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[poonamparekh]

Petrol, diesel rates continue to fall on Friday

The rates of fuel across India are witnessing a continuous decline due to a fall in the prices of crude oil

Current Affairs : Fuel prices once again witnessed a decline on Friday in New Delhi and Mumbai owing to a reduction in the rates of crude oil.

In New Delhi, petrol is being sold at Rs 77.10 per litre after a decrease of 18 paise, and diesel at Rs 71.93 per litre after a decrease of 16 paise.Meanwhile, petrol is retailing 18 paise lower at Rs 82.62 per litre and diesel at Rs 75.36 after a decrease of 17 paise in Mumbai.

The rates of fuel across India are witnessing a continuous decline due to a fall in the prices of crude oil. The United States recently softened its stand on Iran’s sanctions and gave its nod to eight countries to…read more

           →News Source: BS / Business Standard←

[poonamparekh]

Down under, ‘King’ Kohli is thunder: Why Aussies are going gaga over Virat

The Indian skipper’s exploits apart, the broadcasters may have little choice: With local stars Smith and Warner banned, they might grab some eye balls by creating excitement around the visiting star

Cricket News : The Australians are doing the unthinkable. They are actually lionising the Indian cricket captain, calling him ‘King’ Kohli and using the footage around his exploits with the bat to ask if he will be the first ever Indian Test captain to win a series in Australia.

Fox Sports, the official Australian broadcaster for the forthcoming tour of India Down Under, has been running a promo film over the past few days celebrating the success of Virat Kohli, and portraying what a visual delight he is to watch as a batsman.

The accompanying digital campaign centres around ‘Will @imVkohli reign supreme in Australia! #FoxCricket’. But it is the TV commercial that is more effusive. A collage of spectator shots interspersed with Kohli’s batting footage has supers that say, ‘The King is coming’, ‘The World’s Best Batsman Is on Fire’, ‘Fastest ever to 10,000 ODI runs’, ‘2018 ODI Average 133.5’, ‘The first India Test Captain To…read more

→News Source: BS / Business Standard←

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Cong releases first list of candidates for Rajasthan polls

The list includes the names of Sachin Pilot, the leader of opposition in the state, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot

Politics News : The Congress has released its first list of 152 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections. The list includes the names of Sachin Pilot, the leader of opposition in the state, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

After detailed deliberations at the party’s Central Election Committee, it was decided that Pilot, who is the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) chief, will contest from Tonk, while Gehlot will contest from his home turf – Sardarpura constituency.

Meanwhile, senior party leaders CP Joshi and Giriraj Vyas will contest from Nathdwara and Udaipur, respectively. Also, ex-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former top cop of Rajasthan Harish Meena, who recently joined the Congress, has also managed to register his name in the candidates’ list and will…read more

           →News Source: BS / Business Standard←

[poonamparekh]

#MeToo: Nana Patekar responds to CINTAA, dubs Dutta's charges as 'baseless'

Actor Nana Patekar has dismissed as "motivated and malicious" the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by actor Tanushree Dutta in his reply to the Cine and TV Artists' Association (CINTAA).

Patekar claimed that Dutta had not made any accusations against him in 2008, when the alleged incident took place.

Patekar, through his lawyer Aniket Nikam, sent his reply earlier this week after CINTAA issued a notice to him upon a complaint filed by Dutta.

Dutta has alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her during the shooting of a song for the film "Horn Ok Pleaseee" in 2008.

Also, when she refused to shoot for the song, Patekar and the film's producer summoned goons to the set who threatened her and damaged her car, she alleged.

"My client (Patekar) denies in toto (completely) the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations, insinuation levelled by Dutta," the reply said.

Patekar has been subjected to mental harassment due to the "motivated and malicious" vilification campaign, it said.

[poonamparekh]

#Metoo: Sushant Singh Rajput denies harassment issue by Sanjana Sanghi

Sushant Singh Rajput has been accused of sexual misconduct by his "Kizie Aur Manny" co-star Sanjana Sanghi. In his defence, the actor shared screenshots of their SMS conversation and called it a "smear campaign".

Sushant on Friday tweeted snapshots of his conversation with Sanjana from the first day to the last day of the film's shoot, and captioned it: "I feel sad to reveal personal information but it seems that there is no other way to state what was, in the midst of this curated and well-timed smear campaign.

