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2 women who entered Sabarimala ask SC for police protection | Two women, Bindu Ammini and Kanaka Durgaâ, who became the first under the age of 50 to enter the Sabarimala hill temple in Kerala have approached the Supreme Court seeking protection. They said that their life and liberty are in danger. This comes after Kanaka Durgaââ was hospitalised after she was reportedly thrashed by her relatives upon returning home. |
Menstruating girls allegedly confined in Uttarakhand govt building | District magistrate of Uttarakhand's Champawat district, Ranbir Singh Chauhan, has ordered a probe into alleged "confinement of women and girls" during their menstrual period in a government building. "I feel a building could have been converted into such a camp as there's no provision either by the state or central government to establish such camps," Chauhan said. |
Minutes after reviving newborn to life, doctor dies in labour room | A 48-year-old doctor in West Bengal collapsed and died of heart attack, minutes after reviving a newborn girl to life in labour room. The newborn showed no movement after the delivery, following which the doctor reportedly placed her in a warmer and just as he managed to revive her, he collapsed. He was declared brought dead in a nearby hospital. |
Armed men loot passengers in AC coaches of Duronto Express in Delhi | Armed men on Thursday entered the Jammu-Delhi Duronto Express on the outskirts of Delhi and looted passengers, the police has said. Passengers of two AC coaches were allegedly looted of their cash, mobile phones and gold chains by the men armed with knives when the train stopped at Badli. A passenger said the looting lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. |
FIR against 6 for taking selfie at police station in Ahmedabad | Police on Wednesday filed an FIR against six people after they clicked their pictures inside Ahmedabad's Vastrapur police station and posted them on social media. The accused had clicked the pictures when police asked them to stay at a waiting room. They were booked under IPC 151 for constituting assembly which may cause a disturbance of the public peace. |
3 Indian-Americans nominated to key posts in Trump administration | US President Donald Trump has nominated three Indian-Americans to key positions in his administration. Dr Rita Baranwal has been nominated for the post of Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy) and Bimal Patel as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Aditya Bamzai has been nominated to be a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. |
UK PM wins no-confidence vote a day after her Brexit deal defeat | UK PM Theresa May on Wednesday won the no-confidence vote tabled by Opposition and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn by 325 to 306. Corbyn tabled the no-confidence motion after MPs voted 432-202 to reject May's Brexit deal. This is the second no-confidence vote won by May in over a month, the first being tabled by her own Conservative Party members. |
Goldman Sachs CEO apologises to Malaysian people for 1MDB scandal | US investment bank Goldman Sachs' CEO David Solomon has apologised to the Malaysian people for former banker Tim Leissner's role in the scandal at sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Goldman helped 1MDB raise $6.5 billion in debt. The US has alleged that $4.5 billion was misappropriated by high-level officials of the fund and their associates between 2009 and 2014. |
Ready to invest â¹700 crore in Jet Airways: Chairman Naresh Goyal | Jet Airways Founder and Chairman Naresh Goyal told the SBI that he is ready to invest up to â¹700 crore in the struggling airline on the condition that his shareholding doesn't fall below 25%. Goyal is currently the largest shareholder with a 51% stake. The carrier's second-largest shareholder Etihad reportedly wants Goyal to resign and reduce his stake to 22%. |
Immature to make false allegations against Hirani: Karishma | Reacting to the sexual harassment allegations against filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, actress Karishma Tanna said, "You can't just put any false allegations, that is very immature." "When I heard the news, more than being shocked I was very upset," the actress added. Karishma, who acted in the Rajkumar Hirani directorial 'Sanju', further said that working with him was an "outstanding experience". |
Never made choices only to be called 'rule-breaker': Tabu | Speaking about being labelled as a 'rule-breaker' for the choices she's made in her career, actress Tabu said, "I've never made the choices thinking I want to be called the rule-breaker." "I donât feel that there's just one...correct way to do things," Tabu added. She further said the roles she chose didn't feel like a "risk" to her. |
China accounted for about 50% of global app downloads in 2018 | According to App Annie's report, China accounted for nearly 50% of global app downloads across iOS and third-party Android apps and 40% of consumer spending in 2018. The total number of global app downloads in 2018 was over 194 billion, up 35% from 2016. Further, India was one of the top five markets for downloads, App Annie added. |
