Why a Court Has Stopped the Release of Sunny Deol"s New Film Mohalla Assi

New Delhi:  The release of Bollywood film ‘Mohalla Assi’ has been halted throughout the country by a Delhi court which today prima facie found it hurting religious sentiments and said it should not hit the theatres till allegedly offending scenes and dialogues are removed.

The court restrained the movie’s director, producer and Central Board of Film Certificate (CBFC) from releasing the film on July three till further orders. The film stars Sunny Deol, Ravi Kishan, Sakshi Tanwar among others.

Noting that the trailer showed the movie to be based on the surroundings of the Assi Ghat in Varanasi on the banks of river Ganga, the court said “in the entire trailer clip, characters have been shown using very filthy language.

“In one scene, a character dressed as Lord Shiva is shown using filthy lanuage. Use of such language by Lord Shiva makeover is really hurting. It may (hurt) religious sentiments of the people in case the movie is released and seen by public at large.”

“Therefore, at this stage, a prima facie case is made out that until the religiously hurting scenes and dialogues/words wherein the abusive and filthy language has been used, are removed, the movie should not be released,” Civil Judge Kishor Kumar said.

The court passed an ex-parte ad-interim injunction order against CBFC, the producer and director of the film and others saying they are “restrained from releasing the movie ‘Mohalla Assi’ all over India, scheduled to be released on July 3, 2015 till further orders”.

The court directed plaintiff Gulshan Kumar to get the order served to the defendants who have also been summoned for July 13.

The court passed the order on Kumar’s complaint seeking to restrain the director and producer from releasing the film on the grounds that its characters were shown using abusive and filthy language.

The plaintiff’s counsel also showed the trailer of the movie to the judge and said that in a scene, one character dressed as Lord Shiva has been depicted using “very abusive and filthy language”, charging few hundred rupees for snaps with people at the Ghat.

They said the trailer has been available on social media portals since June 12 and the plaintiff saw it for the first time on his mobile on WhatsApp on June 26.

The plaintiff also sought to restrain the defendants from advertising the movie until the alleged objectionable scenes are removed from it.



 

Government in Talks with All Stakeholders on IIM Draft Bill, Decision Expected Soon

New Delhi:  The controversial Draft Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bill that seeks to curtail autonomy of the IIMs is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of parliament by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, say sources.

The decision will be taken at the highest level within the next few days, even as the government faces criticism from the opposition for interfering in the functioning of educational institutions, according to sources. The ministry is trying to convince all stakeholders on certain portions of the bill and their views were being considered.

According to IIMs there are several clauses that threaten to infringe on their autonomy.

“If the bill turns out to be that a lot of decisions by the boards are subject to government approval, and the government has uniform norms, then that may or may not be best thing for certain IIMs,” said IIM Bangalore Director Sushil Vachani.

IIM Ahmedabad director Ashish Nanda has called it an erosion of autonomy, fearing it could be used as a tool to ‘micro-manage the Indian Institute of Management’.

Besides IIM-A, directors of Kolkata, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Indore have opposed the bill while chiefs of some of the new IIMs have supported it.

The draft bill says, “Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Institute (IIMs) shall, for efficient administration of this Act, be bound by such directions on questions of policy, as the Central Government may give in writing to it from time to time”.

The statement also said that “The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not, shall be final’ and “grants power to the Central Government to make rules that supersede the Board.”



 



It also states that the IIMs will need the approval of the Ministry before notifying any changes in fee structure, salary and remuneration and admission criteria.

The bill also provides for constitution of a co-ordination forum chaired by the HRD minister.

Spicejet Offers Special Fares for Carry-On Bags Only

It will be available on most direct domestic flights with a minimum 30 days advance purchase.

Why a Court Has Stopped the Release of Sunny Deol's New Film

The release of Bollywood film ‘Mohalla Assi’ has been halted throughout the country by a Delhi court which today prima facie found it hurting religious sentiments and said it should not hit the theatr…

Greece Proposes Two-Year Rescue Deal with EU

Greece on Tuesday requested a two-year rescue deal with the European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before its international bailout expires.

India Bans Oil Trade With Islamic State-Linked Organisations

India on Tuesday banned trade with Islamic State-linked entities in oil and other products, complying with a UN resolution to act against militants active in oil-rich countries such as Iraq, Syria and…

Spicejet Announces Discounts for Passengers Who Travel Light

Agencies | Updated On: June 30, 2015 19:16 (IST)

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India"s Next Weapon Against Climate Change? This Dwarf Cow

Worsening heat, fodder shortages and the threat of drought are forcing many hard-hit dairy farmers in the Anantapur area of southern Kerala to reduce their herds, experts say.

“This is the first time that due to lack of water and fodder, farmers are eagerly competing to sell off their livestock for throwaway prices,” said Ananthakrishnan Kannappan, a livestock agent for 30 years in Anantapur.

But the solution to the problem is simple and small, livestock experts argue: heat-tolerant dwarf cows.

A team of researchers from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and the state government’s Animal Husbandry Department are now promoting a switch to Vechur and Kasargod cattle, two local varieties known for being easy to raise, resistant to diseases and – most important – better at tolerating high temperatures than the more popular crossbred cattle.

“High-yielding crossbreed varieties of cattle can faint or even die during hot and humid summer days,” said EM Muhammed, an expert on animal breeding and genetics at the university. “Our natural breeds can better withstand the effects of climate change.”

Dwarf cows, on the other hand, appear to carry a “thermometer gene” that allows them to better tolerate high temperatures, researchers said.

Dwarf cows were already gaining popularity among some farmers because they consume less food and water than conventional cattle varieties, the experts said. Small-scale farmers need only one or two dwarf cows to meet the milk needs of their households, they said.

The breeds are also less susceptible to mastitis, a common udder infection.

Still, many commercial cattle farmers are sceptical about the benefits of downsizing to dwarves. Of the 2.3 million cattle in Kerala, only 6.5 percent are dwarf varieties, agricultural experts say.

One issue is cost. A dwarf cow costs almost the same as a larger crossbred – about 20,000 rupees. But a crossbreed cow, when it is healthy, produces much more milk than its dwarf counterpart, making crossbreeds a popular choice among farmers.

“I am concerned about the commercial aspects,” said K. Ravindran, a farmer from Palakkad. “In order to produce 10 litres of milk, a farmer has to rear at least four Vechur cows instead of one crossbreed.”

But Basha Balakrishnan, a farmer living in Calicut, says she can sell a litre of milk from the smaller animals for three times as much as the larger cows.

“Though dwarf milk is costlier, many people – especially the rich who live in flats in Calicut – are eager to purchase it because it is thought to be more nutritious than crossbred milk,” she said.

With India facing growing heat and drought threats, other state governments have reached out to learn more about Kerala’s dwarf cows as a way to help protect their own cattle and dairy industries.

Government officials from the state of Gujarat recently bought three Vechur cows from Kerala, while Punjab Chief Minister Prakesh Singh Badal took six dwarf cows from Kerala to his farm in Chandigarh, livestock experts say.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

India Bans Oil Trade With Islamic State-Linked Organisations

New Delhi:  India on Tuesday banned trade with Islamic State-linked entities in oil and other products, complying with a UN resolution to act against militants active in oil-rich countries such as Iraq, Syria and Libya.

“In compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution …, trade in oil and refined oil products, modular refineries and related materials, besides items of cultural (including antiquities), scientific and religious importance is prohibited,” India’s commerce ministry said in a notification.

The rapid rise of Islamic State, which first emerged in Syria and Iraq, is worrying Western powers who fear the militant group will forge a base just across the Mediterranean from mainland Europe.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi earlier this month urged the international community to help prevent the group from gleaning profits from oil smuggling.



 

© Thomson Reuters 2015

VIP Culture. Air India Flight Delayed by Chief Minister Fadnavis" Aide

Mumbai:  At a time when India’s repeatedly expressing its frustration with VIP culture, politicians and their aides appear to remain in thrall to special treatment. On Monday morning, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was delayed by nearly an hour on account of a member of the entourage of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

 

Sources said that the politician’s aide, Praveen Pardeshi, arrived at the airport with an outdated passport. Passengers were then forced to wait for 50 minutes while the bureaucrat’s new passport was delivered to him, said sources.

The Chief Minister is on an official trip to the US. Mr Pardeshi is a member of his delegation.



 



More details are awaited.

