Decision on withdrawing from Centre after talking to PM: Uddhav

"Joining NDA and then pulling out is not that easy. All MPs who have been elected and those who could not win have bagged votes of both Shiv Sena and BJP. It is the people's mandate. A decision will be taken after discussions with Prime Minister Modi and considering what our supporters feel," Uddhav told reporters after RPI(A) leader Arjun Dangle visited him to offer support in the next month's Assembly elections.

On Monday, Uddhav had announced that his party's minister in the Modi government, Anant Geete, will quit the ministry, four days after the BJP snapped ties with the alliance partner of 25 years.

The Sena will leave NDA and Geete will submit resignation after the Prime Minister returns from US, he had said.

Uddhav's announcement came after estranged cousin and NS chief Raj Thackeray criticised the Sena at a poll rally here Sunday for "sticking to" the Union ministerial berth despite end of the alliance with BJP.

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Rajan softens stance on Jan Dhan, says it's a welcome scheme

"We welcome the Jan Dhan Yojana, it is part of RBI's plan to get universal access," he told a press conference called for announcing bi-monthly monetary policy.

"I am not as worried about the quality of KYC for small accounts. In fact, we have essentially allowed for KYC that can be upgraded over time and in fact we have been more liberal on KYC," Rajan added.

The RBI governor had earlier cautioned the banks on the risks involved in just hunting for numbers, asking them not to compromise on core objectives of the programme.

"When we roll out the scheme, we have to make sure it does not go off the track. The target is universality, not just speed and numbers," Rajan had said while addressing bankers a fortnight ago.

However, on tuesady Rajan said he wanted a proper inclusion of unbanked households into the banking system.

"What I am more concerned about is that we actually achieve proper inclusion by bringing in households that were not reached in past... We are working with the government to try and make this dream a possibility," Rajan said.

Jan Dhan Yojana was launched with great fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August to bring 7.5 crore more families into the banking network by January 26, 2015.
  
So far, over 5.1 crore accounts have been opened and Rs 3,600 crore deposited in banks.

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Indian women lose to Kazakhstan in volleyball event play-off

The Kazakh women won the contest 25-20 25-19 25-20 in only 69 minutes as India will now play in the 7th-8th place play-off final.
   
India will play the loser of the encounter between Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei in the 7th-8th place play-off.
   
For India, the only saving grace was Tiji Raju, who got 11 points with some good dinks and spikes.
   
The disappointment as far as India was concerned was young Anushree Ghosh, one of the tallest girls in the team standing at 6 ft 1 inch. She could bag only a solitary point for her team.
   
The performance of libero Priyanka Khedkar was also below par as most of the times, her anticipation skills were questionable as she was not in perfect position to retrieve the powerful smashes executed by Yelena Gordeyeva, who got 11 points for her country.
   
The two Anastassiyas --Kolomoyets and Rostovchshikova, got seven points.

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'Bang Bang' a very difficult film for me: Katrina Kaif

The 31-year-old actress says she has been hard at work for over a year along with the team to bring the Rs 140 crore film to the big screen.
  
"Whatever was required in the film I was able to do myself and execute in a manner that was desired. The journey of the film was huge with action sequences, 6 to 7 locations all across the globe. It was a very difficult film for me. We had a very strong team and we did everything we could," Katrina told PTI.
  
'Bang Bang' also stars Hrithik Roshan, who plays the male lead and has been directed by Siddharth Anand. The Fox Star Studios-produced film is set to hit theaters on October 2.   

Katrina said the look and feel of the film does give out the impression of it being a action movie but 'Bang Bang' blossoms into a love story.
  
"What attracted me to the film is that along with action there is a very good storyline behind it. There is action in the film but it is basically a love story," she said.  

When asked if she was open to play the lead in a female-centric action film, Katrina said since she pulled off stunts in 'Bang Bang' she could do a 'Tom Raider' or 'Kill Bill'.
  
"The stunts that you see in the trailer I have done mostly myself. You know if a good script comes then I would love to do solo action films. I don't think physical challenges scare me provided I have time to train and prepare," the actress said.

'Bang Bang' is an official remake of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz starrer Hollywood film 'Knight and Day' but Katrina said the similarity of the two films ends there as Siddharth has given the former a complete Indian feel.     

"It is an official remake so obviously comparisons are inevitable. But having said that I think Siddharth has completely given his own take. It is inspired by the original but not copied same to same. I think he has done a great job to adapt it to suit the Indian audience. People will not feel they are watching the same film," Katrina said.   

The actress said having a co-star in Hrithik, with whom she shared a crackling chemistry in their last outing 'Zindagi Milegi Naa Dobara', was great as he brought out the best in her.
  
"It was great to work with someone who is so passionate and he makes you want to push yourself. It always makes a better end result," she said.
  
The film suffered several delays in its shooting stage with lead star Hrithik's injury and subsequent brain surgery besides the cancellation of the Kashmir schedule of the film due to unrest in the Valley.
  
However, Katrina says the delays did not affect her other film commitments like 'Jagga Jasoos' and 'Phantom'.
  
"Things happened, no body can predict the future and we go along. We have to learn to adapt to it, adjust and make it work. Thankfully, the makers of the other films that I had signed understood the situation and allowed me the time. They were very accommodating," she said.

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Over 1.36 lakh Indian pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for Haj

"All the 1,36,020 Indian Haj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia with the last flight carrying 394 pilgrims from Mumbai arriving yesterday," Indian Consul General BS Mubarak said.

Monday was the last day of flight operations, he said. Two senior BJP leaders representing India at this year's Haj also arrived on Monday.

Arif Beg, a former federal minister who hails from Bhopal, is heading the delegation and is accompanied by Abdul Rasheed Ansari, National President of party's minority wing, of Delhi.

Ambassador of India Hamid Ali Rao received the Haj Goodwill Delegation headed by Baig.

