Month: February 2015

Ashok Leyland on track to reduce debt: CFO

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Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland is “reasonably bullish” on its growth plan and is on the “trajectory” to reduce debt, a top company official said here today.

“We are reasonably bullish on the outcome of the company in the fourth quarter (of 2014-15). Our debt equity ratio has come down to 1:1. We will certainly look at reducing the debt even in March (quarter) also. We are on the trajectory to reduce debt”, Ashok Leyland Chief Financial Officer Gopal Mahadevan told reporters.

FII inflows at 6-month high of Rs 33,688 cr in January

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Overseas investors pumped in a staggering Rs 33,688 crore in capital markets last month, making it the highest investment in six months owing to easing inflation and rate cut by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 12,919 crore (USD 2.1 billion) in January, while they bought debt worth Rs 20,769 crore (USD 3.34 billion), taking the total investment to Rs 33,688 crore (USD 5.45 billion), latest data with Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) showed.

Conversion claim: St Stephen’s Principal dragged to court

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Valson Thampu, Principal of St Stephen’s College, has been dragged to court by a suspended administrative officer of the institution who alleged that he was pressurising him to convert to Christianity.

Additional District Judge Kamini Lau asked the principal and a college employee Deepak Mukarji to respond by February 25 to the allegations levelled by Subha Kumar Dash, who was working as administrative officer there.

The court issued notices to Thampu and Mukarji on Dash’s plaint in which he has sought Rs five lakh as damages from them for allegedly tarnishing his image.

Beyonce’s trainer spill 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.

Katy Perry says there is no handbook for love post John Mayer reunion rumors

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Katy Perry, who has sparked rumors of rekindling her romance with John Mayer , has said that there’ is no handbook for love.

The 30-year-old singer told Billboard in an interview that in all her relationships, she has learned how she has to be more careful and that it’s not up for public consumption, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The ‘Dark Horse’ hitmaker was spotted having dinner with Mayer in LA earlier this month which sparked the rumors of their on-off relationship.

Perry first dated Mayer in 2012 and split their ways in February 2014. (ANI)

Meet the world’s oldest sisters who have combined age of 386

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The world’s oldest set of sisters have proved they are still young at heart as they celebrate reaching the landmark combined age of 386.

Together with twin sisters Dorothy Thompson and Ellen George, both 96, and “baby of the family” Sylvia Sturgess, who turns 92 in April, hope to make it into the record books, the Daily Express reported.

The foursome siblings turned 386 when the eldest among them, Lillian Brown, recently had her 103rd birthday.

Masjid uninhabited at Koh-e-Tur, Falaknuma

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Falaknuma hillock which was named by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah as ‘Koh-e-Tur’. Nawab Iqbaluddaula Bahadur who was Ameer of Paigahi began construction of a grand palace at the Koh-e-Tur hillock in 1884. The palace was completed in 8 years.

Canadian ice climber becomes first to scale frozen Niagara Falls

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A Canadian climber has made history by becoming the first person to scale icy walls of Niagara Falls.

The 47-year-old Will Gadd used only ice hooks to climb up the frozen cliffs at Terrapin Point, a 147-foot section directly next to Horseshoe Falls, the CNN reported.

Gadd said that people’d be swept away by the torrential downpour in the summer and on a warm winter (day), there’s no climb there, but on a cold, freezing day in late January, the wall of water is a wall of ice which was a perfect scenario for him.

JLo’s Hidden Hills estate on sale

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Pop star Jennifer Lopez is selling her 17,000 sq ft Hidden Hills estate because it’s just too big for her small family.

Lopez and her two children have their sights set on getting a smaller house with a better view in Malibu, reports tmz.com.

She purchased the Hidden Hills mansion for $8.2 million in 2010 and is asking for a $17 million.

–IANS

I don’t have any limitations: Akshara Haasan

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Akshara Haasan, set for Bollywood debut with “Shamitabh”, says she doesn’t want to restrict herself on-screen.

Does she have any limitations on going bold on screen?

“If you limit yourself, you can’t reach where you can. If there is a requirement for a role, I will do it. Why to limit myself? By limiting yourself, you lose opportunity to prove yourself. So, I don’t have any limitations,” Akshara told IANS.

Directed by R. Balakrishnan, she will be seen sharing screen space with megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush in “Shamitabh”.

Added fructose driving the rise in diabetics

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Consumption of foods and beverages containing added sugars, particularly added fructose, is a major factor behind the dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes, contends a study.

Worldwide, approximately one in ten adults has type 2 diabetes, with the number of individuals afflicted by the disease across the globe more than doubling from 153 million in 1980 to 347 million in 2008, the study noted.

Pak Supreme Court Bar to challenge proposed formation of military courts

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has decided to challenge the proposed formation of military courts before the apex court.

According to Express Tribune, SCBA will be the second bar association to appeal against military courts after the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA).

The government’s initiative to set up special courts was taken in the aftermath of the Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that left 132 children dead.