 



 



 

BJP Lawmakers Tear VAT Bill, Break Mic in Delhi Assembly

New Delhi:  A bill that will allow the Delhi cabinet to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) on commodities like fuel, liquor, tobacco and soft drinks by upto 30% was passed in the assembly today amid protests by the opposition BJP members.

Sources in the government say VAT on goods like tobacco and liquor could increase in the coming days.



 



BJP lawmaker Vijender Gupta tore copies of the bill into bits and walked out with his two party men, saying the proposed changes in the law would allow the AAP government to raise the price of fuel and other items.



 



“If he can’t understand the bill, then what can I do? There was a discussion after the amendment bill was introduced,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.



 



The government says the bill will allow it to impose VAT at “flexible rates” instead of a flat 20 per cent slab for some goods, but the tax rate has to be between 12.5 and 30 per cent.



 



BJP lawmakers accused the government of “fooling the people of Delhi” as the new measure would enable them to raise fuel prices, which would push up inflation.



 



Responding to the BJP’s objections, Mr Sisodia said Delhi’s cap on VAT is far lower than that of other states like Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab.



 



“We wanted a healthy discussion. But the bill being passed was without consensus and on top of that it was against the public,” said Vijender Gupta.

Another BJP lawmaker, OP Sharma, earlier broke a mic in the house alleging that it had been turned off to silence the opposition. AAP members asked him to apologise for damaging government property.

India"s Next Weapon Against Climate Change? This Dwarf Cow

Worsening heat, fodder shortages and the threat of drought are forcing many hard-hit dairy farmers in the Anantapur area of southern Kerala to reduce their herds, experts say.

“This is the first time that due to lack of water and fodder, farmers are eagerly competing to sell off their livestock for throwaway prices,” said Ananthakrishnan Kannappan, a livestock agent for 30 years in Anantapur.

But the solution to the problem is simple and small, livestock experts argue: heat-tolerant dwarf cows.

A team of researchers from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and the state government’s Animal Husbandry Department are now promoting a switch to Vechur and Kasargod cattle, two local varieties known for being easy to raise, resistant to diseases and – most important – better at tolerating high temperatures than the more popular crossbred cattle.

“High-yielding crossbreed varieties of cattle can faint or even die during hot and humid summer days,” said EM Muhammed, an expert on animal breeding and genetics at the university. “Our natural breeds can better withstand the effects of climate change.”

Dwarf cows, on the other hand, appear to carry a “thermometer gene” that allows them to better tolerate high temperatures, researchers said.

Dwarf cows were already gaining popularity among some farmers because they consume less food and water than conventional cattle varieties, the experts said. Small-scale farmers need only one or two dwarf cows to meet the milk needs of their households, they said.

The breeds are also less susceptible to mastitis, a common udder infection.

Still, many commercial cattle farmers are sceptical about the benefits of downsizing to dwarves. Of the 2.3 million cattle in Kerala, only 6.5 percent are dwarf varieties, agricultural experts say.

One issue is cost. A dwarf cow costs almost the same as a larger crossbred – about 20,000 rupees. But a crossbreed cow, when it is healthy, produces much more milk than its dwarf counterpart, making crossbreeds a popular choice among farmers.

“I am concerned about the commercial aspects,” said K. Ravindran, a farmer from Palakkad. “In order to produce 10 litres of milk, a farmer has to rear at least four Vechur cows instead of one crossbreed.”

But Basha Balakrishnan, a farmer living in Calicut, says she can sell a litre of milk from the smaller animals for three times as much as the larger cows.

“Though dwarf milk is costlier, many people – especially the rich who live in flats in Calicut – are eager to purchase it because it is thought to be more nutritious than crossbred milk,” she said.

With India facing growing heat and drought threats, other state governments have reached out to learn more about Kerala’s dwarf cows as a way to help protect their own cattle and dairy industries.

Government officials from the state of Gujarat recently bought three Vechur cows from Kerala, while Punjab Chief Minister Prakesh Singh Badal took six dwarf cows from Kerala to his farm in Chandigarh, livestock experts say.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

Airtel Becomes Third-Largest Mobile Operator Globally

Bharti Airtel on Tuesday said it has become the third-largest mobile operator in the world in terms of subscribers.

As per the latest data published by World Cellular Information Service, Bharti Airtel, with over 303 million mobile subscribers across its operations, has moved up one position in the global rankings.

China Mobile and Vodafone Group occupied the first and second positions respectively.

Bharti Airtel is a telecom service provider with operations in 20 countries across South Asia and Africa.

“This is a major landmark in the journey of Airtel and underlines the strength of our business model and our brand that is loved by customers across 20 countries,” Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, said.

“Today, we seamlessly manage global-scale operations in diverse geographies and deliver the same world-class services to each customer, this perhaps is one of our biggest achievements.”

Bharti Airtel’s mobile network covers over 1.85 billion people and carried over 1.23 trillion minutes of calls and over 333 petabytes of data in 2014-15.

Airtel has in the recent past been rolling out its 4G mobile and Internet services across the country, with trials in major cities including Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in June had released figures about the total telephone subscriber base at the end of April, and said Airtel’s wireless subscriber base stood at 228.25 million. As per figures released by industry body COAI in June, Airtel’s subscriber base at the end of May stood at 229.44 million.

Written with inputs from Ians

VIP Culture. Air India Flight Delayed by Chief Minister Fadnavis" Aide

Mumbai:  At a time when India’s repeatedly expressing its frustration with VIP culture, politicians and their aides appear to remain in thrall to special treatment. This morning, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was delayed by nearly an hour on account of a member of the entourage of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

 

Sources said that the politician’s aide, Praveen Pardeshi, arrived at the airport with an outdated passport. Passengers were then forced to wait for 50 minutes while the bureaucrat’s new passport was delivered to him, said sources.

 

The Chief Minister is on an official trip to the US. 

 

More details are awaited.

 

Greece Crisis Makes Travel Packages More Affordable: Cox & Kings

The Greece Crisis means more affordable travel packages for Indians, tour and travel operator Cox & Kings told NDTV. Cash-strapped Greece is staring at the possibility of being shunted out of the euro zone. (With Default Looming, Europe Offers Greece a Last-Minute Deal)

“Weakening of euro means the packages become much more attractive and affordable for the Indian customers, thereby propelling demand,” said Anil Khandelwal, chief financial officer of Cox & Kings.

The rupee has appreciated around 8 per cent against the euro in the past 6 months, making Europe a cheaper destination for travellers. If a quick solution is not found to the Greece crisis, euro may weaken further against global currencies, analysts say.  

The Greece crisis will also provide a boost to revenues, Cox & Kings said. “So a weak euro from an Indian business perspective actually means enhanced revenues for us,” Cox and Kings’ Mr Khandelwal said.

Cox & King’s rival Thomas Cook has also said that the Greece crisis is actually beneficial for Indian customers. The weakening of the euro on the back of the Greece crisis was anticipated for some time and Thomas Cook has been passing on the benefit of the depreciation of the euro or strengthening of the rupee to customers, its managing director Madhavan Menon told NDTV.

Greece put restrictions on ATM (automated teller machine) withdrawals and its banks will remain shut till July 6. (Greece Shuts Banks, Limits ATM Withdrawals)

On Tuesday, while the Cox & Kings stock ended 0.72 per cent down at Rs 234.50, Thomas Cook shares ended 0.50 per cent up at Rs 222.55.

Elected With 1.5 Lakh Margin

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has won her election to the state legislature with a  margin of 1.5 lakh votes.

Ms Jayalalithaa’s victory from the constituency of RK Nagar, in the capital of Chennai, was expected. The size, however, reinforces that her popularity has taken no dings despite allegations of a corruption scam that led to her brief arrest last year.

Her nearest competitor in today’s election, C Mahendran of the Left, lost his deposit.

The 67-year-old former movie star was disqualified as a legislator in September, when she was found guilty of acquiring vast wealth during her first term as Chief Minister in the 90s. When she was jailed in Bangalore for three weeks, distraught supporters shaved their heads and set buses on fire; her party would later confirm that more than 200 people killed themselves after her conviction, distraught by the ordeal of their “Amma” (Mother) as she is known.

In May, Ms Jayaalithaa’s conviction was overturned by the High Court in Karnataka, where she has been tried to ensure the case is not prejudiced by the politics of Tamil Nadu. Her acquittal allowed her to return as Chief Minister, though the Karnataka government has appealed against her in the Supreme Court.

Ms Jayalalithaa, whose unflinching hold over her party is visible,  has denied any wrongdoing. The RK Nagar seat she won today was held by her party, the AIADMK. The legislator from the constituency resigned so that she could contest the election.



