Bipasha Basu to introduce new season of ‘Aahat’

Actress Bipasha Basu, who has done a string of horror and supernatural films, will reportedly make her small screen appearance once again with an upcoming season of horror TV show “Aahat”.

According to a source, the actress has been approached for the first episode of the horror show aired on Sony Entertainment Television channel.

“Bipasha, who has of late done a lot of horror movies, has been approached to narrate the introduction episode of the upcoming season of the popular horror show ‘Aahat’,” said a source.

How green tea rids you of oral cancer

Green tea consists of an ingredient , which may help kill oral cancer cells, without touching the healthy cells, says a new research.

Associate professor Joshua Lambert at Penn State said that earlier studies had shown that epigallocatechin-3-gallate-EGCG-a compound found in green tea, killed oral cancer cells without harming normal cells, but researchers did not understand the reasons for its ability to target the cancer cells. The current study shows that EGCG may trigger a process in the mitochondria that leads to cell death.

Why did you take Congress’ help, facilities, BJP asks Kejriwal

The BJP Thursday asked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal why did he take support from the Congress to form the government and why did he ask for facilities after denying them initially.

These were among the five questions the Bharatitya Janata Party plans to ask Kejriwal everyday in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections Feb 7.

BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said his party will ask Kejriwal five questions every day till Feb 5, starting with the Aam Aadmi Party’s decision to join hands with the Congress to form the government in Delhi.

MH370 met with accident, Malaysia declares officially

The Malaysian government has officially declared that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 met with an accident March 8 last year, and all 239 people on board the plane are presumed dead.

 

The announcement was made by Director General of Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation Azharuddin Abdul Rahman Thursday.

 

Neither the wreckage of the aircraft nor the bodies of those on board have been found yet.

 

Pakistan opposes UN Council permanent seat to India

Pakistan Thursday reiterated its opposition to grant a permanent seat on UN Security Council to India and insisted on reforms to make the forum more democratic.

Pakistan contested the Indian move after US President Barrack Obama announced support for India to seek permanent Security Council’s seat during his recent visit to New Delhi.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said India did not “qualify to become a permanent member of UNSC because of its violations of UN resolutions”, Xinhua news agency reported.

BJP, AAP failed to focus on poor: Rahul Gandhi

Attacking the BJP and AAP for failing to focus on the poor, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Thursday said his party was the only one to understand Delhi’s need for development must include the youth and find place for the poor.

IS militants bomb nine of Saddam Hussein’s palaces

Islamic State (IS) militants Thursday blew up nine luxurious palaces of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in his hometown of Tikrit, a security source said.

The militants planted bombs in the palaces and detonated them, the source told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.

There were a total of 76 palaces, smaller villas, artificial lakes and date orchards, most of which were built by the Tigris river, stretching from northern Tikrit, some 170 km north of Iraq’s capital Baghdad, to Saddam’s village of Awja, some 12 km south of the city.

Pak’s increasing nuclear arsenal indicates change in country’s nuclear deterrence policy

Recent developments in Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities point towards a change in its nuclear deterrence policy, said Sadia Tasleem, lecturer at the department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad .

According to Dawn, Tasleem was speaking at a talk on ‘Contemporary security landscape and the perils of nuclear competition in South Asia – is there a way out for Pakistan?’ on Wednesday organised by the department of International Relations, University of Karachi.

Wicketkeeper Sangakkara effects most dismissals in ODIs

Veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara Thursday went past Adam Gilchrist here as he effected maximum number (474) of dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

The 37-year-old Sangakkara was already the joint highest with Australian Gilchrist before this game, but now holds the record solo after his two catches in the ODI against New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium.

South African Mark Boucher (424) and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (314) are behind Gilchrist in most number of dismissals in ODIs.

US does not consider Afghan Taliban “Terrorist” , ISIL ‘Terrorist’ Group

The United States has described the Afghan Taliban as “an armed insurgency”, while the Islamic State as a “terrorist” group, drawing a controversial distinction between the two militant organisations.

The Taliban is an armed insurgency. ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) is a terrorist group. So we don’t make concessions to terrorist groups,” White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz told reporters in response to questions at the daily press briefing yesterday.

Believe It or Not: Baba Ramdev medicine promises you a Baby Boy

Yoga Guru Ramdev has once again lands him in a fresh controversy and this time about his medicine that provide remedy for infertility.

The products “Divya Putrajeevak Seed” presented by the pharmacy of Baba Ramdev help in curing infertility and guarantee the birth of a boy.

Patanjali Pharmacies, a chain of shops owned by Ramdev, described the medicine as a natural herb and is available for Rs. 35 a packet.

According to some doctors, the medicine does not promise a male child, but the name is misleading, who point out that “Putrajeevak” means “son’s life.”

Special Cell in forefront of anti-terror fight: Bassi

Five days after the NIA (National Investigation Agency) blamed officers of the Special Cell here for framing a man from Kashmir in a plot to attack the national capital, Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said the officers were on the forefront of the fight against terrorism.

“Cell (Special Cell) has always been on the forefront on fighting terrorism. Our officers have been taking a lot of risk for fighting terror. They have been doing a great job,” Bassi told media persons.

Malaysia declares MH370 an accident, passengers presumed dead

Malaysia on Thursday formally declared missing flight MH370 to be an “accident” and its passengers and crew presumed dead, a step that opens the door for compensation payments but is likely to hit distraught relatives hard.

