Silver sleeps 0.19% on negative global cues

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January 24, 2019

Tracking weak cues from overseas markets, silver prices moved down 0.19 per cent to Rs 39,024 per kg in futures trading on Thursday as speculators trimmed their positions.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, silver for delivery in March month fell by Rs 75, or 0.19 per cent, to Rs 39,024 per kg in business turnover of 998 lots.

The white metal for delivery in February was trading lower by Rs 72, or 0.18 per cent, to Rs 39,048 per kg in 442 lots.

Traders said that the offloading of positions by participants on the back of weak global trend, mainly weighed on silver prices at futures trade. Silver fell 0.33 per cent to USD 15.39 an ounce in New York.

Sushil Modi: BJP to gain with Priyanka’s entry into politics

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January 24, 2019

Priyanka Gandhi formally entered politics on Wednesday with her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointing her as general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. However, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Thursday said that the BJP would “gain” in Uttar Pradesh from the entry of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into active politics, claiming that the move was aimed at “threatening the SP-BSP alliance” with the spectre of a split in votes.

Sushil Modi also sarcastically said that her (Priyanka) appointment would bring the alleged corruption scandals against her husband Robert Vadra onto centre-stage, which would be to the NDA’s benefit. The BJP is not at all worried. Why should it be when her entry is only going to help us. The Congress has brought in Priyanka with a view to threaten the SP-BSP alliance, with the possibility of a split in their votes. It is a desperate attempt to make Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati do a rethink on their strategy.

As per the seat-sharing formula, the SP and the BSP would contest 37 seats each in UP, which has a total number of 80 constituencies. Out of the six that remain, only the Congress citadels of Amethi and Raebareli have been left for the party, while four have been assigned to Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal.

If there is a split in anti-BJP votes, which else is going to gain except the BJP. Moreover, Priyanka would be seen as a representative of her husband Robert Vadra, whose name has cropped up in a number of massive scams. With her entry, the corruption cases against Robert Vadra will once again occupy the centre-stage, the deputy CM remarked.

The younger sister of the Congress chief had until now confined herself to electioneering in the constituencies of her brother and mother Sonia Gandhi. With her appointment as general secretary for the politically-crucial eastern Uttar Pradesh, speculations are rife that the Congress has adopted an aggressive strategy to confront the BJP.

Eastern UP includes Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides other BJP pocket boroughs like Gorakhpur – a seat won by the party seven times on the trotk, until it was lost last year in a by-poll.

We will contest LS polls with full strength and win: Rahul Gandhi

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January 24, 2019

Wrapping up his two-day Amethi tour, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that his party will contest the Lok Sabha polls with full strength. He also exuded confidence that it will win the next UP Assembly polls.

We will contest the Lok Sabha polls with full strength and will win the next UP Assembly polls, he said.

The Congress chief was addressing a public meeting here before returning to Delhi at the end of his two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that Modi has waived only industrialists’ loans. “The chowkidar proved to be a thief,” he further added and remarked, “Gali gali mein shor hai, chowkidar chor hai.”

Rahul charged Modi swears by God and then speaks lies. “Where are the ‘achchey din’ promised?” he posed. At the same time, Rahul said, “We have delivered the promise of loan waiver.”

The Congress leader also questioned the “hurry” in removing the CBI chief. He described note ban as the biggest scam.

Ready to experiment, dynamics of showbiz is changing: Amrita Rao

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January 24, 2019

Amrita Rao is returning to films with ‘Thackeray’ and the actor believes that she is ready to experiment as the dynamics of showbiz is changing. The actor who became the epitome of ‘the girl-next-door’ in early 2000s with films such as ‘Ishq Vishq’, ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Vivah’, however, her last cinematic outing was 2013’s “Satyagraha” and she did musical drama ‘Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai’ for the small screen three years later. Rao said that she turned down many big Bollywood projects as they did not meet her selection criteria.

It has been a journey of sacrificing big films because I was not comfortable with the on-screen requirements. Trends change, on-screen demand of actresses change. Cinema is a slice of reality. You have school and college kids being intimate and marriage is not even in question and that is what they show in cinema. That kind of requirement of the character did not suit me. So I had to let go of those big offers with a heavy heart. The directors respected me and understood that I had certain restrictions which were sacred to me, she told reporters in an interview.