 



Outside Ms Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai, enthusiastic supporters said the result proves that nobody believes their leader is guilty of corruption. “Our Amma did not do a scam,” said one supporter to NDTV.



 

Elected With 1.5 Lakh Margin

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has won her election to the state legislature with a  margin of 1.5 lakh votes.

Ms Jayalalithaa’s victory from the constituency of RK Nagar, in the capital of Chennai, was expected. The size, however, reinforces that her popularity has taken no dings despite allegations of a corruption scam that led to her brief arrest last year.

Her nearest competitor in today’s election, C Mahendran of the Left, lost his deposit.

The 67-year-old former movie star was disqualified as a legislator in September, when she was found guilty of acquiring vast wealth during her first term as Chief Minister in the 90s. When she was jailed in Bangalore for three weeks, distraught supporters shaved their heads and set buses on fire; her party would later confirm that more than 200 people killed themselves after her conviction, distraught by the ordeal of their “Amma” (Mother) as she is known.

In May, Ms Jayaalithaa’s conviction was overturned by the High Court in Karnataka, where she has been tried to ensure the case is not prejudiced by the politics of Tamil Nadu. Her acquittal allowed her to return as Chief Minister, though the Karnataka government has appealed against her in the Supreme Court.

Ms Jayalalithaa, whose unflinching hold over her party is visible,  has denied any wrongdoing. The RK Nagar seat she won today was held by her party, the AIADMK. The legislator from the constituency resigned so that she could contest the election.



 



Outside Ms Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai, enthusiastic supporters said the result proves that nobody believes their leader is guilty of corruption. “Our Amma did not do a scam,” said one supporter to NDTV.



 

3 Warships Launched, 48 on Their Way, Says Top Navy Officer

Kolkata, West Bengal:  As three new warships join maritime services in Indian Navy, a top navy officer has said that another 48 of them are currently under construction in various shipyards across the country.

They include aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts.

The Vice Admiral, P Murugesan launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC), or warships at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) in Kolkata today.

Mr Murugesan said, “It is a proud reflection of our indigenous capabilities that we are building all kinds of warships. GRSE has so far built 94 ships for the navy”.

The warships launched today are ideally suited for interception of fast-moving surface craft, performing anti-smuggling operations, fishery protection, search and rescue operations.

Powered by the latest 4,000-series MTU engines with advanced machinery control system, the ships will be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm guns and will have the latest communication equipment and radars to enable effective surveillance.

These warships launched are named after the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, Tarmugli, Tillanchang and Tihayu.

Salman Khan Makes it to Forbes Rich List, Shah Rukh Khan Doesnt

Bollywood stalwarts Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities, according to the Forbes’ annual list which is topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather.

The Forbes 2015 list of ‘Celebrity 100: The World’s Top-Paid Entertainers 2015′ has been topped by Mr Mayweather with earnings of $ 300 million.

Breaking into the elite global club, Mr Bachchan and Salman tied for the 71st rank with earnings of $ 33.5 million each.

Coming in at the 76th spot is Akshay Kumar with earnings of $ 32.5 million. MS Dhoni is ranked 82nd with earnings of $ 31 million dollars.

Notably one of India’s biggest superstars Shah Rukh Khan and no woman celebrity from India made it to the list.

Forbes, which releases the Celeb 100 list every year since 1999, said given the profound changes in the entertainment world, it changed its methodology and for the first time, made the list “truly international”.

“Instead of using US-centric power metrics, we’re simply ranking the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities, regardless of nationality. The result is a more accurate reflection of the current entertainment landscape, a 21st century reality where Bollywood’s biggest stars (Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, $ 33.5 million apiece) earn more than some Hollywood A-listers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Channing Tatum, $ 29 million apiece),” Forbes said.

On Mr Bachchan, Forbes said the “Bollywood stalwart” has starred in more than 150 movies in his 50-year career.

Forbes noted that Big B bolsters his earnings as the longstanding host of India’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati), which aired its eighth season in 2014.

Forbes said Salman is “one of India’s biggest stars” and has appeared in some 80 movies. His ‘Being Human’ clothing line clocked $ 30 million in 2014 revenue, with proceeds going to his foundation.

Forbes said Akshay is one of Bollywood’s busiest leading men, filming an average of four movies a year. He earns top rupee for roles in 2014 movies such as Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty and Entertainment.

3 Warships Launched, 48 on Their Way, Says Top Navy Officer

Kolkata, West Bengal:  As three new warships join maritime services in Indian Navy, a top navy officer has said that another 48 of them are currently under construction in various shipyards across the country.

They include aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts.

The Vice Admiral, P Murugesan launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC), or warships at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) in Kolkata today.

Mr Murugesan said, “It is a proud reflection of our indigenous capabilities that we are building all kinds of warships. GRSE has so far built 94 ships for the navy”.

The warships launched today are ideally suited for interception of fast-moving surface craft, performing anti-smuggling operations, fishery protection, search and rescue operations.

Powered by the latest 4,000-series MTU engines with advanced machinery control system, the ships will be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm guns and will have the latest communication equipment and radars to enable effective surveillance.

These warships launched are named after the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, Tarmugli, Tillanchang and Tihayu.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis Confirms Country Will Not Pay IMF Today

Athens:  Greece’s Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said his country would not make the deadline on Tuesday for a key payment to the International Monetary Fund.

Asked by journalists outside the ministry whether Greece would make the debt repayment of about 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), he replied, “No”.

A defiant Athens urged Greeks to reject creditors’ demands for tough reforms in a weekend referendum, despite warnings that this would lead to a chaotic Greek exit from the eurozone.

Thousands took to Greece’s streets on Monday night to support their government’s opposition to the latest debt proposals after a clash with the country’s creditors forced a shutdown of its banks and brought the country close to financial collapse.

Talks between Greece’s left-wing government and its creditors — the “troika” of the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund — fell apart last week after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he would put the latest proposals to a referendum.

Tsipras sought to calm nerves on Monday by leaving the door open to talks, saying the July 5 plebiscite on creditors’ latest cash-for-reform plans would leave the country “better armed” in the fight for a debt deal.

But the premier also made clear Greece would be unable to make the 1.5 billion euro payment to the IMF on Tuesday. “(How) is it possible the creditors are waiting for the IMF payment while our banks are being suffocated?” he said in a late-evening interview on ERT television.

EU leaders including Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Francois Hollande and Italy’s Matteo Renzi, wrong-footed by Tspiras’s shock announcement of the vote over the weekend, warned it would effectively be a vote on Greece’s place in the euro.

On Monday, an emotional European Commission head Jean Claude Juncker bitterly criticised Tsipras, saying he felt “betrayed” by the leftist Syriza government’s behaviour and adding it was time to tell voters “the truth”.

“A ‘No’ would mean, regardless of the question posed, that Greece had said no to Europe,” said Juncker, previously Tsipras’s closest — and sometimes only — ally in five months of debt talks.

Mr Varoufakis hit back, telling British newspaper The Daily Telegraph Athens could seek legal action to stop the country being forced out of the eurozone.

Tsipras has called for Greeks to vote against the proposals and staked his own career on the outcome of the vote, saying he was not a prime minister who would stay in place “in all weathers”.

In Greece, shocked locals formed huge queues at ATMs after banks were shut down, some waiting for hours to withdrawn the 60 euros ($66) they are allowed per day.

“I feel like I’m voting for sudden death or slow death,” said 38-year-old office manager Maria in Athens, who wants Greece to stay in the EU. “It feels like it’s game over.”

But many Greeks backed the government’s defiant stance against the country’s creditors, who they blame for forcing the country into years of painful recession by demanding swingeing austerity cuts.

More than 17,000 people took to the streets in Athens and the country’s second city of Thessaloniki to protest against the latest bailout proposals.

“Our lives do not belong to the creditors!” read banners held aloft by demonstrators in the capital.



 

Three Warships Launched, 48 on Their Way, Says Top Navy Officer

Kolkata, West Bengal:  As three new warships join maritime services in Indian Navy, a top navy officer has said that another 48 of them are currently under construction in various shipyards across the country.

They include aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts.

The Vice Admiral, P Murugesan launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC), or warships at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) in Kolkata today.

Mr Murugesan said, “It is a proud reflection of our indigenous capabilities that we are building all kinds of warships. GRSE has so far built 94 ships for the navy”.

The warships launched today are ideally suited for interception of fast-moving surface craft, performing anti-smuggling operations, fishery protection, search and rescue operations.

