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Bengaluru: NDA 90% commission govt, says Siddaramaiah; BJP stages walkout in House

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Bengaluru: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged the NDA government at the Centre was a “90 per cent commission government”.

Modi had recently dubbed the Congress dispensation a “10 per cent commission government” during public meetings in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah’s remark came during his reply to the motion of thanks to the governor for his address. “The previous BJP government in Karnataka was the most corrupt … And the present dispensation at the Centre is a 90 per cent commission government,” he alleged.

Siddaramaiah said the BJP and its leaders had failed to prove their allegations against his government. “According to the law, whoever levels charges against anyone, should prove them. The BJP and its leaders here have been levelling corruption charges and calling my rule a 10 per cent commission government, but have failed to prove these charges,” he said.

The remarks led to a heated exchange of words between the treasury and opposition benches. An undeterred Siddaramaiah said his government did not need any lessons on clean governance from a party whose “four ministers are in jail for corruption”.

He alleged the Centre was looking the other way when billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi used his clout to slip out of the country.

“Nirav Modi ran away with Rs 11,000 crore. Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya also fled. What was the central government doing?” he asked.

He also criticised the BJP for calling his government a non-performing dispensation.

“If my government did not perform, how is it that the growth rate of the state stands at 8.5 per cent?” Siddaramaiah asked.

Intervening, Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said the Siddaramaiah government was the most corrupt and its ministers owned many benami properties across the state.

Vishweshwar Hedge Kageri (BJP) said the Congress government was being desperate. As the chief minister continued attacking the Modi government, BJP members staged a walkout.

(PTI)

RANVEER SINGH’S PLEASANT SURPRISE FOR AMRUTA

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Amruta Khanvilkar has always been very transparent about her life on social media platforms, her love towards Ranveer Singh is no longer a secret. Recently, Amruta Khanvilkar was invited for the event called Magnetic Maharashtra, apparently, Ranveer Singh was also invited for the same event. When Amruta Khanvilkar got to know about this, she went on the social media and shared her excitement with all her fans. during this event Ranveer Singh himself went to her vanity van which is a very generous gesture showed by this superstar and shared some delightful moment with her. They both danced on his recent popular track “Khalibali” and she posted that video on her all social media platforms, which went viral on social media. Later on she posted a video where she is showing gratitude towards this Bollywood star for making her dream come true by dancing along with her and sharing a screen on the Instagram stories. Amruta Khanvilkar recently sizzled the stage by her performance at the finale of dance reality show viz. Dance India Dance Season 6. She’s soon gonna be seen in Hindi movie Raazi directed by Meghna Gulzar which is all set to be released on 11th May, 2018.

UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON KICKS OFF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS WITH SPRING -SUMMER’18 PREVIEW

United Colors of Benetton celebrated an evening full of fashion, glamour & merriment to mark a quarter century of its heritage & values in India. The high – on – fashion evening was held at Benetton’s iconic Linking Road Store, graced by Sonam Kapoor’s presence. Sundeep Chugh, CEO & MD, Benetton India said “For the past 25 years creativity & social relevance has been central to our culture and we have consistently strived to do business in a way our associates, partners & customers can be proud of.” The highlight of the evening was the presence of youth fashion icon – Sonam Kapoor, who said “I am elated to be a part of this milestone for Benetton in India. Benetton is a brand which has always been so close to my heart. I remember my wardrobe spilling over with Benetton tees & dresses, from my shopping days with mum! It is a brand that a generation has grown up wearing and connects with, not only within the realm of fashion, but for its path – breaking socially relevant campaigns over the years. ”The event was also marked by the launch of United Colors of Benetton’s Spring Summer’18 collection characterized by color palettes of summer, shades of Bordeaux reds & oxide yellows.

‘SURGICAL STRIKE’ 1ST LOOK DEDICATED TO INDIAN ARMY

Bollywood’s much awaited Patriotic movie Surgical Strike’s 1st look hit the internet. The official poster of the movie Surgical Strike is out on production house’ social media account. The film, co – produced by Vijay Valbhani & Sonu Jain, directed by Suzad Iqbal Khan Under the banner of Crystal Movies. The film feature’s Deepraj Rana, Mir Sarvar, Lakha Lakhwinder Singh, Jimmy Sharma, Sanjay Singh, Amit Pathak & Vedita Pratap Singh as army officers. The movie is dedicated to the Indian Soldiers & to their family. The poster is captioned as, “Our Country, Our Nation, Our People”. The poster depicted the hardships faced by soldiers at the time of the Surgical Strike. The movie shows what price our freedom fighters paid for the safety of our country. From the poster, it is clear that actors are playing a true patriotic & Patriotism doesn’t always mean fighting for your country against others. There are so many social evils within our society which we need to get rid of but we don’t. These include issues like Corruption & Crime which are like termites, ruining the country from Inside. Surgical Strike will highlight all the small issues related to the mission. The movie is all set to hit the theatrical release in 2018. It’s indeed a smart move from the makers to reveal the poster with a patriotic theme. Surgical Strike, which is a film based on 2016 Uri terror attack, Last to last year, a terror attack at an army base in Jammu & Kashmir’s Uri killed 17 soldiers. The Indian Army retaliated with surgical strikes 11 days later.

FIRST STEP ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL ANNOUNCES “WRITER’S LOUNGE” IN MUMBAI

A good story is essential to make a film and, hence, writers are critical in the film making process. To consistently create some good stories, writers need a workspace that allows them to sit, think & pen down their thoughts. The lack of such a space in Mumbai was noticed by Swati Semwal, Creative Head of First Step Entertainment Capital (FSEC). Being a writer herself of many notable short films, she has created the FIRST –EVER – FREE co – working space called Writer’s Lounge. It is an inviting space that is located at the epicentre of Television & Films, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai. Writer’s Lounge does not levy any charges for using its space. Its aim is to fill a lacuna that exists due to space constraints in the city. It is available for writers of all ages, associated with Screenwriters Association (SWA), to come, sit & write. “Writer’s Lounge will ensure that all serious writers, who are members of the Screenwriters Association in India, are given a comfortable place & a peaceful environment to write their stories. It allows like – minded people to work under a common roof”; says National Award Winner, Juhi Chaturvedi. Writer’s Lounge is a community workspace that’s more than just a few desks, fast internet & free coffee. First Step Entertainment Capital’s vision is to support small budget Indie Cinema, and give creative people all they need to make their “First Break” into films, be it in terms of a beautiful space like Writer’s Lounge to write their stories and in giving them all the facilities to make their stories a reality, as a short film, feature film or documentary and can also give them a platform to showcase their short films. Writer’s Lounge is located at Z A Tower, Yari Road, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai.

