Asian News International

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

Competition commission okays Adani-Lanco power plant deal

by

Fair trade watchdog, Competition Commission of India (CCI), has approved Adani Power’s Rs.6,000 crore purchase of Lanco Infratech’s 1,200 MW thermal plant in Udupi, Karnataka, setting at rest concerns on monopolising market share.

“Post combination the combined market share of the acquirer, both in terms of installed capacity and electricity generation, would not be significant enough to raise any competition concern,” CCI said in its order on the matter, released Thursday.

MLA, wife slaps son’s 10-year-old classmate over a brawl

by

A fifth standard student was allegedly slapped by an independent MLA and his wife over a school brawl involving him and their son, police said today.

According to the DIG Bareilly RKS Rathore, the 10-year-old boy, studying at a private school, entered into a scuffle with Bhojipura MLA Sahjil Islam’s son after which the two families were called for reconciliation on Tuesday.

It was during the meeting that the MLA and his wife Ayesha Islam slapped the student within the premises of Hartman’s School and College, he added.

US film, theatre associations ban Google Glass, other wearable technology

by

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the National Association of Theatre Owners have banned wearable technology such as Google Glass.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, moviegoers must turn off and put away any and all such devices, or risk being asked to leave and if theatre staff suspects that illegal recording is taking place, law enforcement authorities will be notified.

70 Bajrang Dal supporters arrested during Assam bandh

by

Normal life was partially hit in Assam on Friday during a 12-hour state-wide bandh called by Bajrang Dal. Around 70 Bajrang Dal supporters were arrested from all over the state for allegedly trying to damage property during the bandh, police officers said.

Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police Anand Prakash Tiwari told PTI that 18 Bajrang Dal supporters were arrested from the city for trying to forcefully implement the bandh, which has been called to protest the alleged links between the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and jihadis in Bangladesh.

Reading bedtime stories won’t make your kids smarter

by

Reading bedtime stories is a positive way to interact with your kids, but it would not influence children’s intelligence later in life, said a research.

The findings support the argument that intelligence is passed down from parent to children genetically, not socially.

“The way you parent a child is not going to have a detectable effect on their IQ as long as that parenting is within normal bounds,” said researcher Kevin Beaver, professor at Florida State University in the US.

15 killed in Turkey road accident

by

At least 15 people were killed and 28 injured in a road accident in Turkey Friday.

The mishap occurred in Isparta province, Hurriyet news reported.

The bus was carrying a group of workers, mostly women, employed in an apple plantation near Yalvac district, officials said.

Many of the injured are in serious condition.

According to investigators, the accident is believed to have been caused by brake failure.

The bus first crashed into a wall on the roadside before falling into a ditch.

–IANS

Men want weird sexual fantasies to come true

by

When it comes to fantasising about sex, men have more vivid and weird fantasies than women and want them to come true in real life, reveals a research.

It also tells us that a significant proportion of women evoke fantasies associated with submission (being tied up, spanked, forced to have sex) but they do not want these to be realised in actual life.

Importantly, unlike men, women in general clearly distinguish between fantasy and desire.

Sensex, Nifty hit record highs for second consecutive day

by

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday touched a record high of 27,762.13 points, surpassing previous high of 27,390.60 points hit Thursday.

Good buying was observed in capital goods, auto, banking, metal, oil and gas and IT sectors; while selling pressure was seen in consumer durables sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,439.06 points, was trading at 27,751.75 points (at 01.05 p.m.) in the afternoon session, up 405.42 points or 1.48 percent from the previous day’s close at 27,346.33 points.

Pak actress Reema Khan appeals India to allow Pakistani films

by

Pakistani actress Reema Khan has appealed to the new Indian Government to allow release of Pakistani movies, saying it would help in exchange of cultures of the two countries and develop their film industries.

“For the last couple of years, Indian films are being released in Pakistani theatres, which are a wonderful sign. Now I am expecting from Government of India to allow release of Pakistani films in Indian theatres.

US Sikh group criticises compensation to kin of 1984 riot victims

by

A Sikh rights group has criticised India’s decision to give Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims, saying compensation cannot be a substitute to the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Government has decided to give Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 3,325 victims of the anti-Sikh riots triggered after assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group said the grant of the compensation cannot be a substitute to the “prosecution of 1984 genocide perpetrators”.

Affordable driverless cars for everyone within a decade

by

Driverless cars could be within the price range of the average person in just ten years, Australian researchers claim.

This will be made possible by a new ‘eyes and ears’ technology developed by researchers from Curtin University in Perth.

The technology comprises a dozen different sensors installed in an average car, paired with an algorithm that processes the large amount of data received.

This creates meaningful information which tells the car the nature and location of obstacles, researchers said.

