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ADMIN

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  1. ADMIN
    Samsung has already confirmed that the company will be hosting its “Unpacked” launch event on February 11, 2020. It is usually the time when Samsung announces new Galaxy S phones and this year the Galaxy S20 is expected to launch. A previous leak suggested that the Galaxy S11 will probably be called Galaxy S20 and we can expect three models this year from the South Korean giant. 
    © MensXP/Akshay Bhalla
    We kind of have an idea that the Galaxy S20 will feature some of the latest specifications thanks to a recent leak put together by Phone Arena which details every single piece of information about the three upcoming smartphones. In the below image, the three phones that will be launching are the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra. 
    © Phone Arena
    The Galaxy S20 Ultra will be the first Samsung phone to sport a periscope zoom camera which will be an exclusive feature for the handset. The Galaxy S20 is also expected to launch on March 6, if this leak by Phone Arena is to be believed. At the moment, Phone Arena's information cannot be verified, which is why we advise you to take this leak with a pinch of salt. 
    © MensXP/Akshay Bhalla
    Pricing for the three smartphones also leaked, revealing a $799 price tag for the S20, $999 for S20+ and $1,099 for the S20 Ultra. The Indian prices for the smartphones are expected to be different as Samsung tends to price it a bit lower in India, thanks to the presence of their manufacturing units in the country. We will learn more about the three units closer to the reveal event where the prices and the launch date will be officially announced. 
    Source: Phone Arena 

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  2. ADMIN
    If you're a Star Wars fan, it's likely that you'll remember the iconic twin suns of Tatooine:
    Cool, aren't they? A young intern at NASA however, has just discovered a new planet - where you might be able to spot the greatest sunrise of all time - with two suns at once.
    The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, also known as TESS, is a specialised space telescope that was launched into orbit by SpaceX in 2018 with the specific purpose of discovering exoplanets. The term refers to planets outside of the solar system, and as you might imagine, they're not particularly easy to spot. 
    © NASA; An illustration of TESS working in orbit.
    The most common method of discovering them is locating dark spots in front of distant stars - caused by planets revolving around their respective stars and blocking their light from reaching us. This phenomenon is known as a 'transit', and TESS is able to detect them by using four powerful cameras to capture 1296 images of the same patch of sky across 27 days - that's a single hi-res image every half-hour.
    © NASA; Optics engineer Greg Balonek prepares a TESS flight lens for modal testing at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
    The intern, Wolf Cukier, joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, after his junior year of high school at Scarsdale High School in New York. He was assigned to study variations in star brightness captured by TESS and upload it to the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project.
    © New York Post; Wolf sitting at his desk in a NASA jumper. Note the physics textbooks and telescope - he's clearly in the perfect line of work.
    "I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other and from our view eclipse each other every orbit," Cukier said in a statement from NASA. "About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet."
    What's remarkable about Cukier's discovery is that the planet is 'circumbinary' - revolving around two suns instead of one like in the solar system. There are only about two dozen such planets discovered, making the intern's fortunate finding all the more special.
    Designated as TOI 1338 b, it is the only planet in the TOI 1338 system and revolves around the twin suns every 95 days - both of them revolve around each other much faster at 15 days and are considerably different from each other. One is 10% larger than our Sun, while the other is just a third of the Sun's mass, and is much dimmer and smaller.
    If you're looking to catch that special sunset however, it's quite unlikely - the system is 1,300 light years away from Earth, and is 6.9 times the size of our planet - making it likely that even if we survive the journey and the harsh radiation and heat from two suns, TOI 1338 b's gravity is likely to crush us like a grape.
    Unfortunately for Wolf, he doesn't get to name his discovery - although his brother suggests that 'Wolftopia' would be pretty cool.

    View the full article
  3. ADMIN
    Ever since 2004, the Saw series has been synonymous with torture-porn, grisly moral experiments and bringing R-Rated, no-holds barred violence back in vogue for horror fans across the globe. The series has gone on to become one of the genre's most successful franchises of all time. Off a collective budget of $77 million, the films have gone on to rake in nearly $1 billion at the box office, adjusted for inflation.

    That's not to say that things didn't go stale - after Saw 3D released in 2010, the series suffered a 7-year gap before Jigsaw, a reboot of sorts, which appealed primarily to longtime fans. With the 9th film, titled The Organ Donor under works, this begs the question - after 8 films, what does it take to make the series interesting again?

    According to comedian Chris Rock, the answer might be comedy. Speaking to IGN, Rock was quoted saying, “A lot of times I go to a movie or I watch a TV show and I go: 'Wow, you know, two jokes would have made a big difference in that.' I love Saw, but I was like: 'Wow, it has almost no humor at all”.
    There's a point to be made there. The series has always been clear and upfront about its intentions to revolt and simultaneously fascinate its audience with its elaborately designed death-traps, yet its characters seem to do little other than what is expected of them.

