Maha cop killed while stopping truck carrying bullocks, 2 held

By

-

January 21, 2019

A police constable was killed while trying to stop a truck carrying bullocks in Chandrapur in Maharashtra, over 800 kilometres from Mumbai, police said on Monday.

The incident happened Sunday night at Khambada Vani Naka on the Nagpur-Chandrapur Road when constable Prakash Meshram, who was deployed on an anti-liquor check, tried to halt a truck carrying 12 bullocks, an official said.

“The driver did not halt and drove ahead, crushing constable Meshram under the vehicle’s wheels. He is survived by his wife and daughter,” he informed.

Two people in the truck, identified as Imtiaz Ahmed Fayyaz Ahmed and Mohammad Raza Abdul Jabbar Qureshi, both 19 years of age, were arrested while two others managed to flee from the vehicle, he added.

This is the second incident of a policeman losing his life while on a vehicle check in the last three months, the official said.

Sub-Inspector Chhatrapati Chide was mowed down in November last year during a police check by a sports utility vehicle driven by suspected liquor smugglers.

Prohibition is in place in Chandrapur district and police routinely set up checks on its streets to nab vehicles involved in transporting liqour.

Malegaon case: HC asks NIA how it verified photocopies of evidence

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the National Investigating Agency (NIA) how it and the trial court verified the authenticity of photocopies of some documentary evidence relied upon in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

A bench of justices A S Oka and A S Gadkari asked the NIA to inform the high court about it on Wednesday.

The bench was hearing a bunch of appeals filed by Sameer Kulkarni, one of the accused in the case.

Kulkarni has challenged the decision of the special NIA court permitting the probe agency to bring photocopies of missing statements of witnesses and confessions of the accused on record, and lead evidence in its support.

In January 2017, the special NIA court had permitted the use of photocopies after the probe agency submitted that some files containing original witness statements and confessions of accused under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section 164 had gone missing and could not be traced.

The agency pleaded that since these statements were not traceable and the case proceedings were conducted on a regular basis, the secondary copies of the original statements be taken on record.

The court then permitted the use of such photocopies as secondary evidence.

Kulkarni, however, said in his appeal that the special court should not have permitted the use of photocopies since there was no evidence to prove that the photocopied documents were authentic copies of the original statements.

The bench also asked, “How do you (NIA) or the special court know that these are copies of the original statements? How did you verify that?”

In October last year, the special court had framed charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and some other accused in the case.

Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from here in North Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.

Chandrababu Naidu writes to Centre seeking reimbursement of Rs 3,722 crore for Polavaram project

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

Faced with fund crunch, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday shot off a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, demanding early reimbursement of Rs 3,722 crore for the ongoing Polavaram project on Godavari river.

The state is making available funds for the project from its “meager resources” to ensure the ongoing work does not stop, but this is affecting other flagship state programmes severely, he said.

So far, about Rs 15,380.97 crore has been spent on the project. After the Polavaram irrigation project was declared as national project, the central government reimbursed Rs 6,727.26 crore and is yet to release the balance Rs 3,722 crore to the state, he added.

“The last reimbursement received from Government of India was on June 11, 2018. Since then, there is no reimbursement of expenditure already incurred by the state government so far,” Naidu said in the letter.

Over 64 per cent of the overall project has been completed so far. The state government has been making timely payment for the project “severely restraining” its capacity to fund other development and welfare programmes with its limited revenues and resources, he said.

“Unless the amounts which are due to us are reimbursed immediately by the Government of India, the country is likely to lose a golden opportunity to complete a national project which is benefitting more than five states directly.”

Naidu broke away from the NDA early 2018. He is now spearheading efforts to bring non-BJP parties together to form a third front ahead of the general elections.

Women’s commission issues notice to BJP’s Sadhana Singh over remarks against Mayawati

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

The National Commission for Women has issued a notice to BJP MLA Sadhana Singh and sought explanation for making “extremely offensive and unethical remarks” against BSP supremo Mayawati.

Singh came under stringent criticism from allies and opposition leaders for calling BSP chief Mayawati a “blot on womankind” and “worse than a transgender”.

