New Delhi Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Monday announced it is now available on Reliance JioPhones across India.

WhatsApp has built a new version of its private messaging app for JioPhone, running on KaiOS operating system.

“Millions of people across India can now use WhatsApp private messaging on the best-in-class JioPhone across India,” said Chris Daniels, Vice President, WhatsApp, in a statement.

The new app makes it easy to record and send voice messages with just couple of taps on the keypad.

To get started, JioPhone users only need to verify their phone number and then they can begin chatting with other WhatsApp users, one-on-one or in groups.

“We will be providing WhatsApp, the most used chat application in the world, on all JioPhones starting today (Monday). Jio wants to thank the Facebook and WhatsApp team for making this happen,” said Akash Ambani, Director, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.

WhatsApp is available in the JioPhone AppStore starting September 10 and will be rolled out on all JioPhones by September 20, the company said.

People can download WhatsApp on both JioPhone and JioPhone 2 by visiting the AppStore.

(IANS)

Srinagar Two militants were killed on Tuesday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said.

Upon receiving a tip-off about the holed-up militants, the security forces cordoned off the Galoora village.

“As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired at the security forces triggering the ongoing gunfight,” police sources said.

The slain militants were identified as Furqan, resident of Langate and Liyaqat from Sopore.

“Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the victims,” the police added.

(IANS)

New Delhi The national capital witnessed a sunny Tuesday morning with the minimum temperature recorded at 26 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average, the weather office said, predicting light rains for the day ahead.

“The sky will be generally cloudy during the day with light rains expected,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 33 degrees Celsius. The humidity at 8.30 a.m. was 84 per cent.

The maximum temperature on Monday was recorded at 32.5 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature settled at 24.8 degrees Celsius, both one notch below the season’s average.

(IANS)

New Delhi Urging the opposition to unite in their shared desire to defeat the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday hit out at the Modi government for the crises-like all-round situation in the country due to rising fuel prices and farm distress.

Manmohan Singh said the BJP-led central government had “miserably” failed in controlling fuel prices and fulfilling the promises made to the people before the 2014 elections.

“Circumstances show that the situation has gone beyond control now. Farmers, businessmen, youth are facing crises in their respective fields. The government has failed miserably in fulfilling the promises made to common people.

“The time has come to change the party in the Centre and this will happen very soon,” he said, addressing a protest rally at the Ramlila ground here.

“The parties opposing the present government should forget their differences and come together for maintaining the unity and secular identity of the country. We need to draw the collective benefit of the unity shown (here),” he said.

The former Prime Minister along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined the protest march that started from Rajghat and culminated at Ramlila ground.

The march as part of a nationwide protest, or “Bharat Bandh”, was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders.

The former Prime Minister appreciated the presence of around 20 political opposition parties joining the Congress in the protest against the government.

He said it was a significant moment ahead of the general elections next year and “we should take advantage of this (unity) and bring about a movement” in the country.

The protest was called by the Congress and Left parties against the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel which have reached record levels.

The protest was supported by several opposition parties including the Janata Dal-Secular, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Loktantrik Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India United Democratic Front, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Aam Aadmi Party among others.

(IANS)

New Delhi A united Opposition, led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Monday staged a foot march here in support of a nationwide shutdown protest or ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by his party against rising fuel prices.

The 1.8-km march was held between Rajghat and Zakir Husain College.

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India United Democratic Front, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were among the opposition parties that participated in protest.

The Congress President paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial at Rajghat.

He also offered water at the memorial which he brought from Kailash Mansarovar yatra before joining other opposition leaders including Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shailja Kumari, Meira Kumar, Jairam Ramesh; NCP’s Tariq Anwar, LJD’s Sharad Yadav and RJD’s Manoj Jha in the nationwide shutdown.

This was Gandhi’s first public appearance since he returned from the yatra. He had embarked on the yatra on August 31.

Delhi’s ruling AAP, which had refused to join the shutdown, also sent its leader Sanjay Singh.

The protest has been called by Congress and Left parties against the spiralling petrol and diesel prices which have reached record levels.

