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Archives for March 2018

Intelligent Transport System Can Prevent Accidents On Expressways: IRF

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Mathura: The mangled remains of an SUV that rammed into a canter, killing 3 on Yamuna Expressway, near Mathura on March 18, 2018. (Photo: IANS)


Geneva-based International Road Federation (IRF) on Monday expressed concern over increasing road accidents on Yamuna Expressway and suggested use of intelligent transport system and generating awareness about road condition of the “deadly” highway.

IRF Chairman K.K. Kapila said the driving conditions on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Noida-Agra Expressway are different than other roads, and for safe driving there, Intelligent Transport Management System along with strict enforcement of speed limits must be implemented.

“Most of users are not aware about concrete construction of Yamuna Expressway. For using such surface, vehicle tyre and condition has to be checked along with driving conditions including weather and visibility,” he said.

A pre-warning about weather condition and driving conditions should be provided to drivers by the road maintenance authorities, he noted.

Kapila said that various studies conducted by the government and non-government agencies have shown that human error is the main reason for accidents on these expressways.

Installation of Intelligent Traffic Management System involving speed cameras and digital warning boards on both the expressways would go a long way in improving safety standards, he said.

“Several other road safety measures need to be taken on e-ways include setting up of trauma care centre, air ambulance, a highway surveillance system, truck terminals close to the two ends, and use of wire ropes crash barrier system,” he added.

Modi Failed To Fulfil Promises To Farmers, Of Lokpal: Hazare

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Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narender Modi, saying he has failed to fulfill promises made to farmers and on the Lokpal.

Hazare said he will start a ‘satyagrah’ on March 23 in Delhi to highlight the problems faced by the farmers, the Jan Lokpal issue and the need for electoral reforms.

“I will fight for farmers and Lokpal,” he said, adding that he was sitting silent on these issues for the last three years but trying to communicate with BJP-led Central government over them.

But nothing happened, he said, noting: “I have written 21 letters to PM Modi but did not receive any reply till date.”

Want To Treat My 40 As My 20: Rani Mukerji

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In a pair of ripped denims, a tucked-in bright round neck t-shirt, hair tied in a simple and neat ponytail and a pair of white sneakers, Rani Mukerji looks far from turning 40.

As she enters a new decade of life on Wednesday, the actress, who is coming back to the big screen after a hiatus of four years with “Hichki”, says she hopes to do more movies and wants to cherish the foundation years of her two-year-old daughter Adira with husband and filmmaker Aditya Chopra.

“I want to treat my 40 as my 20. And I want to do a lot of work… More and more movies. I want to enjoy bringing up Adira. It is going to be the most important years of her life, so I think it’s going to be a really really nice decade,” Rani told IANS while she was here to promote “Hichki”.

The movie, directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, is about Naina Mathur, who has a nervous system disorder, Tourette Syndrome, that forces an individual to make involuntary repetitive movements or sounds. The film’s narrative focuses on turning disadvantages into opportunities.

In a way, it takes forward Rani’s knack for taking up roles which let the story take forefront over her stardom.

“Because for me, the story is that connect… Stories that are human, which have a strong emotional connect or the stories that connect with me or resonate with me as a person. I give more precedence to that.

“For me, it is important that the audience connects with the story or storyline, and when they connect with it, they connect with me and the character as well,” she said.

In the past decade, Rani’s filmography is mostly laced by projects like “Dil Bole Hadippa!”, “No One Killed Jessica”, “Aiyyaa” and “Mardaani”, where the woman carries the most weight of the film on her shoulders — a rare but gradually visible shift in Indian cinema.

Does she find it empowering?

“It’s scary,” she said, laughing, and then explained: “Because you have the whole film on your shoulders and it’s quite a heavyweight… But empowering, yes, as for me, it’s not important about the gender issues here that it’s a male protagonist or female protagonist. I think it’s about the story. It’s about how well can you carry forward the story, how well you are able to carry the story on your shoulders.

“That’s what is more important. Whether a male protagonist plays the role or I am playing my role as a female, it’s secondary.”

