I don’t have a degree, should’ve started career later: Kareena
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, while speaking about her regrets on her radio show ‘What Women Want’, said, “I don’t have a degree…I always feel that I should have started my career a little later.” “I took a very quick decision and started shooting at the age of 17. I feel that I should have studied a lot more,” she added.
Tharoor says Ashwin should open with Mayank in 3rd Australia Test
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has suggested that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should open with Mayank Agarwal for India in the third Test against Australia, which will commence on December 26. “He has an organised defence and a calm head on his shoulders. And that would free up a slot for a middle-order bat or all-rounder,” Tharoor tweeted.
We wanted Kumble to continue as coach, he wanted to quit: Laxman
Ex-India batsman and BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member VVS Laxman has revealed the committee wanted Anil Kumble to continue as India’s coach but the ex-captain thought the right decision was to quit and move ahead. “I always tell people CAC are not marriage counsellors…We did a very elaborate process…unfortunately, Virat Kohli and Kumble did not work out,” Laxman added.
Sultanpur should be again called ‘Kushbhawanpur’: BJP MLA
Devmani Dwivedi, a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh, on Friday said, “I want Sultanpur to be again called as Kushbhawanpur.” It was named Sultanpur by the Khilji dynasty, he added. “This history is mentioned in ‘Raghuvansh Mahakavya’ [written by poet Kalidasa] and even in Gazetteer of Sultanpur,” he further said.
Followers of all religions have the same blood: Farooq
Speaking at a conference in Kolkata, National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah said, “Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians have the same blood flowing through their veins.” “No religion is greater than the other,” he added. He further said that people have failed to build an India where people can survive together in happiness.
US space startup fined $900k over illegal satellite launch
US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined former Google engineer Sara Spangelo-led space startup Swarm Technologies for $900,000 over unauthorised satellite launch. The satellites were launched aboard India’s PSLV rocket in January 2018 despite the request being turned down by the FCC in December 2017. FCC said it will consider any new applications from Swarm on a case-by-case basis.
France fines Uber $460,000 over 2016 data breach
France’s data protection watchdog CNIL has fined US ride-hailing firm Uber around $460,000 for the 2016 data breach. Uber had failed to report the data breach on time, which had affected around 57 million users, including 1.4 million users in France. Moreover, it had also tried to pay $100,000 to the hackers before eventually reporting the breach.
Europe’s Mars Express sends image of ice-filled Mars crater
European Space Agency’s space exploration mission Mars Express has sent an image of ice-filled Korolev crater on Mars. The over 80-km-wide impact crater has a trapped layer of cold air which keeps over 2200 cubic km of water frozen. The crater is named after Sergei Korolev, Russian rocket engineer and spacecraft designer, known as the father of Soviet space technology.
CBI to cancel look out notice against ex-IAF chief in chopper scam
A Delhi court on Friday directed the CBI to cancel the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against former IAF chief SP Tyagi, an accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The CBI had issued LOC against Tyagi in 2013. LOC is a circular issued by the authorities to check if a travelling person is wanted by the law enforcement agencies.
Naseeruddin taking his role of Pak agent too seriously: UP BJP head
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey has said, “In one of his movies, [Naseeruddin Shah] had played the role of a Pakistani agent. I think he’s taking his on-screen character too seriously right now.” This comes after the actor said a cow’s death is more significant than that of a policeman and he worries for his children in India.
Elon Musk tweets ‘Bajirao Mastani’, shares GIF of Ranveer Singh
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Friday tweeted “Bajirao Mastani” and shared a link to ‘Deewani Mastani’ song from the 2015 film, starring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Musk accompanied his tweet with GIF of Ranveer Singh from the song ‘Malhari’. Responding to it a user tweeted, “For a second I thought your account is hacked” while another wrote “Elonrao Musktani?”
Don’t call yourself a patriot: Yogeshwar Dutt to Naseeruddin Shah
Criticising Naseeruddin Shah for his apparent remark on Bulandshahr mob violence that he fears for his children, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt asked Shah where his fear was during previous violent incidents. He added Shah shouldn’t call himself a patriot after sympathising with terrorists. He questioned Naseeruddin for signing mercy plea of terrorist Yakub Memon, who was hanged to death in 2015.