The first batch of Indians arrived in Saudi Arabia on August 27 when 235 pilgrims landed in Madinah while the final batch reached the country on Monday, with a total of 365 flights carrying the pilgrims for Haj this year.

Of the 136,020 Indian pilgrims who have reached Saudi Arabia this year, 100,020 came through the Hajj Committee of India.

Saudi Airlines carried 49,230 Indian pilgrims while Air India transported 50,790 others from 21 embarkation points.

The remaining 36,000 pilgrims came through private tour operators.

Over two million pilgrims, coming from all corners of the globe, will begin their trek to the tent city of Mina on Thursday on the first leg of the five-day pilgrimage.

The Haj will reach its zenith on Friday, October 3, when nearly 3 million pilgrims will stand on the plains of Arafat. The pilgrimage will end after Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam that should be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is financially and physically capable.

On Monday, Mubarak had said all preparations have been completed to ensure that the 1,36,000 Indian pilgrims can perform a hassle-free Haj with everything going according to plan.

Source:Latest News from India News

Modi's visit offers golden opportunity to reboot India-US ties

Modi's visit to Washington will provide the two countries with "a golden opportunity to repair their faltering partnership," wrote Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a leading Washington think tank.

Tellis, who was involved as an adviser in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India, wrote, "Modi can, through the conduct of his diplomacy during this visit, do the three things necessary to renew bilateral ties in their most fundamental terms."

"First, Modi must build personal relationships with key interlocutors," he suggests. Modi's second task is to rejuvenate the concept of "strategic partnership," Tellis wrote noting during then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, US-Indian relationship acquired genuine depth for the first time since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Modi's third task during his visit will be to co-opt American civil society to support India's development, he said. "What US-Indian relationship desperately needs for lasting success at this juncture is not more activities, regardless of how valuable or well-intentioned those may be," Tellis wrote.

"Rather, President Barack Obama and Modi should seek a genuine rediscovery and reaffirmation of the fundamentals that brought the two countries together in the first place."

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Twining, senior fellow for Asia at the German Marshall Fund of United States, suggested "America anticipates an Indian resurgence that could tilt Asia's power balance in a democratic direction and drive global growth."Obama and Modi, he said, "should embrace an agenda that strengthens their role as democratic and economic counterweights to growing global disorder."

"A thriving India could also uplift the region, including troubled Pakistan. As sectarian violence engulfs the Middle East, India and its nearly 200 million Muslims exemplify relative tolerance," Twining wrote.

"United States has a considerable stake in India's success," he wrote. "Modi urgently needs to revitalize India's economic fortunes and manage pressing security challenges. For both he could use, and deserves, American help."Richard M Rossow, the Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank noted that since Modi's election people have been wondering whether his development record in Gujarat can be replicated nationally.

"Most people take this to be a polar question-either 'yes' or 'no.' The reality is likely to be somewhere in between," he wrote in a commentary."There will be a stronger emphasis on the economy, greater direction in policymaking, and faster decision-making. India will not be completely transformed overnight, or even within five years," Rossow wrote.

"But the business environment will improve quite a bit. The biggest transformation is likely to occur in a critical 'Arc of Industry,' an important block of states in western and central India that will likely be controlled by the BJP and allies, and which contain key productive assets," he suggested.

Source: Latest News from World News

First Ebola treatment clinical trials to start in West Africa

"Ebola treatments are to be tested in West Africa for the first time," said the Wellcome Trust, a British biomedical research charity, which is funding the effort with a 3.2 million pound grant (USD 5.2 million).

The charity said there had been some experiments with treatments already "but none has yet been tested for efficacy and safety in humans with Ebola" and scientists underlined that months of cautious work lay ahead.

David Heymann, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine suggested that plasmapheresis, where serum is taken from survivors and their antibodies given to patients, could be a valuable tool in the battle to contain the epidemic.

"This would be a sustainable method of providing support to patients if it were effective, but unfortunately it has never been tested in a clinical setting, even though it has been used ad hoc many times," he said at a press conference at Wellcome's headquarters in London.

Heymann said that they hoped to collect enough serum for trials to begin once suitable sites had been identified.

Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said that William Pooley, the British nurse who recovered after contracting the disease in Sierra Leone, had volunteered his blood plasma.

Pooley was treated with ZMapp, and clinical tests of this experimental drug, along with anti-viral drugs, will also begin once possible sites for the trials in the affected countries have been established.

Health workers must also set up infrastructure and recruit personnel, pending WHO recommendations on which products to test first. The first tests could take place "by November", according to Peter Horby, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at Oxford University.

Wellcome added that the initiative, whose partners include the World Health Organisation (WHO), would aim to "fast-track trials of the most promising drugs", but warned that it would take several months before any treatments bore fruit, and that they would only succeed as part of a wide raft of initiatives to combat the disease.

Several pharmaceutical companies are taking part in the tests, and will provide key data on safety and production abilities.

Source:Latest News from World News

Foreign investors positive about India: Vodafone CEO

"Some of the steps taken by the government are good and investors like it. The mood of the investors with the new government is positive because the programmes are good, the intentions are good," he told reporters here.

However, he added: "We need to have simple rules, enough resources and quick decisions."

Colao was here to the release "Footprints IV - Steps Today for a Better Tomorrow", the fourth edition of the company's annual sustainability report.

"Now it has to be ensured that political intentions are then translated into administrative actions. There is too much stuff that is locked into the offices of the regulator and the ministries," he said.

He said "quick decisions" will provide the much-needed encouragement to the international companies to work in India. Vodafone, the world's second largest telecom company, has taxation issues with Indian government.

Slapped with a Rs.20,000 crore retrospective capital gains tax after it acquired the telecom assets of an Indian company in 2007, Vodafone has earlier maintained that it will continue with the ongoing international arbitration to resolve the dispute.

