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Nationals will help in preparation for All England: Praneeth

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B sai praneethA crammed BWF calendar affecting his fitness last season, Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth says he will pick his tournaments carefully in the Olympic qualification year and is eyeing a national title to prepare for the All England Championship next month.

With defending champion HS Prannoy and finalist Kidambi Srikanth withdrawing due to fitness issues, former champion Praneeth will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy at the 83rd Senior Nationals, which got underway with the qualifiers here on Tuesday.

“Last season, I struggled with my fitness and confidence because there were too many tournaments. So I couldn’t maintain fitness. From June to December, I played continuously, so it was all about fitness. I am fine now and fortunately no injuries,” Praneeth told agencies.

“I am looking forward to All England next month and Nationals will be good match practice to prepare. It will help my confidence ahead of the international events. You have to beat all the top Indian players to win it and it is not easy because everyone is playing well,” said Praneeth, who will also play the Swiss Open this year.

The Olympic qualification period will be between April 29, 2019 to April 26, 2020, and the BWF rankings published on April 30, 2020 will decide who makes the cut for the Tokyo Games.

Praneeth, who is currently ranked 26th, said he will need a bit of luck and series a consistent performances to earn him a ticket to the Olympics.

Badminton Association of India (BAI) has recently appointed two Korean coaches — Kim Ji Hyun and Park Tae Sang – to work with the players ahead of the Olympics.

 

Odisha beat Coorg 3-0 in stay afloat in Senior National Women’s Hockey

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national women hockeyOdisha defeated Coorg 3-0 in their last Pool A match to stay in contention for a place in the quarterfinals of the ninth Hockey Senior Women National Championship (Division A) on Tuesday.

Odisha ended their pool engagements with six points from four games, while winless Coorg remained at the bottom of the table.

In Pool B, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha beat Bhopal 3-1 to register their first win of the competition in their last match.

The win took Hockey Gangpur-Odisha to four points from four matches, and occupy the third spot in their pool, while Bhopal remained winless.

Uttar Pradesh and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) played out a 1-1 draw in a Pool C match.

The draw ensured both the teams remain with four points each in their pool, however CRPF still have a game in hand.

In Pool D, Kerala defeated Tamil Nadu 5-3 to register their second win of the competition.

 

India would emerge as one of the world’s three biggest economic powers: Madhav

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710519 ram madhav 970Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav on Tuesday said that the NDA government has given India a sense of security and there has been no terror incident in the country in the last five years.

The BJP national general secretary said that the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army in 2016 had conveyed a strong message to terrorists.

“We have given a sense of the security to this country. We have ensured a strong security setup in the country. there has been no terror incident in this country in the last five years. Comparing the NDA with the previous governments, Madhav said, “Earlier Pakistani terrorists used to come inside (our country), engineer terror attacks and kill civilians,” Madhav told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

He added that no terrorist was allowed to enter India and carry out an attack during the NDA government’s tenure. Instead we entered their country and taught them a lesson. By undertaking the surgical strike, we have conveyed a strong message to them. (We told them) what can happen if they indulge in any mischief.

The BJP leader asserted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had a strong policy against terrorism and was committed to moving in the direction of neutralising the last terrorist in the valley. The NDA government has ensured security, honour and dignity for the country. He also hit out at the Opposition, accusing it of obstructing Modi from moving towards realising the dream of a New India.

Madhav said that the government’s report card was before the people and it had put in place such security measures that no riot took place in the last five years. On the economic front, he claimed, India was the only developing nation with a growth rate of 7.2 percent. India would emerge as one of the world’s three biggest economic powers.

Karan thanks SRK, Kajol in heartfelt post as ‘My Name Is Khan’ turns 9

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mnik posterfeb12

As ‘My Name Is Khan’ completed 9 years today, ace filmmaker Karan Johar thanked the leading pair of the film, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, for bringing the characters of Rizwan and Mandira to life.

KJo took to his Twitter handle to share a heartfelt post expressing his emotions and thanking his team.

“#9YearsOfMyNameIsKhan …I feel so blessed to have been able to tell this story….thank you for creating it @ShibaniWrites ….and thank you @iamsrk for living the role of Rizwan so beautifully and brilliantly… thank you @KajolAtUN for your eyes…your silences and more,” he wrote.


Actor Varun Dhawan, who worked as an assistant director on the film, also shared a throwback photo and opened up about his experience of filming.

“#9YearsOfMNIK a film I learnt soo much on. It practically changed my life. Also this is the only picture I have where @abhivarman is smiling. Thank u @karanjohar,” Varun tweeted.


SRK and Kajol had reunited for ‘My Name is Khan’ after a span of 9 years and the film created magic.

The film revolves around the life of SRK’s character Rizwan Khan and showed his journey of meeting the president of America. The movie not only became one of the biggest hits of 2010 but was also appreciated by both the critics and the audience.