Powered by the latest 4,000-series MTU engines with advanced machinery control system, the ships will be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm guns and will have the latest communication equipment and radars to enable effective surveillance.

These warships launched are named after the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, Tarmugli, Tillanchang and Tihayu.

Greece Crisis Makes Travel Packages More Affordable: Cox & Kings

The Greece Crisis means more affordable travel packages for Indians, tour and travel operator Cox & Kings told NDTV. Cash-strapped Greece is staring at the possibility of being shunted out of the euro zone. (With Default Looming, Europe Offers Greece a Last-Minute Deal)

“Weakening of euro means the packages become much more attractive and affordable for the Indian customers, thereby propelling demand,” said Anil Khandelwal, chief financial officer of Cox & Kings.

The rupee has appreciated around 8 per cent against the euro in the past 6 months, making Europe a cheaper destination for travellers. If a quick solution is not found to the Greece crisis, euro may weaken further against global currencies, analysts say.  

The Greece crisis will also provide a boost to revenues, Cox & Kings said. “So a weak euro from an Indian business perspective actually means enhanced revenues for us,” Cox and Kings’ Mr Khandelwal said.

Cox & King’s rival Thomas Cook has also said that the Greece crisis is actually beneficial for Indian customers. The weakening of the euro on the back of the Greece crisis was anticipated for some time and Thomas Cook has been passing on the benefit of the depreciation of the euro or strengthening of the rupee to customers, its managing director Madhavan Menon told NDTV.

Greece put restrictions on ATM (automated teller machine) withdrawals and its banks will remain shut till July 6. (Greece Shuts Banks, Limits ATM Withdrawals)

On Tuesday, while the Cox & Kings stock ended 0.72 per cent down at Rs 234.50, Thomas Cook shares ended 0.50 per cent up at Rs 222.55.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Seeks Solution From Youth to Curb Ticketless Travel

New Delhi:  Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today asked young minds to come out with a fool-proof method to prevent ticketless travel in trains.

Addressing a gathering of students and alumni from IITs and other premier institutes like National Law University and London School of Economics, Mr Prabhu said there are challenges in Railways which need to be addressed.

“We have big challenges and we have to address it. But the question is how to do it?” he asked. Aiming at engaging youth in Indian Railways, Mr Prabhu sought innovative ideas for improvement in facilities in the public transporter.

“Can we have odourless toilets without using water or ensuring less usage of water because water shortage is a problem and Railways is one of the biggest consumers of water?,” he said.

Referring to ticketless journey in trains, the Railway Minister said “ticketless travel can be curbed. How to do it? Can you find a fool-proof solution to it?

“These are the challenges and the young minds can be engaged in addressing them. These are the day to day problems and we need solutions,” he said.

Ticket less travel is one of the major problems faced by the Indian Railways, causing substantial losses to its passenger services mostly in local and suburban trains.

Northern Railways topped the chart in 2013-14, with more than 1.9 million people traveling without tickets or with improper tickets.

“Train ticket is cheaper than other modes of transport. So travelling without tickets cannot be accepted,” he said.

In order to encourage innovative solutions, Railways will announce awards for the best idea put forward.

We will announce awards for recognition of service, he said.

Railways will come out with a new website to promote technology solution in Rail services.

“We will create a technology portal shortly,” Mr Prabhu said.

On investment plan, he said Railways needs massive investment for upgradation and expansion of its network.

There will be an investment of 120 billion USD in Railways in the next five years, he said.

Delhi University Professor Arrested for Maoist Links Granted Bail

Mumbai:  Delhi University professor GN Saibaba, arrested a year ago by the Maharashtra police for alleged links with Maoists, has been granted temporary bail of three months.

The wheelchair-bound English professor was arrested in Delhi in May, 2014, today by a team from Maharashtra’s Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district.

The police had accused him of links with absconding members of the banned CPI-Maoist, including their top leader Ganpathy. The police alleged that Professor Saibaba was an overground worker for the CPI-Maoist, a charge that he denied.

Mr Saibaba was arrested on the basis of evidence from his computer, seized in raids. Policy documents and strategy papers linked to CPI Maoists were recovered from him, say the police.

The professor’s name came up after the arrest of two alleged Maoist sympathisers, who had reportedly claimed that Mr Saibaba was their main contact. One of the Maoist leaders, Hem Mishra, who was arrested with a microchip, allegedly said he was carrying instructions to Maoist leaders at Gadchiroli.



 

Kerala By-Election Proves My No-Alcohol Policy Wins, Says Chief Minister Oommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram:  A beaming Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy of the Congress said his party’s victory in  the Aruvikkara by-election today clearly indicates that the United Democratic Front or UDF that it leads will return to power in next year’s assembly elections.

Mr Chandy said the victory was a “huge lesson” for the rival LDF – a coalition of Left parties – which he accused of indulging in negative politics. “The people’s thumping support for UDF is a response to LDF’s false corruption allegations against the UDF,” he said.

Mr Chandy also saw in his party’s win, an endorsement of his “zero-alcohol policy.”

The 71-year-old chief minister has struggled to impose the new alcohol policy, which bans all bars except those in 21 five-star hotels from serving hard liquor. Lower starred hotels can only sell wine and beer and the supplies to government-run outlets will be cut by 10 per cent annually, he has decided in a massive step for a state that has earned nearly Rs 8,000 crore every year from the sale of alcohol.

Kerala as per Oomen Chandy’s plans, aims to be a zero-alcohol state in 10 years. The state government has hiked excise duty on liquor to offset revenue losses.

The ban on bars from serving alcohol was challenged in court and earlier this year, the Kerala High Court upheld it, saying the no-liquor policy is in line with the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

Kerala has for many years enjoyed the dubious distinction of being the most hard drinking state in India and the Congress has its eye firmly set on women voters relieved at the liquor ban.    

Today’s by-election, won by the Congress’ K S Sabarinadhan, was seen as a crucial test of popularity by the rival fronts and also the BJP, in civic elections due at the end of this year and the assembly elections next year.

Mr Sabarinadhan, 31, is the son of former Kerala Speaker G Karthikeyan, whose death in February necessitated the by-election. The Congress-led UDF government has a razor-thin majority in the Kerala assembly.

For many years, the state has alternately elected the UDF and the LDF.

No Request For Polygraph Test, Will Cooperate With Probe, Says Shashi Tharoor"s Office

New Delhi:  Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor’s office today said there has been no request for lie-detector test, responding to reports that the Delhi Police may ask him to undergo the test.

Unconfirmed reports had said the police may appeal in court next week for permission to conduct the test.

“No official request from the police so far for a polygraph test. Have always said we will cooperate with the probe,” Mr Tharoor’s office responded.

Six persons, including three “prime witnesses” have already undergone the lie detector test. Mr Tharoor has been questioned in this case on multiple occasions.

Ms Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a hotel suite on January 17 last year. This January, police claimed she was poisoned, and registered a murder case against unknown persons.

Abusive Comments Irks Mashrafe Mortaza, Shuts Down Facebook Fan Page

Angry Mortaza shuts down Facebook fan page

© PTI

Dhaka: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s One-Day International (ODI) skipper who steered his side to a new era of success, has deactivated his official Facebook fan page. (Bangladesh Daily Ridicules Team India)

He told bdnews24.com that he was irked by the abusive comments on a photo uploaded by his teammate Nasir Hossain and the move was to protest and stand by his colleague.

Hossain had uploaded a photo on his fan page of his return home with his younger sister after winning the Bangladesh-India series. A number of followers made lewd remarks. (India Series Win Our Biggest Achievement: Mortaza)

Hossain later took down the photo and Mortaza had publicly criticised such response from followers.

“I shut down the page only for Nasir. To be with Nasir and protest such incident, I have taken down my official page as a protest. If we have such bad experience after opening a Facebook page, I do not need this,” said Mashrafe.

Bombay High Court Allows Nestle to Export Maggi Noodles

Mumbai:  Maggi noodles may be banned in India, but manufacturer Nestle has been allowed to export them, the Bombay High Court said today.

Maggi was banned by India’s food regulator on June 5 after a high amount of lead and monosodium glutamate was found in samples of the popular noodles. Nestle withdrew all varieties of Maggi noodles hours before the ban, ruling it “unsafe and hazardous”.

The food safety regulator said in court today: “Why blame us? If the company claims that its product is safe and follows safety standards then let it export it instead of destroying.” Since it gave an all-clear, the court allowed Nestle India to export the product.