Vodafone entered India in 2007 by buying Hutchison Whampoa's assets in a $11 billion deal.

Applauding the Digital India initiatives of the Indian government, Colao said the government cannot do it alone and it will need the assistance of the private sector to fructify this initiative.

"I really applaud the initiatives of this government. I applaud the digital initiative of the government. In India they should not think just the initiative from government alone can resolve the issues. It is surely creating better position for private sector to invest and we will invest. We want to invest to serve the customers. Trust the private sector and we will deliver. We are the real engine to drive Digital India service," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address to the nation on August 15 envisaged a Rs.1 lakh crore ($16 billion) project to transform the country into a digitally empowered and connected knowledge economy.

"The main reason why India is lagging behind other Asian countries in the broadband connection is because there is not enough availability of spectrum. Compared to other countries where Vodafone service is available, the situation is not very encouraging and that needs to change," Marten Pieters, chief executive officer, Vodafone India said.

The company so far has invested Rs.70,000 crore in India and has 92 million rural customers.

Sourec: Latest News from Business News

Sensex closes 31 points down after SC coal verdict

In a major blow to the corporate sector, the apex court today quashed allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks which were alloted to various companies since 1993 and in which it was claimed that around Rs 2 lakh crores were invested.
  
Following the ruling, Jindal Steel and Power tumbled 9.99 percent and Usha Martin dived 11.83 percent, among others. Lenders like SBI and ICICI Bank also logged losses.
  
A cautious stance by participants before the expiry of the monthly derivatives contracts tomorrow also influenced the sentiment.
  
"As Supreme Court in another verdict once again declared allocation of most of the coal blocks as illegal, high volatility was seen. Meanwhile, Prime Minister's US visit shall be in focus in coming sessions," said Nidhi Saraswat, Senior Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio.
  
The Sensex after opening in positive zone rose to the day's high of 26,844.70 in early trade. However, it succumbed to selling pressure after the Supreme Court's ruling and touched a low of 26,560.00. Buying towards fag-end in select bluechips helped the Sensex recoup major part of losses to close barely 31 points, or 0.12 percent, down at 26,744.69.
  
The gauge had plunged 431.05 points in yesterday's trade on selling by foreign funds and weak global cues.
  
On similar lines, the NSE 50-share Nifty after dipping below the 8,000-mark to hit a low of 7,950.05, recovered partially to close at 8,002.40, down a mere 15.15 points, or 0.19 percent.
  
Bucking the trend, stocks of Coal India climbed 5.02 percent, Hindustan Unilever 2.87 percent, Cipla 2.62 percent, ITC 1.58 percent and Wipro 1.56 percent.
  
Tata Power and NTPC also ended in the green.
  
Meanwhile, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a whopping Rs 1,185.17 crore yesterday as per the provisional data issued by stock exchanges.
  
Global cues were not conducive as Asian bourses ended mixed. European markets were also weak in early trades.   

Sectorwise, BSE Capital Goods index suffered the most by losing 1.69 percent, followed by Realty 1.69 percent, Consumer Durables index 1.27 percent, Banking index 1.08 percent, Auto index 0.51 percent and Power index 0.36 percent.

Source:Latest News from Business News

Anjali Patil hopes 'Finding Fanny' opens new doors for her

The 27-year-old actress, who appears in a few dream sequences and also in the end of the movie, says the film will help people see her in a different light.
  
"I think it might open new opportunities. I donned a glamorous avatar, which I have not done before in my films. I think my role in 'Finding Fanny' will help people see me in that glamorous space. They will know that I can also pull off such roles," Anjali said.
  
The actress said she had no apprehensions about doing a cameo appearance in the Homi Adajania-directed film as she was more than happy to do a movie with veterans like Pankaj Kapur, Dimple Kapadia besides getting to play Naseeruddin Shah's love interest.
  
"I had no reason to say no to 'Finding Fanny'... it has such an amazing cast. The film is very good and I am really happy that I was approached for it. Homi is an amazing director. It is one of the ground breaking films in India. When Homi approached me with the role he said he was looking for Fanny and I looked like her. And also I got to shoot with Naseer saab," she said.
  
Anjali made her film debut with international independent project 'Delhi in a Day' and was critically appreciated for her role.
  
The actress has bagged a National Award (Special Mention) for her performance in Telugu film 'Na Bangaru Talli'. Her other works include Prakash Jha's 'Chakravyuh' and Sri Lankan drama 'With You Without You', for which she bagged the best actress award at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2012.
  
When asked why she has abstained from doing mainstream films except for 'Chakravyuh' and the forgettable 'Shree', Anjali says she does not have hang ups about doing just Bollywood as she wants to try her hands in everything be it Hindi, regional or international cinema.
  
"For me it is not just about Bollywood. I want to be part of great cinema, be it Hindi, regional, international. I want to do it all. I want to star in films that cater to a larger audience. So there was a time when I was not working at all and it was a conscious decision. After 'Chakravyuh' I was getting all similar type of intense roles. I did not want to do such films and regret it later. If I don't get a good vibe from the script, I don't take it up at all," Anjali said.
  
The actress is happy to see that the obsession of directors with stars has also minimized in Bollywood as some filmmakers are choosing good performers over big names.
  
"The times are changing. The directors may be getting stars for their films but they want them to perform. Even the audience wants that now. I think performers are more in demand now, not stars," she said.
  
Anjali has bagged a role in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Mirziya'. Besides that she is also set to begin filming Gajendra Ahire's next, which will be her Marathi film debut and an international project which will go on floors by year end.

Source: Latest news from Entertainment News

Hrithik Roshan starts #BangBangDare on Twitter

Hrithik Roshan has got on to a micro-blogging site and started a 'BANG BANG dare' challenge! Although actress Nargis Fakri began this trend on Twitter by daring her fans and others to try out a fitness challenge. Nargis' tweet read, "Living a healthy lifestyle is not easy. It takes will power to stay away from yum bad stuff. 8 days No coffee & No Sugar! I Dare YOU 2 Try!"