In the film, Shah Rukh portrayed the role of a Muslim man named Rizwan who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome. Kajol played the character of Mandira, a single mother who gets married to Rizwan. The couple’s life turns upside down when Mandira’s son gets killed after being bullied for having a Muslim father post the September 11 attacks in New York City.

 

India will not miss 5G opportunity; economic impact seen at over $1 tn: Communications Minister

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manoj sinha

The economic impact of 5G is estimated to be over one trillion dollars for India, which is aggressively positioning itself to be at the forefront of the new age technologies, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday.

Vowing that India will “not miss the 5G bus”, the minister outlined the country’s strides in telecom over the last five years, highlighting the spike in data consumption, broadband user base, and low tariffs, but added that ensuring safety and sovereignty of digital networks will be a priority for the government.

“While we are gearing up for the next wave of digital transformation, it is also important to ensure the safety, security and sovereignty of digital communications…It is important that we focus on security testing and establish appropriate security standards. We have recently started a state-of-the-art facility for preparation of security assurance standards, putting us at the forefront of technology,” Sinha said.

The facility will work on security requirements and also facilitate development of testing and certification ecosystem in the country, Sinha said while speaking at India Telecom 2019 expo organised by Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC).

Terming 5G as a “gamechanger”, the minister said that flagship government programmes like Digital India and smart cities will ride on 5G.

“The economic impact of 5G is expected to be over one trillion dollars for India, and the consequent multiplier effect is expected to be much more,” Sinha said.

He underscored the need for promoting investments to build underlying infrastructure that would make 5G a success, and added that a working group has been constituted to initiate implementation of recommendations of high level forum on 5G that had submitted its report in August 2018.

Sinha also said that the government is in favour of policies and regulations that will facilitate development of 5G based technologies and services. “To ensure that we are able to launch 5G services in India along with the world, we have established 5G test beds through industry-academia partnerships, and we expect trials to be conducted over the next 12 months,” he said.

India will position itself as a “globally syncronised participant” in manufacturing and development of 5G based technologies, products and applications, he added.

In her address, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan noted that connectivity needs of developing and developed markets were different.

“Our challenges are different…we need telecom networks to deliver inclusion, basic services, to connect the unconnected, and serve the under served,” she said, adding that India, with its technological prowess and manufacturing capabilities, is keen to partner other nations who are looking for affordable and robust digital communications solutions.

Rajiv Mehrotra, Chairman of VNL Ltd, highlighted the need to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas through connectivity solutions, and said that opportunities should be created for promoting indigenous telecom equipment manufacturing.

 

 

17 dead, 35 injured in Karol Bagh fire: Delhi govt cancels 4th-anniversary celebrations

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Delhi hotel fire EPS 2A massive fire swept through a four-floor hotel in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least 17 guests, including a child and two people who jumped off the building in a desperate bid to save themselves, officials said.

The blaze, in which 35 people were injured, started in the second floor of the Arpit Palace Hotel in the heart of the national capital around 3.30 am, trapping many guests who were deep in sleep. There were 53 people in the 45-room hotel, which had a canopy on the terrace housing what appeared to be a restaurant, officials said.

A call about the fire was received at 4.35 am and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior Delhi Fire Service official said.

Of the 13 bodies, five had been identified — three from Kerala and two from Myanmar. A senior civic official said a suspected short circuit could have sparked the fire.

While the Delhi government ordered a magisterial probe, Home Minister Satyendar Jain said that he has also directed the fire department to inspect buildings which are five floors or more and submit a report on their fire safety compliance within a week.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was among the many politicians and officials who visited the spot, announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has ordered cancellation of an event to mark the fourth-anniversary celebration of the AAP government in Delhi on Tuesday.

UP CM’s reason to stop my visit is a cover to hide nervousness: Akhilesh hits back at Adityanath

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akhilesh yadav 1Describing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath‘s comments that his Allahabad visit could have triggered violence as “a cover to hide nervousness”, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that stopping him shows how “scared” the government is.

“I was stopped from boarding a flight to Allahabad to attend a students’ union programme. I haven’t been given a reason why but it seems a general impression was that I would create a law and order problem. Chief Minister has given a statement to this effect but they are using this as a cover to hide their nervousness because our youth have had enough,” Yadav said.

“If there was a genuine problem, the police there would have objected or asked for a change in my schedule. I understand the need to ensure the safety of people and property and would never do something to endanger either knowingly,” he added.

He said the BJP has lost Uttar Pradesh, “but more than an election, they have lost the faith that the youth of this country reposed in them”. The former UP chief minister said the BJP has betrayed the aspirations and hopes of crores of young people in their “blind pursuit” of creating a monochrome India.