Shah doing well, will be discharged in a day or two: BJP | The BJP on Thursday said that party chief Amit Shah, who is undergoing treatment for swine flu at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, is doing well and will be discharged in one or two days. Shah was admitted on Wednesday after he complained of chest congestion. He was admitted to the old private ward of AIIMS. |
Mumbai-based Epigamia yoghurt startup raises â¹182 crore | Mumbai-based Drums Food International, the parent company of Greek yoghurt brand Epigamia, has raised around â¹182 crore in a Series C round of funding. The round was led by Belgium-based consumer-focused investment firm Verlinvest and New York City-based Danone Manifesto Ventures. Founded in 2015, Epigamia has expanded its portfolio to include artisanal curd, snack pack and mishti doi. |
Upskirting to become crime punishable by 2 yrs in jail in UK | Upskirting, secretly taking photos up a woman's skirt, is to become a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison in England and Wales. The legislation awaits approval from the Queen after getting passed by the House of Lords. The campaign to criminalise upskirting was launched by 26-year-old Gina Martin who was targeted at a festival in 2017. |
China has some of world's most advanced weapon systems: US | China has surpassed its rivals in fielding some of the world's most advanced weapon systems by acquiring foreign technology in exchange for granting access to its market, the US' Defence Department said in a report. The increasing military might will "enable China to impose its will in the region", the report added. |
1st plant on Moon dies as temperatures reach -170ºC at night | The first-ever biological matter to sprout on the Moon, a cotton plant, has died because temperatures dropped to -170 degrees Celsius during lunar night. The plant relied on sunlight on the Moon's far side but died within nine days, after the beginning of Chinese rover's first lunar night on Sunday. Chinese media had revealed about the first-ever sprouting on Tuesday. |
Firm sells reverse stitched jeans that look like they're inside out | UK-based online fashion retailer Boohoo has begun selling 'Reverse Stitched' jeans for over â¹1,500, which appear like they have been worn inside out. "Reverse stitched jeans are now a thing," the company said. Several people criticised the jeans, with one of them saying, "Wow...I only put my jeans inside out if I get dressed in the dark!" |
Was depressed, starved myself: Hazel shares her '10 Year Challenge' | Actress Hazel Keech, who married cricketer Yuvraj Singh in 2016, used the viral '10 Year Challenge' to reveal her battle with depression. Sharing her picture from 10 years ago, the 31-year-old said, "I was battling depression, starving myself, had bulimia, dyed my hair dark...and...kept it long trying to fit in." "Today...I don't care what others think of me," she added. |
Balls can't damage unbreakable Pujara: Kohli on 'White Walker' name | Team India captain Virat Kohli has said that the team has given the nickname 'White Walker' from TV show 'Game of Thrones' to batsman Cheteshwar Pujara as he is unbreakable at the moment. "Only either fire or that special dagger that can kill him...I don't think bowlers or cricket balls are going to do any damage to him," Kohli joked. |
MS Dhoni talks a lot while batting and that helps: Virat Kohli | Talking about his match-winning 82-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni in the second ODI against Australia, India captain Virat Kohli said Dhoni talks a lot while batting and that helps. "He keeps calming down the player on the other end...and keeps saying...there is a lot of time to go in the match. Hence, we bat together so well," he added. |
BJP President Amit Shah diagnosed with swine flu, admitted to AIIMS | BJP National President Amit Shah has been admitted to AIIMS for treatment after he was diagnosed with swine flu on Wednesday. "I have swine flu, for which I am being treated. I'll recover soon with God's grace, your love and well wishes," Shah tweeted. Reportedly, he was admitted to AIIMS following complaints of chest congestion and breathing problems. |
Upset to hear Jaitley ji isn't well, 100% with him: Rahul Gandhi | After Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reportedly flew to the US for medical check-up, Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I'm upset to hear Jaitley Ji isn't well." "We fight him on a daily basis for his ideas...However, I and Congress send best wishes for speedy recovery," he added. "We're with you and your family 100% during this difficult period," Rahul said. |
Judges Sanjiv Khanna, Dinesh Maheshwari elevated to Supreme Court | President Ram Nath Kovind has approved the elevation of Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Sanjiv Khanna of Delhi High Court to Supreme Court. The appointments take the total strength of the apex court to 28 as against a sanctioned strength of 31. Chief Justices of Delhi and Rajasthan High Courts were recommended for elevation earlier. |
Elevation of junior judges ignoring seniority disturbing: Ex-CJI | After the collegium reversed proposal to elevate Chief Justices of Delhi and Rajasthan High Courts and elevated Chief Justice of Karnataka and a Delhi High Court Judge instead, ex-CJI RM Lodha said, "A junior judge was superseded to Supreme Court, it surprises me." "It's little disturbing," he said when asked about junior judges being elevated prior to their seniors. |