SUNNY DEOL TO SHOOT WITH ALANKRITA SAHAI FOR AN AD FILM
Alankrita Sahai seems to be on a roll as very rarely do you see a debutant landing an ad for herself just at the release of her film (Love Per Square Feet by Ronnie Screwvala). It was Love Per Square Feet that got the makers to lock Alankrita Sahai as the commercial needed a girl with girl next door look who is cute and has some spark & charisma. As Alankrita Sahai just fits the bill perfectly she was signed for the ad. On touching base with Alankrita Sahai she stated, “It’s overwhelming to have got to share space with Sunny sir and we have just had a great time shooting the commercial. He is very down to earth & sophisticated, loved shooting with him.
FROM COLLEGE THEATRES TO FILMS, SWARA HAS COME A LONG WAY!

Swara Bhaskar, who stepped into the world of films as an outsider, beating several odds has now carved a niche for herself. She is known to be an actor who has time & again proved her mettle. With a belief in choosing roles that make an impact, Swara Bhaskar has surely delivered roles that speak volumes about her as an actor. Swara Bhaskar has a special for her fans who hold dreams of shining bright in life, “When I was doing street theatre in Delhi, I never thought I would work in films or become a heroine. I didn’t know anyone in Bollywood, had no contacts but the only thing I knew was whatever I want to do can happen only because of my talent….I realized, if you invest in your talent, you will shine in life and that’s what exactly what I did.” Swara Bhaskar who has done numerous supporting roles rose to fame with her character in Tanu weds Manu and further garnered praise for her performance in Raanjhanaa & Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. The actor went on to be the lead in critically acclaimed films Nil Battey Sannata & Anarkali of Aarah where she essayed the role of a fiesty mother and a professional dancing girl respectively.

GSK CONSUMER HEALTHCARE VENTURES INTO PROTEIN SEGMENT WITH THE LAUNCH OF HORLICKS PROTEIN+

GSK Consumer Healthcare has extended the brand Horlicks, India’s leading Health Food Drink (HFD) into an all new category of high protein drink for active adults with the launch of its new variant Horlicks Protein+. Horlicks Protein+ was conceived with a vision of catering to the growing nutritional requirements, specifically protein related needs, of modern day professionals with demanding schedules and little time on hand to address the issue of adequate protein intake required by the body. With their entry into a new category, GSK Consumer Healthcare also announced actor, R Madhavan as the brand ambassador for Horlicks Protein+. R Madhavan says, “I have always believed in keeping myself fit & proper protein intake is something that has helped me achieve that. How much protein you eat is important but I always emphasize on the quality of protein. Having the right protein, can help you live a healthier & a better lifestyle. I believe that Horlicks Protein+, with its triple blend of Whey, Casein & Soy, has just the right ingredients to give me energy and enable me to be a better version of myself, every day.”

POLAROID EYEWEAR INTRODUCES ITS SPRING / SUMMER 2018 COLLECTION WITH ANUSHKA SHARMA
Polaroid Eyewear, inventor of the original polarized lenses and a brand that, for over 80 years, has been a symbol of pop culture for millions of people around the world, has launched its new Spring / Summer 2018 eyewear collection with brand ambassador Anushka Sharma. Putting the brand once again at the cutting edge of style, the new collection is an explosion of colors & shapes. Kyriakos Kofinas, Managing Director IMEA & APAC, “Polaroid latest collection with Anushka Sharma is all about connecting with young millennials who are looking for a fresh and uber chic look. With a young, hip & contemporary sense of style, Anushka Sharma perfectly embodies the pop & the innovative spirit that the brand celebrates.” This new, thicker & stronger lens provides a further improved distortion – free visual experience and allows for a wider array of lens colors. Resonating with the brand’s core elements, brand ambassador Anushka Sharma stated, “I am delighted to launch Polaroid’s Spring / Summer 2018 collection. The new Pop inspired collection is stylish, cool & comfortable with a contemporary style. This is my 2nd year of association with Polaroid and it feels great to be a part of the brand which has a legacy of over 80 years.”
ALIA BHATT’S COEXIST INITIATIVE

Last year, through her ecological & animal welfare initiative Coexist, Alia Bhatt worked towards changing attitudes and creating a better & safer environment for stray cats & dogs within our cities. The campaign also focused on the adoption of indies, with Coexist being an awareness partner for Asia’s biggest adoption camp for strays held in Mumbai in Dec, 2017. Speaking about Coexist’s current campaign Alia Bhatt said, “To sustain ourselves, we’ve built a world of steel & concrete, but the survival of one species should not come at the cost of another. As our cities grow, we need to focus on increasing green cover and preserving what we already have. Bringing nature back will not only be beneficial to our mental & physical health but it will also help protect our fauna. Through this campaign, we want people to find their green – it could be a residential garden, a public park or a forested area and we want them to play an integral role in protecting these green pockets.” The campaign will also feature simple solutions which people can adopt as part of their daily routine and which will benefit the natural environment in the long run.“ Reducing, reusing & recycling can help save money, energy & natural resources”, added Alia Bhatt. “Visit our blog & our facebook page to know how you can make your contribution towards a cleaner & greener planet.”

IHANA DHILLON TO RAISES TEMPERATURE IN A NEW LOVE SONG THIS VALENTINE DAY!

Ihana Dhillon, who is geared up to make her Bollywood debut with revenge drama Hate Story 4, has already stunned the viewers with her looks in the trailer. Now the Punjabi beauty has raised the temperatures in a new love song from Hate Story 4. The pretty actress was seen donning a totally different avatar in the upcoming song “Tum Mere Ho”. A few pictures from the song have surfaced online. The makers have decided to release the track soon because it’s a romantic track. Talking about the song, Ihana Dhillon says, “I really like this song. I’ve listened to it & the lyrics are beautiful. I think the audiences will love it. It’s a special track.”Ask her about the compliments, and she quips, “I am really flattered. It feels nice to be appreciated & recognized. I am about to start a new journey and everybody has been so supportive. I feel blessed to have such people around me.” Hate Story 4 will be released on 9th Mar, 2018.

