Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s premier news agency, having a reach as vast as the Indian Railways. It employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.

Strong, prosperous India beneficial to neighbours: Modi

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, affirming that a “strong” and “prosperous” India stood to benefit its subcontinental neighbours, Monday assured Bhutan that his regime would fulfil all commitments made by its predecessor and announced major trade concessions for the landlocked nation.

Wrapping up his two-day official visit to Bhutan, his first abroad after he assumed office last month, Modi stressed the need for forging closer bilateral ties in tourism, hydropower and proposed an annual hill sports festival involving India’s northeastern states alongside Bhutan and Nepal.

International cricket to return to Canberra’s Manuka Oval

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International cricket will return to the Manuka Oval here in November with Australia scheduled to play South Africa in a One-Day International (ODI) under lights Nov 19.

“This is exciting news for Canberra cricket fans and another step in affirming Manuka Oval’s credentials as a venue for international cricket. The centenary of Canberra ODI in February last year was a great success with a sell-out crowd and I’m sure that November’s match against a strong South Africa will be no different,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said Monday.

Beas tragedy: HC anguished over government’s report

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Anguished over the status report filed by the state after 24 students of a Hyderabad engineering college were washed away in the Beas river following the negligence of hydropower project authorities, the Himachal Pradesh High Court Monday asked the divisional commissioner to appear personally in court.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders after perusal of the status report.

Now, Trinamool team to visit BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh

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A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatened to send her MPs on fact-finding missions to BJP-ruled states, the Trinamool Congress Monday announced that five of its parliamentarians would head to Madhya Pradesh where a tribal woman was gang raped.

Irked over the BJP sending central party delegations to assess the law and order situation in the state, Banerjee Sunday declared a “tit-for-tat” approach and said she would “send a Trinamool team to the BJP-ruled states whenever there is any issue there”.

Leonardo Dicaprio has lavish party with women

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Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently threw a lavish party with over 50 women.

The “Wolf of Wall Street” actor, who is in South America watching World Cup football tournament, reportedly hired out Pacha nightclub in Buzios here.

He was joined by 30 females who were flown in and given accommodation at his expense, and another 50 ladies who live in the wealthy tourist resort, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Leo had bottles and bottles of Dom Perignon champagne going around. He really had gone all out on it and spared no expense. It was a really lavish party.”

Costa Rica ready for Italy

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Costa Rica began preparing to face Italy after a historic 3-1 win over Uruguay in their FIFA World Cup opener last Saturday.

Costa Rica’s Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto held a training for substitutes in Fortaleza before heading to their camp here, reports EFE.

Italy will exert their best efforts because the team knows that Costa Rica will not be a walkover in Group D, Costa Rican midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda said.

The central American nation will take on Italy Friday in Arena Pernambuco in Recife.
(IANS/EFE)

Pele museum opens in Brazil

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Coinciding the FIFA World Cup, a museum dedicated entirely to Brazilian football legend Pele opened its doors here.

The museum came to life with estimated investments of $22.7 million and six years of work. The museum displays the ‘king’ in Santos where he started his career and spent much of his life, leading Santos FC to win the continental title twice, reports EFE.

The opening ceremony saw the screening of a video clip where Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said that the museum was built as a tribute to the player and as a symbol of Brazil.
(IANS/EFE)

Home ministry monitoring UP situation: Rajnath

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday said the central government was concerned over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

“The MHA (ministry of home affairs) is concerned over the prevailing ‘Law and Order’ situation in Uttar Pradesh,” Rajnath Singh wrote on Twitter.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in UP,” he added.

Three Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have been killed in the state in the last two weeks.

A series of crimes against women have also been reported, including the recent case from Badaun where two teenage girls were raped and then hanged from a tree.

NHRC notice to Bengal over kids deaths

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The NHRC has issued notice to the West Bengal government over the death of nine children due to the consumption of contaminated lychees.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the National Human Rights Commission sent notice to the West Bengal chief secretary seeking a report within four weeks.

The official has also been asked to inform the panel if similar cases were reported from other parts of the state.

NTPC seeks lifting of embargo on Lata Tapovan project work

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The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the government on an NTPC plea seeking resumption of work on its Lata Tapovan Hydro Power Project in Uttarakhand that was put on hold following the court’s May 7 order.

The public sector thermal and hydro power generation company has sought the modification of May 7 order calling a halt to 24 projects that were proposed within 100 km of eco-sensitive zone from Gangotri.

Our generation not finished yet: Xabi Alonso

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Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso said the current generation of Spanish players should not be considered as “finished” after their 1-5 loss to the Netherlands in their World Cup Group B opener.

“We are still alive. We want to show that we still have much and that we want to compete. We know how to do this. The game against Chile will require high level football. We know how to face them,” Alonso said Sunday, reports EFE.

Alonso expects a “good start” against Chile in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium Wednesday.

Baby returns to Kerala assembly

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CPI-M politburo member M.A. Baby Monday returned to the Kerala assembly after his request to resign as a legislator after losing the Lok Sabha polls was turned down by the party.

Baby was the only politburo member who contested the Lok Sabha elections but lost in his home turf in Kollam.

After the results were declared, Baby informed his party that he wished to quit as a legislator.

But both the politburo and the state unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said a firm ‘No’ to his request.

Spurs’ Leonard wins NBA Finals MVP

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San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA Finals after they beat Miami Heat 104-87 in Game 5.