IT returns to be processed in one day from current 63 days | Infosys will develop the next-generation income tax filing system, which will reduce the processing time for returns to one day from the current average of 63 days, the government said. The project, costing over â¹4,200 crore, will be completed in 18 months. Its objectives include faster and accurate outcomes for taxpayers and enhancing user experience at all stages, among others. |
Political films won't affect election's outcome: Prakash Jha | While speaking about 'political films' being labelled as propaganda, 'Raajneeti' director Prakash Jha said these films have no effect on the outcome of the elections. "People will call films what they want to. They were hurt when I made 'Raajneeti'," the director added. He further said, a film "will only stand" when it has the power to engage people. |
Was confident about way out: Ankita Lokhande on 'Manikarnika' row | Opening up about the controversy surrounding her film 'Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi', actress Ankita Lokhande said, "I was confident that there'll be a way out." "I did feel bad that it went through so many ups and downs," the actress added. Kangana Ranaut was earlier credited as co-director after director Krish left the film to work on another project. |
Humbled and Inspired: Anil shares pic from meet with PM Modi | Anil Kapoor shared a picture from his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wrote, "I stand humbled and inspired in the wake of our conversation." "His vision and his charisma are infectious and I'm grateful for the chance to have witnessed it in person," Anil added. Earlier, a delegation comprising actors and filmmakers from Bollywood met with PM Modi. |
This version of Karthik is all that he ever wanted to be: Ashwin | After Dinesh Karthik scored 25*(14) to help India beat Australia in second ODI, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tweeted, "This version of DK is all that he ever wanted to be, I'm very happy for him." "Just going through [his] batting numbers...over...last 18 months...it's not surprising to see...he has become one of the best finishers in the world right now," he wrote. |
Man charged for allegedly sending 0.5 kg meth to Apple Store | A man who allegedly sent 0.5 kilograms of methamphetamine (meth) to an Apple Store in New York City, US, is facing charges in connection with multiple shipments of meth to the city. The package containing meth was opened by an Apple worker in July 2018. The police had arrested the accused when he came to the store to collect it. |
Shashi Tharoor introduces bill to regulate online gaming | Congress leader Shashi Tharoor introduced a private member's bill in the Lok Sabha that seeks to regulate online gaming. The bill aims to legitimise online games of skill and allow online gaming websites to apply for licenses to earn revenue. Tharoor said a regulatory framework is required to check the flow of black money and curb related illegal activities. |
Byju's acquires US kids app-making startup Osmo for â¹850 cr | Edtech startup Byju's has acquired US-based startup Osmo, that develops apps for kids, for over â¹850 crore ($120 million). Byju's intends to use Osmo's physical-to-digital technology and content to expand to a younger age group of kids between 3-8 years of age. Founded in 2013 by former Google employees Pramod Sharma and Jerome Scholler, Osmo creates reflective AI games. |
'Messy' star that caused partner star to explode identified | Researchers have identified the 'messy' star that made its partner star in a twin-star system explode as a supernova 545 million light-years away. Hydrogen-rich debris was shed by the 'messy' star before the explosion, which revealed that it was either a 'red giant' or a similar star. Supernova material had hit the debris at 10% the speed of light. |
Oceans hottest in 2018, break record for 5th straight year | Earth's oceans were hottest-ever in 2018, the fifth consecutive year to break the heat record, according to findings by a team of international researchers. The current rate of ocean warming is reportedly equivalent to five Hiroshima-size atomic bombs exploding every second. A previous study by the same team revealed 93% of the Earth's energy imbalance ends up in the ocean. |
Online breast cancer calculator to predict cancer risk made | Cancer Research UK scientists have created an online breast cancer calculator that could be used by practitioners to help predict breast cancer risks in women. The system basis its prediction on factors including weight, age at menopause, alcohol consumption, use of hormone replacement therapy and genetic data. The system has taken into account over 300 genetic indicators of breast cancer. |
Bihar man arrested for raping 3-month pregnant goat | Police have arrested a man for allegedly raping a three-month pregnant goat in Bihar's Patna. The goat was found dead by the owner of the animal, who later filed a complaint with the police. The owner accused the man of raping her goat in a drunken state. The police have sent the goat's body to a veterinary college for post-mortem. |
Cabinet sanctions â¹4,242 crore for next-gen IT-filing system | Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said the Cabinet has approved â¹4,241.97 crore for next-generation "Integrated E-filing and Centralised Processing Centre 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department". He added Infosys has been selected to implement the project. He said the project aims to cut down the processing time for Income Tax Returns from 63 days to one day. |
