Asian News International

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Modi dares EC to act against him

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Complaining of booth rigging in West Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh, Narendra Modi today alleged that the Election Commission was not acting impartially and dared it to take action against him.

“Why are you not acting? What is your intention? If you feel wrong about what I am saying now, then you are free to lodge another case against me,” Modi told an election rally here.

“It is your responsibility to ensure impartial polls. I am making very serious allegations,” he said accusing the Election Commission of having failed to take action.

FDI in services sector drops 54% during April-February

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Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the services sector declined 54 per cent to USD 2.18 billion during April-February of 2013-14 from a year earlier.

Services such as banking, insurance, outsourcing, R&D, courier and technology testing had received USD 4.74 billion of FDI during April-February 2013, according to data from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

According to experts, foreign investors will move ahead with their decisions once a new government takes over after the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Economic growth slated to improve but gradually: Deloitte

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Country’s economic growth will improve in the coming quarters, but the pace is likely to be gradual due to persistent challenges such as elevated inflation and policy uncertainty, says a report.

According to Deloitte’s ‘Global Economic Outlook’ report, the country’s growth outlook will also hinge on the election outcomes on May 16.

“Economic growth is likely (to) improve in the coming quarters, but the pace of growth may remain gradual because of persistent challenges,” the report said. It said that some challenges have been more persistent in nature.

Obama jokes about Putin, media at Correspondents dinner

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US President Barack Obama poked fun at his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Republicans and media elites, and even mocked himself for his administration’s disastrous health care policy rollout at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner today.

Obama, donning the role of comedian-in-chief, poked fun at himself over his signature policy initiative and refereed to the technical glitch experienced by healthcare.gov this year. “In 2008 my slogan was, ‘Yes we can.’ In 2013, it was control+alt+delete.”

Man acquitted in rape case as victim from NE fails to turn up

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A man accused of raping a woman belonging to Assam in September last year has been acquitted by a Delhi court as the victim failed to turn up before it for deposition.

The trial in the case began in February this year and was decided within three months in view of the direction of the Delhi High Court that all the cases involving people of the North-East region should be decided expeditiously.

Hafiz Saeed invited as chief guest by bar association in Pak

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Jamat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, blamed by India for orchestrating the Mumbai terror attacks, was invited as chief guest at Pakistan’s one of the premier bar associations here, but the decision was opposed by a section of the lawyers.

For the first time, Lahore High Court Bar Association yesterday invited the head of an internationally banned religious organisation as chief guest at its function.

The rival group of the elected body of the lawyers opposed the bar’s move saying it is unfortunate that a premier bar association has invited the head of a banned organisation.

Death toll climbs to 17 in fire at cracker factory in Ujjain

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The death toll in the fire at a cracker factory in Badnagar town of Ujjain district has risen to 17 with two more persons, including a woman, succumbing to their injuries in a hospital at Indore, police said today.

The blaze had yesterday claimed 15 lives, including eight women and three children, they said.

The fire had broken out last evening in the cracker factory, situated near Khob Darwaza in the city, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Pankaj Shrivastava told PTI. Two more persons succumbed to their injuries today, he said.

Nissan India sales up over 4-fold in April

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Japanese auto major Nissan on Friday reported over four-fold jump in sales in India in April at 5,301 units.

The company had sold 1,239 units in April 2013.

“Datsun GO contributed over 50 percent to Nissan Group’s April 2014 sales with 2,691 units,” Nissan Group of India said in a statement.

Prince Harry broke-up with Cressida Bonas over ‘reality TV show’

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Prince Harry reportedly had a row with Cressida Bonas over an upcoming reality TV show after her close friends signed up for it.

According to the Daily Express, ‘Ladies of London’ would be full of gossip and backstabbing, and the 29-year old royal was furious when Bonas’ buddies signed on as cast member, as he worried of what they might spill on-screen.

Though the cast has not been confirmed yet, it is believed that Caroline Stanbury, who is a close friend of Bonas, would appear on the show.

Body-conscious women to spend more on summer outfits

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The new season calls for a wardrobe makeover. While some might choose to wear last year’s summer clothes, body-conscious women are more likely to spend more on their outfits, reveals a new research.

The survey conducted by money saving site NetVoucherCodes.co.uk found that British women spend almost 15 percent more on updating their summer closet, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The participants admitted to spending over 160 pounds on average just on a new coat and boots for the winter season. But the cost of two bikinis alone raised the summer total by 110 pounds.

15 dead after train derails in Maharashtra

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At least 15 people were killed and 87 injured after the engine and three coaches of Diva-Sawantwadi passenger train derailed on Sunday morning near Nagothane in Maharashtra’s Raigarh district.

The mishap took place between Nagothane and Roha stations just outside a tunnel near Nidi village.

The injured have been admitted in a local hospital and rescue work is in process.

Meanwhile, the Railways have announced compensation of two lakh to the families of those killed in the accident. 50,000 rupees compensation will be provided to those who sustained injuries in the accident. (ANI)

‘2 States’ inching close to Rs.100 crore

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Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer “2 States” is in its third week and is still going strong at the box office. It has earned over Rs.90 crore in India and an expert says it is racing towards Rs.100-crore mark.

Said to be made on a budget of approximately Rs.45 crore, co-produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala, and distributed by UTV Motion Pictures, “2 States” released in over 2,000 screens in India April 18.

