Fighting Insomnia the Natural Way

The next day after a sleepless night is always challenging

The next day after a sleepless night is always challenging. One may not have been able to sleep because of chronic insomnia or work or some other reason but if an individual has not slept well then sleepiness and fatigue awaits him the next day. So, how to hold on despite lack of sleep and fatigue? Here are some natural methods and tips for rejuvenating oneself after a sleepless night.

Take a quick nap - This is a proven strategy, a quick rejuvenating power nap should be between 10 to 20 minutes. Anything over that will make the person fall into a deep sleep. One can also opt for a micro nap. Relax in sitting position with some article in your hand, feel your body relaxing. Five minutes later, as one will fall asleep the article in one’s hand will eventually fall to the ground and thus waking him up.

Massage - A self-massage can help one get back the required energy after a sleepless night. But please note that the massage has to be a spirited one as a soothing and relaxing massage will make one fall asleep, the goal here is not to fall asleep.

Also Read : Avoid these Simple Training Errors for Maximum Benefits

Scottish Shower - This good old method still works. Scottish Shower is a hot shower followed by 

splash of cold water. The Scottish shower is stimulating; it improves blood circulation and also helps to re-oxygenate the body. After this shower, one will be more tranquil.

Aerate - Taking a breath of fresh air is a good way to wake up. Inhale deeply to inflate your stomach and lungs. Then, slowly exhale. This will eliminate the toxins, clean the blood and fill you up with oxygen. A walk in fresh air in a park or a little jogging if at all possible will also help shake off the fatigue.

Drink a coffee and green tea - Coffee, just like an energy drink, gives a boost of energy for around 30 minutes. Under the effect of caffeine and sugar one will feel energised temporarily. But the energy levels will again drop after the effect of caffeine is over. Thus first drink a coffee to wake up well and then extend its effects with green tea with mint, without sugar. One can even drink green tea throughout the day. Mint is very energizing but if you're not a fan, you can replace it with a rosemary tea which has the same benefits....Read more

Now, UIDAI allows face recognition for Aadhaar biometric authentication

The move will enable easy authentication for those individuals who face a difficulty in other biometric authentication like fingerprint and iris

 

The UIDAI on Monday allowed face recognition as additional means of Aadhaar authentication to be used in combination with existing ways such as fingerprint or iris scan.

The move will enable easy authentication for those individuals who face a difficulty in other biometric authentication like fingerprint and iris.

The facility is being allowed only in a "fusion mode" that is along with other existing means of authentication, and will be available by July 1, 2018, an official release said.

"This facility is going to help in inclusive authentication of those who are not able to biometrically authenticate due to their worn out fingerprints, old age or hard work conditions," the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said.

As of now, two modes of biometric authentication, fingerprint authentication and iris authentication, are allowed under Aadhaar.

"The face authentication provides additional option for all residents to have inclusive authentication.

It shall be allowed only in fusion mode along with one more authentication factor combined with either fingerprint or iris or OTP to be able to successfully authenticate an Aadhaar number holder," UIDAI said.

The new method will also be allowed "on need basis".

Monday's move comes close on the heels of the biggest overhaul of Aadhaar system by the UIDAI last week when it allowed individuals to create and use a virtual ID to avoid sharing 

their unique identity numbers, when using government and other services.

Users will, from March 1, have the option of generating a 16-digit virtual identity mapped to their Aadhaar number that can be shared with telecom companies and others at the time of authenticating their identity.

From June 1, 2018, it will be compulsory for all agencies, which undertake authentication, to accept the virtual IDs from their users.

Another Nirbhaya: Minor's organs ruptured in Haryana gang-rape and murder

The girl has been identified and it is found that she was missing since January 9 from Kurukshetra

 

 

Haryana gang rape : Medical examination of the 15-year-old girl, who was found dead near a canal in Haryana's Jind district, revealed that she was raped by several individuals and had suffered immense internal injuries after the criminals inserted a blunt object into her genitals.

On Sunday, the body of a minor was found with injury marks near a canal in Budhakhera village of Jind district.

"Internal injury is found, her liver was ruptured and apart from that wounds from sexual assault are seen in her private parts. They have been mutilated and ruptured, and it seems that more than one person was involved," head of Forensic Science Department, Dr. SK Dhattarwal told ANI.

"It seems hard or blunt weapon was introduced," he added.

The postmortem also indicates that there might have been attempts to drown the victim, Dhattarwal informed, and added, "To confirm it, we have sent for the body for a diatom test."

The body was found naked from below the chest area.

The girl has been identified and it is found that she was missing since January 9 from Kurukshetra.

Meanwhile, the family of the victim staged a protest in Kurushetra and called for Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar, demanding justice for her.

"My daughter was kidnapped and raped.

The culprits should be punished, we want justice for her. If administration had done its job well, an incident like this would have never happened," Father of the victim told ANI.

A family member of the girl said she had been missing since she went for her tuition classes.

"Her aunt used to take her home from the tuition at 8:00 pm, but she was not there on January 9 when she (aunt) went to take her. The same day, we filed a complaint with the police. We then saw on social media that a body was found in Jind," he said.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Khattar has assured that the culprit in the case would be nabbed soon.

