Khushali Kumar’s transformation for her upcoming project with Guru Randhawa shocked everyone!

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Khushali Kumar’s transformation for her upcoming project with Guru Randhawa shocked everyone!

   The beautiful fashionista turned lead actor, Khushali Kumar is better known for her soulful performances in hit music video’s like ‘Mainu Ishq Da’, ‘ Mere Papa’ ‘Ik Yaad Purani’ Etc.. And yet again she proved her dedication when she lost 5 to 6 kg’s in a week’s time for an upcoming music video with singer and composer Guru Randhawa, her preparations surprised the whole team. Khushali’s first look from the talked about shoot are out and she is looking gorgeously beautiful, the music video is due to release soon.

  Well Guru himself is looking awestruck by his lead in the first images. And why not??

   The talented Khushali achieved never before success in the field of fashion when she dressed international megastar Shakira, two times Grammy award winner singer Leann Rimes, Carman Electra, spice girl Melanie B and styled for Justin Bieber’s music video ‘Wait for a minute’. Her work has recently been recognized and rewarded by an award affiliated with Govt. of India’s Child and woman welfare ministry.

   But her creative aspirations have always been to be an actor which keeps getting her back to the silver screen, she has already teamed up with IFFA award winner singer and sister Tulsi Kumar and featured in hit singles. And now she is all set to make her Bollywood debut as few projects are already in pipeline.

​Mahurat of Esha Deol’s Cakewalk in Mumbai

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

 

On Gudi Padwa, Dhoom girl starts shooting for her short feature film Cakewalk, directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee and Abhra Chakraborty. 

The shooting of Esha Deol Takhtani’s comeback venture Cakewalk started on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa, marking the first day of the year in Marathi calendar. She officially announced the teaser poster of the film, followed by birthday celebration of producer Shailendra Kumar at the shoot.
Produced by Assorted Motion Pictures and SS 1 Entertainments, the film is directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee and Abhra Chakraborty.
Story and Screenplay by Ram Kamal Mukherjee and Chandrodoy Pal, the film revolves around the life of a chef, played by Esha.
“It’s an auspicious day to start anything new. Today is Cheti Chand also, and being married to a Sindhi family, it’s an auspicious day,” says Esha. They started the shoot in a Mumbai suburban studio with traditional puja, followed by a series of montages which will be an important part of the film.
Esha had her scenes with male lead Tarun Malhotra. And they had an instant “buddy bonding” which created magic on screen.
The film is produced by Dinesh Gupta, Shailendra Kumar and Aritra Das. “I come from a small town like Jhansi, and it was my dream to make a film that people will be happy to see. I personally like makers like Mani Ratnam, Shoojit Sircar, Gauire Shinde, R. Balki and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. I am happy that my friend Dinesh Gupta believed our project,” says Shailendra, who also happens to be the music director of the film. Aritra Das, from Assorted Motion Pictures says, “I am thankful to Esha Deol for making it possible. We all have worked hard on this project, and we are doing everything that one generally does with a feature film.”
Television actor Tarun Malhotra who makes his Bollywood debut in Cakewalk says, “There is a scene where I had to recite few verses written by Elliot. I was thoroughly impressed with the homework Ram Kamal did. When he explained me the prelude of the text and mentioned the reason why co-director Abhra had included the scene in the film, I realized that they have worked a lot on the character.” The film also stars popular Bengali actress Anindita Bose.
After completion of Mumbai schedule, Esha will be shooting in Kolkata for the last schedule of the film. “I have never shot any films in Kolkata. But I am deeply connected to Dakhineshwari Kali Ma, she is so powerful. I am looking forward to visit the city,” shares Esha
During the pack up hubby Bharat Takhtani came with little Radhya to give mommy Deol a little surprise. Jokingly she added, “Balancing dance, films and family is definitely not a cakewalk.”  Incidentally, Esha started her solo recital and will also be seen in dance ballets soon. The teaser launch of Cakewalk received good response from media and film fraternity.  ​

  Notable turn around in Mining sector under NDA Govt- Tomar

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

   

Govt launches a ‘Sand Mining Framework’ to check illegal mining.

New Delhi-20.03.2018

The Union Minister of Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said that there has been a notable turn around in the mining sector ever since government has taken initiative for policy reforms. In the current year up to January, 2018 the mineral production in terms of volume has registered a growth of 6% when compared to same period last year, which he described is a robust one. Addressing the 3rd National Conclave on Mines & Minerals today in New Delhi, he emphasized the underlying importance of the mining sector as it provides basic raw materials to many important industries.