VARUN DHAWAN, SHASHANK KHAITAN AND KARAN JOHAR ARE COMING WITH THEIR 3RD FILM TOGETHER AS A TEAM

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After the success of “Dulhania” series, Varun Dhawan, Shashank Khaitan & Karan Johar are collaborating yet again for Varun Dhawan’s 1st ever war film Rannbhoomi. In fact Varun Dhawan, Shashank Khaitan & Karan Johar are coming with their 3rd film together as a team! After the mega success of the “Dulhania” series, Shashank Khaitan & Varun Dhawan have taken a giant leap and are beginning the journey of spectacle & extravaganza. Genre moves from Romance to Action – Drama. But it’s not just an epic tale, it indulges in emotions & opulence in equal measure. Interestingly, this is Varun Dhawan’s 1st ever war film. At heart a love story, in essence a revenge drama but to sum it up, it promises to be a mega cinematic experience. The team is vastly excited to introduce to you Rannbhoomi, slated for a DIWALI 2020 release. Talking about their collaboration, producer Karan Johar said, “Rannbhoomi is Shashank’s colossal & ambitious imagination to attempt a hat – trick with Varun Dhawan & Dharma Productions. Shashank Khaitan & Varun Dhawan make an epic blend of creative & commercial extravaganza and that is exactly what Dharma Productions’ vision for the coming few projects is. Very excited to bring them together again for this Diwali 2020 epic tale.”

ROHIT SHETTY PICTUREZ TO VENTURE INTO ANIMATION SERIES WITH ‘LITTLE SINGHAM’

Rohit Shetty Picturez, Reliance Animation & Discovery Kids, will be launching a new animation series called Little Singham inspired by the Ajay Devgn franchise Singham. Little Singham, an original kid’s content series in India will be aired in 4 languages namely English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu. Targeted at kids belonging to the age group of 5 – 11 years, the intro line of Little Singham is – “Police ki wardi, Sher ka Damm, Naam hai mera – Little Singham!” The animated show will make its debut on television in Apr, 2018 on the completely revamped Discovery Kids channel. This is probably one of the largest deals in the animation industry with the 1st ever season to go on air with 156 episodes & 5 tele features. Rohit Shetty said, “Singham was hugely loved by the kids and a show like this will not only take the franchise ahead but will also become a source of entertainment for the kids & the audiences who loved Singham so dearly.” Shibasish Sarkar, Reliance Entertainment said “Little Singham will set a completely new benchmark for animation in India. With Rohit Shetty also mentoring the animated series, we are confident of taking the Singham franchise to newer heights.”

NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN’S HIT “KHAIR MANGA” RECREATED FOR AJAY DEVGN – ILEANA DCRUZ STARRER ‘RAID’

After the recreation of the romantic ballad “Sanu Ek Pal Chain”, the makers of Raid have now recreated another chart topping melody of the Late singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Titled “Khair Manga”, the track has been recreated in parts by lyricist Manoj Muntashir & sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s singer – nephew, Rahat Fateh ali Khan. “The song has been picturised on Ajay Devgn, who plays an upright & no – nonsense income tax officer & Ileana D’Cruz, who will be seen in the role of his supportive & brave wife. The song offers a glimpse into the on – screen couple’s life & the love, care & warmth they share in the film”, said director Rajkumar Gupta. Gulshan Kumar & T – Series present, A Panorama Studios Production, Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak & Abhishek Pathak, Raid is directed by Raj Kumar Gupta. The film releases on 16th Mar, 2018.

VIDEO EDITING APP – HYPSTAR ROPES IN SONAKSHI SINHA TO ENDORSE & KICK-START QUIZ BROADCASTING SHOW

Video editing platform – Hypstar has roped in Sonakshi Sinha to endorse the platform and be one of their 1st ever quizzers. Hypstar is a 15 second original short video community incubated by the Bytedance, China’s tech giant, with leading AI technologies. It enables users to record fun & memorable moments in their daily lives easily & share them with people all over the world while meeting fun people in Hypstar. Sonakshi Sinha says, “This innovation in the social media space is a great tool for me to connect with my fans & audiences. Video platforms are always more personalized, a gateway to stay connected with fans & followers. Hypstar happens to be my latest & my most favorite discovery”. With Short form videos having taken the digital world by storm, creating a video featuring oneself has diluted the lines between reality & virtuality. Hypstar, has launched a unique campaign for its subscribers whereby they can interact with their favorite celebrities and stand an opportunity of earning money through participation. The subscribers can undertake this quiz and stand to earn rewards with increasing stakes at every level. Through this quiz more than 2000 people stand a chance to win more than 10,000 dollar’s prize.

MALAYALAM DIRECTOR, JEETHU JOSEPH, TO MAKE HIS BOLLYWOOD DEBUT WITH A GAME CHANGING HORROR THRILLER

AZURE Entertainment & Viacom18 Motion Pictures has announced a collaboration to produce Jeethu Joseph’s Hindi film debut. Jeethu Joseph, best known for Mohanlal starrer, Drishyam, is all set to make his big Bollywood debut. The yet untitled film is being presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures & produced by Sunir Kheterpal for AZURE Entertainment. Promising to change the face of horror thrillers in the country, the film shall combine interesting dynamics of a crime mystery thriller with elements of horror and shall have the audiences at the edge of their seats. The makers have managed to pull off an interesting casting coup with Rishi Kapoor & Emraan Hashmi, who has been synonymous with the horror – thriller genre Announcing his Bollywood debut, Jeethu Joseph commented, “Directing a Hindi feature film has been on the anvil for quite some time and I have been waiting for the right story. This crime mystery thriller with elements of horror has excited me tremendously and we have got perfect casting for the 2 protagonists in the Film. I am looking forward to start the Film at the earliest.” Says Emraan Hashmi,” Ajit Andhare, COO – Viacom18 Motion Pictures said, “Ever since we produced Drishaym, a Hindi remake of Jeethu Joseph’s original masterpiece, we have been looking for a subject to make with Jeethu Joseph in Hindi.”

VARUN DHAWAN’S ‘RANNBHOOMI’ TO RELEASE IN DIWALI 2020

Producer & director Karan Johar has chosen Shashank Khaitan to helm Rannbhoomi with Varun Dhawan. This is the 3rd time that the trio will work together on a project. Previously, they delivered 2 films in the “Dulhania series” namely Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania & Badrinath Ki Dulhania, enchanted the audiences. This time, Shashank Khaitan will switch to genres & focus on creating an action – drama loaded with emotions & opulence in equal measure. A love story at heart, this Diwali 2020 release will have an element of revenge at the core of the narrative. The makers aim to turn this project into a cinematic experience worthy of a mega festive release. Karan Johar, confirmed the news sitting miles away in Berlin, “Rannbhoomi is Shashank Kaitan’s colossal & ambitious imagination to attempt a hat – trick with Varun Dhawan. Shashank Khaitan & Varun Dhawan make an epic blend of creative & commercial extravaganza, which is Dharma Productions’ vision for the next few projects.”