Judicial crisis: SC judges Chelameswar, Gogoi, Lokur & Joseph attend court

The 4 judges have taken up their respective business on the first working day of the top court after the January 12 press conference

Four senior-most Supreme Court judges, who had held an unprecedented press conference and raised the issue of assignment of cases, on Monday attended court and took up routine work.

The four judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- have taken up their respective business on the first working day of the top court after the January 12 press conference.

ALSO READ: Rift between Supreme Court judges to be resolved soon: Bar Council

In the presser, these judges had flagged some problems, including the assigning of cases in the apex court, and said there were certain issues afflicting the country's highest court.

On Sunday, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh and had assured them that the crisis would be sorted out soon and congeniality would prevail.

Netanyahu calls India a world power: 10 things he said on Indo-Israeli ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday set aside protocol to personally receive his Israeli counterpart and "friend" with a warm hug as he arrived in New Delhi on a six-day visit

Relations between India and Israel are like a "marriage made in heaven" and just one negative vote at the United Nations (UN) cannot change the dynamics between the two nations, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India that started on Sunday.ay

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday set aside protocol to personally receive his Israeli counterpart and "friend" with a warm hug as he arrived in New Delhi on a six-day visit to step up growing trade as well as military and strategic ties between the two countries. As Netanyahu and his wife Sara stepped on the red carpet at the airport, a smiling Modi embraced the Israeli leader and then shook hands with the couple.

"Welcome to India, my friend Netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Netanyahu quickly responded. "Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome."

ALSO READ: India-Israel ties are based on own merit, says Professor Harsh V Pant

Modi and Netanyahu, who have developed a close friendship, exchanging greetings on social media on various occasions and hugging each other heartily, will hold talks on a range of issues on Monday after President Ram Nath Kovind formally welcomes the Israeli leader at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The visit, which marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, comes six months after Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish state in July last year.

What Netanyahu said about India-Israel ties:

1) India is an 'important world power': Before embarking on the flight to India, Netanyahu said his trip was intended to strengthen bilateral relations "even more".
"This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power," he said. "Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit." He said that strengthening the relationship between Israel and "this important world power... helps us with security, the economy, trade, tourism and many other aspects".

2) One vote at the UN won't impact ties: In December last year, India voted in favour of a resolution brought by Turkey and Yemen in the UN opposing the United States' decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly.

However, Netanyahu set aside concerns that the vote in question would hamper ties. "I don't think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and everything and these visits," Netanyahu said when asked to comment on India's vote at the UN, in an interview on an Indian TV channel.

ALSO READ: As Netanyahu arrives, will Spike missile go the Rafale fighter route?

3) But, Israel was 'disappointed': While India's vote at the UN would not hamper ties, Netanyahu did add that Israel was "disappointed" by India's position in the matter. "Yes, naturally we were disappointed, but this visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts, be it political, technological, tourism, security and so many other areas. Ultimately, you see it reflected in all UN votes, not just now but soon," he said....

Petrol, diesel may get costlier in Delhi; higher rental to affect 400 pumps

The combined impact on fuel retailing outlets is estimated at Rs 12 billion

Delhiites might soon have to pay more for motor fuel, a sequel to an earlier decision by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the land allotment agency, putting outlets retailing these in the same commercial category as malls.

Sources say the resulting higher rentals might affect at least 400 outlets in DDA areas. The decision to raise land rentals with effect from 2007 has been contested by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in the Supreme Court. The case is in court for some months. Meanwhile, talks are on between the three oil marketing companies (OMCs) and DDA. Sources say if there is no agreement soon, the companies will be passing on the higher rentals.

The combined impact on fuel retailing outlets is estimated at Rs 12 billion. “We might have to pay the claim with retrospective effect and interest. We have been contesting this move, stating that selling of petrol and diesel cannot be categorised along with malls,” said an official.

As on Sunday, Delhi had the lowest fuel prices among all the four metros, with petrol priced at Rs 71.06 per litre and diesel at Rs 61.56 per litre.

Mumbai has the highest petrol price at Rs 78.94 and diesel at Rs 65.53....

Read more about : Petrol and diesel price

JioCoin: Reliance planning own cryptocurrency, Akash Ambani to lead project

The company aspires to get into the Internet-of-things business and blockchain will help its foray

Reliance Jio is planning to create a cryptocurrency of its own called 'JioCoin', and will put together a young team of 50-odd professionals under Akash Ambani to kickstart the project, a Livemint report claims. The Ambani scion is reportedly interested in developing blockchain technology to aid the development of smart contacts and cryptocurrency payment-enabled supply chains.

Blockchain is a digital ledger that works as a book-keeper for cryptocurrencies.

'Jio' a leap into Reliance's future?

Reliance Jio has disrupted India's telecom sector in the past year-and-a-half by offering services at hyper-competitive prices, forcing other telcos to follow suit.

Reliance Industries, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate that holds Jio is reportedly mulling an IPO in late 2018 or early 2019. The group has already pumped in $31 billion worth of investment in Jio.

The Livemint report quoted a Jio official as saying that the company aspires to get into the Internet-of-things business and blockchain technology is supposed to help its foray.