Taking forward the trend, Hrithik tweeted back, "Now that's what a call a bangbang dare!!! I take the challenge!! I'm on!! Anyone else care to join? @NargisFakhri"

The actor further decided to challenge Uday Chopra. He tweeted, “I'm taking this forward - my #bangbangdare to @udaychopra - 100 body weight pull ups (in 5 sets)!! U game? U have 5 days! Time starts now!!" To this Uday replied, “Ok @ihrithik #Bangbangdare done...yes I tried some special effects.”

Hrithik also dared ‘Khoosurat’ actress Sonam Kapoor and actor Dino Morea. The tweets read, "My #bangbangdare 2 khoobsoorat @sonamakapoor A collection of ur happiest craziest smiles on d super success of khoobsoorat!! Dis 1we deserve!" and "To d muscleman @DinoMorea9 your #bangbangdare - 20 parallel bar dips! 1 set!! U have 3 days!! Do u accept?"

He later posted on his Twitter saying, "The prizes to the #bangbangdare shall be announced soon! @udaychopra is our 1st winner! Give it up for Uday guys!!"

After daring his co-actors, he encouraged his fans to take up the challenge in order to improve their lifestyle, "Now d ultimate #bangbangdare 2 al d smokers out der! No smoking for 3 days.dats d time it takes nicotine to exit your system! DO IT!!"

The star is currently busy with his upcoming film Bang Bang directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Fox Star Studios. Bang Bang is the official remake of the Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz starrer Knight and Day. The film is slated to release on October 2.

Source: Latest news from Entertainment News

True love stays forever

The skeletal remains of the couple were locked in an embrace for the past 700 years.

"We have seen similar skeletons before from Leicester where a couple has been buried together in a single grave," said Vicki Score, a project manager with the University of Leicester' Archaeological Services (ULAS).

Archeologists believe the lost chapel of St Morrell could have served as some sort of special place of burial at the time.

Through radiocarbon dating process, archaeologists found 11 skeletons from the site dating back to the 14th century.

"The site may have served as a place of pilgrimage in Hallaton, a village in east Leicestershire, during the 14th century, researchers noted.

They also found money among the ruins, including several silver pennies, dating back to the 12th-16th centuries.

Source:Latest News from Lifestyle News

Hockey: Indian men eye big win over Sri Lanka in Asiad opener

After the islanders, the Sardar Singh-led side will face Oman on September 23 before more tough encounters against arch-rival Pakistan (September 25) and China (September 27).
   
Two-time gold medallist India, who stood top of the podium in 1966 and 1998, would definitely be looking for thumping wins over Sri Lanka and Oman to boost their confidence before they take on the big guns.
   
The Asian Games will be the first major international hockey competition to feature the new format where the duration of the game has been reduced from 70 to 60 minutes. The game will also be played in four quarters of 15-minute each instead of the regular two halves of 35 minutes each. There will be a 40-second time-out when a penalty corner is awarded and after a goal is scored.
   
The new format was introduced by the International Hockey Federation to make the game more fast-paced and viewer friendly and the Asian Games will be a test of character of India's adaptability to changing rules.
   
India is the second-best among Asian teams in world rankings at no.9 behind four-time winners and tournament hosts South Korea.
   
But going by the amount of international exposure Terry Walsh's boys had in the last one year, which includes the World Cup and Glasgow Commonwealth Games, India are definitely touted as one of the title favourites in the 17th edition of the Asiad.

For India, the added incentive to win the gold here is a direct berth to Rio Olympics as the winners of the Asian Games will earn a direct entry into the 2016 mega-event.
   
Having failed to utilise the opportunity in the last edition after losing to Malaysia in the semi-finals of the 2010 Guangzhou Games, the Indians would be desperate to avoid a repeat this time around.

Source:Latest News from Sports News

Walmart to extend online wholesale platform reach from 1st October

US-retail giant at present operates B2B e-commerce platform in two cities Hyderabad and Lucknow.

"Starting October 1, members of Best Price wholesale stores in Guntur and Vijayawada can shop and book orders online," the company said in a statement.

The e-commerce platform will provide the same range of products as its wholesale stores, including a select variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, it added.

"Given the tremendous support from our members for this initiative, we will continue to extend this (e-commerce portal) in a phased manner to our other stores as well," Walmart India President and Chief Executive Officer Krish Iyer said.

The platform, www.bestprice wholesale.co.in, is for registered members of Best Price Modern Wholesale stores.

At present, Walmart is engaged in cash-and-carry business in India. It called off a six year partnership with Bharti Enterprises in October last year.

US retail giant operates 20 wholesale stores under the brand 'Best Price' in India.

Source:Latest News from Business News

18 IS jihadis killed fighting Syria Kurds: Report

The Observatory said that on Friday Islamic State jihadists had seized 60 Kurdish villages near the Turkish border in a lightning two-day campaign as they close in on Ain al-Arab.

The town in Aleppo province is Syria's third largest Kurdish town, and would give IS control of a long stretch of the country's northern border with Turkey.

The fighting in the area has prompted an exodus of residents, many of whom have sought to cross into Turkey, which opened its border on Friday.

The Observatory said the fighting was continuing and reported "heavy clashes" in the area around Ain al-Arab.

Source:Latest News from World News

7.1-magnitude quake strikes off Guam: USGS

"A destructive tsunami was not generated because this earthquake is located too deep inside the earth," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

Guam, the largest island in Micronesia with a population of 180,000, is no stranger to earthquakes, but tsunamis hit only rarely.

The largest quake in recent years hit in 1993. Although no one died in the 7.7-magnitude tremor, several people were injured and buildings suffered structural damage.