“Their attack on institutions by filling them with people whose loyalties lie with an organisation that harbours people who celebrate the Mahatmas murderer is an attack on our democracy. These are people who have taken two oaths (of government and RSS) but are only loyal to one. These are people who have never accepted or celebrated our Constitution,” he said.

“This is what I hear from the youth – We are awake. We are aware. And we will never again be fooled by rhetoric that is designed to divide and conquer,” Yadav said. “I stand with the youth of Uttar Pradesh and this country, and they stand with me. Today, I ask everyone to come forward and join hands not to win an election but to defeat, and forever stand vigilant against, an ideology that threatens to unravel the beautiful tapestry of our country,” he added.

Speaking to reporters, Adityanath said Yadav’s visit could have triggered violence between rival student groups at the Allahabad University. “The Allahabad University had urged the government to stop his visit and the government acted,” he said.

 

Michelle Rodriguez apologises for her ‘choice of words’ in her defence of Liam Neeson

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shutterstock 9946049cwMichelle Rodriguez has regretted the “choice of words” she used to defend actor Liam Neeson, who has been embroiled in a controversy over his revenge remarks.

On the red carpet at the amfAR Gala New York, the 40-year-old actor had come out in defence of Neeson, claiming that he is not a “racist” because of the way the veteran actor shot an intimate scene with Viola Davis in their film “Widows”.

After a swift backlash, Rodriguez posted an apology on Instagram to her over 4.7 million fans.

“To my friends and colleagues and my fans and community: I want to deeply apologize for my recent choice of words, and poor use of example,” she wrote.

“In a pressure-filled situation, I defended a friend in the wrong way. I now realize how insensitive it was, and I had no intention of invoking such a terrible historical comparison. I have learned from this, and will grow from it,” she added.

Neeson, 66, who has starred in multiple revenge dramas over the years, recently said in an interview that he once wanted to kill a black man with a cosh after a friend of his was raped. He added that he feels ashamed of the thought now.

He had recalled his days wondering on the streets with a weapon hoping a black man would approach him and he would kill him.

The actor’s comments did not go down well on social media. He was slammed by many people, particulary by those from the black community.

After backlash, Neeson on Tuesday appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America and insisted that he is “not racist”.

“I was trying to show honour, to stand up for my dear friend in this terrible, medieval fashion. I am a fairly intelligent guy and that’s why it kind of shocked me when I came down to earth after having these horrible feelings,” Neeson had said.

Following the controversy, the red carpet at the world premiere of Neeson’s new movie “Cold Pursuit” was cancelled by Lionsgate.

Now is the time I can’t take anything for granted, says Vicky Kaushal

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vicky kaushal

Vicky Kaushal’s latest film, “Uri: The Surgical Strike”, is on a record breaking run at the box office and the actor believes that from now on he cannot take things for granted.

The actor has received critical praise for his performances in films such as “Sanju” and “Manmarziyaan”, among others. Vicky started 2019 with a bang with “Uri”, which is still running to packed houses.

When asked how does he view his recent blockbuster success, Vicky told reporters, “You say that to yourself that now is the time you can’t take anything for granted. You’ve to keep working hard, harder and hardest. It feels so special.”

The actor will be next seen in Karan Johar’s directorial “Takht” and will also reportedly feature in a horror film with Bhumi Pednekar.

On a question whether there was more pressure on him to deliver a hit, the actor said, “I’ve been waiting to get this pressure on my shoulders. I’ve worked hard to get this pressure today. It really feels good to get so much love.”

Govt to expedite campaign to rid country of the corrupt: PM Modi

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modi 4Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that his government will speed up the campaign to rid the country of the corrupt, claiming that only such people had a problem with him while the honest trusted the ‘chowkidar’.

Modi sought people’s support in the campaign while addressing a gathering here at the “Swachh Shakti 2019”, an event to recognise the leadership role played by rural women in the Swachh Bharat Mission towards achieving a clean and open defecation free country by October 2 this year.

“In 2014, you gave your votes for an honest and transparent government. Middlemen and those who snatched the rights of the poor have been thrown out of all the systems,” he said.

“Every honest person in the country trusts this ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) but those who are corrupt, have a problem with Modi,” he said.

Modi said that some people in Haryana are worried over the ongoing investigations by probe agencies against them.

There are investigations against former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra for alleged irregularities in land deals in the state.

The Prime Minister also mocked the opposition’s proposed grand alliance as “maha-milawat”, saying all the faces in this are indulging in threatening and abusing Modi.

“But you rest assured, this ‘chowkidar’ will neither be threatened nor browbeaten with their threats and abuses, will neither stop nor bow down. Our ‘safai’ campaign to rid this country of the corrupt and the dirt is going to be further accelerated. For this campaign, your blessings should continue,” he said.

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