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Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. Photo: India TodayWASHINGTON: The passage of the religiously discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in India, widely seen as being aimed at marginalizing the 200-million strong Muslim minority in the country, has fanned concerns in the United States. The lower house of the Indian legislature early Tuesday passed the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which will grant citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring countries but not Muslims. The bill was voted on amid raucous scenes in parliament and protests in the northeast of the country.The bill provides that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians fleeing ‘persecution’ in Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan may be granted Indian citizenship. There is no similar provision for Muslim refugees. The bill sailed through the lower house with 311 votes in favour and only 80 against. It still has to be voted on by the upper house of the Indian legislature before it can be enacted as law. Reacting to the controversial bill, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a statement saying that the US is ‘deeply troubled’ by the legislation. According to the USCIRF, the US will consider sanctions against senior members of the Indian political leadership if the bill is enacted as law. In its statement,the USCIRF noted that the bill specifically excluded Muslims, setting a legal criterion for citizenship based on religion. "The Citizenship (Amendment) Billis a dangerous turn in the wrong direction; it runs counter to India’s rich history of secular pluralism," the statement said.The commission also condemned the bill as a ‘violation’ of the Indian constitution, relating it to recent efforts to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and nationwide. The NRC, like the citizenship bill, is widely believed to be the brain-child of the Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah. "USCIRF fears that the Indian government is creating a religious test for Indian citizenship that willstrip citizenship from millions of Muslims," the USCIRF warned. In a statement made separately early Tuesday, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee also condemned the passage of the contentious bill through the Indian lower house, saying that the so-called ‘religious test’ for citizenship undermined basic democratic tenets shared by the US and India.The ruling BJP in India had included the passage of the CAB as part of its manifesto released ahead of elections in May 2019. -
On World Human Rights Day, PM Imran seeks end to Indian atrocities in Kashmir
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
Prime Minister Imran Khan. Photo: FilePrime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday reiterated calls for an end to India’s gross abuse and oppression of Kashmiris.“On Human Rights Day, we must appeal to the world's conscience, to upholders of international law and to the United Nations Security Council to act against the illegal annexation of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK)by the Indian occupation government,” PM Imran tweeted. “We salute and stand resolutely with the brave Kashmiris struggling for their right of self-determination,” he added.Occupied Kashmir has been under military curfew since August 5, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the constitutional autonomy of the region and arrested thousands of people. Since the annexation, New Delhi has also enforced a near complete communications blackout by blocking internet and telecommunication services in the disputed territory.‘Govt committed to protecting the rights of all citizens’In a separate tweet, PM Imran assured that his government remains committed to the protection of the rights of all citizens without discrimination. “On International Human Rights Day, Muslims need to remember that the message of equality, justice and protection of human rights for all was given more than 1400 years ago by our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him),” the premier said.The prime minister added that the message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)"embodied the cardinal principles of respect for human rights and human dignity".The premier said his government was committed to the protection of human rights for all citizens as preached by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), especially in his last sermon.World Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. -
Twelve hours in debate, three years of buildup and one shredded document - the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019, was passed in the Lok Sabha at midnight, as the world celebrates Human Rights Day on December 10. Needless to say, the new law almost instantly sent the country into an uproar across social media. Shortly after leaving the Parliament, BJP stalwarts Amit Shah and Narendra Modi congratulated each other on achieving the long-standing party goal. Thank you honourable PM @narendramodi ji. You are an inspiration and under your leadership we all strive harder each day to build a #NewIndia for our future generations. https://t.co/TZlR3QuUEL — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 9, 2019 Several party supporters joined in to support the duo - who have been on a hot streak of sweeping legislative movements through their 2019 terms. Triple Talaq - Done Article 370 and 35A - Done Ram Mandir - Done CAB - Done in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha next NRC - Next then UCC Coming All the mistakes done by one family in India is being corrected by @narendramodi Ji & @AmitShah ji .... but Hindus worried about ONIONS — Saffron Soul 2.0 ð®ð³ ð© (@SaffronS0ul) December 9, 2019 Hats off to #MotaBhai speaking since hours and giving his job more than 100%, at this age. I mean what a heroð #CABBill — kajal vador (@kajalvador) December 9, 2019 Meanwhile, opposition supporters vehemently argued against the act - both in Parliament and after the session was concluded. While the BJP argues that the CAB aims to support religiously persecuted minorities in neighbouring countries, the list - which mentions Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians - clearly excludes Muslims. With India having the world's largest Muslim population (over 20 crore), several people shared anger and resentment against the bill's passing. BJP: "Don't complain about lynching of Muslims in India. Go to Pakistan and see how Shias, Ahmedis and Balochs are being killed." Also BJP: "How can Muslims be persecuted in a Muslim nation? It's implausible. Citizenship only for non-Muslims." ð¤ð#IndiaRejectsCAB — Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) December 6, 2019 Deeply ashamed that Edapadi Palanisamy represents my state and our people. Supporting the #CAB shows his true colours, his lack of integrity and his desperate need to remain powerful at any cost. You will all be held accountable. Enjoy your temp power till then. #IndiaRejectsCAB — Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 9, 2019 All of this has occurred against the backdrop of massive protests erupting in states such as Assam, where indigenous populations fear that the bill - along with looming NRC revisions - will result in their language and culture being eclipsed. #BREAKING Students from Gauhati University Cotton University JB law college GU staff Gu law college Silpi Samaj Assam Engineering College takes out a huge rally in protest against the #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 in Jalukbari, Assam#IndiaRejectsCAB#IndiaAgainstCAB pic.twitter.com/ZXNwLqLQHP — Siddharth Setia (@ethicalsid) December 9, 2019 The Indian state of #Assam shuts down today to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (#CAB) amid tight security in Guwahati. #IndiaRejectsCAB pic.twitter.com/WovdCheo8z — Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) December 10, 2019 Others simply argued that the government is drawing away attention from more immediate matters. Biggest problems faced by Indians today : unemployment, air pollution & water scarcity, state of public education and health, women's safety, rising income inequality, sinking economy, state of farmers, state of banks, corruption BJP's priority : CAB, NRC#IndiaRejectsCAB — Official PeeingHuman (@thepeeinghuman) December 9, 2019 While Indian economy is moving with 0% rate and the actual GDP is below 2.5%, the government wants to introduce NRC that would swallow of billions of dollars with no significant results. The state of Assam is a perfect example. #IndiaRejectsNRC#CABAgainstConstitution — Dr Yasir Nadeem (@Mufti_Yasir) December 5, 2019 Either way you look at it, the bill has split clear lines between its supporters and detractors. View the full article
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That electric automobiles are the future is no longer a secret. That being said, India has always been a market that has proved to be the proverbial David to a number of car manufacturing Goliaths. There was GM's Chevrolet, and if we are to believe several industry experts, there is the ailing Fiat. © Reuters In such a situation, one would imagine that the extreme volatility of the Indian market would be a huge deterrent to international carmakers. However, the manner in which MG and Kia have proved us wrong just goes on to show that no one, not even industry experts, can accurately predict the Indian Automotive Market. © MG India Considering all this, Morris Garages India's bet to come out all guns blazing with their first pure electric SUV is a huge gamble. Considering how somnolent the Indian automotive consumer is, in his bid to play things safe, a plan as massive as this has the potential to backfire on MG. However, if it does indeed work out for them, MG Motors will have a massive advantage when Indian cars finally go completely electric. © MG India 1. Developing Their Own Battery Packs And Battery Management Systems © MG India For the ZS EV, MG has roped in experts from practically all over the world. Starting from Bosch to UAES, to Infineon, they have the best of the best in battery manufacturing and management systems. After Tesla, MG is set to become the only carmakers that have their own battery packs, and management systems, that are being developed and updated regularly. As for the battery pack itself, the 44.5 kWh battery is IP67 rated and can power the car for more 350 km per charge. Using one of their home or office chargers, you will be able to recharge a car with a flat battery to the brim, in under 7 hours. 