India test-fires Mica missiles as Pak carries out drills

India test-fires Mica missiles as Pak carries out war drill

As tension simmers between India and Pakistan, the IAF test-fired air-to-air Mica missiles from the upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft.   More »

  • Pakistani media calls PM Modi's speech venomous

    Islamabad, Sep 24 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech lashing out against Pakistan, was closely monitored by the Pakistani media, and within an hour of its delivery on Saturday evening, excerpts were on websites of major dailies, with most describing it as spewing venom against Pakistan. The News, one of the major English dailies of Pakistan, ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'completely isolate' Pakistan globally, while 'The Express Tribune' ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'isolate' Pakistan globally". In the same vein, Geo TV, one of the leading news channel of Pakistan, said: "Indian PM Narendra Modi threatens Pakistan".

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Uri attacks: PM Narendra Modi meets defence top brass to discuss India's 'response'

    New Delhi: Continuing his stand to take firm action against the perpetrators of the deadly Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met with the Indian Army, Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Naval Vice Admiral to discuss the prevailing security conditions. Apart from Chief of Army Staff New Delhi: Ashok Venkatramani, CEO, ABP News Network, was on Thursday elected as the new President of News Broadcasters

    ABP Live q

  • Will YRF & Boney Kapoor’s Projects Too Face The Wrath Of The MNS Threat?

    The focus is on biggies like Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar and Mahira Khan, but what about the other Pakistani artistes who are paving their way into the industry?

    Spotboye

  • It's scientifically validated now; Ganga water is 'holy'!

    New Delhi [India], Sept.24 (ANI): Indian scientists have validated the scientific basis of the mysterious 'special power' of the water of Ganga, which Hindus consider as "Brahm Dravya" or divine elixir. Microbiologists from the Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), who had studied the special characteristics of Ganges water have found, for the first time, several Bacteriophages, which keeps it non-putrefying. This resolves the mystery for the self-purifying properties of Ganga water.

    ANI

  • Actor found slain at L.A. home of Canada TV host Stroumboulopoulos

    By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An actor has been found murdered at the rented home of Canadian talk-show host George Stroumboulopoulos in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, police and the TV personality said on Friday. The body of Richard Hong, 41, was found at the house by officers responding to reports of a burglary there shortly after 2 a.m. PT (0900 GMT), said Officer Norma Eisenman, a Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman. The Los Angeles Times, citing a coroner's spokesman, said that the victim had sustained head trauma.

    Reuters

  • Best dressed this week: Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra

    This week, stars across the world gave us a masterclass on formal dressing. Within the city, Katrina Kaif picked up her Smita Patil Memorial Award looking like royalty in a bottle green Sabyasachi ensemble, Kangana Ranaut went slightly edgy in a cut-out Burberry Prorsum number, Neha Dhupia layered up in sharp Sanjay Garg separates, and Jacqueline Fernandez picked a ruffled red number by Fendi. Overseas, Priyanka Chopra stopped traffic at the Emmys in that brilliant red Jason Wu, and Freida Pinto was perfectly put-together in a Burberry dress and coat combo. Want more inspiration for a formal evening out? Check out Emily Blunt’s Alexander McQueen gown, Olivia Culpo’s delicate semi-sheer Zac Posen

    VOGUE India q

  • Samsung phone emits smoke on Indian airline flight

    By Aditi Shah NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A Samsung Electronics smartphone stored in an overhead baggage compartment on an Indian plane emitted smoke in mid-flight on Friday, India's aviation regulator said, but there was no damage and the aircraft landed safely. Passengers on board an IndiGo flight smelled smoke coming from the baggage bin and alerted cabin crew who saw sparks and smoke coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, the airline, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, said in an emailed statement. Flight crew used a fire extinguisher on the phone and put it in a container filled with water, the airline said.

    Reuters

  • India cuts import taxes on wheat, palm oil, refined oils

    India has cut import taxes on wheat, crude palm oil and refined vegetable oils, a finance ministry order showed on Friday, as part of efforts to curb food inflation. New Delhi lowered the wheat import tax to 10 percent from 25 percent and cut the import duty on both crude palm oil and refined edible oils by five percentage points to 7.5 and 15 percent respectively, the order on a government website, showed. Wheat output in India, the world's second-biggest producer, has fallen well below the peak of 2014/15, reducing stocks to the lowest level in nearly a decade and pushing domestic prices close to record highs.

    Reuters

  • Jayalalithaa is recuperating fast: AIADMK

    Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Sept. 24 (ANI): Amid speculations that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will fly to Singapore for treatment of high fever and de-hydration, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Saturday termed the nwes as "completely false" and assured that their party chief is recuperating even as the people of Tamil Nadu are praying for her speedy recovery. Honourable Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is very well. The people of Tamil Nadu and Tamilians across the world are praying for her," AIADMK leader C.R.Saraswathi told ANI.

