Airtel counters Reliance JioPhone, offers Celkon 4G smartphone at Rs 1349

The 'Celkon Smart 4G' comes with a four inch touch screen, dual SIM slots and access to all popular apps like YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook

India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel on October 30 in partnership with Celkon launched a 4G Android smartphone for Rs 1,349. The phone comes bundled with Airtel's Rs 169 offer plan, which provides unlimited calls, and 500 MB data per day for 28 days.

The partnership is part of Airtel’s ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ initiative, under which Airtel plans to collaborate with device manufacturers to launch smartphones at the price of a feature phone.

In terms of specifications, the Celkon Smart 4G smartphone sports a 4-inch screen, dual-SIM slots and FM radio. The Android powered 4G smartphone offers access to several apps on Google Play Store, including YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp. The device will also come preloaded with apps from Airtel -- MyAirtel app, Wynk music and Airtel TV.

The phone comes bundled with Airtel Rs 169 offer plan, which provides unlimited calls, and 500 MB data per day for 28 days. Also, there is a cashback offer that entails to terms and conditions.

To avail a cashback offer, a customer needs to make a down payment of Rs 2,849 for the 4G smartphone and make 36 continuous monthly recharges of Rs 169. The customer will get a cash refund of Rs 500 after 18 months and another Rs 1,000 after 36 months, taking the total cash benefit to Rs 1500.

Click here to know → Mera Pehla 4G Smartphone

Last date for filing GSTR-2, 3 extended by a month

GSTR-2 is the most important return for GST compliance since the availability of input tax credit depends on it

The government on Monday once again extended the deadline for filing the goods and services tax (GST) returns for purchases and input-output transactions for July.

The last date for filing purchase return, or GSTR-2, was extended to November 30, from October 31. That of input-output transactions, or GSTR-3, was put off to December 11, from November 10.

“To facilitate trade, the last date for filing GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 for July 2017 has been extended to November 30 and December 11, respectively,” a government tweet said.

Archit Gupta, chief executive officer, ClearTax, said, “The earlier last date for filing GSTR-2 coincided with the deadline for submission of audited income tax returns and as such was putting a strain on some taxpayers.”.

GSTR-2 is the most important return for GST compliance since the availability of input tax credit depends on it.

M S Mani of Deloitte said that the extension will enable many more taxpayers to file returns. “The challenges faced by some of the taxpayers in dealing with mismatches in GSTR-2 would hopefully get resolved in November,” he added.

Click to know more → GST Deadline

Modi flags off Run for Unity: The importance of Sardar Patel and ‘nationalist’ narrative for BJP in Gujarat

The memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is set to be evoked frequently in the days to come in Gujarat. The state polls on December 9 and 14.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flaggedoff the ‘Run for Unity’ from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, near India Gate.

Similar ‘runs’ have been organised across the country to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

"Some people tried to ensure the contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten," PM Modi said.

"We remember Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary. We are proud of his contribution to India before we attained freedom and during the early years after we became independent," he said at the Dhyan Chand stadium in the national capital before flagging off the 'Run for Unity' event.

In Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a WhatsApp campaign on Monday to highlight the “insults” allegedly meted out by the Nehru-Gandhi family to two sons of Gujarat – Sardar Vallabhbai Patel and Morarji Desai.

The social media campaign accuses the Nehru-Gandhi family of “insulting” Gujarati ‘asmita’, or pride. It says Patel, the first home minister of independent India and deputy prime minister, wasn’t accorded a memorial in New Delhi.

The WhatsApp forward claims Patel was stopped from becoming the first prime minister of India, that he wasn’t conferred the ‘Bharat Ratna’ by any of the Congress governments or his birth centenary celebrated.

Click here to read → Sardar Patel Statue

Virat Kohli: Fastest to reach 9,000 ODI runs; a century

Courtesy his innings of 113 in the match, Kohli broke de Villiers' record of fastest cricketer to have reached the milestone

 

 

India skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday became the fastest to reach 9000 ODI runs, taking just 194 innings to achieve the feat.

He achieved the feat even as he scored his 32nd century in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand here at the Green Park stadium on Sunday, to clinch the 1-1 levelled series.

Courtesy his innings of 113 in the match, the Team India captain broke de Villiers' record (205 innings) of the fastest cricketer to have reached the milestone.

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Indian team won hearts, if not medals

Kohli also became the first batsman to amass 2000 runs in international cricket in 2017. Ahead of the Kanpur ODI, Kohli was on 1991 runs from 39 matches at 58.55.

The 28-year-old achieved the 8000-run mark in ODIs in just 175 innings, again breaking AB de Villiers' record, who took 182 innings.

Kohli, in 2013, became the fastest player to 5000 ODI runs, equaling West Indies' Viv Richards record, reaching the mark in 114 innings.

Meanwhile, India has crossed the 300-run mark with Rohit Sharma having been snared by Santner for 147.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to have a bowl first.

Click here to Know More → Fastest 9000 ODI Runs

In 30 months, 1,629 corruption cases filed, 41 politicians involved

Of 9,960 people involved in the cases, 6,023 or 60% were private persons/citizens, 3,896 or 39% were public servants and 41 were politicians

 

 

As many as 1,629 cases of corruption were reported in India–in which 9,960 people were involved or 11 every day–under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, over two-and-half years ending June 30 2017, according to this reply to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) on August 10, 2017.

Of 9,960 people involved in the cases, 6,023 or 60% were private persons/citizens, 3,896 or 39% were public servants and 41 were politicians, data show.

Corruption cases registered increased by almost 10% from 617 in 2015 to 673 in 2016. As many as 339 cases were registered during the first six months of 2017.

As many as 2,303 people–almost three every day–were convicted for corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, over two-and-half years ending June 30, 2017. Of the persons convicted, 59% or 1,356 were public servants, 41% or 943 were private citizens and four politicians.

Cases that ended in convictions increased 16% from 434 in 2015 to 503 in 2016. During the first six months of 2017, 199 such cases ended in a conviction, data show.

As many as 6,414 corruption cases under trial were pending as of June 30, 2017, involving 35,770 people that includes 18,780 citizens, 16,875 public servants and 115 politicians. Pending cases have come down from 6,663 in 2015 to 6,414 as of June 30, 2017.