2. The Infrastructure To Support Practical, Everyday Usage © MG India MG has also partnered with a number of companies that install a charger at offices and homes. They're also going to provide one charger for every car that they sell. Furthermore, MG also plans to provide fast charging facilities across their most prominent dealerships. They also envision to set up an infrastructure such that within a metro city, they will have one charging point every 5 kilometres, and one every 25 kilometres on Indian Highways. Other than that, they're also on track to tie up with several on-road assistance service providers to come to you and charge your car, in case you ever run out of juice while out and about. 3. Aftersales Support © MG India One of the reasons why, in spite of being a good car, MG Hector was not a massive success in India, is its aftersale support. Furthermore, in a country that has not yet adopted EVs, the unorganised repairing sector is woefully inadequate to handle the technicality of EVs. This is important, because as per a PWC report, once a car's warranty runs out, almost half of all automobile drivers take their cars to third-party and roadside mechanics for basic servicing. This is one major area where MG will have to step their game up exponentially if they are to have a shot at that first mover's advantage. 4. The ZS EV Itself © MG India The car in itself is actually quite practical, affordable and nice. It is huge and spacious and gives the vibe of a premium, high tech SUV (mind you, not a luxury SUV). You get a massive panoramic sunroof that covers 90 per cent of the roof, a PM 2.5 particle filter that is not just extremely efficient, but quick to get effective, a very detailed analysis of your carbon emissions (or lack thereof), and a really impressive range. Even today, at a time when you have barely 10 per cent of the number of electric charging stations that we need, you can take the car for a drive around most major metros. We reckon if we know of an electrical charging station in Agra, we can safely take the ZS EV all the way from New Delhi to Agra. © MG India As for performance, electric vehicles stand head and shoulders apart from their petrol counterparts. The ZS EV is no different, as it can hit 100 kmph from a standstill in about 8 seconds. We agree that's not as fast as most electric vehicles, but then, most of them don't have a range as extensive as the ZS EV. Also, no petrol, or for that diesel-powered SUV goes that fast, unless you are ready to break the bank more than once to buy it. 5. The Situation With The Indian Automobile Market © MG India All of this brings us to the big question. Is the Indian market ready for an Electric SUV such as this? MG is betting on an assumption that yes it is. We, though, are very sceptical about this. Keeping the downward slope that the market is going through aside for a minute, we simply do not have the infrastructure to make the choice. © MG India There is also the problem of recycling battery packs. MG has indeed partnered up with Exicom Power Solutions and Umicore to recycle and repurpose spent battery packs into solutions that would be great for storing electricity for data centres and other consumer and industrial uses, but at what level will this operation be successful, leaves a big question mark. © MG India That being said, we have to say, in a bid to change the Indian automotive segment for the better, MG has come out all guns blazing, even though it needs the approval of the Indian consumers. Will they agree with them and make the rapid change that is needed? That remains to be seen. View the full article
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5 Key Things That Make The New Jaguar XE One Beast Of A Car For The Indian Roads
ADMIN posted a blog entry in FDF Online News
When Jaguar announced that they would be launching the XE back in February of 2016, the car had a lukewarm reception at best. People did buy the car and Indian petrolheads did come to fall in love with the car, but it was a painfully slow process. Nevertheless, what started out as something slow, soon evolved into something much more enflamed and impassioned. © Jaguar India Therefore, earlier this year, when Jaguar finally confirmed the insurmountable speculations and rumours that the XE would be getting a facelift this year, saying that we were glad, would be an understatement. Mind you though, it was not because we, or for that anyone else felt that the design and the aesthetic of the older cars were waning - ask anyone who adds salt to his food, and he will agree that the Jaguars of yesteryears, were a thing to behold. © Jaguar India Heck, the impact that Jaguars have had in Indian pop culture and our automotive zeitgeist, revolves on the sedan. Remember the kid who drowned his brand new BMW because that was not the car he wanted? Well, take a guess which car was he actually pinning for. © Jaguar India All this being said, we just had to get our hands on the new Jaguar XE. And having driven it (the XE-SE, to be precise) in Mumbai, we have to say, that if a car can stand out in a city with as terrible roads and traffic as Mumbai, it can ride exceptionally well in pretty much any city in India © Jaguar India Here's what happens when a sports car, comes disguises as a saloon: 1. The Ride Quality © Jaguar India The word 'sublime' does not even begin to describe the ride quality that the new Jag offers. Thanks to its light aluminium chassis, double-wishbone front suspensions and integral linked rear suspensions, its almost as if you are floating down a cloud. We will go as far as to say you don't even feel any of the smaller potholes shattering your spine and skull. That being said, the steering wheel, in spite of being an Electronic Power Assisted Steering, lets you feel more or less everything that the tyres are going through at any given moment. Truly, the best of both worlds. 2. The Acceleration © Jaguar India The acceleration figures don't seem that impressive on paper. After all, what can you expect from a 4 cylinder, 2.0-litre engine? Turns out, a lot, actually. The boffins at Jaguar, have managed to crank out 247 BHP, and 365 Nm of torque from their top of the line petrol engine. That's a performance that you can easily access and actually enjoy on Indian roads. And might we add, that the 8-speed automatic transmission and the throttle are very, very responsive. And in spite of being a turbocharged engine, we, in our testing, couldn't detect a whiff of turbo lag. 3. Segment Defining Luxury © Jaguar India There's simply no mincing words with this one, with the Jaguar XE, you get one of the best interiors to sit in and drive from at this price point. Even though the XE will seat 5 people including the driver, the true joy that this car can offer comes only to the person who is sitting at the wheel. The interiors are designed specifically focusing on him. From the wrap-around dash to extended leather trimmings, the car oozes luxury and finesse. Furthermore, the car is loaded with tech to the brim. You get a highly customisable, driver's display, both Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, and Panoramic sunroof as standard. Other things that come as standard are the Lane Keep Assist & the Driver's Condition Monitor. 4. Handling © Jaguar India In spite of its authoritative stance, the Jaguar XE handles like a dream. We did a slalom test in a reserved area and were thoroughly impressed at the manner in which it handles itself. This is where the aluminium chassis shines through and through. The brakes, the buffed up steering - everything exudes confidence. The car has been set up in such a way that no matter which one of the four driving modes you are in, you always have the confidence to throw the car into a corner, and come out of it, still grinning like a baby. 5. The Exciting New Design © Jaguar India Even at a glance, the new XE-SE manages to stand out when you compare it with its predecessor. It is far more aggressively designed, and has a longer and wider grill, has sleeker headlamps as well as taillamps, and is generously peppered with angled creases and lines. All of this results in a car that has a very commanding presence on the street. That's the mark of a classic Jaguar if you ask us. All things said and done, there are a few issues with the car. For example, the rear seating will, realistically speaking, be only able to accommodate 2 people. You wouldn't want to hire a chauffeur for this car. Also, the car, even at its highest specification, does not offer a V6 option. And finally, Jaguar's electronics aren't exactly famed to be reliable. How will the ones in the new Jaguar XE hold up over time, is a question that we are not in a position to answer. © Jaguar India © Jaguar India Having said that, we have to factor in the fact, that at a starting price of Rs 44.98 Lacs, this Jag has a lot to offer than most of its rivals at the price point. There are a number of first-in-the-segment features that you get with the new XE, but most importantly, what you get, is Jaguar's legacy. What you get, is the hardtop F-Pace, tailor-made for the Indian roads. View the full article -
