Modi calls for meet to review 'Most Favoured Nation' status to Pakistan

Modi calls for meet to review MFN status to Pakistan

'Most Favoured Nation' is a status or level of treatment accorded by one state to another in international trade.   More »

  • India-Pakistan tensions rise after Modi cancels trip

    By Tommy Wilkes and Drazen Jorgic NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Tensions between India and Pakistan rose on Tuesday as India's leader cancelled a visit to a regional summit and Islamabad warned it would treat it as "an act of war" if India revoked a water treaty. India blames Pakistan for a deadly assault on an army base in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir this month that has heightened fears of a new conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours. India says militants sneaked across the de facto border that separates the countries and killed 18 soldiers on Sept. 18, the biggest loss of life for Indian security forces in the region for 14 years.

    Reuters

  • Store Owner Snubs Ameesha Despite Politician's Recommendation

    Here's more on the actress who's in the news today for getting trolled for her picture in the shower

    Spotboye

  • Salman Khan Comes To Karan Johar’s Rescue, Calls Up Raj Thackeray

    We hope this ends Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s mushkil

    Spotboye

  • Sushant Singh Rajput’s M S Dhoni: The Untold Story Break Records Of Sultan And Kabali!

    The trailer of Sushant Singh Rajput’s M S Dhoni: The Untold Story has made everyone eager to watch the film. The film will be depicting the unheard struggle of Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Also, Sushant has put in so much of efforts into his character that he looks like a replica of Dhoni.

    Business of Cinema

  • Twinkle Khanna reveals her healthy alternatives

    Mumbai, Sep 27 (IANS) Actress-turned-author and interior designer Twinkle Khanna on Tuesday stressed the importance of healthy eating habits, citing her own lifestyle as an example. My son is a little crazy about healthy food. Sharing her healthy lifestyle, she said she loves to do yoga and meditation.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Former bureaucrat BK Bansal commits suicide along with son at his Delhi residence

    New Delhi, Sept. 27 (ANI): Former bureaucrat BK Bansal, who was accused of corruption and arrested in connection with a graft case in July, allegedly committed suicide along with his 25-year-old son in their home in Madhu Vihar in East Delhi on Tuesday. Bansal was a Director General in the Corporate Affairs ministry when he was arrested on July 16 on charges of accepting Rs. nine lakhs as bribe from a pharmaceutical company that wanted to buy its way out of an investigation for illegal business practices. Two days after Mr Bansal's arrest, his wife Satyabala Bansal and daughter Neha were found hanging in separate rooms at their residence in Nilkanth Apartments in east Delhi's Madhu Vihar on July 19.

    ANI

  • What Motivated an IIM Graduate to Leave Her Job in the US and Enrol 20,000 Children in UP Schools

