“India has one-third of world’s stunted children”

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November 29, 2018

India is facing a major malnutrition crisis as it holds almost a third of the world’s burden for stunting, according to a global nutrition report published on Thursday.

With 46.6 million children who are stunted, India tops the list of countries followed by Nigeria (13.9 million) and Pakistan (10.7 million), the Global Nutrition Report 2018 said.

Stunting, or low height for age, is caused by long-term insufficient nutrient-intake and frequent infections.

India also accounted for 25.5 million children who are wasted, followed by Nigeria (3.4 million) and Indonesia (3.3 million).

Wasting, or low weight for height, is a strong predictor of mortality among children under five. It is usually the result of acute significant food shortage and/or disease.

“More than half of the world’s children impacted by wasting (26.9 million) live in South Asia. Of the three countries that are home to almost half (47.2 per cent) of all stunted children, two are in Asia, with India having 46.6 million (31 per cent) and Pakistan having 10.7 million,” the report said.

Globally 150.8 million children under five years are stunted and 50.5 million are wasted, the report said.

India also figures among the set of countries that has more than a million overweight children. The other nations are China, Indonesia, India, Egypt, US, Brazil, and Pakistan.

“India’s national nutrition strategy which is focused on addressing district-specific factors draws on analyses such as these along with district-specific nutrition profiles to enable diagnostic work and policy action to reduce inequalities and childhood stunting,” the report said.

SC raps Centre for ‘deficiency’ in speedy trial for criminal cases

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the central government for its “deficiency” in taking effective steps to ensure speedy trial in criminal cases.

The top court lambasted the Centre for “not performing its job” and said it was strange how it criticises judiciary for the delay in justice.

“You (Centre) don’t perform your job but always criticise judiciary for the delay in justice. It is very strange,” Justice Madan B Lokur told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aman Lekhi.

Furthermore, Justice Lokur told the Centre that its people should stop criticising the judicial system when they themselves are not doing their job.

Suffering from depression, ACP rank officer commits suicide

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

Suffering from depression, a senior official of the Delhi Police allegedly committed suicide on Thursday morning by jumping off the 10th floor of Delhi Police Headquarters building in ITO area.

The deceased was identified as 55-year-old, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Prem Ballabh. He was deployed in the Crime and Traffic (CNT) department in the Secretarial Branch of the Police Headquarters.

“We received information at around 10:15 in the morning that an officer has jumped off from the Headquarter building …As per preliminary inquiry it is ascertained that he was suffering from anxiety and depression. He was also admitted to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital where he was undergoing treatment for the same,” Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) Rajesh Khurana said.

Deceased ACP Ballabh was awarded the Police Medal for meritorious service in the year 2016.

Novel adapted for Rajkummar Rao-starrer ‘Made in China’ to release next year

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

The novel, which served as the basis for the Rajkummar Rao-starrer movie “Made in China”, will be launched simultaneously with the film on Independence Day next year.

HarperCollins India has acquired the publishing rights to “Made in China”, written by US-based Parinda Joshi.

According to the publishers, the book is a hilarious account of a struggling Gujarati businessman’s journey to becoming entrepreneurial success. It is the first in a two-book deal with the author.

Raghu’s closest friends and family members all seems to be running big, successful businesses, living luxurious lives in Surat. But 40-year-old Raghu has only the pity of others.

His family-inherited Nepali handicraft imports business has unexpectedly collapsed and cash is drying out quickly. His wife, Rukmini thinks he a loser, his family does not respect him and society considers him irrelevant.

And then, a successful first cousin, Devraj, tips Raghu off about consumer goods that could be sourced from China and offers to take him along on his next trip, knowing fully well that it won’t be Raghu’s cup of tea.

But slowly, after being initially overwhelmed by the cultural oddities at the convention and elsewhere, Raghu begins to get the hang of things.

“I’d woken up one bright morning in May 2008 with a vivid dream in which I was watching a movie based on a book I had written. That dream ostensibly has been the guiding light, and here we are, a decade later,” says Joshi.

She is thrilled that Maddock Films is producing the movie, saying “the adaptation of my novel couldn’t be in more adept and nurturing hands”.

The film, also starring Mouni Roy and Boman Irani, is being directed by Mikhil Musale.

“Made in China” is quirky, funny and yet it makes one think, feels Dinesh Vijan, founder of Maddock Films. “I felt it needed to be experienced by more people and that’s why we decided to adapt it.

Indian independent music yet to take off globally, says Rahman

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

Bollywood is recognised for its elaborate musicals but Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman says Indian independent music is yet to take off globally.

With the boom of digital media, there is a surge in internet sensations but Rahman believes there is also a lot of clutter.

“There are so many now and there is clutter. One might get better quality person (referring to singer). But a ‘besura’ singer is rejected as there are thousands who can sing. So, on the internet, it is about what new you can bring.

“All this is good for our country, for our music. Once we reach that level, there will be world domination of Indian artistes. I can see that happening. There is a void in the world. Every music has taken off other than Indian music,” Rahman told a agency.