The Mughalsarai MLA made the controversial remarks at a rally on Saturday while referring to the infamous incident when Mayawati was assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a Lucknow guest house in 1995.

Taking suo motu cognisance, the NCW said the remarks made are “extremely offensive, unethical and shows disrespect towards the dignity and respect of women in general”.

“The Commission strongly condemns such irresponsible and disparaging views of persons holding responsible positions. In view of the above, you are hereby required to provide a satisfactory explanation to the Commission on the matter on recept of this notice,” NCW Under Secretary Barnali Shome said.

Gopichand hopes India will get badminton gold at Tokyo Games

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

Saying that “every year has been better than the previous one”,chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand is hopeful that India would clinch its first ever gold medal in the discipline at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Well, I think every year, in the last few years, has been better than the previous one.

“In 2008 (Beijing Olympics) – the quarterfinal results was the biggest result, in 2012 (London Olympics) we had the first-ever bronze (Saina Nehwal), in 2016 (Rio Olympics) we had the first-ever silver (P V Sindhu) and, hopefully, 2020 (Tokyo Olympics) we will have the first-ever gold,” Gopichand said here Monday.

The former All England champion was speaking after felicitating the seven winners of the IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #Young Champ programme who will undergo training at the his academy in Hyderabad.

Gopichand said that earlier badminton was remembered for men’s singles players like Nandu Natekar, Suresh Goel and Prakash Padukone, among others, but Saina Nehwal changed the perception.

“Well, yes. For a long time before these girls (referring to Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu) came out, badminton was primarily remembered for men’s singles players, whether it is Nandu Natekar, Suresh Goel, Prakash (Padukone) Sir or Syed Modi.

“It is how that whole thing was. The change to that (perception) happened (and for that) Saina (Nehwal) was important.

“We needed somebody with that kind of push, hunger, will to win, because (being) the first person to come out and win is very difficult,” the veteran shuttler said.

He heaped praise on Sindhu, saying the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist has at least 2 more Olympics left.

“It is great to see what Sindhu has achieved — World Championship medal, Olympic medal and all other medals – and you can still look at her and say ‘she has two Olympics to go at least’, and that is something fantastic,” he noted.

Gopichand said that he was able to pass on the formula for winning to his students at an early age.

“I won the All England (Championship) at 27 and all my life I wish I had won All England at 20, then I would have had so many more years of experience.

“When we were starting off (with coaching), it was my mom’s statement — ‘if you had won early, or if you kids (students) will win early, they will have enough chances to stumble, fall down, tie their laces and move’.

“Because when I realised that I knew the formula for winning, my career was finished.

“So I just wanted to pass it (formula) so that my kids (students) can win at a younger age. And I’m sure I have been successful in that because Sindhu won when she was very young. A lot of my players have won at a young age,” he said.

According to Gopichand, the change in Indian badminton over the last 10 years has been “fantastic”.

Will soon fill vacant posts to improve quality of education: Rajasthan Minister

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

Rajasthan minister Govind Dotasara said on Monday that the Education Department will soon fill vacant positions to improve the quality of education and provide jobs to unemployed youths.

Replying to question in the Rajasthan Assembly, the minister said the previous government had announced vacancies for various posts without completing any formalities and the present government is committed to fill the vacant positions soon.

As on January 1, 2019, posts of 1,642 principals, 1,158 headmasters, 9,912 lecturers, 224 grade-1 physical education teachers, 13,990 senior teachers, 496 and 5,056 grade-2 and grade-3 physical education teachers, 11,906 grade-3 level-1 teachers and 13,940 of grade-3 level-2 teachers were vacant, he said.

Dotasara said that 58,324 posts were vacant in the department.

Serena muscles past top seed Halep into Open quarters

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

Serena Williams subdued a stubborn fightback from world number one Simona Halep to take her quest for a record-equalling 24th major into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

The 37-year-old American beat the Romanian top seed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in an epic three-setter to line up a last eight clash with Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova.

It was Williams’ first match against a world number one since returning after having a baby in September 2017 and the American showed why many already regard her as the greatest of all time.

She unleashed an early onslaught and Halep was in danger crumbling before the French Open champion regrouped for a stirring comeback.

