Month: November 2020

Giving fans a glimpse of his vacay in the Maldives, actor Tiger Shroff on Thursday dropped a gorgeous shirtless picture showcasing his chiselled physique on social media. The ‘War’ actor posted an appealing picture on Instagram in which he has seen sporting yellow hot pants in the swimming pool. The actor looked handsome as he showcased his six-pack abs and the perfectly toned body. Enjoying his vacay at the exotic location, the ‘Baaghi’ star sported chunky sunglasses.

The backdrop in the picture features the actor’s holiday stay, which is surrounded by palm trees under clear blue sky.

The ‘Heropanti’ star added a witty caption to the post, “Pls excuse the yellow hot pants. Either I’ve grown or my shorts have shrunk this lockdown. @intercontinental_maldives #islandlife #intercontinentalmaldives #intercontinentallife.”

More than 810,000 fans liked the post on the photo-sharing platform with many leaving lovable comments on the post.

Of late, the actor has been updating fans about his activities by posting pictures pictures and vidoes.

Earlier this week, Tiger Shroff unveiled a power-packed poster of his forthcoming action-thriller ‘Ganapath’. (ANI)

By Sahil Pandey

A total of 123 (51 per cent) of the winning candidates in Bihar elections 2020 have serious criminal cases against themselves where eight have declared crime against women.

According to political watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of the 241 winning candidates analysed in 2020, 163 (68 per cent) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Regarding the serious criminal cases, among the major parties, 44 (60 per cent) out of 74 winning candidates are from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 35 (48 per cent) out of 73 winning candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 11 (26 per cent) out of 43 winning candidates from Janata Dal (United), 11 (58 per cent) out of 19 winning candidates from Indian National Congress, eight (67 per cent) out of 12 winning candidates from CPI(ML)(L) and five (100 per cent) out of five winning candidates from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have declared in their affidavit. Out of 243 MLAs analysed during Bihar Assembly elections in 2015, 40 per cent of the candidates declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

The Bihar Assembly elections for 243 seats took place on October 28 (for 71 seats), November 3 (for 94 seats) and November 7 (for 78 seats). The National Democratic Alliance won the elections after securing a majority. (ANI)

Hailing the “woman power” behind the BJP’s victory in the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections and other state bypolls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said women across the country have become their largest group of “silent voters”.

“I have been watching it on television since yesterday (Tuesday), there is a discussion in newspapers about the silent voters. The BJP has a large group of silent voters: both the rural and urban women. The nari shakti (woman power) of our country has become the largest group of silent voters for us,” said the Prime Minister while addressing the party’s victory celebration at its headquarters in New Delhi.

He added people across the country trust BJP for ensuring the empowerment and dignity of women.

“Development issues such as free gas connections, bank accounts for all, and internet connectivity are still relevant, and people voted for the BJP because it worked in these fields. Many times it is said that issues such as bank accounts, gas connections, houses, facilities for self-employment, good roads, good railway stations, better airports, modern bridges on rivers, internet connectivity do not matter. But, the public is repeatedly telling such people that these are the real issues,” he stated.

He added that the biggest reason behind the victory of the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance is that the party has made the development of the country and people its paramount goal. (ANI)

As the United States and Taiwan are set to begin economic talks, Beijing has called on Washington to “stop exchange or contacts” with Taipei and stop elevating its relationship with Taiwan in any substantive way.

Addressing a briefing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Webin urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle.

Taiwan is sending a delegation to the US for the inaugural meeting of the US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue later this month. The US side will be led by Undersecretary Keith Krach, who visited Taiwan in September.

“China consistently opposes official exchanges between the US and the Taiwan region. We urge the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, stop all forms of official exchanges and contacts with Taiwan, stop elevating its relationship with Taiwan in any substantive way, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and send no misleading signals to the Taiwan separatist forces, so as to avoid serious damage to China-US relations, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Wang said.

China regards Taipei as a “breakaway province” and has said that it wouldn’t mind using force to claim it. At the same time, Beijing has also accused Washington and Taipei of promoting independence.

China in recent years has also increased military drills around Taiwan, with almost 40 Chinese warplanes crossing the median line between the mainland and Taiwan on September 18-19 — one of several sorties the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen called a “threat of force”.

During US Health Secretary Alex Azar’s historic visit to Taiwan in September, China deployed fighter jets that briefly crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, South China Morning Post had reported citing Taiwan’s Defence Ministry. The ministry had said it had tracked the PLA fighters with its land-based anti-aircraft missiles and had “strongly driven them out”.