ALSO READ: How 'Internet of Things' will change the world as we know it

IoT is technology that allows physical objects like wearable technology, smartphones, other electronic devices to be connected. From smart cities to driverless cars and smart factories, and smart homes the Internet of Things is supposed to enter every aspect of people's lives.

Reliance celebrated forty years of its existence a couple of weeks back, where Mukesh Ambani's children- Aakash, Isha, Anant were projected as the petrochemical behemoth's next-generation leaders.

Click more about jiocoin

Four SC judges come out against CJI, say protect SC to preserve democracy

We tried to convince Chief Justice that things are not in order. Unfortunately, our attempts failed: Justice Chelameswar

In an unprecedented event, four senior sitting judges of the Supreme Court on Friday met the media to complain that the administration of the country's top court was not in order. At a hurriedly called press conference at the residence of Justice J Chelameswar,the No 2 in the apex court hierarchy, they said it was with "no pleasure" that they had been compelled to make public what they were upset with.

"Hallmark of democracy is independent and fair judiciary. We tried to convince Chief Justice that things are not in order. Unfortunately, our attempts failed," said Justice Chelameswar. "It is s with no pleasure that we have been compelled to do this, administration of SC is not in order," he said. "A couple of months back, four of us gave a signed letter to the CJI and we wanted a particular thing to be done in a particular manner. It was done in such a way that it raised further doubt about the integrity of the institution," he added.

ALSO READ: Pain in judges' eyes could be seen during the media meet: KTS Tulsi

Key takeaways: 

Administration of the apex court is 'sometimes not in order' and many 'less than desirable things' have taken place

Save Supreme Court if you want democracy in the country to survive

Corrosion and compromise taking place within the institution of the judiciary and especially within the portals of the Supreme Court
Our efforts have failed in convincing the CJI (Chief Justice of India) to take steps to protect the institution

The hallmark of a good democracy is an independent and impartial judge
Even this morning, the four of us went and met the Chief Justice of India and tried to persuade him to accept that certain things are not in order and that he should take remedial measures. Unfortunately, we couldn't convince him

The other three judges addressing the media today were Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan Lokur and Justice Kurien Joseph. The judges said that they will soon release a copy of the letter highlighting their demands. "We are not breaking lines.
This is our duty to the nation," Gogoi said. The judges added that it will be business as usual for them on Monday and will go the court as usual....READ MORE

Another milestone for Isro with 100th satellite: 10 things you should know

16 nanosatellites made by the US placed into the sun-synchronous orbit of the Earth

India on Friday launched a polar rocket with 31 satellites, including three Indian and 28 of six other nations from its spaceport in Sriharikota. The 44.4-metre tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) roared into a clear sky after a perfect lift-off at 9.29 a.m. after a 28-hour countdown. The 320-tonne rocket will eject the satellites one-by-one and deploy them into the earth's lower orbit about 17 minutes and 18 seconds after the lift-off.

Isro Chairman designate K Sivan says PSLVC40 is special for Isro since it is coming after a failure 4.5 months back.

PSLVC40 Performance was excellent and entire system perfectly. Its a green flag for high profile missions.

S Somanath, Director, LPSC says today's successful launch is a reassurance to all of us about PSLV. The previous launch failed due to a "very minor" issue.

Here's all you should know about the launch:

• For the mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used PSLV-C40 launch vehicle, which is carrying 31 satellites, including three from India and 28 from six other countries.
• The weather observation 'Cartosat-2 Series' satellite and 29 others will be inserted into a 505-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit after about seventeen and a half minutes since its liftoff.
• This satellite is the seventh remote sensing satellite in its series and has the mission life of five years.
• Its uses include monitoring urban and rural applications, coastal land use regulation, managing services like road networks and water distribution, detecting changes in geographical features and creation of land use maps.
• The flight is the first since the setback suffered by the PSLV in August last and is set to demonstrate that the workhorse rocket is back in the game for reliable satellite launches in the low earth and polar orbits....Read more

4 months after failed bid, ISRO launches 100th Satellite Cartosat-2 Series

The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kgs

The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) on Friday launched its 100th satellite along with 31 others in a single mission from the space port of Sriharikota.
The 42nd flight of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) carrying the 710-kg Cartosat-2 series satellite took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kgs.

The 28 international customer satellites were launched as part of the commercial arrangements between ISRO and its commercial arm 'Antrix Corporation Ltd'.

Of the total number of satellites carried by PSLV-C40, 30 satellites were launched into a 505 kms polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

ALSO READ : Another Milestone For Isro With 100th Satellite: 10 Things You Should Know

According to ISRO, the Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing high resolution scene specific spot imageries.

It carries panchromatic and multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of delivering high resolution data.

It will be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series.

ISRO had successfully launched Cartosat-2 Series satellite on June 22, 2016.

It is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B.

The images sent by Cartosat-2 series satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps and change detection to bring out geographical Land Information Systems and Geographical Information System applications.

ISRO Satellite Centre Director M Annadurai had recently said the launch of 28 satellites from abroad and three Indian satellites during the mission would mark the roll out of the 100th satellite by the space agency.

Today's launch also marks the first launch for ISRO in 2018 following the unsuccessful mission of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H last year.