Obese kids must avoid fast food to stay sharp

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Is obesity of your kid weighing down his/her academic performance? Then, persuade them to eat natural, unprocessed, raw food instead of chips, sodas and fast foods, move whenever possible, and restrict media exposure, said a study.

Childhood obesity correlates with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, and poor academic performance.

Make essential drugs affordable for all: Cipla

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Amid US firms’ allegations of patent norm violations against Indian pharma companies, leading domestic drug maker Cipla has said that “essential” medicines be made available to people at affordable rates and should not be sold under “monopoly”.

“As a scientist I believe that an inventor or innovator of a new drug should be suitably rewarded, no doubt about that. But then, if the drug is essential it should not be sold under monopoly,” Cipla Chairman Yusuf Hamied said.

FPIs can invest up to $81 bn in debt securities

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Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), a newly created class for overseas investors, will be able to invest up to USD 81 billion (close to Rs 4 lakh crore) in government and corporate debt securities in India.

This would include investments up to USD 30 billion in government debt and up to USD 51 billion in corporate debt securities under the new FPI regime, which would come into force from next month.

Bodies of girl, youth found hanging from tree in Delhi

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A 21-year-old factory worker and a 14-year-old girl were found hanging from a tree here Sunday, police said.

Roshan alias Suraj and the teenaged girl whose name has been withheld for legal reasons were found hanging in Bonta Park in Maurice Nagar of north Delhi around 9.30 a.m.

Delhi Police constable Raghuraj saw their bodies during patrolling.

“They were in love and it seems they might have hanged themselves Saturday night,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Sindhu Pillai.

Kerry Washington, now a mother?

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Actress Kerry Washington has reportedly given birth to her first child.

The “Scandal” star and her husband Nnamdi Asomugha welcomed daughter Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center here April 21, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The couple is yet to confirm the baby’s birth. In the past, the private duo were hush-hush about their relationship too.

Washington didn’t even go public with the romance until after it emerged that they had wed in Idaho in June 2013.IANS

BJP’s communal polarisation led to Assam violence, alleges Cong

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Congress on Sunday attacked BJP and its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for the violence in Assam, saying it was a result of “communal polarisation” done by them to garner votes.

“The violence in Assam is the result of communal polarisation being done by Narendra Modi and BJP. Since BJP’s graph is going down now, they have raised the pitch. Modi’s speech in Assam was an attempt to polarise voters,” Congress leader Meem Afzal said.

NCP opposes inquiry into ‘snoopgate’

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Differences in UPA over the issue of an inquiry into ‘snoopgate’ allegedly involving Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday came to the fore with NCP opposing such a probe at this juncture.

“When the results of the Lok Sabha elections are due in two weeks time, where is the need for such an enquiry,” NCP leader and Union minister Praful Patel told PTI.

Patel said that party chief Sharad Pawar has talked to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier in the day to convey the party’s view in the matter. NCP is the second largest constituent of the Congress-led UPA.

Cop booked for raping girl at gunpoint in Aligarh

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An FIR was registered against a cop for allegedly raping a girl at gunpoint and blackmailing her in the same police station where he was posted.

Brijesh had allegedly raped the girl at gunpoint 18 months back in his official quarters located inside the premises of the civil lines police station where he still resides.

The matter came to light last night when the girl approached the Senior Superintendent of Police, Nitin Tiwari, who ordered that a case to be registered against Yadav in the civil lines police station.

Police said the accused was absconding. PTI

eBay agrees to settle antitrust suit regarding non-hire agreement for $3.75M

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eBay has reportedly announced that it is ready for a settlement with the United States Department of Justice, and the Attorney General of California, regarding its non-hire agreement with Intuit.

According to Tech Crunch, the settlement will include the company paying out 3.75 million dollar to cover compensation to impacted employees, along with various fees and costs.

However, the approval of the court will be needed prior to finalizing the settlement.

Apple to release redesigned OS X next month: Report

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Apple is reportedly set to release the latest version of its OS X, which will be most comprehensive out of the existing OS X versions.

The new look will reportedly take design cues from last year’s radical rethink of iOS, but the aesthetic changes will not change the fundamentals of OS X.

According to The Verge, OS X 10.10 will have sharper corners, more white space, and iOS 7-esque toggles.

However, Apple will continue the trend of adding features from iOS to OS X but the company has assured customers that the two OS will remain distinct, the report added. (ANI)

Stem cells to power your sperm

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Men struggling with infertility could breathe a sigh of relief as scientists have now successfully coaxed stem cells made from the skin cells of infertile men into producing sperm cell precursors that could eventually lead to healthy sperm production.

“Our studies suggest that the use of stem cells can serve as a starting material for diagnosing germ cell defects and potentially generating germ cells,” said Renee Reijo Pera from Montana State University, US.

Germ cells are specialised cells involved in reproduction.

Blast suspect also seen in Bangalore CCTV footages

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In what could be an initial breakthrough in the probe into twin blasts in a train, a man who hurriedly got down from it here has been spotted wearing a handkerchief to mask his face in CCTV footages of Bangalore railway station, police sources said on Saturday.

It has been found that in the Bangalore footages, which have been examined by experts, the man who had covered his face with handkerchief was the same person who was seen running at the Chennai Central Railway Station platform, thus strengthening police’s suspicion.