The actor plays Meena Thackeray, wife to late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray (portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) in the film. She said that the makers approached her to play the role as they believed that both the women have a “pure” image. I have earned that image in the industry, playing a mature role was challenging for me. I have played the girl-next-door and then to portray this part, where my character spans from a 28-year-old to a 60-year-old, was not easy.

In 2016, the actor tied the knot with radio jockey Anmol and focused on her personal life. Rao also said that she had hinted at the hiatus before implementing it. I was not making presence anywhere. There are some actors who surrender themselves to the industry. I have always been a family person. However, in a comment on India’s #MeToo tsunami that has crossed the boundaries of the film industry since last September, the actor said that the influential people would try to get their way but “accepting it or not” will always be a choice. It is unfortunate when I hear about the #MeToo cases. There are girls and guys here who are ready to grab opportunities at any cost. People should respect themselves and their values. She further added that she was “blessed” to never experience harassment. However, she believes that it was because she became a star early on in her career despite being an outsider.

I had a wonderful entry into films without being a star kid. And you can’t plan such things. My journey has been different. I arrived and I became a star so everybody was on their best behaviour with me. I have stuck to my personality; I have not done anything that is out of my personal zone. And now Rao wants to be part of something edgy as discussions are on. I want to do something that I have not done before like a thriller, murder mystery or suspense film. I would love to play a negative role due to digitalisation, work opportunities and avenues have changed so much. Directors typecasting actors is passé.

Militant-turned-soldier Lance Naik Nazir Wani to get Ashok Chakra for Kashmir operations

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January 24, 2019

Kashmiri militant-turned-soldier Lance Naik Nazir Wani, who got martyred while killing 6 terrorists in an operation in the valley, has been chosen for this year’s Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award. The soldier was once a terrorist, but he gave up those activities and joined the Territorial Army. He was in the 34 Rashtriya Rifles during the operations in which he was martyred and was in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regiment.

The highly-decorated soldier has already received the Sena Medal twice for his gallantry against terrorists. A resident of Cheki Ashmuji village in Kulgam, he is survived by his wife and two children. Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award in the country, followed by theÂ Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, respectively. Four officers and soldiers have received the Kirti Chakra while 12 others have also been awarded the Shaurya Chakra this year.

Sindhu enters quarters of Indonesia Masters

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January 24, 2019

Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the Indonesia Masters’ quarterfinal after clinching a straight-game triumph over local favourite Gregoria Mariska Tunjung on Thursday.

Sindhu, seeded second, defeated Tunjung 23-21, 21-7 in 37 minutes to make the last-eight stage of her season-opener.

The Indian faced some competition in the opening game but completely dominated the second to keep her unbeaten record against Tunjung intact.

Jaipur Literature Festival shines with art and science

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January 24, 2019

British poet Ruth Padel’s spellbinding poetry complemented Nobel Laureate Venki Ramakrishnan’s stimulating talk on science at the Diggi Palace here on Thursday as the curtains went up on the annual Jaipur Literature Festival. The 12th edition of the five-day festival, billed as the largest free literary event in the world, will host over 350 speakers including authors, scholars, actors, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders and sports persons from across India and the world.

Among a galaxy of literary stars set to speak at this year’s event are Booker Prize-winning Nigerian writer Ben Okri and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Andrew Sean Greer and Colson Whitehead. The 2019 edition has a special emphasis on science and related topics such as genetics, astronomy, post-human future, cli-fi (climate change fiction) and artificial intelligence.

Today science is more important than ever. We live in a world in which science and technology are ubiquitous. Decisions are constantly being made by governments, corporations, educators that affect us in profound ways. Knowledge was key to not just a country’s economic prosperity but also the well-being of its citizens. Today countries which are resource-poor but knowledge-rich do very well. Singapore and Switzerland are classic examples, whereas countries which are resource-rich and knowledge-poor are not doing well economically, Ramakrishnan said.