Sushant Singh Rajput

@itsSSR

I feel sad to reveal personal information but it seems that there is no other way to state what was, in the midst of this curated and well timed smear campaign. From the first till the last day of the shoot, this is what happened on the Set with Sanjana. (1/2)

7:54 AM - Oct 19, 2018

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"From the first till the last day of the shoot, this is what happened on the set with Sanjana."

Sanjana has accused the 32-year-old actor of behaving inappropriately on the sets of the movie, saying he made her feel "uncomfortable" with his "overly friendly behaviour" during the shoot in Jodhpur.

On Thursday, Twitteratis pointed at Sushant's missing blue verification tick on the micro-blogging platform following the claims.

However, Sushant on Friday clarified: "For all those deliberately using the missing of Twitter 'blue tick' to substantiate their false claims, allow me to tell you that it is not there since September 5. Get your facts checked before jumping to conclusions that you so eagerly want to.

[poonamparekh]

As health apps enter medical mainstream is there a way to bring some order?

The heart rate monitor built into the new Apple Watch has sparked sharp debate over its risks and benefits, even though the feature was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration.

But out of the spotlight, the FDA has been doing away with regulatory action altogether on many diagnostic health apps targeting consumers, seeking to accelerate digital health adoption by defining many of these as “low risk” medical devices.

As the number of mobile health apps surged to a record 325,000 in 2017, app performance is going largely unpoliced, leading to what’s been dubbed a “Wild West” situation. Unfortunately for health consumers, the public can’t rely on the research community to play the role of sheriff.

When colleagues and I recently examined the medical literature on direct-to-consumer diagnostic apps in a study published in Diagnosis, we repeatedly found studies marred by bias, technological naïveté or a failure to provide crucial information for consumers. There was also a glaring lack of studies with actual consumers to see how they use these apps and what the impact on individual health, whether for better or worse, might be.

[poonamparekh]

Sabarimala temple: 2 women attempt entry, protestors send them back

An entry point near the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Friday virtually turned into an area of confrontation.

A large number of devotees opposing the entry of women of the menstrual age group blocked two women -- a reporter from Hyderabad and another said to be an activist from Kerala -- at the Valiya Nadappandhal near Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

Inspector General S Sreejith heading a team of police personnel providing security cover to the women assured the protesting devotees chanting Ayyappa mantra that they would not like to move forward to the Sannidhanam with the women, hurting the sentiments of devotees.

Amid mounting pressure, Devaswom Minster Kadakampally Surendran said in Thiruvananthapuram the activists should not try to make holy land of Lord Ayyappa a place to prove their strength.

Police is holding discussions with the women who still insist they should reach the shrine.

[poonamparekh]

Panasonic launches 'Ray 530' smartphone under 'Eluga' series for Rs 8,999

Expanding its "Eluga" series with "Big View" display, Panasonic on Wednesday launched "Ray 530" smartphone for Rs 8,999 in India.

The dual-SIM smartphone comes with a 5.7-inch HD+ display, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage and face unlock feature.

The device also comes with Panasonic's trademark Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled assistant -- Arbo Hub.

"The 'Eluga Ray 530' is a performance powerhouse that offers exceptional features such as high definition display, stylish looks, and the AI - Arbo Hub - our one stop app to make life easier," said Pankaj Rana, Business Head, Mobility Division, Panasonic India.

Running on Android Oreo 8.0, powered by 1.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor and 3000 mAh battery, the device features a 13MP rear camera with auto focus (AF) and a 5MP selfie shooter with flash.

"Eluga Ray 530" is available for purchase in black and blue colour variants on various online platforms.

[poonamparekh]

Man orders mobile phone-worth Rs 9,000 from online site, gets brick instead

A man here in Maharashtra has filed a complaint against a leading online retailer for allegedly sending him a piece of brick instead of a mobile handset that he ordered, police said Wednesday.

Gajanan Kharat, a resident of HUDCO area here, told the police that on October 9, he placed an order for a mobile phone on the shopping site and also paid Rs 9,134 for it, Harsul police station inspector Manish Kalyankar said.

Kharat subsequently received a message from the e-commerce company that the product would be delivered in a week's time.

The man received a packet from the retailer last Sunday. However, when he opened it, he allegedly found a piece of brick inside it instead of the mobile handset, Kalyankar said.