    Rock took this idea quite seriously, and penned down a story idea which he then pitched to Lionsgate Films. The studio approved of it immediately - “Completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise,” commented Lionsgate CEO Joe Drake. That sounds good, doesn't it?
    It still pales in comparison to what the studio did next - in a move that no one saw coming, they managed to bring in someone we never expected to be part of the franchise - Samuel L. Jackson himself. 

    The veteran actor is famous for portraying fearless badasses on screen - the kind of character the series was desperately missing, and which may pair well alongside Rock's comedic intentions. Rock will reportedly star as a police officer on the trail of a potentially new killer, with Samuel L. Jackson appearing as his father.
    While some longtime fans might be doubtful of jokes making it into an otherwise serious franchise, Rock suggests that on the edit table, things are still very much as Jigsaw would have it. “The new Saw, I've seen like a rough cut,” shared Rock. “It's still Saw… it's bloody, it's gory, but there's like a sprinkling of humor here and there. We're not revamping it, it's not Scary Movie, it's Saw.”
    Whatever happens, there will be blood. The film makes its way into cinemas on May 15, 2020.

    View the full article
  4. ADMIN
    Restaurant reservation app Dineout recently published a fascinating annual report, and amongst a list of interesting statistics, one in particular stands out. It seems like the city of Bengaluru has become an undisputed dining hotspot, with one man footing a bill of Rs 2,76,988 at a pub, while another watering hole clocked in over 1 million diners. 
    That's a lot of dishes to wash and bottles to recycle. In fact, the bill is so ridiculous, it's just about what you'd pay to step out of a showroom with a brand new Maruti Alto or Datsun Redi-Go. Not interested in a car? The bill could also cover a trip to London and back again - in Emirates first class seats.
    Meanwhile, Udaipur stepped up as well - it seems like the 'City of Lakes' played host to the biggest number of couples, with the highest number of 'tables for two'. Indore had the most 'tables for four' reservations and oddly enough, seemed to dine out most often on Thursdays - 60% of Indians dined out on weekends, specifically.
    With the rise of restaurant culture in India's metros and a no-cooking lifestyle emerging across India's urban youth, it's not surprising that Indians dined out over 5 billion times last year, with 52% of us preferring to dine at casual restaurants as opposed to fast food outlets and fine dining options.  Close to 4566 tables were reserved per hour, and the average bill value for dining out was Rs 1600, whereas for ordering in, it was Rs 300. 
    It's also interesting to note that Indians are pretty late eaters - the global average dinnertime sits between 6PM and 8PM, while desi dinners usually happen between 8PM and 10PM. Gotta' blame post-work traffic for that one.
    So if you're worried that you've been spending too much on dining out, don't worry. You're certainly not alone.

    View the full article
  5. ADMIN
    As North India continues to receive its share of cold waves this winter, a hilly town of Himachal Pradesh stands frozen. The small town of Kaza is buried in layers of snow as temperature recently dropped to minus 26 degrees.
    Located in the faraway Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, the town currently bears a strong resemblance to the Kingdom of the North from Game of Thrones and we can't help but wonder what Winterfell would look like in this snow-clad town.
    © BCCL
    While Kaza is freezing at -26 degrees, reports suggest that temperature at other parts of the Valley has dipped even lower. Keylong plummeted to -17.6, while Manali shivered at -7.6 on Friday. Shimla too is freezing at -1.3°C.
    Excessive snowfall has also given rise to great traffic woes in parts of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla. Around 250 roads in Manali have been blocked due to heavy snowfall and people have been advised to steer clear of visiting these parts of the hill station.
    © BCCL
    Social media is abuzz with breathtaking pictures from various parts of Himachal and it's a sight to behold.
    So much #snow â¤ï¸ #Manali #OldManali #himachal pic.twitter.com/NC8LaMsyD1
    — Angela Kopic (@angelak108) January 9, 2020 The #coldwave tightened grip on most parts of #HimachalPradesh on Saturday with #Shimla and #Manali receiving fresh #snowfall.

    Photo: IANS pic.twitter.com/4KEZElFnEk
    — IANS Tweets (@ians_india) January 4, 2020 Snow, sun, wind #manali #oldmanali pic.twitter.com/4vA6wAvrPm
    — Angela Kopic (@angelak108) January 11, 2020 It was a bright sunny day on Thursday in #HimachalPradesh after days of #snowfall turned #Shimla and #Manali white. "It was bright and sunny in several parts of state after three days of widespread snow and rain," an official of the Met Office told #IANS.