Geo-science Australia said Wednesday’s quake, which it estimated at a magnitude of 6.6, was not shallow enough to have generated a tsunami.

"It gave Guam a good shake but not enough to do much damage, no damage likely," seismologist Daniel Jaksa said.

Jaksa added that the Guam tremor hit about three minutes after a 6.0 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific nation of Vanuatu but the two were unrelated.

The Vanuatu quake, estimated at a depth of more than 200 kilometers, hit offshore about 150 kilometers north of the capital Port Vila but was not expected to trigger a tsunami.

"There's nothing unusual about earthquakes in this region," he said.

Vanuatu lies on the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, a zone of frequent seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.

Source:Latest News from World News

SEBI plans annual information memorandum for listed companies

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has started work with regard to annual information memorandum for listed companies and it is going to be mandatory, Chairman U K Sinha on Wednesday said.

Noting that such an exercise would help in a variety of ways, Sinha said, "One is that you will not be visited by undue litigations from the regulators".

"Secondly, if you are going to raise some funds, either debt or equity, you don't have to update this information again and again. That is another idea why we are doing this," he said.

The idea is that let this information rest in the system and if there are minor changes or adjustments to be made to the specific issue then that can be done, the Sebi chief said.

He was speaking at a conference organised by industry body CII.

On whether this memorandum requirement is going to be introduced through guidelines or by amending the corporate governance norms, Sinha said it would be both.

"It (memorandum) will be a far reaching thing because today a corporation which has filed everything as per Sebi requirement can still be hauled up, that is a lacunae in our system," he said.

According to him, if an entity has filed some information under the takeover regulations as well as part of disclosure requirements, both are taken separately.

"So for an analyst, a shareholder, a stakeholder it becomes a problem and it also becomes a problem for corporations that are willing to comply," he added.

The capital market watchdog already has stringent corporate governance norms for listed entities, as part of efforts to ensure more transparency.

Source:Latest News   from Business News

B-town wishes Narendra Modi on his birthday

Ajay Devgn: Wishing strength and my best wishes to @narendramodi on his b'day to meet the expectations of millions of ppl looking up to him.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Many happy returns of the day to our PM Shri @narendramodi ji Wish u health & happiness. Under your leadership, a progressive India beckons.

Anupam Kher: Happy birthday Prime Minister @narendramodi. May god give you long life to serve our country. Love, Happiness & Peace Always

Shatrughan Sinha: Wishing a very happy birthday to the Most Dynamic Leader &Hon'ble Prime Minister of our country Shri @NarendraModi ji

Shekhar Kapur: Not sure you will get time to celebrate Sir, but
#happybirthdaynarendramodi anyway. Hope you stay healthy and strong. @narendramodi

Shreyas Talpade: For the first time in my life I've felt like wishing a prime minister of our country a very very happy birthday. HB sir @narendramodi

Mallika Sherawat: Happy Birthday to our beloved Prime Minister @narendramodi.

Sangeeth Sivan: Wish u a very happy b day @narendramodi ji... more power and vision to you.

Tusshar Kapoor: A very happy birthday to honourable PM Shri @narendramodi ji!! A million more to the #gamechanger!

Randeep Hooda: Mr @narendramodi:A hope to a country taken over by people full of nepotism and hunger for power nt the betterment of a nation #happybirthday.

Shweta Tiwari: Wishing our dynamic PM Narendra Modi ji HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May god give u all to work for people of India    @narendramodi #HappyBirthDayPM

Virr Das: Happy Birthday Narendra Modi. I know you wanted something cool, but we got you a Jinping.

 Source:  Latest news from Entertainment News

Fat people fail to recognize abnormal weight

"The failure to recognize abnormal weight occurs more often among overweight or obese mothers and children," said lead author Tracy Paul from the Weill-Cornell Medical College in US.

"Children of obese mothers often also underestimate adult size, suggesting that tolerance of being overweight is common among children exposed to obese parents," Paul added.

Many parents of obese children do not try to prevent their children from becoming obese because they simply fail to recognize abnormal weight.

The researcher queried 253 mothers and their children about their perceptions of healthy and ideal body sizes. The researchers found that 71.4 percent of obese adults and 35.1 percent of overweight adults underestimated size, compared to 8.6 percent of people of normal weight.

Among overweight and obese children, 86.3 percent and 62.3 percent respectively think they weigh less than they actually do, versus 14.9 percent of children of normal weight.

Mothers of overweight children had a particularly poor showing. Eighty percent of them underestimated their child's weight, compared to 7.1 percent of mothers with normal weight children and 23.1 percent of mothers with obese offspring.

Children with obese mothers, too, found weight difficult to judge, with the vast majority of them incorrectly classifying an adult's size.

"This is worrying, as flawed weight perception impedes one's ability to recognize obesity and its risks as a personal health issue," Paul noted.

The study appeared in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Source:Latest News from Lifestyle News

Apple iPhone comes out of a ‘bygone era’, reviewers hail bigger handset

Most reviewers say that the iPhone 6 is the best smartphone available or "ever made", while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus has been described as a "phablet" that will give competition to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy S line of 'big' Android phones.
              
"I think it's a terrific phone. In my view, it's the best smartphone on the market, when you combine its hardware, all-new operating system, and the Apple ecosystem whose doors it opens," Walt Mossberg wrote of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in the tech blog Re/code.              

Geoffrey Fowler, who reviewed the phones for the Wall Street Journal, said Apple has "successfully addressed its size deficiency."
              
Mossberg said the increase in the screen size is a "catch-up" feature. But it is seen as a welcome change by Fowler, who said the iPhone "felt stuck in a bygone era called 2012" before the launch of the bigger phones.
              
New York Times reviewer Molly Wood appreciated the new "thinner, flatter and more rounded shapes" of both the phones. But she pointed out that the sleek look comes at the cost of the phones feeling "slippery".
              