Delhi airport operator to levy X-ray baggage fee from Feb 1 | Delhi airport operator DIAL will start charging airlines an X-ray baggage fee ranging from â¹110 to â¹880 on each domestic flight from February 1. For international flights, the charge would be between $149.33 (around â¹10,600 ) and $209.55 (around â¹14,875). Passengers may have to pay up to â¹50 as airlines are expected to pass on the X-ray baggage charges. |
Maharashtra govt, LIC bid for Air India building in Mumbai | Maharashtra CMO's Principal Secretary Bhushan Gagarani has said the state government and LIC are among bidders for the iconic Air India building in Mumbai. The 23-storey building in Marine Drive was the carrier's headquarters till 2013 when it was vacated as part of asset-monetisation plans. Gagarani also said the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust was not part of the bidding process. |
India to buy oil, gas worth $5 billion from US annually: Envoy | India's Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India will purchase $5 billion worth of oil and gas from the US every year. He added that India will also buy $18 billion worth of defence equipment. The bilateral trade has increased from $119 billion to $140 billion in the last two years, Shringla further said. |
SBI, stakeholders working on resolution plan: Jet Airways | Jet Airways on Wednesday said SBI, along with other lenders and stakeholders, is working on a comprehensive resolution plan to turnaround the cash-strapped airline. The plan contemplates proportion of equity infusion by stakeholders and the consequent change in the airline's board, it added. Last month, the carrier defaulted on loan repayment to a consortium of banks led by SBI. |
Govt to infuse â¹6,000 crore in Export-Import Bank of India | The government on Wednesday decided to recapitalise state-owned Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) to the tune of â¹6,000 crore. It also approved an increase in the authorised capital of the bank from â¹10,000 crore to â¹20,000 crore. Exim Bank is the principal export credit agency of the country set up for financing, facilitating and promoting India's international trade. |
Hugh Grant's bag stolen from car, actor says please return my script | English actor Hugh Grant has revealed his bag was stolen by unidentified thief/thieves who broke into his car. "In the unlikely chance that anyone knows who broke into my car and stole my bag, please try and persuade them to at least return my script," Grant tweeted. Many weeks worth of notes and ideas were stolen, he added. |
Hirani one of the most decent people I've met in 5 decades: Javed | Lyricist Javed Akhtar has defended filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani against sexual harassment allegations. He tweeted, "If I am asked who are the most decent people you met in this industry over almost 5 decades, perhaps the first name that will come to my mind is RAJU HIRANI." "GB Shaw has said, 'It is too dangerous to be too good'," Javed added. |
I disagree with the term 'item song': Katrina Kaif | Actress Katrina Kaif has said she disagrees with the word 'item song' and added, "I can only speak for me, and cannot comment for other girls, ladies, directors or producers." "If you feel you are being objectified by your choreographer and what you are doing in the song, then please...I really hope you never do that," she further said. |
Want London job row to die: SC judge who voted out CBI chief | Supreme Court judge AK Sikri, whose deciding vote in the PM Narendra Modi-led panel led to the removal of Alok Verma as CBI Director has said, "I don't want the controversy to be dragged. I want it to die". A controversy broke out over Justice Sikri already having a government offer from December 2018 for a post-retirement assignment in London. |
Dhoni gets 1 run despite not completing single, umpires don't notice | India wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni didn't ground his bat inside the crease while completing a run off the 45th over's last ball during the second Australia ODI. Dhoni turned back to talk to Dinesh Karthik when he reached near the crease. The run was added to Dhoni and India's tally as umpires failed to notice Dhoni having not completed the run. |
What records did Virat Kohli break with his 39th ODI hundred? | Virat Kohli became the first Indian captain to smash a hundred in an ODI in Australia after slamming his 39th ODI ton on Tuesday. Kohli has now scored 64 international hundreds, the third most for any player, overtaking ex-Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. Kohli has now scored an ODI hundred in seven countries as captain, the joint-most by any player. |
Federer reaches Australian Open third round for 20th straight year | Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has reached the Australian Open third round for the 20th straight year. The two-time defending Australian Open champion Federer defeated Dan Evans of United Kingdom with the scoreline of 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-3), 6-3 in two hours and 35 minutes on Wednesday to reach the third round. The 37-year-old Swiss has won Australian Open six times. |