The man then called up the courier delivery man, who told him that their responsibility was only to deliver the parcel and not to see what was inside it, he said.

Kharat lodged a complaint Tuesday against the e-commerce company at the Harsul police station here.

The police official said they have registered a case under IPC sections pertaining to cheating and are probing it.

[poonamparekh]

Will continue to back #MeToo: Nandita Das on allegations against father

Actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, whose father -- artist Jatin Das -- has been accused of sexually harassing a woman, says while she will continue to add voice to the #MeToo movement, she believes the truth will prevail in the "disturbing allegations" against the Padma Bhushan recipient.

"As a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement, I want to reiterate that I will continue to add my voice to it, despite the disturbing allegations made against my father, which he has categorically denied," Nandita posted on Facebook.

"I have maintained from the very start that this is the time we all need to listen, so that women (and men) feel safe to speak up. At the same time, it is also important to be sure about allegations so as not to dilute the movement. I am touched by the number of people - friends and strangers - who are concerned and are trusting my integrity. I do believe truth will prevail. And that is all I have to say on this matter," she added.

Conservationist Nisha Bora on Tuesday accused Jatin Das of sexually harassing her at his Khidki village studio in 2004. Das refuted the allegation as "ridiculous and vulgar".

[poonamparekh]

Cong 'raider, 24-hr political drama & 'switch-over' race for Goa top post

Early local lore tells of the Ranes as feared Maratha raiders, who would ride into erstwhile Goa and plunder wealth from the region's wealthy folks.

In contemporary times, the Congress over the last two days, must have felt the heat of yet another raid -- to be more specific by a descendant of one of the several Rane clans -- Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who has claimed credit for the switch-over of two Congress MLAs into the BJP's pocket.

Now-former MLAs, Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte on Tuesday, joined the BJP at a formal ceremony in the national capital, putting not just the Congress in a tight spot, but also BJP's allies Goa Forward and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.

The switch-over has left the Congress and the BJP tied at 14 legislators each, with the Congress no longer in a position to claim the single largest party (in the state assembly) status and exercise their privilege before the Governor to stake claim to form a government.

It also leaves the ruling allies Goa Forward and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, some of whose members were flirting with the Congress with a toppling game in mind, with very little room to manouvre, especially now after the BJP's central and state leadership have threatened them with the dissolution of the state assembly.

[poonamparekh]

#MeToo: Varun Grover calls harassment accusation 'traumatic', seeks closure

Writer-lyricist Varun Grover has penned an open letter in response to an anonymous allegation of sexual harassment against him on Twitter, saying there is an "earnest need" from his side to prove his innocence as he wants closure.

Grover, who has been a vocal supporter of #MeToo movement, said the allegation against him has not only affected his mental health and professional life but also his ability to take a social stand.

"Revolutions are beautiful. They are cathartic, powerful, necessary, and like #metoo - inevitable. And revolutions, inevitably, have some collateral damage too," Grover said in a post on Medium, which he shared on Tuesday.

"...Am I angry? Yes. Is my mental health in shambles? Yes. Do I occasionally feel like a victim of an agenda? Yes. And would I still say 'Believe All Women'? Yes. But please bring in the checks to differentiate it from 'Believe All Screenshots'. Revolutions can be messy but they can't be perceived as unjust."

The "Sacred Games" writer said it had been a traumatic week for him but he is confident that he can prove the anonymous allegation against him to be false.

[poonamparekh]

Google Pixel 3 review: Phone's smarts shine through its AI-driven camera

Apple and Samsung typically show off glitzy hardware innovations — dual-lens cameras; bigger screens — to mesmerize millions into buying their new smartphones. Google has taken a different approach: It wants to sell people on better software.

That was abundantly clear with the Pixel 3, the search giant’s latest smartphone, with software features powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. When you take a blurry photo, for example, the Pixel’s camera software can capture a series of alternate images and look for a clearer shot. When you get a call from an unknown number, you can use a screening tool to determine if it is a robocall. (I recommend using this feature with caution — more on that later.)

“The phone is powered by A.I. so that we let Pixel do really useful, delightful things,” said Mario Queiroz, Google’s vice president of Pixel hardware. “The phone doesn’t get in the way. Things just happen for you.”

