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Showing posts from 2018

Horlicks blinks as kids favour less sugar to 'taller, stronger, sharper'

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Malted milk drinks, which are as much as one-third sugar, have been breakfast staples of upwardly mobile families in India since soldiers brought GlaxoSmithKline's Horlicks back with them after WW1   For a century, children in India have been brought up on malt-flavored powdered milk drinks that they thought would help make them healthy and strong. Now the $1 billion industry is set for a shake-up after two of the biggest producers, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Kraft Heinz Co. put the businesses up for sale and consumers switch to drinks with less sugar. Malted milk drinks, which are as much as one-third sugar, have been breakfast staples of upwardly mobile families in India since soldiers brought GlaxoSmithKline’s  Horlicks  back with them after the First World War. Now, after a decade of double-digit growth, sales in India rose 8.6 per cent in 2017 and could drop to half that this year. By 2022, the market will expand by only 2.7 per cent, Euromonitor forecasts. “The

Hypertension drug recall by USFDA shot in the arm for some drug majors

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The recall was due to an impurity (N-Nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA) which was found in the recalled products that include valsartan and its combinations   The recent recall of a common  hypertension drug  in the US due to contamination with a carcinogen has opened up short-term opportunities for a handful of Indian players. The issue with sartan (hypertension drug) began around July, when the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) notified health care professionals of a voluntary recall of several drug products containing the active ingredient valsartan. Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. The recall was due to an impurity (N-Nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA) which was found in the recalled products that include valsartan and its combinations. According to the USFDA’s list of products under recall, four companies - Teva, Prinston, Torrent, and Hetero - have recalled products containing the valsartan active ingredient. The USFDA also place

Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL go on sale: Know price, features, specifications

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The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are priced at Rs 71,000 and Rs 83,000 for the 64GB storage variant, whereas the 128GB variant retails at Rs 80,000 and Rs 92,000, respectively   Search engine and technology giant Google announced the third generation Pixel-series smartphones in October. Named the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the phones go on sale in India from today (November 1), exclusively on home-grown e-commerce portal Flipkart. While the Google Pixel 3 has been priced at Rs 71,000 and Rs 80,000 for the 64GB and 128GB storage variants, the Google Pixel 3 XL retails at Rs 83,000 and Rs 92,000 for the 64GB and 128GB model, respectively. The phones come in three colours -- clearly white, just black and not pink. 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 Snapdrag

Asthana placing selective facts, misleading court: CBI Addl SP to Delhi HC

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Gurm, who was transferred along with other CBI officials has sought to be made a party in the petition filed by Asthana   CBI Additional SP S S Gurm alleged in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that Special Director  Rakesh Asthana  , who has filed a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR against him in a bribery case, was misleading the court by placing "selective" facts before it. Gurm, who was transferred along with other CBI officials in the feud between CBI Director  Alok Verma  and Asthana, has sought to be made a party in the petition filed by Asthana. The officer, who was transferred from Delhi to Jabalpur, has sought an opportunity to be heard in the case. In an application before the high court, the additional SP claimed he has "reasonable" apprehension that CBI is seeking to protect and support Asthana and may not effectively contest the petition. He has also sought dismissal of Asthana's petition. The separate petitions

Justice Ranjan Gogoi sworn in as CJI, succeeds Dipak Misra

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Justice Gogoi will have a tenure of a little over 13 months and would retire on November 17, 2019   Justice  Ranjan Gogoi  was Wednesday sworn in as the 46th Chief Justice of India. He succeeds Justice Dipak Misra. President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath to the 63-year-old Justice Gogoi at a brief ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan's Darbar Hall. Justice Gogoi will have a tenure of a little over 13 months and would retire on November 17, 2019. News Source :  BS  &  Business Standard  