Kumble’s resignation the darkest phase in Indian cricket: Gambhir
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has said that Anil Kumble’s resignation as Team India coach in 2017 was the darkest phase in Indian cricket. Gambhir further suggested that Kohli should have left his ego behind as “egos have no place when you are playing for your country”. Notably, Kumble had stepped down, saying Kohli had reservations with his style.
19-year-old Indian-origin batsman youngest ever to smash BBL fifty
Sydney Thunder’s 19-year-old Indian-origin batsman Jason Sangha on Friday became the youngest ever batsman to smash a fifty in the Big Bash League. The middle-order-batsman, playing his first ever Big Bash League match, scored 63*(36) against Melbourne Stars. Sangha, who had led Australia to the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final, smashed four fours and four sixes during his knock.
Kya darr hai jo chhupa rahe ho: Shah to Cong on surveillance order
After Congress attacked BJP on its recent surveillance order, BJP President Amit Shah tweeted, “Tum itna kyun jhuthla rahe ho, kya darr hai jisko chhupa rahe ho!” “There were only 2 insecure dictators in the history of India. One imposed emergency and the other wanted unrestricted access to read letters of common citizens. Guess who were they @RahulGandhi?” he added.
Juul employees to get $2 bn bonus after new funding: Reports
Employees of Juul are getting a $2 billion bonus as part of the tobacco giant Altria’s investment in the e-cigarette maker, according to reports. If the money is evenly divided among Juul’s 1,500 employees, it would amount to about $1.3 million per person. Altria invested $12.8 billion for a 35% stake in Juul, valuing the e-cigarette startup at $38 billion.
Madras HC orders Sterlite plant to stay shut despite NGT clearance
Madras High Court on Friday ordered Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant to remain shut till further orders despite Sterlite getting a green signal from the National Green Tribunal. On December 15, NGT had directed Tamil Nadu to resume power supply to the plant. Sterlite was closed by the state in May after locals protested against its planned expansion citing pollution concerns.
Try to spot Statue of Unity during Delhi-Mumbai flight: PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi on Friday urged fliers to spot the world’s tallest statue, Gujarat’s ‘Statue of Unity’ during Delhi-Mumbai flights. “Some friends told me that the Statue can also be seen during Delhi-Mumbai flights. So, next time you are flying that route do try to spot the Statue,” he tweeted. The statue, inaugurated in October, is 600 feet (182m) tall.
India, China hold 1st meeting on high-level people-to-people ties
India and China on Friday held the first meeting of the high-level people-to-people exchanges mechanism, which was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Both the countries agreed on ’10 pillars’ of cooperation to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Swaraj said during the inaugural session of the 3rd India-China High-Level Media Forum.
16 killed, 11 injured as bus falls 700m down road in Nepal
At least 16 people, including students and teachers, were killed and 11 others were injured on Friday after a bus fell some 700 metres down the road into a ravine in Nepal’s Dang district. Over 30 people were on board the bus as they were returning from a field trip. The identities of the deceased are yet to be established.
Priyanka, Nick host 3rd wedding reception in Mumbai, 1st pics out
The first pictures from actress Priyanka Chopra and her husband, American singer Nick Jonas’ third wedding reception held at Taj Lands End in Mumbai on Thursday have surfaced online. The reception will be attended by Bollywood celebrities. They earlier hosted another reception on Wednesday for their friends and extended family.
Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka, Katrina starrer ‘Zero’ hits theatres
Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif starrer ‘Zero’ “becomes odder…as it goes along,” wrote Hindustan Times (HT). “The plot…neither engages you, nor does it offend you,” said The Times of India (TOI). The Indian Express said ‘Zero’ “fails…at giving us anything we can believe in.” It has been rated 3.5/5 (HT), 3/5 (TOI) and 1/5 (The Indian Express).
I don’t really care what he says: Starc on Warne criticising him
Reacting to former Australia spinner Shane Warne criticising him over his performances, Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc said that Warne has been on his back since he made his debut. “I don’t really care what Shane says…I’m not going to pay attention to him,” he added. “People outside can say what they want,” the pacer further said.
WV Raman named India Women coach despite Kirsten being 1st choice
Ex-Indian men’s cricket team opener WV Raman has been appointed as the coach of the Indian women’s cricket team despite India’s 2011 men’s World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten being the first choice. Kirsten was unable to take up the assignment due to his ongoing contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. A three-member panel including Kapil Dev picked the new coach.