The Pixel 3, which will be available on Thursday, is a modest piece of hardware otherwise. It comes in two screen sizes — 5.5 inches and 6.3 inches — that are slightly smaller than phones from Apple and Samsung. The smaller Pixel costs $799; the larger one is $899.

[poonamparekh]

With elections in sight, low food prices are a budget problem for PM Modi

A low inflation spell in an election year should be good news for any government, right? Wrong.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the subdued inflation numbers, due largely to low food prices, may present a budget problem. His government may have to shell out more to compensate farmers for low market prices of some crops under a plan announced this year with a view to double farm incomes by 2022.

“India’s falling food prices could become a bane for Modi,” said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economic adviser at the nation’s largest lender State Bank of India. “A bumper harvest that’s led to crashing of food prices will increase the burden on the government to compensate farmers.”

In July, the government raised support prices of crops such as cotton, soybeans and paddy rice to ensure farmers get at least 50 per cent more than the estimated production costs. That means in the event of a crash in market prices, the government would have to chip in and ensure the sale of the produce by farmers at guaranteed prices.

[poonamparekh]

Huawei Mate 20-series launch: Watch livestream, know likely specs, features

Huawei, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, would be unveiling the Huawei Mate 20-series today (October 16) in an event in London, UK. Like previous Mate¬-series launches, the company is expected to unveil at least two new premium smartphones. Named the Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro, these smartphones would be the first to be powered by company’s proprietary Kirin 980 system-on-chip with dual neural processing units (NPUs) for advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. These phones would also be the first in Mate-series to get triple camera module on the back, which was first introduced in the Huawei P20 Pro (review).

Although, no information with regard to the upcoming smartphones have been officially confirmed, the rumour mill hints at some of the specifications and features of the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro that might turn out to be true eventually. Let’s take a look at what to expect from the duo of premium smartphones:

The Pro edition in the Mate 20-series is expected to be the higher-end variant. The phone is expected to get a curved OLED screen of QHD+ resolution.

The screen would have a notch on the top that would accommodate front camera, earpiece and sensors, along with infrared sensor and dot projector for advanced face unlock mechanism. The Pro edition would also get an in-display fingerprint sensor.

[poonamparekh]

Google Pixel 3 or Apple iPhone XR - which one will you buy? Click to vote

Search engine and technology giant Google on October 9 launched the third generation of Google Pixel smartphones – the Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL. The Pixel 3-series smartphones get dual front cameras, new format screens, software improved imaging capabilities and support for fast wireless charging. These smartphones will be available in black, not pink and clear white colours from November 1. However, before the Pixel 3 sale, Cupertino, the US-based technology giant Apple would also be launching the iPhone XR, the most affordable smartphone in the company’s current generation line-up.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

The Pixel 3-series has a glass-metal-glass design with a matte paint covering the lower back side. Though these phones continue with a single primary camera, they now have a dual camera module on the front for selfies. Both the phones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip, paired with 4GB of RAM. The Pixel 3 has a 5.5-inch 18:9 aspect ratio OLED screen of fullHD+ resolution.

Apple iPhone XR

The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD screen of 1792 x 828 resolution. Like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the display supports wide colour gamut with colour management system. The screen supports tap to wake feature and Apple True Tone technology, which uses six-channel light sensor to subtly adjust the white balance on screen to match the colour temperature of the surrounding light. In terms of imaging, the iPhone XR features a 12-megapixel camera on the back of f/1.8 aperture size and wide angle lens. The camera is backed by optical image stabilisation.

[poonamparekh]

Delhi air pollution: Know govt's emergency plan to avoid smog filled winter

Last winter, the Delhi-NCR suffered one of the worst bouts of pollution. The entire region was in the grip of haze and smog. Now, the dreadful pollution is back to the national capital and its nearby states. Meanwhile, recent satellite images from the NASA showed that farmers in Punjab and Haryana have started burning crop residue earlier this month.

On Sunday, the air quality in Delhi remained poor, as the overall air quality index (AQI) recorded at 10 am Sunday stood at 208 which falls in the poor category, according to Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 183 and the PM2.5 level was recorded at 93, according to the data.

Authorities have predicted further deterioration of air quality in the coming days.

An emergency action plan has been implemented from Monday to combat air pollution that has begun to show a trend towards poor category.