After the end of the march, all the opposition leaders gathered at an Indian Oil petrol pump near the Ramlila Maidan where UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined them.

Later, over 200 political leaders and supporters gathered at the ground from where Manmohan Singh and others spoke against the Central government over its failure to curb the price hike.

“The runaway prices of fuel and the free fall in the value of the Rupee shows that the Modi government has completely failed in managing the economy,” the Congress had tweeted earlier in the day.

[IANS]

Jammu/Srinagar, A day-long Bharat Bandh or nationwide shutdown called by the Congress and Left parties to protest rising fuel prices evoked mixed response in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

In Jammu, Congress activists protested in R.S. Pura area while shops, public transport, businesses and educational institutions functioned normally in the city.

In Srinagar and other district headquarters of the Kashmir Valley, there was no response to the shutdown.

Residents however,expressed anger at the rising prices.

“Petrol prices have touched a record high. Even using my scooter has become a luxury,” said Irfan Bhat, a government employee.

Another resident said: “One has to plan in advance whether to go to social functions in his vehicle or not.”

(IANS)

India and the US on Thursday told Pakistan not to let its soil be used by terrorists to carry out cross-border terror attacks while demanding that the perpetrators of earlier terror attacks be expeditiously brought to justice.

New Delhi and Washington also committed to work together toward advancing a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

“The Ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries,” a joint statement issued following the first ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis here said.

“On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, they called on Pakistan to bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, and other cross-border terrorist attacks,” it stated.

“The Ministers welcomed the launch of a bilateral dialogue on designation of terrorists in 2017, which is strengthening cooperation and action against terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, ISIS (IS or Islamic State), Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company, and their affiliates.”

According to the statement, the Ministers welcomed the expansion of bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and announced their intent to increase information-sharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters.

While committing to enhance their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), they reaffirmed their support for the India-initiated UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism “that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism”.

“The two sides further reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing and future cooperation to ensure a stable cyberspace environment and to prevent cyber-attacks,” the statement said.

It also stated that the Ministers reviewed cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and noted that the common principles for the region articulated in the India-US joint statement of June 2017 have been further amplified by US President Donald Trump at Danang, Vietnam on November 10, 2017, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 1, 2018.

“Both sides committed to work together and in concert with other partners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, based on recognition of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality and on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, rule of law, good governance, free and fair trade, and freedom of navigation and overflight,” the statement said.

“Noting the importance of infrastructure and connectivity for the Indo-Pacific region, both sides emphasised the need to work collectively with other partner countries to support transparent, responsible, and sustainable debt financing practices in infrastructure development,” it stated in an apparent reference to China putting countries in the region in debt traps under its Belt and Road Initiative.

India and the US are both part of the quad revived last year, that also includes Japan and Australia, seeking to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the statement, the Ministers also reaffirmed their shared commitment to a united, sovereign, democratic, inclusive, stable, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan and expressed support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.

“The United States acknowledged India’s longstanding and ongoing contributions of economic assistance to Afghanistan and also welcomed India’s enhanced role in Afghanistan’s development and stabilization,” it stated.

While India welcomed the recent US-North Korea summit, the US welcomed India’s accession to the three export control regimes – the Australia Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Washington also reiterated its support to New Delhi for its bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

China has been blocking India’s bid for membership in the NSG on the ground that for a country to become a member of the 48-nation bloc, it should be a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

According to the joint statement, The Ministers recognised the importance and the potential for increasing bilateral trade, and investment and committed to further expanding and balancing the trade and economic partnership, including by facilitating trade, improving market access, and addressing issues of interest to both sides.

On the India-US civilian nuclear agreement, it stated: “Both sides looked forward to full implementation of the civil nuclear energy partnership and collaboration between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company for the establishment of six nuclear power plants in India.”

New Delhi,Actors play an important part in everyone’s life, and so it is important to set right examples for people, says Kareena Kapoor Khan, citing how she did the same when she continued with her work throughout her pregnancy and even after delivering her child.

She believes it is her individuality that sets her apart.