As many as 850 corruption cases are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, of which 14 are “gathering dust for over five years”, the Central Vigilance Commission said, India Today reported on October 26, 2017.

Click here to Know → Corruption Cases In India

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Indian team won hearts, if not medals

He congratulated England for winning the Cup while stating that all the teams had displayed their best talent during the tournament held in India for the first time

 

The Indian team may not have won medals but the youngsters have won the hearts of everyone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday about the FIFA Under- 17 World Cup which ended yesterday in Kolkata.

He congratulated England for winning the Cup while stating that all the teams had displayed their best talent during the tournament held in India for the first time.

In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi referred to some other recent sports events like the Asia Cup Hockey and Denmark Open Tennis tournament and hailed India's victory in these.

India won the Asia Cup after 10 years and while K Srikanth won the Denmark Open after Indonesia Open and Australia Open, he noted.

Turning to FIFA Under-17, he said there was excitement among the players as well as spectators during such a big tournament.

"The World Cup was hosted successfully and all the teams displayed their best talent. India may not have won the Cup but the Indian youngsters have won the hearts of everyone," Modi said.

Earlier, he tweeted, "Congratulations to the youngsters from England on winning the #FIFAU17WC. I also congratulate Spain for a spirited game."

In another tweet, he said, "#FIFAU17WC was a celebration of football, witnessing wonderful games. India was honoured & delighted to host the tournament.

Click to know More → FIFA U-17 World Cup

Vodafone offers unlimited calls, 500 MB data for 7 days at Rs 69

SuperWeek plan will enable customers to make 'unlimited local and STD calls to any network bundled with 500 MB data at just Rs 69 for a week'

 

 

India's second-largest telecom operator Vodafone on Thursday announced a short-duration plan that offers unlimited calling and 500 MB data at about Rs 69 with 7 days of validity.

The move comes at a time when the Indian telecom market - the second-largest in the world after China - is witnessing an intensifying competition among telecom operators which are trying to outdo each other with newer packs and attractive bundled offers to woo consumers.

Recently, Vodafone has inked a pact with Micromax to roll out a 4G smartphone at an effective price of Rs 999. Dubbed as Micromax Bharat 2 Ultra, the smartphone will go on sale in November.

Vodafone, in a statement, said its 'SuperWeek plan' will enable customers to make "unlimited local and STD calls to any network bundled with 500 MB data at just Rs 69 for a week".

Repeat purchases of the pack can be made, Vodafone said, adding that the new packs are available across all retail outlets, USSD, website and its app.

Click Here to know → Vodafone SuperWeek plan

Shutting down 2G biz and adopting a 4G strategy may not work for RCom

RCom's average revenue per user (Arpu) of Rs 58 per month for Q1FY18 is the lowest in the industry

 

 

Shutting down 2G wireless business of Reliance Communications (RCom) will turn out a boon for other incumbent operators as most of its feature phone customers look likely to switch from the carrier.

According to analysts and industry watchers, Reliance 2G customers may not migrate to 4G as most are feature phone users with very low monthly spending and little willingness to invest in a 4G-ready smartphone.

In fact, going by a Goldman Sachs' report, RCom's average revenue per user (Arpu) of Rs 58 per month for Q1FY18 is the lowest in the industry, over 50 per cent lower than the industry average, a signal implying most customers to be voice users.

The average Arpu of the industry stands at Rs 130-140.

Analysts say RCom adopting a 4G-focused strategy and shutting down its 2G business and asking customers to migrate to 4G may not be a feasible business as most of its users generate lowest Arpu in the industry, them being feature-phone owners.

The Anil Ambani-owned company had lost 95 per cent of its subscribers in five service areas - West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Northeast and Odisha - in 2015 when it did not renew its 900 megahertz (MHz) spectrum (used for 2G services). RCom had 24 million active subscribers in these five areas as on September-end 2015 and by June-end 2016, they reduced to one million.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, as of July-end 2017, RCom had a total subscriber base of 81 million, of which 13 million were wireless broadband (3G plus 4G) users.

Click here to know more → Reliance 2G News

Apple iPhone X pre-booking starts today; base model priced at Rs 89,000

Apple iPhone X will be available in two colour variants - silver and space grey - and two storage options - 64 GB and 256 GB. The price of iPhone X will start at Rs 89,000 for base model

 

 

After launching iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple is gearing up to bring its anniversary edition iPhone X to India on November 3. The smartphone will be available for iPhone X preorder registration through e-commerce platforms starting today.

Apple iPhone X will be available in two color variants – silver and space grey – and both the variants will come with two storage options – 64 GB and 256 GB. The price of iPhone X will start at Rs 89,000 for the base model.

In terms of design and features, the iPhone X sports glossy stainless steel frame body covered on the front and back by a glass design. It has a wide 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display. The glassy back is accentuated by a vertically placed 12-megapixel dual camera set-up, which supports optical image stabilisation (OIS).

On the front, a new 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera enables auto image stabilisation and precise exposure control, and brings the portrait mode to the front camera for stunning selfies with a depth-of-field (Bokeh) effect.

The iPhone X dual camera set-up boasts a f/1.8 aperture on the wide-angle camera and an improved f/2.4 aperture on the telephoto camera for better photos and videos. A new quad LED True Tone Flash offers twice the uniformity of light and includes Slow Sync, which brings more uniformly lit backgrounds and foregrounds.

Click here to know more → IPhone X Price India

Tokyo Motor Show 2017: Toyota highlights AI, Honda displays electric cars

AI technologies, eco-friendly cars in spotlight at Tokyo Motor Show

 

 

The 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017 opened to the press on Wednesday with next-generation cars featuring automated driving, artificial intelligence (AI) and eco-friendly technologies in the spotlight.
A total of 153 companies from various countries displayed their achievements and research plans on next-generation products and services at the show, Xinhua news agency reported.

Toyota Motor Corp, Japan's largest carmaker by volume, unveiled its new concept car "Fine-Comfort Ride" featuring hydrogen fuel cell, and three "Concept-i" vehicles with automated driving and AI technologies.

The scandal-hit Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co both showcased their new electric vehicles, including the "Honda Sports EV Concept" car which is equipped with AI technologies and can interact with the driver.