Always wanted my daughter's first doll to be black: Serena Williams | Twenty three-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams has said she always wanted her daughter Alexis Olympia's first doll to be black. Adding that she didn't have many opportunities to have black dolls while growing up, Serena said, "I definitely want to always teach her just that humans should always have love for each other, no matter what colour they are." |
Scolded for using phone, Mumbai teen hangs self; dies in hospital | A 14-year-old girl, who allegedly tried to kill herself after being scolded for watching videos on mobile phone, died at a hospital in Mumbai after three days. According to her family members, the girl kept watching as well as uploading videos using a popular video-editing application. The girl was found hanging from the ceiling in the bathroom. |
Cows made to walk over burning hay in Bengaluru on Makar Sankranti | Several cows were made to walk over burning hay in Bengaluru to celebrate Makar Sankranti in a ritual seeking good fortune and protection from harm. A video of the ritual has also surfaced online, showing cows decorated with garlands and bells accompanied by some men, who also ran over the burning hay after the cattle. |
Burger King trolls US President Trump over his 'hamberder' tweet | American fast-food chain Burger King trolled US President Donald Trump for his tweet about ordering more than 1,000 "hamberders" for the Clemson Tigers, winners of the US college football championship. Trump later reposted the tweet without the typo. Mocking Trump, Burger King tweeted, "due to a large order placed yesterday, we're all out of hamberders. just serving hamburgers today." |
4 US soldiers killed in ISIS suicide bombing in Syria | Four US soldiers were killed and three others were wounded on Wednesday, US officials said, in a suicide bombing targeting the US-led coalition patrol in Syria's Manbij. Amaq, an Islamic State-affiliated website said that the militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. US soldiers are deployed in Manbij to support the Kurdish militia, who've helped in the fight against ISIS. |
Anil Ambani's name not in list of Vibrant Gujarat invitees | Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani's name has not been included in the list of invitees released by the Gujarat government for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat summit. Business leaders expected to attend the event include Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Gautam Adani, Uday Kotak and Adi Godrej. Notably, Anil Ambani has been a regular at the biennial business summit. |
Mariah Carey sues ex-PA for secretly filmed videos: Reports | American singer Mariah Carey has reportedly sued her former personal assistant (PA) Lianna Azarian, for secretly filming the singer and using the videos to blackmail her. The lawsuit allegedly stated that Lianna threatened to release the videos unless Mariah paid her $8 million. Mariah reportedly claimed Lianna filmed her engaging in personal activities, some of which were "intimate" in nature. |
Drake signs $25mn deal to perform at Las Vegas club: Reports | American rapper Drake has reportedly signed a $25 million (around â¹177.6 crore) deal to do 12 shows over the next two years at the XS Nightclub in Las Vegas' Wynn Hotel. "New Home," Drake wrote, sharing a picture from his earlier performance at the nightclub. Several artists, including The Chainsmokers and David Guetta, have also performed at the club. |
CBI No. 2 Asthana seeks correction in HC judgment, hearing tomorrow | CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana has moved an application in the Delhi High Court seeking correction in a recent judgment. The court, in the judgment, refused to cancel a bribery and extortion FIR against Asthana, filed amid disputes with then CBI Director Alok Verma. The hearing on the application by Asthana, who is on forced leave, is scheduled for tomorrow. |
Apple spends $150 million a year on United Airlines tickets | A leaked internal United Airlines promotional sign on Twitter has revealed that Apple spends $150 million per year on airfare with the airline and books 50 seats daily on flights to China. Apple is followed by Facebook and Google who spend over $34 million on airfare with United Airlines. "This is confidential...Please don't share outside of United," the sign said. |
PMO should return fake Philip Kotler award: Shashi Tharoor | Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday demanded that the PMO should return the "fake" Philip Kotler award received by PM Narendra Modi on Monday. Citing a news report, Tharoor added that the award was a "national embarrassment". He further said, "The BJP propagandists who touted it should be given the Philip Kotler Marketing Award instead!" |
Mahindra hikes stake in South Korean unit SsangYong to 74.65% | Automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Wednesday said it has increased stake in its South Korean arm SsangYong Motor to 74.65% with subscription of additional shares worth â¹316.5 crore. Prior to this, M&M held 72.46% stake in the company. The Anand Mahindra-led automaker had acquired 70% stake in SsangYong Motor for $463 million in 2011. |
Ex-Quikr execs' startup Turtlemint raises â¹177 cr in funding | Former Quikr executives' Mumbai-based startup Turtlemint has raised about â¹177 crore in a Series B funding round led by investor Sequoia India. Existing investors Blume Ventures and Nexus Venture Partners also participated in the funding round. Founded by Anand Prabhudesai, Dhirendra Mahyavanshi and Kunal Shah, Turtlemint is an insurance marketplace that offers car and life insurance among others. |