    Samina Bano, an IIM Bangalore alumna, and RTE crusader, fought several odds in Uttar Pradesh to enable over 20,000 children from underprivileged gain access education in private schools. This is how.  Sita Devi works as a domestic help in five houses. From cleaning to cooking, she does more than her body can allow. Her life goal -- save enough for her four children so she can build a respectable future for them. Private security guard Ram Chandra Kannaujia suffers from epilepsy. His wife Rajkumari works as a domestic help while their little son worked in a dhaba. All sacrifices made by the couple bore fruit when their son, Akhil (6), started going to school after getting admission under the RTE act. “I cook food at people’s homes so that my child can study,” says Rajkumari. Soaked in sweat and wearing a hijab (veil) on her head, Shabana commutes over long distances everyday in spite of her Ramzan fast, just to get her daughter Kaifiya (5) enrolled in school. “My mother made envelopes to educate us but I had to drop out after class 5 since we had no money, a regret that I have till date. My child will not grow up with that regret,” says Shabana. Fate has been kind to them. Kaifiya, Akhil, and Sita Devi’s daughters go to a regular private school now. All thanks to a lady who chose to leave her plum job as a management consultant in the United States and returned to India to work for students like them. She dedicated her life to providing education to students from financially poor backgrounds through institutional reforms within the system. Samina Bano, a computer engineer and an MBA from IIM Bangalore started the Bharat Abhyudaya Foundation (BAF) in Lucknow with a dream of bringing parity in the society and fighting discrimination based on socio-economic backgrounds. BAF is a nonprofit education startup, and till date it has helped in the admissions of over 20,000 underprivileged children across 3,000 private schools in 50 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Samina has been able to achieve this feat with the support of co-founder Vinod Yadav, the government of UP, and senior bureaucrats such as Mr. Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, Mr. Amod Kumar and Mr Rigzin Samphel from the Chief Minister's office. “To build a better and equitable society that is not divided on the basis of caste, religion and money, we believe we need to begin with making children’s schools more inclusive. When all children, regardless of their socio-economic differences, are educated together, everyone benefits,” says Samina. She strongly believes in social inclusion within classrooms that not only benefits the underprivileged children but also helps kids learn empathy and become pro-social. Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act mandates 25% reservation for children from Economically Weaker Section (EWS) at entry level in every unaided private school. BAF is spearheading the implementation of this provision in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. Despite political roadblocks for over two years – including a fierce court battle in High Court as well as the Supreme Court against the influential private lobby that engaged country’s leading advocates, Samina and her team came out victorious. The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement ordered the erring school to admit 13 children from underprivileged backgrounds under the RTE act on September 28, 2015. When Samina started working on RTE Section 12(1) (c), she not only saw several loopholes in the policy but also highlighted dismal figures in admission. After a thorough study through primary and secondary research she found that in last four years since the inception of this act, only 108 admissions were made across UP where six lakh seats were available annually. This was basically due to reluctance on government’s part and also because of the unwillingness of certain big private schools that had least interest in the implementation of this Act. With BAF’s persistent efforts in advocacy impacting policy, capacity building within government, and groundbreaking innovations, the number of admissions increased to a historical 4,400 in 2015 and 15,646 in the year 2016. Samina used her sharp management skills to create a sense of urgency. The RTE round table deliberations resulted in key next steps in implementing the scheme. As a result of all the above advocacy efforts, nine new major government notifications were issued in the last two years to amend state policies to actively implement RTE Sec 12 with clear timelines. The government of UP and BAF built a unique partnership where they leveraged their individual strengths in effectively reaching out to a scale that was individually not achievable by both. Holding the Ashoka fellowship and many such awards and recognitions, Samina has already started taking her next steps towards making the process seamless with the help of technology and training teachers for social inclusion in partnership with UNICEF and the state government. Samina, belonging to an orthodox Muslim family, suffers from locomotor disability in her left leg due to an accident that she met with when she was a child. It however didn’t deter her from walking on the path that was strewn with difficulties. Working in a religiously divided state where women are often given a second-hand treatment, making her voice heard is a feat in itself. With perseverance, dedication and strength in her resolve, Samina has become one of the most trusted voices on inclusive education in the state. Impossible as it seemed, Samina has set the government machinery in motion and the RTE ball rolling in the state. BAF is looking for volunteers, supporters, and partners. You can contact them here. Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. NEW: Click here to get positive news on Whatsapp!

    The Better India

  • Pakistan-born actor apologises for racist rant about Indians

    London, Sep 26 (IANS) Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar, who was sacked from British TV drama "Coronation Street" for his racist rant against Indians on social media, has issued an apology and termed his act as a "moment of madness". Anwar was axed from the ITV soap after "Coronation Street" makers were alerted to his Twitter comments. The 45-year-old had referred to Indians as 'b******s' and 'p*ss-drinking c**ts', and even abused Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Captives of Islamic State for 414 days, two Telugu professors return to tell the tale

    Two Indian teachers, who were rescued last week after over a year-long captivity by the Islamic State (IS) in Libya, returned home to Hyderabad on Saturday. T Gopi Krishna and C Balram Kishan arrived from New Delhi in the wee hours of the weekend. The two teachers at the University of Sirte were abducted by Islamic State (IS) terrorists on 29 July, 2015 while on their way to Tripoli airport to return to India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had announced on 15 September that they had been rescued. Gopi Krishna (40), an assistant professor at the University of Sirte, joined the university in 2007. He hails from Tekkali in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, while Balram Kishan (52),

    Firstpost q

  • Gautam Gambhir recalled for rest of New Zealand Test series

    Mumbai [India], Sept.27 (ANI): Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, who played his last Test match against England in 2014, has been recalled in the national squad for the remainder of the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, medium pacer Ishant Sharma has also been ruled out of the second Test after failing to recover fully from chikungunya that forced him to miss the country's 500th Test match.

    ANI

  • 10 obscene displays of wealth that shock average Americans

    Fascinating findings from a new Reddit thread on wealth.

    MarketWatch q

  • AAP, Navjot Singh Sidhu back in touch

    CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Navjot Singh Sidhu seem to be mending fences after a recent falling out ahead of the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab. One of AAP's top Punjab leaders, lawyer H S Phoolka, told TOI on Monday that he would go out of his way to ensure that Sidhu's front joins hands with AAP for the polls. Sidhu had an extended meeting with other members of his front in Delhi over the past two days where joining hands with AAP was discussed. "Though it is for my party to take a final decision, I have made the suggestion to both senior leaders of AAP as well as to those in Awaaz-e-Punjab to come together. I have kept a line open with Pargat (Singh) over a period of time. In

    The Economic Times q

  • Pakistani actors must condemn attack on Indians: Anupam Kher

    New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Veteran actor Anupam Kher says it is really important for Pakistani actors to say that "I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers". Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had recently told the media that there was "an anti-Pakistan" wave across India after the September 18 terror attack that left 18 Indian soldiers dead at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. Following which, MNS issued an ultimatum on September 23 to all Pakistani cine and television artistes to leave India.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Anmol has brought tremendous luck to Reliance Capital: Anil Ambani

