the 101st rank, its best in 20 years, in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday. India, ranked 11th in Asia, have won 11 of their last 13 matches, scoring 31 goals. India posted a 1-0 victory over Myanmar recently, after registering a 3-2 win over Cambodia in a friendly.
PV Sindhu rises to career-best world no 2 ranking
India's Rio Olympics silver medal-winning shuttler, PV Sindhu jumped three spots to reach her career-best ranking of world number two in the women's singles rankings on Thursday. Sindhu, who recently defeated Rio Olympics gold winner Spain's Carolina Marin to win the India Open title, is 12,152 points behind the 22-year-old top-ranked Taiwanese shuttler Tai Tzu Ying.
How does Google Maps track traffic?
Google Maps uses the location services function on devices to track the coordinates of a place. It combines real-time data from all enabled devices to determine the number of cars on roads and predict the trip time. Google has also compiled information to create traffic histories and uses it to determine whether traffic is running slower or faster than usual.
Fire can be created using ice
Experiments show that clear ice, shaped in the form of a disk, can be used to create fire. After impurities are removed from an ice slab, it can be melted and smoothed by using the heat of hands. When the piece is held perpendicular to the Sun, the concentration of sunlight on a particular spot results in creation of fire.
We are friends, we meet regularly: Raveena on Twinkle
Raveena Tandon, while talking about Twinkle Khanna, said, "We are friends and we all know each other in the industry, we all meet each other regularly." Earlier, Twinkle joked how she almost dropped social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham's biopic as her first production venture because he thought she looked like Raveena. Twinkle's husband Akshay Kumar and Raveena dated in the 90s.
Boeing, JetBlue back Indian-origin man's aircraft startup
Hybrid electric aircraft startup Zunum Aero, founded by Indian-origin entrepreneur Ashish Kumar, has received investments from aerospace companies Boeing and JetBlue. The startup intends to make regional aircrafts with space for 10 to 50 passengers for flights up to 1,600 km. "Our goal is to be part of a disruptive force rather than the one being disrupted," said JetBlue.
Those who disagree with Modi have no place in India: Rahul
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday condemned the recent Alwar lynching and said that those who don't agree with PM Narendra Modi and the RSS have no place in the country. "This is the new vision of India which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is propagating. It's a vision where only one idea will prevail," Gandhi added.
Photosynthesis grew by 30% over 200 years: Study
US-based researchers have estimated that net plant photosynthesis on Earth grew by 30% over the 200-year record they captured. The research did not identify the cause of the increased photosynthesis but suggested rising CO2 levels, longer growing seasons, and nitrogen pollution as probable reasons. However, emissions from fossil fuel burning overwhelm the CO2 uptake by plants, researchers said.
New Zealand PM's spaghetti pizza sparks online debate
New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English has sparked a debate after cooking pizzas with tinned spaghetti and pineapples for his family of eight. Users posted, "I might vote Labour now" and "Would you serve this stuff to your international guests??" However, another said, "If you had 6 kids canned spaghetti would be the height of gourmet cooking for you too!"
Emma Stone receives 'La La Land' inspired prom proposal
A high-school student from US posted a video on Twitter, asking Emma Stone to be his prom date with a 'La La Land' parody video. He filmed the video in the style of the opening song from the film, which features a dance number on a traffic-filled Los Angeles highway. The student said he re-wrote the lyrics to the song.
Turtle with 2 heads, 6 legs found in China
A turtle with two heads and six legs has been found in China. The baby red-eared slider, which was unknowingly purchased by a pet store owner, can reportedly move and eat like its counterparts. Further, all its eyes blink and legs move. Meanwhile, researchers said the anomaly was "caused by genetic mutation, just like a human."
Nivea removes ‘white is purity’ ad after claims of racism
Skincare brand Nivea has pulled an ad declaring “white is purity” after social media users protested its racist connotations, while others used it to spread messages of white supremacy. Nivea further sent an apology, saying the post was not meant to be offensive. The ad, for a deodorant by the company, was meant to target users in the Middle East.
