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Union Budget 2019 : The finance ministry has told the chief executives of all public sector banks (PSBs) to review credit facilities made available to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and take ‘corrective’ measures to ensure the firms get adequate funds. The finance ministry has told the PSB chief executives in an official communication to assign a chief general manager, or a general manager-level officer to “do an in-depth analysis of the progress made and issues in availability of credit, still being faced by the MSMEs”. While taking “corrective actions” and doing the analysis, nodal general managers are supposed to submit details to the finance ministry of MSMEs taking credit from banks, non-performing MSME accounts, MSME accounts restructured following to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) January scheme and the MSMEs still uncovered by it, among others. Read Complete Article

Union Budget 2019 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Budget 2019 on July 5. This will be the first Budget of the Modi government after winning the Lok Sabha elections. Union Budget is an annual financial statement of estimated receipts and expenditures of the Government of India. Under Article 112 of the Constitution of India, the central government is constitutionally bound to lay down the 'annual financial report' of the country. Budget document details how much money the Union government expects to raise in the coming financial year, and how and where it intends to spend that money. The Budget is prepared by the Finance Ministry in consultation with other ministries. Officials from the ministry also hold talks with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. Union Budget history

Union Budget 2019 : The real estate sector is looking to the FY20 Union Budget, which will be announced on July 5, to help it recover from its liquidity woes. Meanwhile, homebuyers are also hoping for announcements that would ease their hardships. In 2017, real estate contributed about 6-7 per cent to India's gross domestic product (GDP). Further, the sector is expected to contribute about 13 per cent to the country's GDP by 2025 and is seen becoming the third largest globally at around $1 trillion by 2030, according to a 2018 KPMG report. It was worth $120 billion in 2017. Budget announcements that give a boost to the real estate sector could provide a positive push to the slowing economy, as well as create more jobs. ALSO READ: Big listed real estate companies drive profits home in a dull market Solving the liquidity crisis The real estate sector is hopeful the government will resolve the liquidity crisis it is facing. Bhutani Group CEO Ashish Bhutani says, "A vit...

Union Budget 2019 : Transportation infrastructure and allied services are critical growth engines for propelling India's rise as an economic superpower. While the public sector has played a dominant role in investing in infrastructure creation, the government will need increased private sector participation to supplement the rapidly growing industrial demand for a modern and robust transportation and logistics network at par with developed countries. The infrastructure sector was one of the major focus areas in the FY19 budget and saw massive spending on roads, railways, water, irrigation, and urban infrastructure. With all eyes on the upcoming Union Budget, the Government should focus on not only allocation of funds, but also on setting up a road map for clearly outlining the private and government sectors' role in infrastructure creation and operations over the next year. Some interventions which may be considered by the Government for boosting the transportation and logis...

Budget 2019 : The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to correct an error in cigarette taxation under the new tax regime, which did not account for the cascading effect on excise duty that existed in the pre-GST system. FAIFA is a non-profit organisation that represents the cause of farmers and farm workers of commercial crops across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat. In a letter written to the Finance Minister, which has also been submitted to various concerned Ministries including the PMO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Labour, the association has highlighted that error in cigarette taxation has inadvertently increased compensation cess rates that has resulted in additional taxes of around 13 per cent above the pre-GST levels. "Any additional burden caused by the increase in compensation cess rates will...

Union Budget 2019 : India's economy showed signs of fragility in May after April's uptick, suggesting a sustained recovery needs a fiscal stimulus from newly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Overall activity from eight high-frequency indicators compiled by Bloomberg News show the economy lacked momentum, with the dot remaining unchanged from a month ago. A renewed tightness in liquidity conditions kept business activity subdued. The dashboard is a measure of “animal spirits,” a term coined by British economist John Maynard Keynes to refer to investors’ confidence in taking action. As gross domestic product growth slowed to a five-year low of 5.8% in the first quarter of 2019, the Reserve Bank of India this month did its part to support the economy by lowering interest rates for a third time and switching to an accommodative stance. Further, analysts expect the new Modi government’s first budget on July 5 to tweak fiscal levers to give a boost to ...