The show also features connectivity technologies, with an event titled "Tokyo Connected Lab 2017" offering visitors virtual experiences of driving in connected cars in a futuristic society through VR headsets.

The show will be open to the public from October 28 through November 5 at Tokyo Big Sight.
Though one of the world's five major motor shows, the show suffered a decline in popularity in recent years as automakers shifted their attention to the emerging markets.

The biennial show attracted 2.02 million visitors in 1991 at its peak but only some 810,000 visitors in 2015.

Rohingya crisis: Desperate for news, refugees tune in to ‘WhatsApp radio’

Audio and video messages distributed on apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube have become a community radio of sorts for the Muslim minority

 

 

Sat in his hillside grocery shop in a Bangladesh refugee camp, Rohingya Muslim Momtaz-ul-Hoque takes a break to listen to an audio recording on his mobile phone, while children and passers-by gather round to hear the latest news from Myanmar.

“I listen because I get some information on my motherland,” said Hoque, 30, as he plays a message on WhatsApp explaining the Myanmar government’s proposals for repatriating refugees.

Hoque has been in Bangladesh since an earlier bout of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in 1992, but the number of refugees in the camps has swelled dramatically to more than 800,000 in recent weeks, after a massive Myanmar military operation sent around 600,000 people fleeing across the border.

Tens of thousands of exhausted refugees have arrived with little more than a sack of rice, a few pots and pans and a mobile phone powered by a cheap solar battery, and many are desperate for news of what is going on back home.

With few news sources in their own language and low levels of literacy, audio and video messages distributed on apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube have become a community radio of sorts for the Muslim minority.

Dozens of WhatsApp groups have sprung up to fill the information gap. Their offerings range from grainy footage of violence, to listings of the names and numbers of people missing in the chaos of the exodus, or even an explainer from educated Rohingya on how to adjust to life in the camps.

Click here to know more → Rohingya Crisis

Don’t have Aadhaar? You can still verify your mobile number. Here’s how

500 mn mobile numbers registered in Aadhaar database, OTP can be used for verification in all these cases

 

 

The government will soon put in place a mechanism for authentication of cellphone subscribers who do not have Aadhaar numbers.

It may also explore another method for people unwilling to share their Aadhaar numbers with telecom companies. Such a method will conform with the Supreme Court’s mandate on re-verification of mobile subscribers.

People who did not have Aadhaar number might be provided the option of furnishing their passport, driving licence or ration card as proof of address and identity, sources said.

The department of telecommunications (DoT) has announced a series of measures for simplifying the re-verification process using Aadhaar numbers by offering the facility at the subscriber’s doorstep and using one-time passwords (OTPs).

Telecom companies have been directed to offer the doorstep facility for the convenience of the old or those with disability and illness. They have also been asked to initiate OTP-based verification using SMS or IVRS on mobile apps.

“It is the government’s endeavour to improve convenience and reduce time and energy spent by consumers in accessing government information,” Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said.
Nearly 500 million mobile numbers are registered in the Aadhaar database and the OTP can be used for verification in all these cases.

For agent-assisted biometric authentication, telecom companies have been asked to ensure all the details of subscribers are not visible to the agent. This facility is meant for people who face problems with poor fingerprint quality, disability or old age. The re-verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by early 2018.

Click here to read more → Aadhaar Mobile Verification

Deadline to link Aadhaar with schemes extended till March 31

No action has been taken against those who do not want to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or mobile numbers

 

 

 

The deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of various government schemes would be extended till March 31 next year, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

It told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the deadline for Aadhaar linking to avail benefits of the schemes was to end in December and it has now been decided to extend it until March 31, 2018.

"We have decided to extend it until March 31, 2018," Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

The counsel appearing for petitioners, who have challenged the government's move to make Aadhaar mandatory for these schemes, raised the issue of the mandatory linking of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) number with bank accounts and mobile numbers.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for petitioners, said the main Aadhaar matter should be heard soon, as though the government has decided to extend the deadline until March 31 next year, it has also not said that no action would be taken against those who do not want to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or mobile numbers.

"Final hearing of the matter is necessary. They can make a statement that they will not take a course of action against those who don't want to link Aadhaar," Divan said.

Click here to read more → Aadhaar Deadline

One year of demonetisation: Opposition to observe Nov 8 as Black Day

Demonetisation was an ill-conceived and hasty decision of the govt: Ghulam Nabi Azad

 

Opposition parties on Tuesday said they would observe November 8 as Black Day to protest against the "ill-conceived" decision of the government to spike Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, a year ago.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that the opposition parties have worked out a joint strategy and would register their protest against the November 8, 2016, demonetisation decision.

"Demonetisation was an ill-conceived and hasty decision of the government. It is unprecedented, perhaps in the entire world, that a government had to alter its policy 135 times within a month," Azad said, recalling how the government kept changing its rules in the aftermath of the note ban last year.

The decision to mark November 8 as the black day was taken at a coordination meeting on Monday that was attended by JD-U rebel leader Sharad Yadav, CPI MP D. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, BSP's Satish Mishra and Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien.

Click here to know more → One year of demonetisation

Albert Einstein's handwritten note on happiness auctioned for $1.3 mn

A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it, Einstein wrote

 

Strapped for cash in a Tokyo hotel, Albert Einstein wrote his take on life on a note and handed it to the bellboy instead of a tip. The physicist’s formula for happy living fetched $1.3 million on Tuesday, a Jerusalem auction house said.

In 1922, Einstein was en route to Japan when the announcement came he would be awarded the 1921 Nobel prize in physics, Winner’s Auctions and Exhibitions said.

Upon his arrival in Tokyo, he holed up in his hotel room trying to put his thoughts to paper.
When an attendant came to his room to make a delivery, Einstein found himself without any money for a tip.



Instead, he handed him a signed note with one sentence, written in German: “A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it.”

According to the auction house, Einstein advised the bellboy to keep the note, saying that someday its value will surpass the amount of a standard tip.

Almost a 100 years later, Einstein was proven right after the bellboy’s nephew contacted the auction house to put the note up for sale. The identity of the online buyer has not been revealed.