    Photo: IANS pic.twitter.com/syEI4vYEdU
    — IANS Tweets (@ians_india) January 9, 2020
    View the full article
  6. ADMIN
    A new Assassin's Creed is probably on its way and the existence of the game was leaked via website listings. Ubisoft has not officially announced the game but leaks are pointing towards one of the biggest games in the series. The game listed on the websites was called Assassin's Creed Ragnarok and is expected to release later this year. 
    © Ubisoft
    A leak that was posted on 4Chan and later on Reddit revealed detailed information that sounds believable but we still suggest you take it with a pinch of salt. According to the leaker, the game will launch in September 2020 and will be a cross-generational game. It will support four-player co-operative mode or with a single character that can be either male or female. It is said to have role-playing mechanics similar to Assassin's Creed Odyssey and will also introduce a new weapon durability feature. The game will also feature a hidden blade, an iconic feature that was not included in the previous iteration. 
    © Reddit
    Leaks also suggest that the game will be set in the 9th century and will deal with Norse mythology. The map is also expected to be larger than ever and will expand to cities like Paris, London and Kiev. There will also be more emphasis on mythical beasts that will be protecting temples and other key locations. 
    Previous Assassin's Creed games have leaked in the past and most of the rumours have turned out to be true. It would be interesting to see how Ubisoft will adopt Norse mythology into the Assassin's Creed world. We could expect the game to be announced sometime later this year. We may hear more about the game at E3, this June.

    View the full article
  7. ADMIN
    We've all been there - planing to get a really dapper of a haircut, scouring the internet, looking for that one hairstyle that we can actually pull off and look nice in, timing our visits so that the best barber at the salon works with us, and whatnot.
    © iStock
    Well, the day arrives, we go to the salon, get a haircut, which, within the salon looks great. But as soon as you cross into the threshold of your house, you look like something like this.
    © Viral Bhayani
    Well, as much as our barber maybe a wizard, we are also partially to blame for the mishmash of all things unfortunate that we're now carrying on our head now. Why? Well, because most Indian men make these blunders when they visit their barbers:
    © iStock
    1. “Do Your Thing, Barber Bro!” © Instagram/aalimhakim
    Like we said, your barber may be a wizard, but he ain't a psychic. If you don't tell or show him what exactly you want, how the heck is the man supposed to know, what you want your hair to look like? Usually, if you end up being the 50th customer he has had for the day, who's asking him to do his “thing,” he will just do his bare minimum, with the least bit of effort, and send you on your way. Work with him, and instruct what you want done, precisely.
    2. “I Think I Like It…I Guess.” © iStock
    Be sure of what you want to go for before your barber or hairstylist gets to work. Its always better to show your barber a reference photograph for him to work off of. In case he shows you a bunch of photographs to select a hairstyle from, work with him but mainly rely on your instincts as to what will work for you and what won't. For heaven's sake, don't get there with half-baked ideas only to walk away disappointed with a mop of a hair.
    3. “No, I Don't Need That Complimentary Shampoo/Massage/Facial.” © iStock
    There must be something really wrong with you if turn down a complimentary service from your barber or your salon. First of all, refusing anything that's free is very un-desi. Secondly, even though they might not be using some premium products for the complimentary services, they make up for that by stellar service. The goal is to make you spend more the next time you visit or make you try out new things. 
    4. “Let It Be, Chalega” © iStock
    This is where most of us falter. Once your barber is done with you, instead of just paying the man and leaving, test your new hairstyle out. Run your fingers through your hair thoroughly, let it dry, and try restyling it yourself. You will not be coming to the barber every day to get it set right, now, will you? If you're unsatisfied even a little bit or find a part that does not seem right, ask your barber to work his magic into it, and observe how you're supposed to do it by yourself.
    We're pretty sure that if you avoid these pitfalls and follow a few other steps you should be able to walk out of that salon, actually happy and satisfied.

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  8. ADMIN
    Salman Khan recently took to social media to announce his new film Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The film, written by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Farhad Samji, will hit the screens on Eid 2021. Fans seem pretty excited about this big announcement and like every time, there were people who trolled Bhai for the title. 
    Announcing my next film... KABHI EID KABHI DIWALI ....
    STORY & PRODUCED BY SAJID NADIADWALA ...
    DIRECTED by FARHAD SAMJI...

    EID 2021 ... #SajidNadiadwala @NGEMovies @farhad_samji @WardaNadiadwala @SKFilmsOfficial
    — Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 10, 2020 But, one epic dig came from none other than Akshay Kumar as he hilariously took a potshot at the title of the movie. Akshay Kumar wished the trio all the best for their film and also suggested them a potential name for the sequel. 
    He tweeted, “Congratulations to my dear friends, Sajid Nadiadwala, @BeingSalmanKhan and @farhad_samji on Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. Wishing you guys all the love and luck. Have a name suggestion as well for the sequel... Kabhi Eid Kabhi Christmas.” 
    Here's the Twitter post: 
    Congratulations to my dear friends, Sajid Nadiadwala, @BeingSalmanKhan and @farhad_samji on Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. Wishing you guys all the love and luck.