Seven central ministries and departments have not earmarked funds for tribal welfare schemes in their budget for 2019-20 and 12 have "kept the provision below the level stipulated by the Niti Aayog", officials said Wednesday. Union Budget 2019 In 2017, the Niti Aayog developed new guidelines obligating 41 central ministries and departments to earmark funds for "Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes" (DAPST), earlier known as Tribal Sub-Plan. An official said the guidelines were finalized in January 2019, which means complete adherence cannot be ensured this financial year. "Since the ministries decide their allocations for various schemes by November-December and the guidelines were finalised in January, any corrective action is possible next year only," the official said. The guidelines state that the 41 identified ministries and departments have to earmark at least 4.3 per cent funds for DAPST. Read Complete Article

The government is likely to overshoot the budget deficit target previously set for the current fiscal year, three officials have warned, as a slowing economy creates a big shortfall in tax collections and prompts new stimulus plans. Budget 2019 New Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents her first budget on July 5, for the fiscal year ending March 2020. It is also the first budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term after his government was returned in a landslide election win last month. Since becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi succeeded in improving public finances, trimming the fiscal deficit to 3.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.5% in 2013/14, mostly through subsidies cuts and fuel taxes. He is now, however, under pressure to loosen the purse strings to follow through on election promises such as increased spending on roads and housing and tax cuts for companies and individuals. Read Complete Article

Declining domestic crude production: Most of the producing fields (in Cambay, Assam-Arakan and Mumbai Offshore) are maturing or have already matured. Due to inadequate new oil and gas discoveries and subsequent development, India is witnessing a decline in crude production. Large crude import bills: In 2018-19, India imported more than 80% of its crude consumption and spent in excess of $110 billion. Union Budget 2019 Inadequate transmission & distribution infrastructure: India needs to invest heavily in midstream and downstream sector to overcome infrastructure constraints in LNG, gas pipelines and CGD. Technology constraints: The country needs investment in exploring and developing Category-2 and Category-3 basins. However, Indian operators do not have the requisite technology and experience in this area. Low share of MNCs: Despite being one of the largest consumers of energy, India has a low share of MNCs in the domestic market. Environmentally friendly fuels: India co...

Pakistan's head coach Mickey Arthur has claimed that his team's defeat to arch-rivals India had left him so shattered that he wanted to " commit suicide ". Pakistan were incredibly hurt by the scathing reactions from the media, fans and former cricketers after their 89-run loss to India in Manchester on June 16. "Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide," Arthur was quoted as saying in the media here. "But it was, you know, it's only one performance. It happens so quick. You lose a game; you lose another game; it's a World Cup; media scrutiny; public expectation, and then you almost go into sort of survival mode. We've all been there," he added. Pakistan won their next game against South Africa to keep a slim chance of entering the semifinals alive. Read Complete Article

In-house functions of an organisation's office such as human resources, accounts and payrolls, if carried out from a centre in one state for offices in other states, will come under the GST net, Economic Times reported on Tuesday. Invoices for the same will have to be issued. What this means is that companies with multi-state offices will suffer as services provided by an office in one state to another office in any other state will face goods and services tax. The move would add to their transaction costs and compliance burden. Moreover, the issue of cross charge is likely to lead to a lot of confusion on the ground. Union Budget 2019 A circular endorsed by the GST Council, will be issued soon, a government official told ET, and it will spell out how the input tax credit will be distributed between head office and branch officers as also that value of service will be equal to employee cost and establishment cost of supplying that service. In December 2018 the Karnataka Ap...

After suffering a shock defeat against Sri Lanka, England cricket team will look to get back on winning track and take one step closer towards the semi-finals when they face arch-rivals Australia cricket team in their crucial ICC World Cup 2019 game at the iconic Lord's on Tuesday. With four wins from six games, England are currently at the fourth spot in the ICC World Cup 2019 Points table. The hosts, who came into the tournament as overwhelming favourites, are in a bit of a tight situation as they need to win at least two of their remaining three games to enter the last four. However, it would not be an easy task for them, especially considering they have to face India and New Zealand after their Australia game. England's record against all the three teams is not great as they have not been able to register a single World Cup win against Australia, India and New Zealand in the last 27 years. Thus, the pressure will surely be on Eoin Morgan and team to come out with a fe...

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India had eight of its models in SIAM's ten best-selling passenger vehicles list in May, even as the overall automobile market witnessed a sharp decline. The company's popular hatchback Swift was the best-selling model last month clocking 17,039 units, up from fourth spot in the same month last year when it sold 19,208 units, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Coming in second was entry level model Alto with sale of 16,394 units as against 21,890 units in year-ago month, retaining the same spot. MSI's compact sedan Dzire sold 16,196 units last month, occupying third position, down from the top spot in the same month last year when it clocked 24,365 units. Premium hatchback Baleno sold 15,176 units to be at fourth position, down from third in May last year when it registered 19,398 units. The new WagonR sold 14,561 units retaining the fifth position held by the old WagonR last May with ...