Click here to Know more → Albert Einstein Handwritten Note

OnePlus 5T leaks hint 18:9 screen, fingerprint scanner on back: Know more

It is speculated that the smartphone would sport same specifications as that of OnePlus 5 except a potentially bigger battery

China-based smartphone maker OnePlus is reportedly working on the next iteration of its current year flagship. Dubbed as ‘OnePlus 5T’, the upcoming smartphone recently appeared in the tech forums.

Going by the purported report that confirms the existence of 5T model, it is believed that the device would sport a bigger screen in 18:9 aspect ratio format with FHD+ resolution. Also, OnePlus would shift the fingerprint sensor on the back side to accommodate a bigger screen on the front with small bezels.

An image shared by Android Authority, an online technology portal, gave a glimpse of the upcoming flagship model from OnePlus. In the picture, the phone is shown from an angle revealing the speaker at the bottom, same chassis as that of OnePlus 5 and a new wider format screen.

It is speculated that the smartphone would sport similar specifications as that of OnePlus 5 except for a potentially bigger battery.

 

OnePlus 3T was launched in 2016 and appeared almost identical to OnePlus 3 but with an improved processor, front and back cameras and sapphire glass protected lens cover.

 

Recently, GSMArena stated that the company would launch the OnePlus 5T on November 5 but the report was later corrected after the company issued a statement denying any such plans.

 

Click Here to Know More → OnePlus 5T Features

National anthem in film theaters: SC leaves it to the govt to frame policy

SC's interim order on playing the anthem continues; in the meanwhile government to decide whether to change policy or not

 

 

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to take a call on regulating the playing and singing of the national anthem in public places including cinema halls.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it was needless to say that the Centre will have full discretion in the matter.

The court said that while taking a decision, the government will not be influenced by the apex court's 2016 order wherein playing of the national anthem in cinema halls was made mandatory.

Contrary to media reports, the Supreme Court suggested that Central Government can modify the interim order on national anthem in film theaters and that it will have full discretion in the matter.

The apex court said, "The discretion has to be exercised without being influenced by our interim order. We may further emphasize that the discretion may be utilized to regulate in an inclusive manner or as the Central Government feels fit."

Click to Know More → National Anthem In Theaters

Now Vodafone to offer 4G smartphones for Rs 2,899

Vodafone has forged a partnership with Micromax, wherein customers can own a 4G smartphone for Rs 999

 

As the incumbent operators look to take on Reliance Jio and retain their customer base for feature phones, they are forging partnerships with handset makers so as to make smartphones affordable and within reach of a large section of society.

After Airtel, which has tied up with Karbonn to come out with a Karbonn A40 Indian smartphone for an effective price of Rs 1,399, Vodafone has also forged a partnership with Micromax, wherein customers can own a 4G smartphone for Rs 999.

According to the Vodafone offer, existing and new Vodafone customers will have to buy the Micromax Bharat-2 Ultra smartphone by paying Rs 2,899 and if they recharge at least Rs 150 per month for 36 months, Rs 1,900 will be returned as cashback.

At the end of 18 months, users will receive a cashback of Rs 900 and after another 18 months, a cashback of Rs 1,000, in their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets. Vodafone has not provided a specific plan for the Micromax offer and people buying the device can recharge with existing offers of the company.

As the company is targeting feature phone users, who usually recharge with amounts starting at Rs 10, Vodafone has allowed the flexibility for users to choose recharges of any denomination but to avail the offer, a minimum of Rs 150 should be spent in a month, or Rs 2,700 in 18 months.

Click here to know more → Vodafone 4G Phone

Deoband fatwa bans Muslims from posting their photos on Facebook, WhatsApp

The edict was issued by the fatwa department of the Darul Uloom Deoband after a man approached it recently asking if posting photos on social media sites was allowed in the religion

 

The Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur has issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslim men and women from posting their or their families' photographs on social media sites.

In the fatwa issued on Wednesday, one of the largest Islamic seminaries in India has said that posting photos of self or family on social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp is not allowed in Islam.

The edict was issued by the fatwa department of the Darul Uloom Deoband after a man approached it recently asking if posting photos on social media sites was allowed in the religion.

Mufti Tariq Qasmi, an Islamic scholar associated with a madarssa here, said when clicking pictures unnecessarily is not allowed in Islam how posting photos on social can be allowed.

Click here to know more → Muslims Social Media Ban

Diwali: Cracker ban goes up in smoke as Delhi air quality turns ‘very poor’

A 'very poor' air quality index essentially means that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on a prolonged exposure to such air

 

 

The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city glowed red, indicating a 'very poor' air quality as the volume of ultrafine particulates PM 2.5 and PM 10, which enter the respiratory system and manage to reach the bloodstream, sharply rose from around 7 pm.

At 10 pm, in Mandir Marg in Delhi, the PM 2.5 concentration was 390 units against the prescribed 60 units, while PM 10 was 480 against the prescribed 100.

Real-time pollution data appeared alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) R K Puram monitoring station recorded PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 878 and 1,179 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm.

However, the nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide concentrations at 50.84 and 31.20 respectively were well under the prescribed limits.

The pollutants had violated the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 respectively by up to 10 times.

While it is difficult to quantify the immediate effect of the ban on firecrackers, residents across the national capital felt the beginning was promising with neighborhoods reporting much lesser noise and smoke till about 6 pm, compared to the previous years.

But as the festivities picked up, the faint echo of crackers started growing louder.

According to the SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre respectively at around 11 pm.

It has forecast that the pollution levels will peak between 11 pm and 3 am.

Click here to know more → Firecracker Ban

Don’t portray every inter-religious marriage as ‘love jihad’

The HC bench upheld a marriage between a Hindu woman and a Muslim man

 

The Kerala High Court on Thursday held that all inter-religious weddings cannot be viewed as 'love jihad' as it upheld a marriage between a Hindu woman and a Muslim man.

A division bench comprising justices V Chitambaresh and Sathish Ninan made the observations in its judgement on a habeas corpus petition filed by the man. A habeas corpus plea is filed to ensure a person under arrest is brought before a court which will determine whether the detention is legal.

"We are appalled to notice the recent trend in this state to sensationalise every case of inter-religious marriage as either 'love jihad' or 'ghar wapsi' even if there was platonic love between the spouses before," the court said.