On August 31, 2017 India's mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after the heat shield did not separate in the final leg of the launch sequence and as a result, the satellite IRNSS-1H got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket.

Indu Malhotra to be 1st woman lawyer to directly become Supreme Court judge

Indu Malhotra will be the first women lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the apex court

 

The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of senior advocate Indu Malhotra as the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the apex court, sources said on Thursday.

Along with her, Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph, who was part of the bench which in 2016 had quashed the imposition of President's Rule in the state, has also been cleared for elevation to the apex court.

Malhotra, who was designated as a senior advocate in 2007, would be the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the top court, instead of being elevated from a high court.

She will be the seventh woman judge since independence to make it to the Supreme Court. At present, Justice R Banumathi is the lone woman judge in the apex court.

The first woman to be appointed as a judge of the apex court was Justice M Fathima Beevi in 1989.

Thereafter, Justice Sujata V Manohar, Justice Ruma Pal, Justice Gyan Sudha Misra and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai made it to the top court as judges.

Income Tax dept attaches 900 benami properties worth over Rs 35 billion

I-T Department said in a statement that it has stepped up action under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act

The Income Tax (I-T) Department on Thursday said it has attached more than 900 benami properties including flats, shops, jewellery and vehicles worth over Rs 35 billion.

I-T Department said in a statement that it has stepped up action under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, which came into force from November 1, 2016.

The Act provides for provisional attachment and subsequent confiscation of benami properties, whether movable or immovable.

It also allows for prosecution of the beneficial owner, the benamidar and the abettor to benami transactions, which may result in rigorous imprisonment up to 7 years and a fine of up to 25 per cent of fair market value of the property.

The department had set up 24 dedicated Benami Prohibition Units (BPUs) under its Investigation Directorates all over India in May, 2017 to ensure swift action in respect of Benami properties.

ALSO READ: Income-tax department's Benami advertisement leave property owners jittery

"Due to intensive efforts undertaken by the Department, provisional attachment has been made in more than 900 cases of properties under the Act. These include plots of land, flats, shops, jewellery, vehicles, deposits in bank accounts, fixed deposits etc," the statement said.

The value of properties under attachment is more than Rs 35 billion including immovable properties of more than Rs 29 billion, the department said.

Benami literally means 'without a name'. An asset without a legal owner or a fictitious owner is called benami.

The original Benami Act was introduced in 1988 for prevention of black money and was amended in 2016 to prohibit benami transactions and provides for confiscating benami properties....Read more

Kamala Mills fire: Two '1 Above' pub owners nabbed, one still absconding

The Sanghvi brothers, who were on the run since the incident, were arrested from the Andheri area

Jigar Sanghvi and Kripesh Sanghvi, '1 Above' pub co-owners wanted in connection with the December 29 Kamala Mills fire that claimed 14 lives, were arrested on Wednesday, police said.
The Sanghvi brothers, who were on the run since the incident, were arrested from the Andheri area here, additional commissioner of police S Jaikumar told PTI.

The police had on Tuesday arrested Vishal Kariya, a hotelier, for allegedly giving shelter to the Sanghvi brothers and Abhijeet Mankar -- owners of the '1 Above' pub.

ALSO READ: Fix fire safety: 15 measures to prevent Kamala Mills tragedy like situation

The trio has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other offences under the Indian Penal Code.

Police had also announced a reward of Rs 100,000 for information about their whereabouts.Mankar was still absconding.

On December 29, a fire had swept through the '1 Above' and adjacent Mojo's Bistro resto pub in Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai, resulting in the death of 14 people.

9 years after Satyam scam, Price Waterhouse banned from audit for 2 years

Nine years after Satyam scam, Sebi orders Rs 130.9-million disgorgement; audit firm says it is confident of getting order stayed

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) late on Wednesday banned Price Waterhouse (PW) from providing audit services to listed companies and market intermediaries for two years in the Satyam fraud case. Two PW partners have been banned for three years.

The regulator also imposed a disgorgement of Rs 130.9 million on Price Waterhouse, and two of its chartered accountants — S Gopalakrishnan and Srinivas Talluri. The three entities also have to pay 12 per cent interest on the disgorgement amount since January 7, 2009, in 45 days from the date of the order.

Further, it said that no listed company or intermediary registered with Sebi to be engaged with any audit firm associated with the PW network for issuing any certificate with respect to compliance of statutory obligations which Sebi is competent to administer and enforce, under various laws for a period of two years.

These entities have been charged under Sebi’s prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (FUTP) regulation. “I find that the auditors have failed in showing any evidence to the effect that they had done their job with standards of professional duty and care as required. The auditors were well aware of the consequences of their omissions which would make such accumulated and aggregated acts of gross negligence scale up to an act of commission of fraud for the purposes of the Sebi Act and the Sebi (FUTP) regulation,” said G Mahalingam, wholetime member, Sebi, in a 108-page order....Read More 

Bhima-Koregaon: When new Dalit leadership faces off with Hindutva project

The educated Dalit doesn't just want a ride on the bus of democracy; it wants to be at the steering wheels

Maharashtra saw violent protests after clashes between Dalits and some Maratha groups in Bhima Koregaon. Dalits had gathered in Pune to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. These clashes and the subsequent protests brought the focus back on Dalit assertion and its conflict with Hindutva politics. The writer analyses this conflict in this Business Standard Special.