Flipkart parent invests â¹1,431 crore in India wholesale arm | Flipkart's Singapore-based parent entity, controlled by Walmart, has invested â¹1,431 crore in its India wholesale arm, Flipkart India Private Limited. The wholesale arm had received â¹2,190 crore on December 4, 2018, as per regulatory filings. The investment will reportedly be the third large fund infusion into Flipkart, after Walmart's acquisition deal and investments into the marketplace arm. |
49 people injured on day one of Jallikattu festival in TN | Officials on Wednesday said around 49 people were injured on the first day of the Jallikattu festival in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 500 bulls and a similar number of "tamers" were involved on the opening day of the festival in Madurai, district collector S Natarajan said. He further said nine people were taken to hospital for minor injuries. |
429 tigers killed by poachers since 2008, reveals RTI | An RTI reply has revealed that 429 tigers have been poached and killed since 2008 across the country. The maximum of 71 tigers were killed in Madhya Pradesh during the period, it revealed. According to the data from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the maximum killings took place in 2011 when 80 tigers were poached. |
Extreme weather claimed over 1,400 lives in 2018: Government | A government official on Wednesday said that a total of 1,428 people died due to extreme weather events in 2018. The year 2018 was also the sixth warmest year on record since nationwide records commenced in 1901, M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences said. In Uttar Pradesh, 590 people died due to extreme weather events in 2018. |
Putin doesn't need Twitter to be closer to people: Spokesman | Russian President Vladimir Putin does not need Twitter to become closer to people, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on being asked if Putin will follow his US counterpart Donald Trump in communicating through social media. He added that Putin did not have a smartphone as he did not want to "settle for absolute transparency". |
SBI puts entire Essar Steel loan worth â¹15,431 crore on sale | The State Bank of India (SBI) has put on sale its â¹15,431-crore exposure to Essar Steel. The minimum reserve price for the loans has been set at â¹9,587 crore. Further, SBI disclosed that as per the ArcelorMittal's resolution plan, approved by Essar Steel's committee of creditors, the minimum recovery amount on these loans is â¹11,313 crore. |
Australian bowler took hat-trick in his 3rd ODI, never played again | Australia's Anthony Stuart took a hat-trick in his third ODI against Pakistan on January 16, 1997, becoming the second Australian to register an ODI hat-trick. Stuart dismissed Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim and Moin Khan on consecutive deliveries, registering figures of 10-1-26-5. However, he was never selected again and thus became the first player with a hat-trick in his last ODI. |
Scientists find Juliet for Romeo, frog who lived alone for 10 years | Romeo, dubbed the world's loneliest frog, who spent 10 years in isolation at a Bolivia aquarium, would now be meeting with its mate named 'Juliet'. Scientists have found five Sehuencas water frogs, of which two were females. Romeo had attracted international attention as the last known member of his species after which he was given an online dating profile. |
Japan gets vending machine for insect snacks like salted crickets | A 34-year-old man has installed a vending machine for insect-based snacks in Japanese city of Kumamoto, which dispenses about 10 different snacks. These snacks include protein bar made with powdered crickets, salted crickets, chocolate coated insects and canned tarantula spiders among others. About 500 items were bought from the machine during the first month of its operation. |
New me, old self: Ayushmann's wife reveals bald look amid cancer | Ayushmann Khurrana's wife Tahira Kashyap, who is battling breast cancer, took to social media to reveal her bald look and wrote, "That's a new me with the old self!" "Was getting tired of the extensions, so this is how it is and it's so liberating," she added. "Never thought I [would] go bald, but this feels good," Tahira further said. |
PM-led panel may meet on January 24 to select new CBI chief | A three-member selection panel, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, may reportedly meet on January 24 to choose a new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The panel will likely include Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Alok Verma was earlier removed as CBI Director in a 2-1 panel vote, dissented by Kharge. |
BPL team players wear jerseys with their mothers' names in match | Bangladesh Premier League side Rajshahi Kings' players and officials wore jerseys with their mothers' names during their match against Dhaka Dynamites on Wednesday. In a press release, the franchise said that it was done to remember the everlasting presence of the "heart of kings". "Bearing mothers' names on jerseys does not need any special occasion or day," it added. |