The bench also cited the Supreme Court order in the Lata Singh versus state of Uttar Pradesh case of 2004 to emphasise the need for encouraging inter-caste and inter-religious marriages.

"We caution that every case of inter-religious marriage shall not be portrayed on a religious canvass and create fissures in the communal harmony otherwise existing in the God's Own Country - Kerala," the bench said and upheld the marriage.

It said the present case was projected by the parents of the woman as 'love jihad' whereas the man, who was in love with her and married her later, termed it as 'ghar wapsi' (a bid to coerce her to come back).

The woman from Kannur had left her home on May 16 along with the Muslim youth. On a complaint from her parents, police had traced and detained them in Sonepat in Haryana a month later.

The Rohingya horrors and Aung San Suu Kyi’s whitewash: Eyewitness

'Nobody is allowed to have any lights on after sunset in this region, or be outside at all'

 

It was a bright autumn morning, and I had just dropped off my two children at nursery and was scrolling through Twitter, when I spotted a video of another mother’s two children.

The youngest was a one-year-old boy, the same age as my own youngest; the other, his nine-year-old sister, had been carrying him for miles. She was weeping, the tears from her terrified eyes indistinguishable from the rain pouring off her short black hair and drenched clothes.

A Rohingya child, she had fled from the one of the many scenes of horror inflicted by the Myanmar military on Muslim areas across the country’s beleaguered Rakhine state, where hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground and where fleeing people have been killed by landmines and children beheaded. As I struggled to get my front door key into the lock, I found I was crying too.

The UN has called the Myanmar military’s campaign against the Rohingya, involving the burning of hundreds of Muslim villages in Rakhine State and targeting people with landmines as they ran, a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. More than half a million people have fled into Bangladesh – many of them children who saw their parents murdered. The UN has warned of a further influx.

For those fairly unfamiliar with Myanmar, the situation is not just horrific, but bizarre. Myanmar was supposed to be firmly on the road to democracy, and yet now the military is out murdering again. Buddhism has an international reputation as a peaceful religion – and yet the vicious violence is being perpetrated by the military in the name of Buddhist nationalism.

And then there’s the sight of Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of government in all but name, publicly whitewashing the situation. She has failed, not just to condemn, but even to recognise the atrocities. She has declined to acknowledge the existence of the Rohingya except as part of a terrorist movement or to call for UN investigators to be allowed in to observe the situation.

Click to read the full story of the Eyewitness → Rohingya Genocide

Dhanteras 2017: Where and How to Buy the Best Deals on Gold

Are you planning to buy gold this Dhanteras? It is that time of the year when people flock to buy gold

 

It is that time of the year when people flock to buy gold. Dhanteras, an amalgamation of Sanskrit words dhan, that stands for wealth, and teras that refers to the 13th day of the Hindu calendar, is marked by praying to goddess Lakshmi and the purchase of gold objects.

 

This year's Dhanteras comes after the government changed a key rule governing gold buying. As part of the push to revive consumer sentiment in the economy, the government recently allowed people to buy Rs 2 lakh worth of gold without quoting the permanent account number.

Here's what you must keep in mind while buying gold

Rule number 1: First and foremost, jewellers say, those who want to buy jewellery would have to set aside 60-70 per cent of their monthly salary for this purpose.

The current price of gold ranges from Rs 29, 675 (Friday) to Rs 29,970 (Monday). Last Dhanteras, the price of gold was around Rs 30,000.

*Buy gold with BIS Hallmarking which guarantees its purity. Buy the metal with certification of 22-carat purity

*Scout the market for the best price deal. Discount offers available should make your purchase price attractive

*If you are buying from a jeweller, you should purchase a reputed outlet, with good track-record and credibility

*Always insist on a bill. Without a bill, you will have trouble in case you want to exchange the precious metal later.

*Buy gold for the long term. Gold prices are exposed to global events and might face volatility in the short term

Click here to see the offers on Gold → Dhanteras 2017

Indian-origin teenager Akshay Ruparelia becomes UK's youngest millionaire

 

Ruparelia claims to have already sold 100 million pounds worth of properties since he set up his business

 

An Indian-origin teenager has become one of Britain's youngest millionaires after his online estate agency business got valued at 12 million pounds in just over a year.

Akshay Ruparelia, at just 19 years of age, juggled his school work with negotiating property deals for his no-frills business that offers to sell properties for a fraction of the cost charged by established high street estate agents.

This week "doorsteps.co.uk" became the 18th biggest estate agency in the UK just 16 months after the website went live.

Ruparelia claims to have already sold 100 million pounds worth of properties since he set up his business.

Also Read: 12 Housewives Who Fought Gender Stereotypes To Become Millionaires

"I got the website up and running and after a couple of weeks a man in Sussex asked me to sell his home and a separate chunk of land he owned beside it.

"I had to pay my sister's boyfriend 40 pounds to drive me to Sussex to take photographs of the house, as I hadn't passed my driving test and didn't have a car," he recalls.

The north London-based schoolboy was able to sell the property and land within three weeks, which set the ball rolling.

He started his company with 7,000 pounds, borrowed from relatives and now employs 12 people.
In the initial stages of his business, he hired a call centre to answer calls coming into his work while he was at school and would return the calls after his classes.

His model is based on hiring an ever-expanding network of self-employed mothers across the UK, who show clients around the properties he has been asked to sell.

Click here to know more about → Akshay Ruparelia

Sexual violence: Women are safer in Karachi than Delhi

Delhi has been paired with Brazil's Sao Paulo in a poll that lists the cities where women fear the risk of sexual violence, including rape, attacks or harassment

 

 

New Delhi has been named the world's worst megacity for sexual violence against women in a survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Delhi has been paired with Brazil's Sao Paulo in the poll, which lists the cities where women fear the risk of sexual violence, including rape, attacks or harassment.

The survey comes just five years after the national capital witnessed the horrific Nirbhaya gangrape incident in December 2012, which resulted in a widespread public outcry demanding better safety measures for women.

The poll was conducted in 19 of the world's biggest megacities with populations of more than 10 million and asked 380 experts in cities to assess the risk of sexual violence.

