Month: January 2021

American singer and songwriter Britney Spears’ relationship with her father James Spears due to her conservatorship situation is being put under the microscope in the new documentary titled ‘Framing Britney’.

According to E! News, the documentary will dive into the career highs and lows of the singer as well as her unusual conservatorship situation, which sparked a great deal of controversy in recent years. The trailer for ‘Framing Britney’ released on January 21.

The ‘Oops…I Did It Again’ singer had reached the peak of her fame as a teenager with her 1998 smash hit album ‘…Baby One More Time’. In 2006, Britney faced intense criticism as she publicly struggled with mental health issues, following which in 2008, her father James was named co-conservator of Britney, along with a lawyer, Andrew Wallet.

Even though Wallet resigned from the position back in 2018, James has continued to control all of Britney’s financial assets and has the final say in most of her personal decisions. Britney has sought legal action to remove James as conservator and live independently; however, a judge declined the request and extended the conservatorship till September 2021.

This legal battle between Britney and her father has sparked the ‘Free Britney’ movement, which wanted the artist to be freed from her conservatorship. Footage from a protest in Los Angeles can be seen in the new trailer for the documentary episode.

As per E! News, in addition to highlighting her relationship with her father, the new documentary will also explore the ways in which the public turned on Britney during her most vulnerable time in the spotlight which further turned her mental health crisis into a “cruel national sport”. (ANI)

Attacking the Central government for ‘deceiving and hoodwinking’ the farmers, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution on Friday which stated that there is only one demand of India’s farmers — “repeal the three objectionable laws.”

“There is only one demand of India’s farmers and farm labourers — repeal the three objectionable laws. But the Government continues to side-step, malign, deceive and hoodwink the farmers by attempting to tire out, intimidate and divide the farmers. Let the BJP Government understand one unequivocal truth – India’s farmers shall neither bow down nor be cowed down,” Congress said in a statement.

“CWC notes that these three laws impinge upon the Constitutional rights of States and constitute the first step in dismantling the three pillars of the edifice of Food Security built up over the past decades–MSP, Public Procurement and PDS,” the statement further said.

This comes amid the 11th round of talks between the Central government and farmers’ unions over the new agricultural laws that has led to the over month-long agitation at Delhi’s border areas.

A resolution was also passed for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into WhatsApp chat leak allegedly between Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council Partho Dasgupta. The purported WhatsApp conversations are part of the chargesheet filed by Mumbai police in the court in the TRP case.

Expressing concern over the recent leaks, Congress said, “The CWC demands a time-bound investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into the breach of national security, violations of the Official Secrets Act and the role of the persons involved. Ultimately, those who are guilty of treasonous behaviour must be brought before the law and punished.”

Furthermore, Congress also thanked the scientific community for their role in developing the COVID-19 vaccines and appealed to the people of the country to come forward for vaccination. (ANI)

China has invested billions in Pakistan’s power sector but all the deals made with Pakistan are tainted that contributed to the recent nationwide blackout, which is likely to return in future, reported Asia Times.

Citing a report of the nine-member committee headed by Muhammad Ali, a former chairperson of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) of April 2020 FM Shakil, writing an opinion piece in Asia Times said the report made startling revelations about widespread malpractice in the power sector.

The report lifted the lid on the extent of Independent Power Producer (IPP) corruption, including among Chinese units installed under a government-to-government arrangement for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related operation.

The report traced 100 billion Pakistani rupees (USD 625 million) in annual over-payment to the IPPs and discussed the magnitude of illegal “profiteering” of Chinese energy companies.

Asia Times disclosed that Huaneng Shandong Ruyi Energy (HSR), which set up the 1,320 MW Sahiwal Coal Power Project in Punjab and the Port Qasim Electric Power Company Limited (PQEPCL), had inflated their set-up costs. Both companies were valued at USD 3.8 billion at the time of launching. The Committee found overpayments of 483.64 billion Pakistani rupees (USD 3 billion) to these companies during the last three years.