EROS INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES FILM RIGHTS TO BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ASHWIN SANGHI’S “THE KRISHNA KEY”
Eros International has acquired the rights to adapt the best – selling Indian author Ashwin Sanghi’s anthropological thriller “The Krishna Key” into a theatrical film & original series for their digital over – the – top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform, Eros Now. The thriller set across timelines with its captivating plot, merging the mythological with the contemporary released in 2012. The book follows a history professor who must prove his innocence against a murder charge. “The Krishna Key”, the 3rd novella by Ashwin Sanghi, tries to unfold the secrets of the Mahabharata and establish Krishna as a historical character rather than a mythical character. The plot is dramatic & provocative, enthralling with its twists & turns creating a seamless opportunity to creatively showcase it in the world cinema. Ashwin Sanghi says, “Eros Now has an incredible team that is exceedingly capable of adapting this action – packed thriller into a very interesting story for cinema. ” Ashwin Sanghi ranks amongst India’s highest selling English fiction authors. Popularly hailed as the Indian Dan Brown for “The Rozabal Line” & “The Krishna Key”, both of which were critically acclaimed. He has written several other bestsellers including “Chanakya’s Chant”, “The Sialkot Saga” & “Keepers Of The Kalachakra”. In 2010, he won Vodafone – Crossword Popular Choice Award for “Chanakya’s Chant”.

VARUN DHAWAN’S ‘OCTOBER” A GIFT TO HIS FANS

Shoojit Sircar & Varun Dhawan have given a sweet & striking gift to the legions of their fans: Introducing them to the world of October with a special video launched digitally. Shoojit Sircar’s unique take on love will make you wonder about the beautiful journey of life & relationships. The film reportedly sees Varun Dhawan surpass all his previous performances & milestones he has set so far along with the young talent Banita Sandhu who is making her acting debut in the film. Produced by Ronnie Lahiri & Sheel Kumar, October stars Varun Dhawan & Banita Sandhu. A Rising Sun Films Production, directed by Shoojit Sircar the film is all set to release on 13th Apr, 2018.

‘THE TASHKENT FILES’ DIRECTOR VIVEK AGNIHOTRI URGES PEOPLE TO SHARE DETAILS ON THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF SHASTRI

In a 1st of its kind, director Vivek Agnihotri has released a video in which he is urging the audiences to share details about the mysterious death of Lal Bahadur Shastri for his upcoming film titled The Tashkent Files. The video begins with Vivek Agnihotri talking about how the seeds were sown for making a film on the mysterious death of India’s 2nd Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The director is later seen asking people to share anecdotes, stories, paper clippings or any details they know of or possess related to his death. To top it all, any sort of valuable contribution from people will be given its due credit in the film. ‘The Tashkent Files’ stars Naseeruddin Shah, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi & Shweta Basu Prasad.

NARGIS FAKHRI TO STAR IN HER FIRST EVER HORROR FLICK, ‘AMAVAS’

Starring along Sachiin Joshi the 1st ever horror film Amaavas has gone on the floors in London with a start to finish schedule. The shooting schedule is of about 35 days long. Directed by Bhushan Patel who earlier directed Ragini MMS 2, Alone & 1920 Evil Returns & Produced by Viiking Media & Entertainment in association with Simply West UK & Thoth Ventures, the film will release later this year.

CNN HERO OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO TWO INDIAN-AMERICAN

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Two Indian-Americans, Samir Lakhani from Pittsburg and Mona Patel from Texas, are among the 10 finalists for the prestigious CNN Heroes of the Year award.
Samir Lakhani from Pittsburg and Mona Patel from Texas are among the finalists for the annual award to be given on December 17.
Lakhani’s non-profit recycles discarded bars of soap from hotels across Cambodia and distributes it to villages in need, CNN reported.
It all started in 2014 when as a college student, Lakhani traveled to Cambodia where he experienced first-hand that for many in Cambodia a bar of soap is a luxury they cannot afford.
While still attending the University of Pittsburgh, Lakhani started the Eco-Soap Bank, the report said.
The organization now has four recycling centers across the country, providing jobs to 35 local women. The used bars are sanitized and remolded into new bars or melted down into liquid soap.
According to Lakhani so far, more than 650,000 people have benefited from the group’s soap and hygiene education.

Mona Patel’s non-profit aims to help amputees rebuild their lives by offering peer support, resources, and recreational activities.
The San Antonio Amputee Foundation aims to help amputees rebuild their lives. The group offers peer support, education and recreation opportunities, as well as financial assistance for basic home and car modifications and prosthetic limbs, it said.

Syrian regime air strikes kill more than 250 people in Eastern Ghouta

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A person inspects damaged building in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria February 20, 2018. (Reuters)

by TRT World

The bombardment of Syria’s opposition-held Eastern Ghouta area near Damascus by pro-regime forces has killed 250 people in the 48 hours since Sunday night, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday.

The Britain-based war monitor said this was the highest 48-hour death toll since a 2013 chemical attack on the besieged enclave, which killed hundreds.

The Observatory said 106 people had been killed by bombardment on Tuesday.

Strikes put a key hospital out of service on Tuesday, further limiting the little medical aid that besieged civilians could access.

“The Arbin hospital was hit twice today and is now out of service,” said Moussa Naffa, country director in Jordan for the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), which supported the clinic.

The Observatory blamed Russian warplanes, saying Moscow carried out its first strikes in three months on Eastern Ghouta.

The region is ostensibly included in a “de-escalation” deal meant to tamp down violence, but President Bashar al Assad is apparently preparing troops for an imminent ground assault to retake it.

Six hospitals hit

Eastern Ghouta is home to more than 400,000 people living under crippling regime siege, with little access to food or medical resources.

The United Nations said six hospitals had been hit in the region in the past 48 hours, in addition to the one in Arbin.

At least three were out of service and two were only partially functioning, said the UN’s regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos Moumtzis.

“It’s beyond imagination what is happening in East Ghouta today,” he said.

“The untold suffering is intolerable and residents have no idea whether they will live or die. This nightmare in East Ghouta must end and must end now.

Expedia Generational Study: 48% Millennials have postponed a breakup to go on a planned trip with their significant other

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About the survey: Expedia®, world’s largest full service online travel agency, released the results of the Generational Study, a report exploring the travel preferences and behavior of consumers across multiple generations. The report also highlights online travel searching and booking habits and critical details that influence travel consumer trends and action. The study suggests that over than 85% of Indians have personally booked travel online (Boomer: 85%, Gen X: 86%, Millennial: 90, Gen Z: 70%) in the last year.

Mr. Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia in India said, “Travel is becoming a crucial part of life, especially with the younger generations- Millennials and Gen Z. While 61% of Gen Z are willing to get a part-time job to save money to go on a leisure trip, 91% Millennials save money for travel. Travel is not just a getaway, but also a time for self-reflection and introspection. No wonder the statistics suggest that 71% of millennials travelled alone last year”.