Pointed out that his songs are often used in Hollywood films, Rahman said, “That is film music. I am talking about independent music. There is inherent racism when you go to the world market, they see colour and all that stuff. But beyond that, there is talent and I wish that happens.”

The music maestro will be a part of Sony Entertainment Television’s “Jammin”. The show had a digital release but the second season will now be on television.

Rahman, 51, will be joined by Bollywood music talents and singing sensations from the world of web. Indian Idol season 10 contestants will also be a part of the show.

“It is an opportunity for me and people who can’t access this world to meet. We meet and discuss things and perform together. We learn from each other.

My happiness comes from Deepika’s, says Ranveer Singh

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

Ranveer Singh is turning out to be the man of all our dreams and the doting husband that we thought he would be, as for him, nothing else matters apart from his dear wife Deepika Padukone’s happiness.

Deepika and Ranveer, who recently got married in Italy, have hardly spoken about their relationship or their feelings for each other. And now, in an interview with Filmfare, the new groom in town has revealed that merely six months into the relationship, he knew she was the one.

“I nurtured the relationship accordingly. It’s been six years now. She’s too good, too lovely. She’s a force of nature. I understood that almost immediately,” he added.

After being together for six years, the star couple tied the knot in Italy in a traditional Konkani ceremony on November 14, while a Sindhi wedding was organised on November 15, both of which were attended by close-knit relatives of the two actors.

When asked about the reason behind the couple’s decision of getting married at the picturesque Lake Como, the ‘Simmba’ star simply stated that his ladylove DP’s wish was his command.

“That’s the first step in being the husband of the millennium. Whatever her vision of getting married, I wanted her to realise it. Whatever she wanted, it was done exactly in that manner. She deserves every bit of it. I too deserve happiness and my happiness comes from her happiness. It’s that simple,” gushed Ranveer.

The 33-year-old also spoke about deciding to take the plunge amid the couple’s work commitments.

“I believe when the feeling is right, it’s the right time. I have been feeling its right for a long time. This could have happened three years back as well. Now that she’s also feeling right about it, it’s perhaps the right time now. When two people feel right about it, it’s the right time,” said Ranveer.

DeepVeer (as they are lovingly called by their fans) met and fell in love while shooting for their first film together, ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela… Ram Leela’ and have since been shelling out couple goals.

‘Game of Thrones’ reunion confirmed, but won’t air on HBO

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

‘Game of Thrones’ is hosting a reunion for all the cast members that have been a part of the franchise till date. But if you are a ‘GOT’ fan, don’t get your hopes high, because the reunion won’t air on HBO.

While you won’t be able to watch it for free on your television sets, you can access it if you have a couple of bucks to spend because the reunion will debut as part of a complete series box set, compiling all eight seasons blockbuster show.

The collectible set will be launched after the final season of the show airs.

According to The Hollywood reporter, Sean Bean, who played the role of Ned Stark in the series, was the first cast member to reveal some information about the reunion. “It was for season eight, the last one. So they decided to get all the characters together for a bit for this big show in Belfast,” he said.

Earlier this month, putting an end to speculations, makers of GOT announced that the season finale will premiere in the month of April next year.

‘Game of Thrones’ has garnered widespread popularity since the first season, and has received 46 Primetime Emmy Awards, including ‘Outstanding Drama Series’ in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

While season 8 will be the finale, author of the fantasy novel series George R.R. Martin, recently revealed that he is working on the sixth book of the series.

Owe it to myself, my audience to choose interestingly: Bale on his varied filmography

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

He was only 13 when he joined acting to financially support his family but now that the wheels of fortune have turned in his favour, Christian Bale believes he owes it to himself and his audience to “choose interestingly”.

Considered one of the finest contemporary actors of his generation, Bale has an enviable filmography that boasts of the mega-successful Batman trilogy besides critically acclaimed performances in “The Prestige”, The Machinist, American Psycho, American Hustle and “The Fighter”, for which he won the best supporting actor Oscar.

His turn as former US vice president Dick Cheney in “The Vice” is already being seen as an award season favourite.

The 44-year-old actor, who was in India to promote Netflix’s Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, said he did not always have the power to choose in his career.

“I have been fortunate enough now but it hasn’t always been the case. In fact, I started acting because my family needed the money. It was the only way we could support ourselves. So, we did not have that option,” Bale told a agency in an interview.

“But then I found myself to be incredibly fortunate and there is a great deal of luck involved in that where I’m able to choose right now. It might change in the future. But since I am able to choose, I owe it to myself and to the audience to try to choose interestingly and as well as possible,” he added.

Directed by Andy Serkis, who is considered the expert in performance capture technology, Mowgli features Bale in the role of Bagheera, the brother-mentor panther to man-cub, played by Rohan Chand.

It is also an accidental debut for the actor on the streaming platform as the film was earlier supposed to be released theatrically by Warner Bros, who sold the project to Netflix. But Bale does not concern himself about how a story is presented.