The fact that “Hichki” is actually based on the true story of a man named Brad Cohen — an American motivational speaker and educator — proves Rani’s point.

She hopes the movie resonates with the audience.

“Please pray ‘Hichki’ is a hit because only that will give me more incentive and empowerment to probably come back and do more films,” said the actress, who felt “great” about facing the camera after taking a break for marriage and motherhood.

Now she wants to face the camera more often.

“I was so consumed with motherhood that I thought I might just say ‘Hichki’ and that’s it. But I think I was born to be an actor and it is just something I love doing.”

Rani started her Bollywood career in 1997 with “Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat”. She then did a mix of emotional, comedy and romantic films, but those which stood out include “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Hadh Kar Di Aapne”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…”, “Saathiya”, “Chalte Chalte”, “Yuva”, “Hum Tum”, “Black”, “Bunty Aur Babli”, “Paheli” and “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna”.

Is there a sense of change in the kind of scripts she wants to pursue now?

“Not really, because I have always looked for special roles and special scripts that bring a change in my life emotionally. It will continue to be so because I have always connected to stories which have a deep and strong emotional connect and I think I will always be connected to those kind of scripts.”

Rani said she is still not comfortable about her daughter Adira being away from her.

“But I guess I have to do what I have to do. But I am looking forward to spend time with her after all this settles down.”

As a family, it’s quite interesting how they manage to be reclusive about their lives at a time when celebrities’ lives are all out there for all to see and know about.

“I think it’s very simple. It’s the way you want to lead your life and you have to be comfortable with that. You cannot waiver both ways. If it’s a no, it’s a no,” Rani explained.

So, it’s a No?

“Yeah,” she set the record straight.

NASA’s New Instrument To Help Measure Sun’s Incoming Energy

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To continue long-term measurements of the Sun’s incoming energy, NASA has powered on a new instrument installed on the International Space Station (ISS).

The instrument, Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1), became fully operational with all instruments collecting science data as of this March, NASA said.

“TSIS-1 extends a long data record that helps us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth’s radiation budget, ozone layer, atmospheric circulation, and ecosystems, and the effects that solar variability has on the Earth system and climate change,” said Dong Wu, TSIS-1 project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

TSIS-1 studies the total amount of light energy emitted by the Sun using the Total Irradiance Monitor, one of two sensors onboard.

This sensor’s data will give scientists a better understanding of Earth’s primary energy supply and provide information to help improve models simulating the planet’s climate.

The second onboard sensor, called the Spectral Irradiance Monitor, measures how the Sun’s energy is distributed over the ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions of light.

Measuring the distribution of the Sun’s energy is important because each wavelength of light interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere differently.

For instance, spectral irradiance measurements of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation are critical to understanding the ozone layer — Earth’s natural sunscreen that protects life from harmful radiation.

“All systems are operating within their expected ranges,” said Peter Pilewskie, TSIS-1 lead scientist at the University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in the US.

(IANS)

Ola, Uber Strike Hits Mumbai Commuters

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Lakhs of Mumbai commuters were severely hit as more than 80,000 drivers of aggregator cabs like Ola and Uber went on strike here on Monday, an official said.

“The strike has been launched from midnight in support of various demands of the drivers who are being meted out injustice by the companies. If the government fails to intervene, they shall go on an indefinite strike,” Sanjay Naik, President of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS), told,

The MNVS is affiliated to Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

He added that several thousands of drivers of Ola and Uber had also joined the protest in Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune and other cities in Maharashtra as part of an all-India agitation.

Despite repeated attempts by IANS, spokespersons for both the companies declined to comment on the strike.

The worst-hit were people proceeding to airport or railway stations to catch flights or long-distance trains, besides local commuters rushing for business meetings.

Naik claimed that both Ola and Uber had promised big returns of more than Rs 1.25 lakh per month to the cab drivers who invested beteen Rs 5 and 7 lakhs.

“Now the situation is that many drivers earn barely half the promised amount which is not even sufficient to cover their costs. The drivers are practically on the verge of starvation owing to the mismanagement by the two companies,” Naik said.

