Asian News International

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Government reconstitute advisory group, drops Tata and Narain from climate panel

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The Modi-government, ahead of crucial UN meet on global warming in Peru, reconstituted a high-level advisory group on climate change by droppimg industrialist Ratan Tata and environmentalist Sunita Narain.

TERI director general R.K. Pachauri, retired diplomat Chandrasekhar Dasgupta and economist Nitin Desai has been retained as non-government members of the 18-member PM’s Council on Climate Change.

The UPA government in 2007 has constituted the panel on climate change.

Shabana Azmi: Our audience ready to watch Indian actors talk English

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Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, whose English film “A Decent Arrangement” releases in India Friday, says the audience in the country is ready to accept their actors speaking in a different language and that language should never be a barrier in filmmaking.

Directed by Sarovar Banka, “A Decent Arrangement”, about an Indian American, also stars Adam Laupus, Lethia Nall, Farid Currim, Shreya Sharma, Vikram Kapadia, Navniit Nisshan and Adhir Bhat.

Andhra coast faces another cyclone threat

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The Andhra Pradesh coast is facing threat of another cyclone as the depression over central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said Thursday.

According to Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the depression lay centered about 560 km southeast of Visakhapatnam and will move northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm.

Wakf Board accused GHMC for occupying land

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The GHMC’s attempt to restore a park have landed it in controversy.

The Corporation has been charged of occupying 2,177 sq. yards of the Wakf Board Muslim graveyard behind the Osmania General Hospital mortuary. Afzalgunj police station registered a case a complaint in this regard.

As per 1986 records, the area belongs to the Wakf Gazette which was occupied by the GHMC to develop it into a park, claimed the Wakf Board.

The Osmania GH mortuary is approximated to cost around Rs 30 crore.

I don’t believe in Love Jihad, believe in love: Kareena Kapoor

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Kareena Kapoor believes in “feeling of love” which, she feels, can happen between two people regardless of caste, creed, or religion. Therefore, the actress doesn’t relate to the concept of “Love Jihad” and says that she never believed in such theories.

“I believe only in the feeling of love,” Kareena, who is married to actor-filmmaker Saif Ali Khan, told IANS when asked about Love Jihad, which is allegedly a Muslim project of luring Hindu girls into marriage and religious conversion.

Roger Federer, Andy Murray among winners of ATP World Tour Awards

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17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, Britain number one Andy Murray and the Bryan brothers are among the winners of the ATP World Tour Awards.

Federer’s peers selected him as winner of the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award for a 10th time, while Murray received the Arthur Ashe humanitarian award for his involvement in fundraising exhibitions and campaigns.

Bob and Mike Bryan take the doubles award for a sixth straight year, Sport24 reported.

Now, use `Checky` to curb your incessant phone-glancing

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A new free app has recently been launched, dubbed ‘Checky’, that will allow iOS and Android users to keep a tab on how often they check their phones. It might help people curb their habitual phone-checking habits and let them enjoy the rest of the world around them and their electronic device, CNet reported.

After initiating the app, it will ask users to allow it to use location data so it can accurately track people’s phone usage. Users then just need to let the app run in the background and let it count the number of times they check their phone.

UEFA boss Michel Platini pitches for 2022 Qatar World Cup to be held in winter

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UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed that the 2022 Qatar World Cup must be played in winter and his stance has put him in direct opposition to some of Europe’s biggest leagues and clubs, who want the tournament to be staged in May.

The World Cup is usually held in June and July, but FIFA has been informed that Qatar’s searing summer temperatures would put players’ health at risk.

Platini said that it would never be in April, May or June, adding that it would be in winter, The BBC reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Friday for the first time after assuming charge, where he is likely to firm up plans for its development.
Preparations are in full swing and tight security is in place in the ancient temple town where Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone of a trade facilitation centre for weavers and also adopt a village under his “Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana” (MPs’ model village scheme).

Not interested in Rs 100-200 crore club movies, says Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar

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Superstar Akshay Kumar says the Rs 100-200 crore clubs in Bollywood do not excite him as an actor anymore.

The 47-year-old star, who has had several hits including Entertainment, Holiday, Special 26, OMG – Oh My God!, says he wants to take risks as a producer-actor.

“I do four films in a year. And I do that quite easily and I get a lot of holidays. I always reach on time on sets. So why shouldn’t I do four films? I like to do new things in films. I don’t look out for 100-200 crore clubs. I love to take on risky stuff that I see as creatively satisfying.”

Government asks UIDAI and NPR to complete Aadhaar enrolments by March

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In order to extend the use of Aadhaar number to various social welfare schemes, government has asked the Unique Identification Authority and the National Population Register to complete the enrolment of the entire population by March.

“The Prime Minister’s Office has directed UIDAI and the NPR to complete the enrolment of the entire population of 12 crore by March,” a source said.

Shiv Sena leaders meet to decide strategy ahead of Assembly session

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Even as discussions with BJP over his party’s role in the new Maharashtra government remained inconclusive, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday held a meeting of party leaders in Mumbai.

