Month: December 2014

Aishwarya Rai copies Sonakshi Sinha, dons short hair look

by

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has flaunted her long hair in several movies and at award functions, will next be seen sporting a cropped look for a TV commercial.

From curly ones to a straightened look, the 41-year-old has always surprised fans with her long locks. But now she will be seen in an all-new avatar in an ad campaign for an improved Total Repair 5 product range by L’Oreal Paris.

The former Miss World, who has been a L’Oreal brand ambassador for over a decade, will be seen showing off her short hair in the TV commercial, which will tentaively go on air Jan 3, 2015.

Expect some big scientific breakthroughs in 2015

by

While 2014 saw some marvellous discoveries like 3D-printed body parts and scientific breakthroughs like comet landing, 2015 too holds a great future for science, reports the prestigious journal Nature.

The first big news is expected to come with the reboot of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in March after a two-year shutdown.

The machine at CERN, Europe’s particle-physics laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland, will restart with collisions at 13 trillion electronvolts – almost double the current record.

Rajasthan to introduce self-attestation of documents Jan 1

by

The Rajasthan government will introduce self-attestation of documents Jan 1.

“The state government has directed all officers to act in accordance with the revised mechanism in relation to attestation of documents and submission of affidavits with effect from Thursday (Jan 1),” an official statement issued here Wednesday said.

The new system would make life easier for students and job seekers who had to go to a gazetted officer or a notary for attestation.

‘Ghar wapsi’ is the pet slogan of the RSS and Modi government: P C Chacko

by

Alleging “connivance” between the Sangh Parivar and the BJP-led government at the Centre, Congress today said the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of re-conversions will upset the social equilibrium in the country.

The spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said people behind such programmes, including ‘ghar wapsi’ were trying to break up the unity of the country.

PDP should take lead in J&K govt formation: Congress

by

Peoples Democratic party must take a lead in the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir as it has emerged as the largest party in the Assembly, Congress said today.

“In my opinion, the first step on the government formation should be taken by the PDP which has emerged as the largest party in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly,” state PCC chief Saifuddin Soz said after his meeting with Governor N N Vohra here today.

Soz said that after the PDP takes the first step, his party would explain its position to the people of the state.

Swine flu cases in Delhi now 38

by

Three fresh cases of swine flu were Wednesday reported in the national capital, taking the number this year to 38, a health official said.

“The afflicted include a 30-year-old man from Krishna Nagar, and two women aged 46 and 52 from Paschim Puri and New Delhi area, respectively,” Charan Singh, an officer at the Delhi health department, told IANS.

According to the health department, the total number of swine flu cases in December has now risen to 12. On Tuesday, a report said two 33-year-old women and a five-year-old boy were also affected.

Sensex ends 2014 with best annual gain in 5 years

by

The Sensex on Wednesday rose by over 95 points to end at 27,499.42 on back of infrastructure, power and realty shares, helping the BSE benchmark end 2014 calendar year with the best annual gain in 5 years.

BHEL, Tata Power and NTPC were among the gainers today with about 1-3 per cent rise. Other Sensex-related stocks that ended higher include Dr Reddys, RIL, Hindalco, TCS, Bharti Airtel, Sesa Sterlite, Tata Steel, SBI and ICICI Bank.

However, auto scrips like M&M, Bajaj Auto and Maruti Suzuki fell as excise duty incentives to the sector are not likely to continue in 2015.

Corrupt China football boss gives former life the red card

by

A corrupt Chinese football boss has had his prison sentence cut after back-heeling his former life into touch and remodelling himself as an inventor and writer in prison, media reported today.

Nan Yong, a former head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was last year banned from involvement in the sport and jailed for more than 10 years for taking bribes.

Along with another former CFA chief, Xie Yalong, Nan was the highest profile name among more than 50 people banned after widespread match-fixing scandals that blighted the game in China.

MP wheat production to cross 174 lakh tonne mark: Official

by

With winters intensifying in Madhya Pradesh and making it a favourable weather for sowing wheat, the state government has anticipated a yield of more than 175 lakh tonnes in the ongoing rabi season.

“As the mercury has nosedived, wheat production is going to be bountiful and we are hopeful that the staple crop produce will cross over 175 lakh tonnes mark,” Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development department Director Mohanlal Meena told PTI today.

He said that whaeat sowing has covered 56.6 lakh hectares of land so far, against the target of 60 lakh hectares in the current season.

DD News to assume new avatar from New Year

by

Doordarshan News will come with a fresh “look and feel” and a new tagline from tomorrow, seeking to become the preferred choice of viewers in the new year.

On the New Year’s Day, the public broadcaster will sport a new look where colours black, white and deep red will have more prominence and a new tagline ‘Only News Complete News’, a senior DD News official said.

13 militants killed, 388 arrested in Egyptian army raids

by

At least 13 militants were killed and 388 arrested in separate raids by the Egyptian army in the restive North Sinai governorate, army said today.

110 headquarters belonging to militants and 16 tunnel openings were also wiped out in the raids launched between 27 and 31 December, army spokesperson Mohamed Samir said, adding that 48 unlicensed vehicles used by militants while attacking army and police personnel were destroyed.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi last year.

Navy men who died were trying to save vessel: Parrikar

by

The reason behind the sinking of a torpedo recovery vessel off the Visakhapatnam coast is still not known, but Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the navy personnel who died in the accident were trying to save the ship.