The improvements made to the operating system - the iOS 8 software, and that to the camera were given a thumbs up by reviewers across the board. However, most believed that Apple could have done more to enhance the battery life of the phones.
              
Joshua Topolski, who reviewed the phones for Bloomberg, said they were faster than their predecessors.

"Apple will tell you that these are the fastest mobile devices it's ever made, and it wouldn't be lying. These phones scream," Topolski wrote. The new iPhone 6 goes on sale on September 19 in the United States.

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Asus sells over 1 lakh units Zenfone smartphones, aims to be among top 5 by next year

He, however, clarified that talks are still on to clinch a seat-sharing formula.
  
"They (BJP) offered a proposal under which they wanted to contest 135 seats and I have rejected it," Uddhav, who had on Saturday asserted the next Chief Minister would be from "Shiv Sena only" if the saffron alliance came to power, told reporters.
  
Reflecting the growing tension between the two oldest allies in the Centre’s ruling NDA, he said, "Everything has an alternative. I have conveyed it to BJP that I can't go beyond a point (over the number of seats to contest)."
  
He was asked whether Shiv Sena had kept open the option of going to the hustings alone.
  
Senior BJP leader and spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy had said his party had proposed that after allotting seats to smaller allies like RPI(A) and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana of Raju Shetty, the two major constituents of 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) should contest an equal number of 135 seats.
  
Shiv Sena and BJP had contested 169 and 119 seats respectively in the 2009 assembly election.
  
Uddhav also said since "talks are still on and till the decision on alliance is reached, I will not say anything negative".

  
"I have nothing to say on BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari's comment that the talks have been stalled and BJP is contemplating going alone. It is surprising that those who are not involved in the talks are saying discussions are not happening," he said.


The ties between the two parties, Uddhav said, were 25- years-old and the "going has been good for Shiv Sena and BJP together. We should pull down this Congress-NCP government and save the people of Maharashtra".
  
"We want all Hindutva forces to come together. If BJP says the party with more MLAs will get chief ministership, it should not forget that it was also decided that Sena will contest 171 and BJP 117 seats in the assembly. How can one remember only one part of the arrangement made by Balasaheb (Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray)," he said.
  
He said differences over the number of seats each alliance partner would contest were normal ahead of polls but the two parties have stuck together every time. "I hope this time too we are on the same side," he said, adding the talks are expected to conclude in 2-3 days.
  
"BJP had its mission 272 for Lok Sabha polls, we have our mission 150 for the assembly election. Nobody should have any objection to it," he said.
    .
Uddhav said he was in touch with state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis and O P Mathur, incharge of party's affairs in Maharashtra, over seat-sharing.
  
The Sena chief also denied having said anything against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event organised by a TV news channel on Saturday.
  
"I did not say Shiv Sena did not benefit from Modi. I did not make fun of anybody," he said.
  
Uddhav had on Saturday said Shiv Sena's contribution to NDA's victory in Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra cannot be ignored.
  
"Did the Modi wave show in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Orissa and West Bengal? It depends on alliance partners as well. Modi is Prime Minister of our alliance," he had said.
  
"The comments made by him (Uddhav) were to demean Narendra Modi. Maharashtra BJP has strongly criticised and condemned the comments made by him. Our workers are insisting and pressurising the leadership to stop the talks," BJP's state unit spokesperson Madhav Bhandari had said on Sunday.

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J&K floods: Air India deploys two special flights in Kashmir

He added that besides public sector, private sector is also coming forward for humanitarian work.

Pusapati further said, "Air India has already put two flights into Srinagar. Probably by today evening, we might be able to give you some additional information on what we are doing with humanitarian work."

 

"We have put aircrafts at the disposal because air is the only connectivity there. We are happy to inform you that not only the public sector but private sector is also coming forward to help," he added.

Lakhs of people continue to be stranded in various parts of the flood and landslide ravaged state of Jammu and Kashmir, even as personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, besides other allied natural calamity units are battling against time to restore normalcy to the region.

However, earlier in the day two teams of NDRF equipped with 30 boats on Tuesday reached Srinagar as the force launched ‘intensive’ operations to rescue people marooned and stranded by floods and rising waters.

It may be mentioned here that a total of 10,470 people have been rescued by the NDRF till now as over 150 boats and other critical equipment has been lowered down in the flood affected areas, he said.

The worst floods to hit the state in six decades have claimed nearly 200 lives.

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Ban on e-rickshaws will continue: Delhi High Court

The High Court further said that what is prohibited under law, cannot be permitted.

It is worth mentioning that earlier in August the court asked the Transport Ministry to submit the proposal after observing that as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the hands of the court are tied in respect of allowing e-rickshaws to ply.

The court had on August 21, refused to pass any interim order to permit their operation saying ‘we have to be clear about what we are doing, can't do it just like that’.

 

However, on July 31, the court banned plying of e-rickshaws on city roads on the plea of social activist Shanawaz Khan who had alleged that these vehicles which are designed to ferry only four people including the driver, carry more than eight people at a time, endangering their lives.

While banning the e-rickshaws, the court had observed that the vehicles are illegally running on Delhi roads and ‘prima facie a hazard to other traffic as well citizens’.

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India most optimistic on hiring plans for December quarter: Manpower

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released on Tuesday, Indian employers anticipate a ‘vigorous’ hiring pace for the next three months with as many as 46 percent employers planning to increase their staff strength.

Globally, fourth quarter hiring confidence is strongest in India, Taiwan and New Zealand, while the weakest forecasts are in Spain, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Finland.

"India's employers expect the optimism of a stable government to have an encouraging impact on the job market. Employers are back in hiring mode and we're seeing evidence of their renewed optimism across all industry sectors and all regions," ManpowerGroup India Group Managing Director A G Rao said.