    ANI

  • ASUS ZenFone 3 (5.5-inch): Luxury redefined with super performance

    New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) While most smartphone makers -- especially those from China -- have flooded the Indian market with devices in the Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 price range, Taiwan-based technology major ASUS believes there is still room in the country for luxury with superior performance and design.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Court clears men in death of British teenager in Goa

    Two Indian men were acquitted on Friday of the culpable homicide and rape of a British teenager in Goa eight years ago, a case that raised questions about the safety of tourists in the coastal resort and claims of police negligence. The men were accused of drugging and sexually abusing Scarlett Keeling, 15, after a party, leaving her to die in shallow sea water. The court acquitted the two men of all the charges, the lawyer representing Keeling's mother, Fiona MacKeown, told reporters.

    Reuters

  • How Medical Students in Kerala Are Fighting Menstrual Taboos Using Haiku Poetry

    Inspired by the Happy to Bleed campaign that urged women to pose for the camera with their sanitary napkins, a bunch of students from Calicut Medical College, Kozhikode, got together to write haikus to end period shaming. If you are a woman who grew up in India, you know what period shaming means. One fine day you suddenly realise that your period is a couple of days early, you whisper to your friend and ask for a sanitary napkin, which you then hide among the folds of your clothes while simultaneously checking your pant/skirt for red stains. This drill has been ingrained in our heads as the appropriate thing to do because any positive acknowledgement of the menstrual cycle is looked upon as deviant behaviour. According to  The Huffington Post, the idea of the campaign came during one of the student meetings regarding the college magazine where an intern dared the students to walk in the college grounds with an uncovered sanitary pad packet. Some of us, who have observed and learnt from the hurried stuffing of sanitary napkin packets into black plastic bags at local pharmacy stores, know that the act of openly acknowledging periods is a move that is traditionally frowned upon. No one came forward for the dare. But they found it amusing how women have been forced to suppress the reality of a natural, biological function. It was then that James Paul, a third year MBBS student came up with the idea of conducting a haiku/micro-tale contest a couple of months before the International Women’s Day in order to urge students to erase the stigma around menstruation. Paul has participated in other events around gender rights before. “He felt it was not right to limit the freedom of women just because they have periods. This he realised after having come across many instances of period shaming during his school days,” said Sreya Salim, editor of the college magazine. Once the posters were put out, the team was flooded with various haikus addressing the hypocrisy around periods -- some spoke about the perceived “impurity” of a woman on her period, some spoke about the burdens of “womanhood,” and some even addressed the fact that men shouldn’t be squeamish about periods because they wouldn't have been born if women didn't have periods. With its burgeoning popularity on social media, the contest received entries from all over the country and some even from France. After the five winners were announced, the team decided to print a book which compiles the haikus as a record of the defiant and courageous behaviour of students, who are keen on sensitizing the society about gender-related issues. Nikita Azad, who started the ‘Happy to Bleed’ campaign as a retaliation against authorities in Sabarimala claiming that they will install special machines to bar women who are menstruating from entering temples, also reached out to support the haiku campaign. All pictures: The Red Cycle/Facebook Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).

    The Better India

  • Cricket: New Zealand reply strongly on rain-hit day

    Kanpur, India, Sept 23, 2016 (AFP) - New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Tom Latham led a strong reply to take the visitors to 152 for one at stumps against India on a rain-hit second day of the first Test in Kanpur on Friday.

    AFP

  • Astrology tips to follow before tying the knot

    Understanding each other is essential for a successful wedding. Try a few astro-numerological ways to find your soulmate, says an expert.

    IANS India Private Limited

  • Sahara chief Subrata Roy gets temporary relief from court

    India's Supreme Court extended embattled Sahara conglomerate chief Subrata Roy's parole by a week on Friday, temporarily staying an order it had issued just hours before that he be taken back into custody. Roy was first arrested in March 2014 after Sahara, a household name in India, failed to comply with a court order to refund 360 billion rupees ($5.4 billion) raised from millions of small investors by selling them bonds later ruled to be illegal. Roy was released from prison on parole in May and the hearing on Friday was to determine whether it should be extended.

    Reuters

  • 8 Worst Things to Buy at Dollar Stores

    These discount retailers stock plenty of bargains, but some of the merchandise isn't worth the buck.

    Kiplinger.com q

  • For Apple, Keeping Problems Away May Be Very Difficult In The Coming Year; Major Losses Foreseen

    Apple is in the news for various reasons – be it for the grand launch of iphone 7 or the tax evasion controversy in Ireland. What do the stars indicate about the fortunes of the technology giant?