The determination and force of the response of the Dalits to the violence at the Bhima Koregaon has unsettled the BJP governments of the state of Maharashtra and the centre. It has also baffled the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. This time it has not been easy for the BJP and the governments to denounce the protests the way could do in the past. Previously the Student leaders of the JNU were successfully branded as anti-national. The students and teachers of the Ramjas college of the university of Delhi were also declared anti-national. Before them, the student unrest - mainly led by Dalits - at the central University of Hyderabad was condemned as casteist and anti national. This time the response from the centre’s of power has been slightly complex.

It is true that the RSS tried to blame the violence at the Bhima Koregaon on Umar Khalid and Jignesh Mevani. It did say that the Bharat tere tukde honge gang was responsible for the violence. But interestingly, this time this allegation could not create the kind of frenzied attack on these leaders as we have seen on the previous occasions directed at Kanhaiya, Umar and others....Read more

Dire health warnings on cigarette packages to stay: Supreme Court

The Karnataka HC last month struck down central govt rules requiring 85% of a tobacco pack's surface to be covered by health warnings

 

The Supreme Court on Monday put on hold a lower court's order that quashed central government rules mandating larger health warnings on tobacco packages, in a setback for the country's $11 billion tobacco industry.

The High Court of Karnataka state last month struck down central government rules requiring 85 per cent of a tobacco pack's surface to be covered in health warnings, up from 20 per cent earlier. The rules had been in force since 2016.

The Supreme Court, which heard petitions brought forward by tobacco-control activists, stayed the Karnataka court's order on Monday, citing the need to protect the health of citizens.

"Health of a citizen has primacy and he or she should be aware of that which can affect or deteriorate the condition of health," the Supreme Court said in its 13-page order.

"Deterioration may be a milder word and, therefore, in all possibility the expression 'destruction of health' is apposite."

The court's decision comes as a relief for health advocates and central health ministry who say bigger health warnings deter tobacco consumption. More than 900,000 people die each year in India due to tobacco-related illnesses, the government estimates.

India's tobacco packaging rules are among the world's most stringent.

A government survey last year found that 62 percent of cigarette smokers thought of quitting because of such warning labels on the packets.

The court's decision is a blow to cigarette makers such as India's ITC Ltd and Philip Morris International Inc's Indian partner, Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, whose representatives call the rules extreme. In protest at the health warning measures, the industry briefly shut its factories across the country in 2016 and filed dozens of legal cases…….read more

In middle of a WhatsApp voice call? You can switch to video call instantly

WhatsApp calls are only available in one-on-one conversations but might be available to group chats soon

WhatsApp has launched a feature in its beta version that will let users switch to video calls from voice calls at the touch of a button.

According to a report in the Independent, if you are in the middle of a WhatsApp voice call and want to switch to a video call, you just need to tap that button to make the switch.

Tapping the button will send a request to the person on the other side, asking if he or she wants to switch from voice to video.

If the offer is accepted, the call will be switched.

If the offer is declined, the voice call will continue as normal. In the current version of WhatsApp, you need to end a voice call to make a video call.

WhatsApp calls are currently only available in one-on-one conversations but it might be available to group chats in the near future, the report said.

The new feature was spotted by watcher of the popular chat app WABetaInfo, which said that the feature is only available to those who have signed up to the beta version of WhatsApp....Read more

Get Rid of Eye-Bags and Dark Circles Naturally

Most common reasons why one may be suffering from under eye dark circles and eye-bags are aging, hormones, some medications, certain allergies, genetic pigmentation, edema, excessive exposure to Sun.

Dark circles and eye-bags are often hard to get rid of. For long it was believed that lack of sleep is the primary reason for dark circles but now we understand that may not be the case entirely. There are many products available in the market exclusively for the said problems; also many anti-aging products claim to provide relief from under eye dark circles. Often dark circles are accompanied by sagging under-eye skin, the condition is known as puffiness. Although under eye dark circles are not exactly a health hazard but they may impact one’s look and hence confidence negatively. Most common reasons why one may be suffering from under eye dark circles and eye-bags are aging, hormones, some medications, certain allergies, genetic pigmentation, edema, excessive exposure to Sun and more.

Causes for Dark Circles and Eye-Bags

Dark circles under one's eyes may appear because of hyperpigmentation or because of one having thin skin around the eyes. Dark circles are also linked to genetic and other environmental factors. Causes of dark circles may be varied but the common factor with the all causes is mostly the difference in the thickness of the skin around the eyes called the periorbital area. On most parts of the body, the skin is between 2 and 3 mm thick. However, under the eyes, the skin is around 0.5 mm thick. Thinner skin means the blood vessels under the skin are more visible to the naked eye, giving your skin a different color tone. Now the skin and the tissue directly under the outer layer of the skin, called the subcutaneous tissue, allow only blue or purple coloured wavelengths to pass. This is one of the reasons that dark circles appear under one's eyes. Also there are more chances of someone distinguishing and noticing the different colour shade of the veins under the eyes, than on the other parts of the body where the skin is thicker.