Various initiatives on reinforcing business efforts which the government is undertaking -- such as stabilising the rupee, granting permission for new projects and encouraging the use of automation and technology in the government sector -- are expected to boost the job market, the report said.

"Amidst speculations and apprehensions, job-seekers are hoping for burgeoning employment opportunities across sectors," Rao said.

A sector-wise analysis shows that the most optimistic hiring plans are reported by employers in the services sector and the mining and construction sector, where net employment outlooks stood at 49 percent and 47 percent, respectively, said the survey that covered 5,287 employers across India.

From a regional perspective, employers in the Southern and Western regions anticipate the most opportunities for job seekers in the months ahead, reporting net employment outlooks of 54 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

Highlighting the talent shortage that the country is facing, Rao said "a pronounced skills gap persists throughout India's labour market and the government is also focusing on skill development as a core factor while reviving the job market in India, development of vocational skills will be the key agenda."

From a global perspective, hiring plans are mostly positive, with employers in 36 of the 42 countries and territories expecting to add to their workforce in the October-December period.

Across Asia Pacific, payrolls are expected to increase in the next three months. Indian employers reported the strongest hiring plans while the weakest Asia Pacific forecast was reported in mainland China.

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PCB to appeal against Ajmal's suspension

"The ban on Ajmal is a big blow to Pakistan cricket and we will appeal against the decision," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said in an instant reaction to the news of the ban.
   
PCB bigwigs and the national team manager and chief selector Moin Khan went into a emergency meeting at the Gaddafi stadium to chalk out a future strategy.
   
"We don't know the exact details but Saeed has the option of also working on his action and taking fresh tests when he is ready," Khan said.
   
"What we know is that the ICC has recently changed its protocol on testing bowlers with suspect actions and other bowlers have also been reported. We could appeal in two weeks time," he noted.
   
Pakistan's former captain, Rashid Latif said he was expecting a suspension on Ajmal, all of whose deliveries were found to be illegal.
   
"The ICC has come down hard on bowlers with even minor issues in their action and it appears things have changed from the past when leniency was shown by match officials and umpires," he said.
   
Latif said Ajmal has no option but to work on modifying his action and going for a fresh test before the World Cup.
   
"The domestic cricket season is also starting soon so he has the platform to work on his action."
   
A senior board official said that the board had already made up its mind to have experts work on Ajmal's action and hope he passes the ICC tests before the World Cup.
   
Ajmal, the top spinner in world cricket for the last three years, is not the first Pakistani bowler to be reported for a suspect bowling action as before him Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik have all been reported as well.
   
But Ajmal is the first Pakistani bowler under the new ICC protocols to be banned from bowling in  international cricket. He was reported during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle last month.
   
Pakistan's former chief selector and coach, Mohsin Khan said he was disappointed by the ban on Saeed Ajmal.
   
"He is a big asset for us and the PCB should now use all its resources to get him back into international cricket. I know no player is indispensable but if he is not available for the World Cup it will badly hit our chances of doing well there," Mohsin said.

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Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor promote Finding Fanny on India’s Raw Star

The only judge of the show Yo Yo Honey Singh welcomed the actors in style. They were seen singing, dancing and rapping on the show. The celebs, including Honey Singh and Gauahar Khan, posed for selfies and pictures with Arjun and Deepika. This was not for the first time that Deepika interacted with Honey Singh. She featured in Honey Singh’s song Angrezi Beat in her film Cocktail.

Dippy was looking stylish in a J Brand distressed jeans which she paired with a Forever 21 tee and a Falguni and Shane Peacock embellished jacket. She rounded off the look with Christian Louboutin pumps. Arjun was looking handsome in black trouser and jacket and military patterned T-shirt.

Anchor Gauahar Khan, who was seen flirting Arjun Kapoor in the movie Ishaqzaade, also entertained everyone by showing off some moves on the tunes of the song ‘Hua Chokra Jawaan Re.’

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Rice bucket challenge: India’s answer to ice-water version of ALS

In line with the mantra of 'charity begins at home', this campaign titled 'Rice Bucket Challenge' is a brain child of Manju Latha Kalanidhi, a Hyderabad-based journalist, who aims to save water and feed the hungry.

The challenge involves donating rice to a needy person.

"Cook or buy one bucket of rice or biryani and feed the poor in your locality. If you cannot take this challenge, donate medicines worth Rs 100 to the nearest government," Kalanidhi wrote on her Facebook page.

"Within 24 hours of posting this, I managed to begin charity at home...the recipient is Sathibabu, a daily labourer who sells idli dosas," says Kalanidhi.

Since then, the campaign has gained popularity among Indian netizens, who are posting pictures and videos while donating rice to those in need and challenging their friends to do the same.

The localised version 'Rice Bucket Challenge. Are you up for the desi challenge?' came up days after the original ALS ice bucket challenge had gone viral, as many users could not get used to the idea of wasting water and encouraging it.

Subsequently, this led to the creation of the Indianized version of the challenge.

The biggest mass donation so far, in one of the posts shared by Kalanidhi on her Facebook page, is by 2,000 students of a college who have pledged to donate 2,200 kilograms of rice.

Like many internet users, Divya Das, a professional says she readily took the 'Rice Bucket challenge' when she was challenged.

"Although the popular ALS ice bucket is creating awareness about the disease yet, it comes with its own catch of wasting water," she says adding, donating a rice bucket instead is more viable in India where at every traffic signal one can spot needy people.

Upon being challenged, Divya also added her own twist to it by donating rice to a girl and also feeding a stray dog.

"Since the idea was to reach out to as many people who are in need, then why not feed animals too? I love dogs and I thought I should take a step further by feeding a stray dog," she says.

After completing the challenge, Divya posted photographs on Facebook and challenged other friends to do the same.

