Month: February 2015

I get weird and edgy ideas: Shah Rukh

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Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming movie ‘Fan’ has become the talk of the town these days and the actor, who is busy shooting for the film says that weird and edgy ideas keep coming to his mind.

The Baadshah of Bollywood is currently working with young director Maneesh Sharma and the filmmaker keeps requesting him to try something out of the box.

Now, as Shah Rukh was a theatre actor earlier, he has a different mindset from the other actors and he gets weird and edgy ideas.

Science, technology expo in Visakhapatnam marks National Science Day

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The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) put out its best machinery at display in an exhibition to celebrate National Science Day in the southern port city Visakhapatnam.

NSTL, a premier underwater systems laboratory of country’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), organised a two-day open house-cum-exhibition themed ‘Science for Nation Building’ to commemorate Nobel laureate C.V. Raman’s birth anniversary.

The sprawling campus of NSTL attracted hundreds of students of various colleges and schools from in and around the city for the exhibition.

Finch claims opening mate Warner has always been ‘cocky’

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Australian opener Aaron Finch has claimed that his opening partner David Warner has always had that cockiness about him and has backed it up over the years.

Finch’s reaction, when he confronted Warner for the first time on a cricket field, was who the hell is this bloke. Not much has changed since; only the two now stand as best mates.

Finch is fond of his friend Warner because the man who he desperately hopes to one day partner in the Test team hasn’t changed a bit since they were 15 year-olds at an interstate carnival, News.com.au reported.

New animated series to reimagine six original ‘Star Wars’ movies in Lego form

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Disney XD will air ‘ LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales ,’ a Lego animated retelling of the entire Star Wars saga.

Though the project will hit the same plot points as the ‘ Star Wars’ movies, every episode will be told from the perspective of R2-D2 and C-3PO, the Verge reported.

The five-episode series, which will begin at the final scene of Return of the Jedi, after the Rebel Alliance victory on Endor, will re-tell the entire saga in the chronological order, starting with The Phantom Menace and looping back around to Return of the Jedi.

Lauda believes only 50-50 chance of Germany hosting a GP this F1 season

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Formula One legend Niki Lauda has claimed that there is only a 50-50 chance of Germany hosting a Grand Prix this season, despite determined efforts to save it.

The former three-time Formula One world champion, now non-executive chairman of reigning champions Mercedes, said at the final pre-season test in Barcelona that the race remained in the balance.

Lauda said that Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone is the one who takes the decision but added that at the moment it doesn’t look like it. But he said that he understands why, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Govt to set up Mudra Bank for priority to SC/ST entrepreneurs

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The Government will a create a refinance agency, Mudra Bank with an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore to provide credit facilities to SC/ST businesses, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

“I propose to create a micro units development refinance agency, Mudra Bank, with a corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore and credit guarantee corpus of Rs. 3,000 crore,” he said while presenting the Union Budget 2015-16 in Parliament.

“The Mudra Bank will refinance institution through a Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. The lending priority will be given to SC/ST enterprises,” he added.

Goa CM implores against communally sensitive comments

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No one should make statements which can disturb the communal harmony in Goa said Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, even as the VHP Friday commented that it would make efforts to re-convert Goan Christians to Hinduism.

Parsekar, however, said that no action could be taken against the Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson because free speech was a fundamental right.

“I feel as chief minister that nobody should make any statement that would disturb or affect the communal harmony?” Parsekar told IANS late Friday.

PM terms budget pragmatic, says will reignite growth

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described the budget as “progressive” and “pragmatic” and said it will reignite growth while assuring foreign investors about stable, predictable and fair tax system.

“Union budget 2015 is a budget with a clear vision. It is a budget that is progressive, positive, practical, pragmatic & prudent,” Modi tweeted.

The budget will “further reignite our growth engine, signalling the dawn of a prosperous future”, he added.

—PTI

After 12 long years, 13 Muslims acquitted from terror charge: Who will pay for it

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Thirteen Muslims who have been implicated in terror cases in a 2003 under sections of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) were acquitted by a session court.

Session Court Judge N N Dhend set free these Muslim youths for want of evidence.

Those who were set free from the court of law are: Anwar Shaikh, Gulam Shaikh, Mansoor Shaikh, Jabbar Shaikh, Mudassir
Shaikh, Ibrahim Momin, Mubin Shaikh, Farooq Tubib, Hamid Mulla, Yaqub Saudagar, Mahboob Daula, Rahman Shaikh and Imaan Nadaf.

Dhoni is the best captain India have had: Bhutia

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Terming Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the best captain India have ever produced, former national football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia today said the wicketkeeper-batsman has it in him to help the country defend the cricket World Cup title in Australia.

“Dhoni is definitely the best captain India have ever had. I think he’s going to win the World Cup this time as well,” an overwhelmed Bhutia said here on the sidelines of a promotional event.

Budget disappointing, lacks clear roadmap: Manmohan Singh

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Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the budget reflected lot of ‘good intentions’ of the NDA government but it lacked any clear roadmap to achieve the goals.

Describing the budget as disappointing, Singh, who is credited with ushering in economic reforms as Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government in 1991, said the Modi dispensation did not lay out any framework to implement various initiatives announced in the budget.
Read our full coverage on Union Budget

Corp tax to be cut by 5 pc in 4 yrs; no change for individuals

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced a 5 per cent reduction in corporate tax over next four years, abolished wealth tax and replaced it with an additional 2 per cent surcharge on super-rich individuals, while increasing service tax that will result in higher cost of variety of services.