    Have a name suggestion as well for the sequel... Kabhi Eid Kabhi Christmasð
    — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 10, 2020 After Akshay tweeted this post, fans started suggesting him the title of his next movie and there are no bonus points for guessing, as obviously, they took a dig at him for holding Canadian citizenship. The Khiladi Kumar was also trolled for always making movies that are either remakes or based on some patriotic subject. 
    Check out the reactions here: 
    Kabhi India Kabhi Canada.. abb tum bhi decide karo
    — SK (@being_salida) January 10, 2020 Tere liye bhi ek Suggestion hai KABHI INDIA KABHI CANADA#KabhiEidKabhiDiwali
    — SHAHID SALMANISTAN (@SSALMANISTAN2) January 10, 2020 sir aap ke liye bhi ek suggestion hai
    KABHI CANADIAN KABHI INDIAN
    — Salman Z My God (@Being25Lucky) January 10, 2020 Kabhi Remake Kabhi Patriotism ð
    — •Being Nawaz• (@BeingNawaz) January 10, 2020 Your next movie khbhi Indian khbhi canadian'ðððððððð
    — It'z ! Aashiq ! ð¬ (@beingaashiq12k) January 10, 2020 Kabhi Remake Kabhi Sequel ð
    — VICKEYY ð®ð³ (@Vickey09AkFan) January 10, 2020 Clearly, Akshay had no idea that he himself will end up getting trolled. No surprises there as Salman and Akshay fans have always been at loggerheads. 
    On the work front, Akshay's Good Newwz has been received well - mainly because of the fresh concept of IVF that the movie deals with, while Salman Khan was last seen on the big screen in Dabangg 3, in which he played the fearless cop Chulbul Pandey. The movie did a decent business at the box office, considering the actor's stardom. 

    View the full article
  9. ADMIN
    The city of joy has found yet another reason to make merry as it takes the crown for being India's safest city for the second year in a row! Kolkata took the top spot owing to the lowest rate of known recorded offences recorded.
    © Flickr
    The news came to light after the National Crime Records Bureau recently released its report for the year 2018, and as per the report, Kolkata has a score of 152.2 on the scale that measures known recorded offences per lakh people. The report also mentioned that Kolkata is closely followed by Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai to be the other safer cities in the country.
    © Flickr
    However, according to the report, West Bengal's overall performance isn't worth boasting about. 
    The report also claimed that Bengal is the fourth-most violent crime-prone state, while its crime rate stood at 46.1, higher than states like Jammu and Kashmir (25.6) and even Uttar Pradesh (29.2).
    © Flickr
    The state's only saving grace has been its better performance when it came to preventing crime against women. Bengal has also slipped to the 10th position in rapes.
    This would definitely come as happy news for residents and other Bengalis living outside their home state.

    View the full article
  10. ADMIN
    Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al-Said at the Beit Al Baraka Royal Palace in Muscat, Oman January 14, 2019. Photo: Reuters DUBAI/CAIRO: Oman’s ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East’s longest serving rulers, died on Friday and the Gulf state’s high military council called on the ruling family to convene to choose a successor, state media said.
    Three days of official mourning have been declared, with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who had ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain.
    State news agency ONA did not give a cause of death, but Qaboos had been unwell for years and spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment in early December.
    Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant.
    The high military council, in a statement carried on state media on Saturday, called on Oman’s ruling family council to convene to choose a new ruler.
    Read also: Sultan Qaboos of Oman in 'stable condition'
    If the council fails to agree, a council of military and security officials, supreme court chiefs and heads of the two consultative assemblies will put in power the person whose name has been secretly written by the sultan in a sealed letter.
    There has been wide speculation over the succession as domestic challenges loom large, from strained state finances to high unemployment.
    Oman observers say the sultan’s three cousins — Assad, Shihab and Haitham bin Tariq al-Said — stand the best chance.
    “I imagine that the succession itself will be a smooth process within Oman,” Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the Texas-based Rice University’s Baker Institute told Reuters.
    The sultan’s death comes at a time of heightened tension in the region between Iran and the United States and US ally Saudi Arabia.
    Oman maintains friendly ties with Washington and Tehran and helped mediate secret US-Iran talks in 2013 that led two years later to the international nuclear pact which Washington quit in 2018.
    “Sultan Qaboos had such charismatic authority and became so synonymous with Oman as a modern nation-state that it will naturally be difficult for any successor to replicate that, at least at the beginning,” Ulrichsen said.