Qualcomm wins Apple patent case, may lead to iPhone ban in Germany
A German court has ruled that Apple infringed a hardware patent of Qualcomm and said it could no longer sell some iPhone models in Germany. The court, however, added the ruling will not go into immediate effect if Apple appeals. The ruling affects iPhone 7 through iPhone X models, which contain a particular component that violated a Qualcomm patent.
Tesla adds 6 farting noises, names one after short sellers
In the latest software update, Elon Musk-led Tesla has added six on-demand fart noises referred to as ‘Emissions Testing Mode’. A user can pick from multiple fart sounds, including Not a Fart (a reference to Not a Flamethrower), Short Shorts Ripper (referring to Tesla short sellers), and Neurastink. The seventh choice will pick one of the sounds randomly.
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ becomes highest-grossing music biopic
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has become the highest-grossing music biopic, earning over $600 million globally at the box office. The film, starring actor Rami Malek, is based on the story of British rock band Queen and its lead singer Freddie Mercury. The record was previously held by the 2015 film ‘Straight Outta Compton’, which earned over $200 million globally.
Most giving actor I’ve worked with: Anushka on SRK
In a note shared on social media, Anushka Sharma revealed that her ‘Zero’ co-star Shah Rukh Khan is the “most giving actor” she has worked with. “I started my career with you…it’s really beautiful that…we are releasing our fourth film together,” the actress wrote. Anushka made her acting debut with Shah Rukh starrer ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.
Ashwin called me from Australia to welcome me to KXIP: Varun
Tamil Nadu spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was IPL 2019 auction’s joint-most expensive buy at ₹8.4 crore, has revealed Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin called him from Australia to welcome him to the team. “The moment I was hugging my father, Ashwin called…and said, ‘Welcome to KXIP. I am really happy for you. We will meet soon’,” Chakravarthy added.
OnePlus 6T named ‘Smartphone of the year’ by tech YouTuber MKBHD
OnePlus 6T has been named as the ‘Smartphone of the year 2018’ by Marques Brownlee in his famous annual ‘Smartphone Awards’. OnePlus 6T provides both flagship performance as well as flagship design in a fairly reasonable and affordable price, says Marques, a technology-focused YouTuber, also known as MKBHD having a subscriber base of 7.5 million.
Woman matches with both thief and his victim on Tinder, solves case
A woman named Emily Cochran solved a case when she matched with a thief who stole a crate of sparkling water and also the theft’s victim on Tinder. The first man, named Drew, told Emily he found a crate full of sparkling water. Later, Emily matched with Raymond who had lost a crate of sparkling water after leaving it unattended.
Ex-NASA engineer makes smelly glitter bomb trap for parcel thieves
A former NASA engineer has made a ‘glitter bomb trap’ to trick thieves after some parcels were stolen from his doorstep. The device, hidden in an Apple Homepod box, used four smartphones, a circuit board, glitter and a fart spray. YouTuber Mark Rober’s video has garnered over 35 million views since it was shared on December 17.
Got death threats after I spoke on domestic abuse by Depp: Amber
Actress Amber Heard has revealed she received death threats after she spoke up about the alleged domestic violence by her ex-husband Johnny Depp. She added she had to change her number weekly because of the threats. “For months, I rarely left my apartment…when I did, I was pursued by camera drones and photographers on foot…and in cars,” said Amber.
PM wants what he called Cong’s ‘Grand Stupid Thought’: Rahul on GST
After PM Narendra Modi announced plans of placing 99% goods below 18% GST slab, Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Congress Party has finally jolted Narendra Ji from his deep slumber on Gabbar Singh Tax.” “Though still drowsy, he now wants to implement what he had earlier called Congress Party’s, ‘Grand Stupid Thought’. Better late than never Narendra Ji!” he added.
Juul Founders become world’s first e-cigarette billionaires
Adam Bowen and James Monsees, Founders of US e-cigarette startup Juul, have become the world’s first e-cigarette billionaires, according to Bloomberg. This comes after Marlboro owner Altria invested $12.8 billion for a 35% stake in Juul, valuing the firm at $38 billion. Bowen and Monsees own stakes of $1.36 billion each in Juul, now more valuable than Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Pak should mind its own business: India on Pak PM’s Kashmir remark
Responding to Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s statement on the death of civilians in Kashmir, India on Thursday said that Pakistan should “mind (its) own business and look at their internal affairs which are quite a mess in their own country”. “The statements coming from their side demonstrate their insincerity and duplicity,” spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said.
