Asian News International

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Prasar Bharati CEO admits Narendra Modi interview edited

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In the wake of a massive controversy over Narendra Modi’s interview to Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar on Friday acknowledged that certain portions of the Gujarat Chief Minister’s interview on Doordarshan “were apparently edited”.

Acknowledging that certain comments on personalities were apparently edited, the public broadcaster, which supervises the functioning of Doordarshan, said the free hand was given even though there were concerns that a “balancing interview” from the other side could not be procured despite best attempts of DD News.

Sun Pharma to shutter Detroit plant

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Drug major Sun Pharmaceuticals will close its facility at Detroit as part of manufacturing consolidation.

The Workforce Development Agency for Michigan state has been notified about the decision to stop operations and close the Detroit plant, which belongs to subsidiary Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Sun Pharma said.

The generic drugmaker recently inked a $3.2 billion deal to buy Ranbaxy Laboratories.
“The company has provided the requisite advance written notice of the facility closure to the employee union and all affected employees,” it added.

Avocado diet could help cut heart disease risk among obese people

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Researchers are exploring the potential effects of Hass avocado consumption on emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

The research was based on a clinical study that investigated whether eating one Hass avocado every day as part of a moderate fat diet (34 percent fat) had a beneficial effect on risk factors for CVD among healthy overweight and obese subjects, compared to a similar moderate fat diet without avocados, and a lower fat diet.

350 killed in Afghan landslides (Lead)

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At least 350 people were killed Friday after a series of landslides triggered by heavy rain hit Afghanistan’s Badakhshan district, said the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

“On behalf of the UN humanitarian agencies, I wish to extend our condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones as a result of these landslides. There have now been more Afghans killed through natural disasters in the past seven days than all of 2013,” Mark Bowden, UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan said in a press release.

New element with atomic number 117 set to become reality

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Researchers at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, an accelerator laboratory located in Darm-stadt, Germany, have obtained evidence for the artificial creation of element 117.

The experiment was performed by an international team 72 scientists and engineers from 16 institutions in Australia, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, headed by Prof. Christoph Dullmann, who holds positions at GSI, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM).

Samsung ordered to pay Apple $119.6m for infringing patents

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A US court has ordered Samsung to pay 119.6 million dollars to Apple for infringing two of their patents.

According to The BBC, the amount is less than 10 percent of what Apple requested and probably doesn’t surpass by too much the amount Apple spent litigating the case.

However, the court also ruled that Apple too infringed Samsung’s patents and awarded 158,000 dollars in damages, the report added.

Meanwhile, Samsung denied any wrongdoing and stated that Apple infringed two of their patents, and asked for 5 million dollars as damage s. (ANI)

I am a CM but my mother travels in an auto: Modi

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi claimed practicing thrift and simplicity by citing the example of his ninety- year- old mother travelling in an auto to cast her ballot.

“I am the chief minister of a prosperous state. I am the chief minister of Gujarat for the fourth time. And my 90- year- old mother goes to vote in an auto-rickshaw. Who says you have to be dishonest, who says you have to steal? All those who are up to destroying the society have teamed up,” said Modi.

Get the ‘Made in Chelsea’ beauty look in budget

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Clear skin, bright eyes, polished hair and glowing skin – it’s all part of the staple Chelsea beauty look that can be seen on TV series “Made in Chelsea”. But it costs a bomb. Fret not! An expert suggests tips to get the same look at an affordable cost.

From long, luxurious locks to messy mane, the hair experts at hairtrade.com have all the tips one need to achieve the “Made in Chelsea” look, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

* Thickening spray: Thick hair is very Chelsea and Binky Felstead (name of one of the character) pulls off this look perfectly.

Oily fish may not be as beneficial for heart health as believed questioned

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Researchers have questioned the validity of oily fish being a part of a heart healthy diet.

This guideline is partially based on the landmark 1970s study from Bang and Dyerberg that connected the low incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) among the Eskimos of Greenland to their diet, rich in whale and seal blubber. Now, researchers have found that Eskimos actually suffered from CAD at the same rate as their Caucasian counterparts, meaning there is insufficient evidence to back Bang and Dyerberg’s claims.

Clooney buys $750,000 engagement ring for Alamuddin

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Actor George Clooney has splurged on an engagement ring for his soon-to-be wife Amal Alamuddin’s – the seven-carat diamond is reportedly worth $750,000.

Jeweler Jean Dousett estimates the emerald-cut diamond, which is set in platinum, to cost around $750,000, reports eonline.com.

It seems Clooney spared no expense when he finally found the one.IANS

Obama says South Asians face suspicion; pushes immigration reform

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Saying that even today South Asian Americans are targets of suspicion and violence, President Barack Obama is pushing for “commonsense immigration reform” to bring the “American dream” within their reach.

Obama Friday met with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business and faith leaders to discuss the importance of taking action to pass commonsense immigration reform, according to a White House readout of the meeting.

AI could be the `worst thing ever for humanity`: Stephen Hawking

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Stephen Hawking has said that the short-term impact of Artificial Intelligence depends on who controls it but the long-term impact depends on whether it can be controlled at all.

Also Hawking seems not to trust the so-called AI experts at all, Cnet reported.

Hawking said that robots and other artificially intelligent machines could bring enormous benefits and if they were a success it would be the biggest event in human history.

But he also suggested that AI could be the last event in the history of humanity.

Visitors to Taj Mahal face intense Agra heat

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The soaring day temperature in Agra is taking a toll on visitors to the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. Very few tourists are now visiting the historic monuments.