    GaneshaSpeaks.com

  • Saudis offer oil cut for OPEC deal if Iran freezes output - sources

    DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran caps its own output this year, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as Riyadh tries to strike an elusive OPEC deal to curtail supply and boost prices. The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity. OPEC holds an informal meeting next week in Algiers, which non-OPEC Russia will also join.

    Reuters

  • Michael Vaughan responds to Jonathan Trott attack on 'honesty and integrity'

    Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has reacted angrily to accusations from Jonathan Trott that criticism of his withdrawal from the 2013-14 Ashes was agenda-driven. Vaughan wrote that he felt "conned" by the initial explanation from the England and Wales Cricket Board and that Trott had let down his teammates by withdrawing from the tour for cricketing reasons. Trott scored just 10 and nine in the opening match of the five-match series in Brisbane in a performance which was described as "poor and weak" by Australia's David Warner.

    International Business Times

  • This Engineer Left His Job To Adopt And Educate The Children Of Drought Affected Farmers

    In 2015, Ashok Deshmane founded Snehwan – a home and school for children of marginalised and drought-affected farmers. Vishnu Gite, a gifted and intelligent child from a farmer’s family, is not interested in eating chocolates and ice cream like the city kids he sees on TV. All he wants is to be in school because he is attracted by the sight of educated, well dressed adults and he dreams of being like them every night. The main source of income for Vishnu's family was farming. But, due to the drought, their land stopped yielding any food crops and they migrated elsewhere to work as daily wage labourers. [caption id="attachment_68960" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Vishnu Gite's family had to migrate from their village due to drought.[/caption] His parents fought for survival on a daily basis and even contemplated suicide like many other farmers in drought affected areas. Vishnu missed his old school but kept quiet – he knew better than to ask his parents for the impossible. Ram and Lakhan’s story is not very different from Vishnu’s. Their father, Santosh Rathod, was a daily wage worker in the Jalna district of Maharashtra. Santosh had to take care of his entire family all by himself with the meagre income he earned daily. But then the drought happened and things went from bad to worse. He started losing whatever little work he had and there were days when his family literally starved. In the hope of finding a job and giving his family a better chance at survival, Santosh moved to Thane in the Mumbai area. He started working at a brick furnace here and his wife found a job as a domestic help. Living from hand to mouth, they could only think of feeding their kids; the question of sending them to school did not even arise. So, when a man named Ashok Deshmane offered to look after these children in his NGO Snehwan, and take complete responsibility for their education too, the two families were dumbfounded to say the least. Today, Ram is studying in Class 4 and aspires to become a policeman, whereas Lakhan is studying in Class 3 and wants to serve the nation by joining the army. Vishnu’s education is being taken care of as well. But it’s not just these three – many more farmers’ kids like them have also found a home in Snehwan. The founder of Snehwan, 27 year Ashok Deshmane, had a childhood similar to that of the kids he now looks after. He was born in a farmer’s family in a small village called Mangrul in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra. [caption id="attachment_68967" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Ashok Deshmane[/caption] The four acres of land that his father owned gave them enough to survive on only if it rained well. Maharashtra had been experiencing a drought every four years since 1972. This was extremely hard for small farmers like Ashok’s father, who cultivated just enough to feed their families and had no other savings. They had to depend on loans from local money lenders, who gave them money at high interest rates every time there was a drought. It soon became difficult to survive on farming alone, so Ashok’s father started doing tailoring too. The hunger, the pain, the distress, and the helplessness of farmers like his father found expression in every word of Ashok’s poems when he started writing at the age of 13. “Poetry was my only medium of dealing with the pain. But that was when I didn’t know how else I could help the farmers. I soon realised that my poetry was worthless if I did not do something to change the situation I was writing about. I understood, early on in my teens, that it was possible for farmers to get out of the vicious cycle they were caught in if they were educated. So, I started teaching their kids for free. ” When Ashok was in Class 12, he came across a documentary on Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, Dr. Prakash Baba Amte. Ashok was so inspired by Amte’s work that he became even more determined to help farmers. [caption id="attachment_68968" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Ashok with Dr. Prakash Baba Amte[/caption] But all he knew was that he had to educate himself first before helping educate others. So he started working with a transport company to support his own education. After a tremendous struggle, Ashok finally completed his Bachelor’s in Computer Science and then Master’s in Computer Science. Next, he got a well-paying job with a known software company in Pune. In the meantime, he had also been visiting his village to help the children there with their studies. Now, he also started teaching the children of street vendors in Pune on