Saumya Tandon to quit Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! serial: Report
Television actress Saumya Tandon is reportedly planning to quit television serial 'Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!' to focus on other projects. Shilpa Shinde, who earlier played 'Angoori bhabhi' in the show, had claimed that Saumya had not taken her sexual harassment allegations against producer Binaifer Kohli's husband Sanjay seriously. Shilpa added that Saumya said, "No one rapes in our industry."
Can learn money-making from brothers like Rajinikanth: Kamal
Actor Kamal Haasan has said that he can learn the art of money-making and filmmaking from his brothers like Rajinikanth. Kamal said this at the memorial meeting of his late elder brother Chandra Hasan. Rajinikanth, who also attended the meeting, said that Chandra helped Kamal save money, and added that he was worried how Kamal will handle his finances now.nn
Shabana Azmi shares pic of herself travelling in Delhi Metro
Actress Shabana Azmi took to Twitter to share a picture of herself travelling in the Delhi Metro. "Travelling by Delhi Metro from airport to make it in time for an urgent appointment! It's SUPERB...clean!," read the caption alongside the picture. After her appointment, Shabana tweeted that she wouldn't have made it on time if she were travelling by car.
Mayweather shouts at judges after daughter loses competition
Former American boxer Floyd Mayweather lost his temper at judges officiating at a cheerleading event where Mayweather's daughter was a participant. Mayweather claimed that the judges cheated, which caused his daughter's team to lose and finish second at the youth cheerleading competition. Mayweather also reportedly mentioned that he funded the competition.
Jayaram beats world no. 2 to reach Malaysia Open quarters
Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram defeated the world number two shuttler Denmark's Viktor Axelsen with a 9-21, 21-14, 21-19 scoreline to book a place in the quarterfinal round at the Malaysia Open Superseries Premier on Thursday. With the win, Jayaram, who is the world number 20 currently, registered his third victory over Axelsen in a total of five matches.
Misbah-ul-Haq announces retirement from Test cricket
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has announced he will retire from Test cricket after the completion of upcoming Test series against West Indies. The 42-year-old said he will continue to play cricket at domestic level alongside other cricket activities. Misbah, who was made captain in 2010, guided Pakistan to achieve the number one spot in ICC Test rankings for the first time.
AB de Villiers launches his own mobile app
South African cricketer AB de Villiers launched his own mobile app 'AB 17' on Thursday. Available on both Android and iOS, the app enables fans to interact with the cricketer, besides giving them updates. It has been developed in collaboration with a US-based company and makes ABD the first South African sportsperson to have a personalised fan engagement application.
Mayweather gifts 16-year-old son Mercedes-Benz on birthday
Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr threw a birthday party and gifted his son, Zion, a Mercedes-Benz car on the latter's 16th birthday. Zion posted pictures from the party on his Instagram account, which showed American rapper Young Thug performing at the party. Zion and his friends flung around fake dollar bills, with the party having bottle service and dancers.
Leander Paes dropped from India vs Uzbekistan Davis Cup tie
Indian tennis star Leander Paes has been dropped from the Indian squad for the Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan, which will be held in Bengaluru from April 7 to April 9. Indian doubles player Rohan Bopanna has been picked ahead of the 43-year-old. India are facing Uzbekistan in the second round clash in Group 1 of the Asia/Oceania zone.
Messi beats 3 defenders to set up Suárez's bicycle kick
Barcelona forward Luis Suárez scored with a bicycle kick, assisted by Lionel Messi running from the half-line, to score the opening goal against Sevilla at Camp Nou on Wednesday. In the 25th minute, Messi sprinted down the right flank outrunning three defenders and providing a deflected cross to Suárez in the box, who finished with an overhead kick.