The report revealed that most of the IPPs, including those set up under the CPEC arrangement, had defied the government policy and made 50 to 70 per cent profits, as against the 15 per cent maximum determined by the regulatory authority with dollar indexation.

China has earmarked USD 30 billion for Pakistan’s energy sector through CPEC funds. Several Chinese IPPs have been involved in the construction of as many as 27 power plants in Pakistan with a total installed capacity of 12,000 MW under the CPEC program, reported Asia Times.

These include 14 coal-fired units, six wind power, six hydropower and one solar energy project that have either been operationalised or would start generation over the next few years.

Out of these power plants, 16 are in Sindh, four in Punjab, two in Balochistan, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and two in Gilgit-Baltistan (PoK).

“Analysts, however, have questioned the viability of these energy projects, primarily because most of the Chinese investments focused on power generation and ignored the distribution of power, which is clearly in a shambles judging by the recent blackout,” expressed Shakil.

With an inadequate capacity and rundown transmission system, Pakistan has suffered large and frequent blackouts for decades.

As per the analysts, Chinese-funded power projects, after completion, will mostly utilise existing rundown distribution infrastructure, which is currently making 25 per cent annual losses.

Moreover, transmission and distribution losses, overdue payments, and theft and pilferage of electricity also power up the debts that threaten to keep the lights out in Pakistan, reported Asia Times. (ANI)

By Siddharth Sharma

The much-awaited organisational elections, including the post of Congress Party President, are likely to be held in May this year. The Congress Working Committee (CWC), chaired by the party interim president Sonia Gandhi on Friday discussed the modalities of the elections.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal read out the schedule sent by party’s Central Election Authority to Sonia Gandhi in which it was proposed that elections should be held in May after the conclusion of Assembly polls, said sources.

Other party members, including the leaders who wrote a letter earlier to the party interim president urging for organisational elections, endorsed the proposal.

The members agreed to the point that internal elections must be held after Assembly polls. The sources said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Plenary Session will be held on May 29.

The Central Election Authority of the Congress had earlier submitted a note to interim party President Sonia Gandhi that they were ready for the elections.

A group of 23 leaders had written to Sonia Gandhi in August last year demanding internal elections from block to the level of party chief and “full-time” active leadership. They had also demanded elections to CWC.The party had subsequently called a CWC meeting in which Sonia Gandhi desired that elections must be held within six months. (ANI)

Former Union Minister MJ Akbar on Thursday questioned journalist Priya Ramani for allegedly destroying evidence in the defamation case against her by deleting her Twitter account.

Akbar’s counsel and senior Advocate Geeta Luthra told the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey that the harm that Ramani has caused by her statement is “indefensible”.

Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra said that the tweets were all primary evidence and asked if Ramani could destroy evidence.

“….another criminal case can be made out,” Luthra pointed out. “Fact is that everything has been deliberately destroyed to subserve the cause of justice,” she said.

She also raised questions on Ramani’s response on the issue that she did not save the Twitter account because the court didn’t tell her to save so and said that “how can one take a defence like this.”

“Have you filed any complaint for destruction of evidence,” the court asked. Advocate Luthra responded: “We haven’t but we want the court to take cognizance. I have brought it to the notice of the court.”

“These lies have left me defending my reputation in the last few years. It is unpardonable,” advocate Luthra said, while advancing the final argument in the matter.

She further added: “You (Ramani) have damaged a person’s 50 years of reputation.”

As the argument remained inconclusive, the court adjourned the matter for January 23 for further hearing. Advocate Luthra also told the court that she would conclude her argument on the next date fixed for hearing.

Luthra also cited Ramani’s cross-examination and informed the court that Ramani was aware of Vishakha guidelines in 1996-97 but she does nothing because there isn’t anything and her statement was a “work of fiction”.

Senior Advocate also pointed out that there was a mechanism since 1860 relating to sexual offences against women and if there been an iota of truth, she would have spoken up at the first available opportunity or after in a movement called ‘Found their Voice’ in 2013, which took place after Nirbhaya incident.