In the ever-competitive world of sports, there has been a noticeable change in the mindset and approach of the athletes as they consistently try to improve themselves every day. Gone were the days when possessing adequate skillset was enough to succeed. The modern-day athletes appear to be as focussed on their fitness as they are in honing their skills. We've seen Virat Kohli undergoing a sensational transformation and achieving improved levels of fitness which has inarguably helped him become the best in international cricket. Then, there is Sunil Chhetri whose well-monitored diet and training regime has sparked a fitness revolution in Indian football. © BWF Similarly, when it comes to badminton, Kidambi Srikanth, in recent years, has not only emerged as the poster boy of Indian badminton on the back of his successful outings, but he appears to be setting new fitness standards for the aspiring shuttlers in the country. Ever since winning his first international medal in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 26-year-old has arguably come a long way to become one of the best men's singles badminton players India has ever produced. In 2014, Srikanth became the first Indian male player to win a BWF Super Series title when he got the better of five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan in the China Open final. But, it was 2017 which proved to be the best year of his career. It was the same year when Srikanth became the first Indian badminton player to win four BWF Super Series titles, claiming gold medals at the Indonesia Open, Australian Open, Denmark Open and French Open. A year later, he climbed to the world no. 1 rank in men's singles after amassing 76,895 ranking points - the best-ever total by an Indian male badminton player. © Red Bull So, how does he do it? Consistently improving his game and reaching new levels of fitness, Srikanth has turned himself into one of the best in the business. In an exclusive interview with MensXP, the Red Bull athlete revealed what it takes to excel on the international badminton circuit. RR: Which are the key areas of fitness for badminton (for example leg strength, explosive movement)? What are some of the drills you would do for each? KS: I feel fitness is strength, explosiveness, agility, endurance. All these are very important. I try and maintain and improve all these aspects. There's nothing that I leave out because getting better at every aspect is the key. RR: Which of them is the toughest for you to cope with and why? How do you divide the work between these key areas of fitness through the week? What does your typical training day look like, when not playing a tournament? KS: All of them are very tough. My coaches plan the program in a way that in one week - I think about 10-12 sessions in one week - everything gets covered. For me a normal day starts at 8:30 in the morning and it goes on until 11-11:30 am. Then again in the evening at 4 and finishes by 6:30 pm. There are also court sessions in the morning and gym or cardio sessions in the evening. View this post on Instagram #HumFitTohIndiaFit - Great Initiative by our Sports Minister @ra_rathore sir. Challenge accepted @sathish_weightlifter ðªð». I further Challenge @mahi7781 @sachintendulkar @rakulpreet @ranadaggubati to take the #FitnessChallenge. A post shared by Srikanth Kidambi (@srikanth_kidambi) on May 24, 2018 at 7:30am PDT RR: How much time do you spend on recovery and what are the best methods for it? KS: These days, the last few months, I've been trying to do something or the other after every session like pool, or massage, some deep-tissue releasing. Something or the other is happening continuously after every session. RR: Badminton is a fast-twitch sport. How hard have you had to work on that or was it something you were blessed with those fast-twitch muscle fibres? KS: I definitely have to work. Nothing comes easy and I have to work very hard. I'm still working hard to get better everyday. You can't stop at any point. It's about trying to improve with every session and I'm still in the process of getting better every day. © BWF RR: East Asian countries and a handful of European countries are India's biggest competitors in badminton. Are there any areas where they are physiologically better than the Indians? And how do you go about compensating or countering it? KS: It is very important because we have the home support every time we are playing against a foreign player. If you do well you definitely can score some good points here. RR: How do you manage the wear and tear on the body especially with the BWF making 12 tournaments mandatory in a calendar year? KS: BWF making 12 tournaments from 10 is a tough call on players. It's definitely not going to be easy. If you see, many players have been getting injured so it's really important to pick and choose tournaments that I can play. I'm being very selective on the tournaments I'm playing. View this post on Instagram Yoga is the music of the soul. Take time to make your soul happy. #WorldMusicDay #WorldYogaDay A post shared by Srikanth Kidambi (@srikanth_kidambi) on Jun 21, 2018 at 7:23am PDT RR: At what age did you start weight-training? KS: I started when I was 16-17. I started some heavy-weight training after my juniors. In badminton, the parts that take the maximum load are the knee, ankle, shoulder and back I feel, because I've had injuries in these parts. I think it's important to maintain your fitness and at the same time to try and get better. It's a tough process but you should do it in order to play at the highest level. RR: Given that sports science is ever-evolving, are there any fitness tips and tricks you have picked up in the past couple of years? KS: It's definitely evolving for sure. Sports science is something that is rapidly growing. There are a lot of things we can learn. There are a lot of things changing everyday. It's important to understand your body first and knowing what helps and doesn't help. View the full article
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"Women were always there in the navy. Just that, they were not in the cockpit." And then came Sub-Lieutenant Shivangi, changed the course of history with her achievements and became the first naval woman pilot in the Indian Navy. Sub-Lieutenant Shivangi joined operational duties in Kochi naval base today and our hearts are beaming with pride for her. She will be flying the Dornier surveillance aircraft. While talking about her operational duties and this huge achievement, she said "It's a proud feeling for me, my parents and it's a different feeling. I have been craving for this since a very long time and finally, it is here, I cannot express it...it's a great feeling. I am looking forward to complete my third stage of training." Indian Navy officials: Sub Lieutenant Shivangi today became the first naval women pilot as she joined operational duties in Kochi naval base. She will be flying the Dornier surveillance aircraft of the Indian Navy. https://t.co/2Atjwl8kal pic.twitter.com/biqfG9Ff3u — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2019 She further added, "Women were always there in the Navy. They were not in the cockpit. Observers were there. This is something different...woman in the cockpit for the first time. It will create more opportunity for other women who want to join Defence...maybe they will start going for choppers and fighters." 24-year-old Shivangi was born in Bihar's Muzaffarpur and completed her schooling from DAV Public school. Reportedly, she completed her training at the Indian Naval Academy last year and came to Kochi to train with the Indian naval air squadron, the INAS 550. View the full article
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When it comes to international fitness pageants, India has been performing extremely well of late. Be it Mr World or Mr Universe, we have managed to clinch it all. Anuj Kumar Taliyan, an Indian Army Havildar from the Madras Engineer Group, just added another feather to this cap of national achievements by winning the World Bodybuilding Championship. © Instagram/anujkumar403 Anuj received a rousing welcome by the senior Army officials after he won the gold medal for the 100+ KG category at the 11th World Bodybuilding Championship, held at Jeju Island, South Korea. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anuj Kumar Taliyan (@anujkumar403) on Nov 22, 2019 at 11:15pm PST © Instagram/anujkumar403 Apart from being absolutely buff and ripped at the same time, Anuj also has brought back the Army cut to the forefront as something that's hassle-free, low maintenance, but absolutely sharp at the same time. © Instagram/anujkumar403 Anuj had to stick to a particular grooming routine because of Army rules, but look at him making the most of it. We can see a lot of youngsters gravitating to that no-nonsense style game in the near future. © Instagram/anujkumar403 Anuj's crew fade became extremely popular a few years ago before taking a backseat in the mainstream style scene, but will clearly be back owing to its simplicity and sharpness. Add to that the clean-shaven charisma, and we have a winning look right here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anuj Kumar Taliyan (@anujkumar403) on Jul 19, 2019 at 9:51pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anuj Kumar Taliyan (@anujkumar403) on Aug 6, 2019 at 6:36am PDT Congratulations on the big win, Anuj! We wish you many more victories for the future! View the full article
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In a country where cricket is regarded as no less than a religion, India has been biased towards the gentleman's game over the years. While cricket continues to hog the limelight, other sports including football remain on the sidelines with comparatively lower fanfare. But, the times are changing and the gap, that was once feared irreversible, has reduced considerably. With a keen interest from the younger generation, football as a sport has surely broken new ground in the country. The football contests are short, crisp and probably more exciting than the cricketing contests we've been used to watching with our parents. However, despite an increasing interest in football, people in this part of the world appear to be more interested in foreign leagues like the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga. Every now and then, one can find themselves in a brief conversation about India's lack of producing a well-equipped football unit - one that can help the country qualify for the coveted FIFA World Cup. But, the conversation generally ends as soon as the players return to the pitch after half-time during a Premier League clash over the weekend. While the love for the sport is a great motivator to drive its popularity in any country, for a nation to truly make a mark on the ever-competitive world stage, its domestic leagues need support to nurture young talents so as to turn them into future stars - something that has eluded I-League over the years. © I-League It was in 1996 that India began its first domestic league known as the National Football League, rechristened as I-League in 2007. But, despite being around for almost 23 years, the country's premier football league is still an alien in India. If the lack of fanfare and viewership marred its popularity, I-League was dealt with a major blow after the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation (AFC), along with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), elevated the cash-rich Indian Super League (ISL) to the status of India's premier league earlier this October. From celebrity owners, prominent foreign coaches and players to a huge influx of