'Museum of Failure' to open in Sweden
A new museum celebrating retail failures is set to open in the Swedish town of Helsingborg this summer. The 'Museum of Failure' will celebrate ideas that failed to translate into consumer hits, including a Harley Davidson cologne and a Twitter Peek mobile device created only for tweeting. The other items include Coca-Cola's coffee-flavoured soft drink 'Coca-Cola BlāK'.
Tail strikes of world's deadliest scorpion studied 1st time
Portuguese scientists have studied for the first time the tail attacks of the 'death stalker', regarded as the most poisonous scorpion in the world. The researchers compared defensive tail strikes of various scorpions using a high-speed camera and then created 3D-models on a computer. It was revealed that different strike trajectories depend on the tail shape of the venomous arachnids.
Lindsay Lohan spotted in burkini at a beach in Thailand
Actress Lindsay Lohan was spotted at a beach in Phuket, Thailand wearing a 'burkini', which is a full-body swimsuit. She was seen paddleboarding at the beach. The burkini is from her upcoming fashion line, reports said. In March, she had posted a photo of herself on social media wearing an embroidered headscarf with the caption, "New Fashion Line coming soon".
Sex has not been normalised even today: Hugh Hefner's son
Founder of Playboy magazine Hugh Hefner's son Cooper has said he does not think sex has been normalised even today. "The fact that it is available on the internet and behind closed doors does not mean... we have adopted a comfortability... on the topic," he added. Cooper further said women still face trouble when it comes to owning their sexuality.
Over 40,000 phone numbers made public by Bengaluru Police
Bengaluru Police has been posting the phone numbers of the complainants calling the emergency number 100 since April 2015 on its Twitter account, making over 40,000 phone numbers public. The Twitter account was closed for public view only on Wednesday. "It's obvious the accused will know who registered the complaint and privacy doesn't matter here," said a senior police official.
Paytm may buy FreeCharge at 50% discount for $200 mn: Report
Digital wallet Paytm may buy SoftBank-backed rival FreeCharge at a 50% discount for as low as $200 million, according to reports. FreeCharge was acquired by Snapdeal in 2015 at an estimated $400 million. This comes amid reports of SoftBank looking to sell Snapdeal to Flipkart and dropping Paytm as a Snapdeal bidder over lower valuation offered.
Smoking causes one in ten deaths globally: Study
According to a US-based study, 11.5% of deaths around the world in 2015 were caused due to smoking. The researchers found there were around 6.4 million deaths attributed to smoking, half of which were in four populous countries namely China, India, USA, and Russia. The study mentions there were nearly one billion smokers in 2015, 933 million being daily smokers.
ISIS executes 33 in Syria in largest mass killing of 2017
The ISIS executed 33 people in Syria's al-Mayadeen desert on Wednesday in its "largest execution operation" of 2017 so far, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitoring group added that the victims, aged 18 to 25, were "killed by sharp tools." ISIS also opened fire on policemen and civilians in Iraq on the same day, leaving 22 dead.
Military action against N Korea on the table: US
US President Donald Trump on Thursday told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over a phone call that "all options are on the table," including military action, to counter the threat from North Korean missiles. The US will continue to strengthen its ability to deter and defend itself and its allies with the full range of its military capabilities, Trump added.
World's only floating national park is in India
The Keibul Lamjao National Park, located in the Loktak Lake in Manipur, India, is known as the only floating national park in the world. The area is characterised by 'phumdis', a Manipuri word referring to floating mats of soil and vegetation. Among numerous animal species, the park is home to the brow-antlered deer, which is locally known as the 'Sangai'.
Sheep can see behind themselves without turning their heads
Sheep have large rectangular pupils, which provide them with a peripheral and a panoramic vision ranging approximately 270º. This allows them to even see behind themselves without turning their heads. While the structure of their eyes is similar to humans, their vision span is about 100º more as compared to human beings.