Nestle has challenged the ban on nine variants of Maggi noodles, describing it as “unauthorised, arbitrary and unconstitutional for violating the right to equality and trade.” The company has questioned the standards of testing behind the ban also says it violates the principles of natural justice as it was not given a proper hearing.

Nestle estimates a hit of more than Rs 3.2 billion for recalling and destroying Maggi packets – the biggest ever withdrawal of any product by the company. The company told the court that 17,000 crore packets of Maggi were being destroyed.

The food giant has been battling its worst-ever branding crisis in India since a regulator in Uttar Pradesh found monosodium glutamate and excess lead in a sample of its noodles.

The case will be heard next on July 14.

Congress Wins Meghalaya By-Poll by a Margin of 2,550 Votes

Ruling Congress today won the Chokpot Assembly by-poll in Meghalaya with Blubell R Sangma defeating her nearest rival Philipole Marak of National People’s Party by a margin of 2,550 votes.

While Blubell R Sangma secured 8,042 votes, Philipole Marak secured 5,492 votes, state election office said.

The other candidates, Kalpana D Sangma from Garo National Council and Thinkerwin R Marak (Independent) secured 5,009 and 1,189 votes respectively.

The Chokpot Assembly Constituency fell vacant following the death of Garo National Council (GNC) legislator, Clifford R Marak.

While Clifford R Marak’s wife Kalpana Sangma contested on GNC ticket, the Congress winner is the wife of former legislator Mason S Sangma.

Altogether, 83.11 per cent voters had exercised their franchise for this bypoll on Saturday.

With Default Looming, Europe Offers Greece a Last-Minute Deal: Report

Greece has pay IMF $1.8 billion on Tuesday to avoid default

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made a last-minute offer to Athens in a bid to reach a bailout agreement before the deadline expires on Tuesday, European Union and Greek government sources said.

Under the offer, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would have to send written acceptance by Tuesday, in time for an emergency meeting of the Eurogroup of Eurozone finance ministers to be held and agree to campaign in favour of the bailout in the planned July 5 referendum.

(Read:What happens if Greece defaults on IMF)

However, there was little sign that Mr Tsipras was prepared to drop his repeated rejections of the bailout offer, which he has dismissed as a “humiliation” for Greece.

A Greek government official said that it listened with interest to what was being proposed but said: “Alexis Tsipras will vote “no” on Sunday”.

Mr Tsipras would have to send a written acceptance of the version of proposals from the lenders published on Sunday, with a pledge to campaign for them to be accepted in the planned July 5 referendum.

The offer published on Sunday incorporated a proposal from Greece that would set value-added tax (VAT) rates on hotels at 13 per cent, rather than at 23 per cent as originally planned in the lenders’ proposals. It was not immediately clear whether there would be any additional changes.

If the offer were accepted, the Eurozone finance ministers could adopt a statement saying that a 2012 pledge to consider stretching out loan maturities, lowering interest rates and extending an interest payment moratorium on euro zone loans to Greece would be implemented in October.

The offer would be conditional on a letter to Mr Jncker, Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande arriving in time to arrange an emergency meeting of the Eurogroup on Tuesday.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

Shashi Tharoor Likely to Undergo Lie Detector Test in Sunanda Pushkar Murder Case: Sources

New Delhi:  Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor may be asked to undergo a lie-detector test in connection with the murder case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, sources told NDTV.

Sources said the Delhi Police may appeal in court next week for permission to conduct the test.

Six persons, including three “prime witnesses” have already undergone the lie detector test. Mr Tharoor has been questioned thrice in this case.

Ms Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a hotel suite on January 17 last year. This January, police claimed she was poisoned, and registered a murder case against unknown persons.

More details are awaited.

Huge Blast in Kabul 500 Metres From US Embassy

Kabul:  A powerful blast hit downtown Kabul today as a suicide car bomber targeted foreign military vehicles, officials said, with casualties feared.

The blast came on the main road to the airport, around 500 metres (550 yards) from the US embassy and near a base for foreign troops.

“It was a suicide car bomber targeting a convoy of foreign forces in Kabul,” interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

Kabul deputy police chief Sayed Gul Aga Rohani confirmed the attack and said there were casualties, but no details were immediately available.

The blast comes hours after a suicide truck bomb targeted a police headquarters in the restive southern province of Helmand, killing at least two people.

Afghan troops and police are battling the Taliban in the first “fighting season” since NATO ended its combat mission and left local forces to take charge of security.

NATO’s combat mission formally ended in December after 13 years, but a small follow-up foreign force named Resolute Support has stayed on to train and support local security forces.

Google Maps Real-Time Traffic Information Comes to 12 More Indian Cites

Starting Tuesday people can see real-time traffic information for 12 new cities, including Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Bhopal, on Google Maps, a company statement said.

The other cities are Coimbatore, Lucknow, Surat, Indore, Ludhiana, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Kochi, and Madurai.

This latest update to Google Maps also makes traffic information available for all national highways and expressways in India, it added.

“We are constantly working on making Google Maps a more comprehensive, daily tool for Indians and we hope that this new real-time traffic information for 12 cities and all national highways will help drivers across the country find the best routes to their destinations with the fewest delays,” Suren Ruhela, director, program management at Google said.

This traffic feature, is available on both mobile and desktop versions of Google Maps. It helps a person to see real-time traffic conditions across a total of 34 cities in India.

Once the traffic layer is turned on in Google Maps, commuters can see routes mapped out in different colours, indicating the different speed of traffic on those roads.

“Green means there are no traffic delays on the road, orange indicates a medium amount of traffic and red means heavier traffic congestion,” the statement said.

While in navigation mode, Google Maps will also use real time traffic information to more accurately estimate time of arrival and to provide options for alternate routes if there are faster options available.

Bangladesh Daily Ridicules Team India with Half-Bald Dhoni-Kohli Advertisement

This image was posted on Prothom Alo’s Facebook page

© Facebook

After Bangladesh recently scored a historic 2-1 ODI series win against India at home, a section of the local media is seemingly having some fun at the cost of MS Dhoni’s team. An advertisement in a leading Bangladesh daily – Prothom Alo — shows top Indian players, including MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, with their head half shaven and under the towering presence of Mustafizur Rahman, the rookie pacer who single-handedly wrecked Indian batting.

The caricature, advertising stationery goods, shows Mustafizur with a cutter, the delivery that fetched him a record 13 wickets. The photo-shopped image has been published in the paper’s humour magazine section – Rosh Alo – on June 29. (Mustafizur Eyes IPL Contract)

But the advertisement, mocking India’s abject failure, failed to evoke the response it probably desired as several local fans criticized the post in the paper’s Facebook edition, calling it “unceremonious” and “betraying Bangladeshi culture”. (Mustafizur’s India Connection)

Bangladesh fans were cock-a-hoop when teenaged pacer Mustifizur knocked out top Indian batsmen in the first two ODIs on June 18 and June 21. Although India won a consolation match in the third game on June 24, Bangladesh credited themselves with some fine all-round performance.

During the series, a section of the fans harassed well-known Indian fan Sudhir Chaudhary in Dhaka. The colourful Sachin Tendulkar fan had to be given extra security to save himself from overzealous Bangladesh supporters. (India Series Win Our Biggest Achievement: Mortaza)

But the advertisement in a respected Bengali daily on Monday morning has not gone down well with several Bangladesh fans.

Animesh Roy asked the paper’s editors on Facebook: “Will Bangladesh be able to take the pressure after this (caricature)? Will you do the same when our team loses?”

Another reader, Akram Hossain Rumye, wrote: “Dear Editor, this is in poor taste. You have shamed 16 crore Bangladeshis. Is mocking India part of our culture?” Raznan Ahmed wrote: “Mustifizur is looking like a barber with the cutter in his hand.”

India and Bangladesh are not scheduled to play anytime soon, but given young Team India’s aggressive nature, this half-bald advertisement may see some hair-raising encounters in future.

This is What Kareena and Abhishek Looked Like at Refugee Premiere 15 Years Ago

Actors Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan made their debuts in director JP Dutta’s cross-border drama Refugee 15 years ago, on June 30, 2000. They were 20 and 24, respectively, at the time and the film was one of the year’s most anticipated, being as it was the launch pad of the next generation of two of Bollywood’s leading families – the Kapoors and the Bachchans.

Twitter is celebrating with hashtags and trends and what not, but we have something better. NDTV was at the premiere of the movie all those years ago, and we found these pictures for you.