money from IMG-Reliance, the ISL, in its brief existence, managed to achieve what I-League couldn't in years. Since then, I-League has played a second fiddle to the ISL with bare minimum viewership and lack of funds. © I-League But, despite lack of commercial interests and hosting games in half-empty stadiums, the I-League isn't deterred to serve its all-important purpose - nurturing young talents and providing the much-needed arsenal to ensure Indian football continues to grow in its bid to secure World Cup qualification. And, that's what the country's premier league aims for in its upcoming 13th season. Kick-starting on November 30, with Mohun Bagan FC taking on Aizawl FC in Mizoram, the 13th edition of the I-League will feature 11 teams, with the induction of TRAU FC, winners of the Hero Second division last season. In a first, fans from across the country, this season, will witness two local derbies - the legendary Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and the Imphal derby featuring Neroca FC and TRAU FC. For years, we've speculated over the quality of football in Indian domestic leagues and how it's still way behind other competitive leagues across the globe. So, is there anything different on offer from I-League this season? Well, the I-League superstars have spilled the beans. © I-League "Every year the I-League is getting tougher. Each year comparatively we have so much fight. We have the southern derby between Gokulam Kerala FC and Chennai City FC. It makes competition very tough, we have slowly shifted from the Nigerians to the Spaniards. So, we are going more towards the European style of football and most of the teams now offer the same. So, we can certainly see a difference in the style of play," Ajith Kumar, Chennai City FC defender, told MensXP. Peter Lalduhawma, Aizawl FC midfielder, feels that the evening starts to the games this season will improve the attendance in the stadiums. "I think the timings of the matches is one major different thing. Most of the fans go to work which reduces the audience in the stadiums and with 7:00 pm matches will help us attract more fans. We have already seen it in the Mizoram premier league - the fans are much more in the night than the afternoon," he told MensXP. "AIFF is putting in their efforts to improve the season every year. In the last five years we have had five different winners. The teams are better and tougher and so is the league. I believe this year the football itself will attract the fans," he added. © I-League On being asked about I-League's role in grooming and nurturing young talents, Jonathan Lalrawngbawla, Aizawl FC striker, said, "Aizawl FC has always concentrated on the youth and we already have U13, U15, U16, U17 and U19 teams. So, this coming I-League will also be very interesting for us as there are many young talented players in the team. So, it will be a new experience for the team". “Over the years the Hero I-League has been scouting and providing a platform for future stars of Indian Football. In the 13th edition this year we have 11 teams from eight states and one Union Territory fighting for the top honours. I wish luck to all the participating teams,” Kushal Das, AIFF General Secretary, said ahead of the new I-League season. Praful Patel, AIFF President, also stressed on the importance of the I-League and said, “We are very happy to welcome TRAU FC to the 13th edition of the Hero I-League. The pan India presence has been the unique feature of the league in the last few editions, and is a true testimony to the manner it has played a critical role in spreading the game to all corners of the country”. © I-League The I-League might not be able to compete with the cash-rich ISL, but if last season was anything to go by, the country's oldest professional competition was far better than its counterpart, thriving on its own strength, rather than relying on the grossly artificial publicity overdrive. Unperturbed by their demotion as country's premier league, I-League, with its new season, seems hell-bent on proving Indian football is not just about the money. After all, the beautiful game is all about courage, inspiration and steely nerves, not a vulgar display of breaking the bank. View the full article
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The big fat Indian weddings are only getting bigger and fatter, not just in India but also across the globe. Indian brides and grooms try different ways to make their wedding grand and unique. Recently, a groom made a stunning entrance to his wedding leaving all the guests astonished to another level. According to News18, the groom-to-be Akash Yadav entered his wedding venue by diving from an aircraft at Mexico's Los Cabos. While his guests cheered for him, he made his way into the baraat by gliding down in a parachute. A video of Yadav's entry has surfaced on the internet that shows his entry and guests were reacting to it saying, “How crazy is this?” to which one of the other guests replies, “Look at that,” and that's when he points the camera towards the parachute in the clear blue sky. View this post on Instagram Groom @akaashyadav made a sky diving entry into his wedding and this entry is as crazy as they come ! How are you planning your entry for the wedding? Share with us in the comments. . . . Download the @wedmegood app to find more such grand entry ideas for your wedding. Link in bio. . . . Video via @zohaibali.co.uk . . . #groomentry #grandentry #wedding #groomentryideas #wedmegood A post shared by WedMeGood (@wedmegood) on Nov 26, 2019 at 7:31am PST The video, that has now gone viral, has around 10,772 likes so far and is flooded with comments with some of them even writing that they want to try such grand entry for their weddings as well. According to Indian Express, Yadav initially planned to come by boat along with his friends at the wedding venue but then he had to turn down the plan due to some legal issues. View this post on Instagram **** with us, you know we got it. ⣠⣠#rickross #dubai #dubailife #wedding #luxurywedding #dubaiwedding #psiloveu2019 #photoshoot #photography #moodygrams #theportraitculture #portrait #photographer #portraitcentral #portraitmood #instagood #instafashion #hinfluencercollective #igportraits #artofvisuals #fashion #desi #bollywood #photooftheday #losangeles #photograph #actor #dancer #hollywood #arab A post shared by Akaash Yadav (@akaashyadav) on Nov 14, 2019 at 9:55am PST Yadav said, "I smiled and looked at my planners and said 'if I can't come by sea then I'll come by sky'. They laughed and when it quieted down, I said, 'No, I'm serious'. And the rest is history.” The wedding was filmed by UK-based photographer Zohaib Ali who said, “The groom's entry was 'crazy', and it was the first time I saw something like this. It became very difficult for us to shoot the groom's entry but we managed.” "I had no idea people would freak out the way they did. I told my brother that morning as he was waking up that I was skydiving into my baraat and he said 'shut up, no you're not' and went back to sleep. I did it 100 percent for me and the fact that it's gone viral is just icing on the cake,” Yadav added. Both the groom and the bride are professional actors and dancers in the US and got married in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Mexico. View the full article
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For someone who wasn't satisfied with his body early in his career, Virat Kohli, now, has arguably become the face of fitness in the Indian cricket team. Watching his diet and sweating it out in the gym, Kohli has transformed himself into a vital asset for Team India, with his fitness levels on par with other top-class athletes, even other than cricket. It was Kohli's stress on the need to gain adequate fitness levels which eventually sparked a revolution in the Indian team which is now one of the most athletic sides in international cricket. But, while Kohli can surely be credited for kickstarting a fitness revolution amongst his teammates, he, despite his chiselled physique and unmatched work ethic, is not the fastest man in the Indian dressing room. It's Ravindra Jadeja instead. Often labelled as the best fielder in world cricket, Jadeja needs no introduction when it comes to brilliance in the field. Whether it's converting singles into doubles, diving full length to stop the ball or hitting the stumps with perfection, Jadeja is an asset many cricket teams can only dream of. Love group conditioning sessions. And when Jaddu is in the group, itâs almost impossible to outrun him ðð. @RishabhPant17 @imjadeja pic.twitter.com/QMK4nysoFh â Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 25, 2019 While Jadeja's athleticism is well documented, his ability to outrun his Team India mates was testified by captain Kohli following their conditioning session. Taking to Twitter, the Indian captain shared a picture of himself in the company of Jadeja and Rishabh Pant, and captioned it: "Love group conditioning sessions. And when Jaddu is in the group, it's almost impossible to outrun him". On the other hand, India continue to dominate their home season and currently occupy the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship table with 360 points, well ahead of the second-placed Australia. The Kohli-led brigade began their World Test Championship campaign with a 2-0 whitewash in West Indies and carried their fine form to the home season where they crushed South Africa and, more recently, Bangladesh. While the Indian pace battery have undoubtedly emerged as a positive for India's recent success at home, Jadeja has also made his mark in the role of India's No. 6 batsman. The Saurashtra all-rounder scored three fifty-plus scores, including a knock of 91 runs, in five matches batting higher up the order. And, his batting position further allows Kohli to be flexible with his team selection. After cutting Bangladesh a sorry figure with a 2-0 whitewash in the recently-concluded Test series, Team India will now host West Indies in three Twenty20 (T20) Internationals and a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, slated to begin from 6th December in Hyderabad. View the full article
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Hospital staff pose for a photograph as they hold a diseased kidney after a surgery in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, India, October 29, 2019. AFP/Sir Ganga Ram Hospital/HandoutNEW DELHI: Indian surgeons have cut a kidney weighing the same as...