Fortnite streamer buys Tesla car because Elon Musk replied to him | Fortnite streamer Tfue, who pledged to buy a Tesla car because Elon Musk replied to him on Twitter, shared a picture of his Tesla Model X on Tuesday. In October, Tfue asked Musk if he could help him "get better internet", to which the Tesla CEO replied "Yes". Tfue now asked Musk if he has any "unusable first stage rockets". |
Russian startup aims to put ads in orbit for global audience | Russian startup StartRocket is aiming to launch cube satellites to create a programmable display in the night sky with a "potential audience of 7 billion people". With a 50-sq-km area, 'The Orbital Display' would show advertisements for six-minute intervals over a particular region. Each satellite orbiting at a near-Earth altitude of 400-500 km would reflect sunlight and represent one pixel. |
People carry patients on shoulders amid heavy snow in J&K | Two incidents were reported from Jammu and Kashmir in which patients had to be carried to the hospital on shoulders amid heavy snow due to lack of connectivity of roads. A video shows attendants of hospitals in Ganderbal and Uri carrying patients on their shoulders for several kilometres. One of the patients, from Uri, had suffered a stroke. |
Kolkata prof who remarked on women's virginity stopped from teaching | West Bengal's Jadavpur University has divested professor Kanak Sarkar of teaching duties with immediate effect after he made derogatory remarks like 'Will you buy a drink with broken seal' on women's virginity. This comes after student protests broke out in the university. A female student also alleged that Sarkar told her that her figure is "model-like", which "men would enjoy". |
4 nuns who stood against rape-accused bishop asked to leave convent | Four of the five nuns who supported their fellow nun in her protest against the rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal have been asked to leave the Kuravilangad convent in Kerala. In a letter, the nuns were reportedly asked by their Superior General to leave the convent and not to make the legal case an alibi to "compromise affirmed religious values". |
Trump trolled for misspelling 'hamburgers' as 'hamberders' | US President Donald Trump has been trolled for misspelling 'hamburgers' as 'hamberders' in a tweet about a White House event. Trump met college football champions Clemson Tigers and served them food that he paid for himself amid the partial government shutdown. Reacting to it, a Twitter user wrote, "Perhaps (Trump) should pay for courses on how spell check works instead". |
Dettol maker's CEO Rakesh Kapoor to leave after 32 yrs at the firm | Reckitt Benckiser, the British maker of Dettol antiseptic and Durex condoms, announced that CEO Rakesh Kapoor would retire by the end of 2019 after 32 years with the company. India-born Kapoor took over as CEO in September 2011. Reckitt's shares almost doubled in value under the 60-year-old's leadership, giving the company a market value of £44.3 billion ($57.1 billion). |
Acting for me is process of metamorphosis: Bhumi Pednekar | Bhumi Pednekar said acting for her is a process of "metamorphosis", adding, "Itâs about forgetting who I am and becoming someone entirely new." "Every artiste has his or her method and every character requires a different approach," the actress said. Bhumi further added she can't find "peace" until she is able to embody her character while preparing for a film. |
Aamir Khan's brother Faisal to make his singing debut | Aamir Khan's younger brother Faisal Khan will feature in the upcoming film 'Factory', which will also mark his debut as a singer. "I was pleasantly surprised when my director...suggested that I should be singing this song. He insisted that my voice was required for this number," Faisal said. He has lent his voice for a romantic track titled 'Ishq Tera'. |
Kanye West donates $10 million to art project in US' Arizona | American rapper Kanye West donated $10 million towards the construction of the 'Roden Crater' art project by artist James Turrell in US' Arizona. Turrell acquired the Roden Crater, which is a dormant volcano, in 1977 with the aim of turning it into an observation centre for his art installations. West visited the crater in December, last year. |
Sunil to return to Kapil Sharma Show after 'Bharat': Reports | Actor and comedian Sunil Grover may return to 'The Kapil Sharma Show' after he completes shooting for the Salman Khan starrer 'Bharat', as per reports. Salman Khan, who is co-producing 'The Kapil Sharma Show', reportedly urged Sunil to join the show's cast. Sunil left the show in 2017, following a fight with its host and co-producer Kapil Sharma, reports said. |
Victoria Beckham spends â¹1 lakh on moisturiser made from her blood | Fashion designer and ex-footballer David Beckham's 44-year-old wife Victoria Beckham through Instagram revealed that she is using a â¹1-lakh moisturiser which contains her own blood. Earlier, she had said that her blood has been used to create "healing factors" made by her own cells. The moisturiser was created by Dr Barbara Sturm, popular among celebrities for her 'vampire facials'. |
Facebook to invest $300 mn over 3 years in local journalism | Social media platform Facebook on Tuesday said it plans to invest $300 million over the next three years in various local journalism projects. "People want more local news, and local newsrooms are looking for more support," Facebook head of global news partnerships said in a blog post. The move by Facebook follows the Google News Initiative unveiled last year. |