I have been hearing for 22 years that my career is over: SRK
Actor Shah Rukh Khan said that he has been hearing for 22 years that his career in Bollywood is over. He added, "Everyone keeps saying it...(but) there will be a film which will do badly, and there are so many...which have done so well, too." Shah Rukh further said that his main aim is to entertain people during a film.
Comedian Sunil Pal requests Sunil Grover to forgive Kapil
Comedian Sunil Pal has shared a video on Facebook in which he has requested Sunil Grover to forgive Kapil Sharma. "You and Kapil have made the show a success and you two are the wheel of the show," he said. Pal added, "Nearly 500 people are employed because of Kapil's show. Please consider this and come back on the show".
Friends actor David features in video on sexual harassment
David Schwimmer, known for portraying Ross Geller in American sitcom 'Friends', has featured in a video titled 'The Boss'. The video is a part of #ThatsHarassment campaign which includes six videos depicting sexual harassment based on true stories. "Every woman in my family...has been harassed. The problem is people don't step forward or say something about it," said Schwimmer.
Physicists find new approach to solve $1 mn maths problem
Physicists have proposed a new way to solve the 'Riemann Hypothesis' regarded as "the greatest unsolved problem in mathematics", proving which carries a $1 million (₹6.5 crore) cash prize. The hypothesis predicts prime number distribution, which is used for designing encryption codes, below any given threshold. The physicists propose using quantum mechanics to solve the 158-year-old problem.
Kohli meets BCCI panel to negotiate pay hike for players
Virat Kohli, along with coach Anil Kumble and a few members of the Indian cricket team, met BCCI's Committee of Administrators members Vinod Rai and Vikram Limaye to negotiate a salary hike for the players. Rai later said "any issue pertaining to players' interest will be addressed with utmost seriousness", and Kumble would make a presentation regarding the demand.
₹19,500 pillow that tracks sleep and lights up to wake made
US-based startup Mode Modern has created a ₹19,500 smart pillow that tracks the users' sleep and wakes them up by creating lighting effect similar to the rising Sun. It has built-in speakers that play any selected music from the pillow's dedicated app. The pillow also records voices while the user is asleep so that sleep disruptions can be traced easily.
China's Tencent passes Wells Fargo as 10th biggest firm
Chinese Internet firm Tencent Holding has overtaken US banking major Wells Fargo by market capitalisation to become the world's 10th biggest publicly traded company, according to Bloomberg. Tencent gained 1.6% on Wednesday, valuing the company at $279 billion. With this, six of the top 10 companies by market value are now technology firms, including all of the top four.
Apple sued for refusing to fix iPhones disabled by bug
Australia's consumer watchdog has sued Apple for not fixing iPhones disabled by an 'Error 53' glitch. The bug, for which Apple apologised in 2016, bricked iPhones if the home button had been repaired by third parties. However, the lawsuit accuses Apple of knowingly disabling phones and then refusing to unlock them as the devices had been serviced by non-Apple repairers.
Revoke ban on Gaikwad, else we won't let airlines fly: Sena
Shiv Sena MPs have said in the Parliament that they will not let any aircraft fly from Mumbai if the airlines do not revoke their ban on Ravindra Gaikwad. "If you want to diffuse the situation, we can do it. If you want to aggravate it...do that. But aircraft safety won't be compromised," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said.
Delhi journalist critical after being attacked in park
Journalist Aparna Kalra (45) was attacked by an unidentified man in a public park while she was on an evening walk on Wednesday. Kalra is critical and is undergoing treatment at Fortis Hospital, where she was admitted with multiple brain injuries. With no eyewitnesses or traces of theft, the police have registered a case of attempt to murder.
EU holding UK hostage like mafia: Former UKIP leader Farage
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage on Wednesday accused the European Union of behaving like the mafia by holding Britain hostage to ransom with "vindictive" demands in the Brexit negotiations. However, he retracted his comments and branded the MEPs as "gangsters" instead after the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani called his comments unacceptable.