    Mumbai, Sep 27 (IANS) Reliance Capital Chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday introduced his son Anmol to the company's shareholders as a newly-inducted director on the board and said he has already brought "tremendous luck" to the financial services firm. "Anmol has brought tremendous luck. "I hope and I'm confident this 'Anmol Effect' will continue, based on the improved performance, growth and teamwork," Anil Ambani said.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • "It's wrong to usurp a date another colleague has already announced," Hrithik Roshan on clash with Shah Rukh Khan

    When Rakesh Roshan excitedly announced the release date of Krissh 4 as Christmas 2018, he wasn’t aware that Aanand Rai’s Shah Rukh Khan starrer was also scheduled for the same week. On realizing the same, the Roshans quickly moved their film from the proposed Christmas 2018 slot. Explaining the Roshans’ gentlemanly manoeuvre, Hrithik volunteers, “My mom and dad have always taught me that doing the right thing is over and above any profit or loss. I guess, Dad felt it wrong to usurp a date that another colleague has already announced.” Interestingly, the Shah Rukh starrer Raees was brought into the same Friday as Hrithik’s home production Kaabil, even though the Roshans made their release announcement

    Bollywood Hungama q

  • Tanay Malhara Is The Winner Of Dance + Season 2!

    After 15 weeks of hard work, rehearsal and innumerable ‘DOUBLE PLUS’ performances, India has voted and chosen the second winner of Dance Plus! In the wee hours of Sunday evening Tanay Malhara was declared the winner of Dance Plus. Remo D’Souza, Super Judge on the show along with captains Shakti Mohan, Dharmesh Yelande and Punit J Pathak celebrated the achievement of announcing the second dancing icon of the nation. The other top 3 contestants on Dance + along with Tanay were Wild Rippers crew, Piyush Bhagat & Sushant Khatri.

    Business of Cinema

  • The inventor of the 401(k) says he created a ‘monster’

    Ted Benna helped turn a little-noticed new subsection of the tax code into the least likely of household names: the 401(k).

    MarketWatch q

  • Hillary Likely To Struggle Despite Supportive Stars; Ganesha Also Foresees Fluctuating Fortunes

    With the D-Day for the US presidential election 2016 getting nearer, Ganesha takes a look at Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's prospects.

    GaneshaSpeaks.com

  • Kerala Govt. Will Now Pay Residents for Plastic Waste and Recycle It to Make Roads. Brilliant!

    In order to curb the increasing amount of plastic bags and other products disposed of in civic spaces across Kerala, the Clean Kerala Company will now collect shredded plastic from residents and municipality authorities for road construction. The Clean Kerala Company is an organisation formed under the State Local Self-Help Government and it has been involved in statewide waste management initiatives like converting solid waste to CNG, collecting and recycling e-waste, organising plastic collection drives, etc. Products made of thermosetting plastic are often some of the most dangerous because they do not decompose and emit toxic fumes when burnt. It is important to find a sustainable alternative to disposing  plastic, which is why the state government has issued orders appointing CKC as the nodal body for collecting  shredded/granulated plastic. Source:By Marcello Casal Jr./Agência Brasil [CC BY 2.5 br], via Wikimedia Commons Using plastic waste for laying roads reduces road fatigue and improves the quality of roads; they are more resistant to cold weather and rainfall. The entire process of creating the mixture to lay such roads is simple -- the aggregate mix is heated at 165 degree Celsius and is transferred to the mixing chamber while bitumen is heated to 160 degrees Celsius. Shredded plastic waste of a particular size is added to the aggregate and is mixed with bitumen. The resulting mixture is used for laying roads. According to  reports, Kabeer. B. Harun, Managing Director of CKC said that the municipalities and residents can give away plastic products that have been passed through a shredding machine to CKC that will buy them for Rs. 15 per kilo. The state government has also issued orders to every local body, directing them to use plastic in at least 10% of the roads laid in the areas under its jurisdiction. To lay these roads, contractors will have to approach CKC, which will then issue a supply order allowing them to purchase granulated plastic for Rs. 20 per kg. According to the CKC website, it was formed with “the objective of ensuring hygiene management of the state through the adoption of innovative and scientific methods and proven technology, adhering to the concept of  active participation of the public and private sectors.” Kabeer also told Manorama News that CKC has proposed to set up three recycling parks across Kerala in Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. To know more about CKC, visit their website. Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.NEW: Click here to get positive news on Whatsapp!

    The Better India

  • Protest breaks out after students murder Delhi school teacher

    New Delhi, [India], Sept 27 (ANI): The murder of a Delhi government school teacher by two class 12 students has resulted in teachers strongly demanding stringent action against the murderers. The incident was reported at Government Boys Senior Secondary School in west Delhi's Nangloi. The whole society of teachers is very sad over this incident.

    ANI