“Due to summer vacations, you only see youngsters and domestic tourists these days, but even their number has come down due to the heat,” said Abhinav Jain, a handicrafts emporium owner at the Taj Mahal’s eastern gate.

With day temperature going up to almost 45 degrees celsius in Agra, heat-harassed tourists are avoiding day visits, said tourist guide Ved Gautam.

Banana Halwa

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Ingredients:

1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
4-5 tbsp Sugar
4 Ripe Bananas
2-3 tsp Ghee (clarified butter)

How to make Banana Halwa:

First, peel off and mash the bananas.
Heat ghee in a frying pan.
Add bananas and cook over low heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Cook for 10 minutes over medium flame or until bananas have turned golden brown.
Add more ghee if necessary.
Now, add sugar after 4-5 minutes and continue stirring until dissolved.
Add cardamom powder to the halwa and turn off the flame.
Keep on stirring till the mixture becomes thicker.

Modi’s temple visitin Seemandhra left pilgrims irate

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The temple politics which was Narendra Modis new brand was dished out in Seemandhra left people seething with anger as armed cops and volunteers prevented hundreds from entering ancient shrines because the BJPs prime ministerial candidate was busy offering special prayers inside.

Though Modi has skillfully steered clear from speaking on religion during election rallies in other parts, but he completely changed tack during his marathon tour of Seemandhra and played the Hindutva card to the hilt.

BBMP wants to vacate Russell Market but traders refuse

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The impasse between the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Russell Market traders continues.

Although the BBMP has been asserting that the traders vacate the market as experts have declared the heritage building not safe after fire broke out in it in February 2012, traders recommend the civic body to make public the report prepared by Civil-Aid Technoclinic Pvt Ltd, a forum that certifies buildings. The traders have questioned the genuineness of the Civil-Aid report, which was prepared soon after the fire.

A typist killed in public glare

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On Wednesday evening, four unidentified men in an autorickshaw approached a 52-year-old typist near Ambedkar Medical College, off Shampur Main Road and hacked him to death in full public glare.

The deceased, Yusuf bin Mohammed, from Basavanagar, KG Halli, was returning home around 6 pm when the killers arrived in an autorickshaw, came near and hacked him to death even as passersby watched in horror. Bleeding profusely, Yusuf was taken to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries, according to police.

Chandrababu Naidu dares TRS Chief to crush him under his cycle wheels

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TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu takes a strong objection to TRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s hate speech against him and Seemandhra people and said he will crush him under the wheels of his cycle if Mr Rao fails to keep his tongue under control.

While addressing a public meeting at the AC Subba Reddy stadium along with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Jana Sena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan on Thursday, the TD supremo said that he suspects a secret concordat between Mr Rao and YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as they do not criticize each other.

Amit Shah Focus on creating conditions for NDA to win a majority

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The architect of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s and Narendra Modi’s close confidant Amit Shah campaign in the battleground state of Uttar Pradesh is indifferent to suspicions about his political life.

Amit Shah said in an interview that the accusations against him are the creation of an antagonistic media. He affirmed that his focus is not to allay the fears of liberal intelligentsia but create conditions for the National Democratic Alliance to win a majority in the ongoing elections
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Wanted:Young Muslim Face

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The Congress is intended to press young Muslim leaders into its campaign in Varanasi, where its members admit that Ajay Rai appears to be t straggling in the perception sweepstakes against BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and even Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in certain quarters.

Lalu Prasad labels Nitish-Modi as ‘bosom friends’

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With rivals Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi all set to cross swords at Nawada at separate poll rallies on Friday, RJD president Lalu Prasad described the duo as “bosom friends” fighting in public to “befool” voters.

“Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, both are bosom friends. They are working together. They wink at each other while befooling the public. People have started understanding this and welcoming them with shoes and sandals,” Prasad told reporters.

Continuing in the same vein, Prasad asked the people to desist from throwing shoes at the politicians whom they don’t like.

Akshaya Tritiya: Jewellers expect 20 percent higher gold sales

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Jewellers across the country are expecting bullish gold sales – around 20 percent higher – this Akshaya Tritiya driven by good demand.

“We expect the sales to be around 20 percent higher than last year as the demand is high today (Friday). Demand was quite low on the last two days, but it has picked up today,” Rahul Gupta, chairman and managing director of P.P. Jewellers in New Delhi told IANS.

India steps up pressure on Switzerland to share bank info

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India has strongly objected to Switzerland’s denial of information about account details of certain Indians at HSBC’s Swiss bank branches, in whose cases ”incriminating evidence of tax evasion” have been found here.

In a strongly-worded letter to his Swiss counterpart, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has also warned that an effective exchange of tax-related information was “extremely important” for economic co-operation between the two countries and Switzerland must honour its “rights and duties” agreed to in their bilateral Direct Tax Avoidance Convention (DTAC).

Drugs valued at Rs.1 crore seized in Mizoram

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Mizoram authorities have seized drugs valued at Rs.1 crore in the state capital and Melbuk village that were smuggled in from Myanmar, an official said Friday.

At least five people, four of them Myanmarese nationals, have been arrested.

“The Special Narcotics Cell of the Mizoram Police seized heroin valued at Rs.3.14 lakh in Aizawl yesterday (Thursday) night. Two Myanmarese – Vannuampuii, 27 and Lalbiaksanga, 25 – were arrested,” a police spokesman told reporters.

Heroin valued at Rs.50,000 was also seized here Wednesday and a 20-year-old Mizo youth was arrested.