“We are also witnessing the older generations catching up with the online marketplaces. They are getting more and more comfortable with online purchases, be it fashion, home furnishings or travel. The study points out that 86% Gen X and 85% Boomers personally booked travel online in the past year,” he added.

DETAILED FINDINGS:
TRAVELER PROFILE & BEHAVIOR
· More than 85% of Indians have personally booked online travel in the past year. Married people of all ages, particularly those with children, are the sweet spot for booking travel.
o Boomer: 85%, Gen X: 86%, Millennial: 90%, Gen Z: 70%
o Married: 91% and Non Married: 78%
o With Kids: 87% and Without Kids: 80%
· Saving for travel is a top priority, especially for Millennials while Gen Z is the least likely to implement this into their budget. Overall 83% save money for travel with 69% Gen Z, 91% Millennials, 80% Gen X and 75% Boomers saving money for travel.
· There is higher propensity to spend extra money on experiences over products
o Experiences: Gen Z- 57%, Millennials – 63%, Gen X- 62%, Boomers – 63%, Total-61%
o Products: Gen Z- 43%, Millennials – 37%, Gen X- 38%, Boomers – 37%, Total-39%
· Interestingly 70% Baby Boomers, 74% of Gen X, and 81% of Millennials are willing to spend half or more of 1,000,000 rupees on leisure travel, while 77% of Gen Z would allocate half or less to travel.
o All: Gen Z- 5%, Millennials- 19%, Gen X- 10%, Boomers- 8%
o None: Gen Z- 11%, Millennials- 1%, Gen X- 3%, Boomers- 29%
· Preferred type of leisure travel experience
o Connections (Spending time with loved ones): Gen Z- 74%, Millennials- 81%, Gen X- 78%, Boomers- 80%
o Adventure (Exploring, meeting new people, trying new things): Gen Z- 76%, Millennials- 81%, Gen X- 69%, Boomers- 66%
o Relaxation (unwind, de-stress, sleep in): Gen Z- 68%, Millennials- 82%, Gen X- 74%, Boomers- 70%
o Traditional (site-seeing): Gen Z- 65%, Millennials- 78%, Gen X- 81%, Boomers- 81%
o Living like a local (unique experiences such as one-of-a-kind events, restaurants, etc.): Gen Z- 62%, Millennials-71%, Gen X- 20%, Boomers- 66%
· Most common reason for leisure travel
o Getaway (leisure trip or vacation): Gen Z- 40%, Millennials-47%, Gen X- 61%, Boomers- 59%
o Friend or family-related visits: Gen Z- 44%, Millennials-32%, Gen X- 31%, Boomers- 39%
o Holiday (Republic Day, Christmas): Gen Z- 38%, Millennials-40%, Gen X- 25%, Boomers- 12%
o Cultural (exploring a new area): Gen Z- 25%, Millennials- 34%, Gen X- 35%, Boomers- 35%
o Pilgrimage or religious travel: Gen Z- 16%, Millennials-14%, Gen X- 23%, Boomers- 31%
· Average amount of time spent on a typical leisure trip (including travel time)
o 2 Days (Weekends): Gen Z- 23%, Millennials-14%, Gen X- 10%, Boomers- 7%
o 3-5 Days (Long Weekend): Gen Z- 32%, Millennials-34%, Gen X- 38%, Boomers- 33%
o 1 Week: Gen Z- 21%, Millennials-26%, Gen X- 30%, Boomers- 28%
o 10 Days – 2 Weeks: Gen Z- 10%, Millennials-19%, Gen X- 14%, Boomers- 25%
· While overall 36% Indians travelled alone last year, a staggering 71% of millennials travelled alone. Boomers and Gen X split their travel time evenly between travelling with others and alone.
[Gen Z- 62%, Millennials- 71%, Gen X- 47%, Boomers- 50% ]
· Company on leisure trip (usually or always)
o Spouse: Gen Z- 14%, Millennials- 60%, Gen X- 73%, Boomers- 84%, Total – 53%
o Family Members: Gen Z- 50%, Millennials- 52%, Gen X- 36%, Boomers- 29%, Total – 47%
o Child(ren): Gen Z- 12%, Millennials- 51%, Gen X- 68%, Boomers- 51%, Total – 44%
o Significant other: Gen Z- 18%, Millennials- 43%, Gen X- 38%, Boomers- 45%, Total – 36%
· Travel cost split for leisure trips last year: Spouse
o We pay together: Boomer – 11%, Gen X – 18%, Millennials – 17%, Gen Z- 8%
o Partner pay for them: Boomer – 61%, Gen X – 37%, Millennials – 35%, Gen Z- 11%
· Travel cost split for leisure trips last year: Friends
o We pay for our own individual costs: Boomer – 31%, Gen X – 21%, Millennials – 37%, Gen Z- 25%
o We pay together: Boomer – 30%, Gen X – 36%, Millennials – 37%, Gen Z- 47%

SEARCH AND BOOKING TRAVEL
· 84% Indian travelers think it is helpful to be able to book all travel and hotel accommodations on one website. Generational Preference: Gen Z- 77%, Millennials- 85%, Gen X- 86%, Boomers- 89%
· Preferred way to book leisure travel and accommodations
o Online travel agency website: Gen Z- 50%, Millennials- 59%, Gen X- 45%, Boomers- 59%
o Visit websites separately: Gen Z- 23%, Millennials- 16%, Gen X- 14%, Boomers- 20%
o Talk to or work with a travel agent: Gen Z- 16%, Millennials- 12%, Gen X- 26%, Boomers- 13%
· Saving between 20% – 29% is the sweet spot (minimum savings required) necessary for half of travelers to book flight and hotels together
· Factors to absolutely choose an online travel agency website over an individual website when booking transportation and/or accommodations for a leisure trip:
o Best price available/guaranteed: Gen Z- 28%, Millennials- 36%, Gen X- 42%, Boomers- 53%
o Excellent customer service: Gen Z- 23%, Millennials- 29%, Gen X- 29%, Boomers- 28%
o Free cancellation on hotels: Gen Z- 23%, Millennials- 17%, Gen X- 24%, Boomers- 18%
o Cash back offers: Gen Z- 24%, Millennials- 18%, Gen X- 20%, Boomers- 13%
o Discount coupons on hotels: Gen Z- 21%, Millennials- 14%, Gen X- 15%, Boomers- 10%
· Primary motivating factors when selecting the details of a leisure trip:
o Best Deal (By Total): Airline Flight: 60%, Hotel: 60%, Rental Car: 54%, Restaurants or bars: 39%, Sightseeing or activity: 29%, Cruise: 22%
o Best Experience (By Total): Sightseeing or activity: 61%, Restaurants or bars: 39%, Cruise: 32%, Hotel: 32%, Rental car: 24%, Airline Flight: 22%
· Advance flight and accommodation bookings for leisure trip:
o 0-14 Days: Gen Z- 42%, Millennials- 19%, Gen X- 20%, Baby Boomers- 14%
o 15-30 Days: Gen Z- 28%, Millennials- 38%, Gen X- 31%, Baby Boomers- 30%
o 30-60 Days: Gen Z- 17%, Millennials- 35%, Gen X- 34%, Baby Boomers- 39%
o 60-90 Days: Gen Z- 6%, Millennials- 5%, Gen X- 9%, Baby Boomers- 14%
o Over 90 Days: Gen Z- 8%, Millennials- 4%, Gen X- 6%, Baby Boomers- 4%

ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKING INFLUENCES
· Important features for booking accommodations for a leisure trip on an online travel website are Clear Pricing: 86%, Easily accessible information: 85%, Online Reviews: 82%, Online Ratings: 81%, Website easy to navigate: 78%
· Top conditions that would absolutely prevent you from booking a hotel online
o Lack of information about the hotel, rooms, or amenities: Gen Z- 40%, Millennials- 37%, Gen X- 44%, Boomers- 47%
o Multiple poor online reviews: Gen Z- 39%, Millennials- 36%, Gen X- 37%, Boomers- 42%
o Pricing that is notably different than similar hotels in the area: Gen Z- 26%, Millennials- 33%, Gen X- 35%, Boomers- 36%
o Not enough or poor quality online photos of the hotel, rooms, or amenities: Gen Z- 27%, Millennials- 20%, Gen X- 25%, Boomers- 21%
o If it takes too long to complete the online booking process: Gen Z- 16%, Millennials- 25%, Gen X- 12%, Boomers- 19%
· Good hotel reviews are an absolute necessity, nearly 1/3 of all travelers say that a hotel must have good reviews in order for them to stay there. The other conditions include:
o Good Hotel Reviews: Gen Z- 24%, Millennials- 30%, Gen X- 40%, Boomers- 31%
o Restaurants with good reviews: Gen Z- 22%, Millennials- 18%, Gen X- 17%, Boomers- 20%
o Room Service: Gen Z- 21%, Millennials- 18%, Gen X- 13%, Boomers- 16%
o Wi-Fi: Gen Z- 15%, Millennials- 10%, Gen X- 12%, Boomers- 6%
· What would you do to go on a trip?
o 61% of Gen Z would get a part-time job to save money to go on a leisure trip
o 42% of Gen Z would stay off the Internet for a week in order to go on a trip
o 52% of Millennials would take on an odd job or freelance work to go on a leisure trip
o 48% of Millennials have postponed a breakup with a significant other in order to still go on a planned trip
· Social media plays a huge part in gen z and millennial travel decisions
o 66% of Millennials have posted a potential travel trip on social media to get the opinion of their friends and family before booking a trip.
o 62% of Gen Z have chosen a destination, flight, hotel, or car rental because they saw it on social media
o 47% of Gen Z have chosen a hotel room or leisure trip destination so they could get a positive response on social media.
· The majority of all generations feel obligated to send a text to a significant other or family member but over 80% of Millennials feel this pressure.
o Yes: Gen Z- 65%, Millennials- 81%, Gen X- 70%, Boomers- 74%
o No: Gen Z- 35%, Millennials- 19%, Gen X- 30%, Boomers- 26%
· Last person you text before you have to turn off wi-fi on the plane?
o Spouse: Gen Z- 4%, Millennials- 35%, Gen X- 32%, Boomers- 44%, Total- 28%
o Mom: Gen Z- 25%, Millennials- 20%, Gen X- 20%, Boomers- 7%, Total- 20%
o Friend: Gen Z- 36%, Millennials- 17%, Gen X- 12%, Boomers- 9%, Total- 20%
o Dad: Gen Z- 15%, Millennials- 10%, Gen X- 7%, Boomers- 4%, Total- 10%

Methodology
The study was jointly led by Expedia and The Center for Generational Kinetics and administered to 1,250 Indian respondents ages 18-65 including a 250-person oversample of Gen Z ages 18-21. Gen Z is defined as those born 1996 and after, Millennials are defined as those born between 1977 and 1995, Gen X is defined as those born between 1965 and 1976, and Baby Boomers are defined as those born between 1946 and 1964. The sample was weighted to the current census data for age, gender, and region. The survey was conducted online from August 8, 2017 to August 17, 2017 and has a margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points.

About Expedia:
Expedia is world’s largest full service online travel agency with localized sites in 33 countries. Expedia is a one-stop solution for all travel needs, with a comprehensive and distinctive suite of travel with 25000+ holiday activities, 500+ airlines, 500,000 properties and 40M+ post-stay reviews and 30M+ real-time reviews . Expedia in India helps consumers book flights, hotels, flight + hotel, car rentals and tourist attractions, all supported by a call center in India. Also Expedia loyalty program, Expedia+, besides earning points on bookings, allows consumers amenities like room upgrade, spa discounts, breakfast, wi-fi and more. For more information, visit- https://www.expedia.co.in/ or Download the app.
© 2018 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) Opens Doors in Bengaluru

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Swing it like Irfan as the ace cricketer’s ‘Swing clinic’, Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP), opens its door to mould the next generation of India’s bowling superstars at its first cricket coaching centre in the South, in Bangalore on Saturday, February 17, 2018. The 10th academy of CAP was launched with ace cricketer Mr. Irfan Pathan at a press conference held at the academy located at Haralur Road here today.

The CAP will provide budding cricketers an ideal platform to hone their skills, while rubbing shoulders and playing along with some of the biggest names in the global arena. With the right techniques and guidance from expert coaches, the Pathan brothers-Irfan and Yusuf launched these academies 2 years back to return their love for the game.

“Cricket is 80% mental and 20% physical,” says superstar cricketer and CAP director, Irfan Pathan.

“We have no dearth of talent in India. It’s just that they need to be mentored, trained and guided in the right direction. Our coaches work with chosen players to offer personalised and specialised mentoring to develop techniques that help build confidence and self-belief. So that when you take your guard or mark your run-up in the big arena, you feel right at home,” said Mr Pathan.

The academy caters to both boys and girls- from age 6 to 21. There are various coaching modules starting from introductory module and goes up to 7 modules and each module has effectively a duration of 4 months. There is special emphasis on Sports Science including talks on nutrition and diet plans given to each student. The academy also has on its panel physiotherapists and psychologists catering to the requirements of the students.