The government in the upcoming budget should create a Rs 10,000-crore fund to complete stalled real estate projects across the country and provide relief to over 500,000 people who have booked properties, according to home buyers' body FPCE. Budget2019 In its budget recommendation to the finance minister, Forum For People's Collective Efforts (FPCE), earlier knows as Fight for RERA, also demanded that home buyers should be categorised as primary secured creditors. "You are aware there are over five lakh home buyers whose hard earned life savings are stuck in different real estate projects across the country due to indefinite delay and fund diversion by builders," FPCE President Abhay Upadhyay said and pitched for the creation of a stress fund to end the mental and financial stress of these home buyers. The memorandum further noted that "despite RERA (realty law), most of the ongoing projects have not been completed. It is time now to end this problem by...

Preschoolers, who are receiving government food aid, are reaching healthier body mass index and contributing to a steady decline in obesity rates, recent findings suggest. As part of a recent U.S. study, the researchers noted that according to a report by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity rates dropped to about 14 per cent in 2016 (down from 16 per cent in 2010). The results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, USA Today reported. The findings of the study come as a welcome result for the health experts, following an upward trend of obesity in young children during 2000 and 2010. According to the team of researchers, all racial and ethnic groups recorded a noteworthy decline in obesity. "It gives us more hope that this is a real change," said Heidi Blanck, head of the obesity prevention division at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Read Complete Article

The Centre is considering increasing the personal income tax threshold in next month’s budget, according to people familiar with the matter, as authorities seek to kickstart consumption in the economy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may raise the tax exemption limit for working-age individuals to Rs 300,000 ($4,316) of their annual income, up from the current Rs 250,000, the people said, asking not to be identified as they aren’t authorised to speak publicly about the proposals. The tax measures haven’t been finalised yet. Any tax exemptions will add stimulus to an economy that’s slowed sharply this year, with growth reaching a five-year low of 5.8 per cent in the first three months of the year. The proposed tax move would put at least Rs 2,500 more in the hands of each of India’s 50 million taxpayers. It could also add to pressure on the budget deficit, which is pegged at 3.4 per cent of gross domestic product for the current fiscal year that began on April 1. Read Compl...

Move over the saying 'like father, like son', as actor Arjun Kapoor has penned a new expression in admiration of his mother and sister. The 'Gunday' actor shared a picture-perfect collage of sister Anshula Kapoor and mother Mona Shourie Kapoor where the two look almost identical in strikingly similar Indian attires. Modifying the famous saying, 'like father, like son,' Arjun captioned the monochrome image, "Forget like father like son, its always like mother like daughter." This tribute to his ladies comes amidst his workout-picture-sharing-spree ahead of his upcoming film 'Panipat.' The 'Ishaqzaade' actor has never shied away from sharing his life on social media. Recently, the actor opened up about his battle with obesity and how he vowed to never give up in a series of tweets. Ever since 'Panipat' was announced and Arjun was roped in to play the lead, he has been prepping hard, displaying unmatched energy. Read Co...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday performed Yoga with around 40,000 enthusiasts at the Prabhat Tara ground here and said everybody should practice the ancient Indian discipline lifelong. The Jharkhand capital has been selected as the venue for the main event for the 5th International Day of Yoga. Events to mark the day are being held across the country and several of them are being led by Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh. Modi also said the government has been working to make Yoga a pillar of preventive healthcare. Expressing concern that young people are becoming vulnerable to heart ailments, Modi said, "Yoga can play a huge role in tackling the issue and hence, this year's theme is 'Yoga for Heart'." He also appealed to the people to take yoga to all sections of society. "We should make efforts to take yoga from cities to villages, tribal areas. Yoga is above region, above faith, above everything," Modi told the g...

After racking up $59 billion of net debt to survive a brutal war in the world’s second-biggest phone-services market, some of India’s billionaires are bracing for more as their next battle looms: 5G. India seeks to raise $84 billion this year from a sale of airwaves -- most of it for the latest technology tipped to revolutionize connectivity -- posing a conundrum for the carriers controlled by tycoons including Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest man. Investment would mean more borrowings, but the reward could be revenue streams never seen before. Operators may soon decide how much more pain they can endure for a high-speed wireless network that can offer better user experience in streaming, gaming and entertainment in a market where Netflix Inc. to Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more Inc. are making inroads. With applications ranging from manufacturing to education and health care, 5G could be the catalyst for India’s digital economy that has...