Sena leaders Anil Desai and Subhash Desai were present in the meeting at Sena Bhavan here to discuss the party’s strategy ahead of the state Assembly session starting on November 10, sources said.

Female Tourist Plunges to Death While Taking a Selfie

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A 23-year-old Polish tourist plunged to her death while trying to take a selfie in Seville in Spain.

Medical student Sylwia Rajchel slipped while taking a self-portrait on the ledge of the Puente de Triana bridge, media reports said.

She fell 15 feet onto the concrete footings of the structure and succumbed to her injuries.

“This was a tragic accident and we are looking to make that stretch of boulevard along the river safer,” a city spokesman was quoted as saying by the Central European News.

According to Rajchel’s mother, “it is hard to believe what has happened”.

AIADMK Gives Rs 5.88 Cr Solatium to 196 Families

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Ruling AIADMK today disbursed Rs 96 lakh to the kin of 32 persons who died “unable to bear the agony” after the conviction of party chief Jayalalaithaa.

The disbursement of assistance began on November 1, a party press release said here. So far, the next of kin of 196 persons who died have been given an assistance of Rs 5.88 crore.

Today, the families of 32 persons have been given Rs three lakh each similar to disbursements made previously.

Despite electoral drubbing, Obama refuses to cede ground

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After a stunning electoral drubbing, President Barack Obama promised to cooperate with an energised Republican opposition, but without ceding ground on key issues like his signature health law and immigration reforms.

“To those of you who voted, I hear you,” Obama said at a press conference in the East Room of the White House Wednesday after the “Republicans had a good night” as he put it. “To those who didn’t vote, “I hear you too.”

Premature babies at higher risk of brain disorders

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In the early stages of brain growth, a disturbance like a premature birth could affect its neuro-circuitry, leading to a higher risk of neurological disorders, says a new research.

Premature babies are at higher risk of disorders, which include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder, the findings showed.

US Secretary of State John Kerry greets Sikhs on Guru Nanak Dev birth anniversary

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Greetings Sikhs on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said America stands with them in recognition of their shared values and a mutual commitment to human dignity.

“Now on the anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth, as friends and family gather to celebrate this special day, know that the people of the United States stand with you in recognition of our shared values and with a mutual commitment to human dignity, compassion, and service,” Kerry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two RSS leaders in race for Goa’s Chief Minister post

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Amid speculations of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar being elevated as Union minister, BJP local unit will today meet and is expected to finalise a name for state’s top job.

According to party sources, Parrikar who is currently in New Delhi along with Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar and General Secretary Satish Dhond will arrive here to attend the meeting this afternoon.

RCPCH holds exam in India for the first time

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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), conducted its Diploma Examination in Child Health (DCH) for the first time outside Britain this year following a collaboration with the AMRI Hospitals here.

The two-day examination was held Nov 4 and 5 at the city-based hospital’s Mukundapur facility in the southern outskirts of Kolkata. Thirty two Indian doctors from across the country participated.

Hospital CEO Rupak Barua said the examination provided a platform to evaluate the infrastructure that India has to offer for conducting such top grade tests.

Australian government scholarship for 60 Indians

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The Australian government Thursday awarded 60 scholarships to Indian scholars to undertake study and research in the country.

“I congratulate the successful recipients of Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships. The fact that 60 Indians were selected for this award is a testament to the talents in this country,” said Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling.

The number of Indians receiving scholarship have increased to 60 from 40 recipients in 2014.

Continued protests in Mexico over missing students

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Classes have been suspended at university campuses around Mexico to protest against the government’s failure to locate the 43 college students who went missing in September.

Students and faculty in Mexico City, Michoacan and Oaxaca have gone on strike, reported Xinhua.

“More than 65,000 students from the San Nicolas de Hidalgo University of Michoacan began a 72-hour strike in support of the 43 teaching students who disappeared,” the daily La Jornada said.

Diabetes, heart disease may share deep roots

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Type 2 diabetes and cardio-vascular disease often occur together and scientists have now discovered that the two diseases may be related at the level of genes, proteins and fundamental physiology.

The study could lead to the common treatment for both diseases.

The two diseases share eight molecular pathways and several “key driver” genes appear to orchestrate the gene networks in which these pathways connect and interact, the findings showed.

Infosys to hire over 2,100 people in US

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Country’s second-largest software services firm Infosys plans to hire over 2,100 people in the US over the next few months to expand capabilities across domains, including digital, big data, analytics and cloud.

The major recruitment drive in the US will support the growth of Infosys’ business and enhance its capabilities, the company said in a statement.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar distances himself from speculations on getting Cabinet berth

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Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday distanced himself from the speculation which has been going on in media circles, over his possible elevation as country’s next Defence Minister.

“Yesterday I did not have a word on this, so why put the horse before cart,” Parrikar told when asked about the speculation that he may be inducted into the Cabinet.

When asked if this issue came up for discussion during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Goa Chief Minister said, “Ask the Prime Minister about that, I am not going to tell you.”