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Earlier this month we came across the WhatsApp Pegasus spying controversy which raised a lot of questions about our privacy. In fact, WhatsApp was recently under the scanner for malware that could let anyone hack into our phones. Now, we've learned that our government can essentially hack into any of our phones and gain access to intercept our communication, decrypt information and more. Yes, it's quite scary if you think about the fact that our own government is "empowered" to not only monitor but also intercept our communication at any given time. © Reuters In fact, there's an open document on the Lok Sabha website which states that "Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 empowers lawful interception of messages." You can read it right here. It states that permission to tap our phones is approved by the Union Home Secretary (for Central Government), and the Union Home Secretary of the State concerned (in case of a State Government). The document also states that a total of 10 government agencies have the necessary authorization to intercept our communication at any given time. Here's the complete list of the agencies - 1. Intelligence Bureau 2. Narcotics Control Bureau 3. Enforcement Directorate 4. Central Board of Direct Taxes 5. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence 6. Central Bureau of Investigation 7. National Investigation Agency 8. Cabinet Secretariat (RAW) 9. Directorate of Signal Intelligence © Reuters This particular matter was brought to light by minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy while responding to questions in the parliament. In his response, he cited the said document. It's also worth pointing out that the government is currently trying to get Facebook to eliminate end-to-end encryption so they can trace the messages back to the sender or receiver. While that sounds like a fair request for tracking terrorists and others who are a threat to the nation, we aren't sure everyone concerned about their privacy wouldn't find it intrusive. If Facebook gets rid of end-to-end encryption, not only the government but even hackers will be able to trace all the messages and more. Facebook isn't budging though, but we wonder what will happen in the future. And the fact that our government agencies have the authorization to get into our phones any time isn't helping the case either. Of course, Reddy didn't suggest that the agencies with access are indeed tapping our phones actively. However, it's hard to believe that some people out there can legally tap into our phones. It certainly raises a lot of questions about human rights violations among many others. Source: Lok Sabha Document View the full article
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We have plenty of reasons to celebrate International Men's Day. Apart from talking about gender equality, both manhood and boyhood need to be talked about in equal spaces too. For the uninitiated, International Men's Day is celebrated on November 19, every year and the focus is mostly on health, highlighting discrimination against men and promoting gender equality. But in today's day and age, Men's Day is a lot more about picking and choosing the right role models who become timely inspirational stories for other men to follow suit. © The Independent Agreed, both men and women don't need a dedicated day to glorify their kind. We don't need to take a day out of our schedules to go on writing about why there is a day dedicated to a particular gender nor do we need to get out on the streets and tell the world about it. It's just a keen reminder of how times have changed, where we, as a society, have accepted, normalised and internalised a lot of changing aspects that gender roles have brought in to our lives. A lot of men, fortunately, have stood the test of time to talk about normalising stereotypes in society and have been there to support and inspire numerous others through their chosen fields and it's time to talk about them today. Here are 6 men from different fields and walks of life who continue to break stereotypes in society, so that young people have a chance to look up to someone as inspirational as them: 1. Health & Fitness: Milind Soman View this post on Instagram 15k today takes this weeks distance to 60k! ð need to have an average of 60-70km per week to maintain the level of fitness that I am accustomed to ð cant run every day as I would like, but have got to make the time. . . . The goal is not a marathon, or Ironman. Out of 24hrs×7days which is 168hrs I need to find 8hrs for myself. That's the goal. . . . #keepmoving #keeplearning #Live2Inspire #fitnessaddict #nevergiveup #findtime #maketime #fitterin2019 #neverstop #runner #runnersofinstagram #runningman ð· @ankita_earthy the cutie ⤠A post shared by Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) on Nov 15, 2019 at 11:55pm PST One of the greatest names in the fitness and health industry in India, the 53-year-old has broken every age and fitness related stereotype there is. He's in great shape and has been giving major fitness goals to people since a while now. The man ran a 72 Km marathon in Delhi last year to mark 72 years of Independence for the country and that's not all. He's been organising marathons since years now and urges the young population of India to always stay fit and healthy. The man also married someone a lot younger than him and re-defined the age-gap parameter between a couple. For him, age is just a number, in every sense of the way and we always look forward to his posts and videos on fitness and health. © Asmen India © Instagram 2. Entertainment/Bollywood: Aamir Khan © MensXP Only a few celebrities have managed to stand out with their ubiquitous panache and acting prowess over the years, while delivering some excellent quality content on-screen. One of the fewer actors who comes to mind when I put these words together, is Aamir Khan and at 54, he's made a huge mark on the entire cinematic experience in India. Aamir takes story-telling as an art that can also change someone's life along with changing the trajectory of cinema in India. Through his stories on real-time issues that plague society, he connects with a larger audience who appreciate his work and acknowledge the sentiments behind it. © UTV Motion Pictures Apart from creating a stern chance for philanthropic work on grave social issues in society, through his films, Aamir believes in his art so much that he never attends a single award function. His vision and ideologies go hand in hand with his dedication towards cinema and we're glad we have someone amidst us who understands the importance of some great cinematic experience. His films have talked about subjects that resonate with breaking societal stereotypes very gravely. Films like PK, 3 Idiots, Taare Zameen Par and even Dhobi Ghat, talk about the damaging effects of flawed notions in society, which have left a rather big impact on the newer, evolving generation today. 3. Sports: Mahendra Singh Dhoni © BCCI MS Dhoni has broken all stereotypes of leadership and every young sportsman or woman can aspire to be just like him. While there are other sportsmen in the country who've been quite an inspiration as well, but along with raging adrenaline to play a sport, you have to have a calming effect on yourself and people around you to carry forth a label of good sportsmanship and Dhoni has done just that quite flawlessly. During his captaincy, and even after, Dhoni always motivated his team in a manner that was energising and yet calm. He never exerted any pressure and was the least aggressive of all the leaders who've been a part of the Indian cricket team. © BCCI "Dhoni, as a captain, completely demolished any form of hierarchy in the team and created a platform for players to interact with each other, suggest and chalk out strategies" - said Pavan Choudary, an Indian writer and a TV show host, in an interview with TOI. 4. Fashion: Ujjawal Dubey © Ujjawal Dubey Breaking stereotypes in fashion is a bigger deal than its made to be. It's an integral part of every man's wish list to look and feel the finest and that's where our designers and stylists come in to make a difference in every sense of the word. While there are many inspirational designers out there, the one name that stood out to us was that of Ujjawal Dubey, who has pushed the envelope on developing ethnic menswear through his label, Antar-Agni. His label produces sartorial masterpieces that have redefined Indian fashion on a global scale. The sense of style he creates around ethnic wear clearly resonates with a lot of Indian men who just don't want to go to another wedding honouring the black-tie affair! "Antar - Agni means 'the fire within'. It's all about the human self and the expression of emotions, psyche, behaviour and experience. I chose this name as an ode to the years of complexities and ordeals I went through before I found myself and the drive I had", Ujjawal says in an interview with MensXP. © Antar-Agni 5. Hospitality: Keshav Suri © Twitter Keshav Suri inherited a well-established empire from his late father and Indian F&B stalwart Lalit Suri, but Kitty Su was not a part of it. The youngest executive director of the Lalit Group of Hotels has carved a niche for himself and his creative, futuristic style has earned him great rewards. Kesav Suri is a cultural icon for the LGBTQ community in India. Recently, he filed a petition with the Supreme Court on challenging Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises a consensual relationship between consenting adults of the same ***. © BCCI The young Suri has been instrumental in driving a lot of unique initiatives at the Lalit group. He started Kitty Su in 2011 with the intent of delivering a unique experience to the millennials and it worked. Kitty Su has made big strides in the F&B business and it is the only nightclub from India to be featured in DJ Mag for three years consecutively. It has also been awarded as Best Night Club in Delhi by Times Food and Nightlife Awards. 