Month: July 2014

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) began region wise preparations on Thursday for the forthcoming assembly elections with senior leaders being deputed with responsibilities to oversee strategy and campaign.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre, senior leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Shivajirao Deshmukh, Harshvardhan Patil and Patangrao Kadam were prominent among those who attended the meeting called specially to discuss the party’s election preparedness for Western Maharashtra.

Egyptian security forces have dispersed a number of demonstrations around the country as pro-Brotherhood protesters organised scattered marches in nine cities to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi.

The Anti-Coup Alliance claimed yesterday that three protesters were shot dead in Giza’s Al-Haram district when security forces dispersed protests, while a security source told the state-run Al-Ahram Arabic newspaper that one was killed and others were injured in clashes with security forces in Al-Haram district.

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that his wife Sharon is “like a praying mantis” when it comes to his addiction to drink and drugs.

The Black Sabbath star said that she was very angry when she discovered his most recent relapse, and threw a pot of hot coffee in his face, reported Digital Spy.

“Last year when I was in a hotel, and she found out, she gets a pot of coffee and throws it in my face. It hurt and I had a red face for days,” he said.

He added that she has thrown books at him, and broke his platinum discs by smashing them over his head when he has relapsed previously.

Ingredients

1. Sweet chilli, large: 4
2. Potato:150 gm
3. Ghee: 30 gm
4. Coriander seeds: 5 gm
5. Ginger: 20 gm
6. Salt to taste
7. Green chillies: 2 gm
8. Pomegranate seed powder: 10 gm
9. Coriander leaves: 20 gm
10. Oil for frying
11. Gram flour: 250 gm(For batter)
12. Baking soda: 2 gm
13. Salt to taste
14. Ajwain: 5 gm

Method:

1. Wash and dry the chillies. Wash, boil and mash potatoes.
2. Add chopped ginger, pomegranate seed powder, coriander seeds and salt.
3. Saute over medium heat for five minutes.
4. Add the chopped coriander and chopped green chilli.

Oliver Hirschbiegel, director of the Oscar-nominated Hitler drama ‘Downfall’, has signed on to direct an upcoming biopic on lesser-known Nazi resistance fighter Georg Elser.

Elser, a simple carpenter, attempted to assassinate Hitler on November 8, 1939, said the Hollywood Reporter.

Elsner was arrested on the Swiss border and sent to a concentration camp. He was killed there in 1945, just a few days before the end of the war, on Hitler’s direct order.

Actress Cameron Diaz does not see herself becoming a mother in future.

The 41-year-old actress, who has been linked to Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, said she was never drawn to be a mother, reported People magazine.

“It’s so much more work to have children. To have lives besides your own that you are responsible for – I didn’t take that on…

“A baby – that’s all day, every day for 18 years. Not having a baby might really make things easier, but that doesn’t make it an easy decision. I like protecting people, but I was never drawn to being a mother,” she said.

Come rain or sunshine, keep your skin flawless by figuring out what your skin needs and following your skin care regime religiously. From easily available over-the-counter products to kitchen beauty secrets, use them as per the demands of your skin.

Many people feel that using a moisturiser can make your skin look oily and that is the last thing you want when there is moisture-laden air. Skin care experts call it a must-have irrespective of your skin type.

Hong Kong-based skin care expert Ceri Silk and Indian Beauty expert Blossom Kochhar gives us the following tips:

Oily skin

US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have stressed that Russia should take immediate steps to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the White House has said.

Obama and Merkel had a telephonic conversation to consult about the situation in eastern Ukraine.

“The leaders expressed their support for diplomatic efforts to pursue a sustainable ceasefire that would be respected by the separatists and fully supported by Russia,” the White House said yesterday.

“They stressed that Russia must take immediate steps to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Pop star Britney Spears has silenced rumours that she has split from her boyfriend David Lucado by posting a picture of the couple online.

The ‘Toxic’ hitmaker has been at the centre of speculation, suggesting she ended her relationship with Lucado last month.

Spears, 32, refused to comment on the gossip, but set the record straight by sharing an intimate snap of herself posing with her partner on Facebook.

The image shows Spears wearing a snorkeling mask and smiling for the camera alongside a topless Lucado.

A bride was left stunned when her favourite Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker turned up at her wedding reception in County Donegal.

Maire O’Flynn, and her husband Peter, were celebrating at the Lough Eske Castle Hotel, when Parker, 49, turned up at the hotel for a meal with her husband, Matthew Broderick, and some friends.

The ‘Sex and the City’ star took the time to pose for a photograph with the bride and complimented her on how well she looked.

The actress, best known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the hit TV show, owns a holiday home in Kilcar, County Donegal.

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is due to be sentenced after being found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones.

Coulson, who went on to become director of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron, will be sentenced with three other former News of the World journalists, reports the BBC.

Forty-six-year-old Coulson will be sentenced alongside former news editor Greg Miskiw, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and ex-reporter James Weatherup, all of whom admitted conspiring to hack phones.

The upcoming ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ movie will reportedly have more than one villain.

The film, which has generated buzz for reunting Superman and Batman, has ‘The Social Network’ star Jesse Eisenberg playing Lex Luthor but at least three other villains may get included in the ‘Man of Steel’ sequel, reported Latino Review

The possible secondary villains could be serial killer Victor Zsasz, Lexcorp’s PR executive Morgan Edge, and deadly assassin David Cain.