Akbar, the former Minister of State for External Affairs, had filed a defamation case against the journalist Priya Ramani for accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Ramani accused Akbar of sexual harassment during the #MeToo campaign. After the allegations were levelled, Akbar resigned from the Union Cabinet on 17 October 2018. (ANI)

As Nepal has received a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from India, the Himalayan nation is set to start inoculation drive against the infection from next week.

Nepal’s Minister of Health and Population, Hridayesh Tripathi, on Thursday, announced the commencement of the vaccination drive from next week and requested India for continued support to deliver the adequate number of vaccines to inoculate 72 percent of the nearly 3 million population of Nepal.

“We will start utilising vaccines within a week or ten days and we already have fixed the priority groups for inoculation,” Tripathi said while addressing the ceremony of receiving the vaccines from India that landed in Kathmandu on Thursday.

One million doses of Oxford/Astrazenca vaccine ‘Covishield’ produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) landed in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon. The vaccine that arrived in Nepal as grant assistance would be first administered to frontline workers.

“We have estimated that we would be requiring at least four million additional vaccines. After the beginning of the inoculation drive, we will face a situation that demands delivery of vaccines before the vaccination campaign ends,” Tripathi said.

“This for now is a gift from India. Later on the basis of our needs and demands, we will advance forward with the purchase of vaccines. The vaccine procurement would be transparent for which we will require the continued support of Government of India and Indian Ambassador,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening promised to continue to support Nepal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thank You PM @kpsharmaoli. India remains committed to assisting the people of Nepal in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccines being made in India will also contribute to the global efforts to contain the pandemic,” PM Modi replied to the tweet by Nepali caretaker Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who thanked India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, in his speech, also assured that India would continue to work for the spirit of people first and Neighborhood first Policy.

“One million doses of Indian Vaccine is also a testimony to what the Indian Prime Minister has repeatedly said that Indian capacity- capability in all areas of economic endeavour would always have in their mind, ‘People first and Neighborhood First’. The One million doses of Indian manufactured COVID vaccine is a gift from people and Government of India to people and Government of Nepal,” Ambassador Kwatra said.

India, the world’s largest vaccine producer as well as pharmacy of the world, has already started shipping out coronavirus vaccine to its neighbours within a week of its national rollout.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

“We prefer the Indian vaccine because it has been already rolled out in other neighbouring countries. Also, we have a proper system to store these vaccines,” Director General of Department of Health Services, Nepal- Dipendra Raman Singh told ANI.

Nepal earlier last week approved the emergency use of the SII produced Covishield marking it as the first vaccine to get approval in the Himalayan nation. (ANI)

A new study exploring the impact of repeated sleep loss during a simulated working week has found that consuming caffeinated coffee during the day helps to minimise reductions in attention and cognitive function, compared to decaffeinated coffee.

While this effect occurred in the first three-to-four days of restricted sleep, by the fifth and final day, no difference was seen between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee drinkers. This, therefore, suggests that the beneficial effects of coffee for people with restricted sleep are temporary.

It is estimated that over 30% of adult Western populations sleep less than the recommended seven to eight hours on weekday nights and 15% regularly sleep less than six hours 2,3. This can have a considerable impact on people’s health and wellbeing, including causing sleepiness and impairing vigilance and attention4.

Denise Lange, the study co-author, commented: “Previous research suggests that acute consumption of caffeinated coffee can reduce the impact of sleep deprivation on deficits of attention and cognitive function in a short-term setting. “

“This study is among the first to examine whether this effect can be translated into a real-world situation, where caffeinated drinks are commonly consumed every day by people who experience chronic sleep restriction. Our study indicates that moderate coffee intake can mitigate some repercussions of reduced sleep over a few days, however, this is not a substitute for a good night’s sleep in the long term.”