-PTI

ESPN bags US Media Rights for 3 IPL seasons

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Popular sports broadcasting group ESPN has bagged the US Media Rights of IPL for a period of three years between 2015-17.

Three bids from M/S Willow, Times Internet and ESPN were received by closing time during the Marketing Committee meeting of the Board, a BCCI media release stated.

The rights were finally awarded to ESPN at a total fee of USD 12.4 million for a three-year period.

US appeals court: Marathon bombing trial can stay in Boston

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The trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev can stay in Massachusetts, a federal appeals court ruled.

A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said any high-profile case would receive significant media attention but that knowledge of such case “does not equate to disqualifying prejudice.”

“Distinguishing between the two is at the heart of the jury selection process,” the panel wrote.

Include English in Govt-run schools: Governor

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Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Narasimhan on Friday stressed that the learning of English by Indian students shall not be at the cost of their mother tongue addressing the International English Language Teacher Educator Conference, the Governor said English helps to get connect with different nations.

India, Pakistan to celebrate richness of Urdu in Delhi

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Indian and Pakistani writers Intizar Hussain, Javed Akhtar, Ashok Vajpayee, and Nida Fazli, among others will participate in an Urdu festival in Delhi to celebrate and explore the spirit of the language.

The two-day “Jashn-e-Rekhta” festival will begin March 14 and will bring together 60 renowned personalities from both the countries to celebrate Urdu language through performances, recitations, dastangoi, musical renditions, mushaira, dramas, panel discussions, film screenings and interactive sessions.

My fiance has no sense of smell: Olivia Wilde

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Actress Olivia Wilde, who has 10-month-old son Otis with fiance Jason Sudeikis, says that her husband finds her to be a great cook because he “has no sense of smell”.

“I like to cook, but I also have the easiest audience in the world. My fiancé has no sense of smell — he was born without it — so he thinks everything I cook tastes amazing. It really builds my confidence,” Wilde told people.com.

The 30-year-old actress said her own eyesight is getting worse with age.

Pak PM to visit Saudi Arabia next week

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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia next week to meet new King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, authorities said today.

Sharif would visit Saudi Arabia on “a special invitation” of King Salman who took over last month after the death of his half-brother King Abdullah, the PM Office said in a statement.

The agenda of the visit is not known but Sharif is expected to discuss important bilateral and regional issues with King Salman.

Soon, folding electric bicycle that will be ‘pedal-assist’

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A team of Formula one motorsport engineers and leading brand Brompton are developing a folding, electric bicycle.

The new model, which would be a “pedal assist” bike in which the rider’s strength is augmented by the engine on hills and when they want to go fast, have proved increasingly popular among commuters as they prove a degree of exercise while avoiding the need for a shower after arriving at work, the Independent reported.

Focus on infrastructure development by Jaitley would usher growth: ASSOCHAM

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The President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India ( ASSOCHAM), Rana Kapoor, on Saturday, said the focus on infrastructure development by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley through public resources, PSUs and major initiatives on financial inclusion by increasing the penetration of insurance would usher growth through state spending and equity.

Jaitley’s speech peppered with digs at UPA rule

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley peppered his speech with digs at the previous UPA regime and sprinkled it with interesting phrases taken out from Urdu poetry and religious scriptures as he presented his first full-fledged budget in Lok Sabha today.

He was wearing a light blue shirt, a black trouser and a deep-blue Nehru jacket for the much-watched occasion. His sister Madhu Bharghava and neice Punita were among those watching from the visitors’ gallery as Jaitley presented the budget.

Manohar Parrikar rates budget 9.5/10

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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday applauded the budget for fiscal 2015-16, saying that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had done a good job, particularly towards the poor of society.

“There is an 11 percent increase in terms of defence, that is good, because comparing the amount of money increased share with each state, I think he has done very well,” said Manohar Parrikar.

Manohar Parrikar rated the budget 9.5 out of 10.

Environment Minister Parkash Javadekar also termed the budget as historical, adding that it had given social security to all.

Budget will provide social security, eliminate poverty: Amit Shah

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Saturday praised the budget for fiscal 2015-16, saying it would provide both social security and eliminate poverty.

“This budget will provide social security. I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister,” he told ANI here.

“I welcome the announcement of strict law enforcement on black money. It will help in identifying black money stashed abroad,” he added.

Real-life `Notebook` couple dies hand-in-hand after 67-yr-long romance

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A California-based couple, who were married for 67 years, died within hours of one another, lying side by side and holding hands.

Floyd and Violet Hartwig, who got married on Aug. 16, 1947, died at home on Feb. 11 while holding hands, People Magazine reported.

The 90-year-old Floyd died first and the 89-year-old Violet followed five hours later. Their family noticed something was wrong when their synchronized breathing stopped.

Daughter Donna Scharton said the elderly couple wanted to go together and it was meant to be that way.”

Kandikal Gate, Uppuguda, Tolichowki Flyovers to be Opened Soon

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Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would be inaugurating the road over bridge (RoB) at Tolichowki, Kandikal Gate and Uppuguda flyover soon and would be opened for public shortly.

The 770-metre Tolichowki flyover which is taken up at cost of Rs 38.41 crore will help in travelling from Mehidipatnam to Hitech city.

GHMC special officer Somesh Kumar told that the work on RoB at Tolichowki and at Kandikal Gate in Uppuguda is on the verge of completion and would provide hassle-free travel for motorists on these two routes.