Irfan Pathan also batted and bowled to the students and interacted with the parents. Interacting with the parents, Irfan Pathan shared parents shouldn’t put too much pressure on their children and should let them free so that they can fly and do well in the path they choose. He also emphasized on how sports make you a better person and losing games helps one learn new things and be more confident in their chosen sport.

The CAP, manned by cricketing legends and renowned coaches like Greg Chappell, Cameron Tradell and Arun Bharswaj, promises to be a technology-driven approach to cricket excellence. The ‘Cricket Academy of the Pathans’ is powered by ‘PitchVision’, a state-of-the-art cricket coaching technology developed in the UK, which helps the Pathan Brothers and their team of cricket coaches to track the overall progress of players on a day-to-day basis. This innovative technology will aid coaches and provide a comprehensive data of every ball played on its unique digital platform www.pitchvision.com/CAP along with a mobile phone app which will allow the students and parents to communicate with Pathan brothers and coaching staff and also get access to coaching materials via videos TV channels.

“It’s an honour to be part of CAP that provides a great platform for our budding champions. We are happy to open the first campus in South India in Bangalore, in the green fields of Sarjapur,” said Farheen Zohra, Director, CAP, Bengaluru.

“To start off, we have two great coaches. Mr. Nitin Kumar, who played for Under 19 National Games and Mr. Kranthi Kumar, who played for JNT University and is a Level-1 NIS qualified coach. Kranthi Kumar has also completed Australian Cricket Coordinator Course. With such a great playing IX, we hope to deliver the best coaching available,” said Farheen Zohra.

The CAP Program has set focus each week with varied outcomes depending on the ability level of the participants. CAP programs are a holistic approach to developing cricketers. The required mental approach, game knowledge and experience, is just as important as the physical skills. The CAP program creates intrinsically motivated players who thrive on competition and who understand there are consequences to actions,” shared Mr. Harmeet Vasdev, Managing Director, CAP.

The CAP coaching programme is designed to harness not just the cricketing skills of upcoming players but also inculcate nutrition, fitness and a 360-degree approach to enjoying a healthy lifestyle, both on and off the field. The nutritional experts will design diets and fitness regiments based on the individual strengths of the upcoming champions. The Bangalore chapter of the CAP cricket academy boasts of 2 cement pitches, 1 turf pitch for the nets and also a Mat Pitch. However, the individual focus of the CAP programme means that seats on the Playing IX will be limited so as as it gives more opportunity for the coaches to train each student separately and analyse the strengths and weakness of each and every player.

Cricket Academy of Pathans plans to open 20 more new academies in different cities of India by mid next year. Currently CAP has presence in nine cities including Raipur, Port Blair, Noida, Lunawada, Surat, Sonipat, Rajkot and Delhi and will soon be launching in Patna, Pune, Kota, Indore and Hyderabad.

About Cricket Academy of Pathans :
Cricket Academy of Pathans is an institute born out of a simple thought of ‘giving back’. Moulded by the experience of Pathan Brothers who famously donned India colours, the Academy is all set to revolutionise the standards of coaching and development of cricket in India. After their notable contribution over the years to Indian cricket, the Pathan Brothers now intend to eradicate the one major hurdle in the path of churning out talented cricketers from India— lack of proper coaching. Since only the best can turn out the best, CAP also has on board, cricketing legends like Greg Chappell and Cameron Tradell as the chief mentors.

To strengthen the ‘backbone’ of cricket, coaching, CAP has designed two modules: ‘Coaching the Coaches’ and ‘Coaching the Kids’ to help the system at two levels. While the academy will train the coaches and fine-tune their craft, these coaches will in turn train aspiring kids. Both Mr Chappell and Mr Tradell have curated the CAP curriculum, which lays emphasis on nutrition and the physical development of the kids, providing a wholesome training experience. Armed with a strong curriculum and some of the best names of the cricketing world, the Pathan brothers promise to polish the future of the Indian Cricket with their ground-breaking initiative.

Amy Schumer Marries Chris Fischer

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Amy Schumer recently tied the knot with none other than a Chef named Chris Fischer. The couple were married outside a rented house in Malibu that overlooks the ocean. It seems it was a very chill wedding. It was thrown together at the last minute. Most of the guest found out that the wedding was happening on this week from a text message sent out by Amy Schumer. It was like, “Hey, this is happening. If you can make it, great. If not, no worries.’ People were in & out all night. It was a gorgeous day. Everyone was having a good time.” The guest list included Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Aniston, Larry David, David Spade, Judd Apatow and many, many more.

Jessa Duggar & Ben Seewald Slammed For Putting Kids In Danger

It’s been a full year since Counting On stars Jessa Duggar & Ben Seewald welcomed their 2nd child.The couple has been subjected to a non – stop torrent of criticism ever since the birth of Henry Wilberforce. The major part of the problem was that Jessa & Ben are members of the famous nay infamous Duggar clan. That alone means that their every move is likely to be dissected in search of potential controversies. But part of the issue does stem from Jessa & Ben making some questionable decisions as parents. When fans criticize Jessa’s messy home, that’s a case in which their just zeroing in on minor details. That’s just target practice so that they’ll be ready to take aim when real Duggar controversies take place. When folks are worried that Jessa’s not properly homeschooling her kids, however, that might come from a place of genuine concern.

Oprah Winfrey Says That Reese Witherspoon Showed PTSD Signs

Oprah Winfrey recently stated that Reese Witherspoon showed signs of PTSD following the mention of disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein. Oprah Winfrey further stated that Reese Witherspoon displayed signs of PTSD after sexual assault allegations emerged against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein. In fact Oprah Winfrey told Salma Hayek during her “Super Soul Sunday Conversation” special that Reese Witherspoon became very upset at the mention of Harvey Weinstein when the story broke out in Oct, 2017. Oprah Winfrey said that she was on the sets with the actress for the upcoming movie Wrinkle in Time when Reese Witherspoon revealed that she had not been able to sleep following the bombshell Accusations against Harvey Weinstein.

Why Hollywood Won’t Cast Taylor Lautner Anymore

Taylor Lautner was poised to be the next big thing when The Twilight Saga was at its peak…and then he just wasn’t. What went wrong? Taylor Lautner’s Twilight co – stars Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson was clever with their careers. While still attached to the franchise, they both starred in other films, like Adventure land (2009) & Water For Elephants (2011). As a result, the duo had an easier time transitioning to other roles post – Twilight. Taylor Lautner, however, had only a bit part in Valentine’s Day (2010) to tide him over until the franchise was over.