Moreover, the companies give preference to their own vehicles rather than the driver-owned vehicles, which has led to a steep decline in the latter’s business.

Owing to these, Naik said there has been drop of more than 20 percent in Mumbai alone of the cabs running on this platform, hitting both the drivers and the commuters.

The MNVS has appealed to the Mumbai commuters to make alternative arrangements and “support the fight for justice” by the Ola and Uber drivers.

The Mumbai Taximen’s Union has supported the strike. Its General Secretary A.L. Quadros demanded that the Regional Transport Authority take strict action against Ola and Uber for violating permit conditions and eating into the business of autorickshaws and taxis.

IANS

Lalu Convicted, Mishra Acquitted In Fodder Scam (Second Lead)

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A special CBI court here on Monday convicted RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad in the fourth fodder scam case but acquitted another former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra.

Judge Shuvapal Singh delivered the judgment relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from December 1995 to January 1996 from the Dumka treasury. The verdict, scheduled on March 15, was deferred four times.

The judge delivered the verdict alphabetically but Lalu Prasad — who was the Chief Minister when the wrongdoing took place — reached the court after it was delivered. Mishra was, however, present in the court.

Lalu Prasad was admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) on Saturday after he complained of constipation. His lawyer was present when the verdict came.

This is second case in which Mishra has been acquitted. Both Lalu Prasad and Mishra are facing five cases each in the fodder scam in Ranchi.

There were 31 accused in this case, of which 19 were convicted and 12 acquitted.

According to Lalu Prasad’s lawyer, the CBI court will pronounce the quantum of sentence later.

(IANS)

National Herald Case: Young Indian Asked To Deposit Rs 10 Crore

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The Delhi High Court on Monday directed Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI), whose major stakeholders are Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, to deposit Rs 10 crore in the Rs 249.15 crore income tax proceedings against the firm.

A bench of Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and A.K. Chawla asked the company to deposit half the amount with the Income Tax Department before March 31 and the remaining by April 15.

The High Court directed the IT Department not to enforce the demand of Rs 249.15 crore. The court listed the matter for April 24 for further hearing seeking response from IT Department on the plea.

The company requested the court to stay the recovery of tax and interest of Rs 249.15 crore raised in pursuance to a December 27 notice issued under section 156 of the IT Act for the assessment year 2011-12.

The company submitted that it is a charitable firm and does not have any income and the Income Tax authorities have wrongly raised a demand of Rs 249 crore for the assessment year 2011-12.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy had filed a complaint about “cheating” in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian, “a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 per cent stake”.

Swamy had accused them of allegedly conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh, by which Young Indian Pvt Ltd obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which AJL owed to the Congress.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Young Indian are accused in the case.

(IANS)

Karthik Stars As India Beat Bangladesh In Nidahas Trophy Final (Lead)

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Colombo: Dinesh Karthik and Washington Sundar celebrate after winning 2018 Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on March 18, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik (29 runs off eight balls) played a brilliant cameo towards the end as India beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the final of the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series at the R.Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.

Coming in the second last over with scoreboard reading 133/5, Karthik announced his arrival at the crease through two sixes and a four in first three balls which narrowed the gap between remaining balls and required runs.

The drama unfolded in the last over when India needed five runs in the last ball. Kathik slammed a flat six over extra cover to clinch the issue.

Chasing 167, skipper Rohit Sharma (56) once again led from the front with his classy knock but failed to finish off the proceedings. Middle-order batsman Manish Pandey (28) played sensible innings but was dismissed when needed the most. Then came Karthik who took India to victory.

India started off on a steady note as openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan (10) scored 32 runs in three overs but then Dhawan was dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan.

Suresh Raina (0), who also played a crucial role along with Rohit in the last match could not disturb his score this time as the Uttar Pradesh batsman was dismissed in the very next over by Rubel Hossain.

But incoming batsman Lokesh Rahul (24) and Rohit forged a crucial 51-run partnership before Rahul was sent packing by Hossain in the 10th over.