George Clooney is reportedly planning to rope in singer Lana Del Rey to perform at his upcoming nuptials to Amal Alamuddin as his fiancee is a big fan.

The 53-year-old actor has approached the ‘Born to Die’ hitmaker’s representatives about the possibility of her performing, reported Contactmusic.

“Amal is a massive fan of Lana’s, which has made George determined to make this happen. He contacted Lana’s people to see if she’ll perform at their wedding in Italy,” a source said.

The 28-year-old singer recently performed at the extravagant nuptials of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

The US is excited about the prospect of “reinvigorating” the Indo-US ties under the new Indian Government and is looking forward to a meeting between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a top White House official has said.

“Economy and trade, energy and climate change, regional security, counter-terrorism and Asia Pacific region are expected to be the focus areas when Obama meets Modi, this would also be an opportunity for the two leaders to establish a personal equations for the years to come,” Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said yesterday.

Several Indian diaspora organisations representing people from four corners of India are marking the July 4 American independence day with a celebration of their own culture, language and cuisine across the US.

Two Telugu community organisations – the American Telugu Association (ATA) and the North American Telugu Association (NATA) – are both hosting three-day conventions, opening on Friday in Philadelphia and Atlanta respectively.

Airports across the United Kingdom have been placed on terror alert over fears that fanatics from Yemen and Syria have joined forces to plot a “stealth” bomb attack.

According to The Mirror, Al-Qaeda’s top bomb maker Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri is reportedly working on a device that can evade scanners and be hidden inside a terrorist’s body or electronic gadgets, and his Yemen-based team are feared to have made the ‘human bombs’ after linking up with jihadis in Syria.

An inexpensive and easy-to-use intra-vaginal ring filled with an anti-retroviral drug may be extremely effective at preventing the deadly HIV infection in women, scientists say.

The novel intravaginal ring implanted with anti-retroviral drug tablets, or pods, demonstrated sustained and controlled drug release and safety over 28 days, researchers have found.

The ring, designed to prevent transmission of HIV, was tested in pig-tailed macaque monkeys, and is engineered to be inexpensive, all the better for use in developing countries, said corresponding author Marc Baum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to flag off the inaugural train from the newly built Katra Railway station to Udhampur. The Prime Minister will flag off a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) which will have school children aboard at around 9.55 am today from Katra Railway station.

Katra – Udhampur rail line is around 25 kilometers long and consists of the 9.4 kilometers long Udhampur – Chak Rakhwal and 15.5 kilometers long Chak Rakhwal- Mata Vaishno Devi Katra sections.

Separatists have called for a shutdown in Kashmir today even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to flag off the first Katra-Udhampur train. PM Modi will visit the Valley for the first time today since he assumed office in May.

The shutdown call has been given by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist groups have also reportedly supported this call.

All shops, business establishments’ schools, colleges and government offices have been closed and public transport is off the roads.

The rupee strengthened by 13 paise to 59.60 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market today on increased selling of the American currency by exporters and banks.

Besides, a higher opening in the domestic equity market also supported the rupee, but the dollar’s gains against other currencies overseas on a strong US jobs reports capped the rise, forex dealers said.

Communication and Information technology (IT) Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said social networking website Facebook has an enormous potential to grow in India in areas like education, healthcare and other sectors.

“We wish to work together. Facebook is there in India in nine languages and I have requested them to add more languages to it,” Prasad told media persons here after meeting Facebook Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg, who is currently visiting India.

Gold prices fell 0.3 per cent to Rs. 27,581 per 10 grams at the futures trade today amid a weak trend overseas and profit-booking by speculators.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for delivery in August fell Rs. 82 or 0.3 per cent to Rs. 27,581 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 954 lots.

In a similar fashion, the metal for delivery in October shed Rs. 83 or 0.3 per cent to Rs. 27,680 per 10 grams in 31 lots.

The cut-off percentages for admission to popular courses in Delhi University did not drop remarkably in its second list even as a some colleges closed admission for most courses.

While Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) closed its admissions for B.A.(Honours) Economics, the drop in cut-offs for Commerce honours course was by a mere 0.25 per cent.

In Hindu College, admissions for History, Political Science, Hindi, Sanskrit, Maths and Statistics honours courses have been closed.

The drop in cut-offs for Commerce, English and Economics honours courses was marginal.

Residents of the US East Coast battened down ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Arthur, which forecasters said is on track to become a potentially destructive category-two storm.

Forecasters from the National Hurricane Centre warned of “large and damaging waves” from the storm, which is expected to make landfall in coastal North Carolina’s popular Outer Banks area by yesterday afternoon.

At 1500 GMT, Arthur was 110 miles (175 kilometres) southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina, moving towards the northeast at 14 miles (22 kilometres) per hour.

Germany’s BMW announced it will invest $1 billion to build a new luxury car factory in northern Mexico that will start production in 2019 as part of an effort to expand its presence in the United States.

BMW board member Harald Kruger said the plant in the northern state of San Luis Potosi and will have the capacity to make 150,000 cars per year while employing 1,500 people.

He made the announcement in Mexico City, accompanied by President Enrique Pena Nieto.