Delhi schools aren't safe either

• In a shocking incident, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside the premises of Tagore Public School in the national capital's Gandhi Nagar area. The police had registered a case against under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) and is investigating the matter and the accused was arrested. (Read more)

A Delhi woman narrates why she feels unsafe in the city

• Most residential colonies in Delhi are poorly lit. Even main roads, inner streets, sections of markets, areas between residential blocks and bus stops pose a threat. In fact, in a survey carried out by Jagori among 500 women in the city, over 95 per cent reported carrying things like pepper sprays and sharp objects for protection. But such individualistic solutions like pepper-spray and self-defence are not an answer to our plight. At best, this is jugaad, a make-do arrangement to protect ourselves.

Click here to read the full article on Sexual violence Against Women

Narendra Modi to deliver his last speech before Gujarat polls in Gandhinagar today

As many as 10,000 party workers have been involved in making the public meeting a success

 

 

Likely to be his last speech at a big public rally before the Election Commission’s model code of conduct kicks in for Gujarat Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a massive public meeting in Gandhinagar on Monday.

In a series of tweets on Sunday evening, the PM set the stage for the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan’, or Gujarat pride mega-congregation. A BJP press statement on Sunday evening attempted to underline the importance of the event. It said as many as 10,000 party workers have been involved in making the public meeting a success.

The public meeting comes on the heels of the Gujarat government announcing a series of sops. While it isn’t known if the PM might make more announcements, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had complained on Thursday that the Election Commission postponed announcing the Gujarat poll dates to enable Modi to announce more sops at the Monday rally.



The BJP statement said Modi, party chief Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and other leaders will address the public meeting. It said the public meeting will sound the BJP’s bugle for the assembly poll. “This is development, this is Gujarat,” will be the statement that would resound at the public meeting. It said 26 entry gates have been erected for the public rally, and seating arrangements made in 72 blocks. The venue will also have 15 parking lots.

In his tweets, the PM said: “Tomorrow in Gandhinagar, I will join Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan, which will bring together lakhs of BJP Karyakartas from across Gujarat. Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan comes after the successful culmination of the two Gujarat Gaurav Yatras.”

Click to read the full story on Gujarat Elections 2017

Somalia blast toll rises to 300: Deadliest attack in decades

Somalia Government has blamed the al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab extremist group for the attack

 

 

The death toll in the massive twin truck bombings in Somalia's capital has mounted to 300, officials said.

The officials explosion has been called as the one of the deadliest attacks to hit the capital, Mogadishu, since an Islamist insurgency began in 2007, reported the New York Times.
Apart from this, at least 300 have been left wounded, and families scrambled to find missing relatives amid the rubble and in hospitals.

The death toll is expected to rise as the emergency crews are still pulling more bodies from burned cars and demolished buildings after the Saturday blasts.

According to reports, Somalia Government has blamed the al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab extremist group for the attack.

However, no group including Al-Shabaab has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.



Speaking to the state-run radio station, Somalia's information minister Abdirahman Omar said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen and "this is how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them."

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo condemned the attack and has declared three days of mourning in the country.

"Today's horrific attack proves our enemy would stop nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Let's unite against terror. We will observe 3 days of mourning for innocent victims, flags will be flown at half-mast.

Click here to read full story about Somalia Blast

Tax evasion: Real estate coming under GST? Council to decide at Nov meet

Aadhaar could be made mandatory for buying international air tickets, cars

 

 

Real estate is often seen as one of the worst sectors in so far as tax evasion is concerned. To address this issue, the government might soon move to bring it within the ambit of goods and services tax (GST).

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicated this on Thursday while speaking at Harvard University in the US. The GST Council, at its November meeting in Guwahati, would consider covering the sector under the new indirect tax regime, Jaitley said.

While delivering a lecture on tax reforms in the country, he called the taxation system in India one of the least efficient in the world, with a very small tax base. He also hinted at making Aadhaar mandatory for buying a car or international air tickets in the future, taking a cue from the recent Supreme Court judgement.

The GST was rolled out on July 1, replacing a large number of indirect taxes with one unified tax of five rates. Petroleum, real estate, and alcohol were kept out of its ambit.



“The one sector in India where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place and which is still outside the GST is real estate. Some of the states have been pressing for it. I believe that there is a strong case to bring real estate into the GST,” Jaitley said.

The stamp duty, which is outside the GST, has complicated the tax structure for real estate. A lot of states had opposed the inclusion of the stamp duty in the GST, as it was a source of revenue for them.
“Some states want; some do not. There are two views. Therefore, by discussion, we would try to reach one view,” he said.

A 12 per cent GST is levied on construction of a complex, building, or civil structure intended for sale, wholly or partly. However, land and other immovable property have been exempted from the GST. If real estate is brought under the GST, the final tax would be almost negligible, Jaitley added.

Read the Full Article → Real Estate under GST

Jio’s Diwali offer: 100% cashback on Rs 399 pack; here’s how you can get it

Under the Diwali Dhan Dhana Dhan offer, Jio Prime customers get eight vouchers worth Rs 50 each on a recharge of Rs 399. The offer can be availed of during the Oct 12-16 period

 

 

Reliance Jio has announce a 100 per cent cashback offer on Rs 399 recharge for Jio Prime customers. Dubbed the ‘Diwali Dhan Dhana Dhan offer, the cashback comes in the form of eight Rs 50 vouchers that can be redeemed in further recharges. Jio Prime customers can avail of the Jio offer starting today, October 12 and the offer will continue until October 18.

The eight Rs 50 vouchers that you get on a recharge of Rs 399 can be redeemed against future recharges of Rs 309 or above, and on data add-ons booster packs of Rs 91 or above. The vouchers come with a condition of use that allows only one voucher to be redeemed at a time and only after November 15.

The offer can also be availed of by the subscribers who are still under the validity period of their last recharge. The recharge will activate only after the current plan validity of the recharge expires.

Under the Rs 399 recharge, Reliance Jio offers free calls, SMS, subscription to Jio apps and 84 GB of data with a cap of 1 GB per day, valid for 84 days. The Diwali Dhan Dhana Dhan offer is valid for both, prepaid and postpaid subscribers.