In August, the United States announced that it was establishing a new economic dialogue with Taiwan focused on technology, health care, energy and other sectors. Taiwan hopes talks will result in a free-trade agreement with the United States.

The Trump administration has also stepped up military support for Taiwan in recent years through increased arms sales. (ANI)

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Wednesday said that the interim bail to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami is a slap on the face of the Maharashtra government.

“#ArnabGoswami ko Bail, yane Thackeray Sarkar ko Tamacha (Arnab Goswami’s bail is a slap on the face of Thackeray government),” he tweeted after the Republic TV owner got bail in an abetment to suicide case on Wednesday.

“The bail given to Arnab Goswami is the victory of justice over the exploitation of the state. The Supreme Court’s decision is an answer to the way the Maharashtra government, run by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, besides the Mumbai police commissioner used their power,” Somaiya said in a video message on his Twitter handle.

Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Goswami was released from Taloja Jail in Mumbai on Wednesday after the Supreme Court granted him and two others interim bail earlier in the day in connection with the 2018 abetment to suicide case. (ANI)

Thanking the people of Bihar for the victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the just-concluded Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed the success as the victory of “the mantra of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas”.

“If you ask me today about the election results of Bihar, then my answer is clear like the people’s mandate: the mantra of ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas’ has won. The development has won in Bihar. Truth and faith have won in Bihar,” he said, adding that the BJP’s victory is the success of Bihar’s people.

“Bihar’s youth, mothers, sisters, and daughters have won! Bihar’s poor has won, the farmer has won! It is a victory of the aspirations in Bihar. It is a victory of Bihar’s pride,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a massive gathering at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi to celebrate the party’s victory.

He called Bihar a special state, terming it to be the land of democracy.

“Bihar is the most special state. I will tell my brothers and sisters in Bihar, you have once again proved why Bihar is called the land of democracy. You have proved once again that Biharis are aware,” he said, adding the people of the state, along with the BJP workers, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, left no stone unturned to achieve the victory. (ANI)

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee of Punjab put black flags and posters on passenger buses at the inter-state terminal in Amritsar, on Wednesday, to protest against recently passed three farm laws.

“We’re observing Black Diwali this year in Punjab against Centre’s black laws,” says a protester.

“On November 5, several farmer organisations in Punjab had declared a nationwide protest against the farm laws by blocking the Delhi Amritsar highway from 12 pm to 4 pm”, according to the Kisaan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had staged a ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on November 4 over the issue of suspension of goods railways services in Punjab since September 24.

“I am in Delhi not to confront the Centre but to fight for justice for the poor farmer whose livelihood is at stake due to the central farm laws. We were forced to come to Delhi as the President had declined our request for a meeting on the state amendment Bills, countering the new farm laws, which were still lying with the governor,” he had said.

The railway services were suspended in the state due to the ongoing protests against the farm bills by Kisan Unions.

The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by the Upper House through voice vote despite objection from opposition parties. (ANI)

While two-wheeler and passenger vehicles sales increased in October 2020, as compared to the same period in the previous year, those of three-wheeler took a hit in the country, as per a statement by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers here on Wednesday.

According to the release, the sale of passenger vehicles in October 2020 was 3,10,294 units as compared to 2,71,737 units in October 2019, marking a growth of 14.19 per cent.

Further, two-wheeler sales were clocked at 20,53,814 units in the previous month, as compared to 17,57,180 units in October 2019, revealing a 16.88 per cent growth.

However, three-wheeler sales dipped from 66,985 units in October 2019 to 26,187 units in the last month, reflecting a decrease of 60.91 per cent.

The increase in two-wheeler and passenger vehicles has been witnessed despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting slump in the economy.

October also marked the beginning of the festive season in the country with Navratra and Dussehra being celebrated during the month. (ANI)

Actor Sonu Sood, is often dubbed as the ‘Messiah of migrants’ for his philanthropic work during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, is all set to pen his autobiography titled ‘I Am No Messiah.’

Penguin Random House India had earlier announced that the ‘Dabangg’ actor will be penning an autobiography that will chronicle his experiences during the pandemic. The book will be co-written by Meena Iyer.

“People have been very kind and have lovingly named me Messiah. But I really do believe that I am no Messiah. I simply do what my heart tells me to. It is our responsibility as human beings to be compassionate and help each other,” Sood said.

Written in the first person, the book will reveal the emotional and often challenging journeys he undertook along with the people he rescued.

He will narrate the many stories he heard and the interactions he had, and will also share how this experience not only changed his outlook but also his life’s purpose.

‘I Am No Messiah’ will be released in December this year. (ANI)