When a piece of legislation is yet to be passed as a law by the Houses of Parliament, it is termed a Bill. A Finance Bill is a Bill that, as the name suggests, concerns the country's finances — it could be about taxes, government expenditures, government borrowings, revenues, etc. Since the Union Budget deals with these things, it is passed as a Finance Bill. Rule 219 of the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha states: ‘Finance Bill’ means the Bill ordinarily introduced in each year to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government of India for the following financial year and includes a Bill to give effect to supplementary financial proposals for any period. BUDGET 2019 There are different kinds of Finance Bills — the most important of them is the Money Bill. The Money Bill is concretely defined in Article 110. A Money Bill is certified by the Speaker as such — in other words, only those Financial Bills that carry the Speaker’s certification are Money Bills. Read Com...

You will soon be able to track your stolen mobile phone as the government is all set to roll out a database of IMEIs, the 15-digit numbers that uniquely identify each mobile device. With conmen gaining expertise in tampering with IMEI codes, purportedly through imported applications and IMEI crackers, the Telecom Ministry is all set to implement Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which will comprise the database of IMEIs. After the rollout of CEIR, telecom consumers, who have lost their phones, would be able to inform the Department of Telecom (DoT) through a helpline number after filing a police report. Following this, the DoT will blacklist that particular IMEI number of the lost or stolen device by blocking that mobile device from accessing any cellular network in the future. Apart from this, CEIR will focus on facilitating ‘IMEI-based lawful interception’, says a report in the Indian Express. According to TRAI data, India had 1.16 billion wireless subscribers as o...

Income tax return (ITR) filing season has begun for FY 2018-19. Don’t wait for the last date to file your ITR i.e 31 July 2019, it is better to keep all the required documents up-to-date and handy. This will ensure a smooth sail when you file your returns. Documents’ Checklist for ITR filing: Given below is a list of all the documents that may be required while filing ITR for the financial year (FY) 2018-19. Taxpayers can take a look at each of these pointers and keep them ready if they are applicable. Form 16 Form 16 is a TDS certificate given by an employer. It provides the detailed break-up of the salary and the tax deducted on it. If the employer has deducted tax from the salary, it is mandatory to provide Form 16.The new format of form 16 is in sync with the ITR-1 and ITR-2 forms prescribed for the financial year 2018-19. Form 16 includes 2 parts—Part A and Part B. Part A has the details, such as the tax deducted from the salary by the employer, Permanent Account Number (P...

The Asus 6z , globally known as the Zenfone 6, is a midrange offering from Taiwanese electronics maker Asus. The phone stands true to its tagline ‘defy ordinary’, at least in terms of design. Like most current-generation midrange smartphones, the phone boasts an obstruction-free front profile. However, it is not the display but its motorised flip-camera module accommodating the phone’s dual-camera set-up that adds novelty to the overall design language and makes it look different from others. Besides boasting a unique design, the phone also has a segment-first 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast-charge support. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 system-on-chip (SoC), the phone is a power-packed performer in its segment. Let’s take a look at how the phone fares on key parameters: Design The Asus 6z is big, heavy and bulky, yet it does not feel out of proportion. Though it has a regular glass-metal sandwich design with Gorilla Glass on the front and back, its flip-camera module ...

In the run-up to the Union Budget , Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lined up a string of meetings spread across days. He began the exercise on Tuesday with a meeting of top bureaucrats in finance and other key ministries to finalise the government's priorities. The focus is clearly on reviving the economy and creating jobs, officials in the know said. Next, the PM will interact with economists, bankers and sectoral experts through the week to brainstorm on pressing issues such as agriculture, reforms and effective implementation of signature schemes and projects. Tuesday’s meeting at the PM’s residence, attended by all the five secretaries in the finance ministry besides top officials of other economic ministries and NITI Aayog, cleared a five-year vision plan for the government to make India a $5-trillion economy by 2024, it is learnt. Also, the future course of PM’s pet projects like doubling farmers' income, PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, piped water for all, ...

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir pleaded with fans to not use " bad words " for players, while senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik called for families to be kept out of criticism that has been pouring in after their World Cup loss to arch-rivals India here. Pakistani players have been ridiculed on social media and lambasted by former cricketers after the 89-run defeat to India in the marquee World Cup clash here on Sunday. Sarfaraz Ahmed's captaincy was called "brainless" by former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, while Malik, who was out for a first-ball duck in the game, found himself in the eye of a storm after videos of a night-out with Indian tennis star wife Sania Mirza went viral on social media. "On behalf of all athletes I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It's not a nice thing to do," Malik tweeted. Read Complete Article