To Know the plan → Jio 399 recharge plan

Aarushi-Hemraj murder case: Allahabad HC acquits Talwars, gives benefit of doubt

The 263-page verdict ends a nine-year ordeal of the Noida-based dentist couple who were found guilty by a Ghaziabad CBI court on November 26, 2013 and were serving life sentence in Dasna jail

 

 

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday acquitted Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the 2008 murders of their teenage daughter, Aarushi, and domestic help Hemraj, saying that neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them guilty.
The 263-page verdict brings relief, at least for now, to the nine-year ordeal of the Noida couple who were sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad CBI court on November 28, 2013, for the double murder.
“There is a strong possibility that incident was caused by some outsider,” a bench comprising judges B K Narayana and A K Mishra said, upholding the Talwars’ appeal against the court verdict.

Also Read: Aarushi Case: Tampered Crime Scene Main Gap In Probe

The Talwars, who are both dentists, are expected to be freed on Friday from Ghaziabad’s Dasna jail after the completion of paperwork. The CBI did not immediately say if it would appeal against the high court judgment. It said it would study the order and decide the future course of action.
Pronouncing their verdict in a packed courtroom, judges Narayana and Mishra said, “From the facts and evidence on record, we find neither the circumstances nor evidence are consistent, and circumstances did not complete a chain showing involvement of appellants in the incident.” They said, “In case where two views are possible, the view taken for conviction of appellants may not be correct. In the absence of circumstantial evidence to complete the chain, it is a fit case where the benefit of doubt can be given to the appellants.”

Read Full Case Article → Noida Double Murder Case

Audi launches the 5 ‘Brat Pack’ range starting at Rs 54.02 lakh

With the launch of A5, Audi bridges the gap between A4 and A6

 

A sportback, a performance sedan and an open-top cabriolet, how else could have Audi bridged the gap between the A4 range and the A6 range?The 5 range that Audi calls 'BratPack', offers a perfect blend of models for buyers to choose from.

The ex-showroom price of A5 is Rs 54,02,000. The A5 Cabriolet is priced at Rs 67,51,000 while the top of the line S5 will cost you Rs 70,60,000.

The Audi A5 sportback and cabriolet are powered by a 2.0 Litre TDI engine that churns out 190 hp and 400 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a Seven-speed S Tronic dual clutch auto transmission. Both the cars can clock a top speed of 235 kmph.

While A5 sportback takes 7.9 seconds to tick triple digits, A5 Cabriolet does it in 7.8 seconds being quicker by 0.1 seconds.

Performing duty under the hood of the S6 is a 3.0 Litre V6 TFSI mill that produces 354 hp and a whopping 500 Nm of peak torque.

This engine is married to an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission and comes equipped with Quattro all-wheel-drive system (AWD). It takes a 0-100 drake in 4.7 seconds and can clock a top speed of 250 kmph.

Other than the segment standard features such as 3-zone climate control and touchscreen infotainment system, which are some of the highlights.

Like other Audi cars, all three are equipped with MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi virtual cockpit that enhances the beauty and functionality of the instrument cluster and Audi smartphone interface that... Read Full Article

No firecrackers in Delhi-NCR this Diwali until Nov 1

The bench said they wanted to see the impact of a cracker-free festivity at least in one Diwali

 

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that there will be no sale of firecrackers during Diwali, as it restored a November 2016 order banning the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi and National Capital Region.

A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri, while restoring the order, said: "We should see at least in one Diwali the impact of a cracker free festival."

However, the court said that the September 12, 2017 order lifting the ban on the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi NCR will be back into effect from November 1.

These Diwali there will be no firecrackers in Delhi & National Capital Region ruled supreme court. The bench said they wanted to see the impact of a cracker free festival at least in one Diwali.

Also Read: Metro Fare Hike: Will Pay Half Of Funds If Centre Pays 50%

Godhra train burning case: Gujarat HC commutes death sentence of 11 to life

The High Court pronounced its verdict on a set of appeals challenging convictions and acquittals by a special SIT court in the 2002 Godhra train coach burning case

 

The Gujarat High Court on Monday commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence given by a trial court to 11 convicts in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case. The court, however, upheld the death sentence of 20 other convicts.

The court also directed the government and the railways to pay Rs 10 lakh each to families of those killed in the Godhra train burning case.

The Gujarat High Court pronounced its verdict on a set of appeals challenging convictions and acquittals by a special SIT court in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.

Coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express, in which 59 people, mostly 'kar sevaks' returning from Ayodhya, were travelling, was burnt on February 27, 2002, at the Godhra station, triggering riots in the state.

The special SIT court had on March 1, 2011, convicted 31 people and acquitted 63 in the case. While 11 people were sentenced to death, 20 were given life in jail.

Later, several appeals were filed in the High Court challenging the conviction, while the state government had questioned the acquittal of 63 people.

The court had convicted 31 people while accepting the prosecution's contention that there was a conspiracy behind the incident.

All the 31 were convicted under IPC sections related to murder, attempt to murder, and criminal conspiracy.

Those acquitted included the prime accused, Maulana Umarji, the then president of the Godhra Municipality, Mohammad Hussain Kalota, Mohammad Ansari, and Nanumiya Chaudhary of Gangapur, Uttar Pradesh.

The Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Gujarat government to probe the carnage, had concluded that the fire in the S-6 coach was not an accident, but it was set ablaze.

'Chef': Saif's careers best in heartwarming culinary drama (Movie Review, Rating ****1/2)

There is a lot of teasing between the father and son ,played with endearing casualness by Saif Ali Khan and Svar Kamble. Aptly , "Chef" teases our appetite for cinema. It's a culinary delight-warm tender, inviting and appetizing-- served up in a dainty dish with a dash of debonair but played-down posturing, like a masterchef who is shy to show off his skills but can't help it. He's so adept at what he does.

 "Chef" conveys the kind of sagacious skill born not out of arrogance but wisdom sometimes misplaced.Like the protagonist Roshan Kalra's traditionalist father who believes the kitchen is for women.

Speaking of which -- arrogance more than wisdom -- Saif Ali Khan's Roshan Kalra (from Chandni Chowk Delhi married to and divorced from the lovely Malayali danseuse Radha Menon) is portrayed as an epitome of prideful arrogance waiting to fall.

The fall comes sooner than we expect. Director Menon wastes no time in taking on his protagonist's burnished ego and cutting it down to size, piece by piece.