weekends. However, since the street vendors kept moving from one place to another, it made it difficult for their kids to study. This is when Ashok realised that it was very necessary to have a permanent shelter for the children of migrant labourers. By the end of 2015, Ashok had completed five years of work and had enough savings to buy a house and a car. But, at about this time, a visit home on the occasion of Diwali changed everything. Parbhani had once again been affected by drought. People were leaving their homes along with their families. There was no water in the entire village. Ashok had to walk 4-5 kms with his mother to get water to celebrate Diwali. “When I asked these people why they were leaving the village, they said there was no water, no crops and nothing to eat. These people were moving to the cities to work as daily wage labourers – jobs that would give them only as much as one meal a day. When I asked about the education of their kids they bluntly told me they could only think of filling their stomachs right now and school was a luxury for their children in such a situation.” Ashok came back to Pune in December 2015, registered his NGO Snehwan, and quit his job. Snehwan would be both a home and school for children of marginalised and drought-affected farmers. [caption id="attachment_68969" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Children are also taught yoga and meditation at Snehwan.[/caption] When Ashok’s boss came to know why he had quit his well-paying job at the peak of his career, he told him he wanted to support him. He gave Ashok the option to do night shifts so he could dedicate his days to the NGO. Ashok accepted the offer. He would leave for his office at 8 pm and return at 8 am, after which he would visit several villages in search of kids who needed his help. By June 2016, Snehwan had 17 children whose parents had migrated from their villages, or had committed suicide, or were living hand-to-mouth. Ashok’s friends helped him in every possible way to set up Snehwan. Anil Kothe offered his five-room house where the kids could live. Uma Kommineni, an NRI, gave computers to the home. The iLeadFarmers company developed the NGO’s website and now maintains it for free so that people can donate through the website. Webonise Lab gave funds for the renovation of the house. A nearby school, Samta Vidyalay, gave admission to the children at nominal fees. Rahul Deshpande and Asha Thipse started working with Snehwan as volunteers. But this was not as easy as it sounds. Ashok’s night shifts continued. When he would return home after work he would find the kids crying because they missed their parents. Ashok started feeling that along with education, food and clothing, these kids needed a lot of attention and love too. So, in August 2016, he finally quit his job and dedicated himself full time to the kids of Snehwan. “I could sleep only during the two hours while I was commuting to and from work. I was not able to give enough time and energy to these kids, so I left my job. I knew that finances would be an issue. But there was an inner voice that said everything would be taken care of.” On seeing their son’s dedication, Ashok’s parents too left their village and came to stay with the kids of Snehwan. “My parents were not very happy initially. They told me I should get married and settle down. But I told them that although I did not have a big house or a car or a lot of money, I was getting the satisfaction of educating the future generation of farmers. Maybe if I continued working at my job my family would get a better life in Pune. But how would that change my village? It would still be the same as it was when I was struggling to study 15 years ago. And if I continued with my wonderful career, the village would remain the same for the next 15 years too. I had to take a step right now.” Snehwan has 17 kids in the age group of 9 -14 years. Most of these kids have never been to school before; even if they have it is only so they could get a midday meal for free. Ashok has worked hard to teach them everything from scratch. And now the kids can read newspapers, use PCs, write letters, etc. “Even when there used to be a drought in the village, you could always find some farmers who were unaffected. The secret was knowledge. These kids will learn farming without even going to school. But they will learn to deal with farming problems only if they have knowledge, and only quality education can provide them with that,” says Ashok. Ashok is leaving no stone unturned to give the best opportunities he can to the bright yet deprived children under his care. Today, kids from the districts of Parbhani, Jalna, Beed, Hingoli, Aurangabad, and Wardha are living happily in Snehwan. However, as there is no income, Ashok is struggling to arrange for funds for their daily needs. “Recently, due to bad weather, most of my children were suffering from viral fever. It is difficult to arrange for their medical expenses at times because generally we get donations in the form of clothes and other utilitarian items. Also, we had enough donations to start the shelter home. But very few people know about the existence of this place now. We appeal to our well wishers to donate some funds so we can take care of the children’s health and other issues that arise from time to time.” Please donate money, clothes, and stationery, or become a volunteer at Snehwan. You can visit Snehwan Sr.no. 186, Mayur Colony, Near Chakrapani Vasahat, Bhosari, Pune-39, Maharashtra, India. Email at ashok.deshmane123@gmail.com Or call at +91-823 727 7615 to help these kids. Click here to Donate through Milaap. Like this story? Have something to share? Email: contact@thebetterindia.com, or join us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia). To get positive news on WhatsApp, just send 'Start' to 090 2900 3600 via WhatsApp.

    The Better India