Jinnah House in Mumbai belongs to us, won’t let India take it: Pak
After External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj revealed the ministry is in process of transferring Jinnah House in Mumbai to its name, Pakistan’s Foreign Office asserted, “We have a claim over [the house] and we don’t accept that anyone tries to take custody of it.” “They (Indians) have already accepted it belongs to Pakistan. We have record of it,” it added.
Pants fly from cabin & get stuck in helicopter tail, 3 die in crash
Three people onboard a helicopter were killed in New Zealand after a pair of trousers flew from the cabin and got wrapped around the helicopter’s tail rotor, resulting in a crash. The cause of the crash that took place in October was revealed in an investigation on Thursday. Paint marks on trousers matched the tail rotor blade’s colour.
Who is 16-year-old Prayas Barman, the youngest crorepati in IPL?
Bengal’s 16-year-old leg-spinner Prayas Ray Barman became the youngest crorepati in IPL after being bought by RCB for ₹1.5 crore on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1-inch tall bowler made his professional cricket debut for Bengal in September, taking 11 wickets in nine Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at an economy rate of 4.45. The youngster grew up in Delhi where his father works.
OnePlus 6T comes with integrated Google Lens
OnePlus 6T supports the Google Lens functionality natively in its camera app, a feature usually available only in phones that run stock Android. Google Lens is a visual search tool that turns the phone’s camera into a smart virtual eye. With it, you can find products online, see similar styles, identify popular plants and animals, learn about landmarks, and more.
Initially, I couldn’t tolerate my own voice: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in an interview has revealed that in his career’s initial years, he couldn’t tolerate his own voice. “When I used to hear my songs, I wanted it to pass quickly,” he said. “But then I realised that to do playback singing correctly…I have to listen to my songs over and over again,” he added.
Assess Kohli, Shastri’s roles if India don’t win series: Gavaskar
Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that the utility of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri as captain and coach must be assessed if India fail to win the next two Tests against Australia. Gavaskar also criticised the selection choices made by the team management, saying the team lost matches which it could’ve won with proper selection.
Kirsten, Gibbs, Powar to appear for India women’s coach interview
India’s 2011 World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten, ex-South Africa cricketer Herschelle Gibbs and Ramesh Powar are among the shortlisted candidates, who will appear for interviews for the post of Indian women’s cricket team coach on Thursday. Incumbent Pakistan Women head coach Mark Coles withdrew his application ahead of the interview. Venkatesh Prasad and Brad Hogg are also among the candidates.
Man acquitted in 17-yr-old rape case of daughter 10 months post death
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday acquitted a man, 10 months after his death, in a case of alleged rape of his minor daughter. This comes 17 years after he was convicted by trial court and sentenced to 10-year jail term. “The investigation was…one-sided. At this distance in time, this court can only deplore the inaction,” the High Court said.
Religare goes to police against Singh brothers over ₹740 cr fraud
Religare Finvest, a subsidiary of Religare Enterprises, has filed a criminal complaint with Delhi Police against Malvinder Singh, Shivinder Singh and their associates for allegedly siphoning and misappropriating ₹740 crore. Religare Enterprises was controlled by the brothers until February 2018. Provisions against the alleged fraud have already been made by Religare Finvest, its parent said.
Kerala HC rejects actor Dileep’s plea for actress attack probe
Kerala High Court rejected a plea by Malayalam actor Dileep, accused in a case of abduction and sexual assault of an actress, seeking a CBI probe into the case. In his petition, Dileep claimed the police had conducted an “unfair” and “biased” investigation in the case. Dileep was arrested in July last year and released on bail after 85 days.
CMO intervenes, probe sped up in Dilip Kumar land mafia case
Mumbai police sped up investigation into actor Dilip Kumar’s wife Saira Banu’s complaint against builder Samir Bhojwani after intervention from the Chief Minister’s Office, Maharashtra. Bhojwani, who was recently released from jail, reportedly threatened them and falsely claimed ownership of their house. The police will now file an application with Bombay High Court to cancel Bhojwani’s bail.
US rapper criticised for racist video mocking Chinese people
US rapper Lil Pump has been criticised for posting on Instagram a video of a song that contains racially-offensive lyrics and gestures towards the Chinese people. In the video, Pump pulls his eyelids to the side in a gesture mocking Asians. The song’s lyrics contain racist references to the Chinese people, including derogatory terms like “ching chong”.