READ ALSO: Driverless cars on British roads by January 2015

Make Patel’s ‘one India’ into ‘great India’: Modi

by

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel gave us one nation and it is now for us to turn it into a superior India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday at an event to mark the birth anniversary of the country’s first home minister.

Sardar Patel “gave us one India” and it is our responsibility to “turn into sreshta (superior) Bharat”, said Modi at the Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day) programme at the expansive Vijay Chowk.

1984 riots a dagger through India’s chest: Modi

by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was “like a dagger pierced through India’s chest”.

“Our own people were murdered, the attack was not on a particular community but on the entire nation. It was like a dagger pierced through India’s chest,” Modi said while referring to the riots in his address on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that is being observed as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’.

TS roads get 10K Crore fixed

by

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday decided to give a facelift to roads and decided to spend Rs.10, 000 crore to doll up the roads in all the 10 districts.

Rs. 1,000 crore for repairs and tenders will be alloted to each district.

A high-level meeting at the Secretariat was held by the CM to review the condition of roads in the state. Deputy CM Dr T. Rajaiah and finance Minister Etela Rajendar was also attended the meeting.

KCR also form a Cabinet sub-committee to study and suggest measures for development of roads. The committee will be lead by Dr Rajaiah.

Shiv Sena shields BJP, says swearing-in ceremony will wash off sins of NCP-Congress

by

Notwithstanding its decision to boycott the swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra Chief Minister, the Shiv Sena on Friday provided covering fire to BJP from criticism for organising a lavish event, saying the ceremony will “wash off sins” of the previous government.

“You (Congress and NCP) have looted Maharashtra in your 15-year-rule and siphoned off thousands of crores of public money. If you are now speaking about a huge amount of money being spent on the oath taking ceremony, it is nothing but hilarious,” the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

‘We cannot divide history and legacy according to our ideologies,’ says PM Modi

by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as National Unity Day, saying a nation that disregards its history cannot create one and made a veiled reference to anti-Sikh riots that followed then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination this day 30 years ago.

Got up as an event to accord Sardar Patel, the ‘Iron Man of India’, his place in history, the Government made it clear that this was no attempt to belittle the contribution of any other leader.

Indian-American duo held for sham $5.8m card transactions

by

Two Indian-Americans have been arrested by the FBI on charges of siphoning off more than $5.8 million by using fraudulent debit card transactions.

Alpeshkumar Patel, 30, and Vijaykumar Patel, 39, were arrested for stealing millions of dollars by using reloadable debit cards from September 2013 to March 2014, police said.

The duo, not related to each other, is expected to be produced before a Newark court and faces an imprisonment up to 20 years and a fine of more than $250,000, if found guilty.

International Film Festival of India to pay special tribute to Richard Attenborough

by

The upcoming edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will pay special tribute to British filmmaker Richard Attenborough, best known for his Academy-award winning movie ‘Gandhi’. “Richard Attenborough stands as a very important filmmaker even in India. He gave (the movie) ‘Gandhi’ to the world. ‘Gandhi’ had a pan-global approach. There will be a very special and beautiful tribute to him,” IFFI’s steering committee member Vani Tripathi said.

Oil prices down in Asia

by

Oil prices fell in Asia on Friday, pressured by a stronger dollar as dealers speculated over whether the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates sooner than later, analysts said. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 16 cents to US$ 80.96 while Brent crude for December was down 31 cents at US$ 85.93 in mid-morning trade.

India to spend around Rs 1.7 lakh cr on universal healthcare scheme

by

India will be spending around Rs 1.7 lakh crore (USD 28 billion) on its ambitious universal healthcare scheme.

Under this scheme, free drugs, diagnostic tests and insurance cover will be provided to all its citizens.

The scheme under the National Health Assurance Mission would be rolled out in a phased manner from April next year. It will cover the entire population while taking care of their healthcare needs by March, 2019.

Airtel Q2 net profit shoots up nearly three-fold to Rs 1,383 cr

by

Bharti Airtel, country’s largest mobile operator, on Thursday reported nearly three-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,383 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2014 on the back of higher mobile data revenue.

The company had reported a net profit of Rs 512 crore in the corresponding period of last fiscal, it said in a statement.

The company’s total revenue rose 7.1 per cent to Rs 22,845 crore for the reported quarter as compared to Rs 21,324 crore in the corresponding period.

Grain oats may be panacea for all ills

by

A new research has listed the promising and established health benefits of whole grain oats revealing that oats may play an important role in improving satiety, diet quality and digestive, cardiovascular and general metabolic health.

The study explored the oat from agriculture and sustainability to nutrition policy and opportunity and new insights in nutritional science that go beyond cardiovascular health.