The study was conducted at the state-of-the-art Institute of Aerospace Medicine, in Cologne Germany. 26 participants carrying a distinct genotype of the gene encoding the adenosine A2A receptor were randomly assigned to groups either drinking caffeinated coffee (containing 300 mg caffeine) or decaffeinated coffee under double-blind conditions.

During five days, the sleep of all participants was restricted to five hours per night and each day they rated their subjective sleepiness and were tested on levels of vigilance, alertness, reaction-time, accuracy and memory. (ANI)

Megastar Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is currently busy promoting her memoir ‘Unfinished’, revealed the secret behind doing late-night show appearances.

The ‘Baywatch’ star took to her Instagram account and shared how taking naps help her through the hectic schedule. The actor shared a quirky photo in which she is seen resting on a chair.

In the picture, the ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ star can be seen dressed in an olive green top, paired up with black trousers. The actor accessorised her look with a chunky gold necklace and opted for a minimal makeup look.

Taking a much-deserved break amid the hectic schedule, Priyanka shared that her secret to doing late-night talk show appearances in the US while living in London is taking ‘naps on naps on naps’.

The ‘Fashion’ star captioned the post as, “What’s my secret to doing late-night talk show appearances in the US while living in London you ask? #NapsOnNapsOnNaps.”

The actor’s celebrity friends including Bhumi Pednekar and more than 2 lakh fans liked the post within an hour of it being posted. Scores of fans chimed into the comments section and left heart and fire emoticons.

On the work front, the ‘Bajirao Mastani’ star will be next seen opposite Rajkummar Rao in the screen adaption of Aravind Adiga’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel, ‘The White Tiger’.

Directed by Ramin Bahrani of ‘Fahrenheit 451′ and ’99 Homes’ fame, ‘The White Tiger’ has been executive produced by Priyanka along with Emmy award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay. Priyanka will also feature in the upcoming romantic drama ‘Text for You’, directed by Jim Strouse. (ANI)

Farmers have only one demand, repeal the farm laws and legally authorise minimum support price (MSP), said farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Thursday after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha rejected the government’s proposal to put new farm laws on hold for about 18 months.

“It’s been decided that no proposal of the government will be accepted until and unless they repeal the laws. In tomorrow’s meet with the government, we’ll say that we’ve only one demand, repeal the laws and legally authorise MSP. All these have been unanimously decided,” Ugrahan told media after Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s meeting.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed committee on farm laws virtually met with farmers’ unions and associations on Thursday.

The committee requested farmers’ representatives to ‘give their views frankly’ on the laws.

A day after the government proposed that it is ready to put new farm laws on hold for about 18 months, the protesting farmer unions rejected the proposal and insisted on their demand for the repeal of the three laws.

Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said that after the talks the government had proposed that implementation of farm laws should be kept on hold for a period of one to one-and-a-half years.

He had also said that representatives of farmers’ unions and the government can discuss all issues related to the farmers’ agitation during the period so that an appropriate solution can be found.

The farmer unions had said that they will discuss the proposal in detail. The next round of talks is scheduled for Friday.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is admitted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, has an infection in lungs and his condition is stable, a senior doctor said.

Dr Kameshwar Prasad, Director, RIMS said rapid antigen test for COVID-19 test of the RJD leader is negative while RT-PCR report will come on Friday.

“Lalu Prasad Yadav is stable. There’s an infection in the lungs. Treatment is going on. This is a kind of pneumonia. We have consulted with HOD of lungs dept of AIIMS. Rapid antigen test for COVID-19 is negative. RT-PCR report will come on Friday,” he said.

Lalu Prasad’s son Tejaswi Yadav, who is the leader of opposition in the state assembly, spoke to Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta and Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding his health.

Soren spoke to the Gupta and the doctors at RIMS, sources said.

Dr Umesh Prasad, the physician of the jailed RJD chief, had said last month that his kidney was functioning at 25 per cent capacity and the situation can deteriorate.

Lalu Prasad has been convicted in the fodder scam cases. (ANI)