Asian News International

Asian News International. Multi-media news agency, content for information platforms: TV, Internet, broadband, newspapers, mobiles.

Karnataka: BJP protests increasing cases of sexual assault

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Targetting the Congress Government over increasing sexual assaults, particularly of minor girls in schools, Karnataka BJP today staged a protest, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George.

BJP workers staged the protest march organised by its women’s wing from party state headquarters at Malleshwaram shouting slogans against the government.

The protest comes in the wake of spate of sexual assault related incidents in schools here, with four cases involving minor girls occurring in as many months, evoking public outrage and protests.

Turkey, Iraq mutually abolish visa requirements

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Turkey and Iraq have mutually abolished visa requirements during a visit by Iraq’s new Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to Ankara Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iraq’s al-Jaafari signed a protocol for lifting visa requirements in a bid to restore bilateral relations between the two countries following the departure of Iraq’s former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, Xinhua reported.

After ‘Kiss of Love’ from Kochi now ‘Kiss of anger’ from Kolkata

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After Kerala, it is the turn of West Bengal to host the “Kiss of Love”, when youngsters in the state capital Kolkata will indulge in public display of affection Wednesday as a mark of protest against moral policing.

In solidarity with those who courted police action during the “Kiss of Love” in Kochi Sunday, students of India’s prestigious Jadavpur University will organise a similar event in south Kolkata.

“We are protesting against the organised instances of moral policing. Interested citizens are welcome to join us,” university student Nabottama Pal told IANS.

Chilli Garlic Wings

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Ingredients

6 chicken wings – pricked

1 egg – slightly beaten

1/2 cup corn starch/corn flour

1 tsp red chilli – paste

1 Tbsp garlic paste

1 tsp soya sauce

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vinegar

Oil – for deep frying

Method

Mix together the chicken, egg, corn flour, garlic paste, chilli paste, salt, soya sauce, vinegar and enough water, so that the chicken pieces are coated with the batter.

Keep aside for about an hour.

Antique Jewellery Museum at Delhi’s National Museum to Reopen

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Jewels spanning from the Indus Valley civilisation to the 20th century are showcased at ‘Alamkara’ the permanent jewellery gallery at the National Musuem, which is set to reopen after a decade in Delhi.

Featuring a total of 255 jewels housed in 25 glass cases, the gallery aims to give visitors a peek into ornaments that bear the stamp of regal splendour as well as the ones used in common households.

Jewellery historian Usha Balakrishnan has curated the collection, which comprises necklaces, bracelets, pendants, bangles, earplugs, needles and girdles among others.

Indian-origin entrepreneur launches unique remittance service

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A London-based Indian-origin entrepreneur has launched a unique “pay-what-you-want” money remittance service that abolishes compulsory fees.

India-born Rajesh Agrawal believes his Xendpay online platform will save customers in the developing world 60 pounds million over the next five years.

India is the largest recipient of remittances in the world, with USD 71 billion sent last year. World Bank figures show global migrants last year sent home 250 billion pounds in remittances to developing countries – with an eight per cent increase predicted for 2014.

Hot air balloon makes emergency landing in Ajmer jail

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A hot air balloon with pilot and two westerners on board made an emergency landing in a prison complex on Tuesday evening, prompting the alarmed authorities to launch an immediate inquiry.

The balloon, one of the main attractions of the annual five-day Pushkar fair, being held nearly 15 kilometers from Ajmer, drifted away due to strong winds in the area, flew across hills and above the artificial Anna Sagar lake in Ajmer.

The police said that when the pilot finally spotted an empty field, he made an emergency landing, unaware that the space was within the premises of a jail.

Will take up fishermen community’s concerns with PM: Gadkari

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Wednesday said that he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey the concerns expressed by the fishermen community over death penalty awarded by a Sri Lankan court to five Indian fishermen for alleged drug trafficking.

“They (the fishermen community) have expressed their sentiments to me and I will take their case forward to the PM and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,” Gadkari, who holds the charge of Road Transport, Shipping and Rural Development ministeries, told reporters here.

Centre to take instruction on PIL to protect Gandhian legacy

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The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Centre and city government to take instructions on a PIL seeking direction to take over management of National Gandhi Museum and three other museums to safeguard films, rare letters, photographs and other historic items related to Mahatma Gandhi.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw asked the Centre, through Ministry of Culture, Delhi government and Chairman of Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya Samiti, which manages National Gandhi Museum to take instruction on the issue before next hearing on January 14, 2015.

Two nabbed with Rs 10 lakh fake notes in West Bengal

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Two people were arrested and Rs 10 lakh fake Indian currency notes (FICN) seized from them near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Malda district, the BSF said Wednesday.

Border Security Force (BSF) troopers intercepted the duo, residents of Joyenapur village in the district, Tuesday night during a special operation. The accused and the notes were handed over to the local police.

This the second FICN haul by the BSF this week in Malda. The troopers had Sunday arrested a woman and seized Rs 10 lakh from her house in Duisatbighi village.

Ashamed to say my children studied abroad: Kotak

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Pitching for major reforms in the country’s education system, noted banker Uday Kotak today said he is “ashamed” to say that his children had to go overseas to study as he felt those courses were better abroad.

Speaking during a session on education at the India Economic Summit here, Kotak said there are a large number of “schooled” people in the country, but not “educated”.
“I am ashamed to say that both my children studied under-graduation courses overseas, because we felt it was better for them,” said Kotak, who is Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Virat Kohli nominated for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year Award

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Virat Kohli is the lone Indian male cricketer to be shortlisted for the LG ICC Awards 2014 after he was nominated for the ODI Cricketer of the Year category. Kohli had earlier won this award in the year 2012.