  11. ADMIN
    President Donald Trump. Photo: ReutersWASHINGTON: The United States piled new sanctions on Iran's already crippled economy Friday and defended the killing of a top Iranian leader, saying he had been planning an "imminent" attack on US embassies.
    The sanctions, announced at the White House, marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general Qasem Soleimani, by some measures the second most influential person in Iran.
    In response, Iran fired volleys of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops, without causing casualties.
    While President Donald Trump said he would not respond further militarily, Washington is intent on maintaining pressure.
    The sanctions mean "we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House.
    The measures targeting Iran's steel industry and eight state officials came on top of massive sanctions already aimed at bringing the country's economy to its knees.
    Read also: Iran civil aviation chief confident Ukraine plane not hit by missile
    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that sanctions so far "have deprived the regime of billions in revenue."
    "Oil revenues (are) down by 80 per cent and Iran cannot access roughly 90 per cent of its foreign policy reserves," he said. "As long as Iran's outlaw ways continue we will continue to impose sanctions."
    Among the senior Iranian officials targeted in the new measures were Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia, a volunteer force loyal to the regime.
    Seventeen Iranian metals producers and mining companies were listed.
    The sanctions also included a network of three entities that are based in China and the Seychelles as well as a vessel "involved in the purchase, sale, and transfer of Iranian metals products," the Treasury said in a statement.
    'Imminent' threat questioned Critics are questioning why Trump — who has been impeached and faces a Senate trial in the coming days — ordered Soleimani's killing last week.
    The administration has pushed back against accusations that Trump acted recklessly, insisting that longtime US foe Soleimani was on the brink of launching an attack and had to be stopped.
    On Thursday, Trump said that Soleimani had been planning to blow up the US embassy in Baghdad. However, officials did not back up that scenario.
    Iran plane crash: US officials hand over 'important data' to Ukraine
    On Friday, Trump shifted, saying "probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad."
    "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added in an excerpt of an interview due to air later on Fox News.
    Earlier, Pompeo said the US had "specific information" on "imminent" attacks "against American facilities, including American embassies, military bases."
    But "we don't know exactly which day it would've been executed," he said.
    The United States has been at loggerheads with Iran, a fierce regional rival of US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, for decades.
    Soon after Trump came into office he withdrew from an international accord meant to give Iran the ability to develop civilian nuclear power while under supervision. Trump claimed that Tehran was cheating and trying to obtain a nuclear weapon.
    At a reelection campaign rally in Ohio on Thursday, Trump referred to Soleimani as "the world's top terrorist."
    "He was a bloodthirsty terror and he´s no longer a terror. He's dead."


  12. ADMIN
    WASHINGTON: The United States piled new sanctions on Iran´s already crippled economy Friday and defended the killing of a top Iranian leader, saying he had been planning an "imminent" attack on US embassies.
    The sanctions, announced at the White House, marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general Qasem Soleimani, by some measures the second most influential person in Iran.
    In response, Iran fired volleys of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops, without causing casualties.
    While President Donald Trump said he would not respond further militarily, Washington is intent on maintaining pressure.
    The sanctions mean "we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House.
    The measures targeting Iran´s steel industry and eight state officials came on top of massive sanctions already aimed at bringing the country´s economy to its knees.
    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that sanctions so far "have deprived the regime of billions in revenue."
    "Oil revenues (are) down by 80 percent and Iran cannot access roughly 90 percent of its foreign policy reserves," he said. "As long as Iran´s outlaw ways continue we will continue to impose sanctions."
    Among the senior Iranian officials targeted in the new measures were Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran´s Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia, a volunteer force loyal to the regime.
    Seventeen Iranian metals producers and mining companies were listed.
    The sanctions also included a network of three entities that are based in China and the Seychelles as well as a vessel "involved in the purchase, sale, and transfer of Iranian metals products," the Treasury said in a statement.
    - ´Imminent´ threat questioned -
    Critics are questioning why Trump -- who has been impeached and faces a Senate trial in the coming days -- ordered Soleimani´s killing last week.
    The administration has pushed back against accusations that Trump acted recklessly, insisting that longtime US foe Soleimani was on the brink of launching an attack and had to be stopped.
    On Thursday, Trump said that Soleimani had been planning to blow up the US embassy in Baghdad. However, officials did not back up that scenario.
    On Friday, Trump shifted, saying "probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad."
    "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added in an excerpt of an interview due to air later on Fox News.
    Earlier, Pompeo said the US had "specific information" on "imminent" attacks "against American facilities, including American embassies, military bases."
    But "we don´t know exactly which day it would´ve been executed," he said.
    The United States has been at loggerheads with Iran, a fierce regional rival of US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, for decades.
    Soon after Trump came into office he withdrew from an international accord meant to give Iran the ability to develop civilian nuclear power while under supervision. Trump claimed that Tehran was cheating and trying to obtain a nuclear weapon.
    At a reelection campaign rally in Ohio on Thursday, Trump referred to Soleimani as "the world´s top terrorist."
    "He was a bloodthirsty terror and he´s no longer a terror. He´s dead."


  13. ADMIN
    KARACHI: Six people were killed and five injured as a Suzuki hi-roof and rickshaw caught fire near the city's Powerhouse Chowrangi, on Friday.
    A woman and four children were among the six people who died when the hi-roof and the rickshaw caught fire, according to rescue officials. Five injured persons were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.
    Dr Kaleem, a surgeon at the hospital, confirmed four dead bodies had been brought to the hospital.
    Police said a rickshaw had also been engulfed in flames when it collided with the van, which was already on fire.
    A bomb disposal squad and fire brigade were called to ascertain why the van caught fire. Police said the cylinder of the van remained undamaged hence it was unlikely its explosion caused the vehicle to burst into flames.
    According to SSP Central, the family which fell victim to the accident were residents of Surjani Town. 