6. Politics: Dr Shashi Tharoor © Amazon Prime Video With his impeccable vocabulary, Tharoor is certainly a people's politician. Recently, he was seen as a stand-up comedian, on the show One Mic Stand, which was well received by the viewers. The 10-minute stand-up act in the last episode made Twitter go absolutely gaga over the Congress MP trying his luck at humour, under the guidance of comic Kunal Kamra. Together, Kamra and Tharoor made hysterical statements and jokes about the present government and certain journalists 'who must not be named', or else they might file a defamation case! But needless to say, Twitter was quite amazed by Tharoor's stand-up act as he did something no politician has done before- "made people laugh intentionally", through his clever jokes and not through his misguided actions! While there are several other men in the country who've truly been an inspiration while breaking stereotypes, we certainly can't name them all. But for International Men's Day this year, let's follow the lead of these 6 men who've motivated an entire nation to think laterally, out of the box! View the full article
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Taking inspiration from the Iron Man franchise, a part-time employee working at a private university in Varanasi has developed a prototype 'Iron Man' suit to help the Indian Army. No, we aren't joking! According to ANI, Shyam Chaurasia from Varanasi said that he has made the suit prototype keeping the Indian army soldiers in mind. "It is a metal suit designed to help the Indian Army soldiers during their encounters with terrorists and enemies. Currently, it is just a prototype, but it can help the soldiers immensely during the times of the battle,” Chaurasia told ANI. While, Chaurasia thinks that the Iron-Man suit can help the Indian Army, here's what the internet thinks- You Vs the Guy she told you not to worry about pic.twitter.com/j6e9lddnb3 — Jitesh Rochlani (@jiteshrochlani) November 19, 2019 If the idea is to kill the enemy by laughter, this might work. — Ashwin (@ashwin_thm) November 18, 2019 WTH is that? Some villain from Shaktiman?? — #KamleshTiwari #justice4valayarvictims (@GunjanMallik) November 19, 2019 Need any other proof of unemployment and joblessness in India? — Ashutosh Mishra (@Tweetingchintu) November 19, 2019 Iron man: am I joke to you? — Ajay J TPN (@bipolardoggo) November 19, 2019 ðð¤£ðð¤£ðð» isko bhejo border pe is suit ke saath ye khud nahi jayega aur bike ka helmet konsi goli rokega ð yeh jarur peene ke baad isko idea aaya hain — ND_gabbar (@dhi_gabbar) November 19, 2019 pic.twitter.com/gPXuavoWSP — Anand (@couch_batata) November 19, 2019 Bahubali movie dekha tha kya isne. — Nihar Somani (@nihar_somani) November 19, 2019 While the suit seems to be made of jugaad technology, Chaurasia is determined to seek funds to turn it into a working model. “I would urge the government agencies like DRDO to take note of this suit and to build upon it to help the soldiers as other countries like Pakistan among others too are working on such models. The cost of a soldier's life is very high, what I have done is just an attempt to bring it in the radar of DRDO and other agencies,” he also said. What do you think about the desi Iron Man suit? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article
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Bollywood and manhood have lived a complicated life together. We live in a country where over 250 crore people scramble to watch films every year - over twice the number of moviegoers in China or the United States. This means that our society, more than perhaps any other in the world, culturally depends on what we see onscreen, and who we see doing it. Despite facing criticism for its less-than-stellar treatment of women through the years, Bollywood has placed immense emphasis on the leading men, often captured in heroic postures on bright, nostalgia-inducing film posters. Everyone from thugs to tycoons, soldiers to scholars have been framed on film for everyone to see - and over time, helped define, mature and even reinvent the idea of masculinity. This International Men's Day, we'd like to take a look at these cultural icons and how they defined the cinema of their times. The 1940s - Ashok Kumar Perhaps Kumar's greatest contribution to playing men onscreen was his breakthrough hit - 1943's Kismet. Playing a remorseless pickpocket with a compassionate side, he introduced us to the anti-hero - a complex, pivotal aspect that provided men with a truly relatable onscreen presence. The film's subject matter was also quite radical for the time. Kumar's choices in film would also reflect the shifting tides for newly independent India. Mahal (1949) saw Kumar take the lead for India's first film featuring a 'reincarnation story', in a mix of horror and romance that influences popular cinema even today. Kumar was also unafraid to play negative roles even during his time as one of the most successful heroes in Bollywood - the intelligent, bold and noir-inspired Sangram (1950) sees Kumar play a spoilt brat turn into a ruthless criminal. The 1950s - Guru Dutt Through the 50s, Guru Dutt released films that took away much of the grandeur and 'macho' ideas associated with heroes. His characters were flawed, often destitute and fighting against themselves as in Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955) & Pyaasa (1957) - or falling from grace as in Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). Much of this reflected the filmmaker's own pain and frustration with life - a theme that continues through all his films and is perhaps why, even half a century later, they still stir deep emotions and relatability. The 1960s - Dharmendra The 60s were a time where western pop culture finally began to reach Indian masses. Gradually, studios began to look at concepts such as female-led romance films and even the James Bond craze. Dharmendra would take on both of these challenges back in the 60s. Known as Garam Dharam at the time, he began his career alongside Meena Kumari, taking on early feminist cinema such as Anpadh (1962), playing a gentle, slow-burner romantic in films such as Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1967) and even Aakhen (1968) - one of India's earliest spy themed romantic-thrillers. This soft spoken yet suave roster of roles was just the thing that a new, younger and better-read Indian man wanted to see. The 1970s - Amitabh Bachchan One of the most interesting things about this legendary figure of Indian cinema is that he very accurately represented a symbol for young men during the seventies. Underemployed, barred by discrimination - these were challenges the young actor faced in his early days, being told by filmmakers that he was too dark, too tall and too intense to play the likeable, fair-skinned funnyman that past heroes tended towards. Soon enough, films themselves became darker, more imposing and intense themselves - giving the frustration of the youth a cinematic avatar through 'The Angry Young Man'. Eventually, even Dharmendra and Bachhan came together in Sholay (1975) - a film that came to define the decade itself. The 1980s - Naseeruddin Shah Subtle, sensitive and full of charm - Naseeruddin Shah's career in the eighties was a series of timeless movies that aged very well - his interesting, challenging roles rode the crest of new-age cinema during his time at the top. Known for taking on films with deep socio-political themes, he's tackled everything from a social comedy in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983) and a complicated romance as a blind man in Sparsh (1980), showing his versatility at two different ends of the spectrum. It's also