New ‘fat-fighting tactics’ may help drive down skyrocketing global obesity rates

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A new study has revealed that new fat-fighting tactics may help combat global obesity epidemic.

From nutritious foods that fill you up faster to new weight-loss medications to government food taxes, obesity experts predict maintaining a healthy weight may get much easier during the next few decades, according to the latest series of interviews from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), FutureFood 2050 publishing initiative.

21-yr-old killed for dowry

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A 21-year-old woman was strangulated to death allegedly by her husband for dowry in Utraula area, police said today.

Parveen was killed by her husband Saddam and two others for dowry in Kolhui Binnu village late last evening, they said.

Police said that a case had been registered against three persons in this connection.

Dalit students eve-teased in Uttar Pradesh

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A case has been registered against the four accused under the Dalit act and for eve-teasing.

Seven Dalit girls were allegedly harassed by four youths belonging to a different community in Kasimpur Patheri village under Chapar police station, police said today.

Last evening, the girls, who are students of Chapar inter college, were returning to their village and were accosted by four students who eve-teased them, SHO K K Gotem said.

The accused also thrashed family members of the girls who had reached the spot opposing the harassment, he said.

‘Umrika’ wins audience award at Sundance film fest

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Independent filmmaker Prashant Nair’s “Umrika” has won the audience award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, which concluded Sunday.

Sundance film festival’s Twitter handle shared the news on its page.

“Umrika”, which features “Life of Pi” fame actor Suraj Sharma, is about a young village boy who discovers that his brother, long believed to be in the US, has actually gone missing. He begins to invent letters on his behalf to save their mother from heartbreak, all the while searching for him.

Acche Din promise: Survey says not much changed on ground for industry in six months

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The Business Confidence Survey results follow the months-long euphoria among industry leaders about prospects of improvement in business environment after a new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed to power with a strong majority in May 2014.

Showing signs of restlessness, a majority of business leaders have said “not much” has changed on the ground in the last six months, while many of them do not foresee any change in investment plans even during the current quarter, as per an industry body Assocham survey.

Mohammed Asadullah new CEO Waqf Board

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Finally the government has appointed Chief Executive Officer for Waqf Board. Mohammed Asadullah of Deputy Collector rank will be the new Chief Executive Officer of Waqf Board. He was presently serving as Assistant Secretary (KRRC) in the office Chief Commissioner Land Administration. Principal Secretary Revenue Rajeshwar Tiwari issued orders in this connection in which Mohammed Asadullah’s services are placed at the disposal of Minority Welfare Department. It must be noted that the post of Chief Executive Officer was vacant for the past 4 months in Waqf Board.

Siasat news

Railways plans to rope-in NID for improving designs of coaches

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Indian Railways is planning to rope-in city-based NID to re-design the train coaches with an aim to provide comfortable journey to passengers.

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu informed that his ministry will soon rope in National Institute of Design (NID) for the purpose.

“We are in talks with the NID for improving internal design of railway coaches. This will provide a comfortable journey to our passengers,” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here today.

Val Kilmer wants speedy recovery

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‘Batman Forever’ star Val Kilmer is praying for a speedy return after being rushed to hospital last week due to bleeding from the throat.

The 55-year-old actor was rushed to hospital when he began bleeding from his throat. He revealed he has no tumour and didn’t undergo emergency throat surgery but he stayed at the medical facility in Los Angeles to receive the best possible care as he recovered.

World’s biggest coir trade fair begins in the city

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The world’s biggest trade fair on coir and natural fibres began here today, with participation of around 170 buyers from 53 countries, including the US, Russia, Africa and many European countries.

The five-day Coir Kerala 2015 at this quaint town, also referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its unique network of criss-crossing canals, brings together scientists, researchers and policy makers to discuss strategies and new projects to create jobs, improve the conditions of workers, increase productivity and earnings across the industry.

Paes-Hingis win Australian Open mixed doubles title

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Indian tennis star Leander Paes and his Swiss partner Martina Hingis beat third seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title here Sunday.

Paes and Hingis, seeded seventh, beat the French-Canadian pair 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and two minutes to win the first Grand Slam of the year.

IANS

Payment bank can be asset origination opportunity: Kotak

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Kotak Mahindra Bank, which is in a tie-up with Bharti Airtel for niche bank licence, looks at payment bank as an asset origination opportunity.

Airtel’s proposed tie-up with Kotak Mahindra Bank is the first formal partnership announced by an existing lender and a non-bank entity aspiring to get into the space. Kotak Mahindra Bank will have a 19.9 per cent stake in the venture.

Payments banks are aimed at encouraging savings and help with remittances, although RBI has put a cap on the stake which can be held by commercial banks in such entities.

Govt gives green nod to Rs 6.31 lakh cr projects in Jun-Dec

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To fast-track industrial activities, the government has granted environmental clearance to 190 projects worth an estimated Rs 6.31 lakh crore across sectors like mining and steel during the June-December 2014.

The focus on faster clearances follows concerns raised by the industry that such approvals were hard to come by during the previous UPA regime at the Centre, thus creating bottlenecks for large industrial projects.