Shri Tomar said that to make the auction process less cumbersome and help states auction mineral blocks quickly, the Ministry of Mines has amended the Mineral Auction Rules 2015 in November 2017.  The amendment has facilitated the auctions in a big way. A record number of 41 mineral blocks have been put on auction within 3 months of the amendment, whereas 27 blocks were put up on auction earlier in 8 months from April to November 2017.  Total estimated revenue to the state government over the lease period from the blocks already auctioned is Rs.1,43,893/- crores.

The Portal for Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) monitoring along with Registration and Returns module of Phase I of the Mining Tenement System (MTS) was also launched by the Shri Tomar during the award function in the conclave. MTS primarily involves automating the entire mineral concession life-cycle, starting from identification of area and ending with closure of the mine; and connecting the various stakeholders for real-time transfer of electronic files and exchange of data. MTS will facilitate end to end national scale accounting of all the minerals produced in the country from the pithead to its end use, reducing the scope for illegal mining.

The PMKKKY scheme is to be implemented by the funds collected under District Mineral Foundations (DMF) to be utilized for the welfare and development of the mining affected areas. The module for monitoring portal of PMKKKY implementation captures from the collection and accrual of funds, to its utilization and monitoring for implementation of projects. Over Rs.17,000/- crores have been collected under PMKKKY and 56,000 projects launched.

A ‘Sand Mining Framework’ was also launched by the Shri Tomar. This Framework has been prepared by the Ministry of Mines from the study conducted on sand mining in various States and intensive consultations with institutions like National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), Cement Manufacture Association (CMA), Public and other stakeholders while preparing the sand mining framework. The suggestions in the Framework will provide a roadmap to the States helping them to frame their policies and act as a check on illegal mining of sand.

Shri Tomar and Minister of State for Mines Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary felicitated the 5 Star rated mines in the Conclave to the top 20 mines in the opening session and remaining 37 mines in the valedictory session. During last conclave held at New Delhi on 15th Feb 2017 total 32 mines were awarded with 5 stars on the basis of performance during 2015-16. The performance of mines during 2016-17 has improved and total 57 mines have been awarded 5 star ratings.  The star rating system has led to a self-driven mechanism for adoption of best practices and for exhaustive and universal implementation of Sustainable Development Framework in mining.  This would substantially address the ill ecological impacts associated with mining activities and will eventually result in ensuring the handing over of mining area to the community in a better ecological condition. The Hon’ble Minister also urged the states for adoption of the star rating system for minor minerals. The model template for the same has been circulated by the Union Mines Ministry on 30.01.2018.

The conclave will strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in enabling the mining sector to contribute its fullest to foster the rapid growth of national economy and employment generation. It will help the Central Government to further improve the policy environment to promote best practices and addressing various issues in the mining sector.

The last two conclaves were held at Raipur and New Delhi in 2016 & 2017 respectively. The representatives of State Governments, mining industries, industry associations, academic institutions and others participated in the conclave and raised various issues, challenges and opportunities in the mining sector to realize its optimum potential for the sustainable development.

BJP Prez Amit Shah ask its UP ally chief to meet

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

 Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Rajbhar, whose party is an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, yesterday, threatened to boycott voting for the Rajya Sabha elections if he is not allowed to speak Amit Shah.

Rajbhar had said yesterday, “If I don’t get to speak to BJP president Amit Shah, I will boycott the voting for Rajya Sabha elections.”

The BJP has the numbers to send its eight candidates to the Rajya Sabha, the SBSP, which has four MLAs in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly, holds the key to the fate of its ninth nominee. The Rajya Sabha polls are scheduled for March 23.

There will be 59 vacancies in the Rajya Sabha in April, including 17 from the BJP and 12 from the Congress party.

Sasikala parole to attend husband’s funeral

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Convicted All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader VK Sasikala, who is currently lodged in Bengaluru’s Parappanna Agrahara Jail, has applied for 15 days parole to attend her husband last rites.

Reportedly, Sasikala is expected to travel to Thanjavur directly by road for the funeral.

Maruthappa passed away on Tuesday around 1.35 am at the Gleneagles Global hospital in Chennai.

Sasikala is currently serving a four-year imprisonment and is lodged in central prison in Bengaluru in a disproportionate assets case. She was sent to Parappana Agrahara central prison in February last year.

New Caledonia vote for Independence

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Lawmakers in New Caledonia have voted in favour of a referendum in November this year, which will decide the territory’s independence from France.

The Congress of the French overseas territory approved the plan for a popular vote yesterday. New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific with a population of nearly three lakh, became the French colony in the 19th century.

In 1998, the French government and leaders of the independence movement signed an agreement to hold a referendum on independence from France by the end of 2018.

G-20 meeting in Argentina

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Finance Ministers and central bankers from 20 leading industrial and developing countries are meeting in Argentina amid growing concerns over potential global trade war following US decision to slap import tariffs on steel and aluminium.