interesting to note that he's played a man in uniform several times - everything from lawyers to policemen and army chiefs, usually with sharp wit and complete authority. The 1990s - Shah Rukh Khan Seriously, could it be anyone else? SRK's journey as an actor through the 90s reflected much of the two-sided life men have had to lead - first struggling as a ruthless anti-hero in Baazigar (1993) and playing other darker roles. Soon though, the lighter side of life came through when he absolutely nailed his role as Raj in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). His lighthearted, charismatic and yet romantically intense roles have cemented his reputation as Bollywood's undisputed 'King of Romance' - with a signature pose that's been copied by Indian men for the last twenty years. The 2000s - Hrithik Roshan Along with all the comparisons to 'Greek gods' and the likes, there's no denying it - Hrithik has been a titanic presence in some of the decade's biggest films. While often typecast as the 'perfect hero', due to his looks and general screen presence, his roles matured immensely through the decade, reflecting the interests of his male audience and his own journey. Beginning with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai in 2000, he played an interesting spin on the classic coming-of-age, boy-to-man story in Lakshya 4 years later - finally ending the decade in the incredibly touching Guzarish. This push for more, despite stunt injuries, personal traumas and even spinal conditions that threatened his career, inspired millions of fans to adopt his brand of masculinity. The 2010s - Ayushmann Khurrana Khurrana's star is still rising - it's been around seven years since his debut in Vicky Donor, and the resulting legacy of films tackling social problems, unique scripts such as Andhadhun's and a commonly recurring theme in his films - male insecurities - have helped immensely in raising awareness and broadening conversations amongst both men and women today. This year, his upcoming film Bala aims to tackle the stigma surrounding male pattern baldness- a major source of anxiety for several men, both young and old. View the full article
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Indian police battle baton charge students over fee protests
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
NEW DELHI: Indian police fought street battles in New Delhi on Monday with thousands of students who stepped up protests over fee increases at one of the country´s top universities.Police baton charged some groups of demonstrators and media... -
Pakistan rejects Indian foreign minister's 'unfounded remarks'
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday rejected the 'unfounded' remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stating that it would continue to raise the voice of the people of occupied Kashmir. READ MORE: Kashmir conference urges... -
Arguably one of the greatest captains of England, Michael Vaughan, long after retirement, continues to garner great public interest over his insightful match analysis and unmatched knowledge of the gentleman's game. But, every now and then, the former England cricketer's brutally honest comments often draw criticism for fans. And, lately, Vaughan seems to have found a way to ruffle the feathers of Indian cricket fans. His comments on Indian pitches during the Test series against South Africa drew the ire of cricket fans in the country. And, on 14th November, Vaughan's tweet on the Indore pitch, where India and Bangladesh are currently playing the 1st Test, once again had the social media buzzing. This Test Match pitch in India is a belter .... #Justsaying #INDvBAN — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 14, 2019 Taking to Twitter, Vaughan gave his opinion about the Indore pitch, calling it a "belter". "This Test Match pitch in India is a belter....#Justsaying #INDvBAN," he tweeted. Vaughan was probably lauding the ground staff for preparing a competitive, fast-bowling pitch at the Holkar Cricket Stadium which explains why Bangladesh were bundled out for a mere 150 runs as the seam-bowling trio of Mohammed Shami (3-27), Ishant Sharma (2-20) and Umesh Yadav (2-47) made merry in the first innings. Why because it's green and represents a seamer instead of a turner? Expand your mind Vaughn, not every wicket has to represent a white mans pitch.. diverse wickets make test cricket interesting @nikkrishnan #INDvBAN — Anks (@anks1606) November 14, 2019 But, despite Vaughan's intentions, an Indian fan thought the former England captain was being sarcastic while taking a dig at the country's fondness of preparing spin-friendly wickets. In response to Vaughan's tweet, the fan wrote: "Why because it's green and represents a seamer instead of a turner? Expand your mind Vaughn, not every wicket has to represent a white mans pitch.. diverse wickets make test cricket interesting". White mans pitch !!!!!!!! What a strange comment .... Do you not see the diverse nature of the England Cricket team these days !!??? #OnOn https://t.co/cuT67z22t1 — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 14, 2019 Not the one to back down from a fight, Vaughan wasted no time in scripting his response. "White mans pitch !!!!!!!! What a strange comment....Do you not see the diverse nature of the England Cricket team these days!!??? #OnOn," Vaughan responded. Have seen ur tweets re a particular type of wicket that apparently gives credence in the eyes of aussies and the English.. we Indians enjoy the green decks england and SA provide.. but also enjoy the dry turners we get in ind.. diversity is what makes test cricket great! Embrace — Anks (@anks1606) November 14, 2019 Vaughan's response further drew a retort from the Indian fan who explained his stance while urging the England great to embrace "dry turners" as much as the green surfaces in cricket. "Have seen ur tweets re a particular type of wicket that apparently gives credence in the eyes of aussies and the English.. we Indians enjoy the green decks england and SA provide.. but also enjoy the dry turners we get in ind.. diversity is what makes test cricket great! Embrace," the Indian fan tweeted back. The exchange between the two also sparked a great debate on social media. @MichaelVaughan ,don't argue with our 1.3 billion experts,u ought to lose — Moukthik susarla (@MoukthikS) November 14, 2019 Racism at its lowest point as the white race can't say anything about any race and must accept anything any other race says about us — Alan jones (@Alanjons7) November 14, 2019 White men is the mentality for 3rd world and developing countries like India. You guys think that what you do is how it is supposed to be done. Guess what we are not slaves any more. — Restoring India (@restoringindiaa) November 14, 2019 It's cricket, get a grip ðððð — Keren Disbury (@kegsthekopite) November 14, 2019 If it has been diverse how could England post such high scores in ODI's on a consistent basis barring a few odd ones post 2015 to 2019 WC?? #nonsense — Sultan Fheroz (@ifheroz) November 14, 2019 pic.twitter.com/NiFjkzvoj7 — dave (@dave_james_e) November 14, 2019 View the full article
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We all know how bad censorship can get in India, but this might be a new low. According to Huffington Post, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has asked the makers of Ford v Ferrari to censor alcohol from the movie for its release in the country. Yep, alcohol, which is something that is probably in almost every Bollywood movie and never gets censored. The much awaited movie starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon is all set to release tomorrow but looks like, we'll have to deal with just blurred out stuff in a few scenes. It's going to be as bad as that smoking warning in Joker. Remember the annoying text throughout the movie? The blurring out of some scenes just looks very awkward and very unnecessary. Just look at it! © Huffington Post Oh no, we can't even tell what's under that. © Huffington Post Seriously can't guess what's hiding there, someone help. © Huffington Post Hold on, that's not it. Reportedly, in another crucial scene, the phrase “son of a bitch” has been muted completely, making it quite confusing for the viewers. I mean, the audience can handle looking at alcohol and hearing some swearing, why ruin a movie to 'protect' people from something so unnecessary? People were angry after learning this, and rightly so. Even Farhan Akhtar shared it on Twitter, talking about how ridiculous it is. The day is not far when they'll just have the script read out in theatres. Why the Indian adult is treated like a delinquent who can't think for him/herself or tell right from wrong is beyond me!! https://t.co/Enwi0cBepu — Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) November 13, 2019 Yep. Stupidity has no limits. This censor