Kareena is an inspiration for working girls: Swara Bhasker
While speaking about actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker said, “She (Kareena) is an inspiration for the working girls.” “She has proved that one can have a successful career along with enjoying their personal life,” Swara added. The actress further said that the way Kareena manages her professional and personal life is “simply amazing”.
Enjoy autonomy, but consult stakeholders: FM to regulators
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said while enjoying functional autonomy, a regulator cannot be “isolationist” and has to consult all stakeholders. There is a fair chance of a regulator going wrong because of the isolationist attitude, he added. The government used “every instrument available to force a discussion with RBI” on issues of liquidity and credit, he further said.
Capital First merges with IDFC Bank to create IDFC First Bank
IDFC Bank and Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Capital First have announced completion of their merger to create IDFC First Bank. Capital First Founder and Chairman V Vaidyanathan has been appointed Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the merged entity. IDFC Bank Founder, MD and CEO Rajiv Lall will serve as Part-Time Chairman of IDFC First Bank.
Govt to ask interim dividend from RBI: Economic Affairs Secy
Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg on Wednesday said the government will seek interim dividend from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He also said the expert committee on Economic Capital Framework has been “virtually finalised”. The Finance Ministry was likely to seek approval from Parliament for additional funding for state-run banks on Thursday, Garg added.
Rajasthan govt announces waiver for farm loans up to ₹2 lakh
Hours after assuming the Chief Minister’s office in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot today announced a farm loan waiver for loans up to ₹2 lakh. To waive these farm loans, the state government will bear a burden of ₹18,000 crore. Rajasthan becomes the third Congress-ruled state after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to waive off farmers’ loans after recently held Assembly elections.
Trump orders withdrawal of US troops from Syria, claims IS defeated
US President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, according to an official. The US President on Wednesday claimed that the Islamic State militant group has been defeated in Syria, adding it was the “only reason” for having US troops there during his presidency. More than 2,000 US troops are believed to be stationed in Syria.
Blind creature that buries head in sand named after Donald Trump
A newly discovered blind and burrowing amphibian is to be officially named ‘Dermophis donaldtrumpi’, after US President Donald Trump. The name was chosen by the boss of a sustainable building materials company named EnviroBuild, who paid $25,000 (nearly ₹17.6 lakh) at an auction for the right. This comes after Trump denied a climate change report published by the US government.
Pak journalist sits on donkey while reporting, video goes viral
A viral video shows Pakistani journalist Amin Hafeez sitting on a donkey while reporting about the country’s growing donkey population and interviewing donkey owners at a donkey hospital in Lahore. Hafeez, known for his unconventional style of reporting, has earlier “interviewed” a buffalo about its experience climbing a pedestrian bridge and asked a goat, “Do you speak English?”
Priyanka, Nick host wedding reception in Mumbai, 1st pics out
The first pictures of actress Priyanka Chopra and her husband, American singer Nick Jonas from their Mumbai reception have surfaced online. The reception at JW Marriott is being held for Priyanka and Nick’s extended family and friends as well as the media. The couple, who got married earlier this month, will host another reception on Thursday for Bollywood celebrities.
Sensex gains for 7th day, longest winning rally since July
Indian benchmark index Sensex on Wednesday gained for the seventh straight session, marking its longest winning streak since July. Sensex ended 137.25 points higher at 36,484.33, while the Nifty 50 Index rose 58.60 points to close at 10,967.30. This comes amid falling crude oil prices and RBI’s move to scale up liquidity infusion to ₹50,000 crore in December.
Was both accidental PM and Finance Minister: Manmohan Singh
Speaking at the launch of his book, ‘Changing India’, former PM Manmohan Singh stated that he wasn’t just an accidental PM but also an accidental Finance Minister. “People say I was a silent PM, but I think these volumes (‘Changing India’) speak for themselves,” he said. “I will never be able to return what my country gave me,” he added.
40 IAS officers transferred in Rajasthan
The Rajasthan government transferred 40 IAS officers on Tuesday after the Congress party formed the government in the state. Kuldeep Ranka, who was Principal Secretary Tourism and Forest, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to the CM. Ajitabh Sharma and Rajan Vishal have been appointed as Secretary and Joint Secretary to the CM.