  14. ADMIN
    BRISBANE, Australia: Naomi Osaka battled for two hours while Petra Kvitova cruised to victory on Friday as both booked spots in the semi-finals of the season-opening Brisbane International.
    Osaka´s form slipped after the first set but the world number four eventually saw off sixth seed Kiki Bertens 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 at the Pat Rafter Arena.
    Bertens was on the attack in the second set but lost control in the decider when she began to struggle with her first serve.
    It was a more straightforward affair for fifth seed Kvitova, who downed American qualifier Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-2.
    Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who won her first WTA title in Brisbane in 2011, was in superb touch against Brady, who beat Maria Sharapova and Ashleigh Barty in the first two rounds but was never in the hunt.
    "I didn´t serve well at all the first game, but since then I served much, much better and that´s helped me a lot through this match today for sure," Kvitova said.
    "My body´s still not falling apart yet, so that´s good as well."
    Osaka, who burst to stardom by winning consecutive Grand Slam crowns at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australia Open, will next play defending champion Karolina Pliskova.
    Pliskova reached the semi-finals with a tough 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 over unseeded American Alison Riske.
    The world number two never had it easy against Riske, who let herself down with 11 double faults.
    "It´s always close -- I don´t know what it is about me and Alison," Pliskova said.
    "I think we played really good tennis today. We actually have very similar games. It´s always close and always seems to have tiebreaks.
    "I´m happy to win in two sets."
    Kvitova faces Madison Keys, who cruised past fellow American Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-1 to secure her berth in the final four.
    Collins seemed flat after two impressive victories in the opening rounds and her opponent never ceded control of the match.
    "I don´t think Danielle played her best tennis today, but I think I did a really good job taking care of my side of the net," Keys said.
    "I served well, returned fairly well, especially in the second set. So I think overall it was just a pretty solid match."


  15. ADMIN
    Robert Pattinson has recently disclosed why he decided to essay the role of Batman in DC's upcoming movie.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Twilight actor explained the reason behind his choice, saying Batman always attracted him.

    There is a prestige attached to Batman's role, which he finds attractive, the actor said.

    He said there has been an aura of quality in every live-action Batman project throughout the character's history, including the original Batman TV series.

    The 33-year-old actor, famous for his lead role in Twilight, left his fans surprised with the announcement that he will now be starring in a huge action-thriller film.




    However, the Twilight actor is still fretting about his fan's response to his newly adopted avatar.


  16. ADMIN
    Rafael Nadal suffered a stunning upset at the ATP Cup on Friday.Photo: AFPSYDNEY: A lethargic world number one Rafael Nadal suffered a stunning upset at the ATP Cup on Friday, crashing in two tough sets to Belgium´s David Goffin.
    The Spaniard was heavily favoured to win the match and secure Spain a berth in the semi-finals after Roberto Bautista Agut eased past Kimmer Coppejans 6-1, 6-4 in the first singles match.
    But the 19-time Grand Slam winner slumped 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to the 11th-ranked Belgium -- a rare defeat for Nadal while playing for his country.
    It sent the tie into a decisive doubles match to determine who meets Australia in the last four.
    "I had to hold my nerve for a long time, which wasn´t easy," Goffin said.
    "I knew against Rafa I had to take the ball early and take more risk. I was in the court trying to dictate and he had to find a solution."
    Spain´s group games during the round-robin phase of the inaugural team event were played in Perth, where the air was much drier.
    Nadal, who had not dropped a set this year before meeting Goffin, faced not only heat but energy-sapping humidity in Sydney and struggled to deal with it, dripping in sweat for much of the match.
    He was not on song and struggled to find his rhythm, giving away nine break points in the first set.
    Goffin had two more break points to go 5-3 up in the second, but Nadal clung on and became more offensive to take the match to a tiebreak before the Belgian closed out the match for one of the biggest wins in his career.


  17. ADMIN
    Paparazzi on Friday clicked Sara Ali Khan as she stepped out of a cinema.
    She was snapped after attending the screening of her father Saif Ali Khan's latest film Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero.
    The actress looked gorgeous and happy in white shalwar suit during her outing.
    Sara Ali Khan made her Bollywood debut in Abhishek Kapoor's 'Kedarnath; and starred in Rohit Shetty directorial Simmba in 2018.
    Khan will next be seen in director Imtiaz Ali's romantic drama opposed Kartik Aaryan on 14 February.



    She is also set to work opposite Varun Dhawan in the remake of "Coolie No.1".
    Check out her photos here:








  18. ADMIN
    KARACHI: A car caught fire and burst into flames in Gulistan-e-Jauhar due to a short circuit Friday, according to police.
    The incident reportedly took place near the city's famous Perfume Chowk. Flames caught on to another car which was traveling beside the one that caught on fire. As a result, the other car was also engulfed in the fire.
    No casualties were reported. Traffic officials diverted traffic to a different route to avoid any further damage.