The minister during an interaction with journalists Tuesday night said the four navy personnel did a commendable job.

“The navy personnel who died in the TRV accident were actually trying to save the ship. They did a commendable job and we need to laud them,” Parrikar said.

He said they have not yet been able to find out the reason behind the accident.

Convict dies under mysterious circumstances

by

A 65-year-old convict, serving life imprisonment, died under mysterious circumstances in a jail in Saran district today.

Bhagwan Rai died due to unspecified reasons in his cell at the district jail, Jail Superintendent Satyendra Singh said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

Rai, a native of Sabalpur village, was serving life sentence for murder, Singh said.

Eight core industries up 6.7 percent in November

by

Eight core industries such as coal, electricity, crude oil, cement and steel grew at 6.7 percent in November, compared to 3.2 percent in November last year, official data showed Wednesday.

The index of eight core industries with a combined weightage of 37.90 percent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2004-05 stood at 166.2 in the month under review, the commerce and industry ministry said.

Electricity generation, which has 10.32 percent weightage in IIP, grew 10.2 percent in November 2014 as compared to 6.3 percent in November last year.

Nation should celebrate pluralism, promote tolerance: Prez

by

Urging people to dedicate themselves to formation of an inclusive society in the new year, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the nation should celebrate pluralism and promote tolerance and understanding among all communities.

In his New Year message, he also asked the people to maintain maximum vigilance against efforts to disturb peace and security in the country.

Kerala earn three points from a draw against Jharkhand

by

Kerala secured three points by virtue of their first innings lead over Jharkhand in a Ranji Trophy Group C cricket match that ended in a tame draw here today.

Kerala, with a loss and three draws have earned a total of nine points from four matches, while Jharkhand have just five points from three draws.

The highlight of the otherwise dull day was an unbeaten century by skipper Saurabh Tiwary, who played a brilliant innings of 125 not out from 188 deliveries, studded with five boundaries and four sixes.

Bomb blast in Philippines kills 4, wounds 30

by

A bomb exploded at the entrance of a town market packed with New Year’s Eve shoppers in the restive southern Philippines, killing four people and wounding at least 30 others, officials said.

Police said they have no immediate suspects in the second such attack in two months, but Muslim rebels opposed to a peace deal with the government have been blamed for similar bombings in the past.

Most of the victims were shoppers buying fruits and horns used for noise-making to greet the new year, said police chief Joan Resurreccion of Mlang township in North Cotabato province.

Chilly Wednesday in Delhi, New Year’s day to be cloudy

by

It was a chilly New Year’s eve here Wednesday and the moderate fog delayed over 62 trains, an official said.

The Met Office has forecast a cloudy New Year’s day Thursday. “It will be a partly cloudy sky Thursday with moderate fog in the morning,” said an India Meteorological Department official.

He forecast that the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 20 and 9 degrees Celsius.

Lahore bar opposes military courts in Pakistan

by

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) in Pakistan has decided to commence a movement against the formation of military courts to try terror suspects in the country.

The LHCBA, which announced its vehement opposition to the idea of military courts Wednesday, has also summoned a meeting of members of the legal fraternity to discuss their reservations in this regard, Dawn online reported.

There is no room in the Constitution for establishing military courts, said LHCBA secretary Mian Ahmad Chachar.

Merkel tells Germans not to attend anti-Islam rallies

by

German Chancellor Angela Merkel today warned the country’s citizens not to participate in weekly anti-Islam rallies that have attracted growing numbers of supporters in the eastern German city of Dresden.

Merkel condemned the organisers of the protests and said they were driven by prejudices and hatred against foreigners.

The chancellor used unusually direct words in her New Year’s speech for the rallies organised by a group calling itself Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, or PEGIDA which have been attended by thousands.

Delhi HC notice to CEC over bogus voters

by

The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to file reply on a petition that has alleged presence of large number of bogus voters in various assembly constituencies of the national capital.

A bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the two officials to file reply on the plea by Jan 5, 2015.

Cell phone repairing training for jobless minority youth

by

Ayesha Foundation in collaboration with M Z Educational Academy has begun cell phone repairing servicing training and computer software courses for unemployed youth, retired persons and students. Age and qualification no bar. Candidates will be provided free material to start the occupation. Interested persons can approach along with a photo and Aadhaar card. Application form can be obtained from the academy office, Chanchalguda, new road opposite Hope Medical from 10 am to 8 pm. For details dial 040-24410110.

Siasat news

Students face hardship due to non-payment of fee-reimbursement and scholarship

by

Due to non-payment of fee-reimbursement and scholarships students in Telangana face a lot of hardship and their future seems in the dark. Although the government had announced free education from KG to PG besides retaining scholarship and fee-reimbursement schemes but the amount of scholarship and fee-reimbursement has not been released for the past 7 months. On the pretext of irregularities in old schemes the government announced a new scheme FAST but the terms and conditions for the same have not been finalised as a result students are deprived f the fee.

Delhi’s acid attack victim to undergo eye transplant

by

The 30-year-old doctor who sustained burn injuries after acid was hurled at her at a crowded market here will undergo an eye transplant to save her from complete blindness, hospital authorities said Wednesday.

According to the doctors, a new therapeutic device called “Prokera” is being imported from the US that would help in the repair and healing of the damaged eye surface of the patient.