“It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident… and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives,” civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in a televised announcement.

Shirdi: Saibaba trust proposes Rs 1,200 crore development projects

The development projects are being planned for the Nashik Kumbh mela and Saibaba’s ‘samadhi’ centenary celebration scheduled in 2018.
The Sai Baba deity at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple
The Saibaba trust has sent a proposal to Maharashtra government for developmental projects worth Rs 1,200 crore in Shirdi for the Nashik Kumbh mela and Saibaba’s ‘samadhi’ centenary celebration, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde has said. A proposal has also been made to set up a Shirdi Development Authority for the Saibaba’s samadhi centenary celebration, he said.

Police arrest Mumbai editor over Charlie Hebdo reprint

Police have arrested and bailed the editor of an Urdu-language newspaper in Mumbai for reprinting a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed from satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo, police said Thursday.

Shirin Dalvi, editor of the Mumbai edition of the daily Avadhnama newspaper, was arrested by police in the town of Mumbra in Thane district, close to the financial capital.

The editor was arrested under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which bans malicious and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

Ghee Rice

Ingredients

Long grained rice – 2 cups, washed and drained
Onion – 1, large, finely sliced
Green chilies – 2, slit length wise
Cardamom – 2
Cloves – 6
Cinnamon stick – 1″ stick (2 pieces)
Bay leaf – 2
Garam masala powder – 1/4 tsp
Cashew nuts – 10-12, break into small pieces
Raisins – fistful (optional)
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves – 2 tbsps, finely chopped
Ghee – 4 tbsps

BJP aims to win 300 seats in UP assembly polls, says state party President Laxmikant Bajpai

BJP has set a target of winning 300 out of the total 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, which are scheduled in 2017, state BJP President Laxmikant Bajpai on Thursday said.

Speaking to PTI here, Bajpai said, “We have decided to win 300 seats in 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. To achieve the target, the party has already started working at the booth level”.

The BJP chief showed confidence that the party’s Lok Sabha performance, where it had taken a lead in 376 assembly constituencies last year, will be repeated in the assembly polls.

Chicken Shawarma

Ingredients:

2 Cups Yogurt

1/2Cup Tahini

4 Lemons

1 Tablespoon Chile Flakes

1 Tablespoon Madras Curry Powder

2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

1 English Cucumber

5 Tomatoes

1/4 Red Onion

1 Tablespoon Vinegar

Lavosh Bread

Parsley

Directions:

Make marinade: Mix 1 1/2 cups yogurt with chile flake, curry powder, juice of 1 lemon, zest of one lemon, salt and pepper.

J&K government urges Centre for immediate release of funds for flood victims

Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Thursday urged the Centre for immediate release of funds under the NDRF for relief and rehabilitation of victims of last year’s devastating floods in the state.

“In the backdrop of severe financial crisis being faced by the state, the Governor has requested Home Minister Rajnath Singh for urgent clearance of the state government’s request for the release of funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF),”

a Raj Bhawan spokesman said in Jammu.

Dhoni urges batsmen to put up long partnerships

Ahead of the virtual semi-final clash against England in the ODI tri-series here Friday, Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Thursday urged his batsmen to put up long partnerships and hoped that the team will fix the problem before the World Cup.

Throughout the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series, the 34-year-old Dhoni has rued his batting line-up’s inability to string together long partnerships, which has left them without a win so far.

Reliance MF closed-ended equity fund gets record Rs 1,000 cr

In a record collection of funds, a closed-ended equity fund of Reliance Capital Asset Management has garnered Rs 1,000 crore from investors.

The money was collected under Reliance Capital Builder Fund II ? Series B scheme through a New Fund Offer (NFO) from January 9 till January 23, 2015.

This is the highest collection ever till date in a pure closed-ended offering, not having the option of getting converted to an open-ended structure at a later stage.

No manifesto for Delhi polls, only vision document: BJP

The BJP Thursday said it will not issue a manifesto for next month’s Delhi assembly elections but a vision document which will be released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s chief ministerial candidate, Kiran Bedi.

“The BJP will not have a manifesto for Delhi. We will have a vision document which will be released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kiran Bedi,” senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ananth Kumar told the media here.

He informed that Modi will address four rallies in the capital Jan 31, Feb 1, Feb 3 and Feb 4.

Anil Kapoor, Vijay Sampla inaugurate IBFE

Actor-filmmaker Anil Kapoor along with Vijay Sampla, union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, inaugurated the first edition of the International Bicycle and Fitness Expo (IBFE) here Thursday.

The three-day expo, taking place at Pragati Maidan, began with the inaugural lamp lighting by 58-year-old actor-filmmaker and the minister. They were also accompanied by Pankaj Munjal, MD, Hero Cycles Ltd and Anil Khurana, MD, Ada Expo and Events Pvt Ltd.

Crediting cycling and running for a healthy body, Anil shared the importance of staying fit.

Gold, silver drops on low demand, global cues

After Wednesday’s rebound, gold lost its sheen with prices falling by Rs 120 to Rs 28,300 per ten grams at the bullion market today owing to slackened demand at prevailing levels amid weak global cues.

Silver also dropped by Rs 420 to Rs 39,100 per kg on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said apart from fall in demand from jewellers and retailers at domestic markets, a weak global trend as strengthening dollar reduced appeal for the precious metals, mainly influenced the sentiment.