\ In today’s match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (CWC), England cricket team would aim to build on its last victory while Afghanistan cricket team would look to register its first win when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in Manchester. England will enter their 5th world cup match with three wins and one loss from four games so far. Currently, the hosts sit on the fourth place with six points on 2019 CWC points table. On the other hand, Afghanistan are placed at the bottom of the table with four losses in as many games. Talking about the England playing 11, James Vince will replace injured Jason Roy at the top of the batting order. Check 2019 cricket world cup points table here ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: England vs Afghanistan LIVE score

“How about that package out of your sleeve? Get that?” is certainly not the most famous phrase uttered by a human while on the Moon. And the items nestled in a small packet that astronaut Buzz Aldrin had stowed in the pocket just below the shoulder of his extravehicular mobility unit were certainly not mission critical. They were sentimental objects, intended to be left on the Moon purely for symbolic and commemorative purposes. Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin left a commemorative plaque on the Moon in memory of 14 NASA astronauts and USSR cosmonauts. The tiny, man-like object represents the figure of a fallen astronaut/cosmonaut. NASAMore than one hundred sites You may be surprised to learn that a partial catalog of human-made objects on the Moon fills more than 20 single-spaced pages. There are more than a hundred sites on the Moon with evidence of human activity. The sites contain materials from the European Space Agency, Japan, India, Russia, China a...

Actress Pooja Bedi's daughter Alaia F and actor Saif Ali Khan have started shooting for "Jawaani Jaaneman" here. Pooja on Monday tweeted a photograph of Saif and Alaia from India's match against Pakistan at the ICC World Cup 2019 here on Sunday. She captioned the image: "My daughter Alaia with Saif Ali Khan at the World Cup match in London. Perfect start to their shoot together for her Debut film #jawaanijaaneman. He plays her dad.. and this was shot on Father's Day. Best of luck for beautiful new beginnings." "Jawaani Jaaneman" marks Alaia's Bollywood debut. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, it is a romantic comedy drama, which also features Tabu. Produced by Jackky Bhagnani's Pooja Entertainment in association with Saif's Black Knight Films and Jay Shewakramani's Northern Lights Films, the movie will release on November 29.

Mark your calendars as Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal 's next outing 'Sardar Udham Singh', a biopic based on the legendary freedom fighter, will release on October 2, next year. Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the update on his Twitter handle. He wrote, "Release date finalized: 2 Oct 2020..Vicky Kaushal in and as Sardar Udham Singh. Directed by Shoojit Sircar. Written by Ritesh Shah and Shubendu Bhattacharya. Produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar." The first look of the film featuring the 'Masaan' actor came out on April 30, this year. In the first look pictures shared by Adarsh, Vicky is seen sporting a vintage look with a long coat and a hat in his hand. In another picture, director Shoojit Sircar is explaining a scene to the 'Manmarziyan' actor. Helmed by Shoojit Sircar, Vicky will be seen essaying the role of Udham Singh in the film. Singh, a revolutionary belonging to the Ghadar Party, assassinated Michael ...

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar feels Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was confused and didn't have a set game plan against arch-rivals India resulting in the crushing 89-run defeat (DLS method) in the crucial World Cup fixture at the Old Trafford. It was a commanding performance from the Men in Blue all the way as they first posted a mammoth 337-run target for Pakistan on Sunday and then defended it quite comfortably. With the win, India extended their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in World Cups, to 7-0. Putting India to bat, Pakistan pacers, barring Mohammad Amir, didn't seem to have control over their line and lengths and were guilty of bowling short to openers Rohit Sharma and K. L. Rahul. Both Wahab Riaz and Hassan Ali erred with their lengths and were not even consistent with their lines, allowing the Indian openers to get set and then unleash after the first 10 overs. Even spinners Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan failed to apply pressure and were taken for plenty ...

Excess weight and obesity in pre-pregnancy period bring changes in breast milk that can impact infant growth, a study claims. The study was published in the journal 'PLOS ONE'. "The importance of this study is that it demonstrates that breast milk contents can vary depending on mother's weight status at the time of conception and further impact the growth and development of breastfeeding infants," said Henry Nuss, lead author of the study. "Childhood obesity rates in the United States have increased significantly in recent decades," noted Melinda Sothern, professor of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. "Although many studies have shown that breastfeeding may be protective against excessive weight gain during early life, we do not fully understand why," Sothern added. Breast milk contains pro-inflammatory proteins such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and interleuk...