Just when things seemed good in the middle, Rohit departed with Nazmul Islam picking up the crucial wicket in the 14th over. His 42-balls innings was laced with four boundaries and three sixes.

Needing 69 runs in 40 balls, it was all on new two new batsmen Pandey and Vijay Shankar (17). Pandey displayed some superb shots while Shankar also supported handsomely at the other end.

But with 37 needed in last three overs, Shankar played four dot balls which mounted the pressure and as a result, Pandey, while trying for a big one, was caught by Sabbir Rahman off Mustafizur Rahman. Pandey played 27 balls and slammed three boundaries.

Experienced batsman Karthik then joined Shankar and guided India to victory.

For Bangladesh, Hossain picked up two wickets.

Earlier, top-order batsman Sabbir Rahman dragged Bangladesh out of a hole with a well paced 50-ball 77 to help his team post a fighting 166/8.

After spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (3/18) and Washington Sundar (1/20) took four wickets between them to leave their rivals reeling at 68/4 at one stage, Sabbir mixed caution with aggression to hit seven fours and four sixes before Jaydev Unadkat (2/33) took his wicket.

In the last over, Mehidy Hasan (19 not out) took 18 runs off Shardul Thakur (0/45) who had a forgettable outing.

Openers Tamim Iqbal (15) and Liton Das (11) got off to a steady start but just when they looked to step on the gas, in-form Sundar put a spanner in their works, stretching his purple patch with the ball.

Sundar bowled a slower one just outside off stump, forcing Das into a slog sweep which went straight up in the air to Raina who completed an easy catch near short fine leg.

In the next over, the dangerous Iqbal followed suit thanks to an acrobatic catch by Thakur on the very edge of the long-on boundary off Chahal’s bowling.

Chahal removed Soumya Sarkar (1) in the same over, the batsman sweeping straigh to Dhawan at square leg, as Bangladesh looked in disarray inside the Powerplay tottering at 40/3 in six overs.

At the halfway stage, Bangladesh were 68/3 with Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim (9) trying to stem the rot.

In the very first ball of the 11th over, Chahal grabbed his third wicket as Rahim miscued a widish googly, skying the ball over backward point where Shankar took a fine diving catch running to his right. The pair added 35 runs for the fourth wicket.

Mahmudullah (21), who hit the winning six in the last do-or-die game against hosts Sri Lanka, took time to get going and along with Sabbir looked to build a partnership.

Bangladesh struggled to find the boundary with Mahmudullah breaking a four-over drought with a sublime shot between backward point and short third man off Unadkat in the 13th over.

Mahmudullah’s run out brought an end to their patient association of 36 runs for the fifth wicket but Sabbir lived up to his reputation of a promising young player by smacking Shankar for two sixes in the 17th over and Sundar for one in the previous over.

In the 18th over, Rahman showed deft skills to and place the ball behind the wicket with exploit both third man and fine leg inside the ring for consecutive boundaries.

Trying to go for one too many, Rahman’s brilliant innings came to end with Unadkat ruffling his wickets to get his first wicket.

In the same over, Unadkat castled Hossain (0) and gave away just three runs to underline his potential as a death bowler.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 166/8 in 20 overs (Sabbir Rahman 77, Yuzvendra Chahal 3/18, Jaydev Unadkat 2/33) against India: 168/6 ( Rohit Sharma 52, Dinesh Karthik 29, Rubel Hossain 2/35)

Sunil Nayyar Becomes First Indian MD of Sony India

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Sony India on Monday announced the appointment of Sunil Nayyar as its new Managing Director, a first for an Indian.

Nayyar’s term as Managing Director of the company will take effect from April 1, Sony India said in a statement.

“Being one of the most recognised consumer electronics brand, it is an exciting time to lead the company’s direction in India,” Nayyar said on his appointment.

Nayyar replaces Kenichiro Hibi, who has now been appointed as President for Sony Brazil also with effect from April 1.

Hibi held the position as Managing Director of Sony India for six years from 2012 till 2018.

At Sony India, Nayyar held the position of Sales Head from April 2006 till April 2015 prior to moving to Sony North America as head of Retail Experience, a position which he held from May 2015 till March 2018.