US says it no longer seeks to oust Syria’s Bashar al-Assad
The US no longer seeks to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but rather aims to achieve a “regime that is fundamentally different”, the US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, Ambassador James Jeffrey said. He added that the West would not provide reconstruction aid to the war-torn country unless there is a compromise on the part of the Syrian government.
Raje worked with full devotion in Rajasthan: I&B Minister Rathore
Speaking about the recent defeat in Rajasthan Assembly elections on Monday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, “Vasundhara Raje worked with full devotion.” He added that lack of communication with people could be one of the reasons for the loss. The minister was earlier misquoted as saying, “Raje was responsible for BJP’s defeat in Rajasthan.”
Govt promotes interim CBI head Nageswara Rao to Additional Director
CBI’s Joint Director M Nageswara Rao, who is currently the interim CBI Director, was on Tuesday promoted to the rank of Additional Director by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The 1986-batch IPS officer from the Odisha cadre had joined the CBI in 2016 and was not considered for the promotion during the review of his batch in April 2018.
IPL’s costliest buy at ₹16 crore Yuvraj bought by MI for ₹1 crore
Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who is the most expensive buy (₹16 crore) in IPL auction history, was bought by Mumbai Indians at his base price of ₹1 crore after going unsold in the first round of IPL 2019 auction. The 37-year-old was released in November by Kings XI Punjab, who had bought him for ₹2 crore in IPL 2018 auction.
Musk’s SpaceX raises $500 million at $30 billion valuation: Report
Elon Musk-led SpaceX is raising $500 million in a new funding round which would put its valuation at $30.5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. The capital reportedly comes from existing shareholders as well as new investor Baillie Gifford, a Scottish investment firm. SpaceX last raised $250 million in debt, bringing total funding amount to $2.2 billion.
TN man undergoes surgery after brain tissue found oozing from ear
Chennai doctors have successfully treated a 54-year-old patient who was suffering from a leak of cerebrospinal fluid from his right ear. Loganathan, who met with a road accident in 2010, complained of intense headaches and pain in his ear. In 2012, he was given ear-drops to “dissolve” the mass protruding from his ear until it was diagnosed as brain tissue.
Indian phone maker Lava fails to pay November salaries on time
Indian phone maker Lava International has delayed the payment of November salaries to employees and said they will be paid in two parts. Explaining the delay, Chairman Hari Om Rai told employees that entry of “highly prepared Chinese companies”, online discounts and demonetisation have affected Lava. Further, suppliers of the nine-year-old company have not received their payments in full.
Deepika Padukone named top Indian star of 2018 by IMDb
Actress Deepika Padukone has been named the top Indian star of 2018, by the global film and TV website IMDb. The ‘2018 Top 10 Stars of Indian Cinema’ list, based on IMDb’s ‘StarMeter’ stats and page views, was released on Tuesday. Shah Rukh Khan was second on the list, followed by Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Ex-NBA player Ming, Alibaba’s Ma honoured by Communist Party
China’s retired NBA star Yao Ming and China’s richest man Jack Ma are among the 110 people who were felicitated by the nation’s Communist Party for their ‘outstanding contributions’ to the country’s 40-year economic rise. The dignitaries received medals from President Xi Jinping and other party leaders in a ceremony at Beijing’s imposing Great Hall of the People.
Hackers use Twitter memes to trick users with malware
Hackers used memes posted on Twitter to deliver hidden malware commands to retrieve user data from infected computers, according to Japanese cybersecurity firm Trend Micro. The hidden commands instruct the malware to perform various operations on the infected machine, such as capturing screenshots and collecting system information. The malware then sends the data to a command and control server.
Armstrong’s Moon landing prototype shoe sells for $49,000
Late astronaut Neil Armstrong’s prototype Apollo A7L lunar boot has been sold for nearly $49,000 by US-based RR Auction. The boot never went to the Moon but it’s believed to be used in a different flight or as a backup. The boot is embroidered with ‘Armstrong’ on the inside and has a silver, gold and blue exterior.
AK-47 maker unveils drones that can detect ships 100 km away
Russia’s Kalashnikov, known for making AK-47 rifles, has revealed a pair of smart drones designed for surveillance of the country’s assets in the Arctic. The two ‘ZALA’ drones have an automatic identification system that can detect a vessel at a distance of 100 km. It also has its own alternative navigation system for when GPS or Russia’s GLONASS is unavailable.