The original ice bucket challenge has been designed to raise funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease and motor neurone disease (MND), which is a global viral phenomenon.

People took the challenge and nominated their friends to pour a bucket of ice water on their head, make a video and upload it on social networking websites such as Facebook or donate money to the ALS Association within a day.

The campaign gained such popularity that within seven days, donations skyrocketed totaling over USD 100 million, a statement by ALS Association said.

As several Hollywood celebrites including Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio took part in the ice-bucket challenge, their Bollywood counterparts also took the challenge.

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Protesters storm PTV office in Islamabad, stop transmission

Protesters barged into the Pakistan Television (PTV) network office smashing cameras and entered the control room, a media outlet reported.
  
The protesters seemed to have faced no security obstacles. Over 800 protesters entered the building.
  
Army personnel reached the headquarters of the TV station and asked the protesters to leave the building immediately.
  
Later, protesters responded to the calls by army personnel and started to leave the PTV headquarters.
  
Thousands of supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadiri are battling with the police since Saturday night to reach the front of the Prime Minister's House.
  
The clashes started when both Khan and Qadri asked their followers, camping in front of the Parliament, to shift the venue of protest to lawns of Premier's House.
  
Khan immediately denied that his party men were part of the protesters that had stormed the TV station.
  
"Whoever has entered the PTV headquarters are not our workers. I have not told any worker to proceed towards PM House or enter any building, the PTI chief said.
  
Khan added that whoever from his party entered the PTV headquarters will be removed from the party.
  
The protesters who stormed the PTV building were chanting slogans in favour of the Pakistan Army.
  
The demonstrators wrote Qadri's name on the walls of the PTV headquarters, a news channel reported.
  
Qadri asked his followers to vacate the building.

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Akhilesh leaves for Netherlands as UP faces power crisis

Accompanied by ministers and senior bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, Yadav will meet industry captains and government officials in the Netherlands.

The visit has been criticised by opposition parties, as it comes in the wake of a power crisis and drought in two-thirds of the state.

"Such trips are necessary, but its timing and the fact that both the CM and the chief secretary are away in such crisis situation speaks volumes of the casual approach of the government," said Vijay Bahadur Pathak, state spokesman of the BJP.

Leader of Opposition Swamy Prasad Maurya said, "The tour will make no difference" and accused the state government of being "indifferent to the plight of the common man.

"Soon after arriving in Amsterdam, Yadav is slated to visit the world's biggest flower auction centre Flora Holland at Aalsmeer to gather knowledge about techniques to grow flowers, their upkeep and marketing.

Uttar Pradesh is looking to expand its floral growth and maximize its exports.The same day, Yadav will hold a meeting with officers of the Netherlands Agro Food and Technology Centre.

This is relevant because major part of the harvest is wasted in the state due to lack of post-harvesting technology and collection.

The Chief Minister is also scheduled to meet The Hague Mayor Jozias Van Aartsen. The UP contingent is also likely to take tips on developing cycling as an option for commuters. More than 57 percent people of the Netherlands use bicycles.

The delegation will try to understand ways to have cycling tracks in places like Agra, Lucknow, Noida and Greater Noida in the state, an official accompanying the Chief Minister said.

Yadav will also visit the International Court of Justice at The Hague and meet trade groups and some NRIs.

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Gold extends losses, down Rs 90 on sluggish demand

Traders said slackened demand from jewellers and retailers and absence of cues from the global markets as US market are closed today on account of 'Labor Day', kept pressure on gold prices.

Besides, diversion of funds towards the record-breaking equity market also weighed on gold prices, they said.

In Delhi, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 percent purity remained under pressure and shed another Rs 90 each to Rs 28,175 and Rs 27,975 per ten gram respectively. It had lost Rs 35 on Saturday's trade.

Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 24,600 per piece of eight gram.

On the other hand, silver ready recovered by Rs 25 to Rs 42,800 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 90 to Rs 42,140 per kg. The white metal had lost Rs 225 in the previous session.

Silver coins continued to be asked at last level of Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

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United Bank of India declares Vijay Mallya as wilful defaulter

"We have declared Vijay Mallya and three other directors of Kingfisher Airlines as wilful defaulters," United Bank of India Executive Director Deepak Narang said.

The Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) of the bank has declared directors Ravi Nedungadi, Anil Kumar Ganguly and Subash Gupte as wilful defaulters.

Post this declaration, these persons and the entity would not be able to borrow from the bank in future. They would also lose Director-level positions in companies. Criminal proceeding could also be initiated against these persons if warranted.

Narang said the decision of GRC would be conveyed to the Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India, and Securities and Exchange Board of India for their information and action.

The GRC meeting was convened on Monday after a Calcutta High Court division bench allowed the bank to initiate the process of declaring them as wilful defaulters last week.

The GRC had asked directors to be present before it but no one turned up. Instead, they had sent a letter through their lawyer stating that they had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court and pending the judgment the bank should not proceed in this regard.

The Kolkata-based bank is the first PSU lender to initiate the process of declaring Vijay Mallya and three other directors of the grounded Kingfisher Airlines as willful defaulters a couple of months ago.

Subsequently, other banks such as State Bank of India, IDBI Bank and Punjab National Bank have also initiated the process of declaring KFA and its directors as willful defaulters.

The bank's exposure to Kingfisher Airlines was around Rs 350 crore as part of consortium led by State Bank of India.

The consortium of 17 banks, has an outstanding debt of about Rs 4,022 crore from the now-grounded carrier and outside the consortium, the bank gave about Rs 60 crore loan for Pre-Delivery payment.

As part of the recovery process, banks in February last year decided to sell a portion of the collateral with them, including shares of its group companies United Spirits Ltd and Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd, Mallya's Goa villa, Kingfisher House in Mumbai and the Kingfisher brand, which was valued at over Rs 4,000 crore at the time it was pledged.

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