Nazi nerve gas used in Syria's chemical attack: US
The US government believes that the chemical agent Sarin was used in the chemical attack in Syria on Tuesday which killed at least 100 and injured over 400 people, according to reports. Sarin, which is an extremely deadly and fast-acting chemical agent, was first developed by Nazi scientists in 1938 and was banned in 1993 under international law.
Chemical attack in Syria changed my view of Assad: Trump
US President Donald Trump has said that the chemical attack in Syria that killed at least 100 people and wounded another 400, has changed his attitude towards Syria and its President Bashar al-Assad "very much". Adding that the attack had a big impact on him, Trump said that the heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated.
Japan accepts same-sex couple as foster parents for 1st time
The city of Osaka has officially recognised a same-sex couple as foster parents, becoming the first Japanese city to do so, government officials said on Wednesday. A teenage boy has been living under their care since February. They had to undergo lectures, training, scrutiny and a screening by the city's social welfare panel before they were certified. nn
'Lettuce' work together: Police on ₹21 lakh lettuce theft
Canadian Police tweeted a picture saying, "'Lettuce' work together again," after a large truck containing lettuce worth C$45,000 (over ₹21 lakh) was stolen. The police also asked the public to "romaine calm" after the incident. Romaine is a variety of lettuce, and following the post, a person tweeted, "i'll romaine on the lookout."
Canadian couple wins lottery for the third time
A Canadian couple has won the lottery for the third time, splitting a C$16.3 million (around ₹78 crore) jackpot with another ticket holder. The couple, Douglas and Barbara Fink, had previously won the lottery in 1989 and 2010. The couple, whose recent jackpot was the largest, plan to spend their winnings on their family, a new house and travelling.
Infosys board has let down Founders: Ex-CFO Balakrishnan
Former Infosys CFO V Balakrishnan has said, “The present Infosys’ Board has let down its founders and lost credibility to continue." "Its members should be replaced with new people,” he added. Further, backing Co-founder Narayana Murthy's opposition to pay hike of COO UB Pravin Rao, Balakrishnan said the present Board had lost moral courage by favouring executives and ignoring employees.
Tragedies happen when govt allows lynch mobs to rule: Rahul
Following the "brutal and senseless attack" by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the state government over the "shocking breakdown" of law and order. "When government...allows lynch mobs to rule, tragedies of immense proportion happen," Gandhi added. He said that he hoped that the government would take stern action against those responsible.
CBI books former Haryana CM Hooda in land allotment case
The CBI has booked former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for alleged re-allotment of a plot to Associated Journals Limited in Panchkula in 2005. He has been charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and misuse of official position. A corruption case in this regard had been filed by the state Vigilance Department in May 2016.
LK Advani, 12 others conspired to demolish Babri Masjid: CBI
BJP leader LK Advani and 12 others were part of a larger conspiracy to demolish the disputed Babri Masjid, the Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court on Thursday. The accused include senior BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members. The CBI wants the trial to be held in a Lucknow court.
Investing in Mutual Funds can start at just ₹500 a month
Contrary to the belief that large sums must be invested in Mutual Funds to earn meaningful returns, people can start investing as little as ₹500 per month and gradually increasing the investment as income rises. For example, by investing ₹500 a month for 20 years at an annual return rate of 6%, investors can make ₹2.32 lakh at maturity.
'Queen' director Vikas accused of sexual harassment: Reports
As per reports, Vikas Bahl, director of 2014 film 'Queen', has been accused of sexual harassment by a female employee at Phantom Films. She has claimed that Bahl misbehaved with her in Goa a few months back. According to company sources, Bahl has "behaved badly in the past" and a committee has been set up to investigate the employee's complaint.
Govt to set up Rail Development Authority to fix train fares
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up an independent regulator Rail Development Authority (RDA), that will recommend passenger fares for Indian Railways. Likely to be functional by August with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, RDA will decide on tariffs, services for passengers and adoption of new technologies. The Railways Ministry will take final call on passenger and freight fares.