Film: Game Over ; Starring: Tapsee Pannu, Director: Ashwin Saravanan; Rating: ****(4 stars) There is blood on the hands of all of us, who quietly watch women and children being brutally violated and then we move on saying, 'It can't be helped' This theme of helplessness sows the seeds of Game Over, a splendid heart-in-the-mouth suspense thriller which turns the concept of women's empowerment on its head, as the female hero Swapna (Tapsee Pannu) tackles the demons in her own head before training her guns on the satanic criminals who prowl outside her window on the streets waiting for their prey. Game Over cuts its plot into to neat halves. In the first-half we see Tapsee, in her element from the word 'go', dealing with a trauma in her past that comes back to her every year on New Year's eve. There is no escaping the vicious circle of crime and karma. Swapna learns about the inevitability of the destiny the hard way. Read Complete Article

OnePlus 7 Pro Almond colour edition is set to go on sale today in India at 12PM, exclusively on Amazon. The phone will also be available through OnePlus exclusive offline retail stores and partner outlets. This is one of the colour variants that was announced during the OnePlus 7-series launch, alongside nebula blue and mirror grey. OnePlus 7 Pro Almond edition price, sale details The OnePlus 7 Pro Almond colour edition comes in 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, priced at Rs 52,999. On Amazon, the phone will be eligible for SBI card cashback offer of up to Rs 2,000. The cashback can also be availed on Reliance and Croma retail stores. The phone will also be eligible for no cost equated monthly instalment scheme on Amazon. Read Complete Article

The visuals in the teaser of the Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer " Saaho ", which was released on Thursday, take viewers on an exhilarating ride featuring high-octane action on a scale not seen in Indian cinema often. The teaser opens with a shot of Shraddha saying that she has nobody to share her happiness or sorrow. Prabhas replies that he is there for her. Cut to the next shot, we see Prabhas standing on the tip of a skyscraper and we get a wide shot of the city that is filled with high-rise buildings. From here on, the teaser is full of quickly edited shots that tease us with the scale of action used in the film. From shots of hand-to-hand combat to car and bike chases to monster trucks and choppers, "Saaho" promises to take us on a thrilling ride when it hits the screens this Independence Day. From performing bike stunts and chasing enemies and beating them to the ground, Prabhas looks wrathful in the action avatar. But if you thought "Saaho...

More than 1 million people worldwide are infected daily by sexually transmitted infections chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis, according to World Health Organization estimates. “This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases,” WHO official Dr. Peter Salama said. The study found more than 376 million new cases of the four infections in 2016. By infection, there were 127 million new cases of chlamydia, 87 million of gonorrhoea, 6.3 million of syphilis and 156 million of trichomoniasis. More Than a Million Cases Every Day 1 in 25 people globally have at least one of these sexually transmitted infections An estimated 1 in 25 carry at least one of the infections, which left untreated can cause neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and an increased risk of HIV. Some people experience multiple infections at th...

Ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21 , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday again tweeted a video of his animated version performing the 'Vakrasana' that he said helps spinal cord in gaining flexibility. Demonstrated 'Vakrasana' or the spinal twist yoga pose, the animation took the audience step by step through each detail and also explained the benefits. "Have you ever practiced Vakrasana? Its advantages are numerous and long lasting. Watch this video," Modi tweeted. With a few days left for June 21, Modi urges every person to prepare for the day that was designated as World Yoga Day on his suggestion at the UN General Assembly speech in 2014, and over the last five years it has only improved its reach throughout the world. Governments of many nation mark the day in a big way with thousands participating in mass Yoga events across the country. Modi is expected to join an event in Ranchi this year.

Facebook on Tuesday launched an app that will pay users to share information with the social media giant about which apps they're using. The company previously rolled out two similar apps that tracked what activities people did on their phones. But both were shut down after drawing criticism for infringing on privacy and violating Apple's App Store guidelines. Facebook said the new app, called Study, is different than the previous two and was built from scratch. And it is only available on the Google Play Store, though Facebook said it might work to expand it to iOS in the future. The new app will collect information about which apps people are using and for how long, including which app features are used. That could give Facebook valuable insight into how people use its competitors' services. Facebook said it will not track passwords or account IDs and it will periodically remind people that the app is collecting their data. Read Complete Article

Cyclone Vayu : As cyclone 'Vayu' advances towards the Gujarat coast, the state government launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift about 300,000 people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions, officials said Wednesday. According to the latest weather information, the cyclone has intensified into a "very severe cyclonic storm" and is located around 340 km south of Gujarat's Veraval coast. Mumbai and some neighbouring coastal areas of Maharashtra witnessed a windy Wednesday morning as cyclone 'Vayu' turned into a "very severe cyclonic storm", the weather department said. "Cyclone Vayu has turned into a very severe cyclonic storm. It would cause gusty winds to blow at a speed of 145 kmph to 170 kmph by Thursday morning," the IMD said. The Indian Meteorological Department has said that thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind (40-50kmph) is very likely at isolated places in the districts of North G...