Amanda Seyfried says husband Thomas Sadoski ‘lost out on job’ for defending Jessica Walter

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

Actor Amanda Seyfried has claimed that her husband Thomas Sadoski “lost out on a job” after he voiced support to Jessica Walter, who had accused Jeffrey Tambor of verbal harassment.

The 32-year-old actor on Wednesday reposted an Instagram photo shared by Sadoski in May, in which he defended Walter after she claimed that Tambor had verbally harassed her on the sets of “Arrested Development”.

View this post on Instagram

Here’s a somewhat recent post from my husband who, in return for standing beside a badass woman who’d recently been bullied, recently lost out on a job because of this. I’d rather speak up and lose out. Integrity, ladies and gentlemen. #Repost @thomas_sadoski ・・・ This is Jessica Walter. She is a national goddamned treasure. It was an honor and a privilege to work with her. I don’t give a fuck who you think you are or how good you think you are or how awesome you think your buddy/daddy is: screaming at someone isn’t “part of the business”. It’s bullshit. It’s unhinged bullshit behavior and it has NEVER been acceptable. It wasn’t cool in the 70’s or 80’s or whenthefuckever you “came up”. It was bullshit then, it is bullshit now. And excusing that kind of behavior is pathetic. Just pathetic. I worked in shitty greasy-spoon kitchens growing up: it wasn’t acceptable behavior THERE and most of us were on HEAVY DRUGS. It certainly isn’t acceptable for some man-baby millionaire to do on a cozy ass tv show set. And it is even less acceptable for his male cast-mates to excuse it away IN FRONT OF THE PERSON THAT IT HAPPENED TO….(wait for it)….WHILE SHE IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW TRAUMATIZING THE EXPERIENCE WAS. What in the halfpenny fuck is happening?!

A post shared by Amanda Seyfried (@mingey) on Nov 27, 2018 at 1:09pm PST

“Here’s a somewhat recent post from my husband who, in return for standing beside a badass woman who’d recently been bullied, recently lost out on a job because of this. I’d rather speak up and lose out. Integrity, ladies and gentlemen,” seyfried wrote.

The actor, however, did not disclose the role or the project that Sadoski missed out on.

Walter had opened about Tambor’s behaviour during a TV group interview in May this year.

During the interview, Walter and Tambor were asked about their working experience and the actress became emotional as she revealed that she was yelled at by her co-star.

“He never crossed the line on our show, with any, you know, sexual whatever,” Walter told reporter Sopan Deb. “Verbally, yes, he harassed me, but he did apologise.”

In his post, Sadoski had written that it had been an honour and a privilege” for him to work with Walter.

“She is a national goddamned treasure. It was an honour and a privilege to work with her. I don’t give a f**k who you think you are or how good you think you are or how awesome you think your buddy/daddy is: screaming at someone isn’t ‘part of the business’. It’s bulls**t. It’s unhinged bulls**t behaviour and it has NEVER been acceptable,” he had said.

His comments were aimed at Walter’s “Arrested Development” co-star Jason Bateman, who attracted controversy after he had defended Tambor during the same interview and twice interjected her from speaking.

Bateman had later apologised and had said he was “incredibly embarrassed” for underestimating her feelings.

No ideological differences with Cong: Chandrababu Naidu

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Afternoon Voice

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November 29, 2018

Justifying the move to join hands with the Congress, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday said they had no ideological differences with the Rahul Gandhi-led party.

Naidu, who shared the dais with Gandhi in a couple of meetings Wednesday as part of a poll campaign for People’s Front candidates in the state, said there was a democratic compulsion for non-BJP parties to come on a single platform.

“Politically, we (TDP and Congress) are different. The Telugu Desam Party, from the beginning has been fighting against the Congress and that is a reality. Ideologically we do not have any differences. Ideologically, we have differences with the BJP,” he told reporters here.

“But today there is a democratic compulsion. That’s why there is a necessity to fight against the BJP to save the Constitution and also save institutions,” he said when asked about the decades-old differences with Congress.

The Congress had roped in the TDP, CPI and M Kodandaram-led Telangana Jana Samithi to form the People’s Front to take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti in the December 7 Assembly polls.

He said the BJP had no chance of winning any of the five states which were under various stages of the election process.

According to him, the BJP could manage to win only four or five Lok Sabha bypolls in the last 20-odd ones.

“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi disappointed the nation. People trusted him so much and they also had so much faith in him. But he disappointed the nation. Everybody is living under pressure and tension. It is very bad for the nation that they are misusing institutions like CBI, ED and Income Tax,” he claimed.

On the proposed meeting of non-BJP parties on December 10, Naidu said there would not be any formal invitation to any party.

On being asked who would lead the anti-BJP coalition, he said, “Who is Narendra Modi? Till 2014 he was just a chief minister. He was able to lead (his party to a win). Now there are efficient people and able administrators. They will lead. We will bring a consensus on that. I am not in the race for prime ministership… I’ve told many times. I am not expecting any position or any incentive out of this initiative.”

He said the People’s Front was going to win and form government in Telangana.