Kareena and Abhishek, both looking very young, posed together for the photographers. Kareena wore a chartreuse outfit, her hair and make-up very simple. The days of size zero and couture were clearly still some years away.

Kareena was photographed hugging her father Randhir Kapoor. Abhishek, in black, trailed mother Jaya Bachchan through the crowd.

Proud fathers Amitabh Bachchan and Randhir Kapoor, co-stars from films like Pukar and Kasme Vaade, congratulated each other.

Abhishek’s sister Shweta was also at the premiere, wearing white like mother Jaya.

Refugee co-stars Sunil Shetty and Jackie Shroff were also at the premiere.

As were lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer Anu Malik. The music of the film won National Awards, even though the movie itself was received less warmly at the box office and by critics than its cast and crew must have hoped.

Other guests included Akshaye Khanna, who was to co-stars with Abhishek and Kareena in JP Dutta’s LOC Kargil; Subhash Ghai who would direct Kareena in Yaadein soon; and Karan Johar, who had directed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai just two years before.

Refugee starred Kareena as Bangladeshi Muslim Nazneen travelling through India to Pakistan, and Abhishek as the unnamed Refugee who helps her.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Seeks Solution From Youth to Curb Ticketless Travel

New Delhi:  Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today asked young minds to come out with a fool-proof method to prevent ticketless travel in trains.

Addressing a gathering of students and alumni from IITs and other premier institutes like National Law University and London School of Economics, Mr Prabhu said there are challenges in Railways which need to be addressed.

“We have big challenges and we have to address it. But the question is how to do it?” he asked. Aiming at engaging youth in Indian Railways, Mr Prabhu sought innovative ideas for improvement in facilities in the public transporter.

“Can we have odourless toilets without using water or ensuring less usage of water because water shortage is a problem and Railways is one of the biggest consumers of water?,” he said.

Referring to ticketless journey in trains, the Railway Minister said “ticketless travel can be curbed. How to do it? Can you find a fool-proof solution to it?

“These are the challenges and the young minds can be engaged in addressing them. These are the day to day problems and we need solutions,” he said.

Ticket less travel is one of the major problems faced by the Indian Railways, causing substantial losses to its passenger services mostly in local and suburban trains.

Northern Railways topped the chart in 2013-14, with more than 1.9 million people traveling without tickets or with improper tickets.

“Train ticket is cheaper than other modes of transport. So travelling without tickets cannot be accepted,” he said.

In order to encourage innovative solutions, Railways will announce awards for the best idea put forward.

We will announce awards for recognition of service, he said.

Railways will come out with a new website to promote technology solution in Rail services.

“We will create a technology portal shortly,” Mr Prabhu said.

On investment plan, he said Railways needs massive investment for upgradation and expansion of its network.

There will be an investment of 120 billion USD in Railways in the next five years, he said.

Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan on Forbes Rich List. No Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood stalwarts Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities, according to the Forbes’ annual list which is topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather.

The Forbes 2015 list of ‘Celebrity 100: The World’s Top-Paid Entertainers 2015′ has been topped by Mr Mayweather with earnings of $ 300 million.

Breaking into the elite global club, Mr Bachchan and Salman tied for the 71st rank with earnings of $ 33.5 million each.

Coming in at the 76th spot is Akshay Kumar with earnings of $ 32.5 million. MS Dhoni is ranked 82nd with earnings of $ 31 million dollars.

Notably one of India’s biggest superstars Shah Rukh Khan and no woman celebrity from India made it to the list.

Forbes, which releases the Celeb 100 list every year since 1999, said given the profound changes in the entertainment world, it changed its methodology and for the first time, made the list “truly international”.

“Instead of using US-centric power metrics, we’re simply ranking the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities, regardless of nationality. The result is a more accurate reflection of the current entertainment landscape, a 21st century reality where Bollywood’s biggest stars (Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, $ 33.5 million apiece) earn more than some Hollywood A-listers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Channing Tatum, $ 29 million apiece),” Forbes said.

On Mr Bachchan, Forbes said the “Bollywood stalwart” has starred in more than 150 movies in his 50-year career.

Forbes noted that Big B bolsters his earnings as the longstanding host of India’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati), which aired its eighth season in 2014.

Forbes said Salman is “one of India’s biggest stars” and has appeared in some 80 movies. His ‘Being Human’ clothing line clocked $ 30 million in 2014 revenue, with proceeds going to his foundation.

Forbes said Akshay is one of Bollywood’s busiest leading men, filming an average of four movies a year. He earns top rupee for roles in 2014 movies such as Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty and Entertainment.

Abu Salem Agrees to Marry Woman So She Can "Hold Her Head Up High"

Mumbai:  You know something really wrong is going on when a gangster marrying a woman is her ticket to “holding her head up high” in society. And yet, that’s exactly what seems to be happening right here in the city, with jailed gangster Abu Salem, who is facing charges in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, agreeing to marry a 25-year-old so that she is “not defamed further”.

Beginnings

The woman had moved the TADA court, where Salem’s case is being heard, last week for permission to marry the gangster. In her affidavit, she had said that a newspaper report last year of her having married Salem had ‘ruined her life’.

The report had stated that Salem had married her ‘over the phone’ during a train journey when he was being taken by police to Lucknow for a court hearing in January 2014. Salem himself had dubbed the report baseless and the woman had said in her affidavit that subsequent visits to her house by the police had defamed her and ruined her career.

She had said the situation had left her ineligible for marriage and marrying the gangster was the only way out. She had even threatened to commit suicide if she was not given permission.

‘Qubool hai’

In a two-page reply to the court yesterday, Salem accepted the proposal and said he appreciated the bold stand taken by the woman. Apologising for the situation he had inadvertently put the woman in, he said he would like to marry her “so that the woman can freely move around and be able to meet and answer all the relatives friends and well-wishers with her head up in the society.”

The reply reads: “I respect the feelings of the woman and also understand her position; I have no intention that will cause her further disrepute and disrespect. I do not intend to be the cause of any further untoward circumstances… as it has been claimed by her that she will commit suicide if she does not get permission to marry me.

“I was unaware of the fact that the woman had to face such things in the name of investigation. I apologise from the bottom of my heart to the woman for whatever sufferings she had to undergo because of my name getting tagged with her.

“I appreciate the bold stand taken by the woman of seeking permission from this honourable court to get married to me before the registrar under the Special Marriage Act. The fact that the woman has approached this honourable court shows that she has been hurt and she intends to get married to me and I also, with great respect to her feelings and character, intend to go ahead with the said proposal.

“I am not doing any favour to her by accepting her proposal but (I am accepting it) with great respect and gratitude. I don’t want her to be further defamed because of me or my name. I also undertake to care for her in all respects once she gets married to me and that she will not be further defamed as officially she will be my wife.

“I want to complete the formalities of marriage at the earliest so that the woman can freely move around and will be able to meet and answer all her relatives, friends and well-wishers with her head up in the society. I, with folded hands, must humbly request Your Honour to kindly consider and grant us the said permission.”

Shah Rukh Khan Says Working With Rohit Shetty is "Pathetic". Heres Why

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has re-united with filmmaker Rohit Shetty for action-comedy film Dilwale, said that the director’s punctuality on sets makes working with him difficult.

“I come on time as per me. According to my time, I am always punctual but according to other people, I am not always punctual,” said Shah Rukh.

“Director-wise, Rohit Shetty is very punctual. It is pathetic working with him. He is there 5-10 minutes before time and you feel you will go there before him. Actually most directors are punctual than actors. But Rohit (in particular) is very punctual,” he said in a lighter vein.

The duo had earlier worked on 2013 blockbuster film Chennai Express, along with Deepika Padukone.

Dilwale marks the reunion of iconic onscreen couple of Shah Rukh and Kajol, who were last seen together in Karan Johar’s 2010 film My Name is Khan.

The film also stars Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon.

“This is going to be our second last schedule of Dilwale. It is a long schedule and is still going on. Varun (Dhawan) and Kriti (Sanon) are shooting a song in Bulgaria. I will go there in five days. We have a long 30-day shoot in and around Europe. Then we come back to Mumbai for the last schedule,” Shah Rukh, 49, informed at an event in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Remo D’Souza has choreographed this song. Co-produced by Shah Rukh’s Red Chillies Entertainment and Rohit, Dilwale is scheduled for December 18 release.

Arvind Kejriwal"s "Rs 91,000 Electricity Bill" Denied by His Government

New Delhi:  After reports that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had run up an electricity bill of about Rs 91,000 in April and May, his government has come out with an emphatic denial.