Kohli will be fighting for the honour against three South Africans – Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn. De Villiers had won this award in 2010.

Indian women’s team skipper Mithali Raj has earned nomination in two categories – Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.

New scheme for credit transfer system in education from Nov 11

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Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani Wednesday said that the government will launch a new scheme for credit transfer Nov 11, a move slated to bring relief to students forced to take a break in their education.

Speaking at the session, “Which Comes First: Employment or Employability?” at the India Economic Summit here, Irani said that Indian education system currently does not have a system of credit transfers between institutions that was a major issue for those students who have been forced to take a break in their education.

36 pilot whales die on New Zealand beach

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Thirty-six pilot whales died while 21 were rescued and released into the sea after a mass stranding on New Zealand’s North Island, a media report said Wednesday.

The stranding was reported in Ohiwa Harbour, in the Bay of Plenty, late Tuesday, Xinhua reported citing a statement issued by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

DOC staff and members of the public led a first group of pilot whales back to the sea Tuesday, but a second group returned to the area early Wednesday.

DOC staff was monitoring the whales in case they faced further difficulties.

–IANS

President Pranab Mukherjee Dissolves Delhi Assembly

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President Pranab Mukherjee dissolved the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday, a day after the Union Cabinet ratified Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung’s recommendation to dissolve the assembly and begin the process for election.

Mr Jung’s recommendation came after all three major parties – the BJP, the Congress, and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party – said they were not in a position to form government.

Delhi has been under President’s Rule since February after Mr Kejriwal stepped down from office of the Chief Minister after a 49-day term.

Asthma Could Affect Entire Body, Not Just Lungs

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Asthma could be more dangerous than previously thought as researchers have found that it could affect the whole body, not just the lungs.

“Asthma is a very widespread disease, and we show for the first time an association between asthma and genotoxicity in peripheral blood,” said Robert Schiestl, senior author and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles in the US.

This is important because it shows not only damage to the lungs but the whole-body effect due to asthma, Schiestl added.

Mayawati fields two Dalit candidates for Rajya Sabha

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Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday announced Dalit leaders Rajaram and Veer Singh as its nominees for forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

As the strength of party legislators is less in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, the party has fielded only two candidates for the Upper House, BSP supremo Mayawati said.
“After fielding Rajaram, we were left with one more seat. Giving this seat to any of the OBC, Muslim, and upper caste category could give wrong message, so I have decided to field both Dalit candidates for Rajya Sabha,” Mayawati said.

Kerala court stays release of ‘Rang Rasiya’

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Randeep Hooda lauded for controversial Raja Ravi Varma portrayal
In a blow to makers of Bollywood movie ‘Rang Rasiya’, claimed to be based on the life of legendary 19th century Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma, a Kerala court has stayed the release of the film which was due to hit theatres on Friday.

The interim stay order was issued by the Mavelikkara munsiff court in Alapuzha district yesterday on a complaint by Varma’s grand daughter Indiradevi Kunjama.

Sisodia targets Sheila, Upadhyay; alleges Congress and BJP hand-in-glove

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are politically hand-in-glove, and lashed out at former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay for their critical comments against his party.

“If Satish Upadhyay ji and Sheila Dikshitji were so worried about the scenario in Delhi, then they should have joined hands. If both these parties are upset with the Aam Aadmi Party, then they should have joined hands and formed the government. Who had stopped them?” Sisodia asked.

Meet the 60-yr-old ‘toy boy’ who married 100-yr-old lover

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A 60-year-old man recently got married to his 100-year-old girlfriend in a nursing home.

The happy couple, who has spent more than 11 years together in the care home, finally decided to tie the knot with residents and staff from the home in attendance, the Daily Express reported.

Wheelchair-bound Marfa Plotnikova was moved into the nursing home after she outlived her previous husband and their two children and met Afanasii Harin, who had spent his entire life in the care home after being abandoned at birth.

Experts warn of Chagas disease in US

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Chagas disease, a parasitic malady that can cause heart problems and is prevalent mainly in Latin America, has been detected in patients in the southern United States, according to a report.

Researchers analysed the routine tests performed on blood donors in Texas between 2008 and 2012 to detect Chagas disease. The tests that have been obligatory in the US since 2007 for people who donate blood, and they found that one out of every 6,500 donors tested positive, Xinhua reported.

BJP Eyes Big Gains in AP, After Decline of Congress

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With the Congress relegated to the margins post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party appears to be gaining ground in the new state.

The saffron party is also emerging as an alternative for senior leaders from Congress and other parties.

Former minister and senior Congress leader from Guntur district Kanna Lakshminarayana has already announced his plan to join the BJP and several other leaders in the Congress and the YSR Congress, who feel insecure about their political future, are reportedly contemplating joining the saffron party.

Varanasi, India’s oldest city, desperately needs a makeover

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You would be forgiven if you thought that Varanasi, one of the oldest cities known to man, which is now Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, would be a sight for sore eyes. Sadly, what lies in “the city of Shiva” only managed to make the soreness worse.

It was one of the dirtiest and under-developed places one has ever visited. Landing in this Hindu holy city will surely come as a culture shock to those who come with the aim of washing away their sins. One wonders what they will wash away but they surely will carry some dirt back to where they came from.

Modi is akin to Indira Gandhi, Rahul is no leader: Rajdeep Sardesai

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is like Indira Gandhi in leadership style, and he has also instilled a sense of fear in his cabinet colleagues, a book by veteran journalist and well known television anchor Rajdeep Sardesai says.

The book, “2014 The Election That Changed India” (Penguin/Viking), also says that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has failed to show any quality as a leader and is hardly respected by his own party colleagues.