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor on Tuesday launched the Honor 20 series, which includes the Honor 20 Pro, Honor 20 and Honor 20i. While the Honor 20 Pro comes will available only in phantom blue colour, the Honor 20 has two colour options – sapphire blue and midnight black. The Honor 20i, on the other hand, comes with three colour options – midnight black, phantom blue and phantom red. The Honor 20 Pro, Honor 20 and Honor 20i are priced at Rs 39,999, Rs 32,999 and Rs 14,999, respectively. Honor 20 series sale details and launch offers: The Honor 20 and Honor 20i will go on sale on Flipkart from June 25 and June 18, respectively. The Honor 20 Pro sale details will be announced soon. All three smartphones will also be available with offline retailers soon. Both the Honor 20 and Honor 20i are eligible for no-cost equated monthly instalments, which start as low as Rs 5,500 per month for the former and Rs 2,500 for the latter. Honor is also offering 90 per cent buy back guarantee on the Ho...

Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday said his group has paid Rs 35,000 crore in the 14 months from April 1, 2018 till May 31, this year to lenders. These payments comprise principal repayments of Rs 24,800 crore and interest payments of Rs 10,600 crore. The group raised funds by selling assets, he said. Ambani said this amount included debt servicing payments by Reliance Capital, Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure, and their respective affiliates. "These payments have been made in the face of insurmountable odds and the most challenging financial environment witnessed in the country in decades,” Ambani said in a conference call. He regretted the continuing total apathy and lack of any support whatsoever from the financial system, which he said will ultimately hurt the interests of lenders themselves as well as all other stakeholders. Ambani said the group was fully committed to meeting all future debt servicing obligations in a timely manner, through furth...

Chinese smartphone giant Huawei’s sub-brand Honor will launch the Honor 20-series in India on June 11. The series includes the Honor 20 Pro,  Honor 2   and the Honor 20i. Of the three, the Honor 20i, with design and features inspired by its premium siblings, is going to be the most affordable in the series. Here are the phone’s first impressions: Design The Honor 20i is an impressive device with a curved gradient glass-like design on the back, a thin chassis made of plastic of the same colour as the back cover, and curved glass on the front covering a waterdrop notch on the screen. The phone has a lightweight build, which is comfortable to hold and operate for extended hours. Honor 20i first impressions: Impressive design, versatile cameras, and more Though the phone’s overall design is fresh, its plastic frame and polycarbonate cover on the back seem frail. Besides attracting fingerprints, the body seems to get scratched easily. The glass covering the screen seems to...

Filmmaker Karan Johar on Monday announced his first horror franchise titled "Bhoot: Part One - The Haunted Ship" which will feature actors Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar Karan shared the film's first poster captioned: "Presenting 'Bhoot : Part One - The Haunted Ship'! The first in the franchise, starring the supremely talented Vicky Kaushal, directed by Bhanu Pratap Singh. Sailing towards you on November 15, 2019." Helming the project is debutante director Bhanu, and it is jointly produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Shashank Khaitan and Karan. Vicky shared the poster and wrote: "Nothing haunts you more than reality. Presenting #Bhoot Part One - The Haunted Ship, directed by Bhanu. In cinemas November 15, 2019."Calling it a special role, Bhumi wrote: "Sinking my teeth into this special role in this very special film as my friend and brother Bhanu marks his debut with #Bhoot Part One - The Haunted Ship. In cinemas November 15...

The last days of Mt Everest’s spring window for 2019 witnessed the deaths of 11 climbers. Images of hundreds of mountaineers queuing to reach the summit and reports of climbers stepping over dead bodies dismayed people around the world, many wondering how human beings had got it so wrong. After the conquest of Annapurna and Everest in the 1950s, mountaineering became popular among the more privileged. But in the past two decades, mountaineering has taken on a increasingly commercial angle with disastrous results. Experts report that aside from a very short weather window to climb Everest this season, a new generation of guides offering cheap expedition rates attracted a rash of novice mountaineers, which contributed to the high number of deaths. Those inexperienced climbers, some of whom had only climbed Mont Blanc (4,810m) and Aconagua (6,962m), should not have been there. Modern climbing Until the beginning of the 21st century, mountaineering was an exclusive activity access...

Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption may account for millions of deaths from heart disease and strokes each year across the globe, a study has found. The study estimated that roughly one in seven cardiovascular deaths could be attributed to not eating enough fruit and one in 12 cardiovascular deaths could be attributed to not eating enough vegetables. Low fruit intake resulted in nearly 1.8 million cardiovascular deaths in 2010, while low vegetable intake resulted in one million deaths, researchers said. Overall, the toll of suboptimal fruit intake was almost double that of vegetables. The impacts were most acute in countries with the lowest average intakes of fruits and vegetables. "Fruits and vegetables are a modifiable component of diet that can impact preventable deaths globally," said Victoria Miller, a postdoctoral researcher at Tufts University in the US. Readmore

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer 'Bharat' is managing to hold a strong position at the box office. The film, which created history as Salman's highest opener ever, has now achieved another feat by crossing the Rs. 50 crore mark in just two days of its run. The film has managed to rack in Rs. 73.30 crore in just two days. Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the box office collection of the film on his Twitter handle. Adarsh noted that multiplexes saw a normal decline, while the film's evening and night shows witnessed a high occupancy, especially in single screen cinemas. The film saw a bumper opening and minted Rs. 42.30 crore on its first day. The numbers showed a slight dip owing to a working weekday. The movie minted Rs. 31 crore on its second day, thus taking its grand total to Rs. 73.30 crore and paving its way to the Rs. 50 crore club. Readmore

Five policemen, including an SHO, have been suspended for alleged negligence, five days after the mutilated body of a three-year-old girl was found in a garbage dump in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh , triggering a huge public outcry over the brutality of the murder. The policemen were suspended for alleged delay in registering the case after the girl was reported missing, and also for delaying the probe which eventually led to the discovery of her body on June 2, officials said. Tappal police station officials registered the case on May 31, a day after she had gone missing. Two suspects have been arrested and police say the case is a fallout of a monetary dispute. The accused Zahid and Aslam have confessed to killing the girl after her father failed to return Rs 12,000 he had borrowed from them, police sources said. Asked about the suspension of police officials, Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Kulhari told PTI that it was done on Thursday on the basis of the inquiry conduct...

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue wearing the dagger insignia on his wicket-keeping gloves as it is not a military symbol, Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai asserted Friday, saying that the BCCI has sought the ICC's permission for it. #DhoniKeepTheGlove During India's opening World Cup game against South Africa in Southampton, Dhoni's green keeping gloves had a dagger logo embossed, which looked more like an Army insignia. "The BCCI had already sent a formal request to the ICC for clearance. As per ICC regulations, players can't sport any commercial, religious or military logo. There was nothing commercial or religious in this regard as we all know," Rai told PTI over phone. "And it is not the paramilitary regimental dagger that is embossed in his gloves. So Dhoni is not in breach of ICC regulations," he added. His statement comes after the ICC "requested the BCCI" to ask Dhoni to remove the sign from the gloves,...

It is hardly a secret that Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus had been aiming for the premium smartphone segment for a while. With the recent launch of its OnePlus 7 Pro , the company finally forayed into the segment, pitting itself directly against the likes of Samsung and Apple. Mindful of the fact that a premium smartphone must have more than just its specifications, the company has in the OnePlus 7 Pro gone beyond the regular stuff like three-side bezel-less front profile, a huge screen with a faster refresh rate and enhanced colour rendition, mechanical selfie camera, choice of three different optics in rear-camera module, etc. Going by the highlights on paper, one might quickly call the OnePlus 7 Pro a complete package. But is it? Let’s find out. Read Complete Article

The Maharashtra Board SSC result was expected to be announced today by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), but there is no official declaration by the board. Several media outlets had reported June 6 as the date for declaration of the Maharashtra Board SSC class 10 result 2019. Once declared, the Maharashtra class 10 result will be available on the official website - Maharashtra Examination Results 2019 . Steps to check Maharashtra Board class 10th result 2019: 1. Visit the official website - Maharashtra Examination Results 2019 2. Click on the Board Result tab 3. MSBSHSE result page will appear on the screen 4. Enter your Roll Number and other details 5. Click View Result 6. Save a copy of the result This year, over 1.7 million students appeared in the Maharashtra SSC examination, according to India Today. MSBSHSE had conducted the exam in March 2019. Last year, 16,28,613 students appeared in the exam. Of them 14,56,203 stud...

1. What is Eid? Eid literally means a “festival” or “feast” in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later. Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long festival and is known as the “Lesser” or “Smaller Eid” when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four-days-long and is known as the “Greater Eid.” 2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a year? The two Eids recognize, celebrate and recall two distinct events that are significant to the story of Islam. Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the fast.” The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan, which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month. 3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr? Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers. People greet each other with “ Eid Mubarak ,” meaning “Blessed Eid” and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at hom...