Big Bang ‘fossil’ discovered using most powerful telescope
Using the world’s most powerful telescope in Hawaii, Australian astronomers have discovered a cloud of gas, which could explain how the first galaxies formed. “Everywhere we look, the gas in the universe is polluted by waste heavy elements from exploding stars. But this particular cloud seems unpolluted by stars even 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang,” a scientist said.
Ram temple should be built by mutual consent: Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said Ram temple in Ayodhya should be built through mutual consent. Speaking at an event, Gadkari further added that Ayodhya is neither a communal nor a religious issue. He said it has been “proven that the temple was there” and if it cannot be built at Lord Ram’s birthplace “then where should it be?”
Assam government approves ₹600 crore farm loan waiver
The Assam government has announced a farm loan waiver of ₹600 crore that will reportedly benefit around 8 lakh farmers. “The debt relief scheme will waive 25% of all loans…up to a maximum of ₹25,000,” a government official said. The waiver will be for loans taken from PSU banks and through Kisan Credit Card (KCC), he added.
Bihar school segregates students by caste, religion: Report
A government-run school in Bihar’s Vaishali has been reportedly segregating students based on religion and caste. Muslim and Hindu students are made to sit in different sections and classrooms, and there are separate classrooms for Dalit, OBC and upper caste students, reports said. Meanwhile, the school’s principal said the segregation was being done for smooth implementation of different schemes.
Delhi man beheaded by friends after refusing to return money
A Delhi-based tattoo artist was beheaded by his three friends after he refused to return the money he borrowed from them, police said on Tuesday. The trio called the man into an abandoned plot on the pretext of a party, and beheaded him with coconut choppers, the police added. All the three accused have been arrested by the police.
Brazilian faith healer accused of sexually abusing 300 women
Brazilian faith healer João Teixeira de Faria, also referred to as “John of God”, has been accused of sexual abuse by more than 300 women. Teixeira turned himself in to the authorities on Sunday after he was declared a fugitive. The 76-year-old gained popularity for conducting “psychic surgeries” which he claimed could cure diseases, including cancer.
19-year-old U-19 World Cup winner Gill slams 268 in Ranji match
Punjab’s 19-year-old opener Shubman Gill smashed 268 runs off 328 balls in the first innings against Tamil Nadu in a Ranji match. The 2018 Under-19 World Cup winner slammed 29 fours and 4 sixes in his knock, which is the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season’s highest score so far. Gill has scored 739 runs in 10 first-class innings in his career.
5G services likely to be rolled out by 2020: DoT
The Department of Telecommunications on Monday said it expects to complete processes for 5G spectrum auction by August 2019 and the services will be rolled out by 2020. TRAI has given a preliminary set of recommendations, which the working committee at the DoT is looking at, it added. Field trials for 5G services are currently going on, DoT further said.
To kill Ravana, Lanka has to be burned: Uttarakhand CM
Supporting simultaneous elections at the cost of newly elected governments, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said, “To kill Ravana, Lanka will have to be burned…and someone will have to be Hanuman.” “If things have to change…some sacrifices will have to be made,” the BJP leader added. Rawat also appealed to people to raise their voices in favour of simultaneous elections.
Job platform for mothers ‘The Mom Project’ raises $8 mn
US-based job platform for mothers returning to work ‘The Mom Project’ has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round led by Grotech Ventures and Initialized Capital. Existing investors including Atlanta Seed Company and Engage Ventures also participated. Allison Robinson founded the startup in 2016 during her maternity leave, realising that “priorities can change after having a child”.
WB govt asks distilleries to make liquor with mineral water
The West Bengal government has decided to make it mandatory for all breweries and distilleries in the state to use only mineral water for making liquor. The decision came after contaminated hooch claimed 12 lives in West Bengal’s Shantipur. A probe later found that contaminated water used for preparing hooch might have made it unfit for consumption.
Cameras in Karnataka temple kitchens as 14 die after eating prasad
In the wake of the temple poisoning that claimed 14 lives in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar, the Karnataka government has directed all temples to install CCTV cameras in their kitchens. The temples will also have to take prior permission before serving ‘prasad’ to devotees. “Names of all people entering the temple’s kitchen and preparing the prasadam will be noted,” an official said.
Less than 60% engineers, MBA graduates get campus placements
Union Minister Satya Pal Singh informed the Parliament that less than 60% graduates from management, technical and engineering institutions get campus placements. For 100% placements, outcome-based curriculum in engineering and management has been launched to make it industry oriented, Singh said. “Institutions have been made responsible for arranging internships [for] their students,” he added.