The Chief Minister’s monthly electricity bill is around Rs 15,000, “nowhere close to the figure being reported in the media,” the Delhi government said in a press statement on Tuesday.

In response to an RTI or Right to Information application, the Delhi Government had furnished copies of Mr Kejriwal’s electricity bills running into Rs. 91,000. The RTI query was filed by Vivek Garg, an advocate and RTI activist.

On Tuesday, the government issued a clarification saying the house at Civil Lines in North Delhi was divided into two units using separate power connections, and the chief minister’s private residence was only one of these units. Since he started living there in February, Mr Kejriwal spent Rs 17,000 in March, Rs 7,370 in April and Rs 22,690 in May, said the statement.

The government said a part of the house was kept for official work and meetings with the public. “In March, this part of the Chief Minister’s residence ran up a bill of Rs 15,175. In April, it shot up to Rs 48, 630 and in May, it is “yet to be paid,” says the government statement.

The BJP in Delhi has mocked Mr Kejriwal for running up a huge power bill despite claims of simplicity, and claimed that his bill is over Rs. 1 lakh.

In "First", Islamic State Beheads 2 Women in Syria: Report

Beirut:  The Islamic State group has beheaded two women in Syria on accusations of “sorcery,” the first such execution of women in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said today.

“The Islamic State group executed two women by beheading them in Deir Ezzor province, and this is the first time the Observatory has documented women being killed by the group in this manner,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The Britain-based monitor said the executions took place on Monday and Sunday and involved two couples.

In both cases, the women were executed with their husbands, with each pair accused of “witchcraft and sorcery”.

The Islamic State group has become infamous for gruesome executions and is reported to have stoned women to death on allegations of adultery.

But the Observatory said this was the first time it was aware of the group beheading women.

According to the monitor, IS has executed more than 3,000 people in Syria in the year since it declared its Islamic “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq.

Nearly 1,800 of them were civilians, including 74 children.

Bangladesh Daily Ridicules Team India with Half-Bald Dhoni-Kohli Advertisement

This image was posted on Prothom Alo’s Facebook page

© Facebook

After Bangladesh recently scored a historic 2-1 ODI series win against India at home, a section of the local media is seemingly having some fun at the cost of MS Dhoni’s team. An advertisement in a leading Bangladesh daily – Prothom Alo — shows top Indian players, including MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, with their head half shaven and under the towering presence of Mustafizur Rahman, the rookie pacer who single-handedly wrecked Indian batting.

The caricature, advertising stationery goods, shows Mustafizur with a cutter, the delivery that fetched him a record 13 wickets. The photo-shopped image has been published in the paper’s humour magazine section – Rosh Alo – on June 29. (Mustafizur Eyes IPL Contract)

But the advertisement, mocking India’s abject failure, failed to evoke the response it probably desired as several local fans criticized the post in the paper’s Facebook edition, calling it “unceremonious” and “betraying Bangladeshi culture”. (Mustafizur’s India Connection)

Bangladesh fans were cock-a-hoop when teenaged pacer Mustifizur knocked out top Indian batsmen in the first two ODIs on June 18 and June 21. Although India won a consolation match in the third game on June 24, Bangladesh credited themselves with some fine all-round performance.

During the series, a section of the fans harassed well-known Indian fan Sudhir Chaudhary in Dhaka. The colourful Sachin Tendulkar fan had to be given extra security to save himself from overzealous Bangladesh supporters. (India Series Win Our Biggest Achievement: Mortaza)

But the advertisement in a respected Bengali daily on Monday morning has not gone down well with several Bangladesh fans.

Animesh Roy asked the paper’s editors on Facebook: “Will Bangladesh be able to take the pressure after this (caricature)? Will you do the same when our team loses?”

Another reader, Akram Hossain Rumye, wrote: “Dear Editor, this is in poor taste. You have shamed 16 crore Bangladeshis. Is mocking India part of our culture?” Raznan Ahmed wrote: “Mustifizur is looking like a barber with the cutter in his hand.”

India and Bangladesh are not scheduled to play anytime soon, but given young Team India’s aggressive nature, this half-bald advertisement may see some hair-raising encounters in future.

Bombay High Court Allows Nestle to Export Maggi Noodles

Mumbai:  In a partial breather for Nestle, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed the company’s Indian branch to export all varieties of its popular two-minute Maggi noodles.

The domestic restrictions, however, would continue to apply. The matter will now come up for further hearing on July 14.

Maggi was banned by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on June 5 after several samples were found having lead and MSG contents beyond permissible limits.

Nestle India had challenged the ban on grounds that it was ‘unauthorised, arbitrary, unconstitutional for violating right to equality and trade’, and violative of principles of natural justice since the company was not given a proper hearing.

PM Narendra Modi Refused to Meet Arvind Kejriwal, Says AAP

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he is “too busy,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said today.

“Last week when we asked about the chief minister’s request for a meeting, we were informed that PM was occupied with other national responsibilities. We were told that the Delhi Chief Minister can instead meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley or Home Minister Rajnath Singh,” Mr Kejriwal’s adviser Nagendra Sharma told reporters.

Mr Kejriwal had written to PM Modi 10 days ago seeking an appointment, to discuss what he called a “five-point agenda.” AAP said he wanted to discuss the intense power struggle with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who represents the Centre in Delhi, among other things.

“The PM has time for everything else, for clicking selfies and he has no time for the chief minister of Delhi,” groused an AAP leader.

The Chief Minister met Rajnath Singh but the meeting was “not satisfactory,” said the leader.

On Monday, the Kejriwal government lost the latest round in its raging battle with the Lieutenant Governor. A court said Mr Jung’s nominee MK Meena would remain the head of Delhi’s anti-corruption agency and rejected the AAP government’s plea to stop him from entering his office.

Mr Meena’s selection by the Lieutenant Governor two weeks ago was unacceptable to the Delhi government, which called the officer corrupt and said its own candidate SS Yadav, would continue to be the chief of Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau. The government said Mr Meena would not be allowed to enter his office. But the High Court said on Monday that Mr Yadav will report to Mr Meena.



 



Mr Kejriwal has accused the Centre of using the Lieutenant Governor to run Delhi by proxy and moved court arguing that as the Centre’s representative in Delhi, Mr Jung does not have the right to appoint bureaucrats. The High Court is hearing that petition.

Arvind Kejriwal"s "Rs 91,000 Electricity Bill" Denied by His Government

New Delhi:  After reports that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had run up an electricity bill of about Rs 91,000 in April and May, his government has come out with an emphatic denial.

The Chief Minister’s monthly electricity bill is around Rs 15,000, “nowhere close to the figure being reported in the media,” the Delhi government said in a press statement on Tuesday.

In response to an RTI or Right to Information application, the Delhi Government had furnished copies of Mr Kejriwal’s electricity bills running into Rs. 91,000. The RTI query was filed by Vivek Garg, an advocate and RTI activist.

On Tuesday, the government issued a clarification saying the house at Civil Lines in North Delhi was divided into two units using separate power connections, and the chief minister’s private residence was only one of these units. Since he started living there in February, Mr Kejriwal spent Rs 17,000 in March, Rs 7,370 in April and Rs 22,690 in May, said the statement.

The government said a part of the house was kept for official work and meetings with the public. “In March, this part of the Chief Minister’s residence ran up a bill of Rs 15,175. In April, it shot up to Rs 48, 630 and in May, it is “yet to be paid,” says the government statement.

The BJP in Delhi has mocked Mr Kejriwal for running up a huge power bill despite claims of simplicity, and claimed that his bill is over Rs. 1 lakh.

Jayalalithaa, Unsurprisingly, Headed for Massive By-Election Win

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will, unsurprisingly, win her election to the state legislature by a massive lead.

 

Shortly after noon, she was ahead of her rival, C Mahendran of the Left, by more than one lakh votes in the constituency of RK Nagar. The seat was held by her AIADMK; the legislator, P Vetrivel, resigned to allow the Chief Minister to run from his constituency.

 

Outside Ms Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai, enthusiastic supporters said the result proves that nobody believes their leader is guilty of corruption. “Our Amma did not do a scam,” said one supporter to NDTV.

 
“Amma” (Mother), as Ms Jayalalithaa, a former movie star, is referred to, was acquitted in May in a corruption case dating back to her first term in the 90s as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The acquittal allowed her to return to office, which she was forced to quit last year after a lower court found her guilty of collecting wealth that could not be explained by her declared sources of income.  The indictment meant that she was disqualified immediately as an elected representative.