  19. ADMIN
    British comedian Ricky Gervais on Friday expressed his views about the second season of his Netflix series, After Life.
    While responding to a tweet stating After Life has become the most-watched British-made comedy series, the Director said, "And season 2 is even better!".
    Directed by and starring Ricky Gervais, the black comedy-drama television series premiered on 8 March 2019, on Netflix. On 3 April 2019, Netflix renewed the series for its second season.
    A fan account on Twitter recently informed the viewers about After Life becoming the most-watched British-made comedy.
    Rickey Gervais re-tweeted the tweet with a comment that read "And season 2 is even better!"
    Last week, Gervais returned to host the Golden Globe awards, cracking scathing jokes about Hollywood’s elite that got both laughs and disapproving looks from the A-list audience.
    Gervais, known for his no-holds-barred style of comedy, joked about Hollywood’s lack of diversity, film producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct, and the suicide of financier and *** offender Jeffrey Epstein.



  20. ADMIN
    Geo.tv/Illustration/FilesPESHAWAR: A Pakistani Sikh youth who was killed here in the city a few days ago was gunned down at his fiancée's behest, police said Friday, confirming the latest development in an incident that was also highlighted by Indian media.
    According to police, the fiancée was unhappy with the engagement and had, therefore, hired three assassins for Rs700,000. The suspects called the young man to Mardan, where they kidnapped and took him to a nearby colony and killed him.
    Read more: Govt turns blind eye towards Peshawar's crumbling gurdwaras
    Police also said the suspects shifted his body to Peshawar to remove any links to the murder. However, they added that the fiancée and all three assassins were arrested and the murder weapon recovered.
    Back on Tuesday, Pakistan had summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires to convey its "strong rejection of baseless and fabricated Indian allegations concerning the Sikh community", according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
    Also read: Peshawar's Sikhs are helping Muslims break their fast
    It had also strongly protested the Indian government's "motivated and mischievous allegations" relating to the “targeted killing” of the Sikh man in Peshawar.
    The statement said the allegations were the Indian government's "desperate attempts" to divert the attention from the atrocities it was committing in occupied Kashmir.
    Related:Pakistan denies India's allegations on Nankana Sahib, tells it to protect own minorities
    Pakistan inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims
    Sikh girl from Nankana Sahib tells LHC she married Muslim man by choice


  21. ADMIN
    EDEN, Australia: Gale-force winds in Australia merged two enormous fires into a megablaze spanning an area four times the size of Greater London on Friday, while tens of thousands rallied to again demand action on climate change.
    "The conditions are difficult today," said Shane Fitzsimmons, rural fire service commissioner for New South Wales state, after days of relative calm.
    "It´s the hot, dry winds that will prove once again to be the real challenge."
    Temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of New South Wales and neighbouring Victoria, where attention was focused on the two fires that linked to form yet another monster blaze of more than 600,000 hectares.
    Fire service spokesman Anthony Bradstreet told AFP it is believed the blaze was sparked by dry lightning.
    A "state of disaster" was extended 48 hours ahead of Friday´s forecast of scorching temperatures, and evacuation orders were issued for areas around the New South Wales-Victoria border.
    New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there were more than 130 fires burning in the state, with just over 50 not yet under control.
    On Kangaroo Island off South Australia, the largest town was cut off as firefighters battled dangerous infernos, forcing some residents to flee to the local jetty.
    The catastrophic bushfires have killed at least 26 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched some ten million hectares (100,000 square kilometres) -- an area larger than South Korea or Portugal.
    University of Sydney scientists estimate one billion mammals, birds and reptiles have been killed in the fires.
    The Insurance Council of Australia estimated losses from the fires have so far totalled Aus$939 (US$645) million.
    Australia experienced its driest and hottest year on record in 2019, with its highest average maximum temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius recorded in mid-December.
    In Sydney and Melbourne, thousands of people again took to the streets to demand Australia´s conservative government do more to tackle global warming and reduce coal exports.
    "Change the politics not the climate," read one sign, reflecting an increasingly charged argument over the cause of the fires.
    Researchers say the bushfire emergency has sparked an online disinformation campaign "unprecedented" in the country´s history, with bots deployed to shift blame for the blazes away from climate change.
    One hashtag in particular, #arsonemergency, has gained traction rapidly and conservative-leaning newspapers, websites and politicians across the globe have promoted the theory that arson is largely to blame, rather than climate change, drought or record high temperatures.
    Timothy Graham, a digital media expert at the Queensland University of Technology, told AFP his research showed half of the Twitter users deploying the hashtag displayed bot- and troll-like behaviour.
    "Our findings show a concerted effort aimed to misinform the public about the cause of the bushfires," Graham said.
    "The campaign is nothing on the scale of what we have been seeing in other countries, such as the 2016 US election, but this amount of disinformation in Australia is unprecedented."
    Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday tried to parry journalists´ questions about whether climate change would make horrific bushfire seasons the norm.
    "Look, we have covered that on a number of occasions now," Morrison said testily, adding that reviews will take place once the bushfire season is over.