Come to think of it, Roshan's downsizing needs no push. Saif Ali Khan's inbuilt nawabi pride and an urbane humour that often hurts others in ways that are more permanent than permissible,seize the character to make it so imminently relatable ,I felt someone had stolen parts of my life.

Saif's Roshan says things to earn points as a clever conversationalist. Much like the prestigious Michelin star rating for food which determines quality to the point of rendering the pleasure of food into an exercize in technical grading.

Much in the same way that music binds human relationships, food is great unifier .

Catch the Full Chef Movie Review, Click Here

Over 20 lakh biz due to file final GST returns in 6 days

The final GSTR-3, matching GSTR-1 and 2, is to be filed by November 10

 

 

As the deadline for filing the final GST returns for the first month of GST nears, the Sushil Modi-led Group of Ministers has asked the IT backbone provider GSTN to send reminder text messages to 20 lakh businesses which are yet to submit the tax forms.

In its second meeting, the Group of Ministers (GoM) asked the GST-Network to brace for the rush of last-minute filers.

The last date for filing of final sales returns for July in GSTR-1 form is October 10, while the date for uploading of purchase returns in GSTR-2 is October 31.

The final GSTR-3, matching GSTR-1 and 2, is to be GST filing by November 10.

"So far 33 lakh businesses have filed GSTR-1 for July, while 53 lakh had filed the initial GSTR-3B returns.
So 20 lakh more businesses have to file in the next six days," GoM Chairman and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said.

"We appeal to people to file the returns on time. Infosys has prepared a list of businesses who are yet to file returns. GSTN will be sending out mobile messages to these 20 lakh businesses reminding them to file returns," he said.

Besides, the GoM has also asked Infosys, which has prepared the back-end of the GST Network portal, to be prepared to handle the load that would come for GSTR-2 filing between October 11 to 31.

The GST Council in its meeting on October 6would be apprised of the deliberations of the GoM and the improvement in... Read Full Article

You can buy Google Pixel 2 in India for Rs 61,000 from November

Pixel 2 will be priced at Rs 61,000 for 64GB variant and Rs 70,000 for 128GB. Pixel 2 XL 64GB will cost Rs 73,000 and Pixel 2 XL 128GB will be available for Rs 82,000.

Betting big on the best combination of artificial intelligence (AI), software and hardware, Google on Wednesday launched Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL smartphones and refreshed Daydream View virtual reality (VR) headset for India.

 

Pixel 2 comes in just black, clearly white and kinda blue colours while Pixel 2 XL has just black and black and white variants.

Pixel 2 will be priced at Rs 61,000 for 64GB variant and Rs 70,000 for 128GB. Pixel 2 XL 64GB will cost Rs 73,000 and Pixel 2 XL 128GB will be available for Rs 82,000.

The pre-orders commence on October 26. The devices will be available in over 1,000 stores across the country and on Flipkart starting November 1 (Pixel 2) and November 15 (Pixel 2 XL).

Pixel 2 comes with a 5-inch and Google Pixel 2 XL with a 6-inch Full-HD OLED displays with Portrait Modes on both rear and selfie cameras.

Rated 98 by independent camera testers DXO, the rear camera comes with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and Electronic Video Stabilisation (EVS) technology to remove shaky photos and videos.

The camera can also click "Live Photos" by recording up to three seconds of footage.
It also has AR Stickers and Pixel users would get free unlimited storage on Google Cloud to store photos and videos in the original quality. The devices have IP67 rating making them water and dust resistant.

Both phones come with "squeeze" interaction technology called "Active Edge" that opens Google Assistant, USB-C charger and front facing stereo speakers. The company claims it has the fastest fingerprint scanner in a smartphone.

Microscope trailblazers win 2017 Nobel prize for Chemistry

New approach fills previously blank space by generating images of everything from proteins that cause antibiotic resistance to the surface of the Zika virus

A trio of Swiss, American and British scientists won the Nobel Prize 2017 in Chemistry on Wednesday for developing cryo-electron microscopy, allowing researchers to see biological molecules frozen in action.

The work by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson makes it possible to image proteins and other molecules after freezing them rapidly to preserve their shape, providing a powerful new tool for medical research.

"It's like frames in a movie. Each of these pictures represents a frame and they can be put together into a movie and we can see what the molecules do," said Peter Brzezinski, a member of the Nobel committee for chemistry.

The new approach fills a previously blank space by generating images of everything from proteins that cause antibiotic resistance to the surface of the Zika virus. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awarded the 9 million Swedish crown ($1.1 million) prize, said the technology had moved biochemistry into a new era.

By freezing bio-molecules mid-movement, scientists can unravel previously unseen processes — a major advance both for basic understanding and the potential development of new drugs.

Scottish-born scientist Henderson used an electron microscope to generate a three-dimensional image of a protein at an.... Read Full Article

Mahindra & Mahindra rolls outs W9 variant of XUV500 priced at Rs 15.45 lakh

The XUV500 W9 has been made available in both manual and automatic transmission along with the electric sunroof which will be available

Home-grown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday rolled out the W9 variant of its flagship SUV XUV500, priced at Rs 15.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The latest offering from the utility vehicle major comes with a host of features such as an electric sunroof with anti-pinch, reverse camera with dynamic assist, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system as well as ecosense technology and dual airbags, among others.



The XUV500 W9 variant has been made available in both manual and automatic transmission, the company said, adding the electric sunroof will be available in two variants --W9 and W10.

"Since its launch in 2011, the XUV500 has been a pioneer in providing innovative hi-tech features. We are certain that the introduction of these hi-end features at such a competitive price point will generate a lot of interest amongst prospects who are evaluating SUVs in the price range of Rs 14 lakh to Rs 18 lakh," Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd's chief of sales and marketing for automotive division, Veejay Ram Nakra, said.

Also Read: Mahindra Launches Compact SUV 'TUV300' Variant At Rs 9.66 Lakh

Mahindra and Mahindra reported a 16 per cent increase in total sales at 53,663 units in September.
The sales of passenger vehicles, including Scorpio, XUV500, Xylo, Bolero and Verito jumped 23 per cent to 25,327 units in the previous month as against 20,537 sold in the same period last year.

The company's commercial vehicle sales increased 19 per cent to 19,201 units in September against 16,081 in the year-ago period.