Types of Dark Circles

Not all dark circles are equal; different types of dark circles are mostly distinguished on the basis of their causes. Although it’s the most common reason but not all dark circles are due to the visibility of the veins through the skin. The second most common reason why dark circles are caused is hyperpigmentation of the skin under the eyes. Due to increased melanin production in the skin under the eyes one may get under eyes dark circles. Dark circles under the eyes can also be caused by the oxidation of the blood that leaks from the blood vessels around the eyes. Blood release and oxidation cause not only dark circles but also edema and bags under the eyes.

Prevention and Treatment of Dark Circles and Eye-Bags Naturally

Although dark circles and eye-bags are generally harmless but it won’t be surprising if someone especially women may wish to get rid of them. There are several natural prevention methods and treatments that one may use:

Reduce Smoking and Alcohol Consumption - Smoke from cigarette and also from generic pollution can cause damage to skin around the eyes. On the other hand alcohol causes dehydration of the skin causing skin damage thus dark circles.
Avoid Frequent Rubbing of the Eyes - Skin under the eyes is thin and is prone to blood leakage. Due to frequent rubbing the skin may lose its elasticity which can be a contributing factor to the appearance of dark circles....

Read more about : Get Rid of Eye-Bags and Dark Circles Naturally

Aadhaar could be a single target for cyber criminals: RBI researchers

A recent investigation alleged that unrestricted access to details of over one billion Aadhaar numbers can be purchased at as little as Rs 500

​SMXLL

The benefits of Aadhaar, India’s biometrics-based unique national identity system–the world’s largest–are unclear and the impact of direct benefit transfers it will be used to deliver to the poor is not studied enough, a new study published by an arm of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has concluded.

The paper, ‘Biometric and Its Impact in India’, was a part of Staff Papers series published in its October 2017 edition. It is written by S Ananth, an adjunct faculty at the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), which was established by the RBI as an autonomous institute.

Also read : Iris Scan To Add Layer To Aadhaar Authentication

Aadhaar is becoming central to India’s public policy with increasing number of programmes being linked to it. And its scope is constantly increasing. In the seven years following its introduction, 1.12 billion Indians or 88.2% of the population have enrolled for Aadhaar, IndiaSpend reported in March, 2017.

Established by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, Aadhaar is now used for direct benefit transfers as well as distribution of foodgrains and essential commodities–under the public distribution system (PDS)–by the state. It includes various payments linked through Aadhaar-enabled payment system....

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Mallika Sherawat evicted from Paris flat over unpaid rent

At a hearing in a Paris court on November 14, a lawyer for the couple said they were in financial difficulty

A French court has ordered that Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat be evicted from an apartment in a posh part of Paris for failing to keep up with the rent.

In a December 14 ruling seen by AFP on Tuesday, the court told Sherawat and her French husband Cyrille Auxenfans to pay 78,787 euros ($94,000) in rent owed and expenses, giving the green light for their furniture to be seized.

The couple began renting the apartment in the pricey 16th district on January 1, 2017, for a monthly sum of 6,054 euros.

But according to the owner, they never paid the rent, making only a single payment of 2,715 euros.

At a hearing in a Paris court on November 14, a lawyer for the couple said they were in financial difficulty.

The lawyer emphasised the "irregular" nature of Sherawat's work -- an argument dismissed by the owners of the apartment who claimed she had earned tens of millions during the rental period.

Neither Sherawat nor Auxenfans replied to AFP's request for comment.

In mid-December, the actress had denied having a Paris apartment.

"It's absolutely not true, if someone has donated one to me, please send me the address," she tweeted in response to media reports about the case.

The couple may appeal the eviction order.

They cannot be thrown out until March 31, when a moratorium on wintertime evictions expires.

Google Doodle celebrates Nobel laureate Har Gobind Khorana's 96th birthday

Famous for constructing first synthetic gene, Har Gobind Khorana is recognised for his breakthroughs in science

Search engine giant Google on Tuesday paid homage to Indian-American Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Har Gobind Khorana through a colourful doodle on his 96th birth anniversary.

Known for his comprehensive work on DNA and for constructing first synthetic gene, Khorana, along with two other scientists, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for research on nucleotides and genes.

Born in 1922 in Raipur, now in Pakistan, Khorana, from an early age, was passionate about science which grew stronger with time as scholarships propelled the budding scientist through his scholastic journey.

Helped by the award of a Government of India Fellowship, Khorana moved to England in 1945 where he studied for a PhD degree at the University of Liverpool.

The scientist's interest in proteins and nucleic acids took root while his stay in Cambridge from 1950 till 1952.

After moving to Vancouver in 1952, he started his research on DNA under Gordon M Shrum of University of British Columbia.

It was through his research at universities in England, Switzerland, Canada, and finally at the University of Wisconsin that he and two fellow researchers received the coveted Nobel Prize in 1968.

"Together, they discovered that the order of nucleotides in our DNA determines which amino acids are built.

These amino acids form proteins, which carry out essential cell functions," Google said in a post.

After this achievement, fewer than five years later, he made a second breakthrough by constructing the first synthetic gene.