G-20 officials are also discussing issues including infrastructure development and the technology behind cryptocurrencies during the two-day meeting that began in Buenos Aires yesterday.This is the first of five such meetings to be held before Argentina hosts the G20 Summit in November

Russia blocks UNSC meeting on human rights in Syria

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Russia has blocked a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the human rights situation in Syria. Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the un, Gennady Kuzmin said, they do not see any justification for the meeting since human rights is not a subject on the agenda of the Council. Russia is the largest international backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

France and six other members had called for the meeting, which was expected to include a briefing from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein.

China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan voted with Russia to prevent the meeting, while Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia were abstentions.

Those who voted to hold the meeting alongside France were the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland, Holland, the United States, Peru and Kuwait.

United Nations’ Human Rights Chief has criticised the Security Council for failing to defend human rights and prevent further loss of life in Syria where the war that has killed nearly half a million people enters its eighth year.

Mr Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said many who had sought to document human rights violations had been detained, tortured or killed. He said the Council has not lived up to the sacrifice of these heroes throughout Syria.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke at an informal meeting at the UN shortly after his expected briefing to the Security Council was blocked when Russia requested a procedural vote. The 15 members of the Council attended the informal meeting.

Israel’s Shin Bet arrests French Romain Franck

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

A French employee of France’s consulate in Jerusalem has been arrested for allegedly smuggling dozens of weapons from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, Israel’s domestic security agency said Monday. The Shin Bet said the man, identified as Romain Franck, 23, was part of a broader Palestinian smuggling ring, AP reported. He allegedly used his consular vehicle, which is subjected to less stringent security checks, as cover to transport the weapons through Israel’s secured border with the Gaza Strip. The Shin Bet accused Franck of taking part in the ring for financial gain, saying his employer was unaware of his actions. The consulate in Jerusalem declined to comment and did not confirm whether Franck was an employee.

No-confidence motion dropped

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Another day, another washout. No-confidence motion dropped amid protests in Lok Sabha: Notices of no-confidence motion against the government by the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress were not taken up for a second consecutive day in Lok Sabha.

Today as the  Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked the MPs to quiet down so that she could introduce the motion, chants and protests erupted, forcing her to adjourn for the day.

It was deja vu as similar scenes had taken place on Monday when Mahajan tried to introduce the no-confidence motion, but the uproar in the House forced an adjournment.

Today will be the 12th day in a row that the Lok Sabha has not transacted any business

Africa’s leaders to launch world’s largest FTA

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Africa’s leaders are expected to gather in Rwanda Wednesday to launch what they say will be the world’s largest free trade area in terms of countries.

Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) with 55 African Union members having a cumulative GDP of $2.5 trillion is one of the AU’s flagship projects, AFP reports.

Muhammadu Buhari, president of one of Africa’s largest markets Nigeria, this week canceled plans to attend the Kigali launch and called for more consultations after business leaders objected to joining the free trade area. “The signature of the CFTA is something that makes Africa look good on paper, but for implementation it’s going to have a lot of hiccups,” according to Sola Afolabi, a Nigeria-based international trade consultant.

Some 27 heads of state are expected to attend the Kigali meeting. It is still unclear who will sign on to the CFTA right away.

Sweden Foreign Ministry to summon Russian ambassador

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Swedish Foreign Ministry announced Monday it will summon the Russian ambassador in Stockholm on March 20. Stockholm wants explanations over Moscow’s “accusations that Sweden could be the source of the poison that was used” against ex-double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has called that claim “unacceptable and unfounded,” according to Reuters. Russia’s ambassador will be summoned “on account of the Russian accusations that Sweden could be a source of the nerve toxin used in the attempted murder in Salisbury,” a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told Reuters on Monday.

Britain has accused Russia of being behind the attack. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the most likely source of the nerve agent was Britain itself, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the US or Sweden.

Canada IPKF mission to Mali

ON MARCH 20, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Canada has announced a peacekeeping effort in the West African country of Mali. The mission will include six helicopters and some support troops, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday, adding that the deployment will be 12 months.

The mission will have two Chinook helicopters for airlift operations and four armed Griffon helicopters for escort purposes, AP said. The number of troops has yet to be determined. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to return Ottawa to peacekeeping after more than a decade of dwindling participation.

Young Indian asked to deposit Rs 10 cr in IT case

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Delhi High Court today directed Young Indian Private Limited, in which Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are major stakeholders, to deposit 10 crore rupees in the over 249 crore rupees income tax proceedings against it.

The court directed the company, earlier summoned as an accused by a trial court in the National Herald misappropriation case, to deposit half the amount with the Income Tax department before the 31st of this month and the remaining by 15th of next month.

The court also sought the IT department’s response to the company’s plea challenging the demand and the proceedings emanating from it and listed the matter for further hearing on the 24th of next month.