Madhya Pradesh govt to start diploma course for priesthood
The Madhya Pradesh government will start a one-year diploma course on Hindu priesthood called 'Purohityam’ from July this year. There will be no specifications on caste as both Scheduled Caste and Brahmins will be eligible for the course. The basic qualification required by a person to apply for the course will be senior secondary.
How was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was formed on April 6, 1980 with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the first party President. Earlier Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, had merged itself into the Janata Party in 1977. However, due to internal differences in Janata Party, the Janata government collapsed, and BJP became a separate party.
1st Modern Olympics winners got olive branch, not gold medal
There were no gold medals at the first-ever Modern Olympics, which started on April 6, 1896, in Athens, Greece. Winners were awarded silver medals and an olive branch, while second-placed athletes got a copper medal and a branch of laurel. One side of the medal had the face of Greek God Zeus, while the other side had the Acropolis.
Spain accused of Gibraltar traffic jams amid Brexit tensions
Gibraltar, a British overseas territory bordering Spain, on Wednesday accused Spain of causing long traffic jams by tightening border controls. Tensions between the UK and Spain have risen during Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar's future. Gibraltar Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said, "Spain has used traffic jams as a political weapon," alleging it had deployed special forces at the border.
'Queen' director Vikas denies sexual harassment allegations
Vikas Bahl, who directed 2014 film 'Queen', has denied sexual harassment allegations against him by a female employee at Phantom Films. He said, "She isn't my employee. Yes, I'm friends with her. I want to ask her if I crossed a line...and would like to apologise for it." Bahl added that his company has not received any sexual harassment complaint. nn
Fine to eat dead animals, not those slaughtered: Dalai Lama
Asserting that Buddhists were neither vegetarian nor non-vegetarian, the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said it was alright to have the meat of dead animals, but not those purposefully killed for meat. Most Buddhists are vegetarian as they believe it is wrong to slaughter any creature. Notably, Dalai Lama himself is reportedly non-vegetarian.
PM Modi lauds party workers on BJP's 37th foundation day
On the 37th foundation day of BJP, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated party workers and thanked people for their support. "Guided by the Mantra of Antyodaya, our efforts to serve India especially the poor & the marginalised continue with great vigour," he tweeted. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said BJP had become a common man's party from a nationalist one.
I apologise to Parliament, not to Air India staffer: Gaikwad
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad has said in the Lok Sabha, "I apologise to the Parliament if I have caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official." He further demanded that the ban on him by airlines be removed and said, "What crime have I committed? What is my offence that I'm put under media trial without probe?"
Attack on Muslim by gau rakshaks did not take place: Naqvi
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the incident of lynching a Muslim man by 'gau rakshaks' over beef issue has not taken place, as reported by the media. "It is a very sensitive issue. From this, there should be no indication or message that we are supporting such incidents," he added.
Trump's economic policies phenomenal: Billionaire Agarwal
Group Chairman of Vedanta Resources and billionaire Anil Agarwal has said that the US President Donald Trump's economic policies are "phenomenal". "He himself is a businessman and the way he spoke about Modi's efforts to reduce the involvement of bureaucracy and red tapism... He himself is doing that," Agarwal said. "I believe that he will correct himself," Agarwal further added.
US responds to N Korean missile test in 23-word message
US State Secretary Rex Tillerson responded to North Korea's latest ballistic missile test by saying, "North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment." Some experts considered it as the US' refusal to give attention to North Korea, while others believed it reflected a tough stance.
Stylist pens letter on 'shame' of repeating outfits
Celebrity stylist Ami Patel has penned an open letter addressing the 'shame' that comes with repeating an outfit. "I get taken aback when I read articles on how celebrities are accused of "copying" a look on the red carpet," she wrote. Patel further wrote people should not have "unreasonable insecurities" about repeating their outfits.
