Month: February 2015

Indian foodies to get a taste of British curry next month

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Indian foodies can look up to an authentic British gourmet storm next month when some of UK’s finest chefs set up base in Chennai and roll out 60 dishes like British Chicken Tikka Masala and Balti during a food festival that takes ‘curry’ back to its spiritual home.

Though it sounds like selling ice to eskimos and carrying coal to Newcastle, Indian diners can tuck into British curry during the Taste of Britain Curry Festival from March 6-14.

Nine Indians held at Turkey-Syria border, deported

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Nine Indians from three southern states were detained at the Turkey-Syria border and deported to India where they were being questioned on their motives, police said Saturday.

“Turkish authorities detained the nine-member Indian group at the border while attempting to cross over to Syria and deported them to India late Friday,” city Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said in a statement here.

Whitney Houston’s daughter placed in medically-induced coma

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Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, who was revived recently after being found face down and unconscious in a bath tub full of water, remains in a medically induced coma suffering from swelling on the brain.

The 21-year-old aspiring singer was placed unconscious after she was found by husband Nick Gordon in a bathtub full of water at their Atlanta home, the Mirror reported.

According to the reports, medics at the North Fulton hospital did fear for Brown, who was left heartbroken at mum’s death in 2012.

Jennifer Lopez to sell her house in Hidden Hills?

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Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez is reportedly selling her more than three acre, 17,000 square-foot Hidden Hills estate

The 45-year-old mother of two is planning to sell the estate because it is just too big for her small family, reported TMZ.

“Jennifer and her two kids have their sights set on Malibu … A smaller house with a better view,” a source said.

Lopez purchased the Hidden Hills mansion for USD 8.2 million in 2010 and is allegedly asking for a cool USD 17 million.

Tweeting can help women cope with sexism: study

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Tweeting publicly about sexism could improve a woman’s wellbeing as it has the potential to let them express themselves in ways they feel can make a difference, a new study suggests.

The study examined whether using Twitter to respond to sexism could be done in a public way without any negative effects to their wellbeing.

“We know women can be badly affected by experiences of sexism and that responding publicly can be stressful and risky,” said Dr Mindi Foster from the Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.

Sonia Gandhi accuses BJP, AAP of making false promises to people

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday attacked both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and accused them of making false promises to the people.

“The party we extended our support to, couldn’t even govern state for two months, and ran away from their responsibilities. Who is responsible for this situation in Delhi? It’s the party who ran away from its responsibilities, as well as those who were imposing their own rule in name of President’s rule,” said Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Badarpur .

Arvind Kejriwal apologizes, promises not to quit again

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AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has once again apologized for his actions during his 49-day tenure as chief minister of Delhi last year and promised not to quit again.

“… Many people across Delhi feel that our actions have let them down. In May (last year), we apologized to the people of Delhi for the disappointment caused; and in case you missed it the first time, I do so again — so you hear us loud and clear,” he said

Japan launches intelligence satellite

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Japan Sunday launched a backup information gathering satellite (IGS), the country`s first launch of this year.

The satellite is equipped with a radar spy instrument capable of peering through clouds, darkness and camouflage to obtain high-resolution imagery of the Earth`s surface. But the satellite`s exact capabilities were not disclosed, Xinhua reported.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the spy satellite aboard a H-2A rocket from Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima prefecture.

IS claims to have smuggled thousands of militants into Europe as part of secret operation

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An operative working with the Islamic State (IS) militant group has revealed that they have successfully smuggled thousands of fighters into Europe as a part of their clandestine operation.

According to the Daily Express, the operative revealed that the ongoing secret operation is a complete success and smiled as he said “just wait”.

The IS militant spoke on conditions of anonymity and is believed to be the first to enter western countries.

He also said that IS is actively smuggling deadly gunmen across the sparsely-guarded 565-mile Turkish border and on to richer European nations.

Delhi Metro fares may be hiked after polls

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Delhi Metro fares may be hiked soon after the Assembly polls as the government has initiated a process to review the rates which were last raised in 2009.

The Union Urban Development Ministry has sent a proposal to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to set up a fare-fixation panel which will submit its report within three months of getting approved.

Retired Justice AK Srivastava has been chosen as the Chairman of the Committee, Delhi Metro sources said.

Fresh probe likely into 1984 anti-Sikh riots

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Thirty years after the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, a fresh probe is likely with a government-appointed committee recommending constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the same, a move seen by the Congress as an attempt to woo voters ahead of polls here.

The committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice (retd) GP Mathur, which was set up on December 23 last year to look into the possibility of re-investigation of the 1984 riots, submitted its report to Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week, sources said.

Chelsea retains five-point lead in PL table post draw against Man City

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Premier League pace-setters Chelsea have retained their five-point lead in the table as Jose Mourinho’s men played out a 1-1 draw against rival Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Loic Remy, deputizing for the suspended star striker Diego Costa, put Chelsea ahead in the 41st minute before Spaniard David Silva secured a stunning equalizer for Manchester City just before the end of the first half.

The match also witnessed veteran midfielder Frank Lampard given a warm reception as he returned to the club where he is the record goalscorer with 211 in 649 appearances, the BBC reported.