“It was an intense match and there were some incredible points,” Williams said.

“She’s the number one player in the world and there’s a reason why… (but) I’m such a fighter, I just never give up.”

Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam Down Under two years ago while two months pregnant and is the bookies’ favourite to claim an eighth Australian title, despite being seeded 16th.

Halep did better early in the second set, and when the American did break her in the third game she immediately broke back.

The turning point came in the sixth game of the third set when Halep clawed three break points but Williams held and took a decisive break in the fifth.

Aaron Sorkin calls on Democrats to be ‘the non-stupid party’

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin urged young Democrats elected to Congress to take up the opportunity of making the party “the non stupid” one.

The screenwriter-director said the onus was on the new “crop” to take charge of the situation and help point the difference between the two parties.

“They need to stop acting like young people. I think there’s a great opportunity here for Democrats to be the non-stupid party, to point out the difference,” Sorkin told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria.

The “Molly’s Game” helmer also underscored the issues the Democratic Party must focus on.

“It’s not just about transgender bathrooms, that’s a Republican talking point. They’re trying to distract you.

“We haven’t forgotten the economic anxiety of the working class, but we’re going to be smart about this. We’re not going to be mean about it,” he said.

Two more rappers accuse Ariana Grande of plagiarising their content

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

American Singer Ariana Grande’s latest single ‘7 Rings’ has once again landed her in trouble, as two more rappers have accused her of copying their content.

Shortly after the singer dropped ‘7 Rings’ earlier this month, rapper Princess Nokia accused Grande of stealing lyrics and flow from her.

Following Princess Nokia’s accusations, two more rappers namely, Soulja Boy and 2 Chainz, have explicitly called out the ‘thank u, next’ singer for allegedly stealing their work for the track.

Alleging that Grande stole from his song titled ‘Pretty Boy Swag,’ Soulja Boy replied to a tweet in which the former Nickelodeon star thanked her friends who featured in the ‘7 Rings’ music video and wrote, “Give me my credit. Period.”

“Lol stop stealing my swag. Word,” he added.

He later followed up with “You’re a thief.”

Meanwhile, MC 2 Chainz, an Atlanta-based rapper, pointed out the similarity between the ‘7 Rings’ and his ‘Door Swangin’ music video in terms of the setup where the songs were shot. Both the videos featured hot pink trap houses.

Using the reference of Big Draco aka Soulja Boy, a rapper who accused Drake of stealing his musical style, MC 2 Chainz posted a clip of Grande’s ‘7 Rings’ on his Instagram page and wrote “Tryna figure out if I should Big Draco Ariana Grande. You all tell me in the comments. #bigdracovibesall2019,”

Grande reportedly expects that her new track ‘7 Rings’, which is slated for release on Friday, will become an anthem for women empowerment.

The lyrics of ‘7 Rings’ also feature references to her breakups just like ‘Thank U, Next’.

Kareena Kapoor Khan may contest from Bhopal LS seat

By

Web Team

-

January 21, 2019

A local Congress corporator has requested party chief Rahul Gandhi to field noted Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan from the Bhopal constituency in Madhya Pradesh in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter written to Gandhi on Sunday, corporator Yogendra Singh Chauhan claimed that the actress would be the most suitable candidate to defeat the BJP in Bhopal seat, held by the saffron party since long.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is the wife of Bollywood actorSaif Ali Khan, who is the son of former Indian cricketer late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, scion of the erstwhile Bhopal state. Pataudi had in 1991 unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha poll from Bhopal, a BJP bastion, on Congress’ ticket.

Taking a swipe at Chauhan, MP BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal dubbed the corporator’s move as entertaining and further added that we are too strong in the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat as our MPs have worked for its all round development.

Asked what will be their strategy if the actress was fielded from the seat, Agrawal said that it was not proper for him to comment on such a hypothetical question. The demand has proved the fact that the Congress has no leader to take on the BJP in Bhopal.

Meanwhile, Chauhan, who is considered close to state Public Relations Minister P C Sharma, claimed that some more Congress councillors were going to request Gandhi to field the actress from Bhopal seat.