‘Dangerous substance’ found in Karnataka temple prasad: Govt
Karnataka government has revealed that the ‘prasad’ served to people at the temple in Chamarajanagar, that claimed the lives of 14 people, had a “dangerous substance”. The ‘prasad’ was laced with monocrotophos, an organophosphate that is dangerous to humans, Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara said. “Investigation is on…I believe in one or two days, truth will come out,” he added.
Madhavi Divan becomes 3rd woman to be appointed as ASG in SC
Advocate Madhavi Divan has been appointed as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) by the central government to represent it in the Supreme Court, becoming only the third woman to be appointed as ASG in the top court. She has represented two state governments, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, in the apex court. She will hold the office till June 30, 2020.
Mumbai hospital where 6 died failed fire safety test 15 days ago
The government-run ESIC Kamgar Hospital in Mumbai, where at least six people died after a fire broke out in the building, had reportedly failed the fire safety test and was denied final No Objection Certificate (NOC) 15 days ago. The fire equipment wasn’t in line with prescribed standards, an official said. There were many irregularities in the hospital, he added.
World economy was growing, we slowed down: Rajan on note ban
Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said that note ban slowed down India’s economic growth at a time when the world economy was growing and it impacted the GDP significantly. “The twin blow of demonetisation and GST [impacted India’s growth],” he added. The reformist tax system could have been implemented in a much better manner, he further said.
Brookfield to buy Leela hotels for ₹4,500 crore: Reports
Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management will reportedly buy at least four of five luxury hotels and a large land parcel owned by debt-ridden Hotel Leelaventure for about ₹4,500 crore. The deal would mark Brookfield’s entry into India’s hospitality sector. Hotel Leelaventure has been looking to sell some of its assets to pare debt, which stood at ₹3,799 crore as of March.
₹1.10 lakh crore lost to bank frauds since 2015: RBI data
According to a data released by the RBI, over ₹1.10 lakh crore has been lost due to bank frauds since 2015. The number of such frauds has gone up from 4,693 to 5,917 between 2015-16 and 2017-18. The total number of frauds involving an amount more than ₹1 lakh each year, has gone up by around 20%, the data observed.
Reveal data on ₹2,000, ₹500 notes printed post note ban: CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered disclosure of data on ₹2,000 and ₹500 notes printed post note ban. This comes after the note-printing unit of the RBI claimed sharing the data will result in “proliferation of counterfeit currency and economic chaos”. “[We’re] unable to establish… how [the] disclosure… would prejudicially affect [the country’s] economic interests,” CIC said.
Jet shares down 5% amid reports of ex-CEO’s exit from advisory role
Shares of Jet Airways on Monday fell as much as nearly 5% amid reports that former two-time CEO Nikos Kardassis has quit from an advisory role in the airline. The Greek-American aviation veteran had rejoined the cash-strapped airline earlier this year to advise on cost-saving and productivity improvements. He had served as Jet Airways’ CEO during 1994-1999 and later in 2009-2013.
6 killed, 147 rescued in major fire at a govt hospital in Mumbai
At least six people, including a two-month-old baby, were killed while 147 others were rescued as a ‘Level-3’ fire broke out at government-run ESIC Kamgar Hospital in Mumbai’s Andheri (East) on Monday, officials said. The fire level later raised to ‘Level-4’ within minutes. The smoke, first noticed on the ground floor, spread to the entire building trapping the patients inside.
Aadhaar not compulsory for banking, SIM cards as Centre changes law
Aadhaar details for bank accounts or mobile phone connections will no longer be mandatory as Union Cabinet on Monday approved an amendment to the existing law, making Aadhaar details optional for these services. The cabinet also cleared stringent penalties for hackers, and those responsible for data breaches. The Supreme Court on September 26 had upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar.
Richly deserved victory: India’s 1st Miss Universe Sen on 2018 winner
Actress Sushmita Sen, who became the 1st Indian to win the Miss Universe title in 1994, took to Twitter to congratulate Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray on her victory at the beauty pageant. “Congratulations #Philippines. Another richly deserved victory!! A stunning & well-spoken #MissUniverse2018 Catriona Gray,” she wrote. “Mahal Kita [I love you] from Sush Mita,” the actress added.