Indian origin founders led Silicon Valley startup Rubrik gets $261mn | Silicon Valley-based cloud data management startup Rubrik, led by Indian origin co-founders, has raised $261 million at a valuation of $3.3 billion in Series E funding round. New investor Bain Capital Ventures and existing investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners and IVP participated in the round. Bipul Sinha, Arvind Nithrakashyap, Arvind Jain and Soham Mazumdar founded Rubrik in 2014. |
Digital payments platform Instamojo raises â¹50-crore funding | Bengaluru-based digital payments and e-commerce platform Instamojo has raised about â¹50 crore ($7 million) in a Series B funding round. Investors including Japanese payments firm AnyPay, Kalaari Capital, BEENEXT and Japan's Gunosy Capital participated in the round. Founded in 2012, Instamojo provides payments solutions, business tools, and connections to micro, small and medium enterprises. |
New cricket frog species found in Pune after over 100 years | Researchers from Savitribai Phule Pune University and the Zoological Survey of India have discovered a new species of cricket frog in the northern Western Ghats after over a century. The frog is named 'Fejervarya marathi' after the official language of Maharashtra. Notably, the last cricket frog species in Pune was found in 1915, called 'Fejervarya syhadrensis'. |
No Pak delegation coming for Vibrant Gujarat Summit: CM | Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday said that no delegation from Pakistan would be attending the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019. "There were discussions about it (Pakistani delegation attending the summit), but it is not true," the CM added. Gujarat will host the ninth edition of the industry summit 'Vibrant Gujarat' from January 18 to 20 in Gandhinagar. |
Black radio host accused of 'white privilege' during debate | A black American radio host was accused of "white privilege" by CNN analyst Areva Martin during a debate. Webb said a candidate's experience matters more than their skin colour while determining their eligibility for a job. "That's another conversation about white privilege, things that you have the privilege of doing, that people of colour don't have", Martin said in disagreement. |
China expresses 'strong dissatisfaction' with Canada PM Trudeau | China has expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his criticism of a death sentence given to a Canadian convicted of drug smuggling. Trudeau had said that all countries should be concerned that Beijing is acting "arbitrarily" with its justice system. Trudeau should "respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop making irresponsible remarks," China said. |
Etihad offers to invest in Jet Airways at 45% discount: Reports | Etihad Group CEO Tony Douglas has reportedly offered to invest in Jet Airways at a 45% discount to the airline's current share price. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is willing to immediately inject $35 million if certain conditions are met, reports said. Jet Airways will not be able to continue funding operations beyond the next week, Douglas reportedly said. |
Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank merger with BoB challenged in court | Bank unions including All India Bank Officers' Confederation have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the proposed merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. The decision-making process behind the merger is a "blatant circumvention and disregard for statutory procedures", the unions claimed. The merger was not a voluntary or an autonomous decision, they added. |
I have stopped smoking weed, I like to be alert: Ed Sheeran | English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has revealed that he has stopped smoking weed, adding that he likes to "stay alert". "I only ever create (when I'm) sober...I find most ideas happen when you have a cup of tea," the 27-year-old singer said. He also said that he has decided to stop consuming alcohol until his live concerts are over. |
Hardik hasn't stepped out of the house since he returned: Father | Suspended all-rounder Hardik Pandya's father Himanshu Pandya has revealed the cricketer hasn't stepped out of the house ever since he returned from Australia. "He's also not taking any calls...he is just taking rest. He is very disappointed with the suspension and repents the views he expressed on [Koffee with Karan]. He's committed not to repeat the same mistake," he added. |
US company Yelp tries to remove bugs on app, AI deletes everything | US-based local search service Yelp has revealed that they had trained a neural net to eliminate all the bugs on its app, but it deleted everything on the app. "We had to roll everything back. To be fair, we were 100% bug-free...briefly," the company joked. "We apologise to anyone who had problems with the app this week," Yelp said. |
CERN unveils design of 100-km particle collider worth â¬24 billion | CERN has unveiled a concept design of a particle accelerator over three times bigger than the 27-km-long Large Hadron Collider (LHC), currently the world's largest. The 100-km Future Circular Collider (FCC) would generate accelerations equivalent to 10 million lightning strikes. Estimated to initially cost â¬9 billion, it is expected to start operations by 2040 and get upgrades worth â¬15 billion. |