The 2009 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, who delivered the keynote address, said that science was simply a systematic accumulation of knowledge based on facts. All human beings are born as scientists as everyone as a child is curious about the world around them. But as we grow up we lose that curiosity and take mysteries of nature for granted. All of us must enjoy science as much as arts and culture. Arts, literature and science have always encapsulated the central truths about the world. The need for science with its evidence-based facts was imperative in an era of fake news, where the existence of objective truth is questioned, Ramakrishnan added.

Festival co-director and historian William Dalrymple was conspicuous by his absence this year as he chose to attend to “family affairs” following the demise of his father. However, festival producer Sanjoy Roy said that the purpose of organising a grand literary festival as JLF was to create a space for dissent. In an extremely divisive world where there is one or the other truth, there is very little space left for those who have a contrarian point of view.

Apart from the international speakers, there are many writers from within the country to watch out for this year. Some of the prominent names include politician-author Shashi Tharoor, diplomat Navtej Sarna, Kishwar Desai, Ira Mukhoty, Amitabha Bagchi, Amitava Kumar, Anita Nair, Devdutt Pattanaik, Makarand Paranjape, Naina Lal Kidwai and Rana Dasgupta.

The festival will conclude on January 28.

Doors open for alliance will choose partners based on certain guidelines: AIADMK

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January 24, 2019

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Thursday said its doors for the alliance were open but insisted it will choose its partners based on certain “guidelines” including the prospective ally’s record on pro-Tamil Nadu efforts.

Senior AIADMK leader and state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the party will consult its various stakeholders and arrive at a consensus before firming up a poll pact.

“We have not closed our doors regarding alliance… (others) can come. But there are certain guidelines like what public welfare measures they have done for the state (Tamil Nadu), whether they support the government in its efforts to uphold the state’s rights,” he told reporters.

Besides these guidelines, the party will also brainstorm with its rank and file, even as there are various decision-making committees that will deliberate upon the issue, he said.

After consulting all these stakeholders, the party will arrive at a consensus on its electoral alliance, the Minister said.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to organise ‘Maha Satsang’ in Kerala

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January 24, 2019

Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would be arriving in Kerala on a three-day visit next month. Gurudev would be in the state from February 19 to 21, an Art of Living (AOL) Foundation statement said on Thursday.

The spiritual leader would deliver keynote address at the World Congress of the International Advertising Association (IAA) in Kochi on February 20. The same evening, he would lead a ‘Maha Satsang’, spiritual gathering, at the Cantonment Maidan in Kollam with the theme ‘upholding spirituality and traditional values’.

Over one lakh people are expected to participate in this event where Gurudev would inaugurate the Sri Sri Academy, it said adding that this would be the first Maha Satsang in his presence in the state after a gap of five years.

IAS officer Chnadrakala skips summon, submits documents to ED: UP mining case

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January 24, 2019

IAS officer B Chandrakala on Thursday submitted documents to the Enforcement Directorate, but skipped her personal appearance in connection with an alleged illegal mining money laundering case in Uttar Pradesh, official sources said and further added that Chandrakala sent her legal representative to the Lucknow zonal office of the central probe agency with documents and assured the investigating officer that she would appear in due course.

The 2008 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer said that she was not able to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) due to some personal reason. However, the ED had issued summons to her last week after it filed a criminal FIR in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR filed to probe illegal mining instances in the Hamirpur area between 2012 and 2016.

The CBI has said that it was probing the role of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in the case as he had held the mining portfolio during this period.

The ED had summoned Chandrakala and SP MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra apart from few others for questioning in the case. Mishra has been called on January 28. The ED is probing the money trail and whether the alleged illegal funds received as kickbacks in these cases were laundered by the accused. It will also look for assets, both immovable and movable, of the accused that could be attached under the anti-money laundering law.

The CBI had carried out searches at 14 locations earlier this month in connection with its FIR against 11 people, including Chandrakala, Mishra and Sanjay Dixit (who had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on a BSP ticket) to probe the alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16. The role of the then mining ministers of the state might be looked into during the course of the investigation, the CBI FIR had said.

Akhilesh Yadav, who was the chief minister of the state between 2012 and 2017, held the mining portfolio during 2012-13, apparently bringing his role under the scanner, according to the FIR. He was succeeded by Gayatri Prajapati, who took charge as the mining minister in 2013 and was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.