Leonard scored a team-high 29, 20 and 22 points in Games 3, 4 and 5, respectively. He also had 10 rebounds and two assists Sunday, reports Xinhua.

“It just feels like a dream. Right now I am just celebrating the win,” Leonard said.

The 22-year-old became the youngest Finals MVP since Tim Duncan won it for the Spurs in 1999.
(IANS)

CBI gets custody of Saradha scam kingpin, 5 others

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A court Monday sent six Saradha chit fund scam accused, including kingpin Sudipta Sen and suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh, to seven days’ CBI custody, counsel for the accused said.

Besides Saradha Group promoter Sen and Ghosh, the other accused include key aides and employees Debjani Mukherjee, Manoj Nagel, Somnath Dutta. They were sent to the custody of the CBI, which has taken over the probe of the multi-crore rupee scam.

Two Nigerians arrested in Hyderabad with cocaine

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Two Nigerians were arrested here Monday and 17 grams of cocaine seized from them, police said.

The personnel of Commissioner’s Task Force, North Zone, arrested the foreigners when they were trying to sell the narcotic to customers.

The arrested have been identified as Mike Justus (34) and Olisha Joe (32). They were staying at Secunderabad’s Sainikpuri colony.

According to police, they initially came to India on tourist visas and later on business visas and engaged in exporting garments to their country. Justus’ visa had expired two months ago.

Hulkenberg wants to continue points scoring spree

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Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg hopes to continue his form and run of points finishes with a competitive showing at this weekend’s Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring here.

The German has finished in points in all seven races this season four times with a best finish of fifth.

“We have shown to be both competitive and consistent. We are in a very good position to keep scoring points but we will need to keep our guard up and keep working hard as we did from the start,” said Hulkenberg Monday.

PM returns from Bhutan trip

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday returned from his two-day trip to Bhutan, his first foreign visit after taking office.

In Thimphu, the prime minister held talks with the Bhutanese leadership, addressed a joint session of Bhutan’s parliament and inauguarated the Supreme Court building, which India has helped to fund.

He was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.
(IANS)

Nicole Scherzinger feels inspired by exercise

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Singer Nicole Scherzinger gets her best ideas while exercising.

The former Pussycat Dolls singer says that going for a morning run is her method to find musical inspiration, as well as giving her a natural endorphin high and keeping her body in shape, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said in an interview with the MailOnline’s Femail: “I get my ideas for what I want to do on stage and my music when I run. I prefer doing it in the morning, first thing. Even if I just manage to squeeze in twenty minutes.

Modi’s double faux pas

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday committed faux pas twice during his otherwise rousing speech at the joint session of Bhutan’s parliament here.

The first slip came during the start of his address, when Modi referred to “Nepal” instead of Bhutan while greeting the Bhutanese royal family which was present in the National Assembly – the lower house where the joint session was held.

Later on, Modi said “Ladakh” when he actually was to refer to Bhutan.
(IANS)

What’s under the hat? Hair tips for women

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Even if you’re wearing the most elaborate and stylish hat for a day out at a race course, it’s important to emphasise on your hairstyle so as to not kill the look.

Celebrity hairstylist Paul Edmonds, who has over 30 years in the industry, explains the must haves hair tips that one should try before stepping out with your hats on, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

* Hair normally looks better worn back and away from the face, especially if it your hat has a large brim.

Major points of Indo-Bhutan joint statement

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India and Bhutan issued a joint statement at the end of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first official visit to the Himalayan nation. Major points of the joint statement:

* The two sides exchanged views and held discussions on bilateral relations and economic cooperation as well as cooperation in regional and multilateral forum.

Delhi’s Shankar Market gets makeover with street art

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The pale, weary and pan-stained walls and corridors of one of Delhi’s oldest shopping destinations – Shankar Market – opposite Connaught Place’s outer circle is in the makeover mode as street artists are painting its eight blocks in varied hues and narrations depicting music, dance and drama to increase the footfalls.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has joined hands with Delhi Street Art (DSA) to reinvent and refurbish the market, best-known to many as “fabric market” for women.

USA eyeing revenge against Ghana

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Ghana will seek inspiration from their 2010 World Cup performance when they take on the USA in their Group G opener of the World Cup at the Estadio das Dunas here Tuesday.

The two teams are in tough Group G with Germany and Portugal, who facen off Monday. Last time, Ghana made it to the quarters on African soil and this time they will be looking to at least make it to the knock-out stage, reports EFE.

Chinese woman rears 100,000 cockroaches in her house

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A woman in China has decided to turn her country home into a farm to raise cockroaches.

She now has 100,000 of these hardy insects that are used as an ingredient in traditional medicines in the country.

“They are my children, my babies,” said 37-year-old Yuan Meixia, a resident of Siqian in Fujian province, in an interview to the Southern Metropolis Daily, in which she also revealed the secrets of rearing these creatures.

Researchers find way to hasten heart cells’ regeneration

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Japanese researchers have found a method to regenerate heart cells, the Nikkei daily reported Monday.

The discovery could facilitate the recovery of patients suffering from cardiac arrests and reduce their physical consequences.

The system involves modification of the genes of fibroblasts, a type of cells that play a very important role in healing and the production of collagen, a structural protein of the various connective tissues in animals, into cardiac muscles.