Kylie Jenner Is Secretive About Her Pregnancy

Kylie Jenner has lived her entire life in the spotlight — and now that she’s pregnant, no one knows where on Earth she is or why she’s hiding. An insider reveals, “She’s very happy about the pregnancy but she doesn’t want to share this with the world … Her not being out is strictly her own personal preference. She wants to keep this one aspect of her life private.” Kylie Jenner is reportedly well aware that she’s not out of the woods in terms of her privacy and the privacy of her baby’s daddy, rapper Travis Scott. A source revealed, “They know it’s going to be frenzy when they do come out.”

Angelina Jolie Makes A Revelation

These are the things that strained Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt’s relationship. It’s been the subject of so many endless rumors since they split up last year: What caused Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s marriage to fail? Recently Angelina Jolie candidly opened up about all the things she & Brad Pitt faced together, the ways their marriage became strained and how they tried to fix it. “Over the span of that decade, I did lose my mother,” she said. “I did have my mastectomy, and I did then have an ovarian cancer scare and have that surgery as well and other things of course that happened in life that you go through.” So basically, things fell apart because of, well, life. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s very real. Angelina Jolie also admitted that working with Pitt on their critically panned 2015 film By the Sea was kind of a last -ditch attempt to fix things.

Justin Bieber Gives His Mom A Foot Massage

Justin Bieber was recently spotted massaging his mom, Pattie Mallette’s, broken foot, while on vacation with her in the Maldives, and many fans seem grossed out by it. Justin Bieber may not be a doctor, but he sure was acting like one while on vacation in the Maldives with his mom, Pattie Mallette on 22nd Jan, 2012. Pattie has been stuck in a wheelchair the last couple of days, as she unfortunately broke her foot during their mother -son vacation. And now, it looks like Justin has been trying to comfort her… starting with a foot massage. Pattie took to Instagram on Jan. 22, where she posted a “story” video of Justin giving her a massage. “You’re not a doctor, don’t touch it!” she joked with a caption. Then she pretended he responded back by saying, “I care! Ouch.” And then she asked her followers if she should trust Justin or not, LOL!

Demi Lovato Wants To Date Rihanna

It seems Hollywood’s hottest couple is now Demi Lovato and Rihanna? That would be the case if the “Cool for the Summer” singer had her pick. In an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Demi Lovato made her Hollywood crushes very clear through a game of “Who’d You Rather” (and one crush in particular). More than Harry Styles, Zac Efron, Milo Ventimiglia, Drake, Rita Ora, Chance The Rapper and Kristen Stewart (who also makes a strong showing), Demi Lovato insists the “Kiss it Better” singer is who’d she get with, given the chance. And Demi Lovato and Rihanna already have a bit of a history together, at least as far as social media is concerned. In 2011, they exchanged some serious adoration, with Rihanna posting “Demi Lovato goes so hard!!! She gangsta,” before Demi replied “thank you!! Only cause I learn from the best!! Aka YOU!”

Jessica Miller Arrested For Assault

Jessica Miller is the sister of Jenelle Evans’ husband, David Eason. She’s never appeared on Teen Mom 2, and it seems she has little face – to-face contact with Jenelle. Still, in the world of TM2 obsessives, Jessica is something of an icon, thanks to her stunning ability to match Ms. Evans in terms of violent insanity. Jenelle & Jessica’s feuds are the stuff of legend, often spilling from one social media platform to another, as each attempts to publicly throw shade without the other one knowing. It’s a thrilling game of cat and mouse, in which both the cat and the mouse accuse one another of being meth addicts. Jessica accuses Jenelle of doing drugs while pregnant. Jenelle accuses Jessica of driving while high and getting fired for stealing prescription painkillers from work.

Leaking Of J – Law’s Nude Photos

Jennifer Lawrence and many other celebs’ phones were targeted by hackers after an iCloud leak, leading to personal, nude photos being leaked online to an online bulletin board and quickly going viral. J – Law’s rep called it a “flagrant violation of privacy” and added that “the authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence”. And Jennifer isn’t the only star to have been hacked – a list of the stars allegedly affected has appeared online, and contains more than 100 names, including Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Kaley Cuoco, Rihanna, Lea Michele and Selena Gomez.

I-T dept raids 20 premises linked to Choksi, Gitanjali group

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New Delhi: The Income Tax Department today raided 20 premises linked to Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi and associated firms in connection with a tax evasion case, official sources said. They said the searches were being conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and few other cities against 13 companies linked to Choksi and the Gitanjali Gems.

A total of 20 premises are being raided by a team of over 110 I-T sleuths, the sources said. The department has recently attached bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gitanjali group.

Choksi, and his relative Nirav Modi and others, are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after it recently came to light, following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank, that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered two FIRs each to probe the case.

(PTI)

CBI begins questioning of Rotomac owner Kothari

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New Delhi: The CBI today started questioning of Rotomac owner Vikram Kothari at its Headquarters here in connection with alleged loan default of Rs 3,695 crore towards a consortium of seven nationalised banks, officials said here.

Earlier, Kothari was being questioned in Kanpur where his company and residence is located, they said. He was called here by the agency which started his questioning at its headquarters, they said, without giving any reasons behind the move.

Kothari, his wife Sadhana, and son Rahul, all Directors in Rotomac Global pvt Ltd, have allegedly diverted the bank loans towards purposes other than they were meant for, officials said. One of the consortium members, Bank of Baroda had approached the CBI requesting an FIR against Kothari as the bank apparently feared he might leave the country, they said.

The CBI registered a case on February 18 after receiving the complaint. Initially, the alleged scam was estimated to be of Rs 800 crore but after the CBI started probe into the accounts of the Rotomac Global Private Limited,it was found that the company had allegedly taken loans from Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank, Union Bank of India, Allahabad ank and Oriental Bank of Commerce.

The CBI alleged that the accused had cheated a consortium of seven banks by siphoning off bank loans to the tune Rs 2,919 crore. The total outstanding amount along with interest and liabilities for the company were pegged at Rs 3,695 crore, the probe agency alleged.

Yesterday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had notified all the land, sea and airports in the country to prevent the exit of the promoter of Rotomac pens, Vikram Kothari, and his family members from India, in connection with its money laundering probe.

The agency also conducted searches at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh, including in Unnao and Kanpur, to gather evidence in the case. The ED had slapped criminal charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the company and its promoters on February 18, based on a CBI FIR filed on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Income Tax department had also attached 14 bank accounts of the pen manufacturer as part of its tax evasion probe against the company yesterday. This is the second major bank fraud to surface in the recent past after the sensational Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, allegedly committed by diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, who is a promoter of the Gitanjali Group of companies. Both Modi and Choksi left the country last month.

(PTI)

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