 

The verdict was reversed by the High Court in Karnataka, where the trial was moved to ensure it would be free of the politics of Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka government has challenged Ms Jayalalithaa’s acquittal in the Supreme Court.

 

Ms Jayalalithaa, 67, enjoys huge popularity in her home state, partly on account of populist schemes that provide free kitchen grinders and laptops to families.  In the Lok Sabha, her AIADMK is the third-largest party.

IndiGo Plans to Raise Rs 2,500 Crore Through IPO: Report

Get ready for a different ride on IndiGo. India’s biggest airline is likely to file the prospectus for a stock market listing on Tuesday that will raise around $400 million (nearly Rs 2,500 crore), two banking sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The initial public offering will include about $200 million (nearly Rs 1,250 crore) of fresh equity infusion, the sources said, declining to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

IndiGo, owned by hospitality and travel company InterGlobe Enterprises, is India’s largest airline by market share.

IndiGo’s plans have suddenly put the spotlight on the initial public offer (IPO) market. Apart from IndiGo, possible big-ticket IPOs from L&T Infotech, Cafe Coffee Day, RBL and Biocon’s Syngene this year could help boost the sentiment of the primary market.

IndiGo has managed to avoid the turbulence of the Indian skies by remaining profitable in an environment where the operating costs are very high. Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), an aviation consultancy, pegged IndiGo’s FY15 net profit at $150 million to $175 million (Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,100 crore). IndiGo had posted Rs 317 crore net profit in 2013-14, which was nearly half of Rs 787 crore it had reported the year before.

With a fleet of 95 aircraft and 633 daily flights, IndiGo flies to 33 destinations in India and five international destinations.

With a fall in oil prices, the outlook for the Indian aviation sector has improved. CAPA has also forecast that the domestic carriers are likely reduce their combined losses by 40 per cent at $680-750 million in FY16.

The outlook on passenger growth also remains strong. CAPA expects to see double-digit traffic growth of around 8-10 per cent for international and close to 15 per cent for domestic in FY16.



 

Whose Palace is it Anyway? New Document Could Undermine Vasundhara Raje"s Defence

New Delhi:  As BJP leader Vasundhra Raje confronts allegations that she conspired with tainted cricket mogul Lalit Modi to wrongly exploit a government property as a heritage hotel run by their firm, NDTV has accessed new documents that could escalate the controversy.

The Dholpur Palace, located about 40 km from Agra, originally belonged to the royal family of Hemant Singh, the estranged husband of Ms Raje, who is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

NDTV has accessed an agreement from 1949 between the government and the royal family of Dholpur that granted Hemant Singh’s father the right to personal use of the palace for his lifetime. The Congress says that in later years, the government acquired the palace. The BJP says that acquisition was temporary, and that it was returned to Hemant Singh’s family.

Ms Raje has been cornered in recent weeks over her deep connections to Mr Modi which include an affidavit that she secretly signed in support of his UK immigration appeal. Between 2007 and 2009, he pumped nearly Rs 13 crore into a company owned by her son, Dushyant Singh, a parliamentarian. The Chief Minister has stake in the same firm, Niyant Heritage Hotels Private Limited, whose main asset is the vast Dholpur Palace.

The Congress says that an array of documents including land records establish that the red sandstone mansion was acquired by the government in the early 1950s. This was corroborated by Hemant Singh in writing in the 1980s as part of a legal dispute over the property. The BJP says this affidavit was mistakenly signed by Ms Raje’s former husband and that it has its own sets of papers to prove that in 2007, the palace was given to Dushyant Singh by his father.

In 2010, the BJP says, the then Congress government that was in power in Rajasthan also paid Dushyant Singh nearly 2 crores to acquire a part of the Dholpur property to facilitate the construction of a large highway.  This compensation clearly proves that the government accepted him as the owner, Ms Raje’s party says.

The luxury hotel is crucial to the deal between Dushyant Singh’s firm and  Mr Modi, who moved to London in 2010 after being named in many corruption cases in India. The BJP says the palace, with a market worth of nearly 300 crores, is why Mr Modi paid nearly one lakh each for Rs 10 shares in a firm that was loss-making. The party also says that all financial dealings between Ms Raje’s son and the cricket magnate were declared and duly taxed.

The documents accessed by NDTV:

 

Whose Palace is it Anyway? New Document Could Undermine Vasundhara Raje"s Defence

New Delhi:  As BJP leader Vasundhra Raje confronts allegations that she conspired with tainted cricket mogul Lalit Modi to wrongly exploit a government property as a heritage hotel run by their firm, NDTV has accessed new documents that could escalate the controversy.

The Dholpur Palace, located about 40 km from Agra, originally belonged to the royal family of Hemant Singh, the estranged husband of Ms Raje, who is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

NDTV has accessed an agreement from 1949 between the government and the royal family of Dholpur that granted Hemant Singh’s father the right to personal use of the palace for his lifetime. The Congress says that in later years, the government acquired the palace. The BJP says that acquisition was temporary, and that it was returned to Hemant Singh’s family.

Ms Raje has been cornered in recent weeks over her deep connections to Mr Modi which include an affidavit that she secretly signed in support of his UK immigration appeal. Between 2007 and 2009, he pumped nearly Rs 13 crore into a company owned by her son, Dushyant Singh, a parliamentarian. The Chief Minister has stake in the same firm, Niyant Heritage Hotels Private Limited, whose main asset is the vast Dholpur Palace.

The Congress says that an array of documents including land records establish that the red sandstone mansion was acquired by the government in the early 1950s. This was corroborated by Hemant Singh in writing in the 1980s as part of a legal dispute over the property. The BJP says this affidavit was mistakenly signed by Ms Raje’s former husband and that it has its own sets of papers to prove that in 2007, the palace was given to Dushyant Singh by his father.

In 2010, the BJP says, the then Congress government that was in power in Rajasthan also paid Dushyant Singh nearly 2 crores to acquire a part of the Dholpur property to facilitate the construction of a large highway.  This compensation clearly proves that the government accepted him as the owner, Ms Raje’s party says.

The luxury hotel is crucial to the deal between Dushyant Singh’s firm and  Mr Modi, who moved to London in 2010 after being named in many corruption cases in India. The BJP says the palace, with a market worth of nearly 300 crores, is why Mr Modi paid nearly one lakh each for Rs 10 shares in a firm that was loss-making. The party also says that all financial dealings between Ms Raje’s son and the cricket magnate were declared and duly taxed.

The documents accessed by NDTV:

 

Greece in Shock as Banks Shut After Creditor Talks Break Down

Stunned Greeks faced shuttered banks, long supermarkets lines and overwhelming uncertainty on Monday as a breakdown in talks between Athens and its international creditors plunged the country deep into crisis.

With Greece’s bailout expiring on June 30 and an IMF payment falling due at the same time, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pleaded by phone with European officials to extend the programme until a referendum on Sunday on its future terms.

The frantic efforts to secure Greece’s place within the euro zone followed a dramatic weekend. Tsipras’s decision, early on Saturday, to put the aid package to a popular vote took the lenders and some of Tsipras’s own negotiating team by surprise.

It also pushed Greece towards defaulting on 1.6 billion euros ($1.77 billion) due to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday.

Greeks – used to lengthy talks with creditors before an eleventh-hour deal – were left shocked by the turn of events. Lines snaked outside ATMs and inside supermarkets while fears of disruptions to petrol and medicine supplies grew.

The breakdown has pushed the European Union and euro zone into uncharted terrain. Financial markets reacted badly on Monday, with European bank shares down sharply on worries of contagion within the financial system.

“I can’t believe it,” said Athens resident Evgenia Gekou, 50, on her way to work. “I keep thinking we will wake up tomorrow and everything will be OK. I’m trying hard not to worry.”

After months of talks, Greece’s exasperated European partners have put the blame for the crisis squarely on Tsipras for rejecting a package they consider generous. The Greek side says further austerity would simply deepen one of the worst economic crises of modern times in a country where a quarter of the workforce is already unemployed.

Personal Betrayal

Emotions were unusually raw among Europe’s leaders. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he felt personally betrayed and told Greeks a “no” vote would point to a euro exit.

“I will say to the Greeks who I love deeply: you mustn’t commit suicide because you are afraid of death,” he told a news conference.

French President Francois Hollande appealed to Tsipras to return to the negotiating table and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was willing to talk to the Greek leader if he wanted.



 

© Thomson Reuters 2015