Pepsi drops Kendall Jenner starrer ad after facing criticism
Pepsi announced on Wednesday that it is dropping an advertisement featuring model Kendall Jenner after facing criticism for 'trivialising' political resistance. "Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity... and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologise," the Pepsico unit said in a statement. "We also apologise for putting Kendall Jenner in this position," it added.
Burglar who stole stuffed animals sentenced to jail
A British burglar who stole 18 stuffed animals worth about £100,000 (₹81 lakh) has been sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, said the police on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Detective Constable Stuart Goss said, "Cataloguing and exhibiting the stolen items was a truly unique and memorable experience, and this is certainly an investigation which will stay with me for years to come."
New species 'Spiderman' worm-snails discovered in Florida
Scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of worm-snails in Florida, US, which "shoot out mucous web like Spiderman". The snails have a pair of tentacles down near the base of their body to shoot slime, scientists added. Microorganisms get stuck on the slimy web, and the snails pull the web using their mouth to grab their food.
English village celebrates birthday of 2-year-old pothole
The Plumtree village in England recently celebrated the birthday of a two-year-old pothole to draw attention to the matter. The Plumtree People account tweeted, "The #Plumtree potholes mark yet another birthday," sharing a picture of the pothole. Following this, the council tweeted, "I don’t think 'Happy Birthday' would be appropriate in this case," adding that the matter would be inspected.
Katy Perry reveals she googles 'hot' pictures of herself
American singer Katy Perry, in a post on Instagram, has revealed that she googles 'hot' pictures of herself. She shared a photo of herself wearing a push-up bra and shorts from a magazine cover shoot. The photo showed that she had uploaded it from a Google search. "[W]as feeling insecure about my last two posts so...," she captioned the photo. n
400 icebergs disrupt North Atlantic shipping lanes
Over 400 icebergs have drifted into the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic Ocean since last week, forcing vessels to take detours of hundreds of kilometres. The average for this time of year is 80. A US Coast Guard Commander said, "I've never seen anything like it in my decade of experience," while experts attributed it to strong counter-clockwise winds.
Tennis world no. 16 puts his BMW up for sale on Facebook
Australian tennis player and world number 16 Nick Kyrgios has put his car up for sale on Facebook. Kyrgios posted an advertisement of the BMW F80 on his account, which has over 2,50,000 followers, saying it was the first car he bought. A fan offered Australian $6,000 (₹2.9 lakh) to which Kyrgios replied, "I'll send you the petrol tank lid."
Rahul Dravid misses felicitation at IPL opening ceremony
Former cricketer and India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid missed his felicitation ceremony held during the inauguration of IPL 10 in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Dravid reportedly failed to reach the venue on time since his flight from Delhi to Hyderabad got delayed. He was supposed to be felicitated by BCCI along with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.
14-yr-old becomes fastest kid to cycle across Australia
Si-am Juntakereket, a British boy, has become the fastest child to cycle across Australia after completing the almost 4,500-kilometre-long journey from Sydney to Perth in just 29 days. Juntakereket, who began the journey as a 13-year-old, cycled around 160 kilometres a day and slept in a tent as he went. Notably, Juntakereket is raising funds for learning disability charities.
HP govt denotifies 16 State Highways post SC liquor sale ban
In order to circumvent the highway liquor ban, Himachal Pradesh government has denotified 16 State Highways as 'Major District Roads'. The Supreme Court has banned the sale of liquor within 500 metres of National and State Highways. Notably, several other states have also requested the Centre to denotify National Highways as State Highways, so they too may bypass the ban.
Hyderabad beat Bangalore in IPL 2017 opener
Defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 35 runs in the first match of IPL 2017. Yuvraj Singh's 27-ball 62 and Moises Henriques' 37-ball 52 helped Hyderabad reach 207/4 in their 20 overs. In reply, Bangalore were dismissed for 172 in 19.4 overs as Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan picked two wickets in his debut IPL match.