board nonsense needs to be done away with. https://t.co/hhzN8KPDUn — Sreemoy Talukdar (@sreemoytalukdar) November 12, 2019 Oh, for sure. Hypocrisy, thy name is India https://t.co/VF4AWaUwRl — Nirjhari Sinha (@NirjhariSinha) November 12, 2019 WTF is correct. Oh shite. WTF CBFC. https://t.co/F4MTbCnZHt — Aaronðªï¸ (@ROALY) November 13, 2019 Those days are not far. main tau bolu they shd start blurring the actor's faces too. why should we have white western sabhayata waley faces when releasing the film in india. this is against our kalchaar. — Suhail ð®ð³ð³ð±ðªðº (@tweepul) November 12, 2019 Yep. And you thought Japanese porn was weird https://t.co/CgwxCpuwsC — Dahibara Aloodam (@shai_bal) November 12, 2019 No thought process. WHAT THE ACTUAL ****. I just cant understand the thought process behind this crap. https://t.co/YcN6jnZVgy — Anand (@batra_chotoxin) November 12, 2019 Find something better to do. Ridiculous. Doesn't the censor board have better things to do? This is how we end up becoming the laughing stock of the world. https://t.co/x4rNV1zPRm — Brig V Mahalingam (@BrigMahalingam) November 13, 2019 Wait, what does she mean. WHISKY tango foxtrot. https://t.co/Vla442g2oZ — barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 12, 2019 They were, for the longest time. And kisses should be hidden by flowers too. https://t.co/ogvRbqVP1Y — Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) November 13, 2019 It's illogical. I can understand blurring brands. That's pretty common incl.for IP reasons , but blurring glasses is infantile and idiotic. https://t.co/36RIGTl5MJ — Ameet Datta (@DattaAmeet) November 12, 2019 Yep. Also major hypocrisy here. The country is one of the largest consumers of whisky in the world. Moreover, most states' budgets would suffer greatly sans liquor tax revenue. Finally, it's against Indian culture ;) Bans don't work, folks. Encourage moderation. https://t.co/RFz62iPKPa — Tanvi Madan (@tanvi_madan) November 12, 2019 Sums it up. Sigh. https://t.co/kUquuqfMKh — Vishal Agnihotri (@Dilliwasi) November 12, 2019 View the full article
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PUBG Mobile Club Open Fall Split 2019 saw the South Asian regional finals come to an end on Sunday, with two Indian teams battling for the regional championship title, after securing spots for the international finals taking place in Malaysia on November 29. © PMCO/Tencent After a triple chicken-dinner snag, Entity Gaming grabbed the top spot with 220 points, while fan-favourites SouL came hot on their heels with 210, and a single chicken-dinner. SouL's Naman Mathur, aka MortaL, claimed Tencent's 'fan-favourite' award, and addressed fans, supporters and rivals in a lengthy Facebook post. Unexpectedly, Mumbai-based MortaL not only dedicated their effort in the tournament to the Indian Army, but also announced that he would be donating his share of the earnings to them as well. According to the National Defence Fund website, donations made will primarily fund technical scholarships and the families of ex-servicemen in the forces - quite the noble cause. It's been a tense year for gaming in India - stories of PUBG addiction and even a death caused by overplaying the game have given mobile gaming a bad rap amongst parents and schools, though e-sports success stories such as these prove that there's potential for not just professional careers in gaming, but humanitarian support as well. Regarding his 'fan-favourite' award, the 23-year-old gamer said, “It feels great! I was not aware of vote stuff, but later on, Tencent guys came to me and handed over the goodies saying that you have won the fan-favorite award on the website.” View the full article
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LIVE: Pakistan inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
The Government of Pakistan has fulfilled a long-awaited demand of the Sikh community and Prime Minister Imran Khan is going to inaugurate today the extended Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and the Kartarpur Corridor.Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, situated in... -
The 30-year-long dispute around the Ayodhya Babri Masjid issue has been finally laid to rest as the five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, along with Justices DY Chandrachud, S Abdul Nazeer, Ashok Bhushan, and SA Bobde delivered the unanimous judgement on the much awaited case. © Twitter/DD News Since 1949 when the first unrest around the Ayodhya Ram Mandir - Babri Masjid broke out, the eventual demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 by a group of Hindu activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and its allies, to this day when the Supreme Court's special five-judge bench announced that there will be no losers in this fight, it has been the focal point of national politics and emotions. Just minutes ago, CJI Gogoi formally announced that a Ram Mandir will be constructed on the disputed Babri Masjid land, while a separate 5-acre land will be given for the construction of a masjid in the area. © Twitter/thefirstindia The special bench has tried to uphold the meaning of democracy with this verdict, giving both Hindus and Muslims in the country a reason to come together and celebrate. While a lot is being said, many opinions and emotions have surfaced on social media post the verdict. Here is what people are saying. Supreme Court acted like a dad, who saw his kids fighting over something, gave that thing to one kid and bought a new one for the other Great decision ðð»#AYODHYAVERDICT — Dr. GILL 2.0 (@ikpsgill1) November 9, 2019 Their credit was due too. Due credit should be given to all the 5 judges of this panel.ðð They have finally ended the longest case in the legal history. They worked overtime and were preparing judgements during Diwali vacation.#AyodhyaJudgment #AYODHYAVERDICT — Upasana Singh (@upasanatigress) November 9, 2019 Here come the Ram Bhakts Vanvas comes to an end. #RamMandir to come up on the disputed land. #AYODHYAVERDICT Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram ðð¼ð¸ pic.twitter.com/CyuZ8uVesV — Ashish Tiwari (@ashish_speakss) November 9, 2019 Happy on the decision of the Supreme Court.After an long struggle Ram conquered His Birth Placeð¥ðï¸ #AYODHYAVERDICT #RamMandir pic.twitter.com/UA7DkTBYbO — Sanjayð®ð³ (@sansachu10) November 9, 2019 The call for peace and unity is strong. Victory for all.. lets celebrate and forget whatever happend.. lets move together, lets just be happy.. Lets not fight anymore as the main matter has come to an end... Congratulations to everyone... #RamMandir #RamJanmbhoomi #AYODHYAVERDICT — Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) November 9, 2019 We are overjoyed after waiting for 550 years and battling it out in courtrooms for 135 years. Those who insulted Shri Ram for petty political gains must hang their heads in shame. But it's also important to maintain peace and respect the other side. #AYODHYAVERDICT — Madhav Sharma (माधव शरà¥à¤®à¤¾) (@HashTagCricket) November 9, 2019 People uphold the judgement. Clear and decisive judgment that solves this longstanding problem. Special regard to the Supreme Court for accepting the evidence of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that proved ancient temple existed on the site. #AYODHYAVERDICT #RamMandir — Dr David Frawley (@davidfrawleyved) November 9, 2019 Not only the most historic but also one of the the balanced verdicts. India is county with multiple religions and beliefs and we must not only accept but also welcome the apex court verdict to set an example for the rest of the world. #AYODHYAVERDICT — Pradeep Bhandari(पà¥à¤°à¤¦à¥à¤ª à¤à¤à¤¡à¤¾à¤°à¥) (@pradip103) November 9, 2019 While some still hold reservations. The #AYODHYAVERDICT was the last nail in the coffin of my dying trust in the judiciary. — Irena Akbar (@irenaakbar) November 9, 2019 Lmao who did this hindutva court try to fool? Gave all the land to Hindus and Muslims will get it somewhere else? The Babri masjid was demolished by Hindus! Most politically motivated decision ever. Secular India my ass! Watch out for #Hinglaj and #KatasRaj now #AYODHYAVERDICT — ♠ï¸ (@uzairjaat) November 9, 2019 View the full article
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NEW DELHI: A group of Indians including journalists and lawyers whose phones were hacked via Facebook?s WhatsApp messaging platform asked the government on Friday to make public its ties with the Israeli firm accused of deploying the...
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Two Indian players arrested in growing 'spot-fixing' scandal
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were arrested in Bangalore by a special unit investigating corruption and fixing.? Photo: FileNEW DELHI: Two former Indian Premier League players have been arrested for spot-fixing in a scandal-ridden regional tournament,...