The IT department’s move followed its probe on a complaint alleging that the Gandhis had misappropriated the assets of Associated Journal Limited, which is the owner of the National Herald newspaper while transferring their shares to the newly formed Young Indian.

WTO ministerial meeting begins

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

The two-day informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting got underway in New Delhi today. Representatives from 50 countries are participating in the meet. Our correspondent reports the WTO is facing systemic challenges, particularly its dispute settlement arm.

The informal meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to engage in free and frank discussions leading to political guidance on some of the major issues, both at the negotiating table and also in other areas.

In the absence of Ministerial guidance at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference that took place in December last year in Buenos Aires, it is hoped that the meeting in New Delhi will provide an opportunity for ministers to explore in greater detail options on different issues for re-invigorating the WTO.

Former Chinese missile force commander appointed defense minister

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

China appointed a former missile force commander as its new defense minister. Lt. Gen. Wei Fenghe’s naming on Monday as the international face of China’s military was among a series of appointments by the legislature on the penultimate day of its annual session. As the minister, Wei is outranked by President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, and two vice chairmen, AP said. Foreign Minister Wang Yi was reappointed as the country’s top diplomat and also promoted to state counselor, while Zhao Kezhi was confirmed as minister of public security in charge of the police. Chen Wenqing, a former top official in the ruling Communist Party’s graft-busting agency, remains minister of state security.

North Korean diplomat heads to Finland

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

A senior North Korean diplomat left for Finland on Sunday for talks with former US and South Korean officials, Yonhap News Agency reported, amid a series of diplomatic encounters ahead of a possible US-North Korean summit.

North Korea is pursuing its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

It defends the programs as a necessary deterrent against a possible US invasion. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea but denies any invasion plans.

Tensions have eased in recent weeks, coinciding with North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics held in the South last month.

Choe Kang Il, a deputy director general for North American affairs at North Korea’s foreign ministry, plans to attend the “track 1.5 talks”, according to Yonhap, reflecting planned contact between former US officials and current North Korean ones in a broader bid to end the standoff over North Korea’s weapons programs.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement North Korea would participate in the meeting joined by former South Korean officials and academics but did not provide further details.

The talks in Finland will add to a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of the proposed North Korean summits with South Korea and the United States, respectively, in April and May.

Arriving at a Beijing airport en route to Finland, Choe declined to comment.

In Washington, a State Department representative said they had no information on the meeting in Finland.

North Korean and Swedish foreign ministers ended three days of talks on Saturday on security on the Korean peninsula in preparation of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

South Korea said on Friday it was seeking high-level talks this month with North Korea to prepare for a summit and that South Korean President Moon Jae-in may meet Trump before the US president’s planned meeting with the North Korean leader.

In a telephone call, Moon and Trump both voiced “cautious optimism” about efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons.

In an interview broadcast Sunday by CBS News’ Face the Nation, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha noted that Kim has “in effect” met a condition for talks by making a commitment “in clear terms” to denuclearization.

“He’s given his word,” said Kang, referring to discussions that South Korean officials held with Kim in Pyongyang earlier this month. “But the significance of his word is – is quite – quite weighty in the sense that it is the first time that the words came directly from the North Korean supreme leader himself.”

Kang stressed that Kim will receive “no reward” for engaging in dialogue and that South Korea and the United States will be pressing the North Korean leader to take unspecified “actions” in order for there to be any progress.

Merkel, Macron meet in Paris on eurozone reform

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet in Paris on Friday to discuss eurozone reform. It is their first encounter since Merkel’s new coalition took office. The leaders may struggle to find common ground on further change in Europe, Reuters said. Merkel, reelected to a fourth term as chancellor, wants to fulfill her incoming government’s pledge to deliver a “new start” for Europe. The French president has made eurozone overhaul a key goal since taking power last May. There is already detailed reform underway in the eurozone, including the creation of a banking union among its 19 member states and plans for a single deposit insurance scheme that would protect individuals’ savings. Macron has ideas for a separate eurozone budget and a single eurozone finance minister.

Mark Rutte : No ‘dictating EU reforms’

ON MARCH 19, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday cautioned Berlin and Paris not to try to push through their ambitious EU reform plans against the will of other member states.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rutte believes deeper integration is not the answer to the bloc’s problems, telling Der Spiegel that countries would not just “nod along” to French-German proposals, particularly the eurozone.

The warning came hours before German Chancellor Angela Merkel was due in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is eager to push his vision for an overhaul of EU institutions, AFP reported. “We have freedom of movement in the EU, and of course the German government can meet the French government without us being there,” Rutte said in an interview. “But that doesn’t mean that we and other EU countries agree with everything the Germans and French agree on.”