He received a host of awards during his lifetime, including the National Medal of Science and Padma Vibhushan.

The doodle, which celebrates Khorana's pioneering work in understanding the human DNA, was drawn by Bangalore-based illustrator Rohan Dahotre.

BCCI slaps 5-month ban on Yusuf Pathan for failing dope test

His urine sample was found to contain Terbutaline

 

Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was today handed a five-month retrospective suspension for failing a dope test, a sanction which will end on January 14, after the BCCI accepted that the violation was inadvertent.

"Mr Yusuf Pathan has been suspended for a doping violation. Mr Pathan had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups," the BCCI said in a statement.

The 35-year-old Pathan had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI's anti-doping testing program during a domestic T20 competition on March 16 last year.

"His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline.

Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In and Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances," the BCCI stated.

The all-rounder, who has played 57 ODIs and 22 T20 Internationals for India, was charged with the "commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the BCCI Anti- Doping Rules (ADR) Article 2.1 and provisionally suspended pending determination of the charge".

"Mr Pathan responded to the charge by admitting the ADRV and asserting that it was caused by his ingestion of a medication containing Terbutaline that had been mistakenly given to him instead of the medication prescribed for him, which did not contain any prohibited substance," the BCCI explained.

The BCCI said it is "satisfied" with Pathan's explanation that was using the medication to "treat an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) and not as a performance-enhancing drug"..... 

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Kapil Mohan, the man who kept traditions alive at Mohan Meakin passes away

Mohan, chairman of Mohan Meakin, the maker of Old Monk rum, passed away on Saturday following a cardiac arrest at Mohan Nagar, near Ghaziabad

Kapil Mohan hardly ever downed a peg. Yet, the dark rum in a fat bottle his company brewed was the favourite evening companion for millions cutting across age, class and continents.

Mohan, chairman of Mohan Meakin, the maker of Old Monk rum, passed away on Saturday following a cardiac arrest at Mohan Nagar, near Ghaziabad. He was 88. He was the man behind famous brands like Old Monk, Solan No.1, and Golden Eagle, before age and competition caught up.

The teetotaller, who drew strength primarily from other spirits — of the holy kind — ran the company under his watch for over four decades. Only a year ago, he passed on the executive control to his nephews Hemant and Vinay, though he continued to be the chairman.

Pushed to the helm, following the death of his elder brother V R Mohan in the early 1970s, Kapil saw the emergence of the dark rum packed in the iconic squarish hard glass bottle as a global brand.

Till the mid 2000s, it was the largest-selling liquor brand in the country, with heavy patronage from military canteens. Old Monk held its own even as other brands such as Golden Eagle Beer were weathering the onslaught of Vijay Mallya-led United Breweries group and other competitors.

Yet, much of that market dominance seemed to have been achieved by word of mouth, than through conscious marketing efforts. “We do not advertise. I will not, and as long as I am in this chair, we will not (advertise),” Mohan had said in an interview in 2012. “The best way of my advertising is the product: When it comes to you and you taste it, you look at the difference and ask what is it. That is the best advertisement.”

Read more about : Kapil Mohan 

Harassed by moral police, 20-year-old woman hangs self in Karnataka

Harassed by moral police, 20-year-old woman hangs self in Karnataka

Blaming moral policing, a 20-year-old woman hanged herself in Chikmagalur on January 6.

In her suicide note, she named five men, who harassed her and her mother by accusing the victim of roaming with a Muslim boy, thereby creating issues of love jihad.

One out of the five accused has been arrested while the other four are still absconding.

"On 6 January, a 20-year-old woman committed suicide. In her suicide note, she wrote that a group of five harassed her and her mother by alleging that she goes out with a Muslim boy. One person has been arrested," said Superintendent of Police, Chikmagalur.

A case has been registered under 306 (Abetment to suicide) of the IPC.

18 trains cancelled as Delhi wakes up to fog, mercury at 5 degrees celsius

The maximum temperature is likely to be around 21 degrees Celsius

It was a cold and foggy morning in New Delhi on Monday with the minimum temperature recorded at five degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the weather office said.
The Met has predicted a misty day ahead. Visibility stood at 800 metres and humidity was recorded at 97 per cent at 8.30 am.

At least 18 trains were cancelled, 50 delayed and eight rescheduled due to fog in several parts of northern India.

"The sky will remain clear," an India Meteorological Department official said.

The maximum temperature was likely to be around 21 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature on Sunday settled at 20.7 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average while the minimum temperature was recorded at 6.4 degrees Celsius, one notch below the season's average.

Food Articles that Enhance Beauty

Here is the list of top natural food items that are good for the skin, hair, looks and overall beauty.

Health : We all understand that the food we consume has a direct impact on our overall health. But have you ever wondered what impact the food items we consume have on our looks, skin or beauty. What are the food items that can help an individual keep his or her skin young and healthy, hair silky, complexion radiant, figure slim and much more. Here is the list of top natural food items that are good for the skin, hair, looks and overall beauty.

Food Items to Consume to Enhance Beauty

Green Tea - Green tea helps in weight loss and also in fighting acne. Green Tea is also rich in antioxidants, which helps to make the skin look healthy, radiant and youthful.