PM Modi salutes coast guard personnel on 38th Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard

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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday saluted coast guard personnel on the 38th Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard.

“I salute the determination and bravery of our coast guard personnel on the 38th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard.

Indian Coast Guard has left no stone unturned in tirelessly protecting our coasts. We will always remain grateful to them for their valour”, the Prime Minister said.

—-ANI

Katherine Heigl explains ‘really porny’ Instagram pic

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Katherine Heigl, who recently shared a “really porny” photo on her Instagram page, has explained how exactly she ended up topless and surrounded by shirtless men.

The 36-year-old actress said that she was shy about getting topless for a scene so the ‘State of Affairs’ crew decided to take their shirts off too in “solidarity,” News.com.au reported.

‘The Ugly Truth’ star added that then she had to get a photo of it and so she put this filter on it that made it look really porny and posted it.

Sturridge returns in style to help Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0

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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge made a stylish comeback from injury as he anchored his side to clinch third straight Premier League win with a convincing 2-0 victory over West Ham United at Anfield.

Following a first-half stalemate, Raheem Sterling netted his eighth goal of the season as he put Liverpool ahead in the 51st minute with a clinical finish from a Phillippe Coutinho pass.

Beyonce’s trainer spills celebs’ fitness secrets

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Beyonce’s trainer has spilled the fitness secrets of celebrities by revealing how celebs eat.

Marco Borges, the expert who guided the 33-year-old singer and her rapper husband Jay-Z through their 22-day vegan diet back in 2013, asserted that green juice is popular right now but there’s no better way to enjoy the bountiful health benefits of greens than to eat them, E! Online reported.

He continued that one of the best things is to eat a plant-based diet.

J Lo planning to sell Hidden Hills estate in $17m

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Jennifer Lopez is reportedly selling her more than 3 acres, 17,000 square-foot Hidden Hills estate because it’s “ridiculously” big for her small family .

According to the sources, the 45-year-old singer and her two kids have their sights set on Malibu which is a smaller house with a better view, TMZ.com reported.

Lopez purchased the Hidden Hills mansion for 8.2 million dollars in 2010 and is planning to sell-off of the house in 17 million dollars. (ANI)

TV actors Ayub Khan, Smita Bansal join AAP; laud Kejriwal

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Television actors Ayub Khan and Smita Bansal, who joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) just days ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, on Sunday praised party convener Arvind Kejriwal for his positive views.

“We want a change in politics. Before this I had never thought of joining a political party. All political parties used to appear similar to me. Then came Arvind Kejriwal, what he said was something I could relate to. I think that people from different parts of the country are joining Arvind Kejriwal because he says what everyone feels,” Khan told ANI.

23 FDI proposals deferred for possible tax treaty abuse

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Getting tough with investment proposals from tax heavens, FIPB has deferred 23 applications in its last three meetings apprehending “treaty abuse”.

According to sources, the Department of Revenue has expressed doubt that a few foreign companies were evading tax by routing their investments through tax heaven countries with whom India has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), they said, is keen that guidelines should be prepared to deal with such investment proposals.

Rail Budget: Introduction of vacuum toilets likely

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Water conservation initiatives such as introduction of environment-friendly vacuum toilets and changes in the design of existing lavatories in trains are some of the proposals likely to be announced in the forthcoming Rail Budget.

According to a senior Railway Ministry official, a concrete plan of action for water management at stations and trains will be reflected in the Rail Budget 2015-16 to be announced by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is keen on promoting environment-friendly activities in the transporter.

Shortfall in TDS collections: CBDT asks I-T dept to act

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Worried over a huge shortfall in TDS collections, CBDT has asked the Income Tax department to pull up its socks and initiate special measures to achieve the direct taxes collection target for this fiscal.

Officials said the instructions were issued last week after a high-level ‘video conference’ meeting chaired by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairperson Anita Kapur along with other Members of the board and top officials of the I-T department from across the country.

Govt to review life cover scheme under Jan Dhan after 5 years

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The government will review after five years the structure of Rs 30,000 life cover given as incentive to the poor for opening bank accounts under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

“The life cover of Rs 30,000 under the scheme will be initially for a period of 5 years, i.e. Till the close of financial year 2019-20. “Thereafter, the scheme will be reviewed and terms and condition of its continuation, including the issue of future payment of premium by the insured thereafter, would be suitably determined,” the Finance Ministry said.

FY15 fiscal deficit target of 4.1% GDP likely to be met: Citi

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However, a “compression” in plan expenditure coupled with a pick-up in divestments, would likely help the government meet its 2014-15 fiscal deficit of 4.1 per cent of GDP, it said.
Representational image File Photo dna Research & Archives
The government is likely to meet its fiscal deficit target of 4.1% GDP for the current financial year, says global brokerage firm Citigroup.

The fiscal deficit target of 4.1% of GDP for 2014-15 is likely to be met though the fiscal trends are “weak”, it said.

PM Narendra Modi to visit China in May

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China in May this year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today ahead of her meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. “Modiji is going to come in May. I will give them dates today. This is a preparatory visit,” she told the Indian media after she addressed the Indian Community here.