Aadhaar SC verdict LIVE updates: Court holds Aadhaar constitutionally valid

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Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar. Track all the LIVE updates on Business Standard   Business Standard  :  The Supreme Court Wednesday declared the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme as Constitutionally valid. The apex court's five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Aadhaar is meant to help benefits reach the marginalised sections of the society and takes into account the dignity of people not only from personal but also from the community point of view. The top court said Aadhaar is serving much bigger public interest and Aadhaar means unique and it is better to be unique than being best. The verdict was pronounced on a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar scheme and its enabling 2016 law.  BS The bench had on May 10 reserved the verdict on the matter after a marathon hearing that went on for 38 days, spanning four-and-half months. ALSO READ:  Supreme Court declares Aadhaa

How the latest technology and some healthy activism can curb fake news

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The main take away from our research is that when it comes to preventing the spread of fake news, privacy is key   The term “  fake news  ” has become ubiquitous over the past two years. The Cambridge English dictionary defines it as “false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views or as a joke”. As part of a global push to curb the spread of deliberate misinformation, researchers are trying to understand what drives people to share fake news and how its endorsement can propagate through a social network. But humans are complex social animals, and technology misses the richness of human learning and interactions. That’s why we decided to take a different approach in our research. We used the latest techniques from artificial intelligence to study how support for – or opposition to – a piece of fake news can spread within a social network. We believe our model is more realistic than pre

The hashtag (#) just turned 11. Is it time to celebrate?

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On the hashtag's 10-year anniversary last year, Twitter's co-founder Biz Stone recounted how the hashtag symbol came to be so iconic   The  hashtag (#) turned 10 last year. Last week it turned a year older. In my younger days, the symbol # used to denote the number sign. In Western markets it stood for the pound sign. Word nerds called it the octothorpe. But for the past 11 years since it was first used on Twitter, the '#' is famous as the hashtag. Today the hashtag is not restricted to just Twitter (an average usage of 140 million times a day) but is equally frequently used on Facebook, Instagram and every other social media platform. More importantly, the hashtag today transcends social media, and has started to connote a higher purpose, and has become the unifying symbol for a body of thought (or resistance) … #MeToo for example spread virally in October 2017 as a hashtag used on social media (as also traditional mass media) to demonstrate the wides

Ready for 2019 polls but won't contest in Tamil Nadu by-polls: Kamal Haasan

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We are getting ready for it (2019 general elections) and it's true that we are ready already, Haasan said   Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief  Kamal Haasan  on Wednesday said that his party is ready for the 2019 general elections, but are not in a mindset to contest the forthcoming bye-election in Tamil Nadu. "We are getting ready for it (2019 general elections) and it's true that we are ready already," Haasan said at an event here. However, when asked whether his party will contest in the forthcoming bye-election in the state, Kamal replied, "We will teach a lesson to the government to tell them about their duties, but we are not in the mindset to contest it." Two Assembly seats - Thiruvarur and Thiruparankundram constituencies - have fallen vacant after the demise of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader A K Bose. A date for the bye-election is yet

Andhra CM's brother-in-law Harikrishna dies in road accident

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Tollywood actor and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader  Nandamuri Harikrishna succumbed to his injuries after he met with an accident in Telangana's Nalgonda district on Wednesday morning.   Harikrishna was the fourth son of late former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP founder NT Rama Rao and brother-in-law of incumbent state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Harikrishna had received multiple injuries. He died while undergoing treatment. According to the police, the accident took place at the Anaparthy highway, 100 km away from Hyderabad, when the former's parliamentarian's car turned turtle after the person on the driving seat lost control over the vehicle. In 2014, Harikrishna's son Janakiram also died in an accident near Nalgonda. Harikrishna is survived by his wife, daughter Sushasini and two sons Kalyan Ram and Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, both are Tollywood actors. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao also expressed grief