Berries - Brightly coloured berries, such as cherries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants thus they help reduce skin imperfections. Berries also help to protect the skin from damage that gives rise to wrinkles. Citrus fruits are also rich in antioxidants and thus are good for the skin.

Olive Oil - Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, one of the fatty acids that keep cell membranes and skin supple. In addition, olive oil contains small amounts of other essential fatty acids that fight against inflammation. Finally it contains vitamin E and polyphenols which are antioxidants that protect the skin from the damage caused by free radicals.

Water - Skin cells need a lot of water to keep their membranes supple and receptive to nutrients which in turn keeps them healthy. The minimum amount of water that one needs to drink in a day to keep the skin healthy and hydrated is around two litres. If an individual spends much of his time outdoors or if he sweats profusely, he should drink more.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes are good for both the skin and the hairs. They provide radiance to the skin and strength to hairs. Tomato is one food article that is good to enhance beauty both when consumed and when used as face pack or a face scrub.

Garlic - Garlic is rich in antioxidants and minerals such as selenium. It is believed that Garlic has anti-aging properties and minerals contained in garlic help maintain the health of skin, hair and nails.

Food Items to Use as Masks and Scrubs to Enhance Beauty

Pineapple - Pineapple is full of vital enzymes and hence when used as a scrub it will provide excellent results along with required physical exfoliation of the skin.

Avocado - Avocado is excellent to moisturize the skin and treat skin irritations caused due to eczema or acne. The creamy nature of this fruit which is also rich in vegetable fats is both pleasant and beneficial for the skin...

Read more about  : Food Articles that Enhance Beauty

Fire at Bengaluru's Kailash Bar & Restaurant: 5 employees charred to death

The incident occurred at 2:30 am at Kailash Bar and Restaurant when the employees were asleep

 

 

Bengaluru fire :Five employees of a bar-cum-restaurant were charred to death when a major fire broke out at Kumbaara Sangha building in Kalasipalya in Bengaluru during Monday morning, police said. 

The incident occurred at 2:30 am at Kailash Bar and Restaurant when the employees were asleep.

Police identified the victims as Swami (23), Prasad (20), Mahesh, all residents of Tumakuru, Manjunath (45) from Hassan and Keerthi (24) from Mandya.

"An incident of fire has occurred at Kailash Bar and Restaurant located in the ground floor of Kumbaara Sangha building (in the vegetable market area). Fire and smoke was noticed by some persons at around 2.30 am and fire services were pressed into action. Two fire tenders and one fire rescue vehicle attended to it and it has been doused," a senior police officer said.

The cause of the fire was unknown and was being investigated, he said.

Former Shiv Sena corporator Ashok Sawant stabbed to death in Mumbai

The incident took place when he was returning home after meeting a friend

 
Former Shiv Sena corporator, Ashok Sawant, has been stabbed to death outside his house in Maharashtra's Kandivali.

Sawant (62) was accosted by two men late on Sunday night who then attacked him with sharp weapons.

The incident took place when he was returning home after meeting a friend.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Sawant was a two-time corporator of Shiv Sena from Samta Nagar.

Investigation in the case is on.

West Bengal man arrested for stalking Sachin Tendulkar's daughter Sara

He called Sara several times and expressed his desire to marry her

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A 27-year-old man from East Midnapore district in West Bengal was on Sunday arrested for allegedly harassing cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's daughter, Sara Tendulkar, over the phone, police said.

Deb Kumar Maiti, a resident of Debkundu village near Geonkhali under Mahisadal Police Station, had gone to Mumbai sometime back to visit his elder brother when he somehow got hold of her number, they said.

He then called Sara several times and expressed his desire to marry her, they added.

A case was filed in this regard by the Tendulkar family in Mumbai, but the entire matter was kept secret by the Cyber Cell of the Mumbai Police.

A team of the Mumbai Police early today arrested Maiti near Andulia and later produced him before a court in Haldia, which allowed them to take him to Mumbai on a three-day transit remand, a senior officer of West Bengal police said in Haldia.

The police claimed that during interrogation the man admitted to calling her and also showed them a tattoo bearing Sara's name on his arm.

Maiti's neighbours, however, said he was suffering from mental issues from 2007.

Aadhaar database can be misused and abused: Edward Snowden

The UIDAI said the Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure

A day after the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) denied that there was any breach of the Aadhaar database, American whistleblower Edward Snowden said on Friday that the Aadhaar database conceived and introduced by the Indian government can also be misused and abused.

Retweeting CBS journalist Zack Whittaker's response on a BuzzFeed report on the breach of Aadhaar database in India, Snowden said, "It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse."

Whittaker had earlier said, "ICYMI. India has a national ID database with the private information of nearly 1.2 billion nationals. It's reportedly been breached. Admin accounts can be made and access can be sold to the database, reports BuzzFeed."

The UIDAI on Thursday said the Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure.

It termed The Tribune report titled 'Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details' a case of misreporting.

"There has not been any Aadhaar data breach. The Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure," the UIDAI said in a statement.

This development has come at a time when the Supreme Court is set to begin the final hearing of petitions challenging the legality of Aadhaar programme based on privacy concerns on January 17.

In August 2017, the Supreme Court held that privacy is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.