  22. ADMIN
    NEW YORK: HBO has secured the rights to adapt South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho´s critical smash hit "Parasite" into a miniseries, the US cable channel said Thursday.
    Television companies vying to adapt the movie include Netflix, which produced Bong´s 2017 hit "Okja," entertainment website Deadline Hollywood reported.
    A dark satire about the relationship between two families, "Parasite" has earned $130 million worldwide, picking up the coveted Palme d´Or at Cannes and a best foreign film Golden Globe along the way.
    "Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films," the 50-year-old Bong said as he accepted the award at the Globes on Sunday.
    "I think we use only just one language -- the cinema."
    Already considered a favorite for the foreign-language Oscar -- with the nominations announcement coming on Monday -- some analysts say "Parasite" could be a contender to win best picture too.
    Joining Bong on the adaptation will be Adam McKay, the Oscar-winning writer-director of "The Big Short" (2015) and "Vice" (2018). 


  23. ADMIN
    PUNE, India: Openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan smashed half-centuries as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 78 runs in the third Twenty20 international to clinch the series 2-0 on Friday.
    Rahul, who top-scored with 54, and Dhawan, who hit 52, put on 97 runs for the opening wicket as India amassed 201 for six after being put in to bat in Pune.
    Paceman Navdeep Saini claimed three wickets to help dismiss Sri Lanka for 123 in 15.5 overs despite a fighting 57 by Dhananjaya de Silva.
    Saini sent back De Silva after his 36-ball knock and then got skipper Lasith Malinga for nought as the islanders lost their second straight match after the opening T20 was abandoned due to rain.
    Manish Pandey and Shardul Thakur also played key roles with batting cameos that helped India take 63 runs from the last five overs.
    Pandey, scoring 31 off 18 balls, and Thakur, with an eight-ball 22, put on an unbeaten 37-run stand for the seventh wicket and the duo managed to get 19 runs off the last over.
    Earlier the left-handed Dhawan was dropped on one by Dasun Shanaka at deep square leg off Angelo Mathews and made the most of the spill as he recorded his 10th T20 fifty in just 34 balls.
    Left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan finally got Dhawan and struck twice in his next over to send back Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, for four, trudging back to the pavilion as India slipped to 122-4.
    Skipper Virat Kohli, who dropped himself to number six in the batting order, then took the attack to the opposition with a 17-ball 26 before being run out while attempting a second run.
    Sri Lanka were never in the chase after losing their top three batsmen for 15 runs and then slipping to 26 for four.
    De Silva and Mathews, who made 31, put on 68 for the fifth wicket to raise Sri Lankan hopes but Washington Sundar struck back to break the partnership.
    Sundar and Thakur took two wickets each.
    Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah became India´s highest wicket-taker in the T20 format with 53 scalps after he struck first with the wicket of Danushka Gunathilka for one.
    India now host Australia for three one-day internationals starting Tuesday in Mumbai.


  24. ADMIN
    Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari lent her support on Friday to separate prison cells for transgender inmates, reported the APP. 
    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had formed a commission on jail reforms. Mazari was chairing a meeting to finalise a report on carrying out reforms in prisons across the country.
    The commission was formed on the writ petition filed by Khadim Hussain, currently a prisoner at the Central Jail Adyala, Rawalpindi, before the Islamabad High Court after his vision was impaired during the course of his sentence due to failure and negligence of prison authorities.
    After hearing the plight of the prisoner, the high court constituted a commission to be chaired by the Minister of Human Rights to look into the following areas; to investigate human rights violations in the prisons and lack of medical assistance and obstacles in access to a court of law of prisoners who do not have means or assistance in this regard.
    To investigate failure on part of the executive authorities and respective Governments to fulfill obligations and enforce the Prison Rules and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 relating to prisoners who suffer from illness and diseases.


  25. ADMIN
    Under-fire Deepika Padukone visits temple, prays for new film 'Chhapaak'MUMBAI: Bollywood's top actress was snapped praying in a temple on Friday ahead of the release of her new film as a storm continued to rage over her attendance at a recent student protest.
    The presence of Deepika Padukone, 34, at the demonstration in New Delhi on Tuesday broke with the unspoken tradition of Bollywood stars remaining for the most part apolitical.
    It unleashed a furore on social media with detractors accusing the actress of a publicity stunt to promote her latest role as an acid attack survivor, while others applauded her courage.
    On Thursday Smriti Irani, a former model and TV actress who is now a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, accused her of being unpatriotic.
    Padukone was "standing with people who celebrate every time a CRPF jawan is killed," Irani said, referring to an Indian paramilitary soldier.
    Members of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have called for a boycott of her film Chhapaak (Splash), which came out on Friday.
    They have urged moviegoers to watch Tanhaji, a swashbuckling historical epic about a Hindu general, instead.
    Padukone was attending a protest after an attack blamed on a group close to the BJP at a Delhi university last Sunday injured 34 students while police allegedly stood by.
    The incident followed several weeks of protests nationwide against a new citizenship law during which police have been accused of using excessive force, with at least 25 people killed.
    Media reports said that Modi's government has also shelved a promotional video featuring Padukone in which she speaks about the need to give acid attack survivors equal opportunities.
    Meanwhile two Indian states and one union territory run by the main opposition Congress party have cut government taxes on tickets for Padukone's film. 


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