Realme 2 India launch today: Watch livestream, know expected price, specs

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Realme 2 would sport a gradient design, similar to the first-generation device. However, compared to predecessor, it would feature a new format screen, better internals and an improved camera module   Realme, a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo is launching the second iteration of its value-for-money smartphone in India today ( August 28). Named the  Realme 2 Price  , the smartphone would have a gradient design, similar to the first-generation device. However, compared to the predecessor, the upcoming smartphone will feature a new format screen, better internals and an improved camera module, according to a device listing page on the e-commerce platform Flipkart. The Realme 2 would sport a 6.2-inch HD+ resolution screen with a notch, accommodating a front camera, earpiece and sensors. On the back, the phone would get a dual camera module placed horizontally on top left centre, along with an LED flash. The back would also feature a fingerprint sensor, which

Priyanka celebrates father's b'day with mom Madhu

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'Daddy's lil girl'  Priyanka Chopra  celebrated her late father Dr Ashok Chopra's birthday by stepping out for a dinner outing with mom Madhu Chopra.   The 36-year-old took to social media to share a picture, clicked by 'Dhadak' star Janhvi Kapoor, in which the mother-daughter duo can be seen cutting a piece of cake. Earlier in the day, the 'Quantico' star shared a short video clip with photographs of her father on social media and captioned the post: "Dad. You are so missed. Happy birthday. Always and forever." On the work front, Priyanka will next be seen in Hollywood movies 'Cowboy Ninja Viking' and 'Isn't it Romantic'; while in Bollywood, she will play a major role in Shonali Bose's 'The Sky is Pink'. The 'Mary Kom' actor recently made headlines for her engagement with American singer Nick Jonas.

Veteran journalist, author and diplomat Kuldip Nayar passes away at 95

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Nayar died at around 12.30 am at a private hospital, his elder son Sudhir Nayar said Veteran  journalist Kuldip Nayar  passed away in New Delhi on Thursday, a member of his family said. He was 95. Nayyar died at around 12.30 am at a private hospital, his elder son Sudhir Nayar said. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Nayar started his career as an Urdu press reporter. He was editor of Delhi edition of English newspaper The Statesman. Nayar had served as High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom (UK). He was also nominated as a member of the Upper House of Parliament in 1997. He was also the author of more than 15 books including, Beyond the Lines, Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent, India after Nehru. His last rites will be performed at Lodhi crematorium. Read Full Story →  Kuldeep Nayyar  

WhatsApp to trace the origin of fake messages, set up servers in India

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The instant messaging platform had earlier expressed inability in tracing the origin of messages citing privacy of consumers With the government threatening action against  WhatsApp  over spread of fake news, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the American messaging platform, Chris Daniels, flew down to New Delhi to fix things. Daniels, who took over as the boss of WhatsApp in May, on Tuesday told the government it would work out a technological solution to trace the origin of fake messages. The Facebook-owned firm, with more than 200 million active subscribers in India, also committed to complying with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules relating to local storage of financial data by having servers in India. Daniels, a Facebook insider known for running  Internet.org  at the California-based social media firm, has been firefighting with the Indian authorities over fake news soon after he was appointed as the WhatsApp boss. Following an exchange of letters with th

Ind vs Eng 3rd Test Day 3 highlights:Kohli's 103 help Ind to set 521 target

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Virat Kohli hit his 23rd century and put 119-runs stand for 3rd wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (72) to put India in a commanding position in 3rd Test On Day 3 of third Test of 5-match series, England were 23 for no loss in their second innings while chasing a mammoth 521 runs for victory against India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Monday. Courtesy skipper Virat Kohli's (103) 23rd century, his second ton of the series, India declared their second innings at 352 for seven, leaving the hosts an improbable victory target of 521 runs to chase with two full days play remaining in the match. At stumps, Keaton Jennings was batting on 13, while Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 9. Earlier, Indian captain  Virat Kohli  hit his 23rd century in post Tea session to put India in a commanding position. At tea India were 270/3, taking their overall lead to 438 runs against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Kohli and Rahane (17) were at the crease when umpires dislodged the bai