Nayyar started his stint at Sony in 1995, as part of Sony Gulf’s sales team in charge of North and East Africa, Russia, Lebanon, Syria and several other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“In this time of transition, I look forward for an insight from our stakeholders and help guide in further strengthening Sony’s presence in India,” Nayyar said after being appointed as Sony India’s Managing Director.

Sony India on Monday announced the appointment of Sunil Nayyar as its new Managing Director, a first for an Indian.

Nayyar’s term as Managing Director of the company will take effect from April 1, Sony India said in a statement.

“Being one of the most recognised consumer electronics brand, it is an exciting time to lead the company’s direction in India,” Nayyar said on his appointment.

Nayyar replaces Kenichiro Hibi, who has now been appointed as President for Sony Brazil also with effect from April 1.

Hibi held the position as Managing Director of Sony India for six years from 2012 till 2018.

At Sony India, Nayyar held the position of Sales Head from April 2006 till April 2015 prior to moving to Sony North America as head of Retail Experience, a position which he held from May 2015 till March 2018.

Nayyar started his stint at Sony in 1995, as part of Sony Gulf’s sales team in charge of North and East Africa, Russia, Lebanon, Syria and several other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“In this time of transition, I look forward for an insight from our stakeholders and help guide in further strengthening Sony’s presence in India,” Nayyar said after being appointed as Sony India’s Managing Director.

(IANS)

Ready To Discuss Triple Talaq Bill In House: Minority Affairs Minister Naqvi

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The government is ready to discuss the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha and was open to suggestions from the opposition — but referring it to a Select Committee made no sense, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill — commonly called the triple talaq bill as it criminalises “instant” divorce among Muslims — is scheduled to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha in the coming week as part of the government’s business.

“Let’s discuss the bill in the House and the members can move amendments. Nobody can stop a member from moving any amendment,” Naqvi added

“But where is the sense in insisting on refering the bill to a select committee of the House? What will the Select Committee do? Even the House can scrutinise legislation,” he added.

The Select Committee may also invite suggestions from stakeholders such as various Muslim organisations and women’s bodies, which the government has apparently not done.

The opposition, Muslim bodies and women’s rights groups have accused the government of “unilaterally” drafting the legislation without seeking any opinion from the stakeholders or those who would be directly affected by the proposed law.

However, Naqvi said: “We have said it earlier too and reiterate that the government is open to suggestions on the bill from the opposition and others.”

But on the question of negotiating the penal provision — which is the main bone of contention — the minister said the bill would make no sense without this as the practice of triple talaq continues even after the Supreme Court banned it.

Under Section 4 of the bill, “Whoever pronounces talaq upon his wife by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and fine.”

It also provides for a subsistence allowance for a divorced woman and her children as determined by a magistrate and provides custody of the minor children to the woman in case of divorce.

The government had introduced the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha on January 3 this year during the winter session of Parliament. The Lok Sabha had earlier passed the bill.

Almost all the opposition parties have objected to the penal provision in the bill and had insisted it be sent to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha for closer scrutiny. Congress leader Anand Sharma and Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy had moved amendments to this effect.

Sharma even suggested the names of the 17 members of the select panel from the opposition’s side, leaving it to the government to give its names.

The government, however, vociferously objected to the proposal, citing various technical reasons. The opposition even demanded voting on the issue on the day the bill was introduced as well as the next day, January 4.

However, on the first day, the treasury benches members created a ruckus, forcing the chair to adjourn the House for the day, saying voting could not be done unless the House was in order.

The next day, the government listed the bill at the bottom of the day’s business, prompting loud protests from the opposition, which wanted it to be taken up early and a vote taken. The chair said he could not help as it was the government’s prerogative at which position to list a bill. Amid pandemonium, the House was adjourned for the day.

The winter session concluded the next day on January 5, and the triple talaq bill is still pending in the upper House.

On March 16, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel, while announcing the coming week’s business, also listed the triple talaq bill for considering and passing.

(IANS)

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