Beijing could interfere in Kashmir, warns Chinese media
The Chinese state-run media on Thursday warned that Beijing could interfere in "turbulent" Kashmir over Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It called India's move to invite Lama "clumsy and rude". This comes after Beijing on Wednesday asked India to stop the Dalai Lama's visit immediately and summoned Indian ambassador VK Gokhale to lodge a protest.
InMobi 2nd Indian billion-dollar startup to turn profitable
Mobile advertising startup InMobi said it turned profitable in the year 2016, making it the second Indian billion-dollar startup to achieve the feat after Mu Sigma. InMobi says it has been profitable every month since June 2016 and its net profit was ₹42-65 crore in the October-December quarter. "We are no longer dependent on anyone," said InMobi CEO Naveen Tewari.
Bezos to sell $1bn Amazon stock a year for his space startup
Amazon's Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said on Wednesday that he plans to sell $1 billion worth of Amazon stock every year to fund his aerospace startup Blue Origin. Bezos is currently the world's second-richest person with a net worth of over $78 billion. Bezos' aerospace startup is aiming to ready a capsule by 2018 to take tourists to space.
Cutting runs out Jadhav with full-toss direct boundary throw
Sunrisers Hyderabad player Ben Cutting ran out RCB's Kedhar Jadhav with a full-toss direct throw from the boundary during the opening match of the IPL on Wednesday. Jadhav went low on a Moises Henriques delivery to play a sweep shot towards long leg. Cutting collected the ball and hit the striker's end, knocking off the stumps from the deep.
Ashish Nehra completes 100 wickets in IPL, misses hat-trick
Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ashish Nehra completed 100 wickets in IPL, taking two wickets in two balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match of IPL 10 in Hyderabad on Wednesday. He is the eighth bowler overall to accomplish the feat and the first left-arm bowler to do so. Nehra finished with figures of 2/42 in his stipulated four overs.
Kashmiri crickters detained for wearing Pak jersey in match
A group of Kashmiri local cricketers was detained on Wednesday after a video clip surfaced on social media, showing them wearing the Pakistani team's jersey with the neighbouring country's national anthem being played in the background. According to reports, the video was from a cricket match between two teams, one representing Pakistan and the other India.
Uber admits it found one Waymo document on employee's device
Uber has admitted that it found one of the documents Google spinoff Waymo alleges was stolen by a former employee, on his computer. However, Uber emphasised that the document was not found on Uber's computers, but on the employee's personal device. Waymo claims that the employee downloaded several confidential documents in June 2016, one month before resigning and joining Uber.
Twitter ads featuring Donald Trump appear in Tokyo trains
A set of Twitter advertisements featuring US President Donald Trump has appeared in train cars and metro stations across Japan's capital Tokyo. Twitter's Japan spokesman said the Trump advertisements are a part of a new brand campaign set to last for two weeks. The campaign's slogan is "There is a 'now' you do not know about".
For losers in elections, EVM means 'Every Vote Modi': Naidu
Amid controversy over Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering in elections, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the parties who lost in elections have added a new dimension to EVMs, where it means 'Every Vote Modi'. "You press any button, vote goes to Modi." Naidu jokingly remarked. Further, he questioned if EVMs were manipulated, why didn't it happen in Punjab or Delhi.
Over 8,000 Uber, Lyft drivers fail background check in US
More than 8,000 drivers of ride-hailing startup Uber and Lyft have been denied licenses to operate in Massachusetts, US, under a new background check law. Hundreds of applicants were turned down because they had serious crimes on their record, including violent or sexual offenses. Others had drunk or reckless driving offenses, while 51 applications came from alleged sex offenders.
Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad reaches Delhi via chartered flight
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, banned from flying by major airlines after he assaulted an Air India staffer, reportedly reached Delhi via a chartered flight on Wednesday. The flight is believed to have been provided by Shiv Sena MP Rajkumar Dhoot. Previously, SpiceJet, Air India and IndiGo had cancelled Gaikwad's tickets and he had travelled to Delhi by road.