Oppo F9 Pro launch today: Watch livestream, know expected features, specs

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The Oppo F9 Pro would features a water drop notch-based screen and gradient colour design. It would also feature the VOOC flash charge Oppo, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, is gearing up for the launch of the  Oppo F9 Pro  today i.e. August 21. The smartphone would feature a tiny notch-based screen and gradient colour design, similar to the Realme 1. The phone would also feature the VOOC flash charge, an enhanced version of Oppo’s proprietary fast charge technology that can provide up to two hours of talk time in five-minute charge, the company’s claimed. OPPO F9 PRO FEATURES First introduced in the Oppo Find X Lamborghini edition, the VOOC charge is a fast charging technology that uses a low voltage and high amp configuration to transfer more power from charger to the device. The charger uses a standard configuration of 5V/4A to achieve a charging speed that are 4 times faster than conventional 5V/1A charging technology.  Read More  

Kerala flood LIVE: 370 dead; 1st commercial plane lands at Kochi naval base

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Commercial flight operations from Naval airport at Kochi commenced today with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving this morning Kerala floods  : The situation in the flood-ravaged state was gradually improving, even as some rainfall was forecast for the coastal state from Monday onwards. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, “heavy rainfall” is expected only in Kozhikode, Kannur and Idduki districts over the next four days. However, even as water recedes from major areas, authorities are gearing up to deal with the possible outbreak of water-borne and air-borne diseases. Commercial flight operations from the Naval airport at Kochi commenced today with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving this morning. It is after 18 years that civilian flights are landing and taking off from the naval airport. The Indian Railways said that two special trains will be run on Monday from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam to Kolkata and that the t

Priyanka Chopra welcomes Nick Jonas, his parents in Mumbai

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Actress Priyanka Chopra welcomed her American singer beau Nick Jonas and his parents, fuelling rumours that they will be reportedly formalising their relationship with an engagement party. Nick, dressed in an all-black attire with a gold chain, stepped out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here late on Thursday night, flanked by his parents -- mother Denise and father Kevin Jonas Sr -- and a security entourage as the paparazzi welcomed him with loud cheers of "Welcome to India, Nick". Priyanka is reportedly going to host a party on Saturday when her family members, including her mother Madhu and brother Siddharth, will meet Nick's kin. As they made their exit, the Jonas patriarch had a big Tiffany & Co. bag in his hand. Tiffany is the jeweller that closed down its London store for Nick to buy an engagement ring for Priyanka, according to  PEOPLE.com | Celebrity News, Exclusives, Photos, and Videos . According to international media

Vajpayee's health continues to remain critical, on life support: AIIMS

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Vajpayee is under the supervision of Dr Randeep Guleria, a pulmonologist and currently the Director of AIIMS. Guleria has served as personal physician to Vajpayee for over three decades Former prime minister  Atal Bihari Vajpayee  's condition continues to remain critical, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said in a statement on Thursday. Vajpayee's health worsened on Wednesday and he is on life support system. "Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition continues to remain the same. He is critical and on life support systems," the statement by the hospital read. Senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh paid visits to the AIIMS on Thursday to enquire about the health of the former prime minister. Earlier in the morning, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu visited AIIMS to enquire about the condition of Atal Bi

Ajit Wadekar, who taught India to win overseas, dies at 77; India mourns

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Ajit Wadekar is one of the only three cricketers who represented India as a captain, coach, and national selector. The other two players are Chandu Borde and Lala Amarnath Former Indian cricket team captain  Ajit Wadekar  , who led India to maiden Test series wins in England and West Indies, died at the age of 77, at the Jaslok Hospital in South Mumbai on Wednesday, after suffering prolonged illness. The aggressive batsman left an indelible mark on Indian cricket despite making a mere 37 Test appearances. He led India to triumphs in England and the West Indies in 1971. Wadekar also served as India's manager in the 1990s when Mohammed Azharuddin was the captain. He later went on to become the chairman of selectors as well. He is survived by his wife Rekha, two sons, and a daughter. Ajit Wadekar as Indian cricket captain in 1971 In 1971, Wadekar was appointed the captain of national cricket team after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi opted out of the West Indies tour