“As actors, we play a very important part in everyone’s life. We are considered role models and it is necessary on our part to set the right examples for people. I’m someone who has always lived from the heart. I did not want to do things because everyone else was doing them.

“If I am comfortable working in a certain way, then I do so with all my conviction. I have always followed what I believe in and it is my individuality which sets me apart. Everything I have in life, I have wanted it for a long time and I have worked very hard for it,” Kareena told IANS over an e-mail when asked how important it is for actors to have their own individuality, break the norms and lead life by their own rules to make a mark in today’s Bollywood.

Kareena embraced motherhoood with the birth of Taimur with husband Saif Ali Khan in December 2016. She is currently a part of designer Anita Dongre’s #ANDImpact intitiave.

Through this campaign, the brand highlights the importance of a sustainable environment and celebrates four such women change-makers — Priyanka Raina, Purnima Burman, Srishti Bakshi and Rashi Anand — who are making a difference today for a better tomorrow.

How does Kareena connect with this particular campaign?

“I believe these women are born fighters — be it personally or professionally. They are change-makers, they are capable of standing on their own feet, against all odds… They are the voice for a million other women.

She says “women are change-makers (and) can achieve anything they set their mind to. Women today are bold, brave, empowered and at the same time they are compassionate, giving and sensitive to the needs of others”.

The 37-year-old, who made her acting debut in 2000 with “Refugee”, has many successful films like “Jab We Met”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”, “Talaash: The Hunt Begins…”, “Yuva”, “Omkara” and “Udta Punjab” to her credit. After becoming a mother, she was seen in “Veere Di Wedding”.

Kareena believes in embracing every part of her life with confidence and gusto.

“I believe in what I do and I have always spoken my mind. I do my own thing. The fact that I was working throughout my pregnancy and that I continue to work even after having a child, should inspire a lot more women to find that balance between their personal and professional lives.

“It’s all a part of the journey that has made me who I am and brought me where I am right now,” said the actress.

Kareena, who loves to be active, also believes that feeling good from within is vital to living a happy, successful and balanced life.

“I play diverse roles in my life — mother, sister, daughter, wife and an actor. I believe in giving 100 per cent to all my roles, whether personal or professional. I believe in what I do and I have my own identity; just like the AND woman,” said the actress.

So is there anyone who inspires her in her life?

“There are so many people in the industry who inspire me. My sister and my mother have always been my major source of inspiration. I enjoy seeing everyone’s work and learn as much as I can from them,” said the daughter of veteran actors Babita and Randhir Kapoor, and sister of Karisma Kapoor.

“I’ve never taken my success or failure too seriously. If the movie is a success, then great. If it is not, that’s also fine. I love my job. I feel the idea of doing something what we love is more important than our success or failure, and for me that’s acting,” said Kareena.

(IANS)

New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Thursday in a landmark decision decriminalised homosexuality by declaring Section 377, the penal provision which criminalised gay sex, as “manifestly arbitrary”.

The top court delivering separate but concurring judgments, said it is the constitutional and not social morality which will prevail. The verdict sparked celebrations amongst the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, intersex and queer/questioning) community across India.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also speaking for Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said attitude and mentality has to change to accept the others’ identity and accept what they are and not what they should be.

Justice Rohinton Nariman, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra delivered concurring judgments thereby making the verdict of the five-judge bench a unanimous one.

(IANS)

Bhopal Normal life was partially affected in several parts of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday as dalit outfits staged protests and strike as part of a countrywide agitation against the SC/ST Amendment Act.

Shops and business establishments remained shut in several areas. Vechicular movement was also affected. Petrol pumps were also closed in the state capital and other areas. Security has been beefed up and 35 areas are put on high alert, police said.

The administration has imposed prohibitive orders under section 144 of Crpc in Chhatarpur, Shivpuri, Bhind, Ashoknagar, Guna, Gwalior and Katni, sources said.

Several Dalit organisations have given a call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ against the amendement of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The Gwalior-Chambal region had witnessed large-scale violence on April 